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.

Dear Anjali, I Hate that You're Dead.

Title: Dear Anjali: I Hate that You're Dead.
Author: Melissa Glenn Haber
ISBN 13: 978-1416995999
Publication Date: June 2010

Meredith's best friend dies suddenly the winter of her 13th birthday.  In this epistolary novel (one that is told through a series of letters), Meredith writes to cope with Anjali's death.  At first, her letters follow a natural progression of grief.  She denies her friends death, she is angry about her friends death, and then she accepts that her friend is dead while vowing to stay as close as they were when "it was love at first sight."  In the meantime, Meredith makes a new friend.  She and Noah Spivak, her biggest and longest crush, start spending a lot of time together.  They become friends, maybe even more than just friends, and Meredith can't believe that someone so attractive and so popular would choose her.  As she learns more about Noah, Meredith learns more about herself.  A very touching, moving story that is neither drawn out in its sadness, nor short in its joy.

Boy, Girl Die in Gangland Killings

Title: Yummy: the Last Days of a Southside Shorty
Author: G. Neri
Illustrator: Randy DuBurke
ISBN 13: 978-1584302674

This realistically illustrated novel tells the true story of Robert Sandifer, AKA Yummy.  Yummy lived in the south side of Chicago, an urban area terrorized by gangs and drugs.  At a very young age, Yummy set out to prove himself as a "tough shorty."  He began committing crimes for a tough local gang.  It wasn't long before he was going in and out of jail just like his drug addicted mom.  His father was serving a lifetime sentence in prison, and everyone had reason to believe that soon, Yummy would be too.

Then a terrible and heart-breaking thing happened.  11-year-old Yummy killed an innocent 14-year-old girl in his neighborhood.  Police didn't find him for days.  When they finally did, they found him shot to death by the gang he served. 

In a graphic novel with haunting illustrations that are true to life, Neri succeeds in telling a very disturbing but necessary story.  Told through the eyes of a young male protagonist, this story poses questions that might easily facilitate important classroom discussions.  Appropriate to young teens, Yummy explores consequence in the context of circumstance and delineates the tragic and conflated influences that have led to these, and many other senseless deaths like them.  An ALA Notable Book and a Coretta Scott King Honor book.

Naruto--the best of the shojen manga

Title: Test of the Ninja--Naruto Vol. 1

Author/Illustrator: Masashi Kishimoto

ISBN 13: 978-15669319000

Naruto is the first manga style comic book I've ever read.  It was very interesting.  I was really surprised that so much character development, emotion, and plot line could be entailed in a graphic novel format, told mostly through dialogue (both external and internal) where the characters exhibit extreme sentiments through their exaggerated facial expressions.  It was great! 

Naruto is hell bent on causing trouble.  His pranks are unscrupulous and constantly undermine his desire to become a venerable Shinobe (ninja).  Only his Master truly believes in him.  After he finally passes the test to become a ninja, Naruto earns a disciple, immediately swears him off as arch-enemy, is teamed up with the school's hottest babe and her biggest crush, and has to survive a new teacher.  Ninja academy is really tough!

Funny (very funny) Business

Title: Funny Business
Edited with a very funny forward by: Jon Scieszka
ISBN 13: 978-0061963735

This collection of short stories is hilarious.  With contributions from such greats as Christopher Paul Curtis, Eoin Colfer, Jeff Kinney and David Lubar (plus more!), I literally laughed out loud on several occassions.  My favorite stories included a kid being pushed down the stairs, another being peeled, some hot dog nipples and a joke in the cafeteria. 

Zombie Winter

Title: Zombie Winter

Author: Jonathon Strange

Publication Date: January 2011

ISBN 13: 978-1434230959

It is the depths of winter and Kane feels like the cold is sucking the life right out of him.  At first, he blames the cold for the odd behavior of his classmates and teachers, but it soon becomes evident that something powerful and evil has overtaken his school, his town, even his mom.   Hordes of zombies are out to eat his brains.  If Kane is going to survive, or save the people he loves, he must follow the directions of a spooky old hermit and destroy the hordes' ancient maker, the Zombie Queen.  A short and quick read, this book manages to evoke true fear and a tangible cold in 64 pages!

Guys Read!

URL: http://www.guysread.com/
Creator: Jon Sciezca

GuysRead, a great website, is the brain child of author Jon Ssciezca.  Actually, it's more like an online bibliography, or list of good books.  What I like Guys Read is that it lists the books in simple categories: "At least one explosion," "Funny," and "Boxer, Wrestlers, Ultimate Fighters" are just a few of the options guys can choose from.  I also like that within each category there is a wide variety of books to choose from.  From medal winners, to classics, to short easy books, guys are sure to find what they want to read!

GirlsLife.com

URL: http://www.girlslife.com/
Scope: Fashion, body, guys, family, school

If you love GL magazine, you will probably enjoy their online presence with GirlsLife.com.  My favorite section is the "blush much?" section located under the "fun stuff" tab because it contains very funny, very embarrassing, real life stories from girls.  The advise in the "tough stuff" section located under the "Life" tab is right on the money.  Most of the advise given under the "Bod" tab is appropriate for tween girls.  My only critique is that the suggestions given for issues about sex or violence presume that one has an open and honest relationship with one's parents.  Many tweens cannot turn to parents for help. Referring to professional agencies where girls could turn for help, would make this resource more valuable.  Still, I love the fashion, I love the gossip, and I really like this website!

Kenny and the Dragon

Title: Kenny and the Dragon
Author: Tony DiTerlizzi
Publication Date: August 2008
ISBN 13: 978-1416939771

In this modern retelling of The Reluctant Dragon, Kenny the rabbit must save a kind and gentle dragon from being slayed when fear and a mob mentality causes local townspeople to demand his "imminent extermination."  With sparse but beautiful illustrations, this story is perfect for anyone who has ever felt the dread of hopelessness, or utterly misunderstood.  Anyone who loves happy magical endings should also read this book!