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(3)
YA
Princess Diaries series.
While both her grandmother and best friend Lilly seem to be doing all they can to make Mia's life difficult, she's spending most of her time stressing about her boyfriend moving to Japan for a year (she even contemplates sleeping with him). This volume in the series is more tightly focused than previous books, allowing Mia a little growth of character.
260 pp.
| HarperCollins
| May, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-0-06-088015-6$16.99
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-06-088016-3$17.89
(4)
YA
Unlike most of Cabot's protagonists, Katie Ellison lies, cheats on her boyfriend, and turns her back on a friend when he needs her most. Though Katie is unlikely to endear herself to readers, her first-person perspective keeps them close. The book's ending is a little pat, but this exploration of peer pressure and self-acceptance features a refreshingly flawed protagonist.
243 pp.
| Harcourt
| January, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-0-15-205597-4$17.00
(4)
4-6
The shifting first-person narrative separately treats the childhoods of Mary Todd Lincoln and her dressmaker, Keckley, a former slave. Though much is known about Lincoln, Keckley's story is mostly conjecture, and while both women are intriguing characters in American history, this novel's lack of focus will leave readers confused about fact versus fiction. A prologue, epilogue, and author's note are included.
(4)
YA
Confessions of a Teen Nanny series.
Against her better judgment, Adrienne decides to go out with the older half-brother of the eight-year-old she nannies for. Meanwhile, her best friend, Liz, is having troubles with her boyfriend. This third book in the series follows the formula established by the other two. However, the entertaining premise (New York City high society told from two high school nannies' perspectives) sustains interest.
287 pp.
| Little
| September, 2006
|
TradeISBN 0-316-10857-X$16.99
(4)
4-6
Illustrated by
Leah Palmer Preiss.
In this sequel to The Secret of Castle Cant, Lucy and Pauline are on the run, Lucy trying to escape from Pauline's supporters, and Pauline trying to escape from Lucy's. The girls work together to protect each other from those fighting for control of the Barony. Though the plot is confusing, the story's surprising twists (including betrayal) keep it moving.
(4)
4-6
Wednesday Tales series.
Illustrated by
Brandon Dorman.
Miles Wednesday is living in a barrel (having run away from the orphanage) when he rescues an angel from a circus. This leads Miles on a quest to find another angel and his stolen teddy bear. While the writing is overblown ("Miles Wednesday, wind-swayed, bread and cheese in hand..."), the story is inventive and moves along at a fast clip.
32 pp.
| Carolrhoda
| August, 2006
|
LibraryISBN 1-57505-922-3$15.95
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Barry Gott.
Energetic text and exuberant illustrations work together to depict what teachers do after the students have left for the day ("They change into jeans / and get ready to play. / They shout to their friends / 'The day's over! Hooray!'"). Young readers will have a blast examining each illustration closely to discover all the mischief being made by the teachers.
(4)
YA
Tired of being known only as the girl who spilled a Big Gulp on the most popular girl in school's white D&G skirt in sixth grade, high school junior Steph hatches a plan to become popular. Though the plot is fairly standard and Steph's sentence fragments get annoying, this lighthearted look at social standing in high school is otherwise appealing.
86 pp.
| HarperCollins
| December, 2006
|
TradeISBN 0-06-084718-2$8.99
(4)
YA
Princess Diaries series.
While packing for Genovia, Mia finds an old diary chronicling her first Valentine's Day with her boyfriend, Michael. Readers flash back to Mia's freshman year as she deals with the expected complications resulting from Michael's anti-Valentine's Day attitude. Mia's unsure handling of social situations will resonate with readers. Though not as strong as the core books, this novella spin-off will appease fans.
(4)
YA
After her father dies, leaving her penniless, Patricia Kelley runs away from her British boarding school to stow away on a ship. When she is discovered, she dresses like a lady by day and a sailor by night. The convoluted plot in this eighteenth-century soap-opera adventure throws in a few too many tragedies, but readers are sure to enjoy the feisty character Collison has created.
80 pp.
| OTTN
| November, 2006
|
LibraryISBN 1-59556-016-5$23.95
(4)
YA
Forgotten Heroes of the American Revolution series.
These five men all made significant contributions to the Revolutionary War. The lack of transitions between paragraphs contributes to a choppy text, and maps, illustrations, and sidebars are recycled among the volumes. When read alone, however, each title is competently done. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Forgotten Heroes of the American Revolution titles: John Stark, Daniel Morgan, Francis Marion, Nathanael Greene, and Henry Knox.
261 pp.
| Putnam
| May, 2006
|
TradeISBN 0-399-24189-2$16.99
(4)
YA
Fleur, Ronnie, and Claude decide the best way to fix their rocky friendship is to spend the summer waitressing at a posh resort hotel. There the girls encounter their nemesis and enter a beauty contest. Though many aspects of this novel are hard to buy and the secondary characters are mere caricatures, readers will appreciate the honest look at friendship.
217 pp.
| Penguin/Razorbill
| November, 2006
|
TradeISBN 1-59514-051-4$16.99
(4)
YA
Although her true identity as a famous teen actress was revealed in the previous book, Morgan Carter insists on sticking around Fort Wayne, Indiana. Fate, of course, throws many wrenches into Morgan's plans. What sets this series apart from others of its ilk are the serious issues (alcoholism, rape) her likable character occasionally has to deal with.
128 pp.
| Enslow
| October, 2006
|
LibraryISBN 0-7660-2629-9$31.93
(4)
4-6
People to Know Today series.
All five of these biographers write about their subjects in glowing terms. With the exception of Frost, the books offer limited, anecdote-heavy information. Many photographs, sidebars, and pull-out quotes support the texts, and their clean design makes the chronologies easy to follow. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these People to Know Today titles: Laura Bush, J.K. Rowling, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robert Frost, and George W. Bush.
112 pp.
| Front
| September, 2006
|
TradeISBN 1-932425-23-3$15.95
(4)
4-6
Illustrated by
Larry Di Fiori.
Nine stories, each told by a different student in a third-grade class, focus on the issues a third-grader might encounter (writer's block, wanting to cut in line, etc.), each of which is solved through supernatural means. Though some of the stories tend to be didactic, the black-and-white spot illustrations help to lighten the mood of the otherwise entertaining tales.
96 pp.
| Scholastic
| September, 2006
|
TradeISBN 0-439-63404-0$19.99
(3)
4-6
This account of the Revolutionary War focuses on the individual contributions of non-English soldiers, spies, and activists, in order to demonstrate that the war was not just about Englishmen from different sides of the ocean squabbling over their rights. An extensive first-person introduction by the author ("I felt left out of the story") helps draw readers in. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.
88 pp.
| OTTN
| November, 2006
|
LibraryISBN 1-59556-015-7$23.95
(4)
YA
Forgotten Heroes of the American Revolution series.
These five men all made significant contributions to the Revolutionary War. The lack of transitions between paragraphs contributes to a choppy text, and maps, illustrations, and sidebars are recycled among the volumes. When read alone, however, each title is competently done. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Forgotten Heroes of the American Revolution titles: John Stark, Daniel Morgan, Francis Marion, Nathanael Greene, and Henry Knox.
128 pp.
| Enslow
| August, 2006
|
LibraryISBN 0-7660-1850-4$31.93
(4)
4-6
People to Know Today series.
All five of these biographers write about their subjects in glowing terms. With the exception of Frost, the books offer limited, anecdote-heavy information. Many photographs, sidebars, and pull-out quotes support the texts, and their clean design makes the chronologies easy to follow. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these People to Know Today titles: Laura Bush, J.K. Rowling, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robert Frost, and George W. Bush.
32 pp.
| Putnam
| July, 2006
|
TradeISBN 0-399-24248-1$15.99
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Paul Meisel.
In a twist on the traditional first day of school story, this time it's the teacher who is nervous; he's shown buying new clothes, getting a haircut, and worrying about getting lost. The teacher's first lesson (about time) is also included, which is a bit much to layer on. The mixed-media illustrations show the traditional classroom setting from interesting perspectives.
32 pp.
| Boyds
| October, 2006
|
TradeISBN 1-59078-384-0$16.95
(4)
4-6
Basic text summarizes the key events in John Glenn's life, leading to his historic flight aboard Friendship 7, while sidebar information (in very small type) provides more details; in some cases, readers are expected to have prior knowledge of historical events they aren't likely to have learned about yet. Bold acrylic paintings effectively capture the excitement of their subject's life.