Daniel and Armin, though from different social classes, are the best of friends. They are excited about the rise of the National Socialist party and its leader, Adolph Hitler. Just as Daniel is ready to become an official member of the Nazi Party his parents tell him he can’t because he is half Jewish, therefore half human. Daniel must keep the family secret or risk dire consequences. As the Nazis consolidate their power and begin the “Final Solution” life becomes increasingly dangerous for Daniel and his parents. Can they survive in their native Germany? Will they have to leave? Or is it already too late?

Chotjewitz puts the reader in the midst of horrifying but true historical events in which the characters must choose between friendship and patriotism, loyalty and justice. He ends the novel with a shocking twist that will leave you stunned.

By Mr. Doyle

Book 1 in this duet, Dreamhunter, ended seemingly in the middle of the story’s climax. It was one of those endings that makes you want to take the author by the lapels and yell, “why did you do that to me?!” Finally, after more than a year, the second book was released. There was no way I was going to wait for the paperback. Now I can forgive Ms. Knox. Dreamquake is every bit as good as book1, and this time the story has an ending.

This volume begins with the cataclysmic scene that ended the first book. Laura Hame, a young dreamhunter (someone who can catch and share dreams from the mysterious “Place”) overrides her famous aunt as she shares a pleasant holiday dream with thousands of people at the Rainbow Opera. The dream Laura shares is terrifying and it begins to expose insidious government corruption and abuse. Laura’s actions sicken and injure thousands of people and create turmoil. As Laura, her living sandman creation, and her cousin Rose, struggle to remain free and to show people the truth about the government’s plans, Laura must also deal with a larger and more profound mystery. What is “The Place”, where did it come from, and what does it want from her?

While there is a good deal of action and plenty of plot twists, it is the relationships that rule in this story. Knox is a pleasure to read and she creates some great characters, not least of which is Nown, the sandman. If you haven’t read Dreamhunter already you should definitely read that first. Highly recommended for stronger readers grades 9-adult.

By Mr. Doyle

As in Private Peaceful, the writing is excellent and Morpurgo brings the sights, sounds and smells of the battle field alive (“Still the guns bellowed out their fury and the ground shook beneath us.”). Joey is, at times, over anthropomorphized but is a protagonist kids will root for. Highly recommended for grades 5-10.

By Mr. Doyle

Tomasu lives in a small isolated village of religious dissidents in a country very much like feudal Japan. He returns from a day spent wandering around in the mountains (his favorite past time) to find his village destroyed by the ruthless Lord Iida. As Iida’s men bear down on him, intent on completing their massacre, Tomasu is rescued by a sword-wielding traveler. The traveler turns out to be Lord Otori Shigeru, the sworn enemy of Iida. Shigeru renames Tomasu and adopts him. Now known as Lord Otori Takeo, he is initiated into the world of the warrior caste and its attendant violence, intrigue, and political machinations. He also learns secrets about his own past and develops skills that will place him at the center of events that will change the history of his country.

This book will appeal to a wide range of readers. It has plenty of action to keep even reluctant readers hooked and it has a great cast of characters, both male and female. Some, like Takeo and Shigeru, are clearly good guys. Some (Iida and Shigeru’s uncles) are clearly bad guys and some are ambiguous so that the reader is never sure how they will act as the story progresses. Prevalent themes include revenge, love, loyalty, duty, honor, sacrifice, and religious persecution. Highly recommended for grades 7-12.

By Mr. Doyle

Kung fu is the star here and Stone, a martial artist himself, does a good job describing the techniques and the fight scenes. A good pick for reluctant readers and martial arts fans in grades 5-10.

By Mr. Doyle

Anderson has, with great results, tried his hand at the teen drama/satire (Burger Wuss), the vampire story (Thirsty), and the dystopian science fiction novel (Feed). In his newest work he extends his range to historical fiction. The Pox Party is, like the life of the protagonist, astonishing.

Octavian comes of age during the build-up to the American Revolution. Told that he is an African prince, he and his mother are residents of The Novanglian College of Lucidity. At the college Octavian receives a classical education, studying Latin and Greek, science and music. He is taught by the members of the College, men so dedicated to reason and science that they have forsaken their names and call each other by numbers. As Octavian grows up he comes to realize that despite the top notch education and fine clothes provided by the College he is a slave. He is also the subject of an experiment to determine if Africans are a different species.

As the Revolution approaches, the college loses its patron and becomes the property of a group of investors. The new ownership changes the nature of the college and its experiments. As a result, Octavian begins to experience more and more of the life of a household slave.

When a smallpox epidemic threatens the colonies the collegians and their household retire to a country estate for a “Pox Party.” Each member of the household is exposed to the virus in hopes of immunizing everyone. Most people suffer only a mild reaction but a few, including Octavian’s mother, contract full-blown smallpox and die in agony. For Octavian this is the final straw and he escapes, joining up with a militia unit headed for a confrontation with the British in Boston.

The story is told through journal entries, letters, and other documents typical of the time period. Anderson gives Octavian and the other characters authentic 18th century voices. This makes the prose initially dense but persistence is rewarded as the story unfolds and Octavian grows. The reader develops a growing sense of indignation and anger, bordering on horror, along with Octavian as the true nature of his existence is revealed.

Anderson challenges our cultural “mythology” of the American Revolution. In the Pox Party it is the good guys– the colonists– who own and mistreat slaves. It is the bad guys–the British– who have eliminated slavery and offer a safe haven for escaped slaves. The good guys perform bizarre and sometimes dangerous experiments on unsuspecting slaves and even their own children. The author shines a bright light on the dark side of the American Revolution, making us face some unpleasant truths about the founding of our nation.

By Mr. Doyle

By Michelle Benziger

By Emily Crohare

by Ramnit Sidhu

By Juana Janet Villegas