American Born Chinese-- Gene Luen Yang

I intended to post this book in honor of lunar new year. Oops. Happy Year of the Tiger!

American Born Chinese is one of my few re-reads planned for this year, but frankly it's so amazing that I can't keep quiet about it. At first, Yang's graphic novel appears to be three separate stories, influenced respectively by Chinese folk tales, memoir, and stereotypical sitcom. These individuals stories were enjoyable enough, but when they started to converge into a single story, that was it-- no one could have pried this book out of my hands. Some parts had me laughing; at other times, I felt like I'd been socked in the stomach.

An incredible book about coming to terms with identity.

Also, I had the opportunity to check out some of Yang's original drawings on a visit to this fantastic museum-- highly recommended for visitors to and (residents of) the Great Northwest!

P.S. It occurred to me later that the stereotypes in the "sitcom" narrative were familiar to me at this age, but I am not sure if I would have understood them when I was younger and I am not sure how dated these references are. I would be interested to know what young readers take away from that part of the book.

Third Year at Malory Towers-- Enid Blyton

This book was loaned to me by the wonderful D, an Enid Blyton fan from a tender age. She has fond memories of the Malory Towers series, though she handed this book to me with the caveat, “You know, it’s kind of weird. And British.”

This book is definitely amusing. It would be wrong to evaluate it in the same way I have for other books here—it’s old-school, and yes… very British. I love the way people talk, and say things like “harem-scarem” and “don’t let us.” And they call their sleeping quarters “dormies.” It’s a good thing I didn’t read these books when I was young and impressionable, or I would definitely have talked like this and suffered ridicule.

The characterizations are also awesome. First is the classroom teacher, Miss Peters, who the students describe as “hearty”—like it’s a bad thing. That is, when the author is not not describing her as straight-up “mannish.” I think those are the only two words to describe Miss Peters, actually. Then we have new student Wilhelmina, who goes by “Bill,” and she is a tomboy who loves horses. Even before she shows up, it comes to the students’ attention that she has seven brothers, and one girl remarks, “well, she must be half-boy herself.” Awesome! The other new student is Zerelda, who is American. (Who named a kid Zerelda, I do not know.) Anyway, Zerelda prances around fancying herself a future film star and, in a twist of irony for American readers, the students make fun of her accent. Awesome again! Oh yes, and Zerelda is demoted a grade because the American school system failed her and she is not used to having to work hard. Can I get a third awesome?

The other students are caricatures—they each have a quality and a talent, as well as a designated friend they pal around with. Apparently the main character, Darrell Rivers, has a temper, but I didn’t really see much of that in this book. Everyone seems to be pretty happy all the time.

There is something remarkably soothing about this book. It’s pleasant and well-paced, and it’s comforting to know that nothing truly bad will ever happen to these girls at Malory Towers (D, correct me if I am wrong and the school burns down in the last book or something). It’s safe, predictable, engaging, and—frankly—a nice change from some of the rather intense stuff I’ve been reading lately. I could totally see myself getting really into the series as a kid and wishing my parents would send me to boarding school in Cornwall.

Behind the Attic Wall - Sylvia Cassedy

Behind the Attic Wall has been one of my favorite books since I was a kid. There is just something so compelling and delicious about the slightly sad, slightly creepy story, with the mostly happy ending that I keep coming back to it 25 years after first reading it. Oh my gosh, that makes me sound old....

Maggie is not a very nice little girl, and at first it's a little hard to feel sympathetic about her hard life (not that she needs your sympathy, no sir!). She's an orphan, and has been kicked out of every boarding school she's ever been in. Finally she is taken in by her great-aunts at their now defunct Academy for Girls. When she starts hearing voices, she's more curious than afraid; especially when she finds out where the voices are coming from.

Definitely a must-read for anyone (especially girls) ages 8-15.

Because of Winn-Dixie - Kate DiCamillo

One word: awwwwww! It only took about a hour to read this, but what a sweet hour it was. Definitely a mood booster!

Opal is new in town, and having trouble making friends. Until she goes to the grocery store one afternoon, and finds a scruffy dog tearing up the produce section. She adopts the dog, and through him meets and befriends many people in her new town.

There's not much for me to say about this book, except that it's seriously better than Prozac.

It's a pretty easy read; probably most appropriate for 1st through 6th graders.

So You Want to Be a Wizard - Diane Duane

Hoo boy, this is a wild ride. Deliciously scary, funny and a little sad, this is one humdinger of a story; a bit of a cross between Harry Potter and A Wrinkle in Time. It's a fascinating mixture of magic and science. I mean, how many books feature a white hole as a main character?

The core elements of the story are pretty ubiquitous for young adult fiction. You know, making friends, standing up for yourself, facing your fears, saving the world: the usual. The twist in Wizard is that the kids pretty much take care of things without adult intervention. Unless you count the 10,000-year-old white hole an adult.

This book is a shoe-in for my recommendation list. Ages 10 and up. I think even some adults will like it.

The Wanderer - Sharon Creech

If you're not a big fan of the ocean, this might not be the book for you. The Wanderer is the story of Sophie, who crosses the Atlantic ocean with her uncles and cousins, to England, where her grandfather lives. And yikes! Days of bad weather and rough seas nearly kill the entire crew, and bring them closer together at the same time.

By part II, the reader begins to get a hint that something is not quite right with Sophie. There is a back story there, and Sophie seems to be the only one aware of it. The mystery is expertly woven through the rest of the story.

A Newberry Honor Book, The Wanderer is a good book for 3rd through 8th graders.

Climbing the Stairs-- Padma Venkatraman

I love a strong female protagonist. Have you noticed, however, that many of them are the same? Your typical independent-minded, tomboyish heroine seems to be a convenient vessel to transport modern feminist attitudes into settings where these traits are actually discouraged in women. Think about all the books you’ve read where the character’s mother is like, “oh, you are so stubborn!” or “that’s not ladylike!” or “why can’t you take up sewing and cooking instead of playing outside/ reading books/ having a mind of your own?” These books are so formulaic: the spunky daughter is generally the apple of her father’s eye and so is permitted her independent spirit, she is then placed in some difficult circumstances where her un-feminine traits are somehow an asset to her. So unfortunate.

Vidya, the main character of Climbing the Stairs, almost goes there but not quite. While she is as non-conforming as we expect, there is something real and sincere about her. Vidya’s primary objective is to continue her education, even after her family falls apart and nothing is certain for the future. I like this girl.

Climbing the Stairs is set in India in the 1940s, where Vidya lives a relatively comfortable life until her family can no longer escape the colonial regime and approaching war. A tragedy forces Vidya and her family to move into her grandfather’s traditional household, ruled over by her oppressive aunt and uncle. Separated from her loving brother and without support from her cruelly-treated mother, Vidya’s only solace comes from her grandfather’s library and a friend she meets there. Her uncertain future mirrors the movement for independence in India, with political and spiritual threads woven throughout the story.

This book is beautiful, but also felt very genuine. In the author’s notes, Padma Venkatraman reveals that the characters and some of the events in the book were inspired by people in her family. Vidya, in particular, is inspired by Venkatraman’s mother, a lawyer and legal scholar who was encouraged by her father to pursue her love of learning. That pretty much sealed the deal for me-- there’s a heroine we can truly admire.

Venkatraman has an excellent website for this book for those who are interested in reading more about Indian history, religion, and society—visit it here.