Gifts from the Gods: Ancient Words and Wisdom from Greek and Roman Mythology

Victory, echo, fate, mortal, furious, Grace, grateful, janitor---these are just a few everyday English words that take their origin from ancient Greek and Roman mythology.  The brief stories in this collection introduce readers to the ancient myths, and explain how the stories are related to today's common words.  It's a wonderful introduction to Greek and Roman mythology for intermediate and middle school readers, and is a great resource for the English classroom.  Lise Lunge-Larson is the Minnesota author behind this clever book, and the action-filled illustrations by Gareth Hinds bring the stories to life.

West of the Moon

Astri is a thirteen year old Norwegian girl who has been lent (sold?) to a cruel goat
herder. She is determined to escape and travel to America to join her widowed father.  The story is told in three parts:  service to the goat herder; the daring escape to the coast; and travel to America.  Several Norwegian folktales are woven into the story, and they inspire Astri to hold onto hope despite her dire circumstances. The story is conceived from a statement in the diary of the author's great-great-grandmother.  Minnesota author Margi Preus, has written another winner for intermediate and middle school readers.  It might be a good read-aloud to accompany immigration units.

Three Bird Summer

Summer will be different this year for twelve year old Adam.  Since his parents divorced, he will spend the summer at Three Bird Lake in northern Minnesota with just his mother and grandmother.  He's not even interested in Alice, the girl next door, at first, but she will become his ally in solving a mystery. 

Grandmother's memory problems are getting worse as she starts leaving strange notes for Adam to find.  One day Adam finds a very unusual treasure map, and he and Alice work together to solve a family mystery.  The setting, characters, and activities are nicely described by author Sara St. Antoine, in this gentle well-written first novel.  A good summer read for junior high/middle school readers.

What The Heart Knows; Chants, Charms and Blessings

Minnesota poet Joyce Sidman and artist Pamela Zagarenski have collaborated once again (they are also known for Red Sings from Treetops, a Caldecott honor book in 2010) on a collection of short poems that are arranged in four sections 1) chants and charms [to bolster courage and guard against evil], 2) spells and invocations [to cause something to happen], 3) laments and remembrances [to remember, regret, and grieve], and 4) praise songs and blessings [to celebrate, thank, or express love]. The poems touch on universal themes that teens and adults can relate to, and the illustrations are a poetic match for the words.  I heard recently that this is becoming a popular gift book among adults, although the target audience is probably teens. Readers of any age will appreciate the beauty of this book.

This is also a good place to note that Joyce Sidman is the winner of the 2013 Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children, given by the National Council of Teachers of English.

The Real Boy

Set in a fantasy world called Aletheia, this is the story of a boy, who is a social misfit, and who works as the "hand" (i.e. lowest servant) of a magician named Caleb.  Oscar lives in the basement of Caleb's shop, and spends his days making potions, charms, and tinctures for Caleb to sell.  Then Oscar's world turns upside down when Caleb leaves on an extended trip, his apprentice is mysteriously killed, and Oscar is left in charge.  A healer's apprentice, Callie, helps him learn social manners and behavior, and together they must tackle a large mystery concerning why the magic (that everyone depends on) is suddenly doing bad things to people.  Written by Anne Ursu, with illustrations by Erin McGuire; junior high and strong upper elementary readers will be drawn into this fantasy world where everything depends on the magic.

Scaly, Spotted, Feathered, Frilled: How do We Know What Dinosaurs Really Looked Like?

Not your ordinary dinosaur book, this new title by Catherine Thimmesh, looks at how paleoartists try to figure out what dinosaurs actually looked like?  Did they have scales?, feathers?, maybe both?  As scientists learn more about how and where dinosaurs lived, the new evidence changes how artists portray them.  Filled with historic and current illustrations, this fascinating book will appeal to dinosaur enthusiasts, and young artists alike.  It may be a resource for science classes studying dinosaurs.

Twelve Owls

Owls are fascinating predators found in many Minnesota locations.  This book includes profiles of twelve owls known to live in or migrate to Minnesota; ranging from the tiny saw-whet to the magnificent great gray owl.  In addition to general identification and habitat information,  the book includes information on how the environment affects each owls' life pattern and habitat. Written by Laura Erickson, with life size paintings of each bird by Betsy Bowen; this will be a good resource for predator units in science or biology classes.

Wild Boy: The Real Life of the Savage of Aveyron

In 1798, woodsmen in southern France captured a seemingly wild boy in the woods and marched him to the town square.  So begins the story of the Savage of Aveyron.  Who was this boy? How old was he? Why didn't he speak? No one knew the answers.  Eventually the boy was taken to Paris where he lived in a home for deaf children. He attended the Institute of Deaf-Mutes, where a doctor tutored him intensely.  Although he never learned to speak, he was always drawn to the outdoors and to the woods; and it became clear that he did feel emotions.  Written by Mary Losure, with black and white illustrations by Timothy Ering, this very readable story will interest students at intermediate and middle school grades.

The Survivors

 

This is a sequel to Memory Boy (published in 2001) by Will Weaver.  Memory Boy is the story of sixteen year old Miles, his sister Sarah, and their family who had to flee their suburban Minneapolis home and move to the north woods after several large volcanic eruptions in the western United States changed the environment for everyone.  (It's a great story, and you must read it if you haven't.)

Survivors picks up the story after they arrive at a remote cabin (the location feels like it might be in the Lake Itasca or Bemidji area), and must find a way to survive the winter.  They also must avoid being identifed as homeless "Travelers", as that could put them in more danger.  Everyone relies on Miles for his commonsense outlook, ability to hunt, and other general knowledge about survival.  But when Miles gets a concussion in an accident, the family is forced to make new adjustments in order to survive. It's a very worthy sequel to the first book.  Don't miss it. 

Sparrow Road

Twelve year old Raine lives with her mother and grandfather in Milwaukee, and she's never known her father. Her life is happy until one day her mother takes a job as a cook and maid at Sparrow Road, a remote colony for artists.  Raine resents the move, and especially all the rules ("no talking" during the day, except for Sundays, is really hard!). Gradually the enchanting aspects of Sparrow Road grow on her as explores the grounds, swims in the lake, explores a nearby town, and hangs around with the artists.  New questions arise when she learns that Sparrow Road used to be an orphanage; and as she searches for answers to those questions, she learns a secret about her own life.  Written by Minnesotan, Sheila O'Connor, this book was selected by the International Reading Association as its Intermediate Fiction Award winner in 2012.  It's a very nice "growing-up" story (not quite the same as coming-of-age) for middle school and junior high readers.

City Chickens

In this book, readers will learn about a unique animal shelter in North Minneapolis, called Chicken Run Rescue.  It provides shelter to chickens who may have been abandoned, maltreated, or have escaped from someone's yard.  Written by Christine Heppermann, this book tells the story of several chickens who have lived (or may still be there) at Chicken Run.  It also describes how the shelter got started, and how it operates each day.  Excellent color photographs and a colorful layout enhance the enjoyment of this book.  It could be used in classes studying farm/city animals; or as a model text for writing nonfiction at the upper elementary or middle school level.  It even offers food for thought for educators with a page discussing alternatives to baby-chick hatching units.  Overall, it is an excellent book on a unique subject.

Frozen

 

Sixteen year old Sadie Rose hasn't said a word in eleven years--ever since the day she was found lying in a snowbank next to her mother's body during a howling snow storm. Set in the 1920's in far northern Minnesota, this is Sadie Rose's story--how she was found in a snowbank, couldn't speak, and had only fleeting memories of her mother.  She is taken in by a corrupt state senator, and has a good life until she stumbles onto some pictures of her mother.  Who was she, and how did she die? There is evidence her mother worked in a brothel, but why? This story is set in a time of historical drama--prohibition, women's right to vote, political corruption, and a fight over lumbering and the use of the wilderness all come into play in this story. This is a suspenseful story about how Sadie Rose finds her voice again; and has several themes including power, corruption, class inequality, the environment, and the strength of family.  Written by Mary Casanova, it is recommended for readers in junior and senior high school. A trailer is available here.

Minnesota in the Civil War

 

The exhibit at the Minnesota History Center entitled Minnesota and the Civil War will be ending soon (September 8).  Hurry and see it if you haven't.  After it ends, here is an excellent resource for American and Minnesota history classes. The book includes many contemporary accounts of the war from diaries, letters, newspaper accounts, photographs, portraits, and pictures of many artifacts from the War that are in the Minnesota Historical Society collection. A great resource for social studies classrooms. 

Shadow on the Mountain

The setting is Norway in 1940.  Although Norway is a neutral country, the Germans invade and take control under the guise of protecting it from invasion by the British or Russians.  This book tells the story of Espen, his family and friends, as they join the resistance movement.  Espen becomes a skiing courier who delivers food, secret documents, guns, illegal radio parts, and more to resistance workers in hiding. The story has elements of a spy thriller, a coming-of-age story, and is a tale of bravery against difficult odds. It is based on real events, and a real young man, Erling Storrusten, who was a teenager in Lillihammer during the years 1940-1945. This is excellent historical fiction for middle school students, and could be used as a classroom resource when studying World War II.  Written by Margi Preus, it was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 2013 (young people's literature category); and was selected for the Notable Books for a Global Society list (IRA) in 2013.

Through No Fault of My Own

This is the diary of thirteen-year-old "Coco" Irving, the daughter of Horace and Clotilde Irving, socialites who lived on Summit Avenue in St. Paul in the early 1900's. Coco loved to write, and also get in trouble. Her diary entries frequently begin with the words "through no fault of my own..." The diary recounts one year of Coco's adventures, romances, and youthful problems.
Coco's writing has been published previously; this new edition is from the University of Minnesota Press and includes an introduction by Peg Meier and historical photographs.
Coco and her sister Olivia donated the family home to the state of Minnesota in 1965, and it became the Minnesota Governor's Residence.
This is a fascinating peak inside early 20th century life on Summit Avenue from a young person's perspective.

Wonderstruck

This is the new illustrated novel by Brian Selznick (creator of the Caldecott Medal winner, The Invention of Hugo Cabret). I am including it here because the story has a Minnesota connection. Ben and Rose are the main characters, and both are hearing impaired. Ben is 12, and lives in a cabin along the Gunflint Trail in northern Minnesota. Rose is also 12, but her story takes place 50 years earlier in New Jersey. Ben's story is told in prose; Rose's in black and white pencil illustrations. Both children have a missing parent, and both run away to New York City in search of that person. The two stories begin to converge at the American Museum of Natural History; but I won't reveal the mystery behind their connection. Read and enjoy it for yourself! Not only is the artwork a feast for the eyes (just like Hugo was); the amount of research behind the book (described in the acknowledgements) shows that this wasn't a book hastily thrown together. I enjoyed it just as much as Hugo, and I hope you will too.

Bridge to America

The year is 1920; the setting is a small village in Poland.  Fival and his family are extremely poor and live in fear of the Cossacks and their pograms against Jews.  Fival's father has gone to America to find work and save money, so he can send for the rest of the family.  When the passage money finally arrives, Fival and his family move to Duluth, Minnesota to join his father.  Based on the true story of Phil Myzel, this novel by Linda Glaser tells an absorbing, hopeful story of immigrants to America in the early twentieth century.  It is a resource for social studies classes.

Thirteenth Child

In an alternative (i.e. fantasy) version of Westward Expansion, we meet a girl named Eff--an unlucy thirteenth child and twin to her brother Lan--the lucky seventh son of a seventh son, and a highly talented magician like his father.  Their large family moves to Mill City, a town at the edge of civilization in the North Plains, where Eff's father wil become a professor of magic at a land grant college there.  Mill City is located on the Mammoth River along which runs the Great Barrier Magic, which keeps steam dragons, woolly rhinoceroses, woolly mammoths, and assorted other monsters away.  When a plague of beetles attach settler communities to the west of Mill City, Eff, her brother, father, and others must try to figure out the correct magic spell to end the plague.  Written by Patricia Wrede, this is the first volume in the Frontier Magic series.  The second volume is due out in August 2011.

Heart of a Samurai

This is one of my favorites from the 2011 crop of award titles. This book tells the story of Manjiro Nakahama, a young Japanese fisherman in 1841 (before Japan opened to the West).  He and some companions were stranded on a remote island in a storm, and rescued by an American whaleboat.  They would be killed if they return to Japan, so Manjiro decided to join the American crew, was taken under the wing of the commander, William Whitfield, and was the first Japanese person to set foot on American soil.  By Japanese tradition, Manjiro was destined to be no more than a humble fisherman, but when his 10-year saga ended, he had become much more--in some respects becoming a samurai--a dream of his youth.  Written by Margi Preus, this was a Newbery honor book in 2011.

Wildflowers of the Boundary Waters; Hiking Through the Seasons

Here's another cool guide to take along on your trip the the Boundary Waters this summer.  Focusing on wildflowers of the area, this guide includes information on 120 species.  Organized by season (early, middle, late), and then by color, the photographs show many flowers throughout their lifecycle (bud to flower to seedpod--something not always found in field guides).  The brief descriptions include the flower's features and tidbits about common names, locations, etc.  Written and photographed by Betty Vos Hemstad, a summer resident of the Gunflint Trail, this guide is a great resource for science teachers, scout leaders, and lovers of the outdoors.