Hurricane Dancers

by Margarita Engle
Quebrado, "the broken one," was taken as a child from his home when he was very young because he can speak Spanish like his father and the language of the Taino Indians like his mother - a valuable skill on the islands and waters of the Caribbean Sea in the 1500s.  Traded from ship to ship like a slave, Quebrado ends up on the ship of Bernardino de Talavera, a ruthless pirate who is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people.  Also on the ship is Alonso de Ojeda, Talavera's prisoner, who is a brutal conquistador.  When a hurricane sinks the ship and most of the people aboard, Quebrado escapes to safety on the island of (what is now) Cuba and befriends the native people.  When Talavera and Ojedo also show up on the island, Quebrado, able to speak to his former captors and his new people, has a chance for payback as he must help decide the fate of the cruel men.

Written in verse and told from the points of view of Quebrado, Talavera, Ojedo, and two of the native people, this historical fiction story based on true characters is suspenseful, imaginative, and moving.

Recommended for grades 4-8
Reviewed by Sara Murray

Grounded

by Kate Klise
Twelve-year-old Daralynn gives the story her point-of-view, in the small town of Digginsville, by the Ozarks. Right at the beginning, her brother, sister, and father die in a plane crash. Only because she was "grounded" for not letting someone know in advance that she was going fishing, Daralynn didn't go up in the airplane, and doesn't get in the crash. The survivors of the immediate family include Daralynn's mother and Daralynn. To pick up the pieces, her mom gets a job fixing the hair of the recently deceased in the local funeral home. Read about amazing characters in this small town slice-of-life year, such as the mysterious Mr. Clem, as well as eccentric Aunt Josie and Vietnam war vet Uncle Waldo.

Recommended for grades 3-7
Reviewed by Joe Drinka

The Eyes of the Unicorn

by Teresa Bateman
A visiting minstrel's song of the fabled unicorn causes the Duke and the nobles of the castle to plan how they will capture and kill the unicorn for his horn and hide. The minstrel's words, "few men will dare to look into a unicorn's eyes" only increases the boasting of the men as they prepare for the hunt. Tanisa, a serving girl, is told to go along with the men on the hunt, to serve them luncheon. She and Chris, the Duke's son, were friends when they were young, but now Chris has become hard and unfeeling. He wants only to impress his father, and is intent on killing the Unicorn. After preparing for the luncheon, Tanisa falls asleep under a tree and awakens to find the Unicorn by her side. She looks into his eyes and sees such peace and love that she wants nothing more than to gaze into his eyes forever. Chris comes upon Tanisa and the unicorn and is still bent on killing him. What happens will change his and Tanisa's life. This is a great read aloud for parents and teachers of children in grades 3-5.

Recommended for grades 3-5
Reviewed by Alice Woertendyke

Slog's Dad

written by David Almond, illustrated by Dave McKean
This story is told from the point-of-view of Davie, the boy that is Slog's best friend. Slog's dad was a garbage-man that was known for loudly singing hymns while he worked, like "Faith of Our Fathers," and for his genuine positive attitude. He had recently died, but, before he did, he told Slog that he would come back in the spring. Then, in the spring after Slog's dad died, Slog and Davie notice a ragged-looking man sitting on the park bench near where they live. Slog is immediately convinced that this is his dad. Davie does not believe that that is Slog's Dad as readily. Slog's friend undergoes a test of faith. The format of the book, with short, compact written chapters interspersed with wordless series of dark, haunting illustrations, is just incredible. The book goes so quickly that it warrants more than one reading. A wonder to behold!

Recommended for grades 5-9
Reviewed by Joe Drinka

Wild Wings

by Gill Lewis
Callum and his friends catch Iona, granddaughter of the town drunk and daughter of a reviled thief, fishing on Callum's farm. After they chase her off, Callum figures that's that, but Iona has a secret. A secret that's about Callum's farm and that she promises she'll share with Callum, if he'll only stop chasing her off. Callum can't resist the temptation and makes the bargain and he's awestruck when Iona shows him the nest. A pair of ospreys, one of the rarest and most endangered birds in Scotland, has chosen Callum's farm as their summer nesting grounds. Soon Callum's spending less and less time with his friends and more and more time with Iona watching the birds and keeping them safe. They even work with a local gamekeeper to learn how to track the birds when they'll have to migrate to Africa for the winter. Callum's old friends may give him a hard time, but otherwise everything is going well for Callum, Iona and the birds until tragedy strikes. Now Callum will learn what his friends and family are really made of. Filled with fascinating details about ospreys, Wild Wings will have you soaring with hope and dipping with fear and grief right along with Callum.

Recommended for grades 4-7
Reviewed by Jennifer Baker