Saint Louis Armstrong Beach

by Brenda Woods
Saint Louis Armstrong Beach, yes, that's his name, is in 7th grade, and has the world at his feet.  He is practically a virtuoso on his clarinet, and knows how to earn the most tip money from touristy spots in his vibrant native city of New Orleans.

Saint has some exciting other "beings" in his life, such as the dog Shadow.  Shadow, Saint's best friend, is the neighborhood dog who's usually on the run, but who always returns to Saint.  Saint would really like to win back his neighbor MonaLisa and be friends with her again.  Also, there is that pesky girl Jupi, who read his palm and told him he has a short life line.

Overriding the story is the oncoming Hurricane Katrina.  Saint is forced to be brave in the face of this mighty tropical storm.  All the other people (and dog) in Saint's life are forced to withstand Katrina, as well.

Recommended for grades 5-9
Reviewed by Joe Drinka 

 

Second Fiddle

by Rosanne Parry
"If we had known it would eventually involve the KGB, the French National Police, and the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, we would have left that body in the river and called the Polizei like any normal German citizen; but we were Americans and addicted to solving other people's problems, so naturally, we got involved."   That's how this page-turner by Rosanne Parry starts.  The year is 1990. The place is West Berlin, Germany.  The Berlin Wall has just come down, and the communist East is newly opened to the West. Violinist Jody and her friends Giselle and Vivian are preparing for their performance in a classical music contest in Paris.  The girls all live on the American military base in West Berlin, but will soon be parting ways; Jody and Giselle's families are moving back to the States.  The contest in Paris is to be their last adventure together as a trio.  One day on the way home from their private lesson, the girls decide to cross over Checkpoint Charlie to get some gelato from a shop on the East side of the Brandenburg Gate.  On their way back home, they see two Communist Russian soldiers beating another soldier and then dumping him into the river, leaving him for dead.  The girls run to his rescue, treat his wounds, and over the next couple of days cross back and forth from West to East Berlin to care for the wounded soldier.  Arvo turns out to be not Russian, but Estonian (which is why the Russians tried to kill him).   He fears for his life, and begs the girls to help him escape to the West.  What follows is a nail-biting adventure as the girls smuggle a wounded man across international borders to help him defect to the West.  Along the way they meet an odd assortment of characters including gypsies, artists, and a motley group of free spirits who live in the famous American bookshop in Paris, Shakespeare and Company.   They must evade spies, the KGB, and the police before the story is over. This book is a great adventure story that gives a very realistic look at both Germany and Paris of 1990.  I highly recommend reading this book. 

Recommended for grades 4-8
Reviewed by Alexa Newman 

Hound Dog True

by Linda Urban
Once again, Mattie will be starting a new school.  About to be in fifth grade, she is living with her family where her mom grew up.

Also living in the same immediate area as Mattie is her outspoken Uncle Potluck, who happens to be the janitor at the school Mattie will be attending.  It comes to be her plan to become an apprentice janitor with Uncle Potluck.  At least that way Mattie can write stories in her notebook and not be friendless during lunch and recess.

But what will happen if her plans for being a janitor's apprentice fall through?  Or why does that Quincy Sweet keep popping up out of nowhere?  Between her diary and her new friend, which one will turn out to be "hound dog true?"

Recommended for grades 3-6
Reviewed by Joe Drinka