Al Capone Does My Shirts

by Gennifer Choldenko
The year is 1935. The place is Alcatraz Island--an island that just happens to be a prison housing some of the country's worst criminals. So what's twelve-year-old Moose Flanagan doing there? Moose's father has just started a new job at the prison and his family has to live there. In fact, Moose is just one of 24 children who live on the island because their parents work there. But that doesn't exactly make him happy about it. First of all there's the fact that he's moved away from his friends. Then there are prisoners to consider. His first night on the island Moose sleeps with his shoes on and a baseball bat under the covers, and that's before he's even heard about Al Capone. But the hardest part for Moose isn't the adjustment to a new home. It's dealing with his sister Natalie and her "condition," known as Autism, which causes the most stress and exhaustion for his family. If she isn't able to get into the Esther P. Marinoff School for special children it will push his mother to the breaking point and may even get his father fired. When it seems that there is no other option, Moose reaches out to his last hope, a prisoner named Onion 105. What, if anything, can a prisoner behind the walls of Alcatraz do for him? Moose doesn't know for sure, but he is willing to take a chance. Watch for the sequel, Al Capone Shines My Shoes, coming this September to a library near you!

Recommended for grades 5-8
Reviewed by Tara Olson

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life

by Wendy Mass
Twelve-year-old Jeremy Fink has received an early birthday present from his dead father; a wooden box apparently containing the meaning of life. Confused? So is he. Before he died, Jeremy's father arranged for the box to be given to him on his thirteenth birthday. The problem is that the box cannot be opened without the specific keys made for it and those keys, it seems, have gone missing. Thrilled to receive this final gift from his father and desperate to open it in time for his birthday, Jeremy enlists the help of his best friend Lizzie to help him search. The two friends may be as different as night and day but together they embark on an exciting, and often very frustrating, journey through flea markets, talent shows, abandoned offices and even the New York subway. Their goal may be finding those four keys but along the way they learn a little something about themselves, the world around them and, ultimately, the real meaning of life.

Recommended for grades 5-8
Reviewed by Tara Olson

Montmorency: Thief, Liar, Gentleman?

by Eleanor Updale
Prisoner 493 has been given a second chance at life. The fall he took on the night he was caught by police should have been the end of him, but it wasn't. Instead, he became an experiment of Dr. Farcett, a brilliant young surgeon in Victorian England. His recovery is a painful one but the prisoner, now called "Montmorency," gains priceless knowledge during his time spent with the doctor and other members of the Scientific Society. He learns all about the new sewer system being built beneath London and before long has hatched an underhanded plan for when he returns to society. Upon his release from prison, Montmorency puts his plan into action. By day he is the well-dressed and sophisticated Montmorency. By night he is Scarper, the foul-smelling thief who uses the sewer system to go about London stealing from homes and businesses. With Scarper working at night Montmorency is able to maintain the appearance of a wealthy Londoner without anyone suspecting otherwise. But how long can he keep up the ruse? How long until someone recognizes him? This is a fast-moving story full of shady characters, close calls and good laughs.

Recommended for grades 5-8
Reviewed by Tara Olson

Red Moon at Sharpsburg

by Rosemary Wells
For India Moody growing up has just gotten a lot harder. Money is scarce, the country is at war, her school has closed and soon her father will leave to serve as an ambulance driver at the battlefield. India is given an opportunity not many young women would have been given in that era; she is to be tutored by Emory Trimble, a young neighbor home from university. Although his body is weak, Emory's mind is strong and he introduces India to science and medicine and other subjects thought too difficult for women to understand. As the years pass India flourishes and is soon dreaming of going to college herself. But college for women in the 1800's is almost unheard of. The cost alone is more than India can fathom and there is more at play than just money. The war is taking a horrible physical and emotional toll on her parents and soon Emory himself is planning on going to the battlefield as a doctor. With all of India's loved one scattered across the war-torn country is there any chance she can persevere and fulfill the dreams she holds in her heart? While this story is sad and even heart-breaking at times it is ultimately a story of hope in times of hopelessness.

Recommended for grades 6-8
Reviewed by Tara Olson

The New Policeman

by Kate Thompson
Celebrating St. Patrick's Day? You will want to grab this one or take the sound recording and listen with your family. If you have heard the tales of fairies and switching babies in their cradles, people being taken to T'ir na n'Og, pukas and other magical beings found throughout Ireland, this present day tale will pull you in. J.J. Liddy's family has close ties to the fairy world. In this title, J.J. and the mysterious new "policeman" must discover the leak between the two worlds before life as we know it is altered forever. Time (as well as all of the missing laundry socks) is invading the land of eternal youth as fairy magic and music are slipping into our land. Musical scores are included at the end of each chapter and are played for you on the sound recording. You may also want to check out the second title by this author, The Last of the High Kings. Happy March!

Recommended for grades 4-9
Reviewed by Koren Power

The City of Ember

by Jeanne duPrau
In the city of Ember, the sky is always dark. There is no natural source of light such as the sun and the moon. In fact, no one ever leaves Ember because the few flood lamps illuminating the city are left behind once you attempt to leave the city limits. What remains is a suffocating darkness that makes you feel as if you are being swallowed! Today is assignment day for twelve-year-olds Lina and Doon. At this time, they and the rest of their classmates have finished school and are about to be given their job in society. Lina wishes to be a messenger, but Doon wishes to be assigned to work underground in the Pipeworks Department. This is where the huge electric generator that powers the city and keeps it alive is housed. Unfortunately, the city of Ember is dying. The generator is growing weaker, and is about to give out completely. The townspeople are beginning to panic because the power is going out more often, and for longer periods of time. They feel they are doomed and are helpless to prevent it. Nevertheless, for Lina and Doon they believe there is one hope. That is to find the message left behind by the founders of Ember. It is a message explaining the way out. But will they find it in time – before the lights go out permanently and the people of Ember become extinct? Exactly where is the city of Ember? This novel is sure to keep you in suspense, and will be an enjoyable read before the movie comes out in October!

Recommended for grades 5-8
Reviewed by Rozanne Porter

Listening for Lions

by Gloria Whelan
Thirteen-year-old Rachel Sheridan is perfectly content living in British East Africa as the daughter of missionaries.  Her mother teaches the local children, and her father is a doctor at the mission hospital, where Rachel often gets to help.  When influenza sweeps the region and both of her parents die, Rachel is left an orphan.  Her cruel neighbors, the Pritchards, who lost their only daugher Valerie to influenza, take Rachel in as their own child, but only so she can go to London and pose as their daughter in order to earn an inheritance from her rich "grandfather."  She spends much of her time telling the grandfather stories of her life in Africa and finding rare birds in his garden, and also develops an affection for him.  Finding it difficult to live a lie, but also not wanting to disappoint her frail, sick grandfather, Rachel is torn between telling the truth and keeping things as they are.  When the mean Pritchards come to visit, Rachel knows she has to be true to herself if she will ever find her way back to happiness and Africa.

Recommended for grades 5-9
Reviewed by Sara Murray

A Drowned Maiden's Hair

by Laura Amy Schlitz
Eleven-year-old Maud Flynn is not your typical turn-of-the-century orphan. She's plain, she's naughty and she has no expectations of being adopted. And so she is surprised when three sisters decide that she is exactly the girl they've been looking for. Unfortunately, this is not where the happily ever after begins for Maud. Forced to hide away in her bedroom during the day, Maud tries to understand why she doesn't receive the love and affection she thought came from having a family. The sisters keep secrets from her and she soon questions their intense desire for her to be the "perfect little angel child." Once informed of her role in the sisters' deceptive business plan Maud must decide for herself the difference between good and bad and how much she is willing to risk for the love she so desperately wants.

Recommended for in grades 5-8
Reviewed by Tara Olson