This page will contain reviews of books that follow a certain theme: stories of adventure and survival. Follow the steps of the human experience taxed to the limit, overcoming odds and living to the extreme...without ever leaving the comforts of your home.
#1 Indigo
Hoffman, Alice. Indigo. Scholastic, 2009. ISBN: 978-0-439-25636-0
Don't let the slimness of this book fool you: it is a full, rich story told in a quick way and in a short amount of time. Every word and phrase is chosen carefully, and the characters are so intricately described and woven together, one will find oneself wishing for a sequel when the book finally comes to completion.
Martha Glimmer has had a terrible year. Her mother has died and a woman who doesn't like kids has taken over her grieving father's life. In addition, Martha has strange friends. One is called Trout and the other Eel. There are many reasons for their nicknames: a thin webbing between their fingers and toes, a strange taste in food (mostly preferring foods from the sea, even to candy) and a strong desire to be in or near water. Although the town folk shun the brothers, Martha considers them her best friends, and understands them explicitly while loving them unconditionally.
Due to unfortunate circumstances and a strong urge to leave, the three try to run away to the ocean. At first their journey is exciting, but soon it turns fearful as they are caught by the storm of the century, which threatens to destroy the town that has become truly hydrophobic, creating a group of people who do not know how to swim. Eel and Trout are now the only hope, able to shine the brightest, revealing their true natures and their unique past.
The descriptions of the characters are strong, the flow of the book is fast but leaves nothing important out, and the conclusion, although adequately finishing the story, leaves much to the imagination. A very rich fantasy for all ages.
#2 Fire At The Triangle Factory
Littlefield, Holly. Fire at the triangle factory. Illustrated by Mary O'Keefe Young. Learner Publishing Group, 1996. ISBN: 978-0-87614-970-6
Part of the On My Own (History) series of books, this is a perfect starter for a reluctant reader to be introduced to historic events and reading about the past. Although the characters are fictional, it is based on the real Triangle Factory fire that killed 146 workers in less than a half hour. This tragedy was due to the poor working conditions and non-existent worker's rights in the early turn of the 19th century factories.
Both Littlefield and O'Keefe carefully paint the story, leaving the tale basic and light. The deaths of fellow factory workers is not discussed in the text or illustrated in the watercolor that adds detail without being overly realistic, and the moral of the story comes from the crossing of social boundaries that saves two unlikely friends. The point of the book is to introduce young readers to the mistakes of our past in hopes that they will not be repeated.
The details are there, however, if one wants to find them. In a much smaller font, as an author's note and an afterword, the description of the actual Triangle Factory fire and the tragic deaths, along with the poor working conditions, are found. This is made available, but is not the highlight of the story, which focuses on two fictional friends in order to keep the tale relevant and light.
Readers as young as 8 may be able to handle the subject matter and the complexity of the story, while older reluctant readers may be swept into the illustrations and text as well.
#3 Tonight, By Sea
Temple, Frances. Tonight, by sea. HarperTrophy, 1995. ISBN: 978-0-06-440670-3
For anyone who wants to imagine themselves living a simple life with tropical surroundings, the sea and the shore for a backyard, food cooked over a fire, good friends and close family nearby, this is a story they would enjoy. However, there is a definite caveat to this description: extreme poverty, political oppression, the loss of loved ones and the desperate attempt to escape to a new world of promise.
Temple is nigh romantic in her depictions of the beauty of Haitian life for a young girl named Paulie. However, she is not afraid to then turn graphically dark in her descriptions of hunger, fear, and the feelings running through Paulie's head as she surveys the body of her friend who had been drug to death for speaking out against oppression and defending himself. For anyone who ever wondered why a family would risk life and limb to cross ocean water in a rickety boat, this book may answer some of their questions.
However, I would be remiss if I did not mention some obvious biases in the story. The dialogue between Paulie and her family and friends often has stark socialist ideals, while nothing is said of the fact that their journey to Miami is, in fact, illegal (and nothing is mentioned of the further implications of said illegal act on the society they are entering).
Despite this, the story is a treasure of insight into the beautiful Haitian culture, humanity and strength, as well as the plight of a desperate people: desperate for a future, for freedom, and for life.
# 4 How I Survived Middle School: Madame President
Krulik, Nancy. How I survived middle school: madame president. Scholastic, 2006. ISBN: 978-0-439-02556-7
In order to enjoy this book, the reader must first take it for what it is: a serial geared towards enticing young girls to visit the website associated with the book and, in turn, want to buy more books/merchandise from this publisher in the future. Once that thought is all settled, one can appreciate this book with the same level of appreciation one would give Hannah Montana or any other shallow-plotted series aimed at tween entertainment.
Jenny McAfee is the narrator and her life as a fresh sixth-grader is full of learning the ropes of middle school: how to navigate club sign-ups, how to handle the "Pops" (popular kids), and how to stay true to herself despite the temptation to retaliate with below-the-belt campaign tricks (in order to win the election and become sixth grade class president).
Due to the need to supplement the shallow plot, the book is full of recipes, quizzes and tips for surviving middle school that the reader could enjoy. However, one of the most annoying elements is the constant barrage of non-subliminal shouts to visit the website tied to the series: www.middleschoolsurvival.com. I could understand the author listing it once, as this is most likely part of her contract with the publisher. However, she has the protagonist in the book visit the site at least three times, and each time the reason seems more ridiculous and out of context than the next.
Despite this, the book is simple to read and mildly entertaining. The website has an excellent design for tweens and creates a space for wholesome entertainment and activities. Considering this, I could think of a lot worse way to spend an afternoon.
# 5 Silver
Whelan, Gloria. Silver. Random House, 1998. ISBN: 0-394-89611-4
Imagine growing up in a land where the winter days are short, and during the few hours of sunshine you peer out your classroom window to catch a glimpse of the biggest mountain in North America. Imagine attending a festival in a city frozen by ice with brightly colored balloons in the air and warm storefronts on the streets, or the joy of raising sled dogs and spending more time with these animals than the only person your age around (who lives 15 miles away and can only visit weather permitting). Imagine watching your father train for one of the longest, toughest, most challenging races in the world: the Iditarod.
This is the setting of a beginner chapter book about a young girl in Alaska who helps her family raise huskies, dreaming of the day she will race her own dogs. On her birthday she is given a puppy of her very own. It is the runt of the litter - the least valuable - but due to Rachel's care and attention, the puppy surpasses even it's siblings to become a courageous, strong young dog.
Whelan, drawing from her own experience briefly living in Alaska, does a fine job of describing the beauty and wonder of the area, while leaving the verbiage and sentence structure simple enough for beginning readers. Her descriptions will inspire young readers to explore the globe, experiencing the cold of a long winter night, the howl of a wolf and the glimmer of the bright Alaskan snow.
# 6 Rescue on the Outer Banks
Ransom, Candice F. Rescue on the outer banks. Illustrated by Karen Ritz. Millbrook Press, 2002. ISBN: 978-0-87614-815-0
The Pea Island crew of the U.S. Life-Saving Service was an all-black group of Americans who fought to save lives in trouble at sea. With these heroic acts, they formed an organization that would one day become the U.S. Coast Guard, leaving a legacy of life and sacrifice. On October 11th, 1896, a terrible storm caught seven sailors at sea leaving them in great peril. The Pea Island Crew rescued all seven, in water so stormy they could not use conventional rescue equipment and had to swim with only a rope and harness connecting them to the shore. Despite this, not a single life was lost that night.
It would be almost 100 years later before these brave men are recognized for their heroic rescue, most likely because of racism that divided our nation in the 1800s. This book, which is a part of the On My Own history series, creates a fictional character - a young boy named Sam who cares for the horses on Pea Island - in order to re-tell the brave true events of that night in a compelling way for young tweens. Appealing to beginner readers, and those who are reluctant to read history books, this title is aided by the rich, detailed illustrations that look to be a mixture of watercolor and pastels or pencil. The expressions on each face, the sand and the surf, the glorious sun and the torrents of rain are all plainly observed by the reader. This is a wonderful retelling of a forgotten event in history.
# 7 Kiss the Dust
Laird, Elizabeth. Kiss the dust. Puffin Books, 1991. ISBN: 0-14-036855-8
Laird, Elizabeth. Kiss the dust. Puffin Books, 1991. ISBN: 0-14-036855-8
The beauty of this book is that it deals with a coming-of-age in the midst of most extraordinary and often horrific circumstances. Tara is young in the beginning. She is a slightly immature schoolgirl, and acts it. Her parents have sheltered her, she has a good home, schooling, and an Arab friend who does not look down on her simply because she is a Kurd, as so many other Arabs in Iraq do. Life is relatively simple and good.
Then, one day, everything changes. Tara witnesses a young Kurdish boy being executed, and her eyes begin to open. As events start to unravel around her, she learns many things: her father is a high-ranking leader in a rebellion, her uncle is a fighter, her mother is supportive, but afraid...her whole world begins to change.
Forced to flee their home, Tara learns many life lessons among the terror of village bombings, the misery of refugee camps and the threat of family illness. Tara, truly, comes of age.
# 8 Far North
A Native Indian, by the name of Raymond, is a young teen disconnected from his Dene tribal past. A newcomer, Texan Gabe Rogers, is looking for a year of adventure in the far north at the Northwest Territories boarding school that is near his father. An aging, forgotten man, Raymond's uncle, is sure that his days on this earth are coming to an end.
These are the three unlikely comrades who must face the elements, fight hunger and, ultimately, cheat death to survive a long, harsh winter in the Far North. Longer and more complex than Gary Paulsen's Hatchet, but definitely carrying the same excitement and simple story of survival, this is a thrilling read.
# 9 The Adventures of Brady Bean: Operation Georgie Porgie
Wafer, C.K. The adventures of brady bean: operation georgie porgie. Illustrated by Alishea Myers. CK Books, 2007. ISBN: 978-0-9797580-0-3
It may be a true statement that there has not been a boy who was never pestered by his older sister and had not dreamed of revenge. Brady Bean is just such a boy. As his older sister reveled in gluing his pants to a chair during his first day of school, and then allowing her friends to assume he had blown out a hole in his jeans with a bad case of gas, he knew that he had to find a way to gain revenge.
Coupled with his two friends, Annie and Troy, the detective work is underway, along with all the suburban adventures Brady can muster. The simplicity of this book and the illustrations are what make it an enjoyable read. Very relate-able to modern day tweens, this will be an enjoyable afternoon read.
# 10 Who Was Anne Frank?
Abramson, Ann. Who Was Anne Frank? (Who Was series). Illustrated by Nancy Harrison. Grosset and Dunlap, 2007. ISBN: 978-0-448-44482-6
The "Who Was" series of historical biographies uses illustrations, simple language and relevant subject matter to relay information to tweens regarding important individuals of our past. Harrison's pencil sketch drawings bring to light the setting, dress and expressiveness of the people in Frank's life. The book itself sets the pace quickly: "Anne Frank's life was short. She was only fifteen years old when she died in 1945."
Some may say that too many books have been written about Anne Frank, when so many other victims of war never get their stories told. However, due to the political turmoil in our present-day politics, and groups of people that still try to say the Holocaust either was justified or never existed, I feel this is an important introduction for young readers into that terrible time and place in history.
Anne Frank had close friends, liked to laugh and play pranks. Anne Frank was a fan of the movies. Anne liked to throw parties and treat her guests like royalty. Furthermore, Anne Frank was afraid, and had to endure terrible hardships.
Although the historical background and world events are all discussed and listed, the parts of the biographies that will catch the interest of tweens are the parts about Anne herself. Even today she still finds ways to captivate the minds of readers, opening their eyes to the many real, human souls that were lost in the Holocaust.
# 11 The Mouse and the Motorcycle
Cleary, Beverly. The mouse and the motorcycle. Illustrated by Louis Darling. Dell Publishing Company, 1965. ISBN: 0-440-46075-1
I have a memory of lying in my bed, listening to my mother read The Mouse and the Motorcycle. We were at the end of chapter 6, with the terrible vacuum cleaner that was headed towards Ralph, the mouse. I was so caught up in the story I felt it was an awful thing my mother did by making me go to sleep, forcing me to wait until the following night to learn of Ralph's fate.
Cleary is a beloved author for a reason. Her stories are imaginative and fun. This one, in particular, has exciting adventure as well. Ralph, a daring mouse, becomes friends with a human boy and learns (as if by magic) to ride his toy motorcycle. The tag line on my 1965 version of the book reads: "Speed, fun -- and daredevil escapades!"
It sure is!
# 12 Hans Christian Andersen
Tales of adventure, indeed! The particular collection of Andersen stories I reviewed, illustrated by Michael Adams and published by Unicorn Publishing House in 1990, is just one of many collections of stories said to have been authored/recorded by this individual.
They are all enjoyable, and they all have an element of adventure and survival. Michael Adams does a fine job of illustrating in colorful detail the various characters, in keeping with a middle-ages dress and feel.
But, be warned! Although the stories may seem familiar, as with the story titled "The Little Mermaid", they do not always end happily ever after, nor are they gentle enough for tots. In this particular example, the little mermaid has her tongue cut out by a sea sorceress in exchange for a potion that will change her tail to human legs in hopes of gaining the love of a Prince - her only hope for an immortal soul. Not only does her transformation feel like being cut in two with a sword, her new human legs will cause her "great pain...and every step you take...will feel as if you are treading upon sharp knives, and that the blood must flow."
Furthermore...she never gets the guy! Despite this sad state of affairs, the story is actually very good. The descriptions, characters and imaginative settings will draw the reader in. The shortness of the tales is ideal for tweens, along with the colorful illustrations.
Whichever collection you acquire, make sure the illustrations compliment and the stories are descriptive and accurate, as this will be the most enjoyable representation of Andersen's works.
#13 Roughing It On The Oregon Trail
Stanley, Diane. Roughing it on the oregon trail (the time traveling twins). Illustrated by Holly Berry. ISBN: 978-0-06-449006-1
"Fun" is a good way to describe this series of books. "The Time Traveling Twins" is a series similar to that of The Magic Schoolbus in that it takes modern-day children and transports them into the subject they are discovering in a very real, tangible way.
Twins Liz and Lenny go to visit their grandmother while their parents are on vacation in Paris. They don't know it yet, but soon they will be transporting with their grandmother back in time to meet their great, great, great, great grandmother as a child on the Oregon Trail.
They spend months traveling the trail with the wagon train. During this time playful banter and candid conversation are written into dialogue bubbles, while the narrative is written on the page above the colorful, cartoonish illustrations. They climb mountains, hunt buffalo, meet Native Americans and dance around campfires. The struggles and tragedies are briefly covered, but the tone of this text is definitely light-hearted and adventurous.
