The Wonder of Charlie Anne by Kimberly Newton Fusco

Charlie Anne’s mother has died in childbirth.  Her father and older brother go north to build roads and earn money to keep the family farm.  Charlie Anne and her siblings are left with cousin Mirabel, who saddles Charlie Anne with an endless list of chores and having to listen to the Charm of Fine Manners in hopes of teaching her how to keep house and be a respectable lady.  With her family torn apart Charlie Anne has only the river, her mama and cows Anna May and Belle with whom she communicates.  Then one day her neighbor gets a new wife, Rosalyn who has a daughter, Phoebe.  Phoebe’s mother has also died.  Charlie Anne, Phoebe, and Rosalyn begin to spend time together, despite objections from Mirabel and other town folks.  The girls become friends, sharing and learning from one another.

The characters in this book, both people and animals are what make this book most enjoyable.  Readers will immediately sympathize with Charlie Anne as she struggles with the changes that are taking place in her life.  Rosalyn and Phoebe are welcomed characters as they bring positive change into the lives of first Old Mr. Jolly and Charlie Anne’s life, then others in town.  There are many instances of humor (i.e conversation with cows) mixed in with the sadness that many of the characters experience.  The author tells a wonderful story of friendship and family and writes with such richness that readers experience the setting and characters first-hand.

I would recommend The Wonder of Charlie Anne to readers in grades 5-8 that enjoy books with strong female characters.  This may also be a book for those that enjoy Sarah, Plain, and Tall and The Little House on the Prairie series, as there are some similar elements in all of these books.  This could also be a good book for a child that has dyslexia, either as a read alone or to be read aloud by a parent. 

The Wonder of Charlie Anne would make a great choice for a book discussion group.  There are many themes such as bullying, prejudice, family relationships, and friendship that could produce some thoughtful discussion.

Ninth Ward By Jewell Parker Rhodes

2011 Coretta Scott King Honor Book Award

Twelve-year old Lanesha lives in New Orleans Ninth Ward with Mama Ya-Ya, who birthed Lanesha and has been been her mother-grandmother since Lanesha's own mother died during childbirth.  Mama Ya-Ya and the other families in her Ninth Ward community is all Lanesha knows.  She has family in Uptown, but they are scared of Lanesha because she can see and communicate with ghosts.  Mama Ya-Ya is able to see the future, and it is through her visions she learns that Hurricane Katrina is on the way.  The hurricane passes and Mama Ya-Ya and Lanesha survive.  The flooding that follows presents a different struggle.

The author presents a believable story showing the power of family and determination.  Some readers will be able to relate to Lanesha's family experience and maybe not having many friends, but having a few good one.  Readers will also feeling all the love that Mama Ya-Ya showers on Lanesha.  Many readers will have some familiarity with Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath as told by the media.  However this story presents a fictionalized account told from the perspective of children and adults that lived in the community.  The pace of the story keeps readers engaged, knowing the hurricane is coming and the devastation that it will cause, and wishing Lanesha and her mother-grandmother well.  The characters are well-developed and the setting is described in a manner that makes the reader feel a part of the story.

I would recommend Ninth Ward to readers that enjoy family, survival, and ghost stories.  This book may also be of interest to youth that are interested in hurricane and tornadoes and could be paired with non-fiction materials on the subject. I believe this book would be most appropriate for readers in grades 5-8 due to vocabulary and content.

For use in a library setting, Ninth Ward could be used in displays about hurricanes, supernatural, family, friendship, and survival.  It would also make a good read-aloud and as a choice for a book club discussion.

12 Brown Boys by Omar Tyree

A collection of short stories that feature 12 different brown boys (African American and Jamaican) in different cities and living different lifestyles.  Red-Head Mike is known and loved by all in the neighborhood, but is unhappy with his fiery red hair that makes him more noticeable, until talking to his uncle.  The Jamaica boys spend most of their time outside shooting marbles, collecting bottles, and flying kites.  William lives in Santa Monica, CA, attends a private school, and is committed to serving youth less fortunate than him.  Antwan hates reading in front of the class, and gets a surprise lesson from his father that makes this task bearable.

This book could appeal to males because of the diverse experiences shared.  The characters live in urban and suburban settings, are involved in academic, sports, and community service, have siblings or maybe the only child, and belong to both single parent and two parent families.  The book also refers to hip hop artists of which most youth are familiar.  The author tries to stay true to the character's setting by incorporating the dialect and vocabulary of the area (i.e. Brooklyn and Jamaica).  Females would also enjoy these stories, as they could see a brother and friends within these characters.

                                                                                                                                 

I would recommend this book to youth in grades 4-6 because this is the age of most of the book's characters.  Also youth at this age would be able to relate and see themselves within this book.  Whether a reader is an academic, sport-enthusiast, music lover, or some of all there is story for everyone.  The author also incorporates topics that may appeal to many young male such as comics, video games, hanging out with friends, sports, and sibling rivalry.

12 Brown Boys could be used in a father-son book club.  There is also the possibility of using in a display of “Must-Reads for Boys” and for inclusion on a “Great Book for Boys” reading list.

Ruby and the Booker Boys: Trivia Queen, 3rd Grade Supreme by Derrick Barnes

Ruby Booker is smart, confident, and determined.  As the youngest child and the only girl with three older brothers, Ruby she is ready to shine and be as popular as her brothers.  Ruby gets her chance in this second installment in the Ruby and the Booker Boys series.  The book begins with Ruby as the sole female survivor in a game of tag ball (combination of dodge ball and freeze tag).  She surprises her male opponents and leads the 3^rd grade to sweet victory.  More good fortune follows as Ruby learns that the zookeeper is not only bringing animals, which she loves, to Ruby’s class, but also has a big announcement.  Ruby can’t wait to find out what it is.  Readers can take the Ruby Challenge at the end of the book.


There are many elements that make this book successful.  I believe that it appeals to a wide audience of readers in grades 1-3.  This book is a good choice for readers that have mastered beginning readers, but are not quite ready for upper level chapter books because it combines more text and also includes illustrations.  Ruby is a likeable character and one in which most elementary children are able to relate as they think about their interactions with their own family, best friends, classmates, and teachers.  Children will delight in Ruby’s excitement as she participates and excels in a variety of school activities.  The pace is appropriate for the book and is balanced to keep a reader’s interest without being overwhelming with too many characters or shifts in settings.  All of the characters are enjoyable, well-described, and illustrated nicely so readers can know the character at which they are looking when they come to an illustration.  The author has done a great job of accurately portraying children, their humor, and mannerism and there is a mix of male and female characters that could make this a gender neutral choice.


I think this book would appeal to both male and female readers.  Although Ruby is the star of the book, her brothers and male classmates play significant roles allowing male readers to see themselves in the text.  Readers that enjoy series such as Junie B. Jones and Amy Hodgepodge would also enjoy this book.  This book also provides a great representation for African American girls to see themselves, someone that may look, talk, and act like them.


In a library setting, this book can be used as an introduction to series book, a stepping to higher level chapter book.  Ruby and the Booker Boys would also be a good selection for a mother-daughter book club.  The book could be read aloud leading up to library trivia program.  There is a possibility of the library or school partnering with the local zoo to offer a similar program and reward.

Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by N. Geri

2011 Coretta Scott King Honor Book Award

Eleven-year-old Robert “Yummy” Standifer kills 14-year-old neighbor Shavon Dean on Chicago’s southside, while aiming for a rival gang member.  After the shooting, Yummy is on the run while the police and eventually fellow gang members are hunting him.  Roger, Yummy’s classmate, narrates this story based on real events.

This book would appeal to mature audience in grades 6-8, that enjoy graphic novels.  The illustrations are realistic in that the reader can see the intensity and emotions revealed by characters.  The pace keeps the reader engaged because from Yummy’s actions (i.e. home invasion, car theft, gang affiliation) a guess can be made that he is going down a destructive path, but the exact course is unknown. 

I would recommend this book to readers that enjoy graphic novels and those that I know could handle mature material and have an interest in urban literature.  There is no profanity in this book, but because of the violence and questions that readers are left to explore, this is appropriate for youth in grades 7 and higher.  How would Yummy’s life have been different if he was raised in a different manner or environment?  Should children be charged as adults?

I would use this in an urban lit book discussion group and in a display with other graphic novels.

Uh-oh! by Rachel Isadora

A day in the life of a toddler is chronicled in Uh-oh!.  From waking up to bedtime readers experience uh-oh moments with this young characters.  Each page consist of a one- or two-word phrase accompanied by a picture.  The following picture is the uh-oh scene.  Scenes include eating breakfast then dumping breakfast over head, looking at crayons then using crayons to write on the walls, grandpa reading a bedtime story (uh-oh, grandpa falling asleep). 

The book will be enjoyed by preschooler that will recognize these everyday experiences.  The short text and illustrations allows toddlers to “read” along with their adult or to pretend read to the parent.  The expressions and mannerisms of the child offer parents the opportunity to discuss what is going on in the book.

I would recommend this book to parents of toddlers and preschooler.  It is a great book for parents to read aloud and in which children can also be involved because they are able to read the illustrations.

In a library setting this book could be used in a toddler and preschool storytime and paired with books such as No, David by David Shannon and Please, Baby, Please by Spike Lee.  This book also offers a representation of a child and mother with “locked” hair, which is not often seen in picture books and a hair choice that is not understood by a lot of young children.

Ron's Big Mission by Rose Blue

Ron is excited.  He skips breakfast, turns down a doughnut from the local shopkeeper, and passes on shooting baskets with his friend Carl.  Ron has important plans at the Lake City Public Library.  He arrives at the library, greets the librarian, and heads for the shelves.  After selecting several books on aviation Ron proceeds to check out desk, where he is ignored by the desk clerk.  Ron is determined to check out his own book, although library policy only allows white people to check out books for African Americans, but not for African Americans to have their own library card.  Ron refuses to budge even after the police and his mother are called to the library.  In the end Ron obtains a library card and walks home to pursue his dream.  Readers learn from the author’s note that this book is a fictional account based on the life of astronaut Ronald McNair.

The plot is one element that makes this book successful.  In looking closely from beginning to end, the reader glimpses Ron’s interest in space.  There is a model rocket and airplane, he’s looking at the moon, and a solar system mobile is hanging in his room.  However the reader is unaware until later in the book what is Ron’s mission.  Both the text and illustrations make this an engaging book as readers can think about what will happen next and discuss how the characters feel based on facial expressions.  The language is accessible by not being preachy and degrading to the point that a reader may be uncomfortable or turned off by this book.

This book could be used as an introduction to the library for children in grades 3 and up.  After reading, the librarian could discuss how Ron entered the library, how he selected his books, the care that he took with the books, and talk about the responsibility and priviledge of having a library card.  The discussion of why some people were allowed library cards while others were not would also need to be addressed.  I would also recommend this book to children that have an interest in aviation, along with recommending a biography about Ronald McNair and books about planes.

Ron’s Big Mission could be used in a display to highlight a program about planes or to celebrate National Aviation Day.

Lucky Beans by Becky Birtha

Set during the Great Depression, Lucky Beans tells the story of an African American family surviving during this time.  As the title indicates beans play a significant role in this story and are the staple for many dinnertime meals eaten by the family.  Marshall and his younger brother are on the way to school when they pass a furniture store and notice a sign advertising a bean-guessing contest.  The closest guess wins a sewing machine.  Marshall had seen his mother eyeing this machine that cost a whopping $23.95, and knows this is not an amount his mother can afford.  Marshall knows that if his mother could win the machine this would help the family as she would be able to mend more.  Marshall and his mother use their math skills and the large amount of beans he often complains about to enter a guess into the contest.

The setting of this book may be unfamiliar to most children.  However with current economic conditions some youth may have overheard or been a part of conversation with adults talking about the Depression.  Children are also introduced to listening to programs on the radio instead of watching TV.  Lucky Beans does a great job of highlighting a family and focusing on the positive aspects during this troubling time for many.  Children will be able to relate and laugh at Marshall’s “Beans! Again? (Birtha 3).  The illustrations are very detailed, capturing the facial expressions and emotions of each character. 

I would recommend this book to children that I know enjoy a heartwarming story about families, children interested in math or contests, and history.  I believe that this book is most appropriate for children in grades 4 and up due to the content and the need to answer some questions regarding the Great Depression and the effect it had on families.  There may also be conversation about the treatment between races.

This book could be used in the library during a math and literacy activity or program.  A similar contest could be held in the library to encourage math skills. The librarian could also recommend to classroom teachers when teaching estimating and to show the importance of learning math.

Lola Loves Stories by Anna McQuinn

Each Saturday preschooler Lola visits the busy library with her dad and takes home a week-load of book.  Every night Lola’s parents read a different story to her.  The next day Lola’s imagination takes her on a different adventure based on the book to which she listened .  One day she is a fairy princess.  Another day she is has her tools and is fixing her house.  A new day bring a new book and a different adventure. 

Lola Loves Stories is a perfect selection for a preschooler, as the text is short, and the illustrations detailed.  Lola’s imagination adventures would appeal to many children who enjoy pretend play.

I would recommend this book to parents because of children ages 2-6 as it is a fun read aloud.  This book also offers an overview of the diverse books that are available in the library.  Some familiar and appropriate books for this age group are referenced in Lola Loves Stories.  Old MacDonald is one such title.  Children may also recognize Max from Where the Wild Things Are.

Lola Loves Stories could be used in a preschool storytime on imagination or different careers as Lola dresses as pilot and farmer.  Also after reading this book, the librarian could talk about the variety of books that are available in libraries and how to get a library card.