When the Whistle Blows by Fran Cannon Slayton

This book was written in an unusual way. Jimmy Cannon describes events that happen each All Hallows' Eve from 1943 to 1949. In the first entry, Jimmy is a 7th grader. Each year, something different is described...a funeral, a football game, scaring other people, and the like. It definitely captures the voice of an adolescent male.

Because of the way it's written, it's easy to stop and start with each chapter. It was also a quick read. The characters continue to develop throughout each story building a sense of community/family. I grew up in a small town, and though the setting is different, I am able to relate to the stories being told. It's a very well done book describing small town life in the '40s.

Audience: especially boys

Genre: historical fiction

Topics: changing times, railroad, football, robbers, death, family, older brothers, emphysema, pneumonia, mischief, The Society, father/son relationships

Mrs. Beckwith's Rating: 3.5 of 5 (maybe even 4 of 5)

Amazon reviews

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

What a bizarre book! I must say, however, that I was drawn into it. It starts rather slowly, but then builds to the point where you really don't want to put it down because you want to see how the mystery unfolds. Only problem....it's part of a planned trilogy, so it leaves you hanging at the end.

Thomas, he can't remember his name, comes to as he's riding in some type of elevator. When he gets to the top, he's pulled out by a group of boys. He finds himself in a different world of sorts, the Glade.

Many boys live in the Glade. They all have different jobs they perform, from medics to butchers, to map makers, to runners. The Keepers are boys who are designated to be in charge of each job area and those assigned to them. They maintain the order in the Glade.

Life in the Glade is odd. The boys seem to have their own language. No one remembers life outside the Glade unless they've gone through the Changing. The Changing is brought on by being stung by a Griever. The Grievers are part mechanical, part fleshy. I had a hard time visualizing what exactly the Grievers looked like, but I could understand the fear they caused in the Gladers.

I'm only rating it a 3.5 of 5 because obviously, I did get sucked in and wanted to finish the book, but there were times it was tedious. Take a look at some of the reviews on Amazon, and you'll understand more of what I'm talking about. If you like science fiction, it's worth reading. If you don't, I probably wouldn't suggest starting with this one.

Also, I was annoyed with the author's decision to devise what are thinly disguised swear words peppered throughout the book. "Klunk" was one of the main offenders, and after only a few chapters, the reader quickly realizes what klunk is really a substitution for.

Genre: science fiction

Audience: boys and girls, but probably more boys

Topics: problem solving, dystopia, persistence in the midst of struggle, beasts, mazes, running, maps, mind alteration, memory loss, mystery, controllers, experiment

Mrs. Beckwith's rating: 3.5 of 5

Caution: violent in some parts, and language (though much if it is made up by the author)

Amazon reviews

Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman

Vidya is a fifteen-year-old girl who lives in British occupied India in 1941. Her family (father, mother, brother, and Vidya) is a non-traditional Indian family. Her father is a doctor, and he volunteers his services to the freedom fighters. Gandhi was a key promoter of non-violent protests in India.

When Vidya's father is injured during a protest, everything changes. She has to leave the girls school she attends to move with her family to her grandfather's house where she'll be living with her more traditional extended family including aunts, uncles and a cousin.

There is some conflict between the families, but Vidya stays strong to her beliefs. I thought the book did a good job of depicting some of the tensions that would have been apparent in the early 1940s India. It gave many insights into the culture and religious beliefs of Hindu Indians. I'd highly recommend this book.

Genre: historical fiction

Audience: middle school (girls more likely to enjoy it)

Topics: arranged marriages, girls and education, caste system, Hindu beliefs, Hindu festivals, Brahmins, British rule, World War II, pacifism, family life, brain injury, equality, prejudice, jealousy

Mrs. Beckwith's rating 4 of 5

Amazon reviews

Alabama Moon by Watt Key

Alabama Moon is about a boy named Moon Blake. He is raised in the forest by his father. He doesn't know much about civilization, but he can survive most anything in the wilderness. After his dad dies, leaving Moon alone, Moon's situation is discovered, and he's placed in government care. There he meets some boys and the real adventure begins. Look out for adult "bad guys" and some "good guys," too. Would you be able to survive on your own in the wilderness? Would you be able to evade the bad guys?

Genre: realistic fiction, survival fiction

Topics: orphan, bullies, Alabama, government resistors, survival, police, dogs, family, sickness, unexpected friends, truth vs. lies, dysfunctional families, acceptance

Recommended audience: boys gr 6 or 7 (though older kids and girls may like it, too), reluctant readers

Mrs. Beckwith's rating: 4 of 5

Cautions: language

Amazon reviews

The Red Blazer Girls: the ring of Rocamadour

What a fun read for those who like English and math, especially girls. It's a mystery that surrounds an estranged family and needs math/geometry amongst other things to solve. There are many references to Charles Dickens and Great Expectations throughout the book. The dialogue is fast-paced. Like several others who have reviewed this book, I can't wait for the second installment. Great fun!

Four girls who attend a private all-girl Catholic school stumble upon a mystery and proceed to solve it through a variety of efforts and with different "helpers" along the way. It's just another reminder that things aren't always what they seem.

Genre: contemporary realistic fiction; mystery/detective story

Topics: mystery, estranged family, math, geometry, Pythagorean Theorem, Charles Dickens, Great Expectations, private school, Catholicism, artists, school dance, liking a boy, ancient artifacts, friendship, jealousy

Mrs. Beckwith's rating: 4.5 of 5

Amazon reviews

Hannah's Winter by Kierin Meehan

Hannah is an Australian girl who is taking Japanese at her school. Her mom, a writer, decides write about Japanese gardens, so she takes Hannah with her to Japan. While the mom is off researching her book, Hannah stays with a Japanese family and learns more Japanese.

While she is with the Japanese family, an adventure unfolds beginning with a mysterious message and strange occurrences which lead to a ghost boy.

I think the thing I liked best about this book was how much I learned about Japanese culture and some history. It didn't feel like I was "learning." The information was necessary in the story development. I'd encourage anyone to read this who is interested in Japanese culture with some Australian culture mixed in.

Genre: fantasy (supernatural), but contemporary, multicultural

Topics: Japan, paper art, ghosts, culture, spirit world, family, riddle, haiku, donuts

Mrs. Beckwith's rating: 4 of 5

Amazon reviews

The Girl Who Threw Butterflies by Mick Cochrane

Molly is an 8th grader, and her dad has recently died in a car accident. One of the things she and her father shared was a love of baseball. In fact, he taught her to throw a knuckleball.

When spring arrived, Molly decided that she wanted to try out for the baseball team rather than the softball team. She encountered some resistance because, after all, she's a girl.

Walk with Molly along her journey as she discovers more about her mother, friends, the baseball team, and most of all, herself.

Genre: realistic fiction, contemporary

Topics: baseball, knuckleball, death of father, tension with mother, coaches, best friend, boys, pitching

Mrs. Beckwith's rating: 3 of 5

Amazon reviews