Braille Book Review

May-June 2006

Books for Children

Fiction

Rakkety Tam: Redwall Abbey BR 15842
by Brian Jacques
3 volumes
Warrior squirrel Rakkety Tam leads Redwall Abbey into battle against Gulo the Savage, a bloodthirsty wolverine who will stop at nothing to recover the Walking Stone that will give him the authority to rule the lands of ice beyond the Great Sea. For grades 5-8. 2004.

A Boy No More BR 15847
by Harry Mazer
1 volume
After his father is killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor, Adam, his mother, and sister are evacuated to California. Adam deals with his feelings about the war, Japanese internment camps, and his own identity. Sequel to Boy at War (RC 52594, BR 13647). For grades 6-9. 2004.

The Little Blue House BR 15859
by Sandra Comino
1 volume
Latin American seventh-grader Cintia takes refuge from her abusive father near a mysterious abandoned house that changes color once a year. She and her best friend, Bruno, explore legends surrounding the magical place. But others try to exploit the house. Some violence. For grades 6-9. Americas Award commendation. 2003.

Emma's Strange Pet BR 15862
by Jean Little
1 volume
Emma is allergic to animals with fur, but she and her adopted brother, Max, really want a pet. They decide to get a lizard. Beginning chapter book. For grades K-3. 2003.

Beyond the Deepwoods: The Edge Chronicles, Book 1 BR 15878
by Paul Stewart
2 volumes
As Twig approaches age thirteen, his woodtroll mother reveals that he is adopted, thus explaining why he looks and feels like an outsider. Twig sets out to discover his true identity but faces many perilous adventures as he travels through the Deepwoods. For grades 6-9. 1998.

The Crow-Girl: The Children of Crow Cove BR 15888
by Bodil Bredsdorff
1 volume
After the death of her grandmother, an orphaned young girl leaves her lonely house by the cove to find a new home. She relies on the wisdom shared by her grandmother to gather together a new family. For grades 4-7. Batchelder Honor Book. 1993.

Lily's Ghosts BR 15903
by Laura Ruby
2 volumes
Thirteen-year-old Lily moves into her great-uncle's creepy summer home in Cape May, New Jersey. Strange goings-on prompt her and new friend Vaz to investigate a mystery involving lost treasure, a fake medium, and ghosts of all sizes, shapes, and dispositions. For grades 6-9. 2003.

Birthday Pony BR 15921
by Jessie Haas
1 volume
Popcorn (Grandma Aggie's pony) and Jane (Aggie's granddaughter) were born on the same day, but it takes a long time and a lot of work before Popcorn and Jane become riding partners. Beginning chapter book. For grades 2-4. 2004.

The Search for Belle Prater BR 15991
by Ruth White
1 volume
Virginia, 1950s. Seventh-graders Woodrow, his cousin Gypsy, and their new friend Cassie, who is gifted with second sight, set off to find Woodrow's missing mother. They encounter some unlikely and intriguing coincidences along the way. Sequel to Belle Prater's Boy (RC 45802, BR 11318). For grades 5-8. 2005. 2005.

Ella Enchanted BR 15992
by Gail Carson Levine
2 volumes
Ella was cursed at birth by a fairy--who thought she was bestowing a gift--to always be obedient. After her mother dies, Ella is at the mercy of two bossy girls and their mother. The enchantment even puts her love for Prince Charmont at risk, and Ella is determined to get rid of it. For grades 3-6. 1997.

Kira-Kira BR 15996
by Cynthia Kadohata
1 volume
Georgia, 1950s. Katie's close-knit Japanese American family puts up a brave front when Katie's older sister Lynn is diagnosed with a terminal illness. The family even goes into debt to buy a house, hoping Lynn's health will improve there. For grades 6-9. Newbery Medal. 2004.

National Velvet BR 15997
by Enid Bagnold
2 volumes
Classic story of a girl and her horse. Fourteen-year-old Velvet Brown is determined to turn the unruly piebald horse she won in a raffle into a champion. But it will take more than just hard work and dedication to win the Grand National steeplechase. For grades 6-9. 1935. 1935.

Encore, Grace! BR 15998
by Mary Hoffman
1 volume
Grace and her friends face unfamiliar experiences: a new girl in class, taking part in a Christmas play, losing a dear friend, and challenging the grown-ups to talk to them about situations that could affect their lives. Chapter book. Sequel to Starring Grace (BR 13916). For grades 2-4. 2003. 2003.

Guji Guji BR 16013
by Chih-Yuan Chen
1 volume
Mother Duck's eggs hatch into three regular ducklings and a rather odd-looking one, Guji Guji. But the mother treats and loves them all the same. When three grown crocodiles arrive to tell Guji Guji his real identity, they test his family loyalty. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 2003.

Circle Unbroken: The Story of a Basket and Its People BR 16014
by Margot Theis Raven
1 volume
A grandmother takes her granddaughter in her arms to show her how to weave a sweetgrass basket. She tells her of the ancestors who learned basketmaking in Africa and of the way they handed down the tradition to their families. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3 and older readers. 2004.

Featherless: Story / Desplumado:Cuento BR 16017
by Juan Felipe Herrera
1 volume
Spina bifida keeps Tomasito in a wheelchair, where he often feels like his featherless pet bird, Desplumado, who cannot fly. But with the bird's help, he finds freedom on the soccer field. Bilingual English/Spanish book. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. (Tomasito sufre de la espina bífida y anda en una silla de ruedas. Muchas veces se siente igual a Desplumado, su pájaro que no tiene plumas y que no puede volar. Pero con la ayuda de Desplumado, Tomasito va a buscar éxito en el campo de fútbol. Edición bilingüe en inglés y español. Para grados K a 3.) 2004.

Precious and the Boo Hag BR 16019
by Patricia C. McKissack and Onawumi Jean Moss
1 volume
Before leaving Precious alone, her mother warns her not to let anyone inside the house. Her big brother tells Precious about Pruella the Boo Hag, who will try to trick her way through the door. Precious doesn't believe him until Pruella arrives. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 2005. 2005.

Hold My Hand: Five Stories of Love and Family BR 16099
by Charlotte Zolotow
1 volume
Thoughts about brothers, sisters, babies, and parents, too. The title piece is a poem about wanting human contact while outside on a cold, snowy night. In "Big Brother," teasing makes a younger sister cry until she realizes her brother just wants to play with her. For preschool-grade 2. 2003. 2003.

The Dark Pond BR 16147
by Joseph Bruchac
1 volume
Half-Armenian and half-Shawnee Indian, Armie feels more comfortable with animals than with his new classmates. When he is drawn toward a dark, shadowy pond in the woods, Armie looks to old Native American tales for guidance about the dangerous monster lurking in the water. For grades 6-9. 2004. 2004.

Harry Potter y la Orden del Fénix (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) BR 15643
by J.K. Rowling
9 volumes
Después de cumplir el cuarto curso de Hogwarts, Harry se encuentra otra vez pasando un verano tedioso con los Dursley en el mundo de los Muggles. Pero todo esto cambia cuando es atacado por los temibles Dementors. Sigue a Harry Potter y el Cáliz de Fuego (BR 14713). Para grados 4 a 7 y lectores mayores. (The summer after Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts--covered in Harry Potter y el Cáliz de Fuego (BR 14713)--finds him back with the Dursleys, isolated in the Muggles' world. But that changes when he is attacked by Dementors. For grades 4-7 and older readers.) 2003.