Maniac Magee

Spinelli, J. (2008). Maniac magee. Paw Prints.

Originally published in 1990.

ISBN: 9780316807227 | hardcover | 184p. | $15.95 USD

Annotation:  After his parents die, Jeffrey Lionel Magee's life becomes legendary, as he accomplishes athletic and other feats which awe his contemporaries.

Cover image courtesy of goodreads.com

Book Talk:  Maniac Magee. Is he an ordinary kid? Or a superhero?  It’s difficult to say when even the citizens of Two Mills aren’t even sure what to make of him.  Some claim he was a myth, others say he was real.  But one thing everyone can agree on is Maniac Magee, born Jeffrey Lionel Magee, had some skillz!  He single-handedly showed up the varsity football team, braved Mr. Finsterwald’s backyard where kids never dared to tread,  ran faster than Mars Bar Thompson, shattered John McNabb’s strikeout record by hitting everything the pitcher hurled at him—even a frog!  Maniac had the ability to entertain little kids, untie gigantic knots, and even change the deep rooted racial perceptions of the townspeople.  Ordinary kid or superhero?  Make up your own mind by running as fast as Maniac Magee to get a copy of this book. 

My favorite thing about the book:

This book is chock full of laughs and heart. 

First Sentence:

“They say Maniac Magee was born in a dump.”

Favorite characters:

Maniac and Grayson

Awards/Honors:

1990 Boston Globe/Horn Book Award

1991 Newberry Medal

Winner of numerous state children's book awards including the Mark Twain Award, Massachusetts Children’s Book Award, and the Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award

Learn More:

Don’t miss this interview series with author Jerry Spinelli as he discusses his books and life experiences.  In this video he talks about what he wanted to be as a kid.  He describes going to school dressed as a cowboy and singing “I’ve Got Spurs that Jingle Jangle Jingle” to his class.  To hear more from Jerry click here.

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The Count of Monte Cristo

Dumas, A., Eco, U., & Washington, P. (2009). The count of Monte Cristo. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 

Originally published in 1884 by Alexandre Dumas

ISBN: 9780743487559 | paperback | 620p. | $6.50 USD

Cover image courtesy of goodreads.com

Annotation:  Edmond Dantes is imprisoned in the island fortress of the Chateau d'If on a false political charge. After escaping he finds the treasure of Monte Cristo, making him wealthy.  He then sets upon the course of revenge against his old enemies.

Book Talk:  The ultimate tale of revenge!  A plot rich with intrigue, betrayal, theft, deception, poisoning, and murder...

• Set in France during the 100 Years War

• Edmond Dantes returns from years at sea to marry his beloved fiance, Mercedes.

• Dante never gets to marry because he is framed as a Napoleon traitor which lands him in prison.

• He hatches an escape and follows a treasure map given to him by a fellow prisoner.

• After finding the treasure on an island, he renames himself Count of Monte Cristo after the small island.

• Dante returns to France disguised as the Count of Monte Cristo and seeks his ultimate revenge.

But will it be enough?

Be sure to get an unabridged version as you won’t want to miss any of Dumas’s beautiful writing.  And don’t let the size intimidate you, it’s a book definitely worth the time! 

My favorite thing about the book:

Many older classics take time to get into and adjust to the language, but this one starts off at a run and doesn't let go.

First Sentence:

“On the 24^th of February, 1815, the watch-tower of Notre Dame de la Garde signaled the arrival of the three-master “Pharaon,” from Smyrna, Trieste, and Naples.”

Favorite character:

I’ll admit this book is brimming with characters which can sometimes be difficult to keep straight.  If you become mixed up or forget a few, use this handy chart.  But the standout character of course is Edmond Dantes/Count of Monte Cristo.

Awards/Honors:

None to date, but has been considered a classic for a century. 

Learn More:

Don’t miss the movie version of the book from 2002, starring Jim Caviezel and Guy Pearce.  Catch a sneak peek with this trailer:

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The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Selznick, B. (2007). The invention of Hugo Cabret: A novel in words and pictures. New York: Scholastic Press.

ISBN: 9780439813785 | hardcover | 511p. | $22.99 USD

Cover image courtesy of goodreads.com

Annotation:  When twelve-year-old Hugo, an orphan living and repairing clocks within the walls of a Paris train station in 1931, meets a mysterious toy seller and his goddaughter, his undercover life and his biggest secret are jeopardized.

Book Talk:  Hugo is forced to forage and thieve for survival after a fire leaves him orphaned and living secretly in a train station.  But a special object he keeps hidden behind the huge clocks of the station keeps him going.  Salvaged among burned ruins, this object is the one thing Hugo has left from his father, and he sets to work fixing it in hopes of revealing a message meant only for him from his father.  But what is it? Here is a clue…[open book and slowly show p. 52-59 (automaton sketches in notebook)]  And how will he fix it while living secretly in a train station?  Here are your hints…[show p. 100-101 (his friend Isabelle), p. 32-39 (toy booth owner, Georges) and p. 230-231 (heart shaped key)]  And most importantly, what message will it reveal?  For that, you’ll have to read The Invention of Hugo Cabret. 

Don’t pass this book up based on size!  Though 511 pages, its mix of drawings with text make it a quick read.  It’s a magical story you won’t forget!

My favorite things about the book:

The format of the book, text mixed with pencil drawings that focus in page by page, is captivating.  Another special thing about the book is its emphasis on the type of magic that can be found anywhere!

First Sentence:

“From his perch behind the clock, Hugo could see everything.”

Favorite character:

Hugo Cabret

Awards/Honors:

2008 Caldecott Medal
National Book Award Finalist
A New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2007
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2007
2007 Quill Award Winner

Learn More:

Build your own automata at Scholastic’s Hugo Cabret interactive website!

Author Brian Selznick shares about his drawing process, specifically how he uses light and details to guide the reader into his drawings.  

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Speak

Anderson, L. H. (2009). Speak. New York: Speak.

Originally published in 1999.

ISBN: 9780141310886 | paperback | 197p. | $8.99 USD

Annotation:  A traumatic event near the end of the summer has a devastating effect on Melinda's freshman year in high school.

Cover image courtesy of goodreads.com

Book Talk:

“We fall into clans: Jocks, Country Clubbers, Idiot Savants, Cheerleaders, Human Waste, Eurotrash, Future Fascists of America, Big Hair Chix, the Marthas, Suffering Artists, Thespians, Goths, Shredders.  I am clanless…I have entered high school with the wrong hair, the wrong clothes, the wrong attitude.  And I don’t have anyone to sit with.  I am an Outcast.”  --Melinda p.4

Merryweather High is filled with groups, but Melinda doesn’t belong to any of them.  Gossip has spread about her breaking up an end-of-summer party with a call to the cops, and now kids are whispering and talking behind her back.  But was the call an attempt for help?  As she wades through the stares and snickers, she is haunted by something in her head that won’t go away.  She keeps pushing it down trying to forget, but it always comes back to the forefront.  She desperately wants someone she can trust, a friend to confide in, but will she ever get her chance to Speak?

My favorite thing about the book:

When Andy and Melinda meet near the end of the book, Andy attempts to take advantage of her again. Melinda fights back and finally breaks her silence. After seeing Melinda broken and scared for most of the book, it is inspiring to see her stand up for herself.

First Sentence:

“It is my first morning of high school.  I have seven new notebooks, a skirt I hate, and a stomachache.”

Favorite characters:

Melinda and David

Awards/Honors:

2000 Michael L. Printz Honor Book

1999 National Book Award Finalist

Edgar Allan Poe Award Finalist

ALA Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults

Learn More:

Don’t miss the movie version of the book from 2004 starring Kristen Stewart.  

Watch the author, Laurie Halse Anderson, in this multi-part interview where she talks about her life experiences that made her the writer she is today.  

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