2. The story presents one day in the life of Jonathan, a
thirteen-year-old boy caught up in the Revolutionary
War. Jonathan slips away from his family's New Jersey
farm in order to take part in a skirmish with the Hessians
(German mercenary soldiers hired by the English).
Hesets out full of unquestioned hatred for the Hessians,
the British, and the Americans who were loyal to the
British--the Tories. He hopes for a chance to take part in
the glory of battle. "O Lord, he said to himself, make it
something grand!“
Avi portrays no grandeur in the war. Jonathan can
barely carry his six-foot long musket, and has a worse time
trying to understand the talk among the men with whom he
marches. The small voluntary group's leader is a crude
man who lies to the men and is said to be "overfond of
killing." When he is called upon to be a brave soldier,
Jonathan's harrowing experience reveals the delusion
behind his wish. "The novel makes the war personal and
immediate: not history or event, but experience; near and
within oneself, and horrible."

3. Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6
Park commiserates with the problems of pre-
adolescence in this first-person narrative of ten-year-old
Howard Jeeter, whose life is temporarily destroyed by a
cross-country move to a new family home. Howard knows
what awaits him as he drives east from Arizona with his
insensitive parents, bawling baby brother, and smelly
basset hound to a historic house in Massachusetts: he will
be a vulnerable and possibly despised ``new kid.'' His first
contact on Chester Pewe St. is Molly, an intrusive first-
grader with red hair ``styled kind of like Bozo's.''
Her desperate attempts to be friendly drive Howard to distraction and also make
him anxious that his new classmates won't accept him if he hangs around a first
grader. Howard's coming to terms with Molly's need for friendship is a particularly well-
done part of the novel. As in Operation: Dump the Chump (1982) and Beanpole (1983,
both Knopf), Park writes in a witty and bittersweet style about the awkward, super-
sensitive age of early adolescence; her humor both reflects and sharpens the
sensibilities of her readers in the areas of family and friend relationships. Another first-
rate addition by this author to the middle-grade popular reading shelf. Linda Wicher,
Lincolnwood Public Library, Ill.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

4. Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6-The touching story of a terminally ill girl is recreated in
this audio version of the book by Eleanor Coerr (Puffin, 1977).
Based on the true story of a young Japanese girl who contracts
leukemia as a result of the atom bomb that was dropped on
Hiroshima, the story follows Sadako as a healthy schoolgirl winning
relay races, through her diagnosis with the atom bomb sickness, to
her long stay in the hospital. It is in the hospital that she first begins
making origami cranes to pass the time. Her ultimate goal is to
make 1000, but she dies with only 644 completed.
Sadako's classmates finish making the remaining cranes, and
all 1000 are buried with her. Read by Christina Moore, the
recording has excellent narration and sound quality and is
particularly notable for the children's voices. Moore uses subtle
nuances to distinguish between characters, and conveys a sense
of Sadako's gentle spirit and courage. The recording is further
enriched at the end by an interesting biography of Eleanor Coerr
that explains how the author came to write Sadako's story.
Schools and public libraries will benefit from adding this recording
to their collections.
Paula L. Setser, Deep Springs Elementary School, Lexington, KY

5. Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
This immensely popular children's story is told from the point of
view of a dog named Harold. It all starts when Harold's human
family, the Monroes, goes to see the movie Dracula, and young
Toby accidentally sits on a baby rabbit wrapped in a bundle on
his seat. How could the family help but take the rabbit home and
name it Bunnicula? Chester, the literate, sensitive, and keenly
observant family cat, soon decides there is something weird
about this rabbit.
Pointy fangs, the appearance of a cape, black-and-white coloring, nocturnal
habits … it sure seemed like he was a vampire bunny. When the family finds a
white tomato in the kitchen, sucked dry and colorless, well … Chester
becomes distraught and fears for the safety of the family. "Today, vegetables.
Tomorrow … the world!" he warns Harold. But when Chester tries to make his
fears known to the Monroes, he is completely misunderstood, and the results
are truly hilarious. Is Bunnicula really a vampire bunny? We can't say. But any
child who has ever let his or her imagination run a little wild will love Deborah
and James Howe's funny, fast-paced "rabbit-tale of mystery." (Ages 9 to 12)

7. Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 4-7-Woodruff's obvious enjoyment of mixing
historical information with a modern adventure, seen in
George Washington's Socks (Scholastic, 1993) and Dear
Napoleon, I Know You're Dead, But (Holiday, 1992), is
again evident in this work. Andy Manetti's life is filled with
angst. He is constantly overshadowed at school and home
by his stepbrother, also 10, who he has nicknamed "Mr.
Gifted." Andy feels average and almost unloved until his
fifth-grade class takes a field trip to the museum. As he
stares into the mystical face of an Egyptian mummy, an
odd feeling overtakes him, and he soon finds that he has
been imbued with magical powers. He is suddenly a gifted
artist, is given five wishes, and is ultimately able to
reconcile himself to his mother's death and to his
stepbrother's existence. The book has a strong narrative
voice, believable and likable characters, and an involving
plot. The factual information is interesting, and Andy's
fantastical adventure is fun and well paced.
Elizabeth Hanson, Chicago Public Library

8. Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Gilly Hopkins is a determined-to-be-unpleasant 11-
year-old foster kid who the reader can't help but
like by the end. Gilly has been in the foster system
all her life, and she dreams of getting back to her
(as she imagines) wonderful mother. (The mother
makes these longings worse by writing the
occasional letter.) Gilly is all the more determined
to leave after she's placed in a new foster home
with a "gross guardian and a freaky kid." But she
soon learns about illusions--the hard way. This
Newbery Honor Book manages to treat a
somewhat grim, and definitely grown-up theme
with love and humor, making it a terrific read for a
young reader who's ready to learn that "happy"
and "ending" don't always go together. (Ages 9 to
12) --Richard Farr

9. From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6. Another page-turner from the author of The Kid Who
Ran for President (Scholastic, 1996). Eddie Ball, 11, lives with his
mother in a cramped trailer in rural Louisiana. Although he
dreams of moving to a "regular house," Mrs. Ball's salary at the
Finkle Foods Factory is low, and her bills are many. Eddie's best
friend is his African-American next-door neighbor and classmate,
the poetry-loving, basketball-playing Annie Stokely, who lives with
her father. When both adults are laid off from the factory, Eddie
enters one of Annie's poems in a poetry contest sponsored by
Finkle Foods; the winner gets a chance to sink a foul shot during
halftime at the first game of the NBA finals for a million-dollar
prize.
Early in the book, Eddie wins the poetry contest, but can he make the basket?
Shooting lessons from Mr. Stokely improve Eddie's free-throw success rate, but
someone seems to be sabotaging the practice sessions. Things become more
complicated when Mr. Finkle visits Eddie, admits that his company is having financial
troubles, and offers him a bribe to throw an air ball. Gutman expertly builds up
suspense to the moment of the shot, milking the throw itself for several delightfully
agonizing pages. The story, with occasional basketball tips well woven into the
narrative, will appeal to both sports readers and general audiences. Gutman's subtle
humor, exciting sports action, and excruciating suspense make this title an
outstanding choice for reluctant readers.?Denise E. Agosto, Midland County Public
Library, TX