From: Sheila Welch <sheilawelch>
Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 11:48:57 -0600

Happy Holidays to All!


I don't have access to all the newest books, but I've read some of the ones published in 2000 and here are a few that stood out for me.

MEMORIES OF SUMMER by Ruth White This one has already been mentioned, and I agree that it deserves the praise it's been receiving. White treats the insidious decent of the older sister into mental illness with a matter-of?ct simplicity that is heart wrenching. The combination of frustration, fear, and love that the father and younger sister feel rings true. I think a lot of teenagers will find this honest account both moving and engrossing.

THE POWER OF UN by Nancy Etchemendy I don't think anyone has cited this book yet. It's gotten excellent reviews, and I enjoyed reading it and believe many children between nine and fourteen would find it an exciting and thought- provoking read. For those of you who don't know the book, it's about Gib, a middle school student, who is given the Unner by a mysterious "stranger" who seems to come from the future. The Unner can "undo" past events, and Gib tries to use it to undo a terrible accident. There are some similarities to Sleater's REWIND, but this book has a very different atmosphere--not so dark. THE POWER OF UN is easy to read and fast-paced yet deals with some profound issues.

CURSE OF A WINTER MOON by Mary Casanova Set in France during the 1500s, the story is a page-turner with lots of historical detail. It's told in first person by a young boy, Marius, who is trying to help raise his younger brother, Jean-Pierre, born on Christmas Eve, the same night their mother died. The book gives a real sense of the power of superstitions--one of which being that a child born on Christmas Eve is cursed.

CASSIE LOVES BEETHOVEN by Alan Arkin This one surprised me. At one point, it just seemed to be getting too silly, but then I went on reading and found a lot to like. Cassie, the cow, is determined to play Beethoven. Arkin does a very nice job depicting her obsession. The book also has some wonderful descriptions of music. I do wonder how children will react to the story. I think it's zany enough to attract their attention, and it does move along fairly quickly. (One problem--I read this book as an "advance reader copy" and hope the cover was corrected. It depicted the wrong kind of cow. )

THE GRADUATION OF JAKE MOON by Barbara Park I decided to read this because my grandmother had Alzheimer's disease, and I remember the humiliation I felt as a child trying to deal with her bizarre behavior. Park centers the story on this major problem in Jake's life and does it with sensitivity. Jake's gradual acceptance of his "new" grandfather is portrayed realistically.

Just one more general comment--I read three of these books as "advance reader copies" that I picked up at the ALA conference. This is a great way for publishers to get books out into the hands of people who will read them and talk about them. Expensive, unfortunately.

Now, I need to find everyone else's favorites and get busy reading!

Sheila Children's Author (most recent book: THE SHADOWED UNICORN, Front Street/Cricket 2000)
Received on Tue 19 Dec 2000 11:48:57 AM CST