The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley

The Protagonist: Angharad “Harry” Crewe, who moves to an isolated colonial outpost in the foreign desert country of Istan after her father dies.

The Story: Harry feels strangely at home in the foreign country of Istan, where she has moved to be near her brother, and is intrigued by Corlath, the native king of the country, which he calls Damar.  Corlath has a psychic ability called kelar, which prompts him to kidnap Harry, believing her to be vital in defending his people from invading northern tribes.  Harry adapts quickly to the culture, and even begins having kelar related visions of Lady Aerin, a heroic figure from Damarian legend.  When Harry is given Lady Aerin’s blue sword as a gift, she believes she knows the best strategy for fending off the invaders – even if it means disobeying Corlath, who she has fallen in love with.

Review: Harry is the very definition of a heroine – she’s clever, independent, and capable of holding her own in battle.  In addition to her training as a warrior, she is sensitive to cultural differences and willing to let herself fall in love.  This novel really has it all – action, romance, and fantasy.  Plus, if readers enjoy this book, they can read Robin McKinley’s next book about Damar, a prequel that tells the story of Aerin before she became a heroine of legendary status.

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The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

The Protagonist: Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, who goes by “Ani” and is the Crown Princess of Kildenree.

The Story: Ani, the oldest child of the king and queen of Kildenree, has been raised in anticipation of inheriting the throne from her parents, even though speaking in front of people is not one of her strengths.  She is, however, gifted with the ability to speak with some animals, including her stallion, Falada.  When her father dies, Ani learns that her younger brother, Calib, is named as heir to the kingdom, and Ani has been promised in marriage to the prince of their neighboring kingdom, Bayern, in an attempt to avoid war.  On the journey to Bayern, her treasonous lady-in-waiting, Selia, tries to have her killed so she can impersonate the princess.  Ani escapes through the woods and ends up working as the goose girl at the castle.  Will she be able to set things right?

Review: What an incredible story!  Based on a lesser known Grimm’s story (incidentally called “The Goose Girl”), it contains all the elements of familiar fairy tales, while remaining original enough to keep us guessing at the surprising sequence of events.  Ani’s gift of speaking to animals will appeal to readers, who will also enjoy her love story with Geric, who claims to be one of the prince’s guards.  In addition, Shannon Hale is a talented author, and readers will love her turn of phrase.  I would highly recommend this book for tweens – I would even recommend this for adult readers!

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The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall

The Protagonist: You’ll remember these four sisters from The Penderwicks – Rosalind, Skye, Jane, and Batty, back at home on Gardam Street!

The Story: If you’ve read Birdsall’s first book about the Penderwicks, you’ll know that their mother sadly passed away from cancer shortly after Batty was born.  It has been over four years, and although the girls miss their mother, they are very happy living together with their widowed father, and anticipating visits from their wonderful Aunt Claire.  When Aunt Claire surprises them with gifts, they know it must mean she has bad news – and it’s the worst: She thinks that it is time for their Daddy to start dating again, and has even set him up on a blind date!  The Penderwick girls recognize that this is an awful idea, so they come up with the Save Daddy Plan!

Review: The Penderwicks books are easily my favorite tween books that I’ve read recently, and are fast becoming some of my favorite books in general!  I’ve recently discovered that Jeanne Birdsall plans to write five Penderwicks books in total, so I have much to look forward to.  In Gardam Street, the family has returned home after their eventful stay at Arundel in the first book.  The girls are as excellent as ever – I’m amazed by how distinct their characters are, yet they complement each other so well.  Their humorous exploits in this book, trying to prevent their father from dating, is contrasted with their own feelings for boys.

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The Protagonist: Danielle de Barbarac, a young woman who was raised by her cruel stepmother after her father died.

The Story: The Grimm brothers, collectors of folk and fairy tales, learn that the story of Cinderella is based on the life of Danielle de Barbarac.  Danielle’s beloved father died when she was very young, and she was raised by her stepmother that preferred her own daughters and treated Danielle like a servant in her own house.  She is an idealist, inspired by the book Utopia by Thomas More, and impresses Prince Henry when he meets her – disguised as a courtier and using the name Nicole de Lancret.  They continue to meet and are falling in love, but she hasn’t revealed her true identity to him.  Will he still love her when he finds out that she’s not who he believes her to be?

Review: I’ve loved this movie since I was a tween, and I think it has a wide appeal.  The beautiful historical setting and costumes, the convincing love story with a likable prince , and especially the genuinely humorous moments make it a wonderful adaptation of Cinderella.  One of my favorite characters, and a great historical reference, is Leonardo da Vinci, who jokingly states that he “shall go down in history as the man who opened a door” after helping release Danielle so she can attend the masquerade ball.  Although this movie was created for adults, there is no objectionable content and it would be completely appropriate for a young audience.

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Scones and Sensibility by Lindsay Eland

The Protagonist: 12 year old Polly Madassa, a hopeless romantic and book lover who delivers pastries from her family bakery.

The Story: Inspired by her favorite literary heroines, Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables and Lizzie Bennet from Pride and Prejudice, young Polly Madassa is determined to behave with the propriety of a well-mannered lady.  She has a very romantic view of life, and adores living above her family’s bakery in a lovely seaside town.  Soft summer breezes are wafting through town and Polly feels her calling to become a matchmaker for three particular people – her older sister, Clementine, who is dating a most unsuitable boy; Miss Wiskerton, an elderly neighbor who enjoys complaining but also reads Jane Austen; and her best friend’s father, Mr. Fisk, who has been alone ever since his wife abandoned them three years earlier.  When her mother enlists her to become the bakery’s delivery service, will Polly have time to help them find true love?

Review: What an enjoyable book!  Polly has one of the most unique voices I’ve experienced in the young adult literature I’ve been reading lately.  She loves speaking eloquently and using antiquated words, which results in humorous conversations, especially when contrasted with the modern speech of her family and friends.  There are many allusions to her two favorite books, and even an unfortunate incident with cordial – although it’s not what you think!  Polly’s firm belief in the existence of true love and ability to see beauty in each day make this book a treat to read – not to mention that Polly admires some pretty awesome female protagonists herself!

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When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

The Protagonist: Miranda, who lives in New York City in 1978.  Her favorite book is A Wrinkle in Time.

The Story: Miranda has been receiving odd notes from an unknown person.  They are able to predict things that haven’t even happened yet, like her mom being selected as a contestant on their favorite television show, The $20,000 Pyramid.  But they also predict that something bad is going to happen unless she follows the instructions.  Thinking back, strange things have been happening ever since the day that her best friend, Sal, was punched for no reason by a schoolmate named Marcus.  Now Sal is avoiding her, the laughing homeless man on the street is behaving oddly, and Marcus turns out to be a pretty cool guy, who believes that time travel, like in Miranda’s favorite book, A Wrinkle in Time, is possible.

Review: The winner of the 2010 Newbery Medal, When You Reach Me is a fantastic science fiction mystery that will keep readers intrigued as they piece together the threads of the story.  Miranda is a great character, capable of moments of great clarity and insight, but also perplexed by the complexities of preadolescent life and the strange behavior of her peers – although in her case there are more strange event occurring than the average preteen has to deal with!  As we follow Miranda as she solves the mystery, we see her lose and make friends, learn valuable lessons, and even find her first love – experiences that everyone can relate to.

Book Talk: Listen to our audio book talk on When You Reach Me.

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Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

The Protagonist: Eleanor “Ella” of Frell, who was given the “gift” of obedience when she was born by the foolish fairy Lucinda.

The Story: In this adaptation of the fairy tale Cinderella, Ella’s mother dies when she is 15 years old.  Her merchant father is distant, and her new stepmother, Dame Olga, prefers her own daughters, Hattie and Olive.  Fortunately, Ella has the devotion of her fairy godmother, Mandy, and the friendship of Prince Charmont, “Char,” whom she met at her mother’s funeral.  When she is sent away to finishing school with her stepsisters, she learns that the fairy that cursed her with obedience will be attending a wedding, so she escapes and tries to convince her to undo the spell.  She also runs into Char, who she is beginning to fall in love with.  When she realizes that she can never marry him without compromising the security of the country (because of her curse), Ella must figure out how to break the spell herself.

Review: Levine’s version of Cinderella is excellent for many reasons, but primarily because of the heroine, Ella.  Although the spell that she lives under can be easily taken advantage of by manipulators, she doesn’t despair and chooses to make the best of her situation as she tries to escape from it.  She is very gifted in languages, and is likewise very respectful of other cultures and the different creatures that populate Frell.  Char falls in love with her not for her looks but for her intellect and personality – while the story shares elements with the Cinderella tale, Levine has expanded Ella’s character from the archetypal beauty into a fascinating character.

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Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards

The Protagonist: Mandy, 10 years old, who has lived at St. Martin’s Orphanage for as long as she can remember.

The Story: Mandy is one of the older children at St. Martin’s Orphanage, and is allowed special privileges because the staff knows she is responsible.  She is allowed to work at the local grocery store on Saturdays, and has lots of free time to herself after school.  Mandy has always wondered what lies beyond the high stone wall behind the orchard in the back of the orphanage, so one day she finds herself alone and climbs a tree over the wall.  She finds some lovely woods, and while exploring she discovers a charming, and abandoned, cottage.  Mandy decides to make the cottage her secret project – cleaning it up and maintaining the garden.  But who really owns the cottage, and what if they discover her there?

Review: This was one of my favorite books when I was younger, and I loved revisiting it for this class!  Mandy is a great character – imaginative and resourceful, but not too perfect.  We can both envy her life – the idyllic British countryside where she lives, the orphanage staff that adores her, and the cottage that she transforms into her secret retreat – and be sympathetic because she feels the absence of her parents keenly.  Fortunately, there is a happy ending to this sweet story!

Fun Fact: Mandy is written by the actress Julie Andrews Edwards, who you may know as Mary Poppins or Fraulein Maria in The Sound of Music.

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The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera

The Protagonist: Even though this story is told from a man’s point of view, the main character is a young girl named Kahu, who grows up in a Maori tribe in New Zealand.

The Story: According to Maori legend, Kahutia Te Rangi was an ancestor who could speak to whales, and when he arrived in New Zealand riding on the back of a whale he blessed the land with abundance and prosperity.  In a modern day Maori tribe, a daughter is born to the chief and given the name Kahu, after their ancestor.  Her great-grandfather, Koro Apirana, is deeply disappointed that she wasn’t a boy, which would have made her eligible to inherit her father’s title.  As she grows up, Kahu adores her great-grandfather but he continues to keep her distant and call her useless – until a pod of whales arrives at their beach to reveal Kahu’s destiny.

Review: This beautiful book wove together three storylines – the legend of Kahutia Te Rangi, the birth and childhood of young Kahu, and the journey of the whales (this last had the most gorgeous language and imagery).  Although the main character is only eight-years-old for the majority of the book, I think it will appeal to middle readers and older (the narrator for the Kahu storyline is actually her 24-year-old uncle).  Sensitive readers may be upset by the tragic death of several beached whales, and it also tackles issues like racism and sexism.  I really loved this coming-of-age novel, and I think tweens might enjoy comparing it to the movie version (which made some changes).

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The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

The Protagonist: Kit Tyler, 16 years old, who was raised in the warm Caribbean and has to move to cold New England!

The Story: Kit Tyler knew that her life would change when she left the sunny island of Barbados to live with her aunt and uncle in chilly Connecticut, but she had no idea how different it would be! No matter how hard she tries to fit in, she always ends up doing the wrong thing and getting in trouble. When she befriends Hannah Tupper who lives down by Blackbird Pond, she realizes that the sweet and harmless old woman could definitely not be a witch, as some of the locals believe. But when a fever strikes most of the children in town, Hannah gets blamed for the outbreak, and Kit is also accused of being a witch!

Review: Life in a Puritan village in the 1680s comes to life in Speare’s novel, as outsider Kit Tyler tries to understand and follow the local customs. In addition to the lengthy church services that she attends with her family, and the superstitious accusations of witchcraft, Kit is also a witness to the political turmoil of the time, as colonial Americans begin to feel unsatisfied with their British sovereign. Kit was raised as a Royalist, loyal to the King, but her Uncle Matthew believes that they have worked hard for their rights and is outraged when they are threatened. Historically accurate details – such as children learning to read using hornbooks – add depth and atmosphere to the story, which is why it has remained a popular title for the last 50 years!

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The Protagonist: The main characters in this movie, which is based on a book, are the three adopted sisters Paulina, Petrova and Posy Fossil.

The Story: Eccentric paleontologist “Gum” (Great Uncle Matthew) has a habit of bringing home orphans for his niece, Sylvia Brown, and housekeeper, Nana, to raise – three girls, named Pauline, Petrova, and Posy Fossil.  With Gum absent and money tight, Sylvia and Nana resort to selling specimens from Gum’s collection and taking in boarders, including a dance teacher named Theo Danes, who insists that the girls should be enrolled at the Children’s Academy of Dance and Stage Training.  Each of the girls has a different aspiration – Pauline wants to become an actress, Petrova longs to fly planes, and Posy wishes to train as a ballerina.  The family is still struggling financially, and depends on Pauline’s success as an actress for support.  After a dose of success brings out their worst, the ambitious girls learn lessons on how to use their talent with kindness and humility, and each of them are able to realize their dreams.

Review: Based on Noel Streatfeild’s beloved 1936 novel of the same title, this sweet film was very evocative of 1930s Britain, and the Fossil sisters and their guardians are convincing victims of the economic downturn of the time.  They approach their troubles head-on and are determined to support themselves while not compromising their dreams.  Although they are not biologically related, the entire family pulls together and supports each other.  The characters are not without blemish, so the story is not too treacly or sentimental, just perfectly nostalgic and relatable.  Originally produced for British television, the film is a little quickly paced and could be a bit more polished, but it is still a delightful story – and it is fun to see Harry Potter’s Emma Watson in a different role.

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Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

The Protagonist: Matilda “Mattie” Cook, who lives in Philadelphia in the late 18th century.

The Story: Matilda “Mattie” Cook lives in Philadelphia, where her widowed mother and grandfather run a successful coffeehouse. Mattie usually has a lot of chores to help keep the business running, but she doesn’t mind going down to the bustling marketplace, and she enjoys seeing her garden thrive. Everything changes when an epidemic of yellow fever charges through the city – the richest citizens flee to the countryside, those who remain are surrounded by the sick and dying, and robbers and thieves roam the mostly empty streets, looking for abandoned houses to ransack. Mattie catches the fever, but survives, waking to find her mother missing and her grandfather weakened by illness. The garden is dried up, and the marketplace is empty – will Mattie starve before the epidemic ends? Will she ever see her mother again?

Review: As with many of the best-researched historical novels, Anderson takes an actual historic event – the Philadelphia Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793 – and recreates the city with figures both real and imagined. Each chapter is headed by a quote from the real letters and writings of those who experienced the epidemic, which adds even more to the authenticity. By following Mattie’s story, readers can vicariously experience the devastation and aftermath of a disaster, and hopefully never have to experience something like it themselves.

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Emma (Volume 1) by Kaoru Mori

The Protagonist: This manga is named after the main character, Emma, who works as a maid in Victorian England.

The Story: Set in Victorian England, a young maid named Emma and a wealthy member of the gentry named William Jones meet and fall in love, but they are unable to express their feelings to each other because of the class differences that keep them apart.  To further complicate things, a visiting prince from India (William’s friend Hakim) is also attracted to Emma, and William’s father expects him to marry Eleanor, a girl from a higher class.  In the midst of societal pressures and expectations, can true love conquer?

Review: The first installment of this manga series caught my interest quickly with the beautiful and detailed drawings and the introduction of several interesting characters.  The story is paced slowly (or this could be a result of the difficulty I had in reading the panels right-to-left, as I am not a regular manga reader), and the love story unfolds in a series of interactions between the two main characters.  After finishing Volume 1, I’m already impatient to find out what happens next!

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Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse

The Protagonist: Billie Jo Kelby, 14 years old, who loves playing jazz piano.

The Story: Life is hard in the Oklahoma Dust Bowl in the 1930s, where farmers wait for rain and pray that their crops aren’t destroyed by the frequent dust storms.  For Billie Jo Kelby, life becomes even harder after a terrible accident takes the life of her mother and unborn brother, and leaves her hands burned and useless.  Unable to talk to her father, who is struggling to deal with the loss, and unable to play piano, which had been her passion and release, Billie Jo wonders how she can escape from the dust and the sadness at home.  Like the gentle rain that brings hope and relief to the farmers, Billie Jo learns that forgiveness can allow healing to begin and a new life to start.

Review: Out of the Dust manages to be both heartbreaking and beautiful.  The story is completely written in a series of free-verse poems told from Billie Jo’s perspective, as if she was keeping a poetic diary as the events of 1934 and 1935 unfolded.  Along with recounting the private struggles of her family and neighbors, Billie Jo has an awareness of the events taking place throughout the nation, from the proclamations of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the attempts of migrants to make new lives for themselves in California, the local excavation of dinosaur fossils, and even the news of quintuplets born to a woman in Canada.  What results is a moving tale of grief and redemption.

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The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

The Protagonist: In this great book, there are four protagonists – sisters Rosalind, age 12, Skye, age 11, Jane, age 10, and Batty, age 4.

The Story: When their traditional summer vacation plans are canceled, the Penderwick sisters and their widowed father make last minute arrangements to rent a cottage on an estate for three weeks.  While their Latin-spouting botanist father focuses on his work, the four sisters explore the estate and make fast friends with Jeffrey, the owner’s son and perfect summer companion.  Thus they embark on a series of adventures, as long as Jeffrey’s villainous mother, Mrs. Tifton, doesn’t succeed in destroying their fun!

Review: There is so much to love about this book.  The sisters – Rosalind, age 12, Skye, age 11, Jane, age 10, and Batty, age 4 – are smart girls depicted with individual personalities and interests and a common family pride.  The sibling dynamics and tone of the novel hearken back to nostalgic classics in children’s literature, such as Little Women (by Louisa May Alcott) and The Railway Children (by Edith Nesbit).  The book is humorous and light reading that will appeal to 8-12 year olds (and the adults who are lucky enough to read it out loud to them).  If another set of famous siblings, the Pevensies, had not discovered a passage to Narnia in the wardrobe, one might imagine that their exploits on the old professor’s estate would be similar to the Penderwick’s summer.

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