The Karate Kid

The Karate Kid [Motion Picture] 1985.  ISBN 0800138074

Tweens who enjoyed last year’s Karate Kid remake starring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan still have reason to check out the 1985 original.  Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio), a newcomer to Los Angeles, is bullied and finds help from his apartment manager, Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita, Jr. in an Oscar-nominated performance).  Today’s tweens will not know Morita from “Happy Days” fame, but his performance as the wise and patient Karate master from Okinawa might still remind them of someone they know.  Morita gets the details right, and along with Macchio’s best performance, creates a relationship that is even more believable than Larusso’s with his teen love interest, Ali (Elisabeth Shue).

The story resonates with tweens 25 years after its release, especially with so many recent high profile incidents of bullying among young people.  In the film, Miyagi teaches Daniel that respect and inner peace are more important than physical dominance—as displayed by the more militaristic Cobra Kai martial artists (the bullies) in the film.

Among the highlights of the movie are the “wax on, wax off” scene in which Daniel realizes that seemingly endless household chores are actually lessons in Karate; more subtle are the scenes with Daniel and his mother (Randee Heller), who is having almost as much difficulty finding her way in a new environment as her son is.

While the music and fashion in Karate Kid are dated, the script is filled with realistic dialogue and timeless humor.

View a clip of the film here.

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Twelve Rounds to Glory

Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali (Smith, Charles R. Jr.;2007;  Cambridge, Mass: Candlewick Press; ISBN 9780763616922)

Smith’s story told in verse along with bold, colorful illustrations by Bryan Collier combine for a powerful biography of one of the country’s best known athletes.  Smith divides the story into twelve rounds, each of which reads as a chapter explaining an important era of Ali’s life.

Each round begins with a quote pertinent to the upcoming chapter.  The story begins with a lyrical description of the baby Cassius Clay, born in 1942 in racially divided Kentucky.  Smith includes an anecdote in which someone steals Clay’s bicycle.  He wants revenge but a police officer informs him, “First, kid, you hafta learn to fight!”  Clay takes these words to heart, and his career in fighting begins.

Smith includes many of Clay’s boxing highlights, such as his gold medal turn in the 1960 Olympics, and he explains Clay’s conversion to Islam which leads him to change his name to Muhammad Ali, which means “worthy of praise, high-exalted one.”  He also covers Ali’s refusal to  join the Army when drafted because it conflicts with the beliefs of his faith.  This decision costs him his boxing title and, for several years, his ability to compete.

The story also includes some of Ali’s most notable fights, such as those against George Foreman and Joe Frazier, and it concludes with his current and enduring battle, that against Parkinson’s disease.  The portrayal here is one of a tough, disciplined, principled man who influenced his sport perhaps more than anyone else thus far.  Twelve Rounds to Glory was awarded the Coretta Scott King award in 2008.

The Giver

The Giver (Lowry, Lois; Houghton Mifflin, 1993, 180 p. 9780395645666)
 
Lois Lowry establishes a setting without conflict, strife, or other forms of unpleasantness.  It is also a setting of sameness, one in which everything from the weather to collective memories are completely controlled and predictable.  Young Jonas, age 12, is about to receive his life assignment from the Elders in the community.  This ritual bestows a duty to each child based on the skills they have demonstrated, and Jonas unexpectedly receives the rare and prestigious job of being the Receiver of Memory.  Though an important honor, the proclamation terrifies Jonas.

Jonas trades playing games with his peers for training sessions with the man whose job he will take over, the aging Receiver who is now known as the Giver (as he will give the ability to remember to Jonas).  Jonas is surprised and alarmed at much of what he learns from the Giver.  One of the most disturbing things he learns is that when a member is “released” from their society (such as when the elderly become unwell or when members break society rules), they are not sent off to the mysterious “Elsewhere,” but rather they are killed.

Jonas’s misgivings about his new responsibility come to a head when he finds that a young child they have been fostering, Gabriel, is to be released soon for failing to grow at an acceptable rate.  Jonas must make an important decision:  remain faithful to his society and his role as the Receiver knowing that Gabriel will be killed, or attempt to save Gabriel by betraying everything and everyone he has ever known.

Lowry’s book has received many awards, including the Newbery Medal. 
 
--Ages 11-14

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games (Collins, Suzanne; 2008; New York: Scholastic Press; ISBN 0439023483)

If you took the Olympics, reality television, and Roman gladiator fights and mixed them all up, the results might look something like The Hunger Games.  This is the story of Panem, which used to be the United States but now is 12 districts surrounding one powerful capitol.  Years ago, the hungry, oppressed people of the districts attempted to overthrow the capitol but were unsuccessful.  As a yearly reminder of their failed revolution, each district must now send two of its young people to the capitol to participate in the Hunger Games; all residents of Panem are required to view round the clock coverage of the games, and only one of the 24 competitors may live.

Collins tells the story primarily through the experience of Katniss Everdeen, at 16, a contender in the Games.  Katniss has one advantage in the games because her deceased father taught her years earlier how to use a bow and arrow, but those in charge of the games are able to play on each competitor’s weaknesses and darkest fears so Katniss’s strengths may not be enough to help her survive.  Her life at home is a difficult one; since her father’s death in a coal mine accident, Katniss’s mother has suffered debilitating depression and can barely provide for Katniss and her charming younger sister, Prim.  Life in the districts is not easy for anyone, but Katniss soon learns that even that existence is much easier than participating in the cruel games. 

Though the story is wrapped up, the ending of The Hunger Games also leaves readers wanting more.  Fortunately, Collins rounds out the story with two additional tomes, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. Readers of the first title will not be satisfied until they have devoured the whole trilogy.

 

The Outsiders

The Outsiders (Hinton, S.E., 1967, 192 pages, ISBN 9780140385724)

Though it was written more than 40 years ago, The Outsiders remains a relevant and compelling novel for young readers today.  The author, S.E. Hinton, knew a few things about teens and tweens, as she was only 15 when she began writing the novel.  The Outsiders is about two rival groups of teenage boys, the Greasers, poor boys from the wrong side of the tracks, and the Socs, society boys with money and privilege.  Certainly the tension between those two classes has not dissipated since the time of this book.

The protagonist, Ponyboy, is a Greaser living with his two older brothers after their parents have died.  Though he is not terribly violent, Ponyboy finds himself involved in a knife fight that goes awry when Greaser Johnny kills a Soc.  Johnny is on the run but about to turn himself in when he and Ponyboy come upon a church on fire with children trapped inside.  Their heroism ultimately costs Johnny his life, and Ponyboy must face the aftermath of the tragedy and destruction in which he has been involved.

A subplot to the story is Ponyboy’s friendship with Cherry, a Soc.  The two develop a sweet though forbidden friendship that helps Ponyboy realize not all Soces are alike.  Through this storyline, Hinton interjects poetry by Robert Frost.  Readers would not expect a Greaser to be fond of poetry, and readers who are not already familiar with Frost benefit by their exposure to the beauty of his words.  The Outsiders will evoke a range of emotions, and the timeless story of a hero who does not know his place in the world is sure to continue to be relevant and universal.

They Called Themselves the KKK

They Called Themselves the KKK: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group (Bartoletti, Susan Campbell; Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010; 172  p.; ISBN 9780618440337)

Bartoletti documents the beginnings of one of the most feared groups of humans in the history of this country.  She uses clear, concise language to explain how a group of white men in the South hatched a plan in an attempt to quash any upward social movement—and even some basic freedoms—of African Americans.  It is an account of the horrifying potential for man to inflict devastation as a reaction to personal fear.

The author begins with a brief history of the Civil War, using many primary sources to give as thorough a picture of the issues as possible in the limited space of a chapter.  Her accounts are vivid and her own narrative is nonjudgmental.  The real story begins in Pulaski, Tennessee when six officers from the Confederate army decided not to accept their defeat, but rather to gather other white men who feared any gain in power and privileges among black men and women and squash it down.  This secret group grew into the Ku Klux Klan, a name that originally was taken from the Greek “kuklos,” or circle.

Many pictures and illustrations accompany the accessible text, making this an appropriate text for younger readers who may not yet have the attention span for a more advanced text.  The chapter titles alone are enough to pique most readers’ interest, such as “Boys, Let Us Get Up a Club,” “They Say a Man Ought Not to Vote,” and “A Whole Race Trying to Go to School.”  The author includes a time line of Civil Rights, quote attributions, a bibliography and thorough source notes, and an index.

Ages 12 and up

Touching Spirit Bear

Touching Spirit Bear (Mikaelsen, Ben; 2001; New York: Harper Collins; 241 pages; ISBN 9780380977444)

This story begins with a description of a very angry 15-year-old Cole Matthews arriving by boat at the remote corner of Alaska that will be his home for the next year.  Guilty of brutally beating a classmate, Cole thinks he is pulling one over on the system by agreeing to a year of banishment and intense survival training instead of being locked up.  The arrangement is part of “circle justice,” a system that focuses on healing after a violent crime rather than punishment, but Cole’s commitment to healing is fraudulent.  He does not feel remorse for his crime any more than he feels affection toward his distant, abusive parents.  The only emotion he truly feels is anger.

Cole overestimates his ability to skip out on his consequences, and his disrespectful, hostile attitude leads to a vicious attack by a large “spirit bear” that leaves him close to death.  Only when he reaches this desperately low point does Cole begin to think about what has brought him here, and how he will get past it if that is still possible.

Many people are ready to give up on Cole—and he makes it easy for them to do so with his lack of contrition or civility—but his parole officer and a Tlingit Indian elder have enough faith in Cole to try to help him learn other ways of dealing with the path he has chosen up to this point.  This novel addresses themes of survival, forgiveness, trust and respect for nature through a captivating story line and clear, concise, compelling writing.  It is a story that can penetrate the hardest of hearts and will appeal to a wide variety of readers.

 

She's All That! Poems About Girls

She's All That! Poems About Girls (Hollyer, Belinda, ed.; 2006; Boston: Kingfisher; 128 pages; ISBN 9780753458525)

Hollyer has collected a variety of poems about girls and/or issues that many girls face.  Includes black and white illustrations by Susan Hellard, an index of poets, and an index of first lines.

Ages 9 and up 

Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat

Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat (Giovanni, Nikki, ed.; 2008; Naperville, Ill.: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky; 72 pages; ISBN 9781402210488)

Celebrated poet Nikki Giovanni edits and writes an introduction to this collection by a range of poets, including Gwendolyn Brooks, Gary Soto, Langston Hughes and Lucille Clifton, among many others.  Musical artists featured in the book include Kanye West, Mos Def, and Queen Latifah.  The book comes with a CD that includes many of the poems recorded to a beat.

Ages 9 and up

A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children

A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children (Kennedy, Caroline, ed.; 2005; New York: Hyperion Books for Children; 143 pages; ISBN 9780786851119)

Kennedy has compiled a variety of poems that younger readers will respond to and older readers will continue to enjoy.  Several of the poems are included at the end of the book in their original language as well.  Illustrator Jon J. Muth’s watercolors complement the works.


Ages 8 and up

Cesar: Si, se puede! Yes, we can!

 

Cesar: Si, Se Puede! Yes, We Can! (Bernier-Grand, Carmen T.; 2004; New York: Marshall Cavendish; 48 pages; ISBN 9780761451723)
 

This biography of the influential farm workers’ rights activist Cesar Chavez is told through poems and with vivid illustrations by David Diaz.
 

Ages 9-12

Shiver

Shiver (Stiefvater, Maggie; 2009; Scholastic Press; 392 p., ISBN 9780545123266) 

Fans of the current wave of vampire and werewolf stories will want to read about Grace’s fascination with the wolves who live in the woods behind her house.  Grace’s soft spot for one particular wolf grows into love after she realizes that these wolves all have human forms as well.


View a short teaser for this book.
 
Ages 12 and up

Mockingbird

  Mockingbird (Erskine, Kathryn; Philomel/Penguin, 2010 235 p. 978039925268 $16.99)


Young Caitlin navigates her way through life with much assistance from her older brother, Devon.  But when Devon is suddenly gone and Caitlin’s father is desperate with grief, Caitlin does not understand the situation nor how to cope with it.  This novel deals with two important issues—Asperger’s syndrome and random acts of violence—in a way that is accessible for young readers.

Ages 10-14

The City of Ember

The City of Ember

(DuPrau, Jeanne; 2003; New York: Random House; 270 pages; ISBN 9780375822735)

Ember is a domed (and doomed?), underground city built to help ensure the future of the human race.  Set in the year 241, the story follows 12-year-old Lina and Doon who are given new permanent jobs that lead them to investigate the peril that Ember and its inhabitants may be in.

Ages 8-12

Found

Found

(Haddix, Margaret Peterson; 2008; New York: Simon & Schuster; ISBN 9781416954170)

Found is the first book in The Missing series, in which a group of 13-year-old children who have all been adopted by various families discover the strange story of their origin: they were on board a plane that delivered 36 babies, unaccompanied by adults, and then disappeared.  Two of those children now lead the effort to discover the truth about this mystery.

Ages 10-14

Whales on Stilts

Whales on Stilts

(Anderson, M.T.; 2005; Orlando: Harcourt; 188 pages; ISBN 9780152053406)

The title of this book is not as strange as it sounds when the reader finds out that the protagonist’s father makes whale stilts for a living.  Why would a whale need stilts, one might ask?  Well, to carry out a secret plot in which whales will take over the world, of course.  When Lily finds out what her father’s evil boss is up to, she and her two friends take on the cause of defending the world against this dasterdly plan.

Ages 10 and up

Quicksilver

Quicksilver

(Spinner, Stephanie; 2005; New York: Alfred A. Knopf; 229 pages; ISBN 9780375826382)

Hermes serves as a fitting and often humorous narrator of several Greek myths in Spinner’s book.  Her writing offers an entry into mythology for those without previous reading experience and will keep mythology fans entertained.

Ages 11-17

Letters from Camp

Letters from Camp

(Klise, Kate; 1999; New York: Avon Books; 178 pages; ISBN 9780380975396)

Nothing helps siblings develop a deep and loving bond like forcing them to spend some quality time at Camp Happy Harmony—or so the parents of the brawling brothers and sisters portrayed here hope.  The premise of unharmonious siblings working on their relationships is already interesting, but the story is enhanced by its format--not to mention the fraudulent camp staff-- as it unfolds in the form of letters, memos, journal entries, even lists and receipts.

Ages 8-12

Hoot

Hoot

(Hiassen, Carl; 2002; Random House; 292 pages; ISBN 9780375821813)

The witty and altogether delightful Hiassen presents the story of Roy, a new kid at school (for the sixth time in his school career) who, in trying to find a place to fit in once again, finds himself caught up in a fight against developers to save an owl habitat.  Hiassen sends important social and environmental messages to young readers in a way that is funny, fun, and totally effective.

Ages 9-12

Bakugan: Battle Brawlers

Bakugan Battle Brawlers (Hurchalla, Elizabeth; 2008; ISBN 9780345513687)

Adapted from a Japanese anime story, the Bakugan adventures feature six young friends who play Bakugan (a card game that allows them to teleport) while avoiding the evil plots of Michael, who first discovered the teleporting abilities that the characters enjoy.

Lord Brocktree: A Tale of Redwall

Lord Brocktree: A Tale of Redwall (Jacques, Brian; 2000; Philomel Books; 370 pages; ISBN 9780399235900)
 

The first chronologically (though not the first to be published) in the Redwall series by beloved fantasy author Brian Jacques, Lord Brocktree is the tale of Brocktree the badger lord and Dottie the hare who battle the evil critters who have taken over Brocktree’s father and his home.


(Ages 12 and up)

Astro Boy

Astro Boy (Tezuka, Osamu; 2002; 424 pages; Dark Horse; ISBN 9781595821539)

One of the original Manga series by the highly regarded Osamu Tezuka, Astro Boy is a robot with human traits who fights crime with his special powers and can experience human feelings as well.

Homecoming

Homecoming (Voigt, Cynthia; 1981; New York: Simon Pulse; 402 pages; ISBN 9780689851322)
 
A 13-year-old girl, the eldest in a family of four children, assumes responsibility for her siblings when their mother apparently abandons them.  This novel sets the stage for the sequel, Dicey’s Song.

Maniac Magee

Maniac Magee (Spinelli, Jerry; 1990; 184 pages; ISBN 9780316807227)

Jeffrey Magee, an orphan, leaves the unhappy home of his aunt and uncle in search of a better life.  The ensuing adventures of “Maniac” Magee delve into stories of heroic athletic endeavors and racial issues. Spinelli was awarded the Newbery medal for this book.  

(Ages 9-12)

Out of the Dust

Out of the Dust (Hesse, Karen; 1997; Scholastic; 227 pages; ISBN 9780590360807)

Narrated by Billie Jo, a young girl struggling in Oklahoma during the Great Depression, this novel in verse introduces young readers to poetry and history through the voice of a thoughtful young survivor.

(Ages 11 and up)

Woods Runner

 

Woods Runner (Paulsen, Gary; Random;  2010;  164 pages; ISBN 9780385738842)
 
This novel, set during the Revolutionary War, tells the story of young Samuel, who sets out into the woods of Pennsylvania to try to find his family.  It serves as a realistic look at war and at this historic period.
 

View an interview with the author where he talks about why he writes here.

The Lightning Thief

The Lightning Thief (Riordan, Rick; Miramax Books/Hyperion Books for Children; 2005; 377 pages; ISBN 9780786856299)

The first book in the tremendously popular series, The Lightning Thief is the tale of 12-year-old Percy Jackson (an allusion to Perseus from Greek mythology).  Jackson is a demigod, the son of Poseidon and a mortal mother, and he seeks sanctuary at Camp Half-Blood along with other kids like him.  If traditional Greek myths do not appeal to some readers, surely this story will.

Trackers

Trackers (Carman, Patrick; Scholastic, 2010, 224 pages; ISBN 9780545165006)

Trackers combines text with the Internet for a multimedia story about, appropriately, a teenage computer whiz who usually solves computer mysteries but now finds himself embroiled in one of his own.

View a You Tube book talk with author Patrick Carman here.