Sugar by Jewell Parker Rhodes is the story of a spirited ten-year-old African American girl who works on a Louisiana sugarcane plantation (and hates her namesake). Sugar’s mother died two years ago, and families are leaving the Reconstruction south for a better life up north; except for her secret friendship with plantation owner’s son Billy, she feels increasingly alone. When a group of Chinese sugarcane workers arrives, it’s outgoing Sugar who reaches out and unites two very different communities. Rhodes brings Sugar’s experiences — and the Mississippi River setting — vividly to life with spare, evocative language. (Little, Brown, 8–12 years)

In Kirkpatrick Hill’s Bo at Ballard Creek, we meet a little girl who lives with her papas (yes, that’s plural) in an almost-worked-out gold-rush town in 1920s Alaska. Papa Jack and Papa Arvid explain to Bo that her mother was a “good-time girl” who unceremoniously dropped baby Bo into Arvid’s arms and left town. Reminiscent of Little House in the Big Woods, this cheerful episodic story follows Bo through the course of a year. The simple pen-and-ink drawings further the Wilder resemblance, but LeUyen Pham’s are more sophisticated, befitting the era and situations. (Holt, 8–12 years)

Devoted readers anxious to know what happened to Montana homesteader Hattie after Newbery Honor–winning Hattie Big Sky get their wish in Kirby Larson’s big-city sequel, Hattie Ever After. Hattie follows a traveling vaudeville troupe to San Francisco to pursue her dream of becoming a reporter. Larson’s excellent research makes the early twentieth century come alive: Hattie experiences an earthquake, flies in an airplane, and interviews President Woodrow Wilson. Fans will be gratified by the protagonist’s transformation from a “country mouse” into a confident, independent young woman. (Delacorte, 10–14 years)

In One Came Home by Amy Timberlake, thirteen-year-old Georgie Burkhardt is content with her life in Placid, Wisconsin. When older sister Agatha is found dead (but unrecognizable) at the side of the road, Georgie is certain that there has been a mistake. With her sister’s unwelcome suitor Billy McCabe, Georgie sets off to find her sister, or, at least, to find out how she died. The adversarial relationship between Georgie and Billy provides superb comic relief in this gripping, gritty 1870s–set story. (Knopf, 10–14 years)

From the May 2013 issue of Notes from the Horn Book.

The post Historical fiction starring girls appeared first on The Horn Book.

—Katrina Hedeen
Assistant Editor, The Horn Book Guide

Calhoun, Dia  Eva of the Farm
235 pp. Atheneum 2012 ISBN 978-1-4424-1700-7
Gr. 4–6 When life on the family farm as twelve-year-old Eva knows it is threatened by a recession, fire blight, and sudden medical expenses, she turns to her great passion — poetry — for comfort, self-expression, and a possible means of making money. Eva’s beautifully constructed, imagistic poems within this novel shine, allaying the minor lyrical inconsistencies of the main verse narration.

Engle, Margarita  The Wild Book
133 pp. Harcourt 2012 ISBN 978-0-547-58131-6
Gr. 4–6  Engle relates, with some fictionalization, her grandmother Fefa’s childhood in dangerous early-twentieth-century Cuba. Fefa suffers from “word-blindness” (dyslexia), but she slowly learns to read and write as a blank book from Mamá becomes her “garden” in which “words sprout / like seedlings.” Spare, dreamlike verse pairs perfectly with a first-person narrator whose understanding of written language is unique.

Hemphill, Stephanie  Sisters of Glass
154 pp. Knopf 2012 ISBN 978-0-375-86109-3 LE ISBN 978-0-375-96109-0
YA  Before his death, their father, a respected glassblower, declared that younger daughter Maria must marry Venetian nobility, leaving elder Giovanna to stay on Murano with the family. The sisters each long for the other’s future (and suitor); creative ingenuity allows for a satisfying resolution. A vivid fifteenth-century Venetian setting, true-to-life family tensions, and fairy-tale romance complete this novel told in elegant verse. Glos.

Hopkins, Ellen  Tilt
604 pp. McElderry 2012 ISBN 978-1-4169-8330-9
YA  Mikayla, Shane, and Harley alternate narration as they struggle to find balance amidst poor choices, family issues, and personal crises; snippets from secondary characters add perspective. The issues-laden plot and labyrinthine web of characters is the stuff of soap operas, which older teens may relish. Hopkins’s free verse, with thoughtful line breaks and word choices, is by turns poised and visceral.

Rosen, Michael  Running with Trains: A Novel in Poetry and Two Voices
102 pp. Boyds/Wordsong 2012 ISBN 978-1-59078-863-9
Gr. 4–6  With Dad MIA in Vietnam and Mom back in school, thirteen-year-old Perry takes the train back and forth between Gran’s and Mom’s every week; Steve is a lonely nine-year-old on an Ohio farm, enamored with the train that passes through his family’s property. Both boys’ alternating voices are unique and poignant in this verse novel about self-discovery and the nature of home.

Rosenthal, Betsy R.  Looking for Me
172 pp. Houghton 2012 ISBN 978-0-547-61084-9
Gr. 4–6  In some free verse and some loosely rhymed poems, Rosenthal tells the story of her mother Edith’s Depression-era childhood in a Jewish family with twelve children. The novel is episodic but gives individual personalities to the many siblings. Edith’s voice is touching and genuine; readers will maintain hope that she someday realize she’s more than “just plain Edith / who’s number four.” Glos.

Tregay, Sarah  Love & Leftovers
435 pp. HarperCollins/Tegen 2012 ISBN 978-0-06-202358-2
YA  Marcie’s dad comes out as gay, and she moves from Idaho to New Hampshire with her depressed mother. Missing her boyfriend and crew of friends nicknamed “the Leftovers,” she struggles to acclimate (and remain faithful). She returns to Boise midyear, but everything is different—including her. The first-person verse narration wrought with satisfying angst makes Marcie’s woes and joys palpable.

Wissinger, Tamera Will  Gone Fishing: A Novel in Verse
128 pp. Houghton 2013 ISBN 978-0-547-82011-8
Gr. 1–3  Illustrated by Matthew Cordell. Sam is excited for his fishing trip with Dad — until little sister Lucy tags along. Poems of varied forms describe the fishing trio’s day: preparations, techniques (“Heeere, fishy, fishy, fishy…”), frustrations (“Lucy’s winning eight to… / none”), and eventual triumphs. Cordell’s buoyant illustrations are a natural fit for the upbeat verse. A “Poet’s Tackle Box” section outlines poetic devices and forms. Bib.

From the March/April 2013 issue of The Horn Book Magazine. These reviews are from The Horn Book Guide and The Horn Book Guide Online. For information about subscribing to the Guide and the Guide Online, click here.

The post From the Guide: Novels in Verse appeared first on The Horn Book.

This book is endearing, humorous, believable, sexy, and heart-wrenching, and it embodies nearly all of the qualities we looked for: the characters are crisply realized and wonderfully quirky; their repartee is smart, genuine, and entertaining; their experiences and predicaments are relatable; the vividly alive setting helps us connect with the story; their love for each other develops at an expertly natural pace; and we as readers learn as much about love as Eleanor and Park do.

Ms. Rowell, thank you for underscoring everything Rachel and I learned about what makes a love story great.

Readers, let us know if you feel the same.

The post Eleanor & Park appeared first on The Horn Book.

Cunningham came from a family that “didn’t have much,” but when as a teenager she declared that she wanted to be a photographer, her father built her a darkroom.  The book chronicles her start in photography, her marriage, and giving birth to her three sons, but overall focuses on the ways Cunningham balanced — and integrated — her art with her family life. Novesky has a special knack for conveying an artist’s life and craft in simple prose; through spare text she captures how Cunningham “found a little beauty in everything,” especially the everyday activities of her sons. Illustrator Lisa Congdon’s homespun-looking art — often laid out in a photo scrapbook–like format — is similarly subdued, nicely embodying Cunningham’s subjects. This ultimately optimistic story of one woman’s success, personal fulfillment, and artistic legacy is supplemented by an appended biographical note and a few additional resources for exploration (including the URL of the Imogen Cunningham Trust website).

For even more recommended biographies, see our updated Women’s History Month reading list.

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Michelle Markel brings the plight of early-twentieth-century female garment workers to life in Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909. Persecuted in the Ukraine, Clara Lemlich’s Jewish family immigrated to New York City where she found work in a shirtwaist factory. The dangerous and unfair working conditions set Clara off on her lifelong path as a union activist. Melissa Sweet’s illustrations, many presented on fabric scraps or torn paper with machine stitching, accentuate the text. An author’s note and source notes follow the story. (5–8 years, Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins)

In Miss Moore Thought Otherwise: How Anne Carroll Moore Created Libraries for Children, Jan Pinborough gives us a simple narrative of influential librarian Moore’s early love of books on through to her career at the New York Public Library, where she created the innovative Central Children’s Room for the library’s new main building in 1911. The tone here is optimistic, underscored by Debby Atwell’s sun-dappled acrylic paintings of the triumphant new Children’s Room. “More about Miss Moore” and a list of sources are appended. (5–8 years, Houghton)

Tanya Lee Stone’s Who Says Women Can’t Be Doctors?: The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell chronicles the doctor who opened the first hospital for women, run by women, because no one else would hire her. Stone addresses readers in the second person to involve them in her narrative, while Marjorie Priceman’s colorful gouache illustrations lend a perfect framework of energy to the text, drawing upon its provocative and often humorous tone. A two-page author’s note delivers additional information and context for readers to understand the basics of Blackwell’s achievement. (5–8 years, Ottaviano/Holt)

In Helen’s Big World: The Life of Helen Keller, Doreen Rappaport covers the whole span of Helen Keller’s life from birth through her many years with teacher Annie Sullivan and after. The focus is on Helen, but readers get an acute awareness of Annie’s sacrifices for her. Matt Tavares’s ink, watercolor, and gouache illustrations are, per the title, big and bold and often in intense close-up. A timeline helps put important dates in perspective. (5–8 years, Disney-Hyperion)

From the March 2013 issue of Notes from the Horn Book.

The post Women’s History Month appeared first on The Horn Book.

—Katrina Hedeen
Assistant Editor, The Horn Book Guide

Alexander, Elizabeth  Praise Song for the Day: A Poem for Barack Obama’s Presidential Inauguration
32 pp. HarperCollins/Tegen 2012 ISBN 978-0-06-192663-1
Gr. K–3  Illustrated by David Diaz. A mother and son travel through a luminous American landscape as the words of the poem celebrating President Obama’s first inauguration reverberate throughout the book. There are no explanations here for the reader, just strong images and strong words: “On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp, / praise song for walking forward in that light.”

Bates, Katharine Lee  America the Beautiful: Together We Stand
32 pp. Scholastic/Orchard 2013 ISBN 978-0-545-49207-2
Gr. K–3  Ten renowned illustrators, including Bryan Collier, Raúl Colón, and Diane Goode, bring the words of “America the Beautiful” to life; each striking spread also presents an inspirational presidential quote in the side margin. Informative back matter includes a key to national landmarks and symbols; full lyrics; a note on democracy; and biographical information on Bates, author of the poem-turned-patriotic-ballad.

Daugherty, James  Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address: A Pictorial Interpretation Painted by James Daugherty
48 pp. Whitman 2013 ISBN 978-0-8075-4550-8 New ed. (1947, Whitman)
Gr. 4–6  Daugherty powerfully illustrates Lincoln’s momentous Gettysburg Address. This updated edition includes a new afterword by historian Gabor Boritt that provides an overview of the days surrounding the 1863 speech. Daugherty’s emotive paintings — discussed one by one in an appendix — include allusions to other profound American moments, such as then-recent WWII, grounding Lincoln’s words within our nation’s larger history.

Gherman, Beverly  First Mothers
64 pp. Clarion 2012 ISBN 978-0-547-22301-8
Gr. K–3  Illustrated by Julie Downing. This book provides a fascinating perspective on U.S. presidents by focusing on the personalities and influences of their mothers. Each mom has her own section, descriptive epithet (e.g., Barbara Pierce Bush: “The Outspoken Mother”), amusing anecdote, and cartoonlike portrait; sidebars in varying formats contain important dates and facts. Gherman’s engaging text offers vivid characterization of these historic women and their powerful sons. Bib.

Keating, Frank  George: George Washington, Our Founding Father
32 pp. Simon/Wiseman 2012 ISBN 978-1-4169-5482-8
Gr. K–3  Illustrated by Mike Wimmer. This picture book biography provides a unique glimpse into Washington’s life and career, from childhood to his role in the American Revolution to his presidency. The first-person narration and supplemental quotations from his “Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation” present an insightful introduction to the Founding Father’s character. Lush oil on canvas paintings add weight and drama. Bib.

Kerley, Barbara  Those Rebels, John & Tom
48 pp. Scholastic 2012 ISBN 978-0-545-22268-6
Gr. 4–6  Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham. Kerley lightly outlines the commonalities and differences between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. There’s some oversimplification (e.g., taxation is mentioned as a problem, while lack of representation is not), but the text is lively and informative. Fotheringham’s lighthearted illustrations, in various shades of red, white, and blue, dominate each page and reinforce the tone. An author’s note and facsimile of the Declaration of Independence are included. Bib.

Smith, Charles R., Jr.  Brick by Brick
32 pp. HarperCollins/Amistad 2013 ISBN 978-0-06-192082-0
Gr. K–3  Illustrated by Floyd Cooper. In powerful verse that emphasizes the subjects’ dedication and hard work, Smith relates slaves’ contributions to the building of the White House in 1792; their labor provided many with trade skills, which then allowed them to “purchase freedom / earned brick by brick.” Cooper’s soft-focus sepia-toned art showing “black hands / white hands” working together on the historic project bolsters the inspirational story.

Next time: Novels in Verse

From the January/February 2013 issue of The Horn Book Magazine. These reviews are from The Horn Book Guide and The Horn Book Guide Online. For information about subscribing to the Guide and the Guide Online, click here.

The post From the Guide: American Politics appeared first on The Horn Book.

Book one, Be Confident in Who You Are (2011), offers confidence-building tips, positive affirmations, and concluding summaries of the chapter’s topic (“Doing things just to get people to like you can lead to disrespecting yourself”). Real Friends vs. the Other Kind (January 2012), book two, imparts assertions on the nature of friendship, interpersonal relation skills, avoiding pressure, being there for your friends, and an introduction to the dating world.

The comic book–style format may be appealing to the target audience and help the (sometimes didactic) stories go down easier. Though the information might be obvious to more mature preteens, others will benefit from the rehashing of basic socializing techniques. Available for iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, and various e-readers for $2.99; also available in print.

The post Middle School Confidential app reviews appeared first on The Horn Book.

—Katrina Hedeen
Assistant Editor, The Horn Book Guide

Burleigh, Robert  George Bellows: Painter with a Punch
40 pp. Abrams 2012 ISBN 978-1-4197-0166-5
Gr. 4–6  Burleigh relates Bellows’s life, from his childhood in Ohio through his career in New York City as a painter of the Ashcan School. His style, fascination with the urban working class, and passion for sports are all touched on. The simple and clean design sets captioned photos and reproductions of the artist’s most famous paintings opposite detail-rich text. Bib., ind.

Heine, Florian  13 Painters Children Should Know
48 pp. Prestel 2012 ISBN 978-3-7913-7086-6
Gr. 4–6  This large-format volume provides a thorough overview of some of history’s most influential painters, organized chronologically from Hieronymus Bosch to Basquiat. Captioned high-quality images of masterpieces support the informational text, which addresses styles, backgrounds, and inspirations; engaging personal details and anecdotes are also included. Sporadic quiz questions and activity suggestions encourage reader participation. Timeline. Glos.

Kutschbach, Doris  The Art Treasure Hunt: I Spy with My Little Eye
46 pp. Prestel 2012 ISBN 978-3-7913-7097-2
Gr. K–3  This seek-and-find book offers a creative way to instill art appreciation in children. Spreads assign readers a list of things to find within a work of art—eighteenth-century Indian miniatures, a Hokusai woodcut, and Seurat’s A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte among them. A guide to the pictures reveals the puzzle solutions and includes brief artist bios.

Lewis, J. Patrick and Jane Yolen  Self-Portrait with Seven Fingers: The Life of Marc Chagall in Verse
40 pp. Creative Editions 2011 ISBN 978-1-56846-211-0
Gr. 4–6  In elegant verse, Lewis and Yolen put words to some of Chagall’s famous works. Paragraphs of supporting biographical text and vibrant reproductions of the art are paired with poems, mostly written in the first person, that feel like Chagall’s own authentic voice; occasional photographs are included. A novel way to package an artist biography and impart admiration of mastery. Bib., glos.

Novesky, Amy  Georgia in Hawaii: When Georgia O’Keeffe Painted What She Pleased
32 pp. Harcourt 2012 ISBN 978-0-15-205420-5
Gr. K–3  Illustrated by Yuyi Morales. In 1939, O’Keeffe was commissioned by the Hawaiian Pineapple Company (later Dole) to tour Hawaii and create promotional paintings of the exotic fruit. But she fell in love with other features of the islands—volcanoes, tropical flora, rare coral—and stubbornly wouldn’t “be told what to paint.” Novesky’s lulling prose is matched by Morales’s elegant, paradisiacal acrylics inspired by O’Keeffe’s art. Reading list.

Thomas, Isabel  Collages
24 pp. Heinemann 2011 LE ISBN 978-1-4329-5020-0 pe isbn 978-1-4329-5027-9
Thomas, Isabel  Drawing
24 pp. Heinemann 2011 LE ISBN 978-1-4329-5016-3 pe isbn 978-1-4329-5023-1
Thomas, Isabel  Painting
24 pp. Heinemann 2011 LE ISBN 978-1-4329-5018-7 pe isbn 978-1-4329-5025-5
Gr. K–3  Start with Art series. With only two sentences per page, these are very simple introductions to some types of visual arts for young children. Illustrations include reproductions of famous works in different styles. Photos show children painting, drawing, and making collages, helping readers see connections between the featured art and possibilities for their own creative work, as well as providing inspiration and encouraging expressiveness. Websites. Glos., ind.

Zalben, Jane Breskin  Mousterpiece
40 pp. Roaring Brook/Porter 2012 ISBN 978-1-59643-549-0
Gr. K–3  Museum-dwelling mouse Janson likes to explore at night. When she finds the modern wing, her creativity takes off as she emulates alluded-to artists (e.g., “she painted inside the lines” nods to Piet Mondrian), but her eventual “mousterpiece” is satisfyingly in her own unique style. Zalben nails the modern-art homages in her kid-friendly illustrations; the appended “Janson’s Favorite Artists” guide reveals the inspirations.

Next time: American Politics

From the November/December 2012 issue of The Horn Book Magazine. These reviews are from The Horn Book Guide and The Horn Book Guide Online. For information about subscribing to the Guide and the Guide Online, click here.

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David Levinthal recasts the events of fairyland as crimes (“The Three Bears” is a breaking-and-entering case; “Snow White” is an attempted murder) in Who Pushed Humpty Dumpty?: And Other Notorious Nursery Tale Mysteries. Binky, a laconic and rumpled frog detective, investigates the mayhem, and Levinthal’s fun with scene-of-the-crime details is contagious. John Nickle’s dramatic, hard-edged paintings, with their hint of grotesque misanthropy, fulfill the story’s potential. (4–7 years, Random/Schwartz & Wade)

In Jangles: A Big Fish Story by David Shannon, a father tells his son a one-that-got-away tall tale. Jangles, legendary trout of Big Lake, had “broken so many fishing lines that his huge, crooked jaw was covered with shiny metal lures and rusty old fishhooks.” Working with a palette as dark and evocative as the depths in which his elusive character dwells, Shannon provides formidable close-up views of this battle-scarred, larger-than-life character. (4–7 years, Scholastic/Blue Sky)

The calculating dinos of Mo Willems’s Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs plan to lure Goldilocks into their home with chocolate pudding, then swoop in for a snack of “chocolate-filled-little-girl-bonbons.” However, the over-eager (and highly unsubtle) creatures give themselves away, allowing their would-be victim to beat a hasty retreat. The meta elements fly fast and furious throughout this zany tale. (3–5 years, HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray)

Snarky Mr. Wolf puts up a tough front in Debi Gliori’s What’s the Time, Mr. Wolf?, but neither the story’s recognizable nursery-rhyme and fairy-tale characters—nor readers—will buy his big-bad act. As the hours pass, readers will quickly figure out that it’s a special day, leading to the story’s rewarding climax: a surprise birthday party. Watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations show Mr. Wolf’s mood going from grumpy to grateful. (3–5 years, Walker)

From the November 2012 issue of Notes from the Horn Book.

The post Funny folktales appeared first on The Horn Book.

This afternoon, the inaugural issue of our new quarterly e-newsletter Nonfiction Notes from the Horn Book went out to subscribers of our long-running monthly newsletter Notes from the Horn Book.

Each issue will offer Horn Book Guide reviews of recommended informational books, grouped by subject, that we believe will be useful for schools adhering to — and engaging with — the Common Core State Standards. Discussing the problematic disconnect between libraries, publishers, and classrooms in his article “Common Ground” (featured in this issue), Marc Aronson sums up our goal: “Look to Nonfiction Notes to help bridge that gap by providing concrete suggestions of high-quality, useful books that are also enjoyable, eye-opening, and mind-broadening.” Happy reading!

Subscribe here, and send feedback to newsletter@hbook.com.

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