The Wonder of Charlie Anne by Kimberly Fusco

Fusco, K. (2010). The wonder of charlie anne. New York: Knopf Books for Young Readers. 

Summary

When Charlie Anne's mother dies, her older cousin Mirabel arrives to take care of her and her siblings. Unfortunately, Charlie Anne's life is turned upside down with chores, reading assignments about charm and grace, and she finds any place to escape. When the family splits up in order to make ends meet, Charlie Anne is forced to make friends with the eccentric lady next door and her African American ward, Phoebe. During this growing friendship, Charlie Anne begins to understand that the world around her is not always fair and pleasant for all. 

Review

Readers will read about the impact that poverty and bigotry has on families during the Depression and Charlie Anne gives a perfect tween reaction to this unfairness. When Charlie Anne stands up and confronts this unfairness, tweens will cheer between the pages!

Genre

Historical Fiction

Reading Age/Interest Level

9-12 years/ Tween

Similar Books

Moon over Manifest- Clare Vanderpool

Bud, Not Buddy- Christopher Curtis

Readers Annotation

It is up to Charlie Anne to prove to the town that hearts are always able to change and grow. 

The Forge- Laurie Halse Anderson

Anderson, L. (2010). Forge. New York: Antheneum.
Summary
Fifteen year old Curzon Smith, freed from slavery during the Revolutionary War by stubborn Miss Isabel Finch, is stuck in another ordeal when he ends up saving the life of a young Patriot in 1777 after battling the British and won. Because of this he is made a member of the 16th regiment of the Continental Army and spends the winter with them. Readers are given first hand accounts of the grueling winter of 1777-1778 and the lack of food, supplies, and hope among the soldiers. Then, if by fate or by very bad luck, both Curzon and Isabel are captured and must devise a plan of escape.
Review
Readers of Speak or Wintergirls will be pleasantly surprised at Anderson's second historical fiction book. Forge is a great account of one's search for freedom, both for their fellow man and for themselves. This book can either be read after Chains, or it can be read as a stand alone novel.
Genre
Historical Fiction
Readers Age/Interest Level
13-18 years/Tween-Teen
Similar Books
(PREQUEL) Chains- Laurie Halse Anderson
Moon Over Manifest- Clare Vanderpool
Woods Runner- Gary Paulsen
Awards

• Junior Library Guild Selection
• Kirkus Best Book for Teens: Historical Novels 2010
• The Horn Book Fanfare List Best Book of 2010
• YALSA 2011 Best Books for Young Adults
• Readers Annotation
• Just as Curzan escapes his physical prison, he is forced into another as he has to keep is true identity a secret in order to survive. 

Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

Vanderpool. C. (2010). Moon over manifest. New York: Delacourt Books Publishing.
Summary
12 year old Abilene has always ridden the rails with her father until one day he sends Abilene away to live in the Depression era town of Manifest, Missouri, alone. She lives with Pastor Shady Howard and in a town that her father left mysteriously ten years earlier. Abilene is determines to piece together the reason why her father left Manifest and the local mystery of the "Rattler" all at the same time of trying to fit in with the closed knit townspeople.
Review
This is a great debut novel for Vanderpool and it has believable and at times humorous dialogue, beautiful imagery, and great characters that grow on you. Set in 1936, this book follows the first person narrative of 12 year old Abilene and her determination to save the old town of Manifest, her father, and the goodwill of the Town. Intertwined newspaper columns are shared throughout the book which gives readers a true look at the times.
Genre
Historical Fiction
Reading Age/ Interest Level
10-13 years/ Tween
Similar Books
One Crazy Summer- Rita Williams-Garcia
Heart of a Samurai- Margi Preus
Evolution of Calpurnia Tate- Jacqueline Kelly
Awards
Newberry Medal winner 2011
Readers Annotation
Abilene Tucker has always drifted from one place to another with her dad, now she is sent away, alone, to a place where outsiders are not welcomed and a deep mystery is ready to be solved.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

Kelly, J. (2010). The evolution of calpurnia tate. New York: Henry Holt and Co. 

Plot

 In 1899, twelve year old Calpurnia Tate is doing everything wrong. She loves adventure, science, and the natural world, which are all things a girl should not be doing. Calpurnia, or Callie as her six brothers call her, takes solace in her Granddaddy's lessons and their many scientific discoveries. During a time when young ladies are tied up in corsets and cooking lessons, Calpurnia is discovering herself as she blossoms into a brilliant and intriguing young woman. Readers will love mentions of familiar discoveries such as the instillation of the town's first phone, and the beginning of the National Geographic Society. 

Review

After reading this book I immediately found author Jacqueline Kelly on Facebook and emailed her my thoughts on this book. I am a guilty of judging books by their genre and this book sat on my desk for almost a month. When I finally picked  it up again, I fell in love by the first page. This is not a boring historical fiction book (which I am not fond of), but a brilliant summary of a young girls' self discovery in such an interesting way. Readers will love the history and familiar mentions such as Darwin and moonshine. Parents need to know that there is mention of alcohol making and consumption as well as some mentions of animals mating and words like "hell" and "damn", other than that, it is a great history lesson and fun story all in one. 

Genre

Historical Fiction

Reading Level/Interest Level

5th-8th grade/ Tweens

Similar Books

The Ballad of Lucy Whipple-Karen Cushman

Caddie Woodland- Carol Brink

Strawberry Girl- Lois Lenski

Awards

IRA Children's Book Award; IRA Teachers' Choices; Newbery Honor Book; CPL: Chicago Public Library Best of the Best; Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Choice Award Master List; North Carolina Young Adult Book Award; Texas Lone Star Reading List; TN YA Volunteer State Book Award ML; Vermont Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award Master List

Readers Annotation

Calpurnia is a girl growing up during the turn of the century and while everyone has their own plans for her, she is fighting to create and control her own destiny.

The Other Half of My Heart by Sundee Frazier

Frazier, S. (2010). The Other Half of my Heart. New York: Delacorte Books for Young People.

Plot

  When twin sisters Minerva and Keira King were born news of their birth reached all corners of the Earth. Minerva was born white like their father and Keira was born black like their mother. Despite the way that they look and the way others look at them, the King family is closer than ever. Everything changes when their Grandmother Johnson calls and asks the girls to come and stay with her at her house in North Carolina. There, the girls will compete in the prestigious Miss Black Pearl Preteen of America pageant. Minerva is against it from the start but with a little push, Keira convinces her to go along. There roles are reversed and Minni is now the outcast in an all black town and Keira grows resentful for all the years she has had to endure in their all white suburb. Readers will follow the sisterhood and friendship of two girls who are simply just trying to find where they belong.

Review

  This book was a beautiful 360 example of modern day racial prejudice and the perceptions society has on color. Both girls twinkle in their own way and it is up to their bond to shine. Frazier reaches out and addresses issues that children of mixed races go through with grace and humour. She build her characters to mature young ladies and by the end of the book readers will have a better understanding of racial prejudices and how it affects everyone. Frazier took the color line even deeper when she developed twins born of different races. Sister against sister, black against white cannot separate the true bond of these sisters.

Genre

Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Reading Level/Interest Level

9-12 years old/5th-8th grade/ Tween

Similar Books

One Crazy Summer- Rita Garcia

Because of Mr. Terupt- Rob Buyea

Characters

Minerva King- White, quite, studious and wants nothing to do with girly pageant stuff

Keira King- Black, outgoing, girly, and can't wait to be in the pageant because she loves being in the spotlight

Grandmother Johnson- A large woman who likes to throw her weight around.

Readers Annotation

Minerva and Keira have been together through everything. Now this one summer at Gramother Johnson's house threatens to tear them apart. Will their sisterly bond save them?