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 Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus

Preus, M. (2010). Heart of a samurai. New York: Amulet Books. 

Summary

Manjiro is only 14 years old when a terrible storm washes him and his four companions onto a tiny island after a simple fishing expedition. They are eventually rescued by an American whaling ship but both groups distrust one another. The captain, William Whitfield, forges a bond with Manjiro and when he asks him to come along, Manjiro gives up everything that he knows and sets sail for America making him the first Japanese person to reach America. 

Review

What can I say? I am a sucker for a great adventure at sea. This is a great book for tweens to read about the first person from Japan to visit America in 1843. They will become motivated as they read about someone who started with nothing and took a chance that changed his life and the history of the world. 

Genre

Historical Fiction

Reading Age/Interest Level

10-13 years/Tween

Similar Books

Ship Breaker- Paolo Bacigalup

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon- Grace Lin

The Samurai Kids series- Sandy Russel

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing by M.T Anderson

Anderson, M.T. (2006). The astonishing life of octavian nothing: the pox party. New York: Candlewick Press. 

Summary

Octavian has grown up with his mother Cassiopeia, an African princess, in an educated household, surrounded by scientists and philosophers in colonial Boston. Unfortunately, Octavian finds out that his whole life has been a lie. He is being "groomed" in a terrible experiment that is trying to prove that despite education and a great upbringing, African Americans will always be inferior to the European race. When the experiment goes awry, Octavian and his mother are put under the watchful and hateful eye of Richard Sharpe. When a terrible fate is bestowed upon Cassiopeia, Octavian joins the Colonial Army and fights for the freedom of African Americans. 

Review

This was a terrible yet wonderful story about the determination of Octavian and his fight for equality. Tweens, teens, and even adults will want to throw this book against the wall at the same time of running to pick it up and finish reading it. This book is written in a very strong manner, and the language is intriguing yet easy to read. Tweens will relate to Octavian as he tries to do good and fight for what is right. His character will show tweens that everyone can make a difference. 

Genre

Historical Fiction

Reading Age/Interest Level

12-18 years/Tween-Teen

Similar Books

The Absolute Diary of a Part Time Indian- Sherman Alexle

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: Traitor to the Nation
Characters

• Octavian: A boy of African descent, and technically a slave in the Gitney household, although he is brought up in luxury for much of his childhood. He is very skilled at the violin, quiet, and is fluent in Latin, French, and Greek.
• Cassiopeia: Octavian's Mother and an "African princess" known for her superior wit. At age 13 and pregnant, she was sold into slavery and purchased by Mr. Gitney.
• Mr. Gitney (03-01): The head of the Novanglian College of Lucidity and the owner of Cassiopeia and Octavian.
• Dr. Trefusis (09-01): Octavian's classics teacher.
• Lord Cheldthorpe: A Lord from England who comes to the colonies to see if he wants to continue the monetary support that his deceased uncle formerly provided for the Novanglian College of Lucidity. He has an especial fondness for Cassiopeia, but she refuses to return to England with him when he says that they can not marry; he quarrels with Octavian and Cassiopeia, who are brutally punished. He then refuses to continue support the Society.
• Bono: A slave in the Gitney household whose full name is "Pro Bono", because when his mother was purchased she was pregnant, so he was an added "bonus". Bono and Octavian become good friends, and when Bono is sold to a Southern owner, he leaves Octavian with a means to escape.
• Mr. Sharpe: The man funds the Novanglian College of Lucidity when Lord Cheldthorpe refuses to continue his support. He strives to prove that Africans are inferior to please his plantation-owning patrons in the South.

Awards

National Book Award Winner 2006

Michael L. Printz Winner and Honor Book

Readers Annotation

The part of history that you never read about. 

Bud Not Buddy- Christopher Paul Curtis

Curtis, C. (2004). Bud not buddy. United States: Delacorte Books for Young Readers.

Summary

Bud Caldwell is an orphan living in Flint, Michigan during the Great Depression.  When his mother dies, he is placed into different foster homes and orphanages and he only has a bag of stones, a photograph of his mother when she was a child and five concert posters for Herman C. Callaway and band that he can call his own.

The story begins with Bud being placed with a foster family that is cruel and abusive and after being tormented and locked up in a shed overnight with an angry swarm of hornets, he runs away determined to find Herman C. Callaway who Bud believes is his father. Readers will be encouraged by Bud's determination and heart as he makes it to Grand Rapids, Michigan and where he meets his "father" Herman Callaway and his jazz band.

Review

This is a great story about a young African American boy who does not let the circumstances of his race or the time of the Great Depression get in the way of his determination to find where he belongs. Author Christopher Curtis balances heartbreak, meanness, and racism with love, family, and humor and readers will want to read this book over and over again. It is hard for kids to get into reading historical fiction but this book, tweens will love because it generates a young boy's powerful fight to get what he wants, even if it means breaking a few rules.

Genre

Historical Fiction

Reading Age/Interest Level

9-12 years old/Tweens

Similar Books

Because of Winn Dixie- Kate Di.Camillo

Hatchet- Gary Paulsen

The Watsons go to Birmingham- Christopher Paul Curtis

Characters

Buddy Caldwell - Bud is a ten-year old African-American orphan boy who has seen and suffered through a great deal in his short ten years, but who is definitely a survivor. His determination to find his father and his ability to use his survival skills to do so make him a heroic character for the reader.

Mr. Herman E. Calloway - He is the band leader of a Depression Era Negro Band whom Bud believes is his father. He turns out to be a rather cranky old man who doesn’t trust Bud and acts mean to nearly everyone. He is actually a very sad man who yearns for the daughter he drove away with his need for her to be what he wanted her to be.

Angela Janet Caldwell - Although she has died before the story begins, her character is a very real presence for most of the other characters in the story. 

Todd Amos and his parents - This is the foster family from whom Bud runs away after he is abused. They are typical of some foster families who would take in children just for the money the state would pay.

                                                                       Awards

                                                        Newbery Award Winner- 2000

William Allen White Children's Book Award-2002

Coretta Scott King Award- 2000

Readers Annotation

Bud Caldwell has no mom, dad, or home and definitely has nothing to lose as he uses his only possessions to guide him to a place called home. 

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.

Al Capone Does My Shirts- Gennifer Choldenko

Choldenko, G. (2004). Al capone does my shirts. United States: Putnam Publications.

Summary

12-year old Moose Flanagan moves with his family from Santa Monica to Alcatraz Island in 1935. His father has been hired as an electrician at the famous prison and his mom is eager to send his autistic sister to a special school in San Francisco. When that plan fails, Moose is upset that he now has to live on an island with no friends, no baseball, and now has to take care of his sister. Things start to look up when he befriends the mischievous warden's daughter and together they get in harmless trouble and Moose starts to be ok with living in such an abnormal place. 

Review

There is something about Alcatraz that I love..the history, the mystery, and the stories from people who have lived on this island are fascinating. Even though tweens may not be familiar with the famous Al Capone they will enjoy this story about friendship, family, and hardcore prisoners...lol. 

Genre

Historical Fiction

Reading Level/Interest Age

9-12 years old/ Tween

Similar Books

Al Capone Shines My Shoes- Gennifer Choldenko

Small Steps- Louis Sachar

Bud not Budd- Christopher Curtis
Awards
Newbery Honor
NYPL's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Publishers Weekly Best Book 2004
ALA Best Book for Young Adults 2005
ALA Notable Book 2005
New York Public Library Best Book for Teen Age 2005

Annotation

Things could not get any worse for too tall Moose Flanaghan. He is uprooted from his friends, home, and school and forced to live on Alcatraz Island which is home to the country's worse criminals. How can things possibly get better?

The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Hahn

Hahn, M. (2010). The ghost of crutchfield hall. New York: Clarion Books.

Plot

Twelve year old Florence Crutchfield figured that her life at her uncles manor in the English countryside would have to better than Miss Medleycoates's Home for Orphan Girls. She would finally have family, a place to call home, and a cousin who she would call friend. Instead, she arrived to a crumbling old manor with acres of empty space and hallways that are both empty and cold. She will live there with her uncle, her mean and nasty aunt, her invalid cousin and a few servants, and the ghost of Sophie, her cousin who died mysteriously on the grounds of the manor. When things start to get worse as the anniversary of Sophie's death draws near, it is up to Florence and James to send Sophie back where she belongs, or they will be next.

Review

What a bummer! This cover had me at hello and I could not wait to dive into it. Well I dove headfirst into an empty pool. Hahn seemed to take the good parts of the Secret Garden, added a bratty ghost, and ended with little hope for any of the characters. There were too many references or inside jokes that would go completely over the heads of tweens and the writing style was boring and lacked depth. Although Hahn is a great writer and throughout the book she would make me pause with her brilliant sentences, the story needed more work.

Genre

Horror

Reading Level/Interest Level

9-12 years/Tween

Similar Books

Coraline- Neil Gaiman

The Dollhouse Murders- Betty Wright

The Haunting- Joan Nixon

Readers Annotation

Florence was expecting a new home, a new family, and a place to call her own. What she wasn't expecting is to be possessed and haunted by her deceased cousin and in a race to save herself from trading positions. Florence's uncle said that the dead don't return, he was wrong.

The Red Umbrella by Christina Gonzalez

Gonzalez, C. (2010). The red umbrella. New York: Knopf Books for Young Readers. 

Summary

When Castro comes to power in 1961 Cuba, 14 year old Lucia is too busy thinking about clothes, boys, and dances to worry about the Revolution. Then, her world crashes down around her when she is forced to flee to American with her youngest brother. She now live in Nebraska and must come to terms with her identity as she tries to assimilate into the American way at the same time of holding on to her Cuban family and way of life through censored letters and shortened phone calls. 

Review

Actual newspaper clippings that are at the start of each chapter brings to light that this book is based on the authors personal family drama. Tweens will be able to relate to the first person narrative and understand Lucia's rebellion, selfishness, heart and passion that are prevalent throughout this book. This is a great way to introduce this crucial time in American/Cuban history. 

Genre

Historical Fiction

Reading Level/Interest Level

10-13 years/Tween

Similar Books

Bamboo People- Mitali Perkins

One Crazy Summer- Rita Williams'Garcia

Cuba 15- Nancy Osa

Readers Annotation

The most important thing Lucia thought about was boys and who she would go to the upcoming dance with, then the Revolution began, and she must grow up fast in order to survive.