Tales from the Crypt (of a Children's Librarian)

Chances are, there's a young person in your family: son, daughter, nephew, niece, grandchild, cousin's cousin. And chances are, they read. Perhaps only when it's compulsory, but hello, they're related to you. There's no escape.

This time of year, reading lists are stocked by English teachers and motivated by bribery--"this many hours will get you a pizza, this many points will get you a shuffle." But what about the novels that aren't required? Good books. Fun books. New and old. They're out there. Here's a few of my recent reads:


Rapunzel's Revenge, by Shannon & Dean Hale
I'm not a big fan of graphic novels, but this one's just plain fun. Kids who think they know the classic story are in for a surprise, as Rapunzel teams up with Jack (of beanstalk fame) in a wild-west adventure that will keep readers glued to their seats til the very last frame.

The Star of Kazan, by Eva Ibbotson
Ibbotson, a children’s author known for ghosts-and-witches tales, produced a glowing sport when she wrote The Star of Kazan, a novel worthy of comparison to The Secret Garden. Beautifully-written and delightfully-plotted, The Star of Kazan is replete with long-lost mothers, Russian jewels, gypsies, castles, despicable villains, Lipizzaner stallions, and unforgettable characters. Its virtual obscurity is a disgrace. Circulate this story among all the girls you know—but read it yourself, first!

Something Rotten, by Alan Gratz
All I have to say about Something Rotten is this is how Shakespeare should be introduced to the millions of high school freshmen in America. I mean, why wouldn't 14-year-old boys despise the Bard when their first encounter involves such smarmy stuff as, "Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" Give them Something Rotten, then go to a live production of Hamlet, and then read the play.






The Penderwicks on Gardam Street, by Jeanne Birdsall
Those searching for one—one!—decent new read-aloud are in for a treat. Each of the four Penderwick sisters are given time to shine, and a plot that could have flopped—scheming potential girlfriends for Daddy—instead unfolds with charm. By the time Mr. Penderwick takes things into his own hands and sets up a date with the mysterious Marianne Dashwood (met in a bookstore, of all places) the reader is smiling broadly.





The Adoration of Jenna Fox, by Mary Pearson
Very few authors can pose enormous philosophical questions without sounding pompous and obvious. Pearson creates a girl who has just awoken from a year-long coma, and knows nothing—of self, of human interaction, of mortality. Suddenly, enormous philosophical questions are vital. The reader soaks them in. Great dystopian novel for high-school girls.






Framed, by Frank Cottrell Boyce
I just can't praise Boyce enough. He doesn't try to be clever--he is clever. He writes a story rooted in art--fine art!--that appeals to junior high boys. They won't even notice they're getting into paintings. Maybe Frank isn't clever--maybe he's a genius. (What else would you expect from a Ninja Turtle fan?)