The OEMA Board of Directors offers the book reviews published in this newsletter to you as a gift to our membership.

THE WISH LIST by Eoin Colfer (of Artemis Fowl fame) is a delightful new young adult novel about an orphan, Meg, basically a good kid who's made a few bad decisions, like hanging out with a low-life who talks her into taking part in an ill-conceived armed robbery that gets them both blown up. She arrives in the afterlife to find that her personal accounting of good and bad is exactly 50-50, so she's sent back to earth to accomplish a mission - to fulfill the intended robbery victim's wish list - in order to tip the scales. The result is equal parts Labors of Hercules, Dante's Inferno, and the Three Stooges - Colfer combines satire (I could swear that most of the inhabitants of Hell that he describes work in my school district!) with a fast-moving, suspenseful plot, wonderful characters, and an underlying theme of the power of seemingly small acts of kindness and forgiveness.

BAGELS FROM BUNNY by Aubrey Davis

This modern story rooted in an ancient Jewish folk tale from Spain features a young boy trying to come to terms with God with the help of a kindly, bagel-baking grandfather. Simple line drawing illustrations compliment spare, compelling text to build a truly fine story of a good deed impacting others far beyond our knowledge or imagination. This picture book would be an excellent addition to all school and classroom libraries as a good read aloud, individual check out and as a means to enhance units on family traditions, cultural diversity, or legends from around the world.

DARK WATERS by Catherine MacPhail

A fast-paced, well written, suspense novel that would be an asset as a group read-aloud or individual choice. Hailing from Scotland, MacPhail brings the culture, environment and language to life in this griping book. Col, the main character, is a believable at-risk adolescent who, through an act of bravery, is given the opportunity to throw off family bad-blood expectations for a different life. Family loyalty proves to be a strong chain and he must conquer his own reality -based dream demons in order to follow his conscience. Col’s internal struggle for good juxtaposed against the overtly criminal actions of his beloved brother make this book a refreshing modern day good versus evil tale. For individual reading, it would have been beneficial if the publisher had included a glossary of Scottish to American English language (for instance, loch/lake, gob/mouth, daft/crazy, wee/small, bruv/brother) but readers will get the gist of the story without knowing the meaning of every word.

THE BOY WHO SPOKE DOG by Clay Morgan

A great adventure story told by the two main characters, Jack a young orphan chosen by a salty sea captian to work as a cabin by on a whaling ship and Moxie a young cross-breed sheep dog living on an island inhabited only by sheep and dogs. As fate would have it, Jack’s ship sinks in a terrible storm marooning him on Moxie’s island. Jack and Moxie’s lives intertwine as Jack tries to find his way without human contact and Moxie seeks to bong with him. The book is filled with adventure for both Jack and Moxie as they survive the elements and the islands wild dogs (fangos). This good book could have been great had the author not slipped into an odd moralizing theme with an old dog pontificating to Moxie about “dog and man.” Despite this unfortunate sub-plot the book is worth reading and will be popular with adventuring 4th-6th graders.

ON HER WAY: STORIES AND POEMS ABOUT GROWING UP GIRL edited by Sandy Asher

An absolutely stunning book! A collection of poems and stories by twenty-one successful children’s authors writing on the theme of “Growing Up Girl”. Each poem or story is a worthy stand-alone but together they create a must have volume for classroom, library, or home collection. Girls overcome, or confront, modern obstacles such as being kept off the basketball court at recess “The Day Joanie Frankenhouser Became A Boy”, excluded by the popular kids “The Makeover”, not fitting in at school “This Is The Way It Is”, and child abuse “The Secret Behind the Stone” in a way that every child will feel their struggle. They also bring history to life with an Oregon Trail story of gender discrimination and racism in “Rabbit Stew”, and dealing with polio and mental illness in “Flying Free”. Death and culture are addressed beautifully by a Lakota girl in “The Wind Will Know My Name”, while happily-ever-after is examined under a fresh light in “Princess Isobel and the Pea.” Many of these stories illustrate that girls can, and do, overcome societal restraints but often with a high price as illustrated in “Annie’s Opinion” where despite international acclaim Annie Oakley longs for her own mother’s approval of her unorthodox ways. 

THE KNITTING SUTRA : CRAFT AS A SPIRITUAL PRACTICE by Susan Gordon

A small book that links the processes in knitting and other crafts to meditation, peace & creativity. 

"I WON'T LEARN FROM YOU": AND OTHER THOUGHTS ON CREATIVE MALADJUSTMENT by Herbert Kohl

Several essays about the dissonance between teaching and learning, including the phenomenon of "not-learning," or refusing to learn, which takes place when a student's intelligence, dignity, or integrity is compromised by a teacher, an institution, or a larger social mind set.

SHOULD WE BURN BABAR? : ESSAYS ON CHILDREN'S LITERATURE AND THE POWER OF STORIES by Herbert Kohl

Essays on new perspectives in children's literature, commenting on attitudes of racism, sexism, etc., that detract from the tales being told.

FIREBIRDS: AN ANTHOLOGY OF ORIGINAL FANTASY AND SCIENCE FECTION edited by Sharyn November

“You must read this.” That endorsement from a student made me smile. This collection of stories for young adults includes many notable authors, including Nancy Farmer, Garth Nix, Megan Whalen Turner, Lloyd Alexander, Meredith Pierce, Diana Wynne Jones and Michael Cadnum. While there is no single theme to the collection, the stories are generally delightful to read. Stories based on traditional tales as well as original tales are included. Despite the billing of fantasy and science fiction in the title, some other genres do sneak in, including a very good realistic tale by Elizabeth Wein called “Chasing the Wind.” The collection, while directed at young adults, will appeal to fantasy and science fiction readers of other ages as well. One student enjoyed this collection so much that they kept it over the summer to read again!

FACE RELATIONS : 11 STORIES ABOUT SEEING BEYOND COLOR, edited by Marilyn Singer

A thought-provoking collection of short stories about race by well-known YA authors, including M.E. Kerr, Kyoki Mori, Rita Williams-Garcia, Joseph Bruchac, Naomi Shihab Nye, and Ellen Wittlinger.  These stories would make outstanding disccusion pieces about race issues that relate to teens.

WILLIAM CLARK AND THE SHAPING OF THE WEST by Landon Y. Jones

Here is one of those biographies that splinters any simplistic, holistic sense of history. Learn of the cruel western front of the American Revolution and its hero, William's immoderate brother, George. Consider the intrigue of the Missouri River region with its French, Spanish, and British influences, and the fighting among the many native cultures. Witness the antithesis of Meriwether Lewis be personable and influential through the Corps of Discovery's travels-and thirty years beyond. An entertaining and well-researched adult read.

DOUBLE FOLD: LIBRARIES AND THE ASSAULT ON PAPER by Nicholson Baker

My recommendation as a must read for all librarians and all interested in our need to archive our  history of our country is entitled Double Fold-- Libraries and the Assault on Paper by Nicholson Baker. It was first published in 2001 by Vintage Books. This book will make you very aware of what is happening to the library collections of books, newspapers, periodicals etc. in our country. After reading this, you may feel the need to go right to your local public library, the university libraries, or the state library and see what is still there.

KIDS CAN KNIT by Carolyn Clewer

Do you think a book on knitting would collect dust on the shelf? Do you think your students think knitting is a bore? Think again. You can resurrect knitting as the hot new trend with this colorful craft book. It offers 128 pages of clearly illustrated instructions on everything from finger knitting and casting on to “quick knitting” your own mohair sweater. Sixteen project ideas range from basic to somewhat difficult and include items a child might actually use. The “Oh, no! What went wrong?” section is particularly useful for beginning knitters. This book even shows readers how to make yarn out of everyday items such as plastic bags, fishing line, and audio/video tape. Knitting has become so popular at our school that we now have boys and girls from first to fifth grade learning to knit and joining in knitting circles in the library at recess. We can hardly get this title back in and on the shelf before it is out the door again.

GOT TAPE? by Ellie Schiedermayer

A great update for your craft collection is Got Tape? Written by a Wisconsin high school student, this book about duct tape craft has a modern feel and kid appeal. Steps for making each project are clearly lined out. Photo illustrations guide the reader through the process. Each of the 25+ projects has a difficulty rating and an “options” box that offers ideas for creative variations. Templates are included for projects that require them. Projects include things you can wear, home décor items, and games. One page features prom attire made entirely out of duct tape. This book will appeal to audiences with a wide age range.

MY SISTER'S KEEPER by Jodi Picoult

A daughter, born specifically to donate bone marrow to a sister with leukemia, sues her parents for the rights to her own body. Although dearly loved by her parents, they struggle to see the younger daughter as her own person and they struggle with accepting the inevitable death of the older sister.

HOW TO CATCH AN ELEPHANT by Amy Schwartz

"3 cakes, 2 raisins, 1 telescope and a pair of tweezers. That's what you need to catch an elephant." This engaging read aloud has children interested from the very beginning. Vibrant illustrations with lots of repetition will have students reading the book with you as they experience the effect cake and raisins have on a very big, yellow elephant.

GRANDMOTHER'S PIGEON by Louise Erdrich; illustrated by Jim LaMarche

A family discovers three bird eggs in their eccentric Grandmother's room. In caring for the birds, they discover they are passenger pigeons, an extinct, yet once wildly abundant species. This magical tale is both poetic and moving.

ONE FOR THE MONEY, TWO FOR THE DOUGH, THREE TO GET DEADLY, ETC. by best selling author, Janet Evanovich.

Strap yourself in tight for a zany, hilarious and out-of-kilter ride! Meet Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter, who now works for her cousin Vinnie's Bail Bond Company. Skills, such as learning how to use a gun (and not waving it around), and breaking in houses to get "the bad guys," are learned haphazardly! Stephanie is so desperate to earn some cash (she's had to sell her car and all of her furniture) that she's determined to track down her old hunky vice-cop boyfriend for $10,000. This is a series you'll want to read in order.

THE MESSENGER by Lois Lowry

This book answers all the questions remaining at the end of THE GIVER and GATHERING BLUE. I'm not sure if that is a good thing or not but these companion books are some of the most thought provoking for my students.

THE ALCHEMIST by Paulo Coelho

I'm not sure how I missed this in 1988. I'm guessing that two small children forced me to be too much of a realist to pick this up. But all the 12 to 20 year olds must have read this just like my generation read The Little Prince or The Prophet or Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Full of quotable bits of wisdom as the young Santiago learns to follow his dreams, one of my favorites (as a reader from a far-from-twenty perspective) is this shared by the alchemist in the story, "No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world. And normally he doesn't know it."

During the past year two of the books I read happened to be about Antarctica. These two true stories take you to another world of freezing cold, amazing conditions and perseverance against the elements with the adventures of some amazing women. The stories of the conditions of Antarctica are fascinating as well as the strength of these women who take the challenge of surviving there.

ICE BOUND: A DOCTOR'S INCREDIBLE BATTLE FOR SURIVAVAL AT THE SOUTH POLE by Jerri Nielsen.

Every newspaper in 1999 told of the doctor who had performed her own biopsy to find she has breast cancer during the long winter of Antarctica when no planes can safely land. Her life-changing experience is not only the cancer fight, but the experience of wintering over at the South Pole.

NO HORIZON IS SO FAR: TWO WOMEN AND THEIR EXTRAORDINARY JOURNEY ACROSS ANTARCTICA by Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancroft.

Two middle-aged former school teachers walked, skied and ski-sailed for nearly three months in a 2,300 mile journey as they set out to become the first women to cross the continent of Antarctica on foot.

THE LAST TEMPLAR and THE MERCHANT'S PARTNER by Michael Jecks.

I happened upon these books quite by chance, and find I am enjoying them immensely. They are the first two in a series of mysteries set in 14th century Devonshire, complete with mysterious happening on the moors. Believable characters and vivid settings bring to life a time and place most of us know only as a dark and superstitious time. Fun to read when you're not immersed in the latest on lexiles or Reading First.

THE BOOK OF SALT by Monique Truong.
Paris in the 20's. The household of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas. A lyrical tale told by their Vietnamese cook. One of the best books I've read this year.

FIRST FRENCH KISS AND OTHER TRAUMAS by Adam Bagdasarian

When this book arrived in the library the title prompted me to read it before it started circulating, but any concerns about mature content quickly disappeared as the laughing began. Framed as a fictional autobiography the author wryly recalls his coming of age in a happy, affluent family in Beverly Hills. Vignettes of his childhood and adolescence include a hilarious first make-out session with the prettiest girl at a party, a humiliation in a school yard fight, and the unexpected death of his father. Sometimes sad, sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, this book is warm and delightful. (middle and high school)

PEACE LIKE A RIVER by Leif Enger

MIDDLESEX by Jeffrey Eugenides

ATONEMENT by Ian McEwan

Lately I have inadvertently been reading a passel of books with a coming of age theme. There are many juvenile and young adult books with this thread and we are so fascinated with ourselves that we read them as adults too. A coming of age book is always the story of enlightenment and as such, has something for the reader to learn.

The most beautiful story I have read recently is PEACE LIKE A RIVER by Leif Enger. In it, a young asthmatic boy witnesses his father performing miracles, sometimes as acts of love. The story has them searching for a fugitive brother. The supporting characters are strong and likeable. Much of the story takes place in the winter, so this would be a good holiday read.

MIDDLESEX is as the title says: a story of a hermaphrodite coming to terms with his/her condition. It is also an epic story of family, war, generations and chromosomes. It is long but I found it thoroughly fascinating, although quite glad at the end of the story to be a part of my own dysfunctional family, thank you very much.

ATONEMENT is not a book I can easily recommend as it is long, too long, on description and short on action. McEwan takes up a lot of space in the beginning creating the setting and tone and while I usually read more than Nancy Pearl’s recommended 50 pages, I had to skip ahead just to remain interested. The setting is pre-WWII and is told from the viewpoint of a young girl. Because of a lie, she manages to ruin another person’s life. The resolution is not very satisfying and in fact, is downright confusing. But maybe that’s because I skipped around!

QUEENE'S CHRISTMAS: AN ELIZABETH I MYSTERY by Karen Harper

Although this is the sixth book in this series, it was my introduction to the series. The story hinted at past events (books) but is complete on its own. If you like light mysteries (ie. not much violence nor blood & guts) and historical fiction this is the series for you. Learn about how the Twelve Days of Christmas were celebrated around the mid 1500s including food recipes.

SINISTER PIG, by Tony Hillerman

Another book in Tony Hillerman's mystery series involving Sergeant Jim Chee of the Navajo Tribal Police. Drugs, murder, a touch of romance, and intrigue - what more could you ask for? How about information about the Navajo culture? As a sociology major I enjoy Hillerman's books as much for their insite on Navajo culture as well as their entertaining mysteries.

SILVETON'S BOBBIE: HIS AMAZING JOURNEY - THE TRUE STORY by Judith Kent

This is a heartwarming true story of a collie named Bobbie back in the 1920's who found his way home 2500 miles over a period of 6 months.  His home was in Silverton, Oregon and this is so much part of Silverton's history.  A bronze of Bobbie was commissioned and has found a permanent home at The Oregon Garden in Silverton.

Judith taught English in the Beaverton School District for many years and was moved after 9/11 to leave a positive legacy to her grandchildren.  This is a wonderful book for elementary age and has many original photos of the dog.   

FLYBOYS by James Bradley.

This is a true account of the American verses Japanese views of World War II and their war tactics. The war was won by America because of the Flyboys and their planes. The book is about the story of who these boys were and what they did for our country. Also what we did to Japan and vice versa. This has some awful details, but a story I could not put down. Men will enjoy this true story based on government sealed files that were recently opened.

CATALYST by Laurie Halse Anderson
Eighteen-year-old Kate, who sometimes chafes at being a preacher’s daughter, finds herself losing control in her senior year as she faces difficult neighbors and the possibility that she may not get into the college of her choice. This book looks at the choices we make and how what we do for others comes back to benefit the giver. A great Thanksgiving or Christmas story.

PETER AND THE STARCATCHERS by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

How did Peter Pan meet Captain Hook? How did he get to Neverland? What is the secret of his power of flight? I loved this story as a child and an adult, and now I know the truth! If your students are wishing for a new action-adventure story, that leads them to pirates, sailing ships, mermaids and the stars, Peter and the Starcatchers definitely fits the bill. This fascinating story isn't Newbery material but is a great read that is hard to put down. Humorist Dave Barry adds a special tongue and cheek touch to this story which is exciting and a bit scary, without being gruesome. It would make a great read aloud to 4th through 7th graders and is not too difficult to read.

MY YEAR OF MEATS and ALL OVER CREATION by Ruth Ozeki

Two novels by Ruth Ozeki, a Japanese-American file documentarian, both offer a cross-cultural experience. My Year of Meats is a novel that discusses the use of chemicals in the beef industry, while All Over Creation is about potato farming in Idaho. Ozeki's wit and uncanny ability to evoke the pathos and humor of life's conundrums make these 2 novels good reads.

CITY OF EMBER by Jeanne DuPrau

Some people live their whole lives in a small town and never go anywhere....in the case of Doon and Lina, it is because they can't leave their town, the only place they know. Long ago when a disaster befell the world, the Builders created this town completely underground with hydropower from the river to power it and food and supplies to last 200 years stored in its caverns. The Builders entrusted the "way out" to the leaders of the city with the plan for everyone to emerge in 200 years when it would be safe again, but that information was lost and people no longer realize there is another world outside. They only know that the lights are dimming and the food supply is getting short. Will Doon and Lina find a way out, and will the others go with them if they do? A real page-turner!

CALENDAR

OEMA Newsletter -- Editor: Sheryl Steinke

Published monthly on the 5th of the month September through May
To receive the OEMA Newsletter by email, subscribe to the OEMA mailing list using the form at http://www.oema.net/telecommunication/list.html

Send news items for the Newsletter to:
* Email: sherylsteinke@comcast.net
* Mail: Sheryl Steinke at 2405 Blacktail Dr. Eugene, OR 97405

Deadline: 1 week before publication, except 2 weeks for the January issue.