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by Mary McGarry Morris
Publisher's Weekly
: Set in Vermont during the summer of 1960, Morris's latest concerns a dysfunctional family that falls prey to a dangerous con man. Copyright 1996 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. Terms
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by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin
School Library Journal
: Gr 3-6-Coville mines much of the same territory here as in his "My Teacher" books and "Alien Adventures" series (both Minstrel). Given that familiarity, this is a fun, light read. Aliens make contact with Earth and decide to place their worldwide embassy in Syracuse, NY. The alien ambassador brings his son, Pleskit, who ends up in the same class as Tim Tompkins, an avid science-fiction buff. The story is told alternately by Tim and Pleskit, a device that helps readers understand both characters and their perspectives. The plot moves along at a brisk clip. Coville develops a sustained mood of excitement and suspense after Tim and Pleskit are captured by unfriendly aliens who plan to take control of Earth and exploit it for themselves. The mystery element works well-the identity of the "bad guys" is not obvious. Coville's characters are sympathetic, especially Pleskit, who is endearing in his desire to get things right, but never q`? Book Review ![]("http://content.tlcdelivers.com/tlccontent?customerid=999&isbn=9780061733635&requesttype=bookjacket-sm") Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. Terms
School Library Journal
: Gr 3-6-Coville mines much of the same territory here as in his "My Teacher" books and "Alien Adventures" series (both Minstrel). Given that familiarity, this is a fun, light read. Aliens make contact with Earth and decide to place their worldwide embassy in Syracuse, NY. The alien ambassador brings his son, Pleskit, who ends up in the same class as Tim Tompkins, an avid science-fiction buff. The story is told alternately by Tim and Pleskit, a device that helps readers understand both characters and their perspectives. The plot moves along at a brisk clip. Coville develops a sustained mood of excitement and suspense after Tim and Pleskit are captured by unfriendly aliens who plan to take control of Earth and exploit it for themselves. The mystery element works well-the identity of the "bad guys" is not obvious. Coville's characters are sympathetic, especially Pleskit, who is endearing in his desire to get things right, but never quite succeeding. The school scenes are dead-on, and the treatment of politicians and the media is also adept. Coville presents the theme of accepting those who are different without detracting from the action or being overly didactic. Unfortunately, the black-and-white pencil illustrations are weak; the action looks staged rather than natural and the facial expressions seem fake. Nevertheless, reluctant readers will devour this breezy read.-Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. Terms
School Library Journal
: Gr 3-6-Coville mines much of the same territory here as in his "My Teacher" books and "Alien Adventures" series (both Minstrel). Given that familiarity, this is a fun, light read. Aliens make contact with Earth and decide to place their worldwide embassy in Syracuse, NY. The alien ambassador brings his son, Pleskit, who ends up in the same class as Tim Tompkins, an avid science-fiction buff. The story is told alternately by Tim and Pleskit, a device that helps readers understand both characters and their perspectives. The plot moves along at a brisk clip. Coville develops a sustained mood of excitement and suspense after Tim and Pleskit are captured by unfriendly aliens who plan to take control of Earth and exploit it for themselves. The mystery element works well-the identity of the "bad guys" is not obvious. Coville's characters are sympathetic, especially Pleskit, who is endearing in his desire to get things right, but never quite succeeding. The school scenes are dead-on, and the treatment of politicians and the media is also adept. Coville presents the theme of accepting those who are different without detracting from the action or being overly didactic. Unfortunately, the black-and-white pencil illustrations are weak; the action looks staged rather than natural and the facial expressions seem fake. Nevertheless, reluctant readers will devour this breezy read.-Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. Terms
School Library Journal
: Gr 3-6-Coville mines much of the same territory here as in his "My Teacher" books and "Alien Adventures" series (both Minstrel). Given that familiarity, this is a fun, light read. Aliens make contact with Earth and decide to place their worldwide embassy in Syracuse, NY. The alien ambassador brings his son, Pleskit, who ends up in the same class as Tim Tompkins, an avid science-fiction buff. The story is told alternately by Tim and Pleskit, a device that helps readers understand both characters and their perspectives. The plot moves along at a brisk clip. Coville develops a sustained mood of excitement and suspense after Tim and Pleskit are captured by unfriendly aliens who plan to take control of Earth and exploit it for themselves. The mystery element works well-the identity of the "bad guys" is not obvious. Coville's characters are sympathetic, especially Pleskit, who is endearing in his desire to get things right, but never quite succeeding. The school scenes are dead-on, and the treatment of politicians and the media is also adept. Coville presents the theme of accepting those who are different without detracting from the action or being overly didactic. Unfortunately, the black-and-white pencil illustrations are weak; the action looks staged rather than natural and the facial expressions seem fake. Nevertheless, reluctant readers will devour this breezy read.-Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. Terms
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by Kathryn Stockett
Library Journal
: Starred Review. Set in Stockett's native Jackson, MS, in the early 1960s, this first novel adopts the complicated theme of blacks and whites living in a segregated South. A century after the Emancipation Proclamation, black maids raised white children and ran households but were paid poorly, often had to use separate toilets from the family, and watched the children they cared for commit bigotry. In Stockett's narrative, Miss Skeeter, a young white woman, is a naive, aspiring writer who wants to create a series of interviews with local black maids. Even if they're published anonymously, the risk is great; still, Aibileen and Minny agree to participate. Tension pervades the novel as its events are told by these three memorable women. Is this an easy book to read? No, but it is surely worth reading. It may even stir things up as readers in Jackson and beyond question their own discrimination and intolerance in the past and present. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 10/1/08.]—Rebecca Kelm, Northern Kentucky Univ. Lib., Highland Heights Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. Terms
Publishers Weekly
: Starred Review. What perfect timing for this optimistic, uplifting debut novel (and maiden publication of Amy Einhorn's new imprint) set during the nascent civil rights movement in Jackson, Miss., where black women were trusted to raise white children but not to polish the household silver. Eugenia Skeeter Phelan is just home from college in 1962, and, anxious to become a writer, is advised to hone her chops by writing about what disturbs you. The budding social activist begins to collect the stories of the black women on whom the country club sets relies and mistrusts enlisting the help of Aibileen, a maid who's raised 17 children, and Aibileen's best friend Minny, who's found herself unemployed more than a few times after mouthing off to her white employers. The book Skeeter puts together based on their stories is scathing and shocking, bringing pride and hope to the black community, while giving Skeeter the courage to break down her personal boundaries and pursue her dreams. Assured and layered, full of heart and history, this one has bestseller written all over it. (Feb.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. Terms
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by David Macaulay
Publishers Weekly
: At first glance, this is a collection of four unrelated stories, each occupying a quarter of every two-page spread, and each a slight enough tale to seem barely worth a book--a boy on a train, parents in a funny mood, a convict's escape and a late commuter train. The magic of Black and White comes not from each story, however, but from the mysterious interactions between them that creates a fifth story. Several motifs linking the tales are immediately apparent, such as trains--real and toy--and newspapers. A second or third reading reveals suggestions of the title theme: Holstein cows, prison uniform stripes. Eventually, the stories begin to merge into a surrealistic tale spanning several levels of reality, e.g.: Are characters in one story traveling on the toy train in another? Answers are never provided--this is not a mystery or puzzle book. Instead, Black and White challenges the reader to use text and pictures in unexpected ways. Although the novelty will wear off quickly for adults, no other writer for adults or children explores this unusual territory the way Macaulay does. All ages. Copyright 1990 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. Terms
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by Lois Lowry
Publishers Weekly
: Winner of the 1994 Newbery Medal, this thought-provoking novel centers on a 12-year-old boy's gradual disillusionment with an outwardly utopian futuristic society; in a starred review, PW said, ``Lowry is once again in top form... unwinding a tale fit for the most adventurous readers.'' Ages 10-up. Copyright 1994 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. Terms
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