by Patrick Jennings ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 23, 2013
Humorous, enjoyable and light.
An amusing, fast-paced tale about an irrepressible drama queen who has to cope when she doesn’t get the starring role in the class play.
Zaritza Dalrymple, 11, wants nothing more than to be an actress. So naturally, she’s thrilled about the upcoming visit of a theater troupe that will be helping her class stage a production of Calamity Jane. But to be allowed to participate, Zaritza must hand in her math homework assignments, which means she actually has to do them, an option she had barely considered. When she gets this show-stopping news, Zaritza immediately leaps into action, first telling her teacher the class ferret ate it, then trying to copy her friend’s homework, then attempting to con her shy, supersmart classmate, Eden Sumarta, into doing it for her. Alas, all ruses fail. Not only that, but the introverted Eden, a girl who never projected past the footlights in her life, is cast as Jane. After some guilt tripping from her parents, Zaritza, who initially would have liked to break Eden’s leg, begins helping her. The girls develop an unlikely alliance, and much to her surprise, Zaritza begins to root for her success. The climactic performance is suspenseful fun, and Zaritza, who becomes more appealing as the novel progresses, even learns a life lesson or two.
Humorous, enjoyable and light. (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: April 23, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-60684-286-7
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Egmont USA
Review Posted Online: Feb. 26, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2013
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by Peter Brown ; illustrated by Peter Brown ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 26, 2023
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant.
Robot Roz undertakes an unusual ocean journey to save her adopted island home in this third series entry.
When a poison tide flowing across the ocean threatens their island, Roz works with the resident creatures to ensure that they will have clean water, but the destruction of vegetation and crowding of habitats jeopardize everyone’s survival. Brown’s tale of environmental depredation and turmoil is by turns poignant, graceful, endearing, and inspiring, with his (mostly) gentle robot protagonist at its heart. Though Roz is different from the creatures she lives with or encounters—including her son, Brightbill the goose, and his new mate, Glimmerwing—she makes connections through her versatile communication abilities and her desire to understand and help others. When Roz accidentally discovers that the replacement body given to her by Dr. Molovo is waterproof, she sets out to seek help and discovers the human-engineered source of the toxic tide. Brown’s rich descriptions of undersea landscapes, entertaining conversations between Roz and wild creatures, and concise yet powerful explanations of the effect of the poison tide on the ecology of the island are superb. Simple, spare illustrations offer just enough glimpses of Roz and her surroundings to spark the imagination. The climactic confrontation pits oceangoing mammals, seabirds, fish, and even zooplankton against hardware and technology in a nicely choreographed battle. But it is Roz’s heroism and peacemaking that save the day.
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant. (author’s note) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9780316669412
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2023
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by Katherine Applegate illustrated by Patricia Castelao ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 17, 2012
Utterly believable, this bittersweet story, complete with an author’s note identifying the real Ivan, will inspire a new...
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New York Times Bestseller
Newbery Medal Winner
How Ivan confronts his harrowing past yet stays true to his nature exemplifies everything youngsters need to know about courage.
Living in a "domain" of glass, metal and cement at the Big Top Mall, Ivan sometimes forgets whether to act like a gorilla or a human—except Ivan does not think much of humans. He describes their behavior as frantic, whereas he is a peaceful artist. Fittingly, Ivan narrates his tale in short, image-rich sentences and acute, sometimes humorous, observations that are all the more heartbreaking for their simple delivery. His sorrow is palpable, but he stoically endures the cruelty of humans until Ruby the baby elephant is abused. In a pivotal scene, Ivan finally admits his domain is a cage, and rather than let Ruby live and die in grim circumstances, he promises to save her. In order to express his plea in a painting, Ivan must bravely face buried memories of the lush jungle, his family and their brutal murder, which is recounted in a brief, powerful chapter sure to arouse readers’ passions. In a compelling ending, the more challenging question Applegate poses is whether or not Ivan will remember what it was like to be a gorilla. Spot art captures poignant moments throughout.
Utterly believable, this bittersweet story, complete with an author’s note identifying the real Ivan, will inspire a new generation of advocates. (author’s note) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Jan. 17, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-06-199225-4
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2011
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