by Daniel Presley & Claire Polders ; illustrated by Erin McGuire ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 22, 2018
Near the end of the book, a military officer says, “In the nonsense of war, everything makes sense.” Readers may find this...
The most important part of this novel might be the recipe for salmon quiche.
The recipe sets the tone for the whole book, because it’s completely impractical: “While whistling, crack the eggs into a bowl and whip them with a fork….Do not throw away the eggshells! They can be used as tiny pots for starting plants from seeds.” It’s perhaps not too surprising that the minds that would dream up that recipe and put it in a historical novel would also tell the story of the Nazi occupation of Paris by writing about a whale who loves the ukulele. The whale is named Franklin, and he tends to pop out of the Seine when 12-year-old Chantal plays “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” And yet, this fanciful, impossible animal fable often feels just as urgent as the real events. The book never hides the horrors of war. There are bombs and starvation and concentration camps. McGuire’s gray-toned illustrations help. They show mundane objects: fishing boots, a radio, a ukulele, but in this context, they become strangely enchanting. (Chantal is white, as depicted in the illustrations, and so are most of the other characters, who are either her relatives or connected to the German military.)
Near the end of the book, a military officer says, “In the nonsense of war, everything makes sense.” Readers may find this utterly ridiculous story utterly convincing and even sometimes heartbreaking. (Historical fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: May 22, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5344-1915-5
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Atheneum
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2018
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by Dav Pilkey & illustrated by Dav Pilkey ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 28, 2012
Is this the end? Well, no…the series will stagger on through at least one more scheduled sequel.
Sure signs that the creative wells are running dry at last, the Captain’s ninth, overstuffed outing both recycles a villain (see Book 4) and offers trendy anti-bullying wish fulfillment.
Not that there aren’t pranks and envelope-pushing quips aplenty. To start, in an alternate ending to the previous episode, Principal Krupp ends up in prison (“…a lot like being a student at Jerome Horwitz Elementary School, except that the prison had better funding”). There, he witnesses fellow inmate Tippy Tinkletrousers (aka Professor Poopypants) escape in a giant Robo-Suit (later reduced to time-traveling trousers). The villain sets off after George and Harold, who are in juvie (“not much different from our old school…except that they have library books here.”). Cut to five years previous, in a prequel to the whole series. George and Harold link up in kindergarten to reduce a quartet of vicious bullies to giggling insanity with a relentless series of pranks involving shaving cream, spiders, effeminate spoof text messages and friendship bracelets. Pilkey tucks both topical jokes and bathroom humor into the cartoon art, and ups the narrative’s lexical ante with terms like “pharmaceuticals” and “theatrical flair.” Unfortunately, the bullies’ sad fates force Krupp to resign, so he’s not around to save the Earth from being destroyed later on by Talking Toilets and other invaders…
Is this the end? Well, no…the series will stagger on through at least one more scheduled sequel. (Fantasy. 10-12)Pub Date: Aug. 28, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-545-17534-0
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: June 19, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2012
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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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