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As the father of six,
Jerry Spinelli knows kids. He knows their hearts, their dreams, their language. In SMILES TO GO ($16.99)
we meet high school freshman Will Tuppence, a star-gazing, sister-hating, pizza-loving, Monopoly-playing chess-master who
believes that if he plans carefully enough, life will be a smooth skateboard ride with no bumps or surprises. Every Saturday
night finds him in a Monopoly marathon/pizza pig out with his two best friends, Mi-Su and BT. Five-year-old sister Tabby provides
comic relief as she attempts to get her big brother to notice her. He’s the only person who can’t see her adoration
for him…she is just a thorn in his side. A near tragedy brings him out of his head and into the world and he finally
sees his little sister for the gift she is in his life. Although Will can be tiresome with his obsessive attention to rules
and need to plan everything out before acting; stick with him; he is definitely a character worth getting to know.
Twice Upon a Marigold ($17.00) by
Jean Ferris is the much anticipated sequel to Once Upon a Marigold.
Queen Marigold and King Christian have been married for a year. The kingdoms of Beaurivage and Zandelphia have been
enjoying a period peace, tranquility and cooperation since Queen Olympia disappeared into the river on the wedding day. But
now, all of a sudden, the dogs are snarling, the newlyweds are fighting and there seems to be a noxious, foul wind blowing.
You would almost think Olympia is back…and up to
her old selfish, autocratic games. Can Marigold and Christian foil Olympia’s plans and pull together to keep the peace in their kingdoms? If you liked Once
Upon a Marigold (now in a $5.95 paperback), you’ll love Twice Upon…twice as much!!
Billie Standish Was Here (16.99) by Nancy Crocker tells a true-to-life story of the friendship
between eleven-year-old Billie Standish and her eighty-something neighbor, Miss Lydia. Billie has been the victim of neglect
from a distant father and emotional abuse from an angry mother. Miss Lydia has her own trials with an adult son who brings
trouble whenever he comes home. Their friendship begins when they (and Billie's parents) are only ones to stay behind
when a flood threatens the town. Its roots take hold as Billie spends time with Miss Lydia, helping her move things upstairs
away from the threatening flood. It grows through an act of hate and violence that would have torn Billie apart, if not
for Miss Lydia's insight, love and wisdom. And the friendship reaps a harvest of love, respect and acceptance as their
roles shift; Miss Lydia becomes child and Billie becomes nurse through Miss Lydia's final illness. Be forewarned;
the themes in this amazing debut novel are for mature young adult readers.
Shooting the Moon ($16.99) by Frances O'Roark Dowell tells the story of twelve-year-old
Jamie Dexter. Her father, the Colonel, has always been her hero and she is puzzled when he is less than happy about big
brother TJ's decision to postpone college, enlist in the army and go to Vietnam. Instead of letters, TJ sends rolls
of film. Jamie enlists the help of a Viet vet to learn how to develop film and the pictures she sees show her another
side of the war--far from the glory. A timely story that weighs the romantic notion of war against its human cost.
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