Zorgamazoo by Robert Paul Weston, illustrated by Victor Rivas

Zorgamazoo

by Robert Paul Weston, illustrated by Victor Rivas
Razorbill, 2008

GENRE: Fantasy, Adventure, Poetry, Science Fiction, Horror

HONORS: Children's Choice Book Award 2009, Booklist Top Ten Debut 2008, Silver Birch Prize: Winner 2010, E. B. White Honour 2009, Children's Literature Assembly Notable Book 2009, California Young Reader Medal: Nominee 2011, Pacific Northwest Young Readers Choice Award: Nominee 2011

REVIEW: Katrina Katrell can’t wait till she’s grown, to finally be free of vile Mrs. Kabrone. A guardian cruel, who’d never sweet talk and oft threatened to take her to the lobotomy doc. So far away Katrina does flee, it’s in her best interest, I’m sure you’d agree. “Morty” is the nickname for Mortimer Yorgle, a rumpled but pleasant and welcoming Zorgle. To his chagrin, Morty was placed in a raffle of sorts, the prize is adventure, not relaxing resorts. So Morty embarks on his questing debut, to find the missing Zorgles of Zorgamazoo. Katrina and Morty began unattached, but soon their paths cross and a plan is hatched. Katrina and Morty, together they knew, they must find the Zorgles of Zorgamazoo!

OPINION: Nearly every kid has a soft spot for Dr. Seuss, and if he wrote a novel I’m pretty sure it would turn out a lot like Zorgamazoo. The poetic style of rhyming couplets are infectious and will have you thinking in rhyme for hours after you set the book down. Aside from the unique writing style, it also pairs Neil Gaiman-esque black and white illustration with a great story – which seems like it might be difficult to do completely in rhyme.

IDEAS: Zorgamazoo could inspire another type of poetry lesson/program. Tween/Teens could be asked to write a short story completely in rhyme, in the style of Zorgamazoo.

Babymouse: Queen of the World! by Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm

Babymouse: Queen of the World!

by Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm

Random House, 2005

 

GENRE: Graphic Novel, Humor, Fantasy

HONORS: 2006 Gryphon Award Winner, 2006 ALA Notable Children’s Book, 2006 New York Book Show Award

REVIEW:  Babymouse is a “sassy young mouse” who laments the monotony of everyday and dreams of glamour, excitement and adventure and being the Queen of the World! But she isn’t Queen of the World, or even Queen of the School… That title belongs to Felicia Furrypaws who just happens to be having a sleepover and Babymouse is dying to get invited. 

OPINION: Printed in pink, black and white, this is quite possibly the cutest graphic novel I’ve encountered. Cuteness aside, Babymouse is a very likeable character with a big imagination and inquisitive nature. It seemed like a fantasy version of The Dork Diaries, but in a really good way.

IDEAS: Babymouse would be a great introduction to graphic novels for young girls for inclusion in a graphic novel display. It could also be included in a display along with books like Dork Diaries and Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

H2O: Just Add Water (television show) by Jonathan M. Shiff Productions

H2O: Just Add Water
Television Show
by Jonathan M. Shiff Productions
Network Ten, 2006-2010

GENRE: Fantasy

HONORS: None known

REVIEW:  Three sixteen-year-old girls wind up stranded on an island. When one of the girls slips and slides into a remote pool under the island’s volcano, the other two follow, and the three find themselves standing in the pool just as the full moon passes over. The next day, the girls discover that as soon as they touch water, they transform into mermaids with special powers! Every episode brings new and exciting mermaid adventures.

OPINION: It reminded me of a modern day Australian teen version of the 80’s movie Splash, which I remember really liking. This show on the other hand felt kind of cheesy, but it works since kids like my 9 year old niece are hooked! It offers wholesome and fantastical fun, since what little girl doesn’t have mermaid princess fantasies at some point?

IDEAS: Have teens/tweens write a paragraph or draw a picture about what special power they’d like were they to get caught in a magical location under the full moon.

How to Train Your Dragon (animated film) by Dreamworks

How to Train Your Dragon
Animated Film
by Dreamworks, 2010

GENRE: Animated Film, Fantasy, Movie, DVD

HONORS: Various Film Festival and small award recognition

REVIEW:  Hiccup is the awkward and gawky son of a great Viking and the chieftain of their village, Stoick the Vast, and Hiccup wants nothing more than to make his father proud. Nothing would please his father more than for Hiccup to slay a dragon and become a brave Viking, so one night when a dragon is terrorizing the village, Hiccup sets out to catch it with a catapult he built. What more, he thinks it may be a rare Night Fury – a dragon none have seen. Hiccup did manage to hit the dragon, is overcome with remorse when he finds the dragon injured and unable to fly. Hiccup helps the dragon, and learns lessons greater than how to be a great warrior.

OPINION: The movie is based on a series of books by Cressida Cowell which I have never read, but even still I absolutely loved this movie. Toothless is adorable and the message the movie aims to teach is a valuable one.

IDEAS: Tweens and Teens love free snacks, so what better than to have a movie event playing How to Train Your Dragon with popcorn and candy.

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

A Tale Dark and Grimm
by Adam Gidwitz
Dutton, 2010

GENRE: Fairy Tale Retelling, Fantasy, Horror, Fractured Fairy Tale

HONORS: None known

REVIEW: The trend over the last centuries was to soften the originally dark and gruesome fairy tales written by the Brothers Grimm. Adam Gidtwitz decided to take these stories back to their roots and then some by writing eight graphic and bloody new tales starring Hansel and Gretel, starting with the story of their parents and birth. Through their journeys, Hansel and Gretel encounter witches and warlocks, and even the devil himself.

OPINION: I listened to this book as an audible audiobook and thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t imagine I would have enjoyed it as much simply reading the book. I loved how the reader continually warns the listener that things are about to get much more graphic with many false “the ends” to allow the faint of heart bow out before things get too bloody. I’m sure these are written into the book as well, but they seemed more effective being read aloud.

IDEAS: This would work well in a Fairy Tale Fantasy or Horror display. It would also make a fun lesson/program as a creative writing assignment to re-imagine other familiar tales.

The Sisters Grimm: Fairy Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley

The Sisters Grimm: Fairy Tale Detectives
by Michael Buckley
Harry N. Abrams, 2007

GENRE: Fantasy, Fairy Tale Retellings, Mystery

HONORS: Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 2006, Kirkus: The best Children's Books of 2005

REVIEW: After moving from foster home to foster home, orphaned sisters Daphne and Sabrina are sent to live with their grandmother – a woman they had been told was dead. Granny Relda takes the girls to her home in Ferryport Landing where she reveals to the girls that they are actually descendents of the original Brothers Grimm who were not only storytellers, but detectives of cases involving magical phenomenon involving the Everafters, a magical race that inhabits Ferryport Landing. Soon enough, Granny Relda goes missing and the girls find themselves solving their first case involving giants, Prince Charming and an Englishman.

OPINION: I was recommended this series by a number of tweens, and enjoyed the retellings and fracturing of fairytales and how they had been explained for use in a modern setting. It mixes the extraordinary content of familiar tales with our ordinary familiar world.

IDEAS: Fairytale retellings are a growing and popular subgenre. This would make for a great inclusion in a fairy tale retellings/fractured fairy tale display, or as the inspiration for a short story contest for tweens involving a reimagining of familiar fairy tales.

Odd and the Frost Giants (audiobook) by Neil Gaiman

Odd and the Frost Giants
by Neil Gaiman, read by Neil Gaiman
HarperFestival, 2009

GENRE: Fantasy, Mythic Fiction

HONORS: None known

REVIEW: Odd is a strange and clever young boy living in a village where it seems winter may never end making everyone miserable. To escape the grumpy villagers, Odd flees to the forest where he encounters and befriends the unlikely trio of a fox, eagle and bear who he soon discovers are not mere animals, but the Norse gods Odin, Loki and Thor who had been transformed into animals and banished to Earth by the Frost Giants. Odd agrees to help the gods regain control of Asgard and put an end to the eternal winter, but the journey will definitely not be an easy one.

OPINION: This is the book that made me really very aware of mythic fiction. I didn’t think much of Greek Myth retellings, but the use of Norse Mythology intrigued me and made me want to further investigate this phenomenon of mythic fiction. I listened to this as an audiobook, which was read by the author himself. I always enjoy hearing books read by the author they way they intended them to be heard.

IDEAS: Include these in a mythic fiction display. Relate the story and its use of Norse gods like Thor and Loki to other popular uses of these gods, such as the Avengers. Use the book in conjunction with a lesson on world mythology.

Warriors: Into the Wild by Erin Hunter

Warriors: Into the Wild
by Erin Hunter
Harper Collins, 2004

GENRE: Fantasy, Adventure

HONORS: 2006 Young Reader’s Choice Award – 3^rd Place, Booklist’s 2003 Top Ten Fantasy Books

REVIEW: Rusty is an ordinary housecat with big dreams of roaming free and catching mice. One day, he gets the opportunity to test his hunting skills in the field behind his house. He fails, but meets Bluestar, the leader of a clan of wild cats who sees potential in Rusty. Bluestar offers him the opportunity to leave his “kittypet” lifestyle and join the Thunderclan where he will train to be a warrior, and change his life forever.

OPINION: This series is immensely popular with the kids and tweens in my library, so I felt the need to see what all the hype was about. At first, I felt a little silly about the terminology like “kittypet” and “sharing tongues” and the cats’ names, but once I got into it I found it very enjoyable, and it was exciting to get to relate to some of the tween customers through this series.

IDEAS: This book is the first of a big series with a few sister series’. A display of only Warriors/Seekers/Clan books could be made, or the library could host a “Warrior Challenge” of games and challenges based on the books and warrior training.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
by Rick Riordan
Hyperion Books for Children, 2005

GENRE: Mythic Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure

HONORS: New York Times Notable Book of 2005, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, and VOYA Top Shelf Fiction List for 2005

REVIEW: After learning that he is a demigod, meaning the offspring of a Greek God, Percy Jackson is transferred to Camp Half-blood – a summer camp for demigods. Percy soon learns that Zeus’s powerful Lightning Bolt has been stolen, and that he is the main suspect. Along with a Satyr named Grover and a daughter of Athena named Annabeth, the three embark on the adventure of a lifetime to prevent a war of the Gods and clear Percy’s name.

OPINION: This is the book that got me excited about mythic fiction. I really liked the concept of drawing from existing mythologies and making them viable for existence in the modern world. It was interesting, exciting and nearly believable!

IDEAS: A Greek God Challenge would be a really fun tie-in program to see if teens/tweens have the smarts of Athena, mastery of the water like Poseidon or of the air like Zeus. Or more simply, it could be used in a Greek or Mythic Fiction themed display.

Kid Vs. Squid by Greg Van Eekhout

Kid Vs. Squid
by Greg Van Eekhout
Bloomsbury, 2010

GENRE: Fantasy, Adventure

HONORS: None known

REVIEW: Thatcher Hill spends his summers working in his uncle’s Museum of Curiosities in the California beach town of Los Huesos. Late one night, a mysterious girl breaks into the museum and steals one of the curiosities. In an attempt to catch the thief, Thatcher follows her only to embark on a magical adventure to break an evil witch’s curse!

OPINION: Great for boys and younger tweens, it is a fast-paced and exciting magical adventure. My only criticism is that the title and cover might be a little misleading as I expected something similar to Pirates of the Caribbean and giant squids attacking ships, but was met with magic, witches and curses. Squid may be in the title, but make up only a small part of the plot.

IDEAS: Would be great in an adventure themed display such as “Reading: It’s an adventure!” or in a display of books that might be enticing for reluctant readers.