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.

Oh No! (Or How My Science Project Destroyed the World) by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Dan

Oh No! (Or How My Science Project Destroyed the World)
by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Dan Santat
Hyperion, 2010

GENRE: Picture Book, Science Fiction, Juvie Satire

HONORS: Silver Medal Society of Illustrators Original Art: Fine Art of Children’s Book Illustration, 2011 Golden Duck Award

REVIEW: With the goal of first prize in the school science fair, a young girl builds a fully functional robot, complete with a superclaw, laser eye and the power to control dogs’ minds. But when her invention escapes and starts wreaking havoc on the world, realizes she left out a few abilities like hearing and reading and must figure out how to defeat her robot before the world is destroyed completely!

OPINION: This was a uniquely original story with gorgeous illustrations that could serve as an introduction to manga. I really enjoyed this picture book and can see it appealing to many age groups.

IDEAS: This would be another book to include in the Picture Books with a wide appeal display with Children Make Terrible Pets. This book might also be good to recommend to a manga or anime club, or use as an introduction to these genres.

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Among the Hidden
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Simon & Schuster, 1998

GENRE: Dystopian Fiction, Science Fiction

HONORS: ALA Best Books for Young Adults, ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, YALSA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, Nominee for the Askews Children’s Book Award in Great Britain, Bank Street College’s Children’s Book Committee’s "Best Children’s Books of the Year" list

REVIEW: Set in a future United States where the Government has imposed a two child limit for all families and a special Population Police Force to enforce the law and patrol law breaking families. 12-year-old Luke is an elusive third child for the Garner family, living in the attic room of his parent’s farm house. Living as a shadow, Luke wonders if he will ever be able to live a normal life. Until one day, Luke notices peculiar occurrences in neighboring two-children homes when no one should be home. Is it possible that he isn’t the only one?

OPINION: This book was incredibly intriguing and thought provoking. It was a shorter book and a quick read, but ends with a pretty strong cliffhanger that encourages readers to continue the series. I would definitely like to find out what happens to Luke!

IDEAS:  There aren’t many dystopian novels for juvenile readers, so this book would be a key player in a dystopian fiction display. Also, it would be a great Hunger Games read-alike or recommendation for readers who want something like the Hunger Games, but their parents find it too mature for their child.

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

When You Reach Me
by Rebecca Stead
Wendy Lamb Books, 2009

GENRE: Science Fiction, Historical Fiction

HONORS: Newbery Medal Winner, Massachusetts Children’s Book Award Winner, Andre Norton Award Nominee, Indian Paintbrush Book Award Nominee, 2009 New York Times Notable Book, 2009 Kirkus Reviews Best Children’s Books, Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book of the Year 2009, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year 2009, Booklist Editors’ Choice 2009, Horn Book Fanfare 2009, ALA Notable Children’s Book 2010

REVIEW: In the late 70’s in New York’s Upper West Side, everything is going great for sixth grader Miranda, until the day her best friend Sal gets punched right in front of her for no reason. Miranda becomes distraught when Sal no longer wants to hang out with her, and even more so when she is asked to tutor Sal’s attacker Marcus. Things get even weirder when Miranda starts to find notes from someone who seems to know the future. Will things ever be normal again?

OPINION: I wasn’t expecting this book to have science fiction themes upon starting it and conveniently read it shortly after reading A Wrinkle in Time, which was convenient since this book refers to L’Engle’s work quite a bit. Needless to say, the correlation to something I had just recently read made the book even more unexpectedly good and exciting for me.

IDEAS: This book pairs well with A Wrinkle in Time as both are Newbery Award Winners with Science Fiction themes, and When You Reach Me directly references A Wrinkle in Time. The two would work well in the same displays or in some sort of a “Time Travel” program.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

A Wrinkle in Time
by Madeleine L'Engle
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1962

GENRE: Science Fiction

HONORS: Newbery Award Winner, runner-up, Hans Christian Anderson Award, Sequoyah Award, Lewis Carroll Shelf Award

REVIEW: Meg Murry’s father has gone missing while engaged in secret work for the government. Once Meg and her brother Charles Wallace meet a boy named Calvin and their ever so strange neighbors Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which and Mrs. Whatsit, they journey through space and time in order to save their father and learn valuable lessons about family and love.

OPINION: I am amazed that prior to this class I had managed to go my whole life without reading this book. It is a Newbery Award winner and science fiction icon, and definitely lives up to all its hype.

IDEAS: This book would work great in a variety of displays such as Juvenile Science Fiction books or Newbery Award Winners.