I have not seen a ton of use of the list of new books I was posting here, so instead I will just be highlighting a few of the new books that went on the shelves this week.
Egg & Spoon by Gregory Maguire is one of those books I've seen floating around on Newbery and Printz hopeful lists so when I saw it at the bookstore I snatched it up. This was my first taste of Gregory Maguire, as it probably will be for most students. From what I've heard, most of his other books are grittier and have content obviously aimed at an older audience. This one is safe enough content-wise for middle grade students, but sophisticated enough for young adult and adults. The book is set in early 1900s Russia with some magical elements. There's a poor Russian peasant girl, Elena, whose life intersects with a rich Russian-French aristocratic girl, Ekaterina. The two get tangled up in an adventure involving a Fabregé egg, a Firebird's egg, the Tsar, Baba Yaga, and the health of the magic of Russia. Readers who like re-imagined history and fairy tales should enjoy this fantasy adventure. And this is probably the funniest Baba Yaga you'll ever meet. She steals the show from the moment she's introduced. I'd recommend reading it just to meet her (oh, and her talking cat Mewster, too). This is also a good one for the multicultural factor and that it will help get kids interested in the history of Russia. I can see easily convincing students to read The Family Romanov by Candace Fleming after reading this since the time periods overlap.
What's that? You haven't read The Family Romanov? Oh, you've heard of it but have already read another book on the Romanovs? Well, you still should read this one. It's an exceptionally written, engaging, and informative biography. Fleming doesn't just introduce you to the Romanov family, she gives you a great framework for their tragedy by including first person accounts of peasants at the time, explains the social climate of Russia then, and includes information on how Russia's involvement in WWI contributed to things. It's the most well-rounded biography of the Romanovs I've ever come across. And it is so readable. Kids who think biographies are boring will be eating their words. Fleming knows how to keep the momentum going. This isn't dry history, it plays out like a thriller you're reluctant to put down even if you know how some things will turn out. There's a reason that this book is also on numerous award hopeful lists.
Want more info on each of these books, including notes on any content that may be inappropriate for some readers? Click on the titles for my full reviews on GoodReads.com.
Do you dream of becoming a published author one day or do you have students with such dreams? Do you/they want to do it full time? Author Shannon Hale had a brutally honest post recently about the ins and outs of the money side of being an author, something I really haven't seen many posts about, but I think it's needed. I see things about the writing process and publishing process all the time, but rarely have I seen anyone talk about the actual money involved. This post is a healthy dose of reality, and it is a must read for anyone seriously considering this career. The nitty gritty on authors, signings, and filthy lucre.
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