Brainstorm 160: 12 Christmas Reads for Anyone

It’s the last day of November, and before I launch into my yearly Top 10s of the year for December, it’s time for 12 lesser-known reads for Christmas. Everyone knows that Scrooge is available to hang out this time of year in Dickens’ classic book, and Dr. Seuss’s Grinch gets his fair amount of page time, and if you need a cozy who done it for the holidays Poirot has several cases to choose from. But what about some of those other books that get set out on holiday displays? They’re more of a gamble. Here’s 12 that are good for anyone’s Christmas reading.

Picture Books

The 12 Days of Christmas by Greg Pizzoli
Watch the mother elephant as her little elephant receives ALL the things outlined in the traditional Christmas carol.

Target Readers:

• Humor Fans/Christmas Carol Fans/Elephant Lovers: This is "The 12 Days of Christmas" as if it really happened. And oh boy, am I glad I don't live in that house! A funny and very memorable illustrated version of the Christmas song. 

Itsy Bitsy Christmas: You’re Never Too Little for His Love by Max Lucado, ill. by Bruno Merz
Itsy and Bitsy are two mice who live in Bethlehem. There's lots and lots of people coming into the small town to be counted, and they hear that one of the people is a king. A king coming to little ol' Bethlehem, it is hard to believe. They scramble around the village trying to find the king and almost miss him in their own stable home.

Target Readers:

• Those Looking for Biblical-Related Christmas Stories/Cute Christmas Story Fans: A cute perspective on the Christmas story that provides a little of the Old Testament prophecies' sense of expectation and wonder about a king being born in Bethlehem.

Santa Rex by Molly Idle
The characters from Tea with Rex prepare for Christmas together. They make decorations, decorate the house, bake Christmas cookies, and go to sleep early on Christmas night anticipating the surprises in store on Christmas day, but also just enjoying their time together.

Target Readers:

• Idle’s Rex Book Fans: Those who enjoy Rex’s other adventures at tea and the sea should enjoy watching Rex and gang get ready for Christmas.
• Christmas Decorating Mood/Christmas Activity Prep Fans: I like that all of the activities are things young readers could really do to help prepare for Christmas, from making paper chains to helping bake Christmas cookies and decorate a tree. A very fun holiday read for kids excited about preparing for Christmas.
• Fans of Books Where Illustrations + Text=More: Just read the text and imagine what is going on, and then look at the pictures. You might be surprised to see what the “helpful” dinosaurs are getting up to. This book definitely capitalizes on making the most of the comedy of the words plus the illustrations combined.

Lower Grade Fiction

A Green Christmas (Galaxy Zack, #6) by Ray O’Ryan, ill. by Colin Jack
Zack and his family are excited about going back to spend Christmas on Earth in Vermont with extended family. In the meantime, they are marveling at the different ways Christmas is celebrated on Nebulon while finishing up their shopping and decorating their house. But when a huge storm heads to Nebulon, it looks like their Christmas is not going to be so great after all.

Target Readers:

• Making the Best of Holiday Plans Gone Awry: Anyone who has grown up in an area with regular snow in the winter has probably at some time experienced messed up Christmas travel plans. It can be devastating to psyched up kids and make a lasting impression. But it is something I really haven't seen in that many books. I like that O'Ryan put such a situation in this book. The storm is a creative way to make it happen on a distant planet. And I liked the way Zack's family made the best of things.
• SciFi Fans/Friendship Story Fans: Galaxy Zack is an approachable scifi series for lower grades that has some fun ideas and good friendship experiences.
• Cross-Cultural Christmas Fun/TCKs: I liked the way Zack's family adopts a few Nebulon decorating ideas while also sharing what's important to them. It is a very realistic look at how expat kids would find Christmas in a foreign land. A fun Christmas story that many TCKs will identify with.

Santa Claude (Claude, #9) by Alex T. Smith
Claude and Sir Bobblysock helped PC Ann Cuffs out of a tricky situation during the day on Christmas Eve so she gave Claude a pair of handcuffs and now that their busy day of helping out around the city is done, Claude is inspired to curl up with a book on cops and robbers after his owners leave for a Christmas party. When Claude hears someone in the next room, he and Sir Bobblysock pluck up some courage and capture the invader, handcuffing him to a chair. When they turn on the lights to find out who snuck into the house on Christmas Eve night...they then realize they may have a bit of a problem on their hands, especially when Claude can't find the keys to the handcuffs.

Target Readers:

• Humor Fans/Reluctant Readers/Dog Lovers: Claude’s antics are absolutely hilarious. The prevalence of illustrations and the imaginative adventures are sure to lure in even the most reluctant of readers with this wild Christmas tale.

Middle Grade Fiction

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser
With just days till Christmas, the Vanderbeekers' reclusive and grumpy landlord Mr. Beiderman has given them notice that he's not renewing their lease next year and they need to find a new home by January 1. The five Vanderbeeker children are heartbroken. They love their home, they know everyone in the neighborhood, and some of the other residents in their brownstone are more like family than just friends. How can they leave the place they've grown up in the past six years? Something must be done. So the kids start brainstorming how they can convince a man they really don't know and have practically never seen to let them stay.

Target Readers:

• Feel Good Christmas Story Fans/Great Families in Lit Fans/Cozy Community Story Fans: This has all the makings of a feel good Christmas story. Glaser manages to develop all five of the kids' unique personalities as the story unfolds as well as show you how many ties they have in their little neighborhood. They aren't perfect, but they have clearly become an important part of the community from the way the littlest Vanderbeeker brings joy to the elderly couple upstairs on a daily basis, to how second youngest makes dog biscuits for the mailman to share around. The mystery of why Mr. Beiderman never leaves his apartment at the top of the house and why he wants the Vanderbeekers to leave slowly unfolds and was a definite part of the moving conclusion. A cozy holiday tale, with a heartwarming ending, and would make a fantastic family or class read aloud in December. 

Young Adult & Adult Fiction

The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand
Every year an organization called Project Scrooge spends a year identifying a Scrooge, figuring out all the people in their lives that parallel the characters in Dickens’ story, and preparing for the Scrooge to have the full Christmas Carol experience on Christmas Eve. Holly Chase, daughter of a movie director and actress, was the Scrooge a few years ago. She laughed off all the warnings of Christmas Eve trying to get her to reform and melt her heart, and walked right into a car after going to yoga on Christmas morning. As a dead, failed Scrooge, Holly is now working as the Ghost of Christmas Past for Project Scrooge. She has a living body for the job, but it resets every day so she hasn't aged in the five years she's worked on the project. She does her job, but still doesn't get all the Merry Christmas stuff. But this year is a little different. Boz has given her an assistant this year, a girl named Stephanie who is bubbly and joyful. The chosen Scrooge is not your typical middle age guy, he's another seventeen year old, Ethan Winters III, and he is rather pleasing on the eyes. But instead of being a normal work assignment, Holly finds herself getting rather more invested in her work this year, even breaking some big rules to meet the Scrooge in person. Can Holly and Project Scrooge reform Ethan, or is he just as doomed as she was?
Note: Some kissing, deaths mentioned but nothing gory.

Target Readers:

• Classic Rewrite Fans/Dickens Fans: I absolutely loved what Cynthia Hand did. She created a plot that honors Dickens and the heart of his story, but is also fresh and new. Dickens fans will love how the crew hunts for the various Christmas Carol characters. And will also likely find it amusing that Holly's boss, Boz, insists on giving everyone working at Project Scrooge a Dickens name. Holly is Havesham, Stephanie is Little Dorrit, etc. And there are Dickens quotes from multiple books all throughout.
• Light Fantasy Fans/Romance Fans/Feel Good Story Fans: Most of the story feels like a contemporary YA read and there are just fantasy elements occasionally. Holly grows on you through the book (you aren’t supposed to really like her at first). But she has a great supporting cast with plenty of other characters to entertain and enjoy until Holly gets more palatable. There is a little twist in the plot but there are some big hints so I think you're supposed to see it coming. It doesn't make it any less good. I really enjoyed this holiday read. Recommended to anyone who likes warm-hearted holiday stories, feel good stories, character growth stories, and contemporary romance with some light fantasy. 

Saving Red by Sonya Sones
Molly is finishing up her freshman service hours by helping with the homeless count in Santa Monica when she first sees Red, a teenager sleeping on a bluff above the beach. Molly can't get Red out of her head, and during an amazing moment on the ferris wheel the next day when she meets Cristo (quite possibly the most amazing guy ever - and he seems to like her!) they see Red dancing in another car. Molly gets the idea that she should try to help Red get reconnected with her family for Christmas, and shares her plan with Cristo. He's 100% behind the plan, but off to New York City with his family that night for the holidays. So it's just Molly, and her faithful dog Pixel, to carry out Operation Red. The truth is, though, that Molly has other reasons she wants to - needs to - help Red, reasons she's not willing to admit to herself.

Target Readers:

• Those Who Read to Build Empathy: This does a fantastic job of portraying homelessness and people with mental illness incredibly authentically and respectfully, and there are loads of further resources in the back of the book.
• Contemporary Fiction Fans/Novel in Verse Fans/Quick Read Fans: As a novel in verse this is a pretty quick read, but that doesn’t lessen the power of the read. It’s heartwarming. There’s also a sweet, clean little romance side plot for those who want a little Christmas love story.

Silent Days, Holy Night by Phyllis Clark Nichols
Julia is getting ready for a Christmas gala at a big mansion in West Virginia. And as she gets ready, she reminisces about how she came to this point. It all started 16 years ago when she was 10 and she first met the owner of this mansion. Mr. Lafferty was nothing more than a town legend when she met him. Rumors were he was an ogre who lived in a haunted house or something similar. So Julia is shocked to learn that her father is Mr. Lafferty II’s attorney, as her grandfather was attorney to Mr. Lafferty I. Julia does not meet an ogre when she has to accompany her father to the house because of the family’s car schedules. This girl with endless questions meets a man who is deaf and confined to a wheelchair but secretly has been the town’s greatest benefactor for years. Through Julia’s father he keeps tabs on who in town needs help and makes it happen, all anonymously. He also makes amazing bird sculptures and he is thrilled when Julia plays the piano because he can feel it if he touches the instrument. And it evidently brings back happy memories. Julia decides then and there she wants to get to know Mr. Lafferty more and find a way to thank him for all he has done for others without spilling the beans about his secret generosity. As older Julia continues to prepare for the party, she walks through memories about how that initial meeting with Mr. Lafferty, the months immediately following, and the first Christmas soon after changed many lives dramatically.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Target Readers:

• Anyone…No Really, Anyone: I’m not even sure whether to call it an adult novel or middle grade novel. About 3/4 of the story is told from 10 year old Julia’s perspective and the other ¼ is told from 26 year old Julia’s perspective. 10 year old Julia is quite smart and precocious though, so adults shouldn’t find her sections childish. And adult Julia is not so mature or adult-ish to preclude middle grade readers from finding her parts accessible and relatable. We’ll call it an any age story. Which seems fitting since the book is about a 10 year old befriending a kind but lonely 50 year old. It is truly an intergenerational novel. 
• Feel Good Christmas Story Fans/Non-Romantic Christmas Story Fans: This isn’t a romance at all. It is a story about love and kindness changing lives. Mr. Lafferty teaches Julia how to be still and calm (a minor miracle to her parents) in addition to sign language and wood carving. And by his actions he teaches her about giving to be kind and loving without wanting anything out of it, to focus on the good rather than the bad, and unconditional kindness and forgiveness. Julia teaches Mr. Lafferty to laugh and smile again, brings vibrancy and friendship to his life…and, well, I can’t spoil her Christmas surprise for him, but it is a very, very good one. And to see where they both end up 16 years after they first met is very touching (and cleverly done because the author lets us see both of them in the present without spoiling any of the reveals of how that Christmas affected their futures until she wants us to know). This one is sadly still on order for our library, but if you can find it where you are it is a great read and I couldn't resist sharing about it.

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul
On the out of the way Sage Street, two co-workers who have never talked before bump into each other at a small book store. Unbeknownst to either one, each of them gets a ticket to the Wizards Ball with their purchase. Cora is wary of this ball and is determined not to go. Simon would definitely not be going, except his beloved sister Sandy sees the ticket and gets it in her mind that they are going. Sandy has Down syndrome and is very special to her brother, so now Simon has to find another ticket. But there's no information on the Ball's website about where to get more tickets. In fact, there's not much information of any kind about the ball except for pictures of past events. If that weren't strange enough, the next day Simon can't even find the street the bookstore was on, let alone the book store. The answer to his dilemma comes in the form of a car accident for Cora and a mixed up phone call. Simon ends up getting the call that Cora's car is ready at the shop, and he gives her a ride there. In the process they get talking about the ball and Cora offers him her ticket for Sandy. Cora also ends up being the answer for Simon's second Sandy dilemma. Sandy's gotten it in her head that all she wants for Christmas is a kitten. It just so happens that Cora's cat surprises her with a litter of kittens. Once Sandy meets Cora, they hit it off so well she decides that Cora should go to the ball with them. Cora is well-trained by her trying family in resisting manipulation, but she finds herself wanting to spend more time with Simon, and Sandy too. With the help of some interesting dress-makers, they find a third ticket and all is set for the three of them to go to the ball. But then Cora's sister Zee sweeps into town and threatens to disrupt the ball plans and whatever might be building between Cora and Simon.

Target Readers:

• Cinderella Re-Write Fans: There are definite parallels to Cinderella in this story, though the fantasy is kept very, very light (and able to be explained away if you so desire). It didn't feel overly done. The story is its own, just with a touch of Cinderella sprinkles on top.
• Down Syndrome Character Fans: In my opinion, Sandy absolutely stole the show here. She was adorable and I loved every moment of page time with her.
• Clean Christmas Romance Fans/Christian Fiction Fans: This is a light, fairly quick, sweet Christian Christmas read. It is always one of the most checked out Christmas reads in our library.

Nonfiction

Christmas Poems selected and edited by John Hollander & J.D. McCarthy
A collection of poems including Christmas carols, humorous Christmas poems, and more contemplative Christmas poems.

Target Readers:

• Busy Readers/Poetry Fans/Christmas Carol Fans: If you just have time for a little bit of reading between your holiday activities or if you like more sophisticated Christmas reading, this poetry collection may be just the ticket.

Truce: the Day the Soldiers Stopped Fighting by Jim Murphy
Jim Murphy presents a rather different focus on WWI from the norm. He looks at how the war was potentially avoidable, but pride and other things got in the way of peace. He then outlines some of the initial battles, but focuses on how slow and futile much of the battle tactics and fighting in this war were. This leads up to the Christmas of 1914. The men were tired of the fruitless battles and life in the trenches, and little tendrils of peaceful actions between the fighting forces leading up to Christmas day led to numerous regiments disregarding orders and declaring a truce for the holiday, mingling with the "enemy" and celebrating together.
Note: Some historic violence related.

Target Readers:

• Peacemakers/Holiday History Buffs/WWI Buffs: Beyond being a little slice of Christmas history, it really makes you stop and wonder if WWI could have been avoided and/or settled peacefully. Obviously, there were people on both sides willing to find common ground and see the other side as real people and potential friends. I picked this up for a non-fiction Christmassy read, and it is a powerful example of peace being enacted on Earth. It brings up some very heavy but important things to think through.

Brainstorm 159: New Jersey...Portal to Myths & Fantasy?

So I was reading The Serpent’s Secret this week, featuring a mythical heroine who hails from New Jersey. And I went, wait a minute. I’ve seen several other fantastic adventures in New Jersey. The more I thought about it, the more I was convinced we can make a pretty solid case for New Jersey having very loose ties with reality and strong ties with supernatural occurrences. It seems to attract the mythical and fantastic. Which would really explain a lot. (It also makes you wonder how anyone in New Jersey could be bored. From the literature, it seems like they have monsters and villains on every other corner.) Some of these spill over into adventures in New York City, and we know NYC is full of similar occurrences too. Is it the area, or did one affect the other? Are they trying to be near NYC but distinct? And if so, is it time for some superheroes to move into Connecticut? Because Jersey is seeming a little crowded. I’ll let you build your own theories. But if I were you, I'd keep my eyes peeled next time I crossed the Jersey state border. Here are some books to start with as you explore New Jersey adventures that are either mythical, fantastic, supernatural, or that sneak right up close to that line.

Middle Grade Fiction

The Creature of the Pines (Unicorn Rescue Society, #1) by Adam Gidwitz, ill. by Hatem Aly
Elliot is not thrilled about starting at a new school several weeks into the school year. In fact, his first day happens to be a class field trip. He ends up sitting in the bus next to a girl named Uchenna who plays air drums and spontaneously composes songs, but otherwise seems mostly sane and the most friendly person Elliot has met yet. As the two of them hike into the Pine Barrens of New Jersey with their class and special guest Professor Fauna (who teaches social studies and is rumored to have a torture chamber in the basement), Uchenna decides to go off the path to explore a strange sound. Elliot stays firmly on the path until he hears Uchenna scream. And what they find off the path is about to change their lives forever.
Click on title to see content notes.

Target Readers:

• Mythical Creature Fans: This series is perfect for those readers who love all kinds of mythical creatures. I’d never heard of the Jersey Devil before, but the legends of such a creature are out there. The next book goes to rescue a dragon in Basque country, and the rest of the series promises all the mythical creatures anyone’s heart could desire.
• Friendship Tale Fans: Uchenna and Elliot are quite different in many aspects, but they are great friends for each other. Half the fun of these books is watching them interact.
• Adventure Fans: These books are not dull and never slow. Those who like their heroes and heroines to be constantly on the go should like this series.

The Eye of Midnight by Andrew Brumbach
Cousins William and Maxine have been sent to stay in New Jersey with their grandfather, Colonel Battersea, for the summer of 1929. Neither of them is sure what to expect, but they definitely didn't foresee Grandfather getting kidnapped by a secret society upon their arrival in New York City. Or meeting a strange courier from oversees with an artifact that secret society obviously wants very badly. They'll go places and see things they wouldn't have dreamed happened outside of books, and they'll learn more about themselves, their family heritage, and each other in the process.
Click on title to see content notes.

Target Readers:

• Adventure Fans/Exciting Historical Fiction Fans: This isn't quite fantasy, but it saddles right up next to the line if not being downright legendary. There's 1920s mob fights, swashbuckling feats, discovery of secret tunnels in forgotten graveyards, family secrets, and loads of adventure. It's a high octane secret sleuthing in New York City (and New Jersey) just before the stock market crashed. True to the times, the police aren't very helpful (they were notoriously corrupt during this time period and owned by the mob bosses), and the kids have a hard time getting any help from adults so they have to do things on their own with the help of Nura, the 12 year old courier from Turkey.

The Serpent's Secret (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond, #1) by Sayantani DasGupta
Kiranmala gets home on her 12th birthday to find her parents gone, a cryptic note from her mom with some rupees and a blank piece of paper, a rakkhosh (mythical demon monster) bent on destroying the kitchen (and possibly snack on her), and two strange boys on flying horses who keep calling her princess offering to help her find her parents. From there her day just gets weirder...and more dangerous as she discovers the truth about who she is while trying to rescue her parents in a different dimension.
Click on title to see content notes.

Target Readers:

• Fantasy & Mythology Adventure Fans/Indian Folklore Fans: This book will be right up the alley of fans of Percy Jackson, Aru Shah, and other mythology based adventures. Instead of being a retelling of any one tale from Indian mythology, it is a blend of several different tales from Indian folklore, fairy tales, and mythology. And there’s plenty of action and mythical or legendary characters to keep things exciting.
• Fans of Spunky Characters/Humor Fans/Personal Growth Story Fans: Kiran and her fellow adventurers are memorable characters with entertaining voices. There are frequently humorous moments. But there’s also a good balance of watching many of the characters grow and mature throughout their adventure.

Squirrel Meets World (The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl novels, #1) by Shannon & Dean Hale
Doreen Green is a pretty typical 14 year old girl, eager to make friends in her brand new neighborhood in New Jersey. She just has one tiny, itsy difference from most 14 year old girls. She has a tail. Oh, and some other squirrel traits, including the ability to communicate with real squirrels. She never lets anyone outside her family see the tail though. The groups at her new school are proving as tough as walnuts to get into, but Doreen does make one friend. Ana Sofía honestly doesn't at first welcome Doreen's olive branches of friendship, but Doreen's knowledge of ASL does break down a little of the wall with a girl who can't hear and then there's Doreen's relentless positive attitude. Doreen also makes some friends among the local squirrels when she destroys some crazy evil traps someone set up around town. When Doreen uses her squirrel powers (and squirrel friends) to help thwart a troublesome gang in the neighborhood, Squirrel Girl gets her first appearance. Doreen always admires the Avengers and other superheroes, but she's never really thought she could be one. Squirrel Girl saves the day a few more times in the coming days, and she gets the attention of local would-be super villain Micro-Manager. He wants to make a name for himself, and what better way to do so than to take down a superhero. Besides, Squirrel Girl has already annoyed him by messing with his rodent traps around town. Can Squirrel Girl really save the day, or is she just a girl with a tail?

Target Readers:

• Superhero Fans/Spunky Character Fans/Humor Fans: Doreen Green/Squirrel Girl is my personal favorite superhero and I know she has lots and lots of other fans out there. She’s hard not to love with her spunky, upbeat personality, desire to help anyone and everyone, and her tendency to use psychology over her fists. And she frequently makes me laugh.
• Squirrel Fans: Doreen shares the spotlight with her many furry friends in these novels. We even get chapters from their perspectives.
• Readers in between Middle Grade and Young Adult: This is marketed as YA, but is totally approachable and safe for the MG crowd too.
• Fans of Awesome Hearing Impaired Characters: Doreen’s friend Ana Sofía is a great addition to the series. And is a positive portrayal of all a girl can do even if she doesn’t hear everything many other people do.

Young Adult Fiction

No Normal (Ms. Marvel, #1) by G. Willow Wilson, ill. by Adrian Alphona
Kamala is a typical immigrant kid. She doesn't quite fit in at home with her Pakistani Muslim immigrant parents, and she doesn't quite fit in at school with other teens born in Jersey City. While trying to figure out who she is, Kamala accidentally gets turned in to a superhero. Which is one part awesome (as she is a huge Marvel fan) but several parts something-worth-freaking-out-about primarily because she has no one to talk to or consult about her new powers. One thing she does know, though, based on her beliefs and who she is, she can't just not use her powers to help save lives. Eventually, one of her best friends does figure out the whole superhero thing and she is ecstatic to have an ally. On the other hand, her name as Ms Marvel starts to get around and she inadvertently also gets herself an enemy...to be dealt with in future issues.
Click on title for content notes.

Target Readers:

• Graphic Novel Fans/Superhero Fans/TCK Fans: Readers can’t get enough of Kamala and her adventures saving Jersey City over and over again. She is an enjoyable heroine to follow around as she fights crime while also trying to balance high school, family life, and figure out her own identity issues of being a third culture kid along the way. 

Brainstorm 158: Winter Sports Reads

Today is Family Sports Day at our school so I thought I’d bring you some sports books. Our days are getting shorter in the hours of light, and it’s a little cooler (still quite balmy to many since we’re in the tropics). It is still making me think of winter. It will never get snowy here, but that doesn’t mean we can’t vicariously participate in some winter sports through the pages of books. So here are some winter sports books for readers whether you’ll use them to get excited about getting out there in the cold and snow yourself, or if you’ll get all your snow and cold virtually.

Picture Books

Bunny Slopes by Claudia Rueda
Bunny is going skiing but he needs the help of the reader. Can you help make it snow just right and help Bunny make it down the slopes ok?

Target Readers:

• Interactive Book Fans: This is cuter than the average interactive book. It asks the reader to shake the book to make it snow. Tilt the book to help Bunny build up enough speed on the slopes, etc. 
• Skiing Fans/Bunny Fans/Animal Lovers: If you love the thrill of skiing or cute bunnies, you should enjoy this book.

Flora and the Penguin (Flora) by Molly Idle
Flora and the Penguin have a great time ice skating together until there's a little misunderstanding. Not to worry, though, because the two friends quickly work out their misunderstanding.

Target Readers:

• Wordless Book Fans/Art Lovers: Flora and the penguin’s adventures are conveyed entirely through Idle’s amazing illustrations. 
• Interactive Book Fans: Readers lift or move flaps that help you better understand the story.
• Ice Skating Fans/Penguin Lovers: Flora and the penguin have a good time skating in the story when they aren’t miscommunicating.
• Miscommunication & Working out Misunderstandings Book Fans: Flora and the penguin have to work out a misunderstanding in here. (The penguin gives Flora a fish which she thinks is disgusting, hurting the penguin’s feelings.) It provides a great opportunity to talk to readers about how actions can be misunderstood for a number of reasons, and how to repair a relationship. You could also talk about how a treasure to one person can seem worthless to another person.

Learning to Ski with Mr Magee (Mr. Magee & Dee) by Chris Van Dusen
Mr. Magee decides that he and Dee should try skiing. He rigs up a basket for Dee to ride in on his back and heads for a small hill near their home to try things out before driving to the mountains. Skiing proves a bit challenging for Mr. Magee, especially when a moose and a ravine get in his way.

Target Readers:

• Skiing Fans/Humor Fans/Art Lovers: Van Dusen's illustrations in this are amazing and hilarious, and it's all about the way he uses perspective. It's artistic comedic genius. And of course, we’d expect nothing less from an adventure with Mr. Magee and Dee. (There are three Mr. Magee and Dee books and they are all fantastically funny.)

Lines by Suzy Lee
What starts as a wordless book featuring a single ice skater making lines on pristine ice turns into something else when the skater falls and the artist gets frustrated.

Target Readers:

• Skating Fans/Creative Picture Book Fans:  This is one that is impossible to describe sufficiently. You've just got to read it. Ice skating fans and winter sports fans should enjoy it for the fun with ice skating.
• Perfectionists/Art Lovers: Perfectionists, especially artists who are perfectionists can walk away with a little more from this book as it is a subtle commentary on the potential beauty and even fun in mistakes they may be tempted to throw out.

Lower Grade Fiction

Claude on the Slopes (Claude, #6) by Alex T. Smith
Claude and Sir Bobblysock discover snow and the fun of winter past times...Claude goes in more for the sport activities and Sir Bobblysock explores the snowman arts and the pleasures of a hot drink at the lodge.

Target Readers:

• Skiing Fans/Sledding (or Sledging) Fans/Snow Activity Fans: There’s lots of wintry fun to be had with Claude and Sir Bobblysock. 
• Graphic Novel Fans/Humor Fans: This highly illustrated little novel (could be classified a graphic novel) is absolutely hilarious. It’s my personal favorite of Claude’s adventures. 

Middle Grade Fiction

The Big Dark by Rodman Philbrick
After solar flares take out all electricity and messes up compasses and such on New Year’s Eve, Charlie and his family are working to survive in their New Hampshire town. There are various factions starting to divide the town, but Charlie’s bigger issue is his mom’s health. She’s run out of medicine and he must ski to the city on his own to get more for her.

Target Readers:

• Survival Fans/Skiing Fans: Those who like to watch people figure out how to survive in the middle of winter without any modern conveniences should enjoy this book. Also a very real application of skiing abilities is showcased.
• Dystopia/Thriller Fans: The town starts to have issues between various factions who want to take over and it is a bit tense at times. Charlie also experiences some exciting and perilous situations as he ventures off on his own to get medicine. Readers who like high action books and light dystopias should give this a try.

Extreme Babymouse (Babymouse, #17) by Jennifer L. Holm, ill. by Matthew Holm
Everyone is going snowboarding and Babymouse doesn't want to get left out. Once she does hit the slopes, will she use her head or let peer pressure lead her to do something dangerously stupid?

Target Readers:

• Snowboarding Fans/Humor Fans: The summary isn’t lying. Everyone in Babymouse’s world is snowboarding, even the Locker! And it is so very funny.
• Graphic Novel Fans/Reluctant Readers/Winter Sport Fans: Babymouse books are short, quick graphic novels perfect for reluctant readers. If you want another winter sport with Babymouse, try her skating book, Skater Girl where she has to decide how hard she’s willing to work for her dreams. 
• Peer Pressure Lesson Fans: Babymouse of course does learn an important lesson about peer pressure in here.

Spy Ski School (Spy School, #4) by Stuart Gibbs
Ben is being mobilized for another mission, along with a few other kids from Spy School. Ben's mission is to get close to Jessica Shang, daughter of suspected big bad guy Leo Shang from China. The CIA suspects that the Shang's ski trip to Vail, Colorado is a cover for something but they aren't sure what. Jessica has enrolled in ski school the week after Christmas, so Ben is going to be in the same school. He'll hopefully learn to ski while not killing himself, and figure out what Leo Shang's plans are before something bad happens.
Note: Click on title to see content notes. 

Target Readers:

• Spy Story Fans/Skiing Fans: A fantastic spy adventure for middle grade readers from Mr. Gibbs. Students LOVE this series. This one combines just the right mix of ski scenes, humor, interpersonal stuff, and epic spy action. And Erica's issues with skiing are hilarious.
• Reluctant Readers: This is one of my go-to non-graphic novel series to get reluctant readers hooked on reading. 

Young Adult Fiction

Ice Dogs by Terry Lynn Johnson
Victoria sets out with a small sled dog team for what she thinks will be a quick afternoon trip. But then she comes across a guy who wrapped his snowmobile around a tree and needs help. And soon a blizzard is bearing down on them, forcing them to camp for the night. With her map accidentally a victim of the fire, no cell reception, and the snowmobiler new to town, can Victoria and her dogs get them safely back?

Target Readers:

• Survival Story Fans/Dog Sled Fans/Alaska Fans: For those who like survival stories in the wintery wilds of Alaska with some loyal sled dogs, definitely give this one a try. (And if you like sled dog stories, Terry Lynn Johnson has another sled dog book out just last year, Sled Dog School, aimed at middle grade readers.) 
• MG or YA Readers/Light, Clean Romance Fans: For some reason many have the interest level of this book listed as middle grade, but it features two 16 year old main characters and there’s a little bit of romance. I think it better fits the YA reader, but there is really no content to prevent middle grade readers from enjoying it either. Usually the cover sucks in both readers.

The Possibility of NOW by Kim Culbertson
Mara is a Junior at an elite private school in San Diego. She was the top of her class, and headed right for being Valedictorian next year. That was until her melt down in calculus. All the stress and perfectionism got to her and she turned her test into confetti along with several others, and it went on YouTube. Now she's headed to Tahoe to spend some time with the biological father she hardly knows and try to figure out how to put her life back together. She's got her lists, and her plans. She's going to take online classes to keep her scholarship at Ranfield while she figures things out and can get back to being Miss Perfect.

Target Readers:

• Skiing & Snowboarding Fans: All the characters in Tahoe have their lives wrapped up in skiing or snowboarding. You get to vicariously live in a world where everyone hits the slopes daily. If you want a good dose of winter and cold, go live in these pages for a little while.
• Contemporary Fiction Fans/Character Development Book Fans: There’s a teensy bit of romance in here (completely clean), but that really takes a back seat to all the character development. There are several characters who have growing to do over the course of the book, and watching them grow is very fulfilling.
• Perfectionists (and Parents of Perfectionists): This is an important read for perfectionists. Perfectionism runs rampant in the hallways at our school, and there are lots of students I hope can learn from Mara's struggle. I really appreciate how Culbertson subtly works in the various ways perfectionism and pressure can play out in people's lives, and healthy and non-healthy responses to it in a non-preachy way. I also recommend parents of perfectionists or stressed teens give this a read so they have a better picture of how their teen is thinking.

Brainstorm 157: Dancing Princess retellings

It’s been a while since I shared some fairy tale renditions, so today we have some various versions and retellings of the Dancing Princesses. I was introduced to this fairy tale as a child through our library’s copy of Fairy Tale Theater's “Twelve Dancing Princesses.” (My sisters and I practically wore out the VHS tape all on our own we borrowed it so often.) I now measure all retellings against that beloved rendition. There aren’t a ton of retellings of this tale (compared with the number of Cinderella or Beauty and the Beast retellings), but those that do exist vary widely from hilarious to downright dark and suspenseful depending on how the princesses’ nightly disappearance is explained. The only picture book versions we have at our school are in fairy tale compilations, so I’m not including a picture book version. (But if you’re looking for a stand alone picture book, I’ve wanted to read Marianna Mayer’s adaptation for a while. I hear it has beautiful illustrations by Kinuko Y. Craft.)

Middle Grade Fiction

Of Mice and Magic (Hamster Princess, #2) by Ursula Vernon
Princess Harriet gets recruited to save twelve princesses from a curse. Every night they seem to wear out their dance slippers, but no one has been able to solve the puzzle of where they go and why, and according to the fairy who recruits Harriet, time is running out for the princesses. Harriet is on the case. And in her own indomitable way, she'll save the day...and hopefully straighten out some whacky rulers in the process.

Target Readers:

• Hamster Princess fans/Humor Fans/Fractured Fairy Tale Fans: Princess Harriet (along with her trusty riding quail Mumfrey and friend Prince Wilbur) is always guaranteed to turn a fairy tale all sorts of new ways and in the process provide several laughs. 
• Reluctant Readers: With a large font, illustrations throughout, and Harriet’s antics, this series is a great choice for reluctant readers.
• Read Aloud Fans: Those looking for a read aloud a whole family or class can enjoy should give Hamster Princess a try.

The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell
Peasant girl Reveka lives in Sylvania, a kingdom near Transylvania, threatened by wars with the Turks on one side and the Hungarians on the other. Because of the turmoil, Reveka grew up in a convent while her soldier father was off at war. It was there she learned to be an herbalist. At thirteen, Reveka was apprenticed to the royal herbalist. And for the sake of the kingdom, it is a good thing Reveka is now working for the castle, because they have a big problem. For six years now, the twelve princesses have been nightly wearing out their shoes, and anyone who tries to sneak into their chambers to find out why ends up in an enchanted sleep...a sleep that no one ever wakes from, and some have even died from. And that's not all, other people have just up and totally disappearing from the kingdom. The king is at his whit's end trying to solve this curse, and has offered a daughter's hand in marriage or a handsome dowry to any man or woman who can solve the curse. Of course, since most who try for this end up snoozing away, the takers have dropped over the years. But Reveka would love to get her hands on that dowry and buy a spot in a convent to set up her own little herbary, so she has set her mind on finding a cure to the sleeping sickness and the curse. Eventually, she does get to the root of the princesses' curse. And she does find the solution…someone must agree to marry the King of the Underworld, who happens to be a zmeu (a dragon that can take human form). But finding the answer to the mystery of the princesses' shoes just results in more questions. Why is he so desperate for a queen, what is going on in the Underworld that souls there seem to slip away just like the sleeping cursed do, and how is that affecting the political situation in Sylvania? Can Reveka's skills help find the cure for both those in the Underworld and the Upper World?
Note: Click on title to see content notes.

Target Readers:

• Cleverly Rewritten Fairy Tale Fans/Re-imagined History Fans: This rendition is so fresh, but also authentically rooted in European history, has a slightly Grimm-like feel, and incorporates folklore so it sounds like a plausible basis for the further variations that have been created. It is also not just a version of the Dancing Princesses, because there are also shades of Sleeping Beauty and Beauty in the Beast in the story too. And I love how Haskell added that aspect. It gave the story such a fresh spin, incorporated some interesting mythology along with the regional folklore, and left me wholly dissatisfied that there is not a sequel. Because although the dancing princesses part of the story gets solved, the Beauty and the Beast aspects of the story promise so much more yet to be told, and I feel like we just got started on getting to know Reveka. 
• Dragon Fans: Hand this one to your favorite reader who just can’t get enough dragons. 
• Those on the Middle Grade-Young Adult Bubble: Though this is labelled as a middle grade book, I would actually say it has more of a young adult feel. The curse is darker than normal, and Reveka's voice is more mature since there really was no "teen" stage in that time period. Girls her age were considered adults in many ways and she talks more like an adult, and faces more adult decisions and pressures. (But there isn’t really any adult content to worry about.)

The Thirteenth Princess by Diane Zahler
Zita does not realize until she's several years old that all the beautiful princesses who live upstairs are her sisters. See, her mother, the Queen, died during her birth and it so devastated the King that he decided to get Zita out of his sight and have her raised as a servant in the castle. Zita avoids her father as much as possible because he only seems to scowl at her appearance, but she happily is welcomed with open arms by her twelve older sisters who try and smuggle her into their room as much as possible. Though the King has banished all magic from the kingdom, there is obviously something strange going on. Whenever eligible princes come to visit the beautiful princesses, none of the princesses are able to speak and the princes go home feeling ill-treated. Over time other strange things happen. The twelve princesses seem to appear more and more fatigued and no physician can figure out the illness, and for some reason the princesses' dancing shoes need more and more regular repair, even though there has been no dancing in the kingdom since their mother's death. Zita can't just stand by and watch her sisters waste away to nothing, so she -- along with her friend the stable boy, his soldier brother, and the kindly witch hidden in the woods -- start investigating what is going on and how to break this evil spell.
Note: Click on title for content notes.

Target Readers:

• Fairy Tale Rewrite Fans/Fantasy Fans: I have a whole group of students who faithfully devour and then re-devour Diane Zahler’s fairy tale retellings. Zahler stays pretty true to the average tellings of tales with slight variations of her own, but her tellings are still sophisticated, enthralling, and readers can’t seem to get enough of them.   

Young Adult Fiction

Entwined by Heather Dixon
Azalea loves dancing. And all of her little sisters follow in her dancing footsteps. But when the Queen dies during the birth of the 12th sister that night, mourning is brought on the house, and there will be only black dresses and no dancing for a year. While the girls adored their mother, they feel like their father, the King, is distant and uncaring. In fact, less than 24 hours after the Queen's death, the King is running off to war in another country, seemingly abandoning them in their need. In the days that follow, the girls try to secretly dance in the ballroom, as going through the steps their mother taught them brings them comfort, but the palace steward catches them and locks the ballroom. The girls feel stifled and unloved. But an unexpected outlet and joy comes in the form of a magical secret passageway they stumble upon, which leads to a silvery land where they can dance till their shoes run out and is looked over by an incredibly handsome magical man named Keeper. Of course, the shoes wearing thin is a problem. Eventually the King returns from the war, only to find himself in a battle on the home front. The princesses do not trust him and find the way he forbids any mention or hint of the Queen unloving and harsh. The princesses have made an oath on a magical object never to tell anyone about Keeper or their dancing, so when the King discovers the worn state of their shoes and their inability (beyond their unwillingness) to tell him anything about it, he puts an ad in the paper asking for men to come solve the riddle of the dancing princesses. The King has secondary motives for this as well. He sees his daughters getting older and coming of age, but mourning prevents them from mixing in society and meeting any possible suitors. Most of the riddle solvers are a joke, and the girls manage to get rid of them in fast order. But things in the dancing realm with Keeper are getting more and more odd, even sinister, and Azalea especially is beginning to regret ever having made the oath that prevents her from talking over her worries with the King. As the suitors/riddle solvers come and go, Azalea and the other girls start to wonder if a princess can ever find someone who will love her for herself and not her title, or if they can be saved from Keeper.
Note: Some disturbing psychological tricks employed by Keeper.

Target Readers:

• Fairy Tale Rewrite Fans/Clean Romance Fans/Fantasy Fans: This is one of the most interesting versions of the twelve dancing princesses I've ever come across. Usually, the stories fall into one of two camps. Either all the girls are under a curse and need to be rescued from the dancing or the girls are escaping to dance as an act of willful disobedience and there's no curse involved. This version mixes both. The girls start out doing the secret dancing as an act of willful disobedience, but they eventually realize it is a horrible magical trap with dire consequences. 
• Rich Character Development Fans/Father-Daughter Relationship Book Fans: I really liked what Dixon did with that father/daughter relationship, how she had the relationship grow and change over time and all the lessons both sides learned along the way. She also manages to develop ALL of the princesses, not just one of them which is often the case in Dancing Princess retellings.
• Fans of Books That Explore Themes of Depth/Non-shallow Relationship Fans: I thought there were some great themes in the book about the shallowness of beauty/handsomeness and title/wealth, and that the girls who did fall in love, fell in love with men who loved them for themselves (and got to know them over a period of time...no "10 minutes ago I met you..." and I already love you stuff). Also to be wary of hasty oaths and judging people without getting to know them.
• Dance Lovers/Music Lovers: There are a lot of details about dance and music in here, even detail descriptions of the princesses’ dances for dance lovers. I liked the way Dixon created themes for different parts of the girls' lives, almost like thematic background music. The parts with Keeper were darker and mysterious, which added more and more sinister tones as it went on. While the parts with the suitors and the King got more and more lighthearted and sometimes downright funny. (I absolutely loved the comedic interactions of the girls with the suitors!) 

Princess of the Midnight Ball (The Princesses of Westfalin, #1) by Jessica Day George
Queen Maude was so desperate to have children, she made a deal with the King Under Stone. In return for some dancing, he would magically enable her to have children. But Maude, in her desperation, did not realize one doesn't make deals with the King Under Stone without eventually regretting it. It was not without reason that ancient magicians imprisoned him far away from the rest of the world. When the Queen dies before being able to fulfill her dancing contract, the King Under Stone requires her twelve daughters to complete the contract. Of course, the contract also prevents them from telling anyone why they wear out their dancing slippers so frequently. The princesses earnestly wish they could stop. They know money is tight after the recent war with Analousia, and the people think the girls are selfish to spend all this money on dance slippers at such a time. But stopping isn't an option. The king becomes convinced this must stop when the princesses continue to dance regardless of being deathly ill with fevers. So he offers a reward for any prince who can solve the puzzle. Not only are the princes unsuccessful, but there starts to be an alarming rash of fatal accidents suffered by the investigators soon after they leave. The king and the princesses have just about abandoned hope. Other nations have become suspicious and are accusing the princesses of witchcraft, and the archbishop places the town under Inderdict and the royal family under investigation. Galen, the nephew of the palace gardener has watched matters proceed with growing concern. He has come to care for the princesses, especially the eldest Rose, and earnestly desires to help break their curse. He knows the accusations of witchcraft are false, but he also knows it will be very hard to uncover the truth. With a little help from a magical cape and a fellow gardener who may know more than he lets on, Galen sets out to solve the princesses' mystery and free them from the curse of the King Under Stone.
Note: Some violence.

Target Readers:

• Fairy Tale Retelling Fans/Clean Romance Fans/Fantasy Fans: This version of the tale really paints the princesses as innocent victims, and the reader comes to truly empathize with their position. The introduction of the accusation of witchcraft and the placement of an Inderdict on the town are unique to this version, and make it feel like the most realistic version I've read. There's plenty of fantasy elements, but they are added to a historical-feeling Europeanish setting (many country names are slight variations on real or historic kingdom's names) with all the political dangers facing the characters at the same time as fantasy dangers. Galen is probably one of my favorite versions of the soldier-hero too. He's practical, humble, and caring. He's also got a good head on his shoulders during times of distress, which is believably attributed to his time in the army. The climax of this version was one of the most tense. It isn't as simple as normal. Galen doesn't free them from the curse by just telling the king and showing a couple trinkets from the underground world. Ms George spun the ending in such a way, I really wasn't sure how the girls would get free between the machinations of the King Under Stone and his sons, and the deviousness of the Bishop Angier who is investigating the witchcraft charges. So she managed to make the ending of an extremely well known tale intense enough to keep me reading when I probably should have been sleeping, which says something for her creativity and writing skill.
• Series Fans: This book is the first in a trilogy. The next book in the series continues by following the sisters through a Cinderella retelling and then the next book is a Red Riding Hood/Robin Hood retelling (with some resurgence of the Dancing Princesses tale).