All Ida Mae wants to do is fly. Her daddy taught her before he died, but unfortunately in Lousiana in 1941, nobody will give a black girl a pilot's license no matter how good she is. Then, the army decides they need female pilots to handle non-combat missions so that the men can be free to fight in World War II. However, African American women are not welcome. With her light colored skin, can she 'pass' as white? And if she does, what does that mean about her loyalty to her own family? Ida Mae's story is filled with adventure, danger and hard choices.

Awards nominated: Rebecca Caudill Award Nominee 2012

Reviewed by: caroll

Date read: 4/2/2011

ISBN-10: 0399247092

ISBN-13: 9780399247095

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The darkest danger that Conn has ever experienced has enveloped him. His found locus stone has been swallowed by a dragon, Nevery's actions are being questioned, the Duchess is ill, and Rowan is desparately trying to save her friend, her mother, and Wellmet, her city. Conn's quest begins when he escapes, once again from prison only to follow the trail of the finding spell to places filled with the most amazing and incredible adventures. Action-packed fantasy that leaves you awestruck at Conn's determination to succeed. The trilogy begins with the Magic Thief, continues with Lost, and concludes with Found.

Similar authors: F.E. Higgins

Similar books: Black Book of Secrets

Reviewed by: adf

Date read: 12/2/2010

ISBN-10: 0061375942

ISBN-13: 9780061375941

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Frankie Piccolini wants to be Indiana Jones. With his trusty sidekick, the family dog Argyle, Frankie explores the most distant regions of the planet, often found in his own house. Like any normal kid, Frankie would rather play and explore than clean up his room. He can't believe it when, one day, his mother tells him that he doesn't have to keep it clean, BUT, he has to live with the consequences! Without the hindrance of cleaning his room, and himself, Frankie is free to continue his intrepid explorations, but, how will he tackle the Closet of Doom?

Similar books: The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey

Awards nominated: 2013 Monarch Nominee

Reviewed by: vfv

Date read: 3/8/2012

ISBN-13: 9781416964841

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There is only one thing Felix wants more than to become a professional baseball player. That is for his father to join him and his mother in Florida and be able to join a major league baseball team himself. Felix and his mother fled Cuba when Felix was a baby. His father, a Cuban baseball star, gave up his place on the boat so that Felix could be free. That is all Felix's mother has told him. Felix would give anything for his father to see him play. His mother works constantly and Felix feels she doesn't support his baseball dreams. One day, Felix sneaks into a baseball team's locker room and is mistaken for their batboy. What a chance! Felix stows away on their bus to live his dream, if only for one day. Will his mother ever forgive him? The drama is intense as Felix is in for surprises, not always pleasant, about his father, his mother, and himself.

Similar books: Boy Who Saved Baseball by John Ritter; Heat by Mike Lupica

Reviewed by: vfv

Date read: 8/18/2010

ISBN-10: 0525471200

ISBN-13: 9780525471202

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'The Frog with the Big Mouth' by Teresa Bateman is a story that will tickle anyone's funny bone. In this book's delightful verse and vivid illustrations, the young reader will find the antics of the Big Mouth Frog amusing. Here, we are introduced to many unusual creatures of the rain forest. We follow the Big Mouth Frog as he sets out to amaze and impress his fellow inhabitants with the news that he has eaten the BIGGEST fly in the world. He is positive that this amazing accomplishment makes him superior to them. In turn, each creature shows very little interest in the frog's bragging and continues on its way. But their failure to be impressed does not deter Frog from venturing further into the forest. Deep in the rainforest, The Big Mouth Frog, may or may not, find something that makes him a little more humble.

Similar authors: Stephen Krensky; Pat Cummings; Verna Aardema; Eric Kimmel

Similar books: Rainforest Romp by Tony Mitton; Anansi and the Box of Stories: A West African Folktale by Stephen Krensky; Endangered Animals of South America by Marie Allgor; Ananse and the Lizard: A West African Tale by Pat Cummings; How Animals Saved the People: Animal Tales from the South by J.J. Reneaux

Reviewed by: mb

Date read: 7/6/2011

ISBN-10: 0807526215

ISBN-13: 9780807526217

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