Animals should definitely not wear clothing by Judi Barrett and drawn by Ron Barrett

There are many reasons why animals should not wear clothing. A kangaroo, for example, already has pockets. Neckties would look silly on giraffes. A walrus would get his clothes wet.  But what's the biggest reason why animals should definitely not wear clothing? You'll have to read this book and see.

Where has this book been all my life? I have no idea why I only read it for the first time recently. I love its dry, straightforward style. It's just so logical. Of COURSE a snake couldn't wear pants. Of COURSE a hat is too big for a mouse. The words and the pictures are given equal weight; this book is a perfect balance of both and just wouldn't be the same if either was changed. There's something wonderful about the way this book works the page flip; it gently builds the suspense as you wonder what animal and what reason will be on the next page. I highly recommend this book to anyone who hasn't read it, and if you already have, give it another look.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett
The Underpants Zoo by Brian Sendelbach

Are You in the House Alone? by Richard Peck

Gail's life is pretty ordinary. She gets decent grades, has a good relationship with her boyfriend, and makes money by baby-sitting on the weekends. But then she finds a strange note in her locker. It unsettles her, even as her best friend tells her to just forget about it. Then the phone calls start, and it's clear that someone isn't just joking around. Is there anything Gail can do...before it's too late?

(Spoilers below)

This book is two scary horror stories in one. The first part seems like it's a standard thriller: obscene phone calls, random notes, a young girl left alone. But then partway through the story changes - or rather, continues. It doesn't stop with Gail being heroically rescued at the last minute. Instead, she's raped by her stalker and ends up in the hospital. Then there are pages and pages spent talking about how futile it would be to press charges against her assailant - a man that Gail knows and can easily identify. In addition to his being from a prominent family, Gail was on the pill and had previously had sex with her boyfriend, so arly she's unrapable. Not only that, but if she does press charges, her lawyer cautions her that the accused would likely turn around and sue her.   These passages were so infuriatingly frustrating, and made worse because I knew that it was not that exaggerated to how real life was (and, in many ways, still can be). This book doesn't flinch from showing how Gail's rape affects her family and relationships or from how the world pigeonholes women into certain roles. It's a book I came across sort of by accident at the library but it quite an interesting read.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
The Babysitter by R.L. Stine
Amanda, Miranda by Richard Peck

Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene

While the battles of World War II are taking place overseas, the war is about to come to the small town of Jenkinsville, Arkansas. German POWs are being transferred to a nearby facility and the entire town seems to be a bit on edge. Watching the tension is twelve-year-old Patty Bergen. Patty is struggling with a lot of things: she's terrified of her father's abusive temper, her mother is always insulting her, and she's one of the only Jewish people in her small town. When she meets Anton, one of the German soldiers, she's amazed by his intelligence and his kindness. Then Anton escapes from the prison facility, and Patty's world is about to change forever.

(Some spoilers below)

I first heard of this story when I fell in love with the TV Movies - Daring to Love forum thread at Television Without Pity. So many people seemed to have such strong memories of both the book and the TV movie. This book wasn't really what I thought it was going to be - I pictured it being more of a romance, but due to the striking age difference between Anton and Patty (including her being only twelve at the time), I would have a hard time even thinking of it being based on romantic love. I was also surprised by the examination of race and the casual, institutionalized racism, although if I had really thought about the setting and the time period I shouldn't have been surprised (but probably still shocked at its extent). The edition that I read, the Open Road Media eBook edition, includes an "Author's Affidavit" at the front of the book where Bette Greene confesses that Patty Bergen is based on her and the book is based on her life. Reading the book took on a bit of a different light after that, making it even more difficult to read about "Patty's" mother and father and how they treated her. 

Summer of My German Soldier, the TV movie starring Kristy McNichol, aired in 1978. Someone has put the movie in its entirety up on Youtube, but I have no idea how long it will last until someone pulls it down.

Also check out Jezebel's look at Summer of My German Soldier.

I read a review copy of the eBook from NetGalley courtesy of Open Road Media.

Read it with:
Morning is a Long Time Coming by Bette Greene
The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene
Starring Sally J. Friedman as Herself by Judy Blume

Can You Sue Your Parents for Malpractice? by Paula Danziger

Lauren has realized that there aren't many perks of being fourteen.  She's not a kid, but she's definitely not an adult. High school is filled with stupid rules around what you need to do to be popular, and harsh actions that come when you break the rules - like dating a younger guy. Her parents still hold all the power, and they don't want to see that she's growing up. A law class at school captures her interest, but it gets her wondering: can you sue your parents for malpractice?

I realized a little while ago that my life needed more Paula Danziger in it (and frankly, with a cover like this one, how could I resist?). There's a whole bunch of tween-early teen books that I seem to have largely skipped when I was in the actual age bracket, so I'm exploring some of them now. Reading this book was like peering in on some kind of time capsule in terms of women's rights and gender relations, which I found fascinating. Sometimes it's hard to take all of the teen-related angst (like, is it really that big of a deal if someone's who's 13 dates someone who's 14?), but I think that's because it's tinged with my own memories of being that age.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
The Cat Ate My Gymsuit by Paula Danziger
P.S. Longer Letter Later by Paula Danziger and Ann M. Martin
It's Not What You Expect by Norma Klein

It's Not What You Expect by Norma Klein

Carla doesn't know what this summer is going to be like. Usually she and her twin brother, Oliver, head to camp, but this year isn't like other years. Their father has just moved out and their parents aren't giving any explanation why. Now he lives in New York, has grown a beard, and might even have a girlfriend. Does that mean their mom is going to start dating? To keep themselves busy, Carla and Oliver and their older brother Ralph open a restaurant: he cooks and she's the maitre d'. It's a big success, but then they're distracted by Ralph's girlfriend's news - she's pregnant. Carla feels herself growing apart from her twin, and she's not sure that she likes it. Life, love, relationships - it's not what you expect.

(Some spoilers, but I don't think it will really impact reading the book.)

I've really read very little Norma Klein, and I'm trying to fix that. It's hard because her books aren't always very available. I had to request this book through interlibrary loan; my library no longer has any Norma Klein books in its collection. (You might be able to find some at second-hand bookstores or websites or book sales.)

Anyway, this was a strange little book. Two fourteen-year-olds run a hit restaurant with no adult involvement? It's amazing how believably this plot is set up. I was more amazed, though, by the frankness with which pregnancy and abortion are dealt with. Sara Lee, Ralph's girlfriend, decides to have an abortion, and it's dealt with with very little fuss or controversy; while the book doesn't go into the long-term affect that such a decision might have on her (it happens near the end), it does show her after the abortion in a very functional light, moving on with her life. I can't think of any recent middle grade book (and that's really what this is) that deals with abortion in such light; it even has the word 'abortion' on the back cover. There's also a very interesting look at different 'types' of mothers (and different 'types' of women) as Carla sees them, and at fourteen, she's just starting to wonder about her own role as a future woman. I've requested some more Norma Klein titles through interlibrary loans, and I can't wait to dive into them.

Find it at Fantastic Fiction.

Read it with:
Forever by Judy Blume
Taking Sides by Norma Klein
Learning Curves: Body Image and Female Sexuality in Young Adult Literature by Beth Younger

The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

April Hall - or April Dawn, as she likes to think of herself - has just moved in with her grandmother. She quickly makes friends with Melanie, a girl who lives in the same apartment building. Both girls love making up stories and imaginary worlds, and it isn't long before they've created an entire fictional landscaped based on Egyptian mythology. Over time, other children join in the game, but when mysterious things start happening, have they taken the Egypt Game too far?

Reading this book was sort of unsettling because I had no idea where the story was headed. I really felt like anything could happen - and given the dark undertones present in the story, I was prepared for the worst. The incident around Marshall (Melanie's brother)'s missing toy Octopus, Security, was really well-done in terms of plotting, atmosphere, and suspense. I'm not sure how well the original illustrations have held up in the decades since the book was first published (although I did love the image of April in her furs and fake eyelashes).

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom by Louis Sachar
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
The Alchemyst by Michael Scott

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

You may have noticed that I've reading a fair bit of not-that-recent books lately. While i love discovering what's brand new in the book world, there's also an embarrassingly high number of books that I haven't read. I've been working my way through some of the books listed on A Fuse 8 Production's list of Top 100 Children's Novels, which is an excellent place to read about a discussion of children's novels.

I had never read Bridge to Terabithia, probably for two reasons: one, I thought it was a fantasy novel, and two, I also thought it was a cat story (because I got it confused with The Three Lives of Thomasina, which was on pretty high rotation on the Family Channel when I was younger). So its appearance on the list (at number 13) convinced me to pick it up.

It's a beautiful story about imagination and friendship, growing up and being yourself. Would I have enjoyed it as a child? Probably. I admit that while I didn't cry when reading it, there were times when I was close, and I had been in a different mood when reading it, it's likely that tears would have been falling. This is a really lovely book that has a real resonance with current economic times (as does Ramona and her Father, published in the same year and a Newbery Honor book to this book's Newbery Medal) as well as being pretty timeless in terms of friendship.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
Ramona and her Father by Beverly Cleary
There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom by Louis Sachar
Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville
The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

The Cat Ate My Gymsuit by Paula Danziger

Marcy Lewis is only thirteen, but she hates a lot of things. She hates gym. She hates being fat. She hates her father. She also hates that her principal tried to fire her English teacher, Ms. Finney. Ms. Finney (as yes, that's Ms., not Mrs. or Miss) was the best teacher she'd ever had; she was a teacher who taught Marcy not only grammar and poetic devices, but also about expression, communication, and self-acceptance. When Ms. Finney is removed from her class for her unconventional ways and her refusal to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, Marcy's hate turns to anger, and together with several other classmates she works to find a way to get Ms. Finney back in the classroom.

I had never read this book when I was a child. It was never even on my radar, which is strange, because I think I could have related to Marcy in many ways. It's quite a different experience to read it now, both because of my age and because the book was written so long ago. Particularly intriguing to me was the family dynamic. For example, rather than 'allow' Marcy and her mother to go to a school board meeting, her father dismantles the engine of their car. What? But the mother had expected this (or something like it), and arranged for a ride from a friend. There are very interesting gender politics at work here. Not having read many (any?) Paula Danziger is a huge hole in my reading background, and I will try to fix that in the future.


Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Blubber by Judy Blume
There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom by Louis Sachar
Bettina Valentina and the Picasso Club by Niki Daly
Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers

Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe

Harold (a dog) and Chester (a cat) live with the Monroe family. They have a good life there, and everything is going smoothly. Then one day, while out to see the movie Dracula, the family comes across a rabbit. They bring him home, name him Bunnicula (he has a bit of black fur that looks like a cape), and it's not long before strange things start happening. Bunnicula sleeps all day and is awake at night. He can get in and out of his own cage. The vegetables are turning white...and they have marks in them that look a bit like fangs...


I wasn't sure whether or not I had read this when I was younger. I had a vague memory of owning a paperback copy, and of white vegetables. I picked it up again to read it, to see if I remembered anything. The white vegetables were there, but there was so much that I didn't remember: the humour, the playful language, Chester's obsession, and the family's reaction. I'm surprised that it hasn't been re-released with a Twilight-ish tie-in cover: "Imagine if Edward Cullen had a pet bunny - who was also a vampire!" Are librarians recommending this to the youngest readers clamouring for Twilight? I don't know; I do know that this is a book that is a delight to read.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Marley: A Dog Like No Other by Josh Grogan
The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
Howliday Inn by James Howe

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

Sixteen people are mysteriously invited to live in the mysterious Sunset Tower building, in the shadow of the mysterious home of the Mysterious Sam Westing. Before long, Mr. Westing dies, and his heirs (mostly the people who live in this building) are drawn into a mysterious puzzle/contest to see who will inherit the Westing estate. What are people's connections to Mr. Westing? Why did he die? How can they figure out their clues? Who will win the millions?

I had this book as a child, but I can't remember if I read it or not. I had a feeling that I had - I was able to puzzle through the main mystery of the clues, but I forgot all of the subsequent details. I enjoyed many of the characters, particularly Turtle Wexler and her sister Angela, the Theodorakis brothers, and Flora Baumbach. I love playing with the ideas of identity, responsibility, greed, and guilt, and those are some of the major themes in this book.

Reading this book was part of my own project to read more middle grade fiction. So look for more reviews of 'vintage' books to come!

Find it at Amazon.

Read it with:
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
The Puzzling World of Winston Breen by Eric Berlin
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume

I feel that it's really important to mention that the copy I was reading was an updated copy - that is, Margaret's pads stuck to her underwear with adhesive, and she did not have to use a belt. I remember that the copy I read years ago was the 'classic' version, which didn't leave me as confused as I might have been, all things considered.

Also, I had misremembered a lot of things about this book. I had thought that Laura, the girl with the large breasts, was also the one with the sunburn. And that Margaret's grandparents overlap at her house. Neither of those things really matter, but it did made me think about how many books I'm carrying around with my head that aren't really true.

Anyway, the story is sort of complicated to describe. Margaret, a 12 year old girl with no fixed religion, moves to a small town in New Jersey where everyone is either Christian or Jewish. Margaret quickly makes friends with a group of girls (they call themselves the Pre-Teen Sensations, which, unless this was another rewrite, has held up remarkably well). The girls giggle and wonder over bras, boys, and periods, while Margaret carries on a personal quest to find religion. All the time she continues talking to God, and I really like the idea that you can have a relationship with God independant of any organized religion.

I never talked about my period with my friends, and bras were a giant source of embarrassment, and not pride, but I still have a fondness for this book. I didn't read Forever, another Judy Blume book, until I was much older, so this one is the one that hit me in my formative years. I'm glad that it's still out there for kids to look through, the kind of book that they might feel embarrassed about reading but still pour through anyway. I think that Margaret would have read this book, which in a twisty way is one of the best indicators of telling whether or not a story works.