A Monster Calls

Title:  A Monster Calls Author: Patrick Ness Illustrator:  Jim Kay Publisher:  Candlewick, 2011 ISBN:  9780763655594 Audience:  Ages 12 and up Summary:  Conor O’Malley’s mother is dying of cancer.  The treatments aren’t working but the adults around Conor-his mother, his grandmother, his visiting father from America, his teachers-allow his hopes to live.  Each day he struggles [...]

Teens and Faith: Three Short Reviews

Regular contributor Virginia Thomas offers three shorter reviews of books related to ways that teens engage questions of faith. Title:  Preacher’s Boy Author:  Katherine Paterson Publisher: Harper Trophy ISBN: 0064472337 Audience: Ages 10 and up Summary: Robbie Hewitt decides to give up believing in God. He’s heard the visiting minister condemn wicked thoughts and deeds [...]

Brother Sun, Sister Moon

Title: Brother Sun, Sister Moon Author: Katherine Paterson Illustrator:  Pamela Dalton Publisher:  Chronicle Books ISBN:  9780811877343 Audience:  Ages 4 and up Summary: “The Canticle of the Creatures” or “The Canticle of the Sun” (13th Century) is one of the most familiar songs of praise in the world.  Written by St. Francis of Assisi in the [...]

Mockingjay

Name of Book:  Mockingjay Author:  Suzanne Collins Book Design:  Elizabeth Parisi Publisher:  Scholastic Press Audience:  Ages 12 and up Summary:  The third in a trilogy of science fiction stories, Mockingjay is written for adolescent youth and older due to graphic and violent content. Katniss Everdeen has survived two rounds of competition in the Hunger Games [...]

The Hunger Games

Name of Book:  The Hunger Games Author:  Suzanne Collins Book Design:  Phil Falco Publisher:  Scholastic Press Audience:  Ages 12 and up Summary:  The first in a trilogy of science fiction stories, The Hunger Games is written for adolescent youth and older due to graphic and violent content. Katniss Everdeen is a 16 year old girl [...]

Tuck Everlasting

Title: Tuck Everlasting Author:   Natalie Babbitt Publisher:  Scholastic, Inc ISBN:  9-780590-988865 Audience: Written for ages 9 -12, but this review suggests the book’s applicability to both young and mature audiences. Summary:   The story starts with a young girl, Winnie, fed up with her family and wanting to run away.  She meets another family, the [...]

Lectionary Links: All Saints’ Day and Sunday, November 7

All Saints’ Day November 1, 2010 The Name Quilt by Phyllis Root (Written for Grades K-3) Comment: In many congregations, people will speak the names of those who have died in the last year. Upon hearing those names, memories and stories will come to the minds of those who knew and loved these saints in [...]

Big Cat Pepper

Name of Book:  Big Cat Pepper Author:  Elizabeth Partridge Illustrator:  Lauren Castillo Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books Audience: Ages 5-13 Summary: Big Cat Pepper belongs to a loving family. Pepper grows old and dies.  During his burial the little boy  worries if Pepper will be afraid in the deep soil but his Mama tells him [...]