Posted by Rebekah
Categories: Non Fiction, Review, Younger Readers
Tags:Animals, Award Winner, Dogs, Funny, Good Read Aloud, Indians, raccoons, Sports, Sterling North
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Just another walk in the woods. A bag of cookies, his dog Wowser, and his good friend Oscar—what else could Sterling North want? Then Wowser finds a den-full of raccoon kits, and the boys decide to take them home. They can’t take them home without the mother, so they determine to catch the treed raccoon . . . with the aid of no more than a pocket knife and their jackets. The results are laughable. In the skirmish, the mother and three kits escape, but one of the kits isn’t quick enough. Sterling takes tiny Rascal home and obtains permission to keep him. Getting the permission isn’t hard, as his mother is dead, his older sisters are living away from the house, and his older brother is fighting in the war. His father lives in a world all his own, only occasionally taking time to be with his young son. He doesn’t mind the raccoon—or the canoe Sterling is building in the living room. Everything progresses wonderfully until Rascal develops a taste for sweet corn. The angry neighbors, robbed of their crops, demand that Rascal be kept in a cage. How can Sterling lock up a young, wild creature? Some tough decisions face him and he has to answer them.
I love this book. It is so interesting and enjoyable. Rascal is such a cute raccoon! Sterling North does a wonderful job of telling the story. There are so many adventures and characters. The memorable incidents with his older sister Theo’s missing engagement ring, the school bully, and the pie-eating contest. Very funny and memorable. Unfortunately, there are a few evolutionary references and, if I remember correctly, a mild bad word or two.
Posted by Jordan
Categories: Adventure, Fiction, Older Readers, Review
Tags:Animals, Good Read Aloud, Indians, Quick Read, Scary, Scott O’Dell, Seafaring
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El Manta Diablo is nothing more than a scary story about a giant manta ray, right? When Ramon Salazar finds the largest pearl ever known, he is not so sure. An old Indian claims Manta Diablo will take back the pearl, and Ramon’s life.
I believe this story is a great example of why you shouldn’t be superstitious, however, the ending proves that Ramon doesn’t learn that lesson. Whatever. Scott O’ Dell has another winner, although a rather short one.
Posted by Jordan
Categories: All Ages, Fiction, Incredibook!, Review
Tags:Animals, Birds, Funny, Good Read Aloud, Henry Reed, Indians, Keith Robertson, Out of Print
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Henry Reed is coming back to Grover’s Corner, but in a whole new way. Instead of flying directly to Grover’s Corner, he’s going to San Francisco, where his friend Midge’s family is. They all plan to drive back, across the continent back to New Jersey. But with Henry and Midge having a way of starting innocent accidents, and souvenirs for their travel museum piling up, Mr. Glass might not survive to drive them home!
Personally, this is my favorite Henry Reed book. Everywhere the car stops, Henry and Midge cause an accident or get pulled into something. From Midge starting a gold rush, to Henry saving a hotel swimming pool, Henry Reed’s Journey is a definite winner. Too bad it’s out of print.
Posted by Jordan
Categories: Adventure, All Ages, Fiction, Mysteries, Review
Tags:Animals, Dogs, Indians, Jim Kjelgaard, Out of Print
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Somehow, every winter, a thousand elk disappear from a national park. To find out why, Tom Rainse (of A Nose for Trouble fame) sends Jase Mason, a wildlife photographer, into the park to find out. And what he finds is shocking. Now, if only he can get out of the park alive…
Not quite as exciting as some other Kjelgaard books, but still pretty good. Jase being a photographer, there’s a lot of him taking pictures, which sometimes is a little boring. The conclusion is good, if not a bit sudden. Still a good read, though.
Posted by Kyle
Categories: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Incredibook!, Review, Younger Readers
Tags:Indians, Joseph A. Altsheler, Out of Print, Pioneers
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This book begins when a fleet of boats comes from New Orleans carrying supplies to settlers in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, the Indians are rallying together to drive all settlers from their land. The Indians attack the fleet while it is in the narrow areas on the Ohio River. The fleet has to force their way through to help a settlement in time, after being told by Henry Ware that it was in danger.
I liked this book for two reasons. Because I like books with adventure in them, and this book is the sequel to Kentucky Frontiersmen.
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