Archive of Sage Suggestions
May 2006
Flush by Carl Hiaasen
Noah Underwood lives in the Florida Keys with his 10 year old sister Abbey, his mother and his passionately ecological father, Paine. Mr. Paine Underwood is jailed for sinking Dusty Muleman’s casino cash cow, The Coral Queen. Mr. Underwood is convinced that Dusty is dumping his toilets from the gambling boat RIGHT into the ocean! When former Coral Queen crewmember, ‘Lice’ Peeking disappears, leaving behind a bloodied Jeep, poor Paine has no proof to nail Dusty! Noah and Abbey organize a plan, “Operation Royal Flush”. Can two kids foil rich, tricky Dusty Muleman who has friends in the Coast Guard and a super strong loyal henchmen? And who is the strange old pirate who pops up at JUST the right moment? Learn the fate of Noah, Abbey, their father, Dusty Muleman and the Coral Queen in this twisty wet mystery.
If you like stories with an ecological slant, try Hiaasen’s other children’s book Hoot and Jean Craighead George’s Who really killed Cock Robin. Hint- Look for HOOT the movie- coming Spring 2006
*author website* http://www.carlhiaasen.com
Book Without Words: A Fable of Medieval Magic by Avi
Set in medieval England, old Master Thorston is desperately trying to beat death. He is using magic gained from The Book Without Words. Thorston hired 13 year old Sybil as his servant. Odo, a magically talking raven, convinces Sybil that Thorston was making gold and they should finish the spell. Thorston rasps to Sybil to find a person with green eyes to read from the Book Without Words and finish the spell. Sybil is also approached by Brother Wilfrid who claims the book was stolen from him many years ago- when Master Thorston was only 13 years old! What should Sybil do? Who should Sybil believe? Where will she find a green-eyed person who can read? Follow Sybil through the smelly streets of 11th century England to find out.
*author’s website* http://www.avi-writer.com/
A Coyote’s in the House by Elmore Leonard
Antwan is a coyote in the Hollywood Hills of California who runs with his gang, the Howling Diablos. He meets Buddy, a German Shepherd who starred in all of the BUDDY movies. Buddy is BORED with his life after being famous. He longs to run free with Antwan and his coyote homeys. Buddy comes up with a plan to turn Antwan into a well-trained dog and run away to join the wild coyotes. Can a wild coyote fool humans into believing he’s a mutt? Will Buddy be able to run with the Howling Diablos?
April 2006
Aquamarine by Alice Hoffman
Best friends Hailey and Claire follow their summer tradition of visiting the aging Capri Beach Club pool for the last time. Claire is moving away to Florida. One stormy night washes a surprise into the decrepit pool and her name is Aquamarine.
Read also Indigo by Hoffman. Love mermaid stories? Try Teenage Mermaid by Ellen Schreiber; Midnight Pearls by Anaheim author Debbie Viguie; Water: Tales of Elemental Spirits by Robin Mckinley; Thora by Gillian Johnson; Islander by Cynthia Rylant and Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler.
*author website* http://www.alicehoffman.com/
Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman
In 1290 England 14 year old Catherine writes of her boring life in her journal. Her father is determined to find her a husband, but clever Catherine finds ways to scare each and every one of these unsuitable suitors away by drooling or blackening her teeth. Her tricks work wonderfully, until Shaggy Beard! Can Catherine find away to scare off this rich old man? Or will she be doomed to be Mrs. Shaggy Beard?
Love historical novels? Try Midwife’s Apprentice by Cushman and Crispin: the Cross of Lead by Avi
*author’s website* http://www.karencushman.com
Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney
Young Tom Ward is the 7th son of a 7th son and is apprenticed to the local Spook, Mr. Gregory. Its lonely work fighting witches, boggarts, ghosts and other evils. Tom is just beginning his studies, when Mr. Gregory is called away for an emergency several villages away. Seizing this opportunity, a village girl named Alice asks Tom to feed her poor relation, Mother Malkin, a witch the Spook has imprisoned in a pit. Alice’s request to feed the sticky cakes to Mother Malkin at Midnight is a little strange and scary, but Tom does as she asks. The icky blood cakes give Mother Malkin the strength she needs to escape! Tom is the only one available to save the County. Can a young apprentice fight a powerful witch and win?
Try also: Lloyd Alexander’s Chronicles of Prydain: Book of Three, Black Cauldron, Castle of Llyr, Taran Wanderer, High King ; Susan Cooper’s Dark is Rising series: Over Sea Under Stone, Dark is rising, Greenwitch, Grey King, Silver on the Tree; Pure Dead Magic by Deb Gliori and Goblin Wood by Hilari Bell
March 2006
Flush by Carl Hiaasen
Noah Underwood lives in the Florida Keys with his 10 year old sister Abbey, his mother and his passionately ecological father, Paine. Mr. Paine Underwood is jailed for sinking Dusty Muleman’s casino cash cow, The Coral Queen. Mr. Underwood is convinced that Dusty is dumping his toilets from the gambling boat RIGHT into the ocean! When former Coral Queen crewmember, ‘Lice’ Peeking disappears, leaving behind a bloodied Jeep, poor Paine has no proof to nail Dusty! Noah and Abbey organize a plan, “Operation Royal Flush”. Can two kids foil rich, tricky Dusty Muleman who has friends in the Coast Guard and a super strong loyal henchmen? And who is the strange old pirate who pops up at JUST the right moment? Learn the fate of Noah, Abbey, their father, Dusty Muleman and the Coral Queen in this twisty wet mystery.
If you like stories with an ecological slant, try Hiaasen’s other children’s book Hoot and Jean Craighead George’s Who really killed Cock Robin. Hint- Look for HOOT the movie- coming Spring 2006
*author website* http://www.carlhiaasen.com
Book Without Words: A Fable of Medieval Magic by Avi
Set in medieval England, old Master Thorston is desperately trying to beat death. He is using magic gained from The Book Without Words. Thorston hired 13 year old Sybil as his servant. Odo, a magically talking raven, convinces Sybil that Thorston was making gold and they should finish the spell. Thorston rasps to Sybil to find a person with green eyes to read from the Book Without Words and finish the spell. Sybil is also approached by Brother Wilfrid who claims the book was stolen from him many years ago- when Master Thorston was only 13 years old! What should Sybil do? Who should Sybil believe? Where will she find a green-eyed person who can read? Follow Sybil through the smelly streets of 11th century England to find out.
*author’s website* http://www.avi-writer.com/
A Coyote’s in the House by Elmore Leonard
Antwan is a coyote in the Hollywood Hills of California who runs with his gang, the Howling Diablos. He meets Buddy, a German Shepherd who starred in all of the BUDDY movies. Buddy is BORED with his life after being famous. He longs to run free with Antwan and his coyote homeys. Buddy comes up with a plan to turn Antwan into a well-trained dog and run away to join the wild coyotes. Can a wild coyote fool humans into believing he’s a mutt? Will Buddy be able to run with the Howling Diablos?
February 2006
Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery by John Feinstein
At last, a mystery for the sports fan! Eighth graders Steven Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson are the winners of a sports journalists’ writing contest. They travel to New Orleans and get to cover the Final Four Basketball Tournament. While gathering information for their articles, they discover that the star student athlete on MSU’s team is being blackmailed to LOSE the championship game to Duke! Who is the mysterious blackmailer and who would KILL to win? Can two teenagers really save the Final Four?
Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society by Adeline Yen Mah
This exciting historical fiction novel takes place in Shanghai China in the 1940s. Ye Xian, better known as CC (Chinese Cinderella) is kicked out of her father and step-mother’s house. She ends up living with Grandma Wu and several orphaned boys who are training in special marital arts. CC joins in the training and learns about Marat and his brother who was captured by the Chinese; Sam- a Jewish boy who escaped from Germany; and half-breed David- whose father was American and mother was Chinese. The Secret Dragon Society tries to help the Americans in their raid against Japan. Can these trained children really rescue the American soldiers from the famous Japanese torture prison -Bridge House? Join CC and her friends in a story filled with true historical facts!
*author’s website* http://adelineyenmah.com/
Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer
In the year 793, a group of men known as Beserkers kidnap Jack and his little sister Lucy and sail them back across the immense sea. Jack is to be a slave and Lucy is to be a gift to Queen Frith- a shape-shifting half-troll. When the Jack convinces the Beserkers that he is a skilled bard with magic, the real adventure begins! This book is filled with Norse mythology, action, stories of dragons, trolls and wonderful adventures in far off lands.