Stars Above Us - Geoffrey Norman

Illustrated by E. B. Lewis
G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2009
$16.99
32 pages
For: kids
Rating: 4
Endpapers: Dusky blue

Amanda's father reads her bedtime stories, and comforts her when she's afraid of things. When she tells him she's afraid of the dark, he picks her up and shows her all the wonderful things that can be found in the dark - fireflies and the night sky, full of stars. Then he gets some glow-in-the dark stars and creates a night sky on her bedroom ceiling.

But that's only the beginning of the story. We soon discover that Amanda's father is "going away" for a long time. He reminds her of the connection in the sky, and that the North Star can be seen from anyplace in the world. When he calls her on the phone, you can see he is in army fatigues. He keeps reminding her to wish on "their" star.

And home her dad does come, it's afterquite awhile, but he does return. And she surprises him with lots of additions to the night display in her darkened bedroom.

A gentle but powerful story. And E. B. Lewis' illustrations, as usual, delicate and poignant and perfect.

Crow Call - Lois Lowry

Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline

Scholastic, 2009

$16.99

32 pgs.

Rating: 5 YES!

Endpapers: Deep brown, accentuating the beautiful browns used in the illustrations.

This is a supremely lovely book. The words themselves are gorgeous. The illustrations are magnificent. And the story iteslf is oh-so-satisfying. It's a memoir, a story of Lois Lowry and her own father in 1945.

Just back from the war, a father begins the first steps of reconnecting with his young daughter by taking her hunting, just the two of them. Breakfast at a diner starts the day with a funny situation that I'm certain became an inside family joke. The woods are quiet and beautiful, and they talk. Lizzie is nervous about her father's rifle, and fearful for the crows he will shoot. He gives her the task of blowing the crow call. This becomes such a delight to her when dozens of silent crows rise from the trees in answer to her call.

This is first and foremost the story of a thoughtful, sensitive father who dearly loves his child. Wrapped in magical words and detailed illustrations, this is a lush, special book. BRAVO!!

"Grass, frozen after its summer softness, crunches under our feet; free from the floating pollens of summer, and our words seem etched and breakable on the brittle stillness."

Never stop writing, Mrs. Lowry, never stop!

33. Beige - Cecil Castellucci

Published: 2007
Rating: 4
307 Pgs.
Paperback $8.99

14 year-old Katy leaves Montreal to spend two and a half weeks in LA with the dad she barely knows - who happens to be "The Rat", a punk drummer from the legendary band "Sucks." Her mother has gone to Peru to research and archeological site, and this is the first time they've been separated. Katy has been raised to be polite and kind, so the various rockers, punks, and free spirits that she meets in Los Angeles are all very strange to her. She doesn't say much, just listens. She's never had any appreciation for any kind of music, but is now thrown headfirst into a world she does not know, and does not care to know.

Her father has bribed a young female musician, Lake Suck, to keep her company. And on her own she meets a couple of other teenagers. So when her mother decides to spend the entire summer in Peru, Katy has no choice but to stay in LA. Lake has christened her "Beige", and she becomes known by that name.

This is an interesting story about a girl learning to be herself. It is also a story about overcoming the odds (most of the adults in the book are recovering addicts), and learning about what friendship and family really means. I liked it.

First Line/s: "The first thing I notice as the plane lands at LAX is that it is cloudy and pouring rain. So much for the myth that it's always sunny in Los Angeles."