The Looking Glass Wars
November 2008
By Frank Beddor
Young Adult
The Looking Glass Wars begins a series that turns the Alice in Wonderland tale on its tail!
Imagine if everything Alice 'dreamed' was real indeed, but occurring in another world, parallel to our own.
Beddor creates a world where imagination fuels and inspires existence, and wars rage over the control of imagination,
both Black and White. When Alice is forced out of Wonderland for her own safety, she must take refuge on Earth
where most everyone believes her to be telling imaginary tales to gain attention. The battles in this book are both personal
and political, and readers will find Beddor's twists both surprising and familiar.
Reviewed by A. Rodriguez
The Prophet of Yonwood
November 2008
By Jeanne Duprau
Ages: 9-12
Picture a small town near a forest-covered mountain. An old woman known as the Prophet has a vision, and city leaders believe she
speaks God's words. They think following her "instructions" to avoid evil deeds will prevent an imminent war.
Eleven-year-old Nickie visits this aptly named city of Yonwood and gets confused about the meaning of good versus evil.
The last straw is when city leaders take away Nickie's beloved dog (for the better good). Now, the protagonist must find some answers.
Will Nickie find a way to speak to the Prophet? This prequel to City of Ember and The People of Sparks lends insights into
human gullibility. Though The Prophet of Yonwood doesn't have the suspense of the other two in the series, its message is relevant today as citizens unquestioningly
believe their leaders, leading to potentially disastrous consequences.
Reviewed by L. Silverblatt
Flotsam
November 2008
By David Wiesner
Ages: 5-9
David Wiesner's limitless creativity is displayed in his book, Flotsam. When an old-fashioned camera washes up on the beach, an inquisitive boy opens
it and finds a roll of film inside. After he gets the film developed, he views photographs of incredible underwater worlds, complete with cities, bionic fish, and an
octopus reading in the comfort of its living room. The author's cartoonlike watercolor paintings are reminiscent of Gary Larson's clever artistry.
Wiesner's gift of wordless, yet detailed, storytelling makes you wish his books would never end. Especially enjoyable are the "pictures within pictures"
that are like puzzles for the boy to figure out. Luckily, Wiesner's endings don't disappoint, and this one was just right.
Reviewed by L. Silverblatt