spring/summer 2011 recent releases — young & middle grade
spring/summer 2011 recent releases — young & middle grade
spring/summer 2011 recent releases — young & middle grade
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THE GREAT DEATH<br />
by John Smelcer; read by Lorna Raver<br />
The Great Death arrived with the man who<br />
had little red spots covering his body, and soon<br />
sickness overtakes the village of thirteen-yearold<br />
Millie and her <strong>young</strong>er sister, Maura. The<br />
sisters must struggle to overcome the harsh<br />
Alaskan winter of 1917.<br />
★“A gripping and poignant survival story,<br />
made even more so because of its basis on historical<br />
fact…Smelcer provides more than<br />
enough detail to satisfy diehard survival story<br />
junkies.”<strong>—</strong>The Horn Book<br />
“Lorna Raver keeps listeners on the edge of<br />
their seats as she tells…a story of human survival<br />
at its most inspiring.”<strong>—</strong>AudioFile<br />
3 CDs • 978-0-7393-7177-0 • $30.00<br />
Grade: RL: 6.1 • IL: 5-12 • LL: 940 • 3 hrs. 42 mins.<br />
HALF MAGIC<br />
by Edward Eager; performed by the<br />
Words Take Wing Repertory Company<br />
When Jane finds a magic charm which grants<br />
half of any wish, her siblings take turns making<br />
double wishes, leading to strange happenings.<br />
“The perfect listening choice for the entire<br />
family.”<strong>—</strong>Publishers Weekly<br />
“Gently funny, HALF MAGIC is a wonderful<br />
fantasy.”<strong>—</strong>AudioFile<br />
3 CDs • 978-0-7393-6438-3 • $30.00<br />
Grade: RL: 6.2 • IL: 3-7 • LL: 830 • 3 hrs. 31 mins.<br />
HATE THAT CAT<br />
by Sharon Creech; read by Scott Wolf<br />
As Jack begins to uncover the writer within<br />
him, he starts to see and hear the world in a<br />
whole new way. With plenty of classic poetry, a<br />
hilarious hero, and one amazing surprise.<br />
“Creech has created a poignant, funny picture<br />
of a child’s encounter with the power of<br />
poetry.”<strong>—</strong>School Library Journal<br />
“Wolf ’s youthful voice speeds and slows,<br />
adding poignancy to the free-verse monologue…Recitations<br />
of the poems included in<br />
the story complete the recording.”<strong>—</strong>AudioFile<br />
1 CD • 978-0-7393-7679-9 • $20.00<br />
Grade: RL: 5.0 • IL: 3-7 • LL: NA • 1 hr. 3 mins.<br />
See pages 44, 46, and 62 for more Sharon Creech<br />
HATTIE BIG SKY<br />
by Kirby Larson; read by Kirsten Potter<br />
NEWBERY HONOR<br />
For years, Hattie has been shuttled between<br />
relatives. Tired of being Hattie Here-and-<br />
There, she leaves Iowa to prove up on her late<br />
uncle’s homestead claim in Montana. With<br />
perseverance, Hattie forges ahead through<br />
frost, drought, and blizzards.<br />
“Kirsten Potter provides deft narration…she<br />
lets the story’s own cadence carry it along.”<br />
<strong>—</strong>School Library Journal<br />
“Potter delightfully narrates the novel, which is<br />
by turns amusing, frightening, and deeply<br />
sad...Potter also does a lovely interpretation of<br />
Hattie’s expressive speech patterns, easily showing<br />
the teen’s emotions.”<strong>—</strong>Booklist<br />
“Narrator Potter inhabits Hattie so fully.”<br />
<strong>—</strong>The Horn Book<br />
ALSC Notable Children’s Recording<br />
7 CDs • 978-0-7393-5132-1 • $60.00<br />
Grade: RL: 4.4 • IL: 5-9 • LL: 700 • 8 hrs. 31 mins.<br />
HEART OF A SHEPHERD<br />
by Rosanne Parry; read by Kirby Heyborne<br />
Told through the eyes of a <strong>young</strong> boy, this<br />
story is the fascinating and soulful examination<br />
of the surprisingly diverse community of<br />
the heartland.<br />
“A good purchase for listeners who are looking<br />
for realistic fiction written from the point of<br />
view of a soldier’s child.”<br />
<strong>—</strong>School Library Journal<br />
“Kirby Heyborne strongly relays Brother’s<br />
growing awareness that he’s a boy trying to do<br />
a man’s job…this coming-of-age story, is made<br />
immediately accessible with Heyborne’s slow<br />
and evenly paced narration.”<strong>—</strong>AudioFile<br />
ALSC Notable Children’s Recording<br />
3 CDs • 978-0-7393-8016-1 • $30.00<br />
Grade: RL: 5.2 • IL: 3-7 • LL: 850 • 3 hrs. 42 mins.<br />
See page 11 for SECOND FIDDLE<br />
HEAT<br />
by Mike Lupica; read by Paolo Andino<br />
Twelve-year-old pitching prodigy Michael<br />
struggles to achieve his dream of playing in the<br />
Little League World Series because rival coaches<br />
doubt his age. Orphaned when his family<br />
escaped from Cuba, he has no proof.<br />
★“Andino seems to have it all, as heard in his<br />
sharp performance.”<br />
<strong>—</strong>Publishers Weekly, starred review<br />
“Andino tells the story with an enthusiasm sure<br />
to draw in <strong>young</strong> baseball fans…His Hispanic<br />
accent is true to the characters as he brings each<br />
of them to life.”<strong>—</strong>AudioFile<br />
KLIATT Editors’ Choice<strong>—</strong>Audiobooks<br />
YALSA Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults<br />
5 CDs • 978-0-3072-8598-0 • $45.00<br />
Grade: RL: 5.3 • IL: 6-12 • LL: 940 • 6 hrs. 14 mins.<br />
See pages 55 and 61 for more titles by<br />
Mike Lupica<br />
HERE TODAY<br />
by Ann M. Martin; read by Judy Kaye<br />
Eleven-year-old Ellie, is the oldest in her offcenter<br />
family. When her mother abandons the<br />
family, Ellie must take charge.<br />
★“Martin’s tender coming-of-age story soars,<br />
thanks to Kaye’s dynamic narration.”<br />
<strong>—</strong>Booklist, starred review<br />
“Listeners will be captivated by this family saga<br />
which unfolds at a perfect pace and with a tone<br />
that matches the poignancy of the plot.”<br />
<strong>—</strong>School Library Journal<br />
6 CDs • 978-1-4000-9487-5 • $50.00<br />
Grade: RL: 4.9 • IL: 5-9 • LL: 790 • 6 hrs. 40 mins.<br />
See pages 47, 48, 57, and 95 for more titles by<br />
Ann M. Martin<br />
Visit our website: www.booksontape.com<br />
THE HIGHER POWER OF LUCKY<br />
by Susan Patron<br />
read by Cassandra Campbell<br />
NEWBERY MEDAL<br />
When Lucky, age 10, suspects that Brigitte,<br />
her trusted guardian, is planning a secret return<br />
to France, Lucky comes up with her own plan.<br />
“Filled with superb characterizations, and the<br />
talented Cassandra Campbell turns each into a<br />
splendid dramatic opportunity.”<strong>—</strong>AudioFile<br />
“Cassandra Campbell brings Susan Patron’s<br />
Newbery Award-winning novel to life.”<br />
<strong>—</strong>School Library Journal<br />
ALSC Notable Children’s Recording<br />
Capitol Choices: Audio Books Too Good to Miss<br />
BONUS FEATURE<strong>—</strong>Author Interview<br />
3 CDs • 978-0-7393-4851-2 • $30.00<br />
Grade: RL: 5.9 • IL: 3-7 • LL: 1010 • 3 hrs. 35 mins.<br />
LUCKY BREAKS<br />
by Susan Patron<br />
read by Cassandra Campbell<br />
Lucky makes a new friend, gets stuck in a<br />
well, and discovers the secret of the universe<br />
in this funny sequel to the Newbery Awardwinning<br />
The Higher Power of Lucky.<br />
★”Cassandra Campbell provides superb narration,<br />
making each character’s personality<br />
believable.”<strong>—</strong>School Library Journal<br />
“Campbell also perfectly renders all of the<br />
emotions and drama of three very opposite<br />
kids. The final treat is an author interview…”<br />
<strong>—</strong>AudioFile<br />
AudioFile Earphones Award<br />
BONUS FEATURE: Exclusive Author Interview<br />
4 CDs • 978-0-7393-7954-7 • $38.00<br />
Grade: RL: 6.0 • IL: 3-7 • LL: 960 • 4 hrs. 35 mins.<br />
See page 10 for LUCKY FOR GOOD<br />
HITLER YOUTH<br />
Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow<br />
by Susan Campbell Bartoletti<br />
read by Kathrin Kana<br />
NEWBERY HONOR ENHANCED CD INCLUDES<br />
SIBERT HONOR<br />
PHOTOGRAPHS<br />
Bartoletti tells the history of the Hitler Youth<br />
that begins with Hitler’s rise to power, follows<br />
the development of the movement, and the<br />
way members’ roles changed during WWII.<br />
“Enhanced by the narration of Kathrin Kana,<br />
who voices the facts and information as a<br />
compelling story.”<strong>—</strong>AudioFile<br />
AudioFile Earphones Award<br />
BONUS FEATURE<strong>—</strong>Author reads Audiobook Introduction<br />
and Author’s Note<br />
4 CDs • 978-0-7393-3677-9 • $38.00<br />
Grade: RL: 7.8 • IL: 5-9 • LL: 1050 • 4 hrs. 25 mins.<br />
See page 45 for the THE BOY WHO DARED<br />
HOME OF THE BRAVE<br />
by Katherine Applegate<br />
read by Dominic Hoffman<br />
Kek, a Sudanese boy is sent to America to live<br />
with relatives after is mother goes missing. He<br />
finds warmth in new friendships, strength in<br />
his memories and belief in his new country.<br />
★“The words themselves are simple, but<br />
Applegate introduces some hard ideas.”<br />
<strong>—</strong>School Library Journal, starred review<br />
3 CDs • 978-0-7393-6216-7 • $24.00<br />
Grade: RL: 3.5 • IL: 5-9 • LL: NA • 2 hrs. 47 mins.<br />
Middle Grade CD Library<br />
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