2006
Criss Cross by
Lynne Rae Perkins
Review
"It begins with Debbie's yearning for something to happen. What happens is
a poetic melange of sweetly ordinary moments....A tenderly existential work
that will reward more thoughtful readers." Kirkus Reviews
2005
Kira-Kira by
Cynthia Kadohata
Review
"Kadohata stays true to the child's viewpoint in plain, beautiful prose
that can barely contain the passionate feelings....The quiet words will speak
to readers who have lost someone they love — or fear that they could."
Booklist (Starred Review)
2004
The Tale of Despereaux
by
Kate DiCamillo
Publisher Comments
From the master storyteller who brought us
Because of Winn-Dixie
comes another classic, a fairy tale full of quirky, unforgettable characters,
featuring twenty-four stunning black-and-white illustrations by Timothy Basil
Ering, in an elegant design that pays tribute to the best in classic
children’s books and bookmaking traditions.
2003
Crispin: The Cross of Lead
by
Avi
Publisher Comments
"Asta's son" is all he's ever been called. The lack of name is
appropriate, because he and his mother are but poor peasants in
fourteenth-century medieval England. But this thirteen-year-old boy who
thought he had little to lose soon finds himself with even less — no home,
family, or possessions. Accused of a crime he did not commit, he has been
declared a "wolf's head." That means he may be killed on sight, by anyone.
2002
A Single Shard by
Linda Sue Park
Publisher Comments
Tree-ear, an orphan, has become fascinated with the potters' craft; he
wants nothing more than to watch master potter Min at work, and he dreams of
making a pot of his own someday. When Min takes on Tree-ear as his helper,
Tree-ear is elated — until he finds obstacles in his path: the backbreaking
labor of digging and hauling clay, Min's irascible temper, and his own
ignorance. However, Tree-ear is determined to prove himself.