Year of the Historical: Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg

Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg Rodman Philbrick

When Homer's under-age brother is sold to the Union Army, Homer's running down the East Coast to bring him home. Homer starts as an abused orphan who lives in a barn, but his unique relationship with the truth helps him as he follows the Union Army south. Along the way, he helps free some slaves, takes a steamship, joins a medicine show, steals a hot-air balloon, and witnesses the battle of Gettysburg first hand.

What could be a harrowing adventure story is instead told tall-tale style for humorous effect as Homer talks his way out of one predicament or another. It's a fun travel story as one kid searches for his older brother, the only family he's ever known. It could be gripping and it could be heartbreaking, but instead it was just plain fun. I think it would make a great chapter-a-night read aloud for younger elementary students and a fun one to use in classrooms with older readers.

I'm happy to see a fun book get a Newbery nod.

Book Provided by... my local library

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Old Books--Lots of Reviews

Unblogged books, in order of reading-- we have 2 left from October of 2006... (short and pithy, because I don't remember these books very well.)

The Last Book In The Universe Rodman Philbrick

Spaz is an epileptic living in a post-apocalyptic world. There are no books, just mind probes that leave people empty shells of nothing. In order to save his sister, he has to cross several border lands, dealing with their gangs and security to get to the land of the "proves"-- the promised land populated by people who have been genetically improved.

An excellent adventure.

Wait for Me An Na

Yawn. Mina has lied about her academic prowress and that's about to come bite her in the butt. Her mom's a total bitch. She's been stealing from the family's dry-cleaning business. She likes this guy. Her little sister's deaf and depends on her for everything.

It could have been good, but... eh. It dragged and was boring and Mina was totally unsympathetic and so I didn't really care.

Woo-hoo! Unto November!

Pop! Aury Wallington

This was fun, nothing fantastic, but a nice little book about losing your virginity. Marit wants it gone, but freaks out when things get physical. Enter best friend Jamie, who isn't really a good choice for sex without attachment, because Marit still likes hot-boy Noah.

While the plot is a little unrealistic and happy-go-lucky, it's the kind I like in fun, sunny afternoon reads.

The sex scenes are hilariously accurate.

Lowji Discovers America Candace Fleming

A funny little book about a young boy trying to fit into small-town Illinois after growing up in Bombay. Moving just after school gets out, Lowji is bored and wants a pet. He quickly convinces his grouchy land-lady that a cat would help with the mouse problem and a dog would be a good burglar alarm, Lowji wins over the neighborhood.

Cute and written in the formal, slightly stilted English of a non-native speaker.