by Gennifer Choldenko

Moose Flanagan’s life is uprooted when his electrician father takes a job as a prison guard on Alcatraz. His parents are trying to find a place that can help Moose’s older sister, Natalie, who has what we would know as autism today. Although his parents are always telling him that everything is not as black and white as it seems, they seem to have a hard time remembering that fact themselves.

The book includes fascinating facts about life on Alcatraz, and shows what life is like for the sibling of an autistic person. Gennifer Choldenko knows what she’s writing about. Her own sister had a severe form of autism.

Mark Twain Award Nominee 2006-2007

Originally posted April 10, 2005

Pirates! by Celia Rees is about a merchant’s daughter and a plantation slave who escape on a pirate ship called Deliverance. Nancy Kington is escaping an arranged marriage to a brutal plantation owner, while Minerva Sharpe is escaping slavery. The lives of Nancy and Minerva are linked in more ways than they know. Kids who like adventure stories with a conscience will love this fast-moving and exciting story.

When My Name Was Keoko is a compelling look at life in Korea under Japanese occupation before and during World War II. The book follows a brother and sister through several years at the end of the occupation. This is a great read for people interested in Korean history, life, and culture.