Seedfolks

by Paul Fleischman
PRMS paperback 102 pages (including the author's notes)
genre: YA realistic fiction

I don't remember why we picked this for book club . . . but I'm glad. It was a re-read for me and I really enjoyed it and the many positive messages in it. The kids mostly responded well to it, but they disliked the lack of resolution. I didn't realize / forgot that the author is Sid Fleischman's son. I get the two of them mixed up. This is a lovely book about people and a neighborhood garden that brings them together. The author purposely picked Cleveland for the setting and included lots of immigrants. Wonderful, short book (unless examining plot is your main goal . . . ).

The Whipping Boy

by Sid Fleischman
read by Spike McClure
Hennepin County Library audiobook 2 discs
genre: YA historical fiction, adventure

Re-read / listen. Jemmy the rat-catcher's son learns to read and write when he lives in the palace. Whenever he gets a beating for the prince's misbehavior, he refuses to cry out in pain, antagonizing the prince. Jemmy values the literacy he gains more than the fine clothes and good food, but plans his escape nonetheless. When Prince "Brat" informs Jemmy that they are running away together, Jemmy goes along so that he can ditch the prince as quickly as possible. They run into nefarious criminals Hold-Your-Nose Billy (garlic eater) and Cutwater and get further and further into trouble. Prince Brat really just wants a friend and clings to Jemmy as he realizes how very disliked he is throughout the kingdom.

They run into Betsy and her dancing bear Petunia, as well as the near-sighted Captain Nips (potato seller) on their run from the villains. A delightful short novel (novella?) and a fun one to share with kids. McClure's vocal work is excellent.

Phineas Gage

by John Fleischman
PRMS Mary's collection audioCDs 1.5 hours
read by Kevin Orton

Fascinating! I have been meaning to read this for years. It's much more about the brain and developing theories (in the 1800s) about how the brain works. Amazing and bizarre that Phineas survived this crazy accident.

Odd thing, though . . . the photo of his skull shows a hole in the *right* side of his face, but the book definitely talked about the spike going through the left side. Unless by "left" side, they mean as one was looking AT him . . . odd, though. I always though that when one talks about a body part, it is from the perspective of the one in the body!