There Is a Tribe of Kids

by Lane Smith
Hennepin County Library hardcover picturebook
genre: children's fiction

I think I got this because I saw a mention of collective nouns. There is so much more going on here than that! The text and artwork are beautifully woven into the story of a boy who travels through different groups until he joins the tribe of kids. Lane Smith is so gifted!

Jack's Run

by Roland Smith
donation copy paperback 246 pages
genre: YA adventure

I read this in bits and pieces during lunch this school year. It's a quick little sequel to Zach's Lie. I think I like it better than the first book! Jack/Zack/Mack is heading to California to stay with his sister while his parents are holed up in preparation for Alonzo's trial. His sister auditions for a singing show (brilliant move for a person in a witness protection program . . . ) and they are again being hunted. The kids are taken to a vineyard until their parents give up Alonzo's journal. Action. Adventure. Danger. Good stuff. A little too much, but middle school appropriate.

Winger

by Andrew Smith
Hennepin County Library hardcover 439 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction

Wow. This one had a bit too much swearing for me, but it is the perfect book for a ninth grade boy. Ryan Dean West is a 14-year-old junior at a private school. He plays rugby, but struggles to relate to his older peers in the junior class. He is in love with his best friend, Annie Altman, but gets frustrated when she sees him as a "little boy." He's also extremely horny and turned on by almost any female that he finds attractive.

Chas Becker / JP Tureau / Seanie / Joey / the various adults . . . the characters are wonderfully drawn and the story is very engaging. I was somewhat surprised by the ending.

It's a Book

written & illustrated by Lane Smith
Hennepin County Library hardcover picture book

This is such a delightful book! Monkey is reading a book when jackass asks him a lot of questions about it . . . while playing on a computer. Simple but clever, I would like to see how kids like it.

Bone Handbook

by Jeff Smith
PRMS paperback 124 pages
genre: comics, about

There was a lot in here that was a re-hash of what I already know, but enough new nuggets of info (and a few new Bone comics)that it was worthwhile. The most interesting things to me are that Smith modeled Thorn on his wife and the impact different educators had on him and on his career path. I'm glad he stuck with it! I love the Bone comics and am so glad that Smith has been successful publishing them. I love his references to literary inspirations. What an amazing man!

Independence Hall and The White House

by Roland Smith
I.Q. #1 & #2
1 - Caver County Library, paperback, 293 pages
2 - Ben B's copy, hardcover, 256 pages
genre: YA spy fiction

Cliffhanger! Book 2 ends with Malak just having kidnapped the president's daughter, Bethany. The plot is strange, but the storytelling is delightful. Q (short for Quest) is the son of singer Blaze (and an absent guitar player father). When Blaze marries Roger, another musician and songwriter, Q gains an odd stepsister in Angela Tucker. Book one takes place in the week after the wedding. Book two takes place in one day.

Think James Bond or Jason Bourne written for young adolescents. Enjoyable.

Peak

by Roland Smith
Hennepin County Library, paperback, 246 pages

This is the third MHL nominee I've read and so far it's my favorite. I loved it! This made me cry, but the action-adventure momentum also kept me reading. I think kids will really enjoy this one.

Peak is a climber stuck in NYC, so he begins scaling skyscrapers. When he gets in trouble, his mom and stepdad don't know how to keep him out of juvenile detention. That's when his father, famous climber Josh Wood, steps in to take Peak with him to China. Only Josh's plan is to get Peak to the summit of Everest.

Cool and believable. Lots of details. Interesting characters. Fun book!

Note added 10/14/14:

Peak - teenage protagonist
Josh - his dad
Mom - not sure what her real name is . . .
Rolf - stepdad
Patrice & Paula - "the two Peas" -
Sun-jo - teenage Sherpa climbing with Peak
Holly Angelo - obnoxious reporter trying to climb Everest
Vincent - the teacher who makes Peak write about his experience (in a Moleskin notebook)
Yogi - Sherpa
Yash - Sherpa
Zopa