December Recommendations--Lynn Becker's Book Picks

Here's what I've been up to lately:

ROOFTOPPERS, by Katherine Rundell tells the story of Sophie, who was found floating in a cello case in the English Channel. Presumed to be an orphan, Sophie is adopted by the kindly but unconventional Charles. When the National Childcare Agency finds this arrangement "unsuitable," and threatens to put Sophie in an orphanage, the two escape to France hoping against hope that Sophie's mother may actually still be alive. This novel is as beautifully written as it is engaging.

REALITY BOY, by A. S. King (Ask the Passengers, Please Ignore Vera Dietz) is another standout YA by one of the masters of the genre. Gerald Faust is famous for being a child reality star. Unfortunately, his defining act on TV was to take a poop on the dining room table, saddling him with the nickname Crapper. Now seventeen, Gerald understandable has anger issues, but how he learns to deal with them are both heartbreaking and wondrous.

CHAMPION, A Legend Novel, by Marie Lu, is the satisfying conclusion to a dystopian YA trilogy. Life is understandably brutal after climate change has flooded much of the eastern United States, and caused its break-up into two warring factions. June and Day have been in the epicenter of a struggle to make life better for all the citizens of the Republic. Despite a formulaic-feeling start, this trilogy becomes extremely satisfying, and this last installment caused me a couple of teary moments at the end.

JANE, THE FOX, AND ME, written by Fanny Britt, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault is a New York Times Best Illustrated Book, and rightly so. The mostly black, white, and sepia pages of this graphic novel are beautifully drawn and designed, and the story is highlighted with color at just the right times. Taking on issues of bullying and body image, the main character uses Jane Eyre to escape her unpleasant situation at school. It's a stretch, but it's a good one. For upper mid-graders.

MOO! by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka, tells a very silly story of a cow who makes off with the farmer's car. Told, basically, with just one word, it's a really funny ride.

DAISY GETS LOST, by Chris Raschka, Raschka's expressive art to this sequel to Caldecott-winning A Ball for Daisy. It's practically wordless, but there's plenty of story here with the feisty Daisy and her blue ball. And her squirrel, and her person. I think I like the art in this second book better than in the first one.

And finally, just in time for the holidays comes LITTLE SANTA, by James Agee. This one begins, "In the North Pole, in a little cabin, lived Mr. and Mrs. Claus and their seven children, Larry, Mary, Willy, Millie, Joey, Zoe, and Santa." In his little red suit, Santa is the only happy one in this bunch, who decide to move down to Florida!