School Library Journal» Farrar/Margaret Ferguson

Pick of the Day: Nelly May Has Her Say

SLJ — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 14:00:06 +0000

DEFELICE, Cynthia. Nelly May Has Her Say. illus. by Henry Cole. 32p. Farrar. Mar. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-374-39899-6. LC 2011018484.
PreS-Gr 3–Nelly May Nimble lives in a tiny house with her parents and her 12 brothers and sisters. One day she announces that it’s time to earn her own keep, so she ventures off to the hilltop home of Lord Ignasius Pinkwinkle to hire out her services. Lord Pinkwinkle agrees with one condition; the master of the house has special names for things, and Nelly must use those names when she speaks to him. At first, Nelly obliges, addressing Lord Pinkwinkle as “Most Excellent of All Masters,” and using his silly monikers, such as “long-legged limberjohns” for trousers and a “flaming pop-and-sizzle” for his fireplace. But when Lord Pinkwinkle’s “fur-faced fluffenbarker’s wigger-wagger” catches fire, Nelly has to wake him and announce the fire before the house burns down. Can she remember all those silly names before a catastrophe happens? Cole’s illustrations juxtapose Nelly’s homestead in the “Bottoms” and Lord Pinkwinkle’s “roof-topped castleorum” with deft humor and a folk styling that is sure to appeal to young readers. Nelly is spirited and clever, most surely not just another “fuzzy-dust-and-fooder” that his “Most Excellent Master” thinks she is. With one smart heroine and witty wordplay, this book, which is based on the English folktale “Master of All Masters,” will delight.–Carol Connor, Cincinnati Public Schools

Pick of the Day: My Book of Life by Angel

SLJ — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 13:00:41 +0000

LEAVITT , Martine. My Book of Life by Angel. 244p. Farrar/Margaret Ferguson. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-374-35123-6; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-374-35124-3.
Gr 9 Up–A 16-year-old caught up in a life of drugs and prostitution finds the strength to protect a younger girl in this lyrical novel in verse. Angel describes how her pimp, Call, lured her from her family with promises and “candy,” the drug her body craves even as she tries to resist it, and onto street corners in Vancouver, where she struggles to earn enough money to please him. Angel worries about a friend who has disappeared–there are rumors of a serial killer preying on prostitutes, though the police seem unconcerned. In simple but evocative language, Angel takes readers into her world and makes them understand how she fell into Call’s clutches. But when he brings home an 11-year-old, Angel realizes that she must risk her life to fight back. Leavitt deftly tackles a difficult subject without a hint of melodrama or voyeurism. Angel’s story could belong to any teen on the streets, though her voice is wonderfully unique. She sees the human side of everyone she meets, even the johns who choose her because she looks even younger than she is. Despite her circumstances, she never loses hope. Reluctant readers looking for a gritty story that is also a quick read will be swept up in this one, as will anyone who appreciates novels in verse. This is a powerful book that will leave readers wishing they could hear more of Angel’s gripping story.-Miranda Doyle, San Francisco Public Library