Review of 2011 Colorado Children's Book Award Nominee

Here is the fourth review of the 2011 Colorado Children's Book Award Nominees.

Sent by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Ages: 10 and up

I first mentioned Haddix’s new series Missing in my November 12, 2009 blog. Sent is the second book in this series.

This fantasy story opens by informing readers that Chip and Alex have been kidnapped from the past and brought into the present day. Hence the title of the series Missing. They travel back with modern day friends Jonah and Katherine to the fifteenth century to retake their place and fix this history.

The intriguing part of this series is that Chip is actually King Edward V of England and his younger brother Alex is Richard, the Duke of York. The complicated part of this is that Chip and Alex were murdered according to history!

For an entertaining read, I recommend starting your young reader with the first book in the series Found.

As always, Haddix gives readers a thrilling ride.

More Summer Reading for Kids

If you are still searching for middle grade novels to get your readers and reluctant readers involved in over the summer months, here is one series that will surprise readers and one great horse story to consider.

Among the Hidden

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix is the first book in the Shadow Children series of novels that explore the lives of children who were not supposed to be born. In this world, families are forbidden to have more than two children.

Luke, the third child in his family, has only spent a few hours outside his house. He has never attended school and spends his days inside keeping to himself. He must be careful never to let himself be seen. Then he discovers a girl like himself living next door. The two meet and scheme to get the government to change the ruling. The compelling nature of children being forbidden and forced to remain in hiding engulfs young readers and hooks them to the end.

War Horse

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo is a story of Joey, a farm horse, who finds himself in the middle of WW1. That fact alone hooks many young readers. Told by Joey, this story follows his journey into war and explores his relationships and friendships with the many people that come into his life. Along his journey, Joey encounters adults and loving children. His view of war and people present readers with unique views. From his beginning friendship with Albert, to his new master in the army, to the young girl in the French countryside, Joey's story holds young readers' attention.

These books, written for ages 8-12, treat readers to fast paced adventures and protagonists close to their own ages. All three novels novels have strong boy and girl characters. The concepts of friendship and trust presented in each story are ones easily understood by young readers. These books are sure to entice reluctant readers.