The Book Review/Grades 5 & Up

"spin" can be brought back into balance. Nine folks eome. and the bulk of tlie book is uiade up of their stories. When the group has huished, the world is set right again, and the participants retimi to their homes, richer for the experiences they've shared. BInbangh's tirst novel is a fantasy that interweaves the magical powers of Mama Inez with the stories of familiar folk- and fairy-tale characters. 'The Colors of Lightning," the story of Slew Eoot Sue and Pccos Bill; "Carter House," a version of tlic Scottish 'Taui Liu"; and "Conversions," .1 t\pical Celtic tale of the love between a human and a mennan, are kept basically intact. "Ihe Lizard's 'laic" reveals Cinderella's story according to tlie lizard who reluctantly becomes her coachman, and in "lest," the elves explain why they helped the poor shoemaker aud his wife. Other stories add suqirising twisbi to traditional tales. While the heginningof the ixwk is rather hard to follow, the talcs themselves uio\e at a good pace, and the [jrotagonists are tliree-diuicusional versions of their well-known counterparts. A good choice tor collections iu which fairy-tale retellings ,ire po])nIar.-iViic>' Menaldi-Scanlan, formerly at iaSalle Academy, Providence, R/ Sean and Coop challenge themselves with a summer goal to view a naked girl. Although a difficult aim for three nerdy guys, it is nothing compared to Matt's trying to impress Kelly, the girl of his dreams, by volnuteering for the nearly impossible 100-yard bntterfly at a local swim-team competition. Ib satish' their goal, the bo\s dress np as females aud try to sneak into the girls' locker room at the community center. The plan is foiled wheu Matt has a sudden, outlandish bowel uiovement. .Another hme, he sneaks into a couiitry-club pool to practice and meets Ulf, a swim instructor who forces Matt to take his torturous class. Additional incidents stretch belief; others edge on disturbing. Sean and Coop try to peep at Kelly and her friend Valerie iu a dressing room, and Coop slices the swim suit of the disliked major contender in tbe butterfly competition so it tears off iu public and Matt ultiuiately wins. Vomitiug and other rannchy episodes and comments throughout have mixed results. Nevertheless, the book holds interest, largely due to Matt's fumbling atteuipts, at last, at standing up for what's right, the well-portrayed twist that Valerie is the perfect match for him, aud his grandfather's quirkiness. 'leens looking tor realistic guy humor will find BRADEORD, Chris. Young Samurai: The amuseuient here, but a better choice is SteWay of Ihe Warrior. Bk. I. 368p. Hvperion. ven Goldman's 7Wo Parties, One Tux, and a 2009. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978^1-42M- Very Short Film About The Crapes of Wrath (Bloomsburv'. 2008).-Diane P Tuccitio, Fort 1871-8. LC nnmber unavailable. Gr 6-9-Jack Fletcher, 12, works as a rigging Gollins Regiona/ Library District, CO monkey aboard the Alexandria, while his father pilots the British vessel. Near tbe Japanese coast, the ship is attacked by a deadly bandofniuja. Before he dies. Jack's father en- * C A L I , Davide. The Enemy: A Book About Peace, illus. by Serge Bloch. tnists his son with a book of coded maps that unpaged, photos, reprods. CIP. others will kill to possess. 'Hiongh )ack suffers Random/Schwarh & Wade Bks. Apr. a grave wouud iu the cusuiug battle aud is left 2009. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-375tor dead, a samurai named Masamoto saves 84500-0; PLB $18.99. ISBN 978-0the boy, e\eiit\ially adopting him. Readers ?75-9'752-l. LC number unavailable. can't help but empathize with Jack through Gr 4-8-ln an understated picture book the months that follow as he leams the lanfor older readers. Cali ponders ihe esguage and how to fight with a wooden boksence and logic of war from the \'icwpoint ken, stniggles to master the intricate Japanese of a lone soldier, isolated from his fellow culture, aud deals with bullies who consider troops, sitting in bis foxhole within sight liim a gaijin, a barbaric outsider. He sunives of his enemy. "Except for hunger, the enafight ith a uiuja intent on kilting him, and, emy and I Have nothing in common. He at 15. takes part in afiercemartial arts compeis a wild beast. Me does not know mercy. I tition that affects the honor of Masamoto and know this because I read it in my inauual. iiis school. Witb Samurai. Bradford has craftIt says that we uiust kill hiui before he kills ed a detailed story fiill of riveting elements; us." The man ponders the pointlessness of instant enemies, swom friends, unfortunate war, his hesitancy to let down his guard, inisnnderstandings, and ultimate forgiveness. his fear of being alone. I le is tired of sittiug He includes notes on sources for various in a hole. He waits until the uioon is at its quotes used throughout; though several are smallest, puts on a disguise, and creeps toanachronistic, tlieir spirit is essentially Zen. A ward the enemy's foxhole. Wliat hefindsin Fast-paced adventure and a faseinating look at l7"'-centnr)' apan.-Bc/?rjy Isaacson, Whea- there [family photos and a manual like his own) surprises hiui. What's more, he realton Regional jbrary. Silver Spring, MD izes that he and tlieenenn; sharing similar thoughts, have traded spaces. He wishes the enemy would do something lo end the CLAME, Don. Swim the Fly. ?68p. Canwar, and knows that he must end it himdlewick. Apr. 2009. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978self. Set against stark white backgrounds. 0-76^6-4157-5. LC number unavailable. Gr 8-10-Matt Gratton, 15, and bis friends

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