It’s time to begin reading the books that are considered the best of the year so far.
These are the books that have received stars from two or more major review sources during the month of January, 2011.
Angry Young Man by Chris Lynch
Eighteen-year-old Robert tries to help his half-brother Xan, a seventeen-year-old misfit, to make better choices as he becomes increasingly attracted to a variety of protesters, anarchists, and the like.
Simon & Schuster Gr. 9-12
Starred by PW, SLJ
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta, Sepetys
In 1941, fifteen-year-old Lina, her mother, and brother are pulled from their Lithuanian home by Soviet guards and sent to Siberia, where her father is sentenced to death in a prison camp while she fights for her life, vowing to honor her family and the thousands like hers by burying her story in a jar on Lithuanian soil.
Philomel Gr. 7+
Starred by B, K, PW
Blink & Caution by Tim Wynne-Jones
Blink, hoping to steal some breakfast, is forced to go on the run after stumbling upon the fake kidnapping of a CEO and recovering the man’s cell phone, and he meets up with Caution, a girl trying to ditch her drug-dealing boyfriend, who identifies Blink as a mark until he tugs at her heart strings.
Candlewick Press Gr. 9+
Starred by SLJ, PW
Chime by Franny Billingsley
In the early twentieth century in Swampsea, seventeen-year-old Briony, who can see the spirits that haunt the marshes around their town, feels responsible for her twin sister’s horrible injury until a young man enters their lives and exposes secrets that even Briony does not know about.
Dial Gr. 9+
Starred by B, K, PW
Look! A Book! by Bob Staake
Easy-to-read, rhyming text invites the reader to search for items on a different theme on each page, while celebrating the wonder of a picture book.
Little, Brown Gr. K-2
Starred by PW, SLJ
A Nation’s Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis by Matt de la Peña
Illustrated by Nelson Kadir
Tells of the historic fight between American Joe Lewis and German Max Schmeling while connecting it to the political climate of the 1930s.
Dial Gr. 1-5
Starred by PW, SLJ
Peaceful Pieces by Anna Grossnickle Hines
Explores peace in many forms through poems illustrated by handmade quilts.
Holt Gr. 2-5
Starred by B, PW
Roots and Blues by Arnold Adoffz
Illustrated R. Gregory Christie
Lyrical text explores how Blues have been part of everyday life throughout history, from its origins in the sounds of the earth, through slaves’ voices singing of freedom, to today’s greatest performers–and listeners.
Clarion Gr. 3-6
Starred K, PW, SLJ
The Unforgettable Season by Phil Bildner
Illustrated by S. D. Schinder
Celebrates the baseball careers of Joe Dimaggio and Ted Willams and their unbroken records.
Putnam Gr. 1-6
Starred by K, PW
Won Ton by Lee Wardlaw
Illustrated Eugene Yelchin
A cat arrives at a shelter, arranges to go home with a good family, and settles in with them, all the while letting them know who is boss and, finally, sharing his real name.
Henry Holt Gr. K-4
Starred by B, K, SLJ
Review Code:
B – Booklist
K – Kirkus
PW – Publishers Weekly
SLJ – School Library Journal
Books annotations are from The Library of Congress or Linda’s Links to Literature.
All Amazon links are affiliate links for Linda’s Links to Literature.
