Exciting novels will engage older readers

October 22, 2011 Last Updated: October 22, 2011 11:48 AM Community

'The Apothecary'

Older children are less receptive to listening to stories or reading independently than children who are younger. With lots of things vying for their attention, books don't necessarily seem as inviting unless the stories are so good they can't resist.

That's exactly what today's reviewed books provide — exciting, imaginative, excellent reads that older youths won't want to put down.

The following book is available at many public libraries.“Raven Speak” by Diane Lee Wilson, McElderry Books, 2010, 252 pages, $16.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 10 and older; read yourself: age 11 to 12 and older.Fourteen-year-old Asa is the daughter of a Viking chief. Asa and her beloved horse, Rune, are accustomed to cold, harsh weather, but this winter is the worst anyone can remember.Asa's father and the men of their clan have gone to sea to find food, leaving the women and children behind with only one old man — Jorgen, the clan's wise man.With all near starvation and many sick and dying, Jorgen senses the chance to gain power. When he tries to kill Asa's horse, Asa and Rune flee and take refuge with an old woman, Wenda, who lives among ravens.Through Wenda's subtle and often gruff nudging and Asa's strong will, Asa is determined to save her clan, whatever it may take.A thrilling, fast-paced read that brims with action, adventure and danger, readers will be hard-pressed to put this book down.

Library: Prospect Community Library, 357 Main St., ProspectLibrary Director: Lou PocchiariChildren's Librarian: Jill HambleyChoices this week: “If Roast Beef Could Fly” by Jay Leno; “Clementine” by Sara Pennypacker; “Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late” by Mo Willems

The following books are available at favorite bookstores.“Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow” by Nathan Bransford, illustrated by C.S. Jennings, Dial, 2011, 281 pages, $15.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 8 and older; read yourself: age 10 and older.Sixth-grader Jacob Wonderbar and his best friends Sarah and Dexter have had one crazy day. When Jacob once again succeeds in disrupting the class while being taught by a substitute teacher, they meet a silver man in the woods who wants to trade his spaceship for a corndog.Next, the trio blasts off into outer space and accidentally breaks the universe.Encountering space policemen, space pirates and strange planets (including one where substitute teachers live) and a King and his children, their biggest problem still persists — how to maintain their friendship and find their way home.Loaded with laughs, imagination and subtle snippets of what matters most, debut author Nathan Bransford has crafted a highly original novel that's certain to appeal to reluctant and avid readers alike.“The Apothecary” by Maile Meloy, illustrations by Ian Schoenherr, Putnam, 2011, 353 pages, $16.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 9 and older; read yourself: age 10 to 11 and older.It's 1952 and fourteen-year-old Janie Scott and her family have just moved from Los Angeles to London.Janie feels like the foreigner she is until she meets Benjamin Burrows – an apothecary's son whose ambition is to become a spy rather than follow in his father's boring footsteps.Benjamin involves Janie in spying on a man from the Soviet embassy, and the two are shocked to find that Benjamin's father is somehow involved. When Benjamin confronts his father at his shop, the apothecary says there isn't enough time to explain. He insists that Benjamin and Janie hide in the cellar immediately, and directs them to protect a book that's been in their family for centuries — the Pharmacopoeia.Moments later, the apothecary is kidnapped. As Benjamin and Janie search for the apothecary, it becomes obvious that Russian spies will stop at nothing to get their hands on the ancient book. Their mission to find Benjamin's father and protect the Pharmacopoeia is fraught with great danger, and failure isn't an option — to fail will mean nuclear disaster.A masterful, multi-layered adventure that combines history, magic and non-stop action, The Apothecary delivers in every regard.Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached at her website: www.greatestbooksforkids.com.