ADVENTURE
BIOGRAPHIES
Black Eagles: African Americans in Aviation. Jim Haskins 7 “Shares the heroic history of notable African Americans who have made names for themselves in the field of aviation, from the first days of flight to the space program, and describes their struggles with racism.”
A Boy Called Slow: The True Story of Sitting Bull. Joseph Bruchac “Anxious to be given a name as strong and brave as that of his father, a proud Lakota Sioux grows into manhood, acting with careful deliberation, determination, and bravery, which eventually earned him his proud new name – Sitting Bull.”
Titanic Adventure. Jennifer Carter “Titanic Adventure will bring to a generation of women and men fascinated by the Titanic legend an electrifying, new, true story of suspense, danger and the legendary ocean liner under the seas.”
Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors. Piers Paul Read “Acknowledged throughout the world as one of the most moving and inspiring stories of survival ever written. In 1973, sixteen Uruguayan boys, most of them teenagers, were rescued after surviving for ten weeks in the snowy wastes of the high Andes after their plane crashed. This is the story of their survival, told with compassion, understanding, and restraint.”
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years. Sarah Louise Delany, Amy Hill Hearth (Contributor), A. Elizabeth Delany “In a memoir that's as much a historical record as a testimony to two extraordinary women, the Delany sisters recall their remarkable lives, spanning more than a century of the African- American experience. Daughters of the nation's first black Episcopal bishop, Sadie and Bessie Delany, born in 1889 and 1891 respectively, are a living record of the seismic changes that have affected black America since Emancipation.”
Return With Honor. Scott O'Grady “Return With Honor is the incredible story of U. S. Air Force Captain Scott O'Grady, who, while helping enforce the NATO No-Fly Zone in Bosnia, managed to survive a missile impact at 27,000 feet and then elude the relentless pursuit of the Bosnian Serbs. An inspiring tale of courage, faith, and patriotism.”
Eastern Sun, Winter Moon: An Autobiographical Odyssey. Gary Paulsen + Revealing war’s horrors through a child’s eyes, this autobiography by an award-winning author recounts his life in the ravaged Philippines of World War II, discussing his alcoholic mother, his absent father, and his initial intimate relationships.
A Few Perfect Hours. Neufeld, Josh* “Autobiographical cartoonist Josh Neufeld takes us on a dramatic tour of places as exotic and different as Thailand, the former Yugoslavia, and New York City. Highlights include Neufeld and traveling companion Sari Wilson on a volunteer expedition to an organic farm in Malaysia, their stint as extras in a Chinese-language Singaporean soap opera, a train trip through war-torn Serbia, and a near-disastrous cave adventure in Thailand.”
POETRY / SHORT STORIES
Been to Yesterdays: Poems of A Life. Lee Bennett Hopkins “A young boy’s dreams, experiences, and feelings are captured over the course of a single tumultuous year of his life, in a collection of autobiographical poems.”
Laughing Out Loud, I Fly. Karen Barbour 7 “Juan Felipe Herrera writes in both Spanish and English about the joy and laughter and sometimes the confusion of growing up in an upside-down, jumbled-up world-between two cultures, two homes.”
I, Too, Sing America. Catherine Clinton “This powerful, diverse, and unique collection spans three centuries of poetry in America as poets bare their souls, speak their minds, trace their roots, and proclaim their dreams in the thirty-six poems compiled here.”
The Way Home. Leigh Sauerwein “Written in a plain lyrical voice, six short stories set in the West evoke the struggles of frontier life, past and present. In one a couple escape from slavery disguised as mistress and servant. The relationships between whites and Native Americans form the core of several stories, including "The Dress," in which a young girl discovers that her aunt is ostracized by the settler community because she had been kidnapped by the Cheyenne and had loved her Indian husband and children before she was "rescued." In another tale the great Apache warrior Geronimo is paraded for his captors but loses none of his dignity.”
The Last Frontier. Shepard, Jill “Alaska magazine attracts more than its share of out-of-state readers because of its articles about men, women, and children in real-life survival situations. The Last Frontier collects the best writing and the most incredible true stories from 65 years of this respected magazine. The range of the stories is impressive, covering events as disparate as earthquakes, tidal waves, grizzly and polar bear attacks, influenza epidemics, hunting and fishing adventures, and, believe it or not, Japan's World War II invasion of the Aleutians.”
What Would MacGyver Do? Vaughan, Brendan “You’re driving on a deserted road when your car dies. Your cell phone isn’t getting service. All you have on hand are a gum wrapper and a wire hanger. Or maybe you’re living in a building without central air conditioning in July. You can’t afford an AC; all you have access to are a fan and a bucket of water. In such times of desperation, many have called upon the symbol of all that is inventive, the hero who awed thousands with his cool, quick wit: What would MacGyver do? they ask.. “
NONFICTION
Heroic Climbs: A Celebration of World Mountain Climbing. Chris Bonington + “Heroic Climbs, encompasses the rich, broad spectrum of adventure that is mountain climbing, in a remarkable selection of first-hand accounts (most never before published) by forty of the foremost mountaineers of modern times.”
Accidental Explorers. Rebecca Stefoff “Profiles the colorful figures who intended to find something different from what they found, made marvelous discoveries by accident, or, like Chang Ch’ien, a kidnapped Chinese diplomat in the second century B.C., did not intend to travel at all.”
Heroism in America. Gerald Leinwand “Leinwand offers a baker’s dozen politically correct profiles of people he calls “Heroic Exemplars,” including Chief Joseph, Haym Solomon, Cesar Chavez, and Rosa Parks.”
Women of the World: Women Travelers and Explorers. Stefoff, Rebecca “As women in America and Europe struggled for emancipation, these nine women explorers and travelers challenged the traditional ideas about women in the world. They loved travel, not just as a passage to a destination but as an experience of life with its own meaning and magic.”
Amazing Escapes. Gunning, Thomas G. * “Presents nine tales of escape and survival against great odds including escapes from a great white shark, a volcanic eruption, and a fall through a thunderstorm.”
Into Thin Air. Krakauer, Jon + “Into Thin Air is a riveting first-hand account of a catastrophic expedition up Mount Everest. In March 1996, Outside magazine sent veteran journalist and seasoned climber Jon Krakauer on an expedition led by celebrated Everest guide Rob Hall. Despite the expertise of Hall and the other leaders, by the end of summit day eight people were dead. Krakauer's book is at once the story of the ill-fated adventure and an analysis of the factors leading up to its tragic end.”
Shadow Divers. Kurson, Robert “When shipwreck divers John Chatterton and Richie Kohler first told their story to Kurson, he thought it was too good to be true: "two ordinary men who confronted an extraordinarily dangerous world and solved a historical mystery that even governments had not been able to budge." To say the least, it "raised intriguing possibilities." But in Kurson's capable hands, their discovery of a mysterious German U-boat, over 200 feet beneath the surface of the Atlantic Ocean, explodes off the page with spellbinding suspense.”
FICTION
The Princetta. Bondoux, Anne-Laure “Princess Malva—the Princetta of Galnicia—flees her kingdom and an arranged marriage, only to find herself betrayed by the very man who promised to help her. Orpheus is the son of a sea-captain-turned-pirate and is determined to make a name of his own commanding a ship in Galnicia’s royal armada. But when their paths cross on the high seas, so do their destinies. Together the Princetta and Orpheus will travel to edges of the Known World and beyond . . . a journey from which only one of them will return alive. Shipwrecks, shark attacks, barbarians, and mysterious archipelagos await readers in this lavish fantasy-adventure written by one of France’s most celebrated authors.”
The Telling Pool. Clement-Davies, David “David Clement-Davies's novel transports teen readers back to the days of Richard the Lionheart's medieval crusade. Young Rhodri Falcon and his Crusader father become entangled not only in a war of religious zealotry but also in the schemes of a seductive sorceress who literally steals men's hearts.”
Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods. Collins, Suaznne “Gregor is summoned back to the Underland by the terms of a second prophecy. Spies have reported the sighting of a Rat King, a character who has been legendary since the Middle Ages. Recognizable by its tremendous size and snow-white coat, the Rat King is destined to bring a World War to the Underland. Gregor eventually comes face to face with the Rat King, and to his surprise, he finds he is unable to kill this creature. Is Gregor right to follow his heart?”
The Naming. Croggon, Alison “Maerad is a slave in a desperate and unforgiving settlement, taken there as a child when her family is destroyed in war. She doesn't yet know she has inherited a powerful gift, one that marks her as a member of the noble School of Pellinor and enables her to see the world as no other can. It is only when she is discovered by Cadvan, one of the great Bards of Lirigon, that her true identity and extraordinary destiny unfold. Now, she and her mysterious teacher must embark on a treacherous, uncertain journey through a time and place where the forces of darkness wield an otherworldly terror.”
Maniac Magee. Jerry Spinelli “Maniac Magee is a folk story about a boy, a very excitable boy. One that can outrun dogs, hit a home run off the best pitcher in the neighborhood, tie a knot no one can undo. "Kid's gotta be a maniac," is what the folks in Two Mills say. It's also the story of how this boy, Jeffrey Lionel "Maniac" Magee, confronts racism in a small town, tries to find a home where there is none and attempts to soothe tensions between rival factions on the tough side of town.”
Terminal Man. Michael Crichton + “Harry has a problem. Ever since getting in a car accident, he's suffered from "thought seizures," violent fits in which he attacks other people. But there's hope: he can become part machine himself, undergoing "Stage 3," an experimental procedure implanting 40 electrodes deep in the pleasure centers of his brain. The surgery is successful, and blissful pulses of electricity short-circuit Harry's seizures. That is, until Harry figures out how to overload himself with the satisfying jolts and escapes on a murderous rampage.”
Nathan’s Run. John Gilstrap 8 + “Twelve-year-old Nathan Bailey, accused of murdering a cop, becomes the target of a nationwide manhunt even as a vicious hit man is closing in on him. Orphaned and alone, Nathan has no one to count on but himself. To stay alive he must exercise all his agility and cleverness. And ironically, he finds his honesty is the best weapon he has as he wins the trust of a radio talk-show host and pleads his case to a rapt nation.”
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase. Joan Aiken “Bonnie and her cousin Sylvia are left in the care of a cruel governess when Bonnie's parents go on a sea voyage. Besieged by wolves without and the terrible Miss Slighcarp within, how are they to reclaim Willoughby Chase?”
After the First Death. Robert Cormier + “Events of the hijacking of a bus of children by terrorists seeking the return of their homeland are described from the perspectives of a hostage, a terrorist, an Army general involved in the rescue operation, and his son.”
The Chocolate War. Robert Cormier + “A high school student is first a hero and then a victim in this novel of intimidation and the misuse of power.”
Coma. Robin Cook + “The book Coma by Robin Cook is about four medical students entering the frightening world of medicine. The time is February of 1976. Three of the medical students are male and one is female. During this time it was very hard for a female to succeed as a doctor. It is even harder for Dr. Susan Wheeler to succeed when she uncovers a horrifying deception. The deception she uncovers is that a select group of senior doctors at Memorial Hospital are taking patients into minor surgery and making sure they do not ever wake up. The patients are not dead; they are in a comatose state. Susan discovers they are harvesting the patients' body parts. She is out to uncover the truth even if it means risking her own life.”
Watership Down. Richard Adams “The story follows a warren of Berkshire rabbits fleeing the destruction of their home by a land developer. As they search for a safe haven, skirting danger at every turn, we become acquainted with the band and its compelling culture and mythos.”
Tales from Watership Down. Richard Adams “The long-awaited sequel picks up the story with a collection of delightful rabbit legends, nonsense tales and adventures of the lovable Watership characters.”
The Eagle of the Ninth. Rosemary Sutcliff 8 “In A.D. 125, a young Roman centurion must recover the infamous Ninth Legion's missing symbol of honor, the eagle standard, during the Roman Empire's occupation of Britain. Sutcliff presents an unusual blend of stirring action and poetic symbolism in an authentic story from long ago.”
A Boy at War. Harry Mazer 7 “Adam lives with his military family in Honolulu and tries to make friends with the civilian kids at his high school. Tension builds over his father's implied order that Adam must not have friends whose parents are Japanese and Adam's growing camaraderie with Davi Mori. Adam, Davi, and their Hawaiian compatriot, Martin, are fishing in Pearl Harbor when the Japanese planes begin to fire.”
The Last Mission. Harry Mazer “In 1944, as World War II is raging across Europe, fifteen-year-old Jack Raab dreams of being a hero. Leaving New York City, his family, and his boyhood behind, Jack uses a false I.D. and lies his way into the U.S. Air Force. From their base in England, he and his crew fly twenty-four treacherous bombing missions over occupied Europe. The war is almost over and Hitler near defeat when they fly their last mission, a mission destined for disaster.”
The Girl in the Box. Ouida Sebestyen + “My name is Jackie McGee. I am the girl who disappeared. Listen to the news. See if other pieces of paper are scattered nearby. Maybe if you yell really loud I can hear you and yell back. I am not making this up. Please help! Left in an underground cement room by an unknown captor, Jackie has food and water but no light or human contact. She does not know when--or if--her abductor will return.”
Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment. Patterson, James “After the mutant Erasers abduct the youngest member of their group, the "birdkids," who are the result of genetic experimentation, take off in pursuit and find themselves struggling to understand their own origins and purpose.”
The Smugglers. Iain Lawrence “In this companion to The Wreckers, Lawrence provides more adventures on the high seas. When John Spencer's father buys the mysterious black schooner, the Dragon, the 16-year-old boy is excited until he learns that he must make the ship's maiden voyage without his father. Among the bad omens: Mr. Spencer survives a shooting, and later, the captain they've hired is killed. Mr. Spencer is convinced that their affairs are looking better when he hires the colorful Captain Crowe to assume command of the vessel. No sooner does the schooner sail out of harbor than Crowe changes course unexpectedly, claiming that he has new orders. Crowe, of course, is a pirate, as are the scalawags he's hired, and in no time, John is trapped with the scurrilous crew.”
The Girl Who Owned a City. O. T. Nelson “When a mysterious plague kills everyone over the age of twelve, the children must learn how to survive. Ten-year-old Lisa organizes the children of her neighborhood into a cooperative community in an effort to combat the looting, violent gangs that range the streets.”
Voice in the Wind. Kathryn Lasky “This book takes place in New Mexico, where the telepathic Starbuck children are taken to their father's work. There they meet a young Indian maiden’s ghost whose past reveals the truth of the present. They must collect the pieces of pottery of an ancient pot before they fall into the wrong hands.”
Well of Sacrifice. Eboch, Chris “Eveningstar Macaw lives in a glorious Mayan city in the ninth century. When the king falls ill and dies, the city begins to crumble. An evil high priest, Great Skull Zero, orders the sacrifice of those who might become king, including Eveningstar's beloved brother. Suspicious of the High Priest's motives, Eveningstar attempts to save her brother, thus becoming an acknowledged enemy of the High Priest. Condemned to be thrown into the Well of Sacrifice, Eveningstar must find a way not only to save her own life but to rescue her family and her city from the tyrannical grasp of Great Skull Zero..”