9 TO 12 YEARS OF AGE
"Dolphin Freedom," by Wayne Grover. Illustrated by Jim Fowler. Greenwillow. 112 pages. $15. Wayne Grover has done it again. The author continues his sagas of that incomparable creature, the dolphin. This time, the problems is poachers. Underlying a gripping plot is the marvelours mystery of dolphin intelligence and communication. As one character wonders, "Who knows what is possible?"
"Grand Fathers," edited by Nikki Giovanni. Henry Holt and Co. 256 pages. $17.95.
"Outrageous grandfathers. Quieter, wise grandfathers. Strict grandfathers. Easy-going grandfathers. Poems, recipes, even songs about grandfathers. Tributes to "Pop Pop," "Nana" -- yes, Nana is a grandfather from India. "Bampy," "Old Silent One." Nikki Giovanni gathers them all here. You'll love your own grandfather even more after reading this one.
"In the Shade of the Nispero Tree," by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand. Orchard Books. 192 pages. $15.95.
"What's important in life? Tere, a Puerto Rican fourth-grader, puzzles this gargantuan riddle as she chooses between the simple, colorful public school she's just left and La Academia, a socially upward school she now attends. You'll see how she and her family sort out their feelings about values -- issues most of us have to face from time to time. You'll probably appreciate the detail here -- Hispanic flowers, foods and festivals.
"The Iron Giant - 30th Anniversary Edition," by Ted Hughes. Alford A. Knopf. 80 pages. $16.
Ted Hughes was an ace poet, as you can tell at every turn in this science fiction fantasy. For instance, Mr. Hughes introduces his Iron Giant this way: "His giant head, shaped like a dustbin as big as a bedroom, slowly turned to the right, slowly turned to the left ..." It's a tale chockful of suspense, humor, hope and lots and lots of, yes, irony.
"The Spring Tone," by Kazumi Yumoto. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 176 pages. $16.
Tetso has the blahs.
In this well-written, sometimes disturbing book, we follow the young Japanese girl as she copes and matures. We share her repeating nightmare where she turns into a monster. We share her better dreams that occur as she comes to terms with adolescence and new responsibilities. It's a good book for anyone who's hying the hurdles of growing up.
"Through the Eyes of Your Ancestors," by Maureen Taylor. Houghton Mifflin. 96 pages. $16.
"A personal detective story. ... Family history is an adventure because you never know what will be uncovered." With these challenging words, Maureen Taylor launches her fascinating how-to about geneology. Exploring your family background can lead anywhere and everywere -- from the World Wide Web to Maryland's own American College of Heraldry. Here's a clear, simple guide to an odyssey you may find impossible to resist.
Barbara Hall is a frequent contributor to Appleseeds, a children's magazine. She also writes for the New York Times, Boston Globe and Philadelphia Inquirer.
Pub Date: 03/07/99