The Freak Observer by Blythe Woolston

Age Range:  Young Adult

The Freak Observer is a book about coping with tragedy and finding a way to move past it. The main character, Loa is 16 years old and had to deal with several tragedies over the last few years.  The book begins with her coping with the death of her friend, Esther.  Loa was there when Esther died and has a hard time moving past this incident.  After Esther's death, Loa is given an extra credit project in her physics class to make up points.  She chooses The Freak Observer (Boltzmann Brain) and the book often refers back to this assignment.  Throughout the book Loa also explains the tragedy that occurred in her own family.  Her younger sister, Asta,  had Rett Syndrome and had to be constantly cared for by each member of the family.  Asta becomes the center of the family.  Once she dies the family falls apart as each of them tries to find a way to cope and move past this death.  Loa has PTSD and cannot sleep.  When she does she has awful nightmares and dreams of the Bony Guy (death). She tries to constantly stay awake so that she does not have nightmares.  She has a relationship with her debate partner, Corey, who suddenly has to move to Europe.  He periodically sends her postcards from abroad.  Her new friendship with Jack helps her move on.

Metafiction is present in this book through the opening page to each chapter.  A physics theory typically opens the chapter that makes the reader wonder how the chapter will tie in with the theory.  The book also provokes the question about whether Loa will be alright and be able to cope with her life.  In the end, the reader gets to see a small change in Loa that gives a glimmer of hope that she will be OK.

The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan

Pura Belpre Award Winner

Age Range:  Grades 5-8

This book recently won the 2011 Pura Belpre Award.  This is an amazing work of fiction based on the life of the world-known poet, Pablo Neruda. The book has many poems throughout with unique illustrations.  The entire book is printed and illustrated with green tones.  Pablo Neruda only wrote in green ink because it is the color of hope.

The book begins with the younger years of  Neftali Reyes.  He loves books and often writes down words that he likes on scrap pieces of paper that he keeps in a drawer.  He lives in Chile with his family.  Neftali constantly daydreams and often becomes distracted.  His father works for the railroad and is very strict on the children. They all seem afraid of him and rarely see a gentle side to him.  He is very intimidating and makes Neftali focus on his studies.  His father does not value Neftali's talent for writing and poetry.  Neftali always remains true to himself and finds time, even during the summers his family would spend at the beach, to read and write.  Neftali is later sent to the university to study business.  He eventually changes his name to Pablo Neruda so that his writing will no longer bring disappointment to his family.  Neftali goes on to be one of the most well-known poets in the world.  Metafiction is present in this book through Neftali himself.  The book provokes questions and makes the reader wonder if Neftali will ever be able to escape his father and write the way he wants to be able to.  It also makes the reader think of the open imaginary possibilities about what Neftali may become one day.  The poems themselves within this book are playful and often form their own picture in the book.  It was amazing to see a glimpse of this great poet's life through this book.

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

John Newbery Medal 2011 Winner

Age Range:  Grades 5-8

This is a wonderful story that switches back and forth between Manifest, Kansas in 1936 back to the town in 1917.  Abilene has grown up with only her dad, Gideon. They move from town to town while he works railroad jobs.  After an illness, Gideon sends Abilene away to Manifest without him.  She lives with the town's interim minister, Shady.  At Shady's house she finds a box under the floorboard in her room that contains various trinkets and letters between two men, Jinx and Ned.  Abilene later finds herself having to work off a debt to Miss Sadie, who is known as a diviner.  Miss Sadie shares the story of the town back in 1917 and the story of Ned and Jinx.  Through the story, Abilene gets to know the town and the people that lived there.  Most of them were immigrants from various different countries.  Throughout Miss Sadie's story, Abilene tries to find pieces of her father and his past.  She also wonders where she belongs and if Gideon will return for her.  This book is well-deserving of the Newbery Medal.  I loved how in the end, Abilene ends up where she belongs.  This book has several qualities of metafiction.  It provokes questions throughout the entire story that Miss Sadie shares with Abilene.  The reader wonders if Jinx or Ned could have something to do with Abilene...could one of them be her father?  By switching back and forth between the present and the story of the past there is a story within a story and gives the reader a glimpse of what life was like in 1917.

The Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein

Caldecott Medal Honor Book

Age range:  Grades K-3

The Interrupting Chicken is a playful, funny book that children will love!  The water colored illustrations are bright and colorful with different shades of red, green, and browns throughout.  The story begins with the Papa chicken trying to get the little red chicken to go to bed.  The Papa chicken reads many stories to little red chicken such as Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, and Chicken Little.  The little red chicken interrupts each story with his version of the ending to that story.  Little red chicken decides to tell Papa a story when they run out of stories.  I loved the twist at the end of the book.  Children will love the little red chicken and laugh throughout this book!  Metafiction is present in this book because there are books within this one book.  The little red chicken is playful and offers a twist to the ending of each of these stories so that they can move on to the next one.  This book would also provide a great writing project where students could write alternate endings to their favorite fairy tales. 

Alchemy and Meggy Swan by Karen Cushman

Age Range:  Grades 5-8

Meggy Swann is a 13 year old girl who is sent to London to be with her father.  Meggy's grandmother is dead and her own mother is happy to see her go.  The story is set in Elizabethan London in 1573.  Meggy has bilateral hip dysplasia and must use walking sticks to get around.  Her only friend her goose, Louise, has a slipped wing and cannot fly.  Meggy's father is unhappy that she is not a boy and that she is crippled.  Her father, Master Ambrose, is an alchemist who attempts to turn metal to gold and find the elixir of life.  He is obsessed with his work and sinks all of his money into his research.  Meggy helps her father in his laboratory and runs errands for him.  Meggy is forced to virtually make it on her own in London.  Over time, she makes many friends through Roger, the Grimm family, the Cooper's family, and the Allen family.  Meggy becomes stronger and more independent as the story unfolds.  She sings and prints an original ballad to help save her father and a Baron.  Metafiction is displayed through the imaginary possibility that Meggy's father might actually find the elixir of life and also be able to turn medal to gold.  This book also provokes questions of whether Meggy will be able to make it in London with a father that does not care for her.  The transformation that Meggy makes from the beginning of the book to the end is amazing. 

Here is a link for a video where the author talks about and gives insight into this book:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/m3U9YQM746MIL0/ref=ent_fb_link

The Buddy Files: The Case of the Lost Boy by Dori Hillestad Butler

Texas Bluebonnet 2011-2012 Book

Age Range:  K-3rd grade

This is an entertaining chapter book for students in the lower elementary grades.  The Buddy Files are a series of books about a special golden retriever named, Buddy.  The book begins with King (Buddy) at the pound.  His previous family went away and after being taken care of by many different people, King ends up at the pound.  He is very upset and wants to find his former family, Kayla and her dad.  A mom and her son, Connor, have just moved into town and they come to the pound and adopt King.  They don't know he already has a name and they name him Buddy.  Buddy is excited because Connor and his mom live in the same neighborhood that Kayla did.  Connor is very homesick and decides to run away from home.  Buddy, being the smart dog that he is, helps in the search for Connor.

Matched by Ally Condie

The New York Times 2011 Best Children's Chapter Book

Age Range:  Young Adult

Below is a book trailer from "Book Trailers For All" created by Alicia Vandenbrook.

In Cassia's society, everything is chosen and decided for them. They are told what they can read, what songs they can listen to, and what they can eat.  She decided that she wants to be "Matched" and gets to wear a beautiful green dress to her match banquet.  At the banquet, she finds out that she is matched to her best friend, Xander.  They are both very excited and happy and find it a little strange that they can think differently about each other now.  The next morning, Cassia inserts her match card into the computer to find out the "official" details about her match.  After Xander's information comes up, a picture of Ky appears.  Cassia is soon contacted by an official who tells her it was all a mistake.  Cassia begins to question her match and decides to get to know Ky better.  Will she choose the safer, Xander, or will she follow her heart and choose Ky? 

This was my favorite book of the semester.  It is part of a trilogy.  The second book, Crossed, will be released on November 1st, 2011.  I can't wait! Here is a link to Ally Condie's website:  http://www.allysoncondie.com/.