The Montmaray Journals

This lovely, lovely trilogy by Michelle Cooper should thrill any student who enjoys historical fiction, in particular girls. Consisting of A Brief History of Montmaray, The FitzOsbornes in Exile, and The FitzOsbornes at War, the books are structured as the journals of Sophie FitzOsborne, a princess of the tiny fictional island nation of Montmaray, whose populace numbers less than ten in the years leading up to the Second World War. Sophie recounts the royal family's hardscrabble existence on the island in pre-war years, their exile to England because of a German takeover, and their efforts to help the Allies and reclaim their home during the war. As this nontraditional royal family, most of whom have distinct voice and character, navigates the harrowing time, Cooper includes many less-known aspects of wartime England. Sophie is an energetic narrator who incorporates her own perspective into her tales of both a teenager's coming of age and the world's struggles.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

I finally got around to reading Brian Selnick's The Invention of Hugo Cabret, unfortunately after watching Hugo, the film based on it. Obviously, there were no major surprises for me, but the book was still impressive. The Invention of Hugo Cabret, the story of an orphan who lives in a Paris subway station as its secret clock repairman in the 1930s, shows how kindness and caring can open a person's heart, in addition to being an homage to the early days of film. Told with words, drawing, pictures, and film stills, it is a tale of discovery for all the major characters, whose stories echo one anothers. For children who do not want to think too much about their material, the book is simply a good story about how a boy finds a home, with a little mystery built in. The difference between Selnick's words, drawings, and the film stills make the book attractive for a variety of different types of readers. It is ambitious for a work geared toward upper elementary and middle school readers. I plan to purchase it eventually for my children.