The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II, The Kingdom on the Waves by M.T. Anderson

2009 Printz Honor Book

Octavian and his tutor, Dr. Trefusis, fled into British occupied Boston. With Dr. Trefusis becoming terribly ill, Octavian obtains a job in an orchestra entertaining British soldiers. When Dunmore issues a proclamation that states that all servants or slaves that join his army will be granted freedom, Octavian decides to join the army. Octavian placed his violin down in search of a more "devastating weapon" that would defeat those who were denying the freedom to his people. He enlists in Lord Dunmore's Ethiopian Regiment under the name Octavian Nothing. He was no longer a slave but a free man, so he thought. Through the many experiences he ecounters, Octavian realizes that serving as a soldier is just another type of bondage. Throughout the book, Octavian keeps a journal where he shares the experiences his regiment goes through attempting to gain their freedom.

The Surrender Tree by Margarita Engle

2009 NewberyHonor Book

This is a historical account of the three wars Cuba fought for independence. It is the story of Rosa, a former slave who hides in caves healing slaves, rebels and even the enemy soldiers. Rosa believed that healing was a gift from God, so she didn't charge for her services. She felt she couldn't charge for God's miracles. Rosa is a fictional character based on the real-life character, the legendary healer, Rosa La Bayamesa.

Chicken Said "Cluck!" by Judyann Ackerwan Grant

2009 Notable Children's Books

Earl and Pearl were planting pumpkins. Chicken wanted to help but she was always getting in the way. If only she could find a way to help. Chicken gets her chance when she helps shoo away the grasshoppers from the pumpkin patch. Chicken has saved the day!

Nation by Terry Pratchett

2009 Printz Medal Book

"One person is nothing. Two people are a nation." (p. 252)

Mau finds himself as the last survior of his nation. Mau's island village has been swept away by the "big wave". He thinks he is completely alone when he encounters the ghost girl, Daphne, who has survived a shipwreck. As the hours and days go by, people begin to find refuge on the island. Broken families in search of help are now under the care of Mau and Daphne. Breaking all cultural barriers(language, beliefs, and customs), Mau and Daphne find themselves searching for new ways to help the inhabitats of their new nation survive. Two strangers from two different nation join forces to create a new nation.

What Can You Do With a Rebozo? by Carmen Tafolla

2009 Notable Children's Books

This book inspires creativity using a rebozo or Mexican shawl. It recognizes the rebozo as a cultural icon. The rebozo has been and still is used by the Mexican-American culture. The bright and colorful illustrations demonstrate the vivid colors of the Mexican-American culture.

The Underneath by Kathi Appelt

2009 Newberry Honor Book

An abandoned cat about to have kittens befriends a lonely chained up hound underneath the porch of a home in the forest. An unsual friendship develops into an unsual family. A mama cat, two kittens and a hound are the members of such family. The family is safe as long as they stay in the underneath. This changes when the curiosity of a playful kitten sets off a chain of events. If only he had stayed in the underneath like he was told. Separated from his family, the only thing that keeps him going is the promise he made to his mother. He needs to go back and take care of his sister, but how if he had never been out of the underneath.

Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan

2009 Printz Medal Winner

Liga lives with her two daughters, Branza and Urdda, in her own personal heaven. A heaven in which the cruelties of the the real world are not present. After being sexually abused by her father and then raped by several town boys, Liga feels that her daughters are protected. The fantasy of this world would soon be invaded by wild bears and magic. How long would Liga be able to protect her daughters from the real world? Entering the real world would mean facing her past. A past her daughters don't know about. A past filled with sexual abuse and rape. Take a journey into Liga's heaven and then back to reality.