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West Virginia
34 Reviews
(3)
4-6
After one of their two mothers dies, sisters Fella and Zany sneak off from Fella's grandmother's West Virginia house to scatter Mama Lacy's ashes in their hometown of Asheville. This 2004–set road trip novel is full of mishaps and funny sisterly arguments; it also sheds light on logistical and emotional complications prior to legal same-sex marriage.
Reviewer: Shoshana Flax
(4)
4-6
Calico Chapter Books: Monster Hunters series.
Illustrated by
Scott Brundage.
Gabe, Tyler, and Sean continue to help Gabe's older brother document proof of mythical and legendary monsters for his internet show Discover Cryptids; these outings take the crew to the Ozark Mountains (Howler), West Virginia (Mothman), South Carolina (Swamp Lizard), and Saskatchewan (Turtle Lake). Despite the stilted dialogue, reluctant or struggling middle-grade readers will appreciate the large print, short chapters, and action-packed illustrations. Review covers the following Calico: Monster Hunters titles: Hunt the Ozark Howler, Meet the Mothman, Spot the Swamp Lizard Man, and Track the Turtle Lake Monster.
Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo
(3)
4-6
Following his father's death, Lucas leaves his beloved West Virginia mountain home to attend a Virginia camp for kids who have recently lost a parent. There he learns the (real-life) legend of the Beale treasure, and sets out to find it with his new friends. A solid wilderness adventure novel with a believable protagonist, quirky characters, and humor to offset insightful depictions of grief. The actual Beale ciphers are appended. Author's note.
Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan
(3)
YA
Just as he's getting his punk band up to speed, Appalachian seventeen-year-old Rob is diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that threatens to extinguish all his dreams. Bouncing back and forth between his illness, his band, and the usual teen concerns (dating, drug use among his friends), this dramatic memoir of teen illness and angst writ large hits all the right notes.
Reviewer: David Elzey
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Hyewon Yum.
After moving from Korea to West Virginia, narrator Hee Jun, his younger sister, and his grandmother have difficulty adjusting, especially since they don't speak English. Without minimizing their troubles, the story shows how, given time and help from others, they manage to make themselves at home. Expressive watercolor illustrations, featuring occasional Korean speech balloons, help illuminate the immigrant experience.
Reviewer: Martha Sibert
(4)
K-3
Our Great States series.
These graphically pleasing travel guides highlight the top ten sites to see and things to do in each place. Although the brochure-like books may include quickly outdated information, kids will appreciate the engaging second-person narratives and many photos. A map and facts are appended. There are ten other fall 2015 books in this series. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Our Great States titles: What's Great About Vermont?, What's Great About West Virginia?, What's Great About Kentucky?, What's Great About Alaska?, What's Great About New Jersey?, and What's Great About Michigan?.
Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello
(2)
4-6
Daniel and little sister Erica find their dilapidated West Virginia home, the woods, and their new school unwelcoming and frightening. As kids tease them with scary tales, Erica becomes progressively stranger. The narrative alternates between Daniel's first-person perspective and a third-person-omniscient narrator who lets readers into the mind of witch "Old Auntie." This creepy tale skillfully weaves in--and honors--the oral tradition of folklore, legends, and ghost stories.
Reviewer: Julie Roach
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
September, 2015
(3)
4-6
In the Appalachian Mountains in 1908, eight-year-old Minna longs to go to school, but her family can't afford a warm coat for her commute. After Papa dies from black lung, local quilter women offer to put together a patchwork coat for Minna. Accompanied by pencil drawings, the gentle, affecting narrative (an expansion of Mills's picture book The Rag Coat) is enriched with details of Appalachian traditions.
Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello
(2)
4-6
This is a Christmas story, but first Marty, Shiloh, and their family must get through a new-school routine, Halloween, and Thanksgiving--and a drought and subsequent wildfire. As in the three previous books centered on now-iconic dog Shiloh, the rural West Virginia setting and the relationships among its inhabitants are warmly but unsentimentally drawn. The conclusion provides the best kind of heartwarming: earned.
Reviewer: Roger Sutton
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
November, 2015
(3)
4-6
In The Summer of Hammers and Angels, Old Red led his community to rebuild Delia and Mama's house. But neither Delia nor that community can "fix" Old Red, now diagnosed with Alzheimer's. This sweet story, with a nice hint of romance, shows Delia's attempts to keep Red tied to the present through his gardening and create his legacy by cultivating his heirloom plants.
Reviewer: Betty Carter
(4)
YA
Michael and Patrick have been battling zombies since Halloween. Pretending the apocalypse is a video game, Michael coaxes his autistic little brother through various traumas. When they encounter a zombie-worshipping cult and take up with a gang of survivors, the rules unravel. The game setup adds a fresh layer to this zombie novel but doesn't quite redeem the contrived resolution.
Reviewer: Shara Hardeson
(4)
4-6
When Bitty, a brave little miner canary in Depression-era West Virginia, learns about a mechanical way to detect gas in the coal mines and save lives of miners and their canaries, he flies to the state capital to make his case. Interesting historical content and likable talking-animal characters are hampered by a slow-moving midsection, coincidences, and lengthy side stories.
Reviewer: Robin L. Smith
(3)
4-6
In 1950s Appalachia, sixth-grader Lydia Hawkins chronicles the challenges she faces when she is sent away to live with her uncle while her mother is in jail. Reflecting on the secrets in her family's past, Lydia considers how she can change the future. The compelling characters and setting as well as a dialect-rich voice create a pleasing story about overcoming adversity.
Reviewer: Juliet S. King
(2)
4-6
On the run from Mom's ex-boyfriend, twelve-year-old cupcake-baker Foster McFee and her mother wind up in Culpepper, West Virginia. There, an odd assortment of characters come together like the ingredients for one of Foster's favorite confections. Foster's engaging first-person voice and interior monologue, the solid characterization, and the nimble, fast-paced prose are the quality ingredients of this tale cooked to perfection.
Reviewer: Dean Schneider
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
January, 2011
(4)
4-6
Delia was barely hanging on already, but when a lightning strike lands her mother in a coma, Delia is left on her own to bring their ramshackle house up to code or face eviction. She learns to rely on small-town neighbors--and faith--rather than foundering on her own. Although the dialogue can be stilted, the book's message of community and cooperation is strong.
Reviewer: Norah Piehl
(2)
YA
Yolen's "Snow White" retelling is set in Depression-era West Virginia. There's a calculating Stepmama and a magic mirror; the magic is tilted toward Pentecostal snake handling and country beliefs. The details of Appalachia, including narrative language both poetic and specifically mountain, are so authentic and true that, far from being a European-tale offshoot, this branches out into its own American inflorescence.
Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
January, 2012
(3)
4-6
Delana, who is being raised by her grandfather and aunt in the early 1900s, has very little knowledge of her family history. When her aunt dies, Delana begins to discover secrets about her relatives that change the way she views them forever. Period photographs are interspersed throughout the text, helping further draw readers into this engaging story.
Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear
(3)
4-6
Though she's "not a dog person," Charlotte's the one who cares for the family pet. Recognizing the pup needs a better home, Charlotte raises money to buy it from her dad, then gives it to a rescue organization. Charlotte's complicated family (Mom with postpartum depression, Dad drawn quite unflatteringly) shakes up what might otherwise have been a conventional dog story.
Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang
(3)
4-6
In a short introduction, narrator Jimmy sets the scene: 1940s West Virginia railroad town. Seven episodic chapters follow, one per year, describing events on Halloween night. Jimmy and his brothers make mischief and investigate a long-standing "secret society," and Jimmy bonds with his railroad foreman father. The stories are by turns humorous, sad, uplifting, and nostalgic.
Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang
(3)
YA
Remy plans to leave his sleepy West Virginia Appalachian Mountain home and relocate to Pennsylvania with his college-bound girlfriend. After an artist comes to town, Remy faces what it means to move away from the life he's always known. Teens will relate to Remy's struggle to find his own identity while still remaining loyal to the people and places he loves.
Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear
34 reviews
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