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An Un-Commonly Good Tween Novel

8/30/2015

 
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Ungifted by Gordon Korman (Balzer + Bray, 2012) Reading level 5.2

Donovan Curtis is not gifted.  He’s an average student and prankster who has managed to alienate almost every student and teacher in his middle school.  His most recent episode – an irresponsible and mostly unintended act that wrecks the gym during basketball season – lands him in the superintendent’s office without a prayer of redemption.  But instead of getting punished, a paperwork snafu sends Donovan to the Academy of Scholastic Distinction, a school for gifted and talented students.  It is against this fish-out-of-water backdrop that Gordon Korman weaves yet another unique and entertaining story in Ungifted.

Each chapter in this episodic, fast-paced story is told by a different first-person narrator, including Donovan, several of the gifted students and teachers, and even the superintendent.   Teachers will find this book useful when teaching different points of view.  And as the book progresses, we see almost every character grow and change.  The gifted students, motivated by the presence of an academically-average student in their midst, find creativity and courage.  Teachers are forced to examine what it really means to be gifted.  Donovan’s family members learn to see their son and brother in a new light.  And Donovan learns valuable lessons about friendship, responsibility, and commitment.

It’s no secret that Korman is one of my favorite tween authors.  That’s probably because his books usually tell a new story.  Let’s face it: many popular tween authors (and adult authors, too) write basically the same book over and over again.  The characters are different and the settings are a little bit different, but the conflict and plot structure are basically the same.  We won’t mention any names, but experienced teachers and media specialists are thinking of several examples.  And to be honest, there’s nothing really wrong with that.  But Korman doesn’t take the well-traveled path.  When you pick up one of his books, you’re going to get a story that hasn’t been told before.

The only complaint I’ve heard about this book involves the stereotypical, almost cartoony depiction of the gifted students.  To those comments, I would say that this falls within the realm of humor.  Ungifted isn’t a serious examination of classes for the academically talented.  It’s a fun book designed to entertain middle grade readers.  If a student says, “I’m in the gifted program, and nobody is that geeky,” then simply agree with them and use the opportunity to teach the concept of humorous character construction.  And point out that there’s nobody in your school quite like Donovan Curtis, either.

Having a few copies of Ungifted in your library or classroom gives you the opportunity to provide your students with a story that’s never been told before.  Recommend this book without reservation to your tween readers.  Put it alongside the dozens of Gordon Korman books already in your collection.

Making Peace with your reading program

8/30/2015

 
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Rewarding Your Accelerated Readers by Keith Kyker (Third Stream Press, 2014)

Warning: this is a shameless promotion of a book that I wrote recently.  :)

If you work in an elementary or middle school, you probably have access to Accelerated Reader or Scholastic Reading Counts.  Librarians and reading teachers typically have a love-hate relationship with these programs.  We love the fact that it generates interest in reading, but loathe the candy bar rewards and pie-in-the-face stunts that are often used to reward students who read books.  We find ourselves at odds with bribing students to read; something that is good for them and something that we love.


But what if we changed the emphasis from prizes to awards?  What if we set goals for every student of every reading ability, and honored the students who achieve those goals?  What if we give every student an opportunity for success as an individual, and as a member of a group?

When I worked as an elementary library media specialist in Florida, I created such a system.  Last year I wrote a book, Rewarding Your Accelerated Readers, that describes my reading rewards program and serves as your guide to implement the program at your school.

Rewarding Your Accelerated Readers is published by Third Stream Press, and is available on Amazon.com in soft-cover and eBook formats.  If you’re ready to take your AR or Reading Counts program to the next level, then give it a try.  Click here for purchasing information.


Tough Questions.  Difficult Answers.

8/30/2015

 
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The Jacket by Andrew Clements (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2003) Reading level 4.1

A couple of weeks ago I reviewed the anti-bullying book The Revealers and lamented that in the 12 years since the book’s original publication, school bullying has remained an issue.  The same can certainly be said for The Jacket, Andrew Clement’s short novel about racial prejudice.

Phil Morelli, a white 6th grader confronts a younger African-American student wearing a unique jacket that looks remarkably similar to one owned by his Phil’s little brother.  Phil’s accusations, and his realization that he’s made an insensitive mistake, lead him to question his own views about race.  Would he have jumped to the conclusion that the jacket was stolen if the younger boy was white?

Well-known author Andrew Clements tackles this sensitive, timely topic with grace and tact.  By keeping the story “small” – limiting it to a couple of days in the life of a handful of characters – Clements allows the reader to manage the big questions about racism.  Phil actively challenges his assumptions and asks himself questions he’s never considered.  The reader can follow along and silently ask the same questions.  The Jacket provides an opportunity for discussion on every page.

Readers looking for a book in the vein of Clement’s other popular books, including Frindle, Landry News, or Lunch Money will be disappointed.  The Jacket is more of a discussion guide wrapped in a short story.  At 90 pages (with about 20 full-page illustrations) the book may attract reluctant readers looking to fulfill a quick reading obligation – but that too will probably lead to disappointment.  The Jacket would be extremely useful to teachers and counselors exploring race relations with middle school students.  But beyond that, it’s place in a library collection is limited.

Buy a copy of The Jacket for your library, and be prepared to field a variety of responses.  Make teachers and your school guidance counselor aware of this discussion-starting resource.


Save $20 on Books

8/29/2015

 
Now through September 1st at 10 AM you can save $20 off your order of $60 or more at Book Outlet.

The promo code that you need is on the first page of their web-site.  If you like to read, or if you have tween readers who devour books, then this is a great chance to save on Book Outlet's already "Read-iculously Low Prices!"  When I worked as a library media specialist, I used Book Outlet extensively to fill-in "holes" in the collection and buy multiple copies of popular titles.  Get a box of books today!  Click here for the web-site.

Reading Aloud To Your Students

8/17/2015

 
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As we begin a new school year, I want to issue a challenge to all of my fellow teachers in the upper-elementary and middle school grade levels: read to your students.  More specifically, select a novel and read to your students a few minutes each day.

A few years ago I returned to the classroom after 15 years working as a library media specialist.  The outstanding school where I worked had 10 minutes built into the middle of the school day for reading.  As teachers, we had the freedom to use that time for literacy activities at our discretion.  I decided that I would read to my students.  I continued this practice for the four years that followed, and I never regretted my decision.  Dozens of students over the years told me that they really looked forward to hearing me read to them every day.  In fact, as the year progressed I “gained” several students who joined my class (with their teacher’s permission, of course) for our daily 10-minute reading session. 

There’s plenty of research to document the power and effectiveness of reading to students of every age, and I won’t restate it here.  Your school literacy coach and media specialist can provide that documentation.  Here are my tips for a successful in-class read-aloud program.

Selection.  Selection.  Selection.  Selecting a good book for your read-aloud is a critical component to your success.  Find a book with a quick-paced plot, with the characters going somewhere and doing something.  Avoid multi-page scene descriptions or long philosophical discourses.  Short chapters work best, and provide a natural stopping point.  (My favorites are at the bottom of this post.)

Avoid scary books that may be too intense for some of your students.  I also don’t read-aloud books that have recently been made into movies (with the exception of The City of Ember, which was made into a movie that almost nobody saw.)  And stay away from books with characters suffering from terminal illnesses; chances are you have a student whose family is going through similar circumstances.  In other words, we want this to be a fun, adventurous experience. 

Your school library media specialist and literacy coach can help you choose a great read-aloud for your class.  You may be able to find a book that relates to your subject matter.  This isn’t too hard for social studies teachers, who will find a good selection of historical fiction in most libraries. 

Read the Book First.  You should read the entire book before sharing it with your class.  Don’t just run to the library, grab something, and start reading.  Big Mistake! – and some teachers can testify to that!  You really don’t want any surprises as you read to your students.  Some teachers skip-over embarrassing parts, but I would advise against that as well.  Chances are, a student has checked-out the book from the library and is reading along with you.  They will raise their hand and say, “Hey Ms. Jones, you skipped the good part!”  Fortunately, you can finish a tween book in one evening, and you’ll probably know pretty soon if there’s a part that eliminates a book from consideration.

Be Prepared to Provide Context.  As you read the book, think about the places and items mentioned that your students may not understand.  For example, one year when I read Island of the Blue Dolphins I made a quick PowerPoint using images that I found on the Internet. 

Read Every Day.  You will be tempted at times to skip daily reading.  Maybe you want to get in a few extra minutes of instruction, or you just don’t feel like reading aloud.  Resist the urge.  By reading every day, you’re telling your students about the importance of reading.  Read on!

Consider Accountability.  When I read to my class, we had free reading time, and I was teaching an elective (digital photography.)  I didn’t really feel a need to generate a grade based on my daily reading.  But, if you’re taking instructional time and/or you’re a core-course teacher, you might want to make a quick assignment based on your daily reading.  Students can keep a daily journal with characters, settings, and plot points.  You can write one upper-level question on the board and give the students a couple of minutes to respond in their journals, or on a notecard that you collect.  (For example, “Why do you think Sally tore up the note she found in her locker?” or “What do you think Joe should do with the wallet he found?”)  

Don’t Allow Disruptions.  Make sure that your students know that your read-aloud is an important part of your class.  Pencils should be down.  Cell phones should stay in the bookbag.  Beware of earbuds that have crept into ears.  Additionally, you might have a few students who moan, or roll their eyes when you start reading – reactions familiar to parents and middle school teachers.  “Do you have to read today?”  Smile and dive in. 

Get Into It!   Make sure that you’re using the appropriate amount of energy to keep your students’ attention.  Don’t expect to mumble your way through the book.  Vary your pitch, your pace, and your volume.  Make notes in the margins indicating especially dramatic or humorous parts of the book.  And yes, I practiced those parts.  When the mystery is solved or an important detail is revealed you need to create that drama with your voice.  I’ve actually had the teacher next door peek into my room as I yelled dialogue from a read-aloud.  (Sorry about that – didn’t mean to interrupt your silent reading time.)

Have Fun.  As a teacher, you can model reading as a fun, rewarding activity.  This is your chance to create a love of reading in your students.  Don’t be surprised if your students start sharing their books with you, and suggest the book to read next.

Here are books that I enjoy reading aloud to middle school students.

The “On the Run” series by Gordon Korman.  Six books.  The first book is Chasing the Falconers.  (This is my favorite read-aloud series.)  The books are short, and it is one big story.  Plan to read them all, in order.

The “Kidnapped” series by Gordon Korman.  Three books.  Takes place after "On the Run," with the same characters.

Dovey Coe by Frances O'Roark Dowell

Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix

The City of Ember by Jeanne Duprau (Make copies of the puzzle and let students solve as you read.)

Escaping the Giant Wave by Peg Kehret

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (recommended for older tweens)


A Still-Relevant Discussion Starter

8/16/2015

 
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The Revealers by Doug Wilhelm (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003) Reading level 3.7

It has been a dozen years since Doug Wilhelm’s landmark book about school bullying, The Revealers, was released.  Fortunately it’s still in print.  Unfortunately, it’s still needed, and relevant as ever.

The Revealers centers around three middle school students who are bullied by schoolmates in different ways at Parkland Middle School.  Russell suffers physical bullying and intimidation off campus at the hands of an older, snarling, cigarette-smoking boy.  Catalina, the new girl in town, is the subject of cruel rumors started by the popular girls clique.  And awkward, dinosaur-loving Elliot has been the target of playground and hallway bullying as long as anyone can remember.  Together they form an unlikely trio to battle bullying at their school using the e-mail function of the school’s computer network.

From a “tween reading” standpoint, the book is serviceable but not tremendously engaging or entertaining.  Most readers will find something familiar about the bullying episodes.  The plot moves along at a moderate pace.  Although our bullied heroes learn to stand up for themselves, we don’t get the feeling that they’ve grown a lot, or that they have a new perspective on their predicaments.  Many readers will recognize the plot resolution scenario when it’s first presented about half-way through the book.  The use of technology is a key element, and a few text changes in the next edition would improve the book.  For example, a student brings a file to school on a computer disk – a technology that most middle schoolers today have never used.  Today’s students would put the file on a USB drive, upload it to the cloud, or Bluetooth it to their phone. 

As teachers and guidance counselors have realized, the value of The Revealers becomes clear when the book is used as a springboard for discussion on the topic of bullying.  Most students will find at least one character with whom they can relate.  The current Square Fish imprint includes useful discussion questions, and additional material from the author.  Any middle school seeking to address the problem of bullying in schools should consider The Revealers as a resource.  School and classroom libraries would also do well to keep a copy on the shelves.


Electrifying Tween Series

8/16/2015

 
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Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans (Simon Pulse/Mercury Ink. 2011) Reading level 3.5 and Michael Vey 2: The Rise of Elgen by Richard Paul Evans (Simon Pulse/Mercury Ink 2012) Reading level 4.0

Fourteen-year-old Michael Vey doesn’t seem to have a lot going for him.  He’s an average student in a non-descript Idaho town.  His father died when he was young, and he and his mother struggle financially.  He has Tourette’s Syndrome, which causes him to gulp and blink when under stress.  He’s bullied by older kids, and can’t seem to get the attention of his crush, a beautiful cheerleader.  Despite these challenges, Michael maintains a positive outlook, buoyed by his smarticle best friend Ostin.  Oh – and Michael Vey can shock people.  Really.  With electricity.  ZAP!!!

The Prisoner of Cell 25 is the first volume of an exciting, page-turning series penned by popular adult author Richard Paul Evans (The Christmas Box, The Locket, A Step of Faith.)  Evans brings his writing talent to the tween audience, and the results are sparkling and fresh.  This is a series that reluctant readers will devour, and established readers will embrace.

In The Prisoner of Cell 25, Michael comes to terms with his electrical ability.  And wouldn’t you know it ?.... that cute cheerleader has a super-power too!  When Michael and Taylor (the cheerleader) research the phenomenon online, it triggers a series of events that leads them to California (where else?) and a special school with a dozen super-powered teens.  The school is run by the benevolent Dr. Hatch who lavishes them with expensive clothes, jewelry, electronics, and entertainment.  Of course, there’s something sinister beneath the surface, when Dr. Hatch asks for something in return.

The second book in the series, Rise of the Elgen, picks-up right where the first book ends.  We find Michael leading a rag-tag group of super-powered teens in a quest to rescue Michael’s kidnapped mother.  She’s being held as bait by the evil genius Dr. Hatch as part of his plot to take over the world, because, well, that’s what evil geniuses do.  The search takes Michael and his group, The Electroclan, to the jungle of Peru where they must rescue Mom from Hatch’s secret compound. 

As the reader navigates through the first two books in the series, the tone moves from light-hearted to mysterious to downright treacherous.  Rise of the Elgen has a few comical scenes, but the mission has little chance of success.  Dr. Hatch’s malevolent displays are a bit over-the-top, but not more gratuitous than you would find in comic books, movies, and video games aimed at this age group.  For this reason, the series is more appropriate for the middle grade and above audience. (Note: be careful when tagging these books for your AR program.  The reading level is grade 3 and 4 due to the quick pacing and dialogue.  But they are too intense for most students that age.)

The joy of the series so far is in Evans’ ability to tell a rollicking story.  I dare you to find a boring chapter or scene in either book.  Even though the Electroclan has 10 members, the reader feels like they know each character.  Especially satisfying are the situations in which the Electroclan members combine their abilities to accomplish things none could do on their own.  And the inclusion of three team members who have no superpowers makes the story more real for the reader.  I will never be Michael Vey or Taylor, but if I am courageous and resourceful, I just might be Ostin or Jack.

Make no mistake – the books in this series probably won’t make it onto any teacher’s summer reading list.  Don’t expect gold stickers on the cover or state awards – unless it’s a “student choice” award.  But the Michael Vey series could certainly be the start of a lifelong reading habit.  And that alone is worth inclusion in school and classroom libraries.  Buy several copies, promote them, and watch them fly off the shelf.

Note:  books 3 and 4 in the series are also available, and book 5 is scheduled for release September, 2015.   



Changes on the Home Front

8/4/2015

 
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Shooting the Moon by Frances O'Roark Dowell (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2008) Reading level 5.3

Twelve-year old Jamie Dexter is a United States Army brat, and proud of it (HOO-ah!)  She’s our narrator in Frances O’Roark Dowell’s Shoot the Moon.  She’s traveled the world with her father, the colonel (whom she calls “Colonel,”) her mother, and TJ, her brother five years her senior.  Along the way she’s internalized the abstract concepts of duty and honor and sacrifice. But in the summer of 1969 TJ enlists in the Army and goes to Vietnam, leading the entire family to question their military lives. 

For Jamie, it’s the summer before 8th grade, and she fulfills her sense of duty by volunteering at the base recreation center.  She sweeps and empties ashtrays, but there’s really not much to do.  Private Hollister, a soldier about her brother’s age, manages the rec center, and the two begin a summer-long gin rummy game that frames their conversations about life and war.

TJ is quickly shipped to Vietnam to serve as a medic.  He sends rolls of film to Jamie, with instructions to develop and print them.  Another soldier teaches Jamie photo processing skills using the rec center darkroom, and she sees the war through her brother’s camera lens.  The first few rolls feature beer-drinking soldiers, exotic plants, and pretty nurses.  But as the summer progresses, the subject matter turns darker – wounded soldiers, chaotic after-battle scenes, and frightened civilians.  Jamie’s ideas about war evolve with each roll of film she develops.  She grows to see the complexity and unpredictable nature of conflict, which leads her to question her identity.  At one point she muses,

“… I knew that if I wanted TJ home, then I had lost my good feelings about the war forever.  I had lost the excitement that used to get me so wound up I could hardly calm back down again for hours.  I lost the green Army men under the shady trees and the thrill I felt when I imagined being an ambulance driver in a combat zone.  I lost hooah and combat ready, sir.  And when you got right down to it, if I lost all those things, I had practically lost my own self.”


Dowell’s examination of Jamie is sensitive and thoughtful.  Jamie’s a smart kid, and a thinker.  She’s comfortable figuring out things for herself, and not afraid to come to terms with her feelings.  Dowell provides a good cast of supporting characters, including Private Hollister who dreads going into battle, and war-weary Sergeant Byrd.  Jamie’s developmentally-delayed friend Cindy, whose brother is also in Vietnam, is an unlikely sounding board for Jamie.  Cindy accepts her brother’s peril, because he’s a soldier – he’s supposed to go to war.  Jamie longs for such simplicity.

Francis O’Roark Dowell is an accomplished writer, and Shooting the Moon displays her skill.  One of her earlier books, Dovey Coe, is one of my favorite tween books.  But Dovey Coe – a coming of age story wrapped in a murder mystery – has a layer lacking from Shooting the Moon.  Sure, we get to know Jamie and her family, and we witness a pivotal time period in Jamie’s development, but the book feels more like a working character study than a complete novel.  There’s lots of character, but not much plot.

Still, Shooting the Moon is a good addition to any middle school library or classroom collection.  Certainly, the book is a great tool for teaching characterization and voice.  Thoughtful students will enjoy reading it, and will likely seek other titles by this talented author.


An Action-Packed Robin Hood Re-Boot

8/2/2015

 
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Will in Scarlet by Matthew Cody (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2013) Reading level 5.5

What do you (and your students) think about when they hear the name Robin Hood?  Bows and arrows, a green costume, and a band of “merry men?” If you think a little longer, you’ll probably recall Sherwood Forest, the Sheriff of Nottingham, and “Rob from the rich and give to the poor!”  And if we’re honest, we’ll admit that most of our knowledge of Robin Hood comes from the movies; maybe your Robin Hood is Errol Flynn, Kevin Costner, or a cartoon fox.  In any case, it’s reasonable to assume that somewhere there’s a definitive book called “Robin Hood” that contains the official canonical legend.


And that’s where it gets fuzzy.  The earliest Robin Hood stories were ballads, sung or recited for audiences, many never written down.  The oldest known Robin Hood ballad dates back to the late 1400’s, and the setting for most Robin Hood ballads is 200 years before that.  In some ballads, Robin Hood robs from the rich and gives to the poor.  In other ballads he robs from the rich…and keeps it.  There may or may not be a group of Merry Men.  He’s an archer or a swordsman, a lover or a fighter, a hero or an outlaw, a nobleman or a yeoman.  The formalized legend that most of us are familiar with congealed in the 1800’s.  No one person created Robin Hood. 

So, when Matthew Cody takes his turn by setting Will in Scarlet against a Robin Hood backdrop, he does so without apology – and rightly so.  The result is and intensely satisfying adventure story, appropriate for tweens, yet entertaining for readers of all ages.

You probably know that Will Scarlet is a supporting character in the Robin Hood legend – one of the Merry Men, often younger than the rest, refined in demeanor and appearance.  Cody takes us back a few years.  Will is the 13-year-old son of Lord Shackley, who’s off fighting the crusades with King Richard.  The standard political intrigue of most Robin Hood stories forces Will to flee the manor, and he eventually meets up with an early edition of the Merry Men.  Some familiar characters are there, and others are not.  That’s okay.  This is Will’s story.

And quite a story it is.  There’s plenty of swordplay and action.  The plot moves quickly, and the characters – both heroes and villains – are well-defined and well-developed.  The descriptions of the castle, the forest, and the dungeon are vivid but not overdrawn.  The chapters are short, and I dare you to read just one!

Cody brings new perspectives to many of the characters, and those changes make them appealingly human.  Robin Hood a lovelorn alcoholic?  Check.  Much the Miller’s Son is really a girl?  Believable.  Sir Guy a violent, manipulative brute?  It works.  Will Scarlet is made to wear a red coat in mockery?  Makes sense.

Although not gory, the violence in Will in Scarlett probably makes it inappropriate for elementary grade readers.  There’s a bit of innocent nudity when Will discovers Much’s true gender.  A few profanities exist, but they are contextually relevant.

Recommend Will in Scarlet to all readers interested in an action-packed adventure story with well-developed characters.  Last time I checked, that included a large percentage of middle school readers.  Will in Scarlet certainly fits the bill.

Note:  I sincerely hope this book gets a decent cover at some point.  The cover for the original hard cover is cartoony and a little childish.  The paperback cover is more mature, but features Will using a bow – a weapon Will is painfully incompetent with in the story.


Lots of Action - Not Enough Focus

8/2/2015

 
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Double Vision by F.T. Bradley (Harper Collins, 2013) Reading level 4.3

Twelve-year-old Lincoln Baker is a creative and impulsive prankster. But when his latest stunt leaves him expelled from school and his parents facing a million-dollar lawsuit, Linc realizes he’s probably gone too far.  Then two government agents appear at his doorstep and make him an offer he can’t refuse:  complete a quick, covert mission and all his troubles will be erased.  Everyone has a “twin” someplace in this world, and Linc’s twin is teen super-spy Benjamin Green.  And Benjamin Green is missing.  Disappeared.  Off-the-grid.

Double Vision, the first book in a trilogy by F.T. Bradley, sends Linc to Paris for a quick meeting with nefarious characters.  These bad guys have kidnapped a Frenchman who knows the location of a secret stash of Leonardo da Vinci paintings.  Among those paintings is the “evil Mona Lisa,” a painting that incites violence among those who see it.  (Naturally, this painting has been stored in a secret location for the last 500 years.)  The bad guys want to sell the lost da Vincis and use the evil Mona Lisa to rule the world. 

Linc’s task is simple – impersonate Benjamin Green at a meeting with the bad guys.  But of course, nothing goes as planned and Linc finds himself involved in international espionage.  Accompanied by the daughter of the kidnapped man, Linc tries to stay one step ahead of the bad guys and Green himself, who has reappeared with his own motives. 

Great concept.  Mediocre execution.  Pandora, the government spy agency seems disorganized and inept.  When Linc’s first mission falls apart, Pandora wants to send him back home to save money (huh?)  The clues left by the kidnapped man require a lot of luck to find and follow.   The “evil Mona Lisa” concept is mentioned once or twice, but never developed.  More than once, the bad guys have the chance to kill Linc, but they just don’t.  And despite the physical similarities, almost nobody believes that Linc is Benjamin Green.

Probably the most disappointing aspect of the book for me is the character of teen spy Benjamin Green.  He is pompous and boorish.  No one in the book likes him, and I can’t imagine readers liking him either.  A partnership between the disciplined Benjamin and the impulsive Linc – with each character complimenting and learning from the other – would make this an entertaining “buddy” story.  Instead, Benjamin comes off just a little more likeable than the villains, refusing to even acknowledge Linc.  As a reader, I kept waiting for Benjamin to wink at Linc, letting him know it’s all just part of the superspy act.  But he doesn’t, and it’s not.

The tween spy novel genre is probably tremendously difficult to write, and I applaud Bradley for her efforts.  Part of the challenge would be to create dangerous situations without moving the tone of the book into young-adult territory.  Double Vision certainly creates these situations for Lincoln Baker.  But the haphazard plot, undeveloped elements, and dearth of likeable characters makes this book ultimately unsatisfying.


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    Keith Kyker

    ...is a library media specialist, a classroom teacher, and an avid reader.  He enjoys reading books written for middle school readers, so that he can recommend books to his students, and just because they are fun to read!


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