Several of the neighborhood's watchdogs have been decapitated. Flavia, daughter of a Roman captain, and her companions Jonathan, Lupus and Nubia suspect a man whose daughter died after being bitten by a rabid dog. Flavia enjoys solving puzzles, and as matters progress the children discover that a more sinister plot is in progress.

Flavia's family are conventional Roman polytheists, favouring the twins Castor and Pollux. Her mother died years before the story starts, giving birth to twins who also died. Twelve-year-old Jonathan comes from a Jewish family. They are not welcome in the synagogue because they have become Christians and insist on forgiveness rather than retribution. We meet several other characters and situations which hint at an early Christian community in Rome. His mother has disappeared, but his sister Miriam is old enough at thirteen to be married. Flavia spends time speculating on which of the young men around her will ask her to marry him. Lupus is a young… click here to read whole article and make comments

I just love Spinelli. Even though he tells a similar story with new names and faces each time, it's the kind of story you can never hear enough of, because every time you read it you become just a little bit better.

Jake and Lily reminded me of Crash, except that the duel narrators make this one relevant for girls as well. Jake and Lily are twins who've always had a special connection, but as they get older Jake starts to pull away. While Lily gets closer to her long lost Poppy and struggles to cope with losing her best friend, Jake starts to hang out with the 'Death Ray' boys who entertain themselves by pestering 'goobers', people who are just too much of everything and don't even know it. Lily doesn't like the kind of person Jake's starting to become.

It's a fun read with short chapters, but most importantly kids won't be able to help… click here to read whole article and make comments

Moyo and Japera walk along a dusty road in Africa to gather with villagers under a large baobab tree. The children's anticipation mounts as they approach the enormous tree which serves as a focal point in the village's social life. It is a place for storytelling, songs and prayer, and the children wonder "who will gather today under the baobab tree?" Readers cannot help appreciating the simplicity and peaceful joy in the lives of Moyo and Japera. E. B. Lewis' watercolor illustrations capture indigenous wildlife and native dress.

Jennifer Minicus is a mother and teacher currently living in Ridgewood, NJ.

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For a full review click here.

Clare Cannon is the editor of www.GoodReadingGuide.com and the manager of Portico Books in Sydney.

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Prosper and Bo, orphans, run away from their uncle and aunt who want to separate them. The boys are caught up in a group of Venice street kids who get money by selling stolen property brought to them by the Thief Lord. Victor Getz, a detective, tracks them down and in doing so reveals the Thief Lord's true identity and becomes more and more involved with the children.

The book is nicely paced, each chapter quite short and usually switching points of view. At one level, this is just a story about a group of children and how they survive, helped by a mysterious friend. But just as that friend's secrets are revealed, and everyone is trying to come to terms with the situation, a new and unexpected plot arrives which carries the story into the realms of the fantastical. The characters are sharply drawn and real, and Venice itself is real, with flaking paint and chilly winds, yet still… click here to read whole article and make comments

Some books beg to be read aloud. Such is the case with The Silver Nutmeg, a charming fantasy story reminiscent of E. Nesbit.

Anna Lavinia, bored during the summer drought, takes a walk to see a nearby dew pond. She discovers that another world exists on the other side of that pond, and that she can reach it by jumping into the water. Once there she befriends Toby, a young boy her age. Toby shows her his side of the pond, where gravity does not exist. In spite of the differences in their two worlds, Anna and Toby find they know many of the same songs. Could it be that Anna knows someone else who has traveled through her dew pond?

Palmer Brown makes the adventures of Anna Lavinia and her friend Toby come alive with passages that are descriptive, but never tedious. The clever songs that various characters sing are amusing, as are the challenges that Anna faces, learning… click here to read whole article and make comments

For a full review click here.

Clare Cannon is the editor of www.GoodReadingGuide.com and the manager of Portico Books in Sydney.

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When we started Reading Matters in July, 2010, the staff did so with the intention of empowering parents and educators to make informed choices about books for young people. In that same spirit, we would now like to provide some tips about using this blog.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the blog is our evaluation system. Although every reviewer has a slightly different approach to grading books, here is a general guide to what the recommendation under the book title implies:

1. recommended: These books can teach children about history, culture, science, human nature, life in general, etc. Sentence structure and vocabulary are appropriate for the target audience, and characters are fairly well-developed and believable. Heroes follow a moral code or at least learn from mistakes and regret any evil done. Plots are interesting enough to keep an adult's attention. Examples of books we have recommended are The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas  and Airman.

2. highly… click here to read whole article and make comments

Three families of children enjoy themselves outdoors in general, and sailing in particular, over several holidays. In Swallows and Amazons, John, Susan, Titty and Roger Walker meet Nancy and Peggy Blackett and strike up a friendly rivalry as they go sailing in the Lake District. Come the Winter Holiday, the two sets of children are joined by the Callums, Dick and Dot, and they all enjoy winter sports for even longer than usual once Nancy gets the mumps and they are all in quarantine.

Like those of their near-contemporary, The Chronicles of Narnia, the twelve books in the Swallows and Amazons series have continued to be published since their first editions between 1930 and 1945. Yet this series' penetration among young people is far less, which is a shame. Both series have a perennial value both for their storytelling and for the virtues they assume. I've no idea what the statistics are overall, but a quick survey of boys at… click here to read whole article and make comments

Everyone needs a purpose in life, and Salvi's "raison d'être" is to slay dragons. Having killed the last one in his kingdom, he tries to settle down to a quiet life of retirement as an innkeeper. Perhaps it is the routine of daily life or the nagging of his wife, but somehow Salvi cannot find fulfillment serving ale in his small village.

An opportunity for adventure arises when young Owain appears at his door looking for assistance in rescuing his beloved Robyn. Salvi remains aloof until he learns that Robyn is guarded by an army of dragons. Unable to resist the temptation to return to his former career, Salvi sets off with Owain. Along the way, they collect various and sundry companions who, in spite of their bickering and competition, prove essential to the group's mission.

Robert Bresloff's tongue-in-cheek fairy tale adds just the right measure of realism to the classic damsel in distress story. He takes nothing for granted.… click here to read whole article and make comments