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Children's Books

SUMMER OF THE WAR
(Harper/Collins Publishers)
A New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age 2007

"Summers on Turtle Island have always been perfect, an idyllic escape for Belle (14), her three siblings, parents and grandparents. Then, on Dec. 7, 1941, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor changes everything. Her dad goes to work for Ford; her mom returns to medical practice; and their teen cousin from Paris comes to stay while her father works for the London Embassy. When Caroline arrives wearing a dress and high heels, it's clear she doesn't want to be there. Belle, Emily (12), Nancy (8) and Tommy (10) try hard to include her in their summer fun and activities, but Caroline refuses to join in, remaining sulky, condescending and obstinate. There are two wars that summer - one remote and one on home territory - and both change the lives of everyone on the island. Radio broadcasts keep the overseas war distant, but the intensity of the familial one ties them all in knots. Their paradise of summer living loses its innocence when the harshness of war transforms the days that become bygone. Beautifully measured writing captures the smell of lake breezes, the feel of sand between the toes and emotional ache of growing up when change is not a choice. An exception portrayal of how war becomes personal. (Historical fiction. 10-14)"
-Kirkus Reviews - June 1, 2006
Starred Review

Selected as a 2007 Michigan Notable Book by the Library of Michigan.

The story of the building of the Mackinac Bridge through the eyes of a young boy whose family is changed forever by the miracle of the bridge.

Selected as a 2007 Michigan Notable Book by the Library of Michigan.

"*Starred Review* Gr. 6-9. In 1919, in British East Africa, 13-year-old Rachel loses her missionary parents during an influenza epidemic. When she turns to her English neighbors for help, the Pritchards ensnare her in a shocking, ill-intentioned scheme. Disowned by their rich family, they had planned to send their daughter, Valerie, to her grandfather's estate in England, where they hoped she would help to reinstate them in his will. But after Valerie dies of flu, the Pritchards conspire to send Rachel, whose red hair matches their daughter's. Whelan creates deliciously odious villains in the Pritchard parents, who, with shameless cunning, manipulate Rachel into agreeing to the deceit. Once in England, Rachel and the perilously ill grandfather develop a surprisingly strong, affectionate bond, although she continues the ruse, believing that "one more disappointment would be the end of the old man." In a straightforward, sympathetic voice, Rachel tells an involving, episodic story that follows her across continents and through life stages as she grapples with her dishonesty, grief for her lost parents and life in Africa, and looming questions about how to prepare for grown-up life at a time when few choices were allowed to women. Gentle, nostalgic, and fueled with old-fashioned girl power, this involving orphan story will please fans of Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic The Secret Garden (1912) and Eva Ibbotson's The Star of Kazan (2004). Gillian Engberg Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved."
-Booklist

In December of 1850 the Detroit River would soon freeze, making it very dangerous for boats to travel. A young boy, Louis, has been put in charge of things while his father is away. Before his father left, he instructed his son: "If you don't know what to do, just do what you think I would have done."

Soon thereafter, Louis is approached by runaway slaves who ask him for help. They need Louis to row them across the river to freedom in Canada. His father had ferried many runaway slaves across the Detroit River and despite the dangers, Louis knew he had to try...

"Beautifully written and illustrated, this story of compassion and courage excels in every regard."
- Kendal Rautzhan, Times Argus

ANGEL ON THE SQUARE
Katya's mother is a lady-in-waiting to the Russian Empress Alexandra. Katya and the four Romanov princesses are best friends. When the Russian revolution comes Katya follows the princesses into exile and danger. Harper Collins. 

"The book's uncomplicated language and sensitive treatment of political issues make it an excellent, vibrant introduction to the cause and effects of Tsar Nikolai's fall."
- Publisher's Weekly, starred review

THE IMPOSSIBLE JOURNEY
"Grade 5-8-A story of a remarkable 13-year-old girl in an extraordinary situation. In Leningrad, in 1934, Marya sets out to find her parents, former aristocrats and therefore considered enemies of the state, who have been sent to Siberia as political prisoners. The spirited and resourceful girl learns that her mother is in Dudinka, a thousand miles from the closest railway station. Marya obtains a few rubles selling her paintings (like Kobe in Homeless Bird [HarperCollins, 2000], Marya's creativity helps sustain her) and buys tickets for herself and her younger brother. At the railway station, the children begin their trek, finding their way by following a river. Some strangers help them; others conspire to report them to the authorities for placement in an orphanage. A tribe of reindeer-herding Samoyeds helps the children to their final stop, where they are reunited with their mother. Papa, who had been sent to a coal-mining camp in Siberia, eventually joins them, but is so ill that he dies at the first signs of spring. Life under Stalin as seen through the eyes of Marya is accessible, well researched, and culturally insightful. Lyrical prose conveys both a strong sense of place and the tremendous love that compels the protagonist to find her parents. Once again, Whelan successfully explores territory less traveled in books for young people."
- School Library Journal

BURYING THE SUN
Haunting images and elegant prose make this companion to THE IMPOSSIBLE JOURNEY (2003) and ANGEL ON THE SQUARE (2001, both HarperCollins) memorable. Fourteen-year -old Georgi; his sister, Marya; and their mother live in a tiny apartment in Leningrad in 1941. As news of the advancing German army reaches the city, the residents prepare for war. Georgi, too young to join the Russian army, volunteers wherever he can. Marya works at the Hermitage museum, where she helps pack up the magnificent artwork to be shipped away for safe storage. As the German army moves closer and begins bombing, the city is cut off from outside help. Starvation sets in, and the citizens struggle to survive. Georgi, his family, and their neighbors keep hope alive by focusing on the beauty in the world, from a chocolate bar to a Shostakovich symphony. The lilting writing style and simple dignity of the characters help construct an honest portrait of everyday life in extraordinary circumstances. From the renowned poet Ann Akhmatova reading her work on the radio to the first bloom of spring flowers, the people cling to visions of light. The plot moves quickly, but the bleak details of war are not spared. The staunch determination of the human spirit will linger with readers long after the last page is turned.
-School Library Journal, Kristen Oravec, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Strongsville, OH

THE TURNING
Grade 5-8 – In 1991, 17-year-old Tanya is encouraged by Vera, another member of the Kirov Ballet Corps, to defect with her when the company goes on tour to Paris. The teens come from very different backgrounds. Veras family is rich because of her fathers black-market dealings, while Tanyas family has sacrificed a lot to allow her to pursue her career. Vera dreams of escaping the dreariness of the Soviet Union, while her friend thinks of defection as a way to better her career opportunities. Tanyas personal turmoil and worries are mirrored in the political strife around her. Her grandfather has always been politically active, and there is great excitement as the struggle for power goes on between Gorbachev and Yeltsin. The author has successfully woven Russian history and culture into this story. The day-to-day rivalries and jealousies among the dancers at the ballet company are believable enough to hold readers interest. There is also a hint of romance between Tanya and a talented artist who is almost caught up in some illegal art dealings to pay for the medicine his grandmother needs. Tanya is an appealing, thoughtful heroine whose political awareness and integrity will encourage readers to think about the importance of decisions and events in peoples lives. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
– School Library Journal, Carol Schene, Taunton Public Schools, MA
 

When a girl is born to Chu Ju's family, it is quickly determined that the baby must be sent away. The law states that a family may have only two children, and Chinese tradition favors a son. Chu Ju, cannot bear to see the little sister she has grown to love, snatched away and sold like a bag of rice. Knowing that one girl must leave, Chu Ju sets out in the middle of the night. This is the story of her journey.

"This tale of survival and self-sacrifice gives a graphic portrayal of authoritarian rule, but emphasizes the strength and compassion that can endure even among the oppressed, and Whelan skillfully shows the perspectives of both sides of the revolution. Facing one test of courage after another, Chu Ju emerges as a heroine worthy of the rare and coved rewards she ultimately receives." 
- Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"Whelan tells a compelling adventure story, filled with rich cultural detail, about a smart, likable teenage girl who overcomes society's gender restrictions. Whelan skillfully weaves in just enough cultural context to support the story, while her atmospheric details bring the green Chinese landscape to life. Most compelling, though, is brave, clearly drawn Chu Ju, who intelligence and good heart win her land, family respect, and the promise of romance by the story's end." 
- Booklist

"Well-done and convincing." 
- Kirkus Reviews
 

When Louisa May Alcott was eleven her parents joined a very strange group of people at a farmhouse called Fruitlands. The diary Louisa kept during the eight months at Fruitlands is missing. Based on research about those months I have imagined what that diary might have said about Louisa's amazing adventures.

"This is a fine work of fiction, very close in spirit and substance to young Louisa's experience at Fruitlands. Gloria Whelan's moving portrayal is quite true to the original."
- Mary Fuhrer, Historian, Fruitlands Museum

"Louisa May Alcott fans will relish this fictionalized account of the Alcotts' stay at Fruitlands, a commune where Louisa's transcendentalist father and his friend, Mr. Lane, conducted their famous not-so-successful experiment in forming a perfect community. Whelan (Angel on the Square; Homeless Bird) structures the novel as two sets of journal entries based on Alcott's own childhood writings: "In the first diary there will be Louy, who will try to be just what Mother and Father would wish. In the second diary there will be Louisa, just as she is," a sentiment that will vindicate many an aspiring journal-keeper. The first-person narratives vividly capture Louisa's wit, feisty spirit and keen powers of observation. The entries intended to be shared with Mother and Father give an insightful overview of the commune, where naturalists gather to better themselves. They also reveal Louisa's ongoing struggle to meet the commune leaders' lofty expectations by denying herself small pleasures: "We are not to eat butter or rob hens of their eggs. I will do all that I can to curb my coarse appetites." The private pages, penned in the "leafy tent" of a willow tree, offer a more in-depth study of commune members' quirks and foibles, as well as a hilarious critique of others' success or failure in practicing what they preach. ("Mr. Lane is to teach us all how we are to improve ourselves. I watched him stride along behind the wagon, his head up, his chin out, proud of walking while others rode. He did not look like a man who thought he needed improvement"). This meticulously researched book reveals Whelan's depth of understanding and respect for Louisa May Alcott's outlook on life and relationships with others. A marvelous companion for the 19th-century author's semi-autobiographical Little Women. Ages 8-12."
- Publishers Weekly
 

"K-Gr. 2. A beautiful story with threads of family devotion, love of learning, and perseverance woven through it like shot silk. There's no money on the northern Michigan farm for Holly to get a warm coat and boots, but Holly's mother is determined that Holly will go to school during the winter. From spring to late summer, Holly and her mother pick wild strawberries, Juneberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries, turning them into jam and jelly. Holly works alongside her mom, noticing the waxwings and the dragonflies, the milkweed and the butterflies. Dad builds a stand to sell the wares; just before school, the shelves are empty and the money jar is full. The coat keeps Holly warm while waiting for the school bus, but so do the memories of summer picking and the scent of berries. The artist has painted each picture full-bleed across the double-spreads, using saturated colors and patterned brushstrokes that echo Impressionists Monet and Renoir as well as the golden landscapes of Dutch painters."
- Booklist

When HOMELESS BIRD received the National Book Award, the citation read: Married at thirteen to a dying child she has never met, Koly's life begins a seemingly inexorable downward spiral into poverty and isolation. Abandoned in a city of temples and white sari-clad widows, the young girl discovers opportunities and savage crimes, those who would help her and those who would exploit her. It is a story told clearly and without extravagance, somber in the way in which it confronts the difficulties of Koly's life, and yet radiant with hope.

"An insightful, beautifully written, culturally illuminating tale of universal feelings in which riches are measured not in monetary wealth but in happiness and personal fulfillment."
- Booklist, starred review

In the summer of 1812 British soldiers take over Mackinac Island from the Americans. Mary O'Shea and her sister, Angelique, her brother, Jacques and their friend White Hawk must find a way to survive the rugged land and the enemy soldiers. FAREWELL TO THE ISLAND and RETURN TO THE ISLAND tell the further adventures of Mary and her friends. Harper Collins.

"Whelan's smooth writing, vivid characters, and strong sense of place make this a good choice for libraries and a treasure for ones in the Great Lakes area."
- Booklist
 

"The plot gets most interesting when a suitor Mary met in her travels comes to the island with the hope of winning her heart; readers are kept wondering if the adventurous young woman will choose to stay home with a native leader or return to England to marry the son of a duchess."
- School Library  Journal
 

NEXT SPRING AN ORIOLE
"Historical fiction at an easy level is hard to find, and this pioneer story...is smoothly written and  appealing."
- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books.

NIGHT OF THE FULL MOON
"Told in simple, well-chosen language, this satisfying chapter book is as captivating as any in the Little House series, but far more exciting and thought-provoking with regard to historical events and the not-so-rosy aspects of settler-Native American relations."
- Publishers Weekly, starred review.

SHADOW OF THE WOLF
About the Oriole series: "Whelan uses action, integrated plot, and well-drawn characters to  personalize history."
- School Library Journal