The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

How unlikely a story! A magician striving to impress his audience conjures an elephant that comes crashing from the heights of the theatre to land in audience, the animal crippling a wealthy patron as it lands. A fortuneteller predicts that Peter, an orphaned boy, will find his lost sister when an elephant leads him to her. Working her own magic to suspend disbelief, DiCamillo weaving simple words into a rich fabric of beautiful, poignant interaction among strangers and friends who are all seeking the most unlikely of outcomes. Hauntingly illustrated by Yoko Tanaka, The Magician's Elephant is both a wonderful read-aloud for elementary age kids and a charm-filled title for independent middle-grade and teen readers. Just beautiful. (Candlewick)

Witch Child by Celia Rees

Witch Child by Celia Rees

Having spent so many of my college years reading historical fiction (not the "romance" historicals - smile!), i was slow to pick up Celia Rees' teen fiction take of American colonial persecution of women perceived as witches. I am SO VERY glad that I overcame that reticence because Witch Child is an amazing foray into this time period with all the paranormal flavors that young adult readers are hungry for lately. In a nutshell, the book is essentially a collection journal entries and diaries of fourteen-year-old Mary who is spirited away from England in the wake of her grandmother's execution for witchcraft. The writings are being presented by an 'Alison Ellman' circa modern day. The story of Mary's efforts to leave her history behind as she strives to fit into a 17th century frontier community are met with both success and suspicion. Her inherent gifts rise to meet the wildness of the country and its native people, while superstitious and cult-like community elders work to paint her as a witch. The story and the writing are refreshingly original and addictive. And just when you think the tale is winding down, the last entries in the book set-up a wildly innovative twist that propels the story toward the second book in the series. Highly recommended! (Teen - Adult, Candlewick Press)