Jacqueline Turner Banks: author of YA novels

[Sitaram]

http://www.myspace.com/theinkisblack

Egg-Drop Blues
by Authors: Jacqueline Turner Banks
Released: 13 June, 2003
ISBN: 0618250808
Paperback

Scrambled Eggs lt;pgt;This story is about two sixth grade twin brothers who have to work together to help one of them make a higher grade in science. Through out the story, Judge Jenkins is struggling with dyslexia and is having trouble in school. Jury, his twin brother does good in school but only studies get by. Judge needs to get at least a D in science and the only way is to enter in the Science Rally and place in the top three. He signs him and his brother up without asking Jury. Jury is angry, but in the end realizes that he has to help his brother do good on the project or the both of them will be sent to a private school. They compete with other school and do pretty well. Read the book and find out what happens. lt;pgt; In my opinion the book was not very good. I did not find it exciting and it did not keep my attention. Most of the book has to deal with dyslexia and all the problems that go along with it. There are a few funny parts where the brothers are fighting and the mother is messing around with them. I would recommend this book to someone who does not like adventure. I was disappointed with the ending because it leaves you hanging.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/061813199X/103-6028415-4079069?v=glance&n=283155
A Day for Vincint Chin and Me
# Reading level: Ages 9-12
# Hardcover: 112 pages
# Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (October 29, 2001)
# Language: English
# ISBN: 061813199X

Gr 4-6-Another sequel to Project Wheels (Houghton, 1993) involving a racially mixed group of sixth-grade friends living in Kentucky. Japanese-American Tommy saves his sister's deaf friend from being hit by a speeding car. The incident spurs the boy and his friends to try and build a speed bump to deter further accidents. His quest coincides with a rally his mother is planning to fight racism. The Vincent Chin of the title was a Chinese American who was beaten to death in 1982 by disgruntled Detroit auto workers, who blamed Japan for the decline in the auto industry and mistook the victim for Japanese. Tommy attempts to fit in and not be distinguished by his Asian heritage, and tries to be proud of who he is. In the end, he manages to find balance and realizes that the struggle his mother is fighting is similar to his own. The book ends with a note from the author about the real Vincent Chin and a time line of the trials resulting from his murder. The crisp writing and active plot will draw readers in.