Avi
Bibliography

Visit the ISLMC Avi Teacher Resource File to find information about this popular author of books for children and young adults. The Internet School Library Media Center is a meta-site for librarians, teachers, parents and students. You can search the site, use an index or sitemap. Visit your school or public library for books by Avi. Remember your public library can get you books on interlibrary loan. Updated 1/21/03

[Fiction] [Biography] [Nonfiction] [Study Guides] [Media]

Fiction

Abigail Takes the Wheel. Illustrated by Don Bolognese. Harpercollins, due for pub. May 1999. An I Can Read Chapter Book.
When the first mate of the freight boat Neptune falls ill, it is up to Abigail, the captain's daughter to steer the ship up the Hudson River from New Jersey to New York City.

Amanda Joins the Circus Illustrated by David Wisniewski. Mass Market Paperback. Camelot, 1999. Ages 9-12

The two raccoon siblings join a traveling circus as clowns--Amanda for the excitement, and Philip to prove he's not a stick-in-the-mud. With the help of a monkey football league, some dastardly villains, and a real clown, the raccoons cook up the performance of a lifetime.

The Barn. Orchard Books, 1994. Ages 9-12.

His dream for an education and career dashed by his fahter's grave illness, nine-year-old Ben dreams of doing something so wonderful that his father will want to live and encourages his older siblings to help. Reviews available at Amazon

Beyond the Western Sea: Book One: The Escape from Home. Orchard Books, 1996. Young Adult.

On January 21, 1851, Maura and Patrick O'Connell are driven by a cruel English landlord from their impoverished village in Ireland. Their hope is to join their father in America. In the seething streets of Liverpool, the children share a fate played out against a cast of detectives, scalawags, and scoundrels worthy of any Victorian novel. Reviews available from Amazon
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Beyond the Western Sea: Book Two: Lord Kirkle's Money. Orchard Books, 1996. Young Adult

Driven from their impoverished Irish village, fifteen-year-old Maura and her younger brother meet their landlord's runaway son in Liverpool while all three wait for a ship to America; their fates continue to intertwine on board ship and in the New World. Reviews available from Amazon

The Bird, the Frog and the Light: A Fable. Paintings by Matt Henry. Orchard, 1994. Picture book

A frog learns the truth about self-importance when he meets a bird whose simple song brings the sun's light to the world.

Blue Heron. Simon & Schuster, 1992. Young Adult.

Maggie, almost 13, is visiting her father, his young wife, and their new baby during her summer vacation. At the lake near their rented cottage, Maggie observes a great blue heron. She identifiies with the solitary bird, then makes the startling discovery that someone is trying to kill it. While grappling with this mystery, she must also deal with strange new conflicts in her family. Reviews available at Amazon

Bright Shadow. Aladdin Paperbacks, 1994; Aladdin, 1988, c1985. Ages 9-12.

Five wishes can save a suffering kingdom--but at a high price to 12-year-old Morwenna, who is responsible for granting them.

Captain Grey. pa. Reissue ed. Beech Tree, 1993; Morrow, 1993; Pantheon, c1977. Young Adult.

In 1783, young Kevin Cartwright is kidnapped by the mysterious Captain Grey and his crew of pirates after they kill Kevin's father and sister. Reviews available at Amazon

Christmas Rat. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000.

Alone in his apartment during Christmas vacation, eleven-year-old Eric finds himself caught in a battle between a strange exterminator and the rat he wants to kill.

City of Light, City of Dark: A Comic Book Novel. Illustrated by Brian Floca. pa. Orchard Books, 1993. Ages 9-12.

What do a meter maid, a candy maker, a see-ing eye dog, the Statue of Liberty, the New York subway system, and the ceiling of Grand Central Station have in common? Featured billing in this amazing and amusing modern-day myth. Available at Amazon

Crispin: the Cross of Lead.1st ed. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2002.

Devil's Race. Illustrated by Lisa Falkenstern. Trophy Chiller. pa. Harper Trophy, 1995; Lippincott, c1984. Young Adult

Sixteen-year-old John Proud discovers his family's dark secret--in 1854 an ancestral namesake confessed to being a demon. Now John finds himself battling his ancestor who is trying to use John for an evil purpose.

Don't You Know There's a War On? 2001.

In wartime Brooklyn in 1943, eleven-year-old Howie Crispers mounts a campaign to save his favorite teacher from being fired.

Emily Upham's Revenge: A Massachusetts Adventure. Beech Tree, 1992. Ages 11 up

During the summer of 1875, a seven-year-old girl is sent to live with her wealthy uncle in Massachusetts and becomes involved in a suspicious bank robbery.

Encounter at Easton. William Morrow, 1994. Ages 9-12

Robert and Elizabeth, the two fleeing indentured servants from Night Journeys, still seek their freedom in a thrilling adventure story set in American Colonial times.

Ereth's Birthday. Illustrated by Brian Floca. New York: Avon Books, 2000.

Feeling neglected on his birthday, Ereth, the cantankerous old porcupine, sets out looking for his favorite treat and instead finds himself acting as "mother" to three young fox kits.

Escape from Home. pa. Camelot, 1997; Orchard, 1996. Ages 9-12

Twelve-year-old Patrick and 15-year-old Maura O'Connell are fleeing the ravages of Ireland's potato famine and heading for America. In the port city of Liverpool, their paths cross with 11-year-old Lawrence Kirkle, who is running not from poverty, but from his father, a wealthy English lord. Together, they head for America, hotly pursued by friend and foe alike. Teacher's guides. Reviews available at Amazon

The Fighting Ground. Illustrated by Ellen Thompson. Harpercrest, 1984. Young adult

At thirteen, Jonathan goes off to fight in the Revolutionary War and discovers the real war is being fought within himself. Reviews available at Amazon

The Good Dog. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2001.

McKinley, a malamute, is torn between the domestic world of his human family and the wild world of Lupin, a wolf that is trying to recruit dogs to replenish the dwindling wolf pack.

The History of Helpless Harry. With pictures by Paul Zelinsky. 1st Beech Tree ed. Beech Tree, 1995; Pantheon, c1980.

Eleven-year-old Harry's adventures involving lies, attempted robbery and the possibility of murder begin when his parents go away for a few days and he is left in the care of young Miss Trowbridge.

Lord Kirkle's Money. pa. Camelot, 1992; Orchard, 1996. Ages 9-12

Book 2. Beyond the Western Sea. Continues adventures of 15-year-old Maura, her brother Patrick and a young stowaway as the sail to America.

Man from the Sky. Illustrated by David Wiesner. pa. Beechtree, 1992. Ages 9-12

In an almost failproof scheme, a man parachutes from an airplane with a large amount of money, only to be seen by a dyslexic boy who has a reputation for seeing things in the clouds.

The Man Who Was Poe. pa. Camelot, 1997; Orchard, 1989. Ages 9-12.

Having lost his mother and sister, Edmund finds himself alone, except for a mysterious stranger who follows him through the shadowy city, and although Edmund is wary of the man, he agrees to help him in exchange for tips about his family's whereabouts. Reviews available from Amazon

The Man Who Was Poe. [Audiocassette]. Read by David Case. Audio Bookshelf, 1995.

The Mayor of Central Park. Illustrated by Brian Floca. New York: HarperCollins, 2003.

Oscar Westerwit, a squirrel who loves baseball and Broadway musicals, fights back when a gangster rat named Big Daddy Duds and his thugs move uptown in the 1900, invade Central Park, and evict Oscar and his animal friends from their homes.

Midnight Magic. Scholastic, 1999.

In Italy in 1491, Mangus, the magician, and his apprentice are summoned to the castle of Duke Claudio to determine if his daughter is indeed being haunted by a ghost.

Night Journeys. Reprint ed. pa. Beech Tree, 1994. Ages 9-12.

In the spring of 1768, twelve-year-old Peter, living with his Quaker guardian near the Pennsylvania-New Jersey border, joins in the search for two runaway indentured servants.

No More Magic. Knopf, 1990. Avi Reissues. Ages 9-12.

When Chris's old bicycle disappears, he becomes convinced that magic is at work, so he and his friend, Muffin, set out to find the missing bike and prove to their skeptical parents that magic is real.

Nothing But the Truth: A Documentary Novel. Orchard Books, 1991; Lg print ed. Thorndike, 1994. Ages 9-12.

A ninth-grader's suspension for singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" during homeroom becomes a national news story. Reviews available at Amazon

Nothing But the Truth; And Related Readings. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, 1997.

Includes the novel plus, Honest Don Marquis; -- Nice Old-Fashioned Romance, With Love Lyrics and Everything William Saroyan; --Journey to Washington Daniel Inouye;--For LB, 1943-1993 Cecil Morris; --Catbird Seat James Thurber; Star-Spangled Banner Francis Scott Key.

Perloo the Bold. Illustrated by Marcy Reed. Scholastic, 1998. Ages 9-12

In this antic page-turner by a peerless storyteller, rabbit-like creatures called Montmers are enemies of the coyote-like Felbarts. Among the Montmers is mild-mannered Perloo, whose fate is to bring peace to the two tribes.

A Place Called Ugly. Flare, 1996. An Avon Flare Book; Pantheon, c1981. Young Adult

At the end of summer, 14-year-old Owen refuses to leave the beach house which has been his family's summer home for ten years and which is scheduled for demolition.

Poppy. Illustrated by Brian Floca. Orchard Books, 1995. Ages 9-12.

Dreaming of romance and chivalry, Poppy, the deer mouse, refuses to believe that the mouse-eating horned owl Mr. Ocax truly protects her family, and she befriends the vegetarian porcupine Ereth. Reviews available at Amazon

Poppy and Rye. Illustrated by Brian Floca. Avon, 1998. An Avon Camelot Book. Ages 9-12

Sequel to Poppy. Still grieving over her lost beau Ragweed, Poppy decides to bring the sad new to his family and arrives in time to help Ragweed's family overcome great trials. Reviews available at Amazon

Prairie School. Pictures by Bill Farnsworth. New York: HarperCollins, 2001. An I Can Read Chapter Book.

In 1880, Noah's aunt teaches the reluctant nine-year-old how to read as they explore the Colorado prairie together, Noah pushing Aunt Dora in her wheelchair.

Punch With Judy. Illustrated by Emily Lisker. pa. Reprint ed. Camelot, 1997. An Avon Camelot Book; Bradbury, 1993. Ages 9-12.

An outcast eight-year-old boy, orphaned by the Civil War, is taken in by the owner of a traveling medicine show and despite the doubts of others, years later confirms the man's faith in him.

Ragweed. Illustrated by Brian Floca. Avon, 1999.

Ragweed, a young country mouse, leaves his family and travels to the city where he finds excitement and danger and sees cats for the first time.

Romeo and Juliet-Together and Alive at Last. Orchard, 1987. Young Adult

Ed plays matchmaker for two of his reluctant friends, shy Peter Saltz and Anabell Stackpole, when he casts them as leads in a class production of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Reviews available at Amazon

Second Sight : Stories for a New Millennium By Avi ... [et al.]. New York: Philomel Books, 1999.

A collection of short stories by such authors as Madeleine L'Engle, Richard Peck, Rita Williams-Garcia and Nancy Springer.

The Secret School. San Diego: Harcourt, 2001.

In 1925, fourteen-year-old Ida Bidson secretly takes over as the teacher when the one-room schoolhouse in her remote Colorado area closes unexpectedly.

Shadrach's Crossing. 1st ed. Pantheon, 1983.

Living on a poor island in 1932, a young boy determines, despite his parents' bitter opposition, to identify and bring to justice the liquor smugglers who are terrorizing the island.

Silent Movie. Illustrated by C.B. Mordan. 1st ed. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2002.

In the early years of the twentieth century, a Swedish family encounters separation and other hardships upon immigrating to New York City until the son is cast in a silent movie.

S.O.R. Losers. Simon and Schuster, 1984. Ages 9-12

Each member of the South Orange River seventh-grade soccer team has qualities of excellence, but not on the soccer field.

Smuggler's Island. William Morrow, 1994. Ages 9-12

[Originally published as Shadrach's Crossing] Living on a poor island in 1932, a young boy determines, despite his family's bitter opposition, to identify and somehow bring to justice the liquor smugglers who have been terrorizing the island. Review available at Amazon

Snail Tale; The Adventures of a Rather Small Snail. London: Astronaut House, 1976; New York: Pantheon, 1972.

Something Upstairs. Orchard Books, 1988. Ages 9-12

When 16-year-old Kenny moves to an 18th century Rhode Island rowhouse, he finds himself involved with a centuries-old locked-door mystery--and the ghost of a young black slave who charges Kenny to find his murderer or be trapped forever in time himself.

Sometimes I Think I Hear My Name. pa. Flare, 1995; Pantheon, c1982. Young Adult

Thirteen-year-old Conrad, who lives with his aunt and uncle in St. Louis, decides to pay a surprise visit to his divorced parents in New York and comes face to face with bitter reality. Only the friendship of an emotionally troubled girl helps to sustain him through this crisis.

Things That Sometimes Happen. 1st ed. Doubleday, 1970; Atheneum Books for Young People, 2001.

30 brief stories, including "The Fast Snail," "Growing Inexpensive Tomatoes," and "How the Goldfish Spent the Day."

Tom, Babette, & Simon: Three Tales of Transformation. Illustrated by Alexi Natchev. Simon and Schuster, 1995. Ages 9-12

Three original stories in which a boy and a cat change places, a young man learns the price of selfishness, and an invisible princess finds herself. Reviews available at Amazon

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. Illustrated by Ruth E. Murray. Orchard, 1990; Lg print ed. Thorndike, 1993. Young Adult

As the lone "young lady" on a transatlantic voyage in 1832, Charlotte learns that the captain is murderous and the crew rebellious. Reviews available at Amazon

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle; And Related Readings. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, 1998.

Includes the novel, plus--selection from Seafaring Women: Mary Patten nonfiction by Linda Grant De Pauw; --selection from Two Years Before the Mast nonfiction by Richard Henry Dana; --"Walking the Trestle" poem by Jay Parini; --selection The Princess and the Admiral tale by Charlotte Pomerantz; --"This Morning There Were Rainbows in the Sprinklers" poem by Lorna Dee Cervantes.

What Do Fish Have to Do With Anything?; And Other Stories. Illustrated by Tracy Mitchell. Candlewick Press, 1977. Ages 9-12

Seven portraits of lie in the middle-school years. William of "What Do Fish Have to Do with Anything?," wonders why he shouldn't ask questions that have no answers. Always a built in surprise or an angle unseen. Reviews available at Amazon

Who Stole the Wizard of Oz? Reprint ed. Knopf, 1990; Knopf, c1981. Avi Reissues. Ages 9-12

Becky is accused of stealing a rare edition of the The Wizard of Oz from the library. Reviews at Amazon

Who Was That Masked Man, Anyway?. Orchard, 1992. Ages 9-12

As World War II draws to a close, Brooklynites Frankie and Mario scheme to get Frankie a radio of his own, and entangle their war-wounded brother, their eccentric upstairs boarder, and their sixth-grade teacher in their hilarious exploits. Reviews at Amazon

Windcatcher. Simon & Schuster, 1991. Ages 9-12

While learning to sail during a visit to his grandmother's at the Connecticut shore, eleven-year-old Tony becomes excited about the rumors of sunken treasure in the area and starts following a couple who seem to be making a mysterious search for something. Reviews at Amazon

Wolf Rider; A Tale of Terror. Simon & Schuster, 1986.

After receiving an apparent crank call from a man claiming to have committed murder, fifteen-year-old Andy finds his close relationship with his father crumbling as he struggles to make everyone believe him.

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Biography

Avi. Norristown, PA: J. S. Wiess. [1 videocassette (30 min.) : sd., col., 1/2 in. + 1 discussion guide]
Produced at Instructional Materials Center at Drexel University. Interview with Avi in which he talks about his life and writing; biography.

Bloom, Susan P. and Mercier, Cathryn M. Presenting Avi. Twayne's United States Authors Series, No 682. Twayne, 1997. Young Adult

Biography and criticism work.

Good Conversation! A Talk With Avi. Scarborough, NY: Tim Podell Productions, 1993. [1 videocassette (20 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in.]

Avi talks about his life and his writing; biography. Available from Baker & Taylor

Markham, Lois. Avi. pa. Learning Works, 1996. The Learning Works Meet the Author Series. Ages 9-12.

Biography; Reviews available at Amazon

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Nonfiction

American Children's Literature; A Bibliographic History. Trenton, NJ: Roscoe L. West Library, Trenton State College, 1979.

Finding Providence: The Story of Roger Williams. Illustrated by James Watling. An I Can Read Chapter Book. Harpercollins, 1997. Ages 9-12.

How Roger Williams founded the colony of Rhode Island. Reviews available at Amazon

Study Guides

The Fighting Ground. By Susan Brophy. Roslyn Heights, NY: Learning Links, 1988. Novel-ties Series.

Life Language Units. Jacksonville, IL: Perma-Bound Books, 1989.

Series of pamphlets based on popular children's stories and designed to teach pre-reading skills and build interest in reading. Includes The Fighting Ground by Avi.

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. Learning Links, Inc., 1993. Available from Barnes & Noble

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. O'Fallon, MO: Book Lures, 1995.

Suggested activities to use with the study of the novel.

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Multimedia

[Award-winning fiction prints. Set 1] Cleveland, OH: Wonderstorms, 1991 [10 posters]
Titles from 10 classic children's books, including The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

[Award-winning fiction prints. Set 2] Cleveland, OH: Wonderstorms, 1992. [5 posters].

Includes Nothing But the Truth, Avi; Dicey's Song, Voight; Journey, MacLachlan; The Cookcamp, Paulsen; Shiloh, Naylor.

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