Krystel's Book Blog

Happily Ever After

2012-01-25T07:55:00.000-05:00

It's probably become clear to anyone who still checks on this blog that I don't have the time to maintain it. I'm sad to officially call it quits, but it's past time. If anyone is still interested in following what I'm reading or getting suggestions, I will be adding and rating books on my shelfari page - and if you know me personally, I'm always overjoyed to talk books, so ask me anytime! So long, and thanks for all the fish!

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

2011-11-01T20:21:00.000-04:00

I recommend this book for: grades 4-7

Abilene has grown up riding the rails and listening to her father's stories about Manifest, a town that sounds just about perfect. When he sends her to live there for a summer while he works a railroad job that's no place for a young girl, she can hardly believe it is the same town. It isn't until she starts to work for Miss Sadie, a Hungarian fortune teller, that she begins to hear the story of what Manifest used to be, as seen through the eyes of a young wanderer named Jinx. She happens to find a box that belonged to Jinx in her bedroom, and although she'd like to think Miss Sadie's story is all fortune telling nonsense, she can't explain how a fraud could tell a story that includes all of the trinkets in the box. The stories of Abilene and Jinx and how they each come to find a home in Manifest - and save the town itself - become deeply intertwined as Abilene begins to wonder if Jinx could really be her father.

I really enjoyed this one - the quirky characters, the Depression flavor, the unexpected twists (did you know that you could save a town from evil coal mine owners with moonshine?), and the very real sense of heartache experienced by many of the characters. Although the end is hopeful and happy for Abilene, there is a lot of sadness along the way. This is a lovely book, and it would be a good choice for fans of historical fiction or stories about families It also has a bit of boy appeal - Jinx plays some fantastic practical jokes, so that could be a selling point.

Shorts

2011-10-16T15:54:00.001-04:00

I normally like to dedicate a whole post to each book, but I thought I'd do some short thoughts on a few things I've read and haven't blogged. Links go to the Amazon reviews pages. Since I read all of these several months to years ago, details may be fuzzy - take these recommendations at your own risk!

The Explosionist by Jenny Davidson. In a really interesting alternate 1938, Sophie's world is composed equally of science and spiritualism. Raised by her Great Aunt Tabitha, she has frequent encounters with the most brilliant scientific minds of the day and all kinds of psychic mediums - from the charlatans to the truly spooky. When a medium is murdered, Sophie is drawn farther than she wanted to go into political intrigue and her own abilities to communicate with the dead. Also, Sophie must face her feelings for her chemistry teacher (who may or may not be a terrorist) and her best friend Mikael. I devoured this book and couldn't wait for the sequel - which is the problem, because the sequel was extremely disappointing. Everything that I found interesting about The Explosionist seemed to be omitted from Invisible Things. I haven't cared enough to even see if the third book has been published.

The Complete Tales of Winnie-The-Pooh by A.A. Milne, illus. by Ernest Shepard. I finished this book, had a good cry, and then put it on my Christmas list - not my daughter's, but mine. Without being didactic, these stories illustrate what it means to be friends, and it really seems so simple. There is an abundance of funny, wise quotations, and the Shepard illustrations are perfection. I can't do it justice - I loved it.

Thirteenth Child by Patricia Wrede. Eff's twin brother is the seventh son of a seventh son, destined to become a great magician - she herself is the thirteenth child in her family, which many believe to be a sign of bad luck if not evil. She gets the chance to develop her own magical abilities when her family moves to a frontier town - a place where settlements face the expected challenges of life on the edge of civilization, plus wildlife like mammoths and steam dragons. Wrede has created a fascinating world that will appeal to fans of fantasy and westerns alike - I really enjoyed both this and the sequel, Across the Great Barrier.

Fire by Kristin Cashore. This prequel to Graceling tells the story of another kingdom. Here, there are beautiful and dangerous versions of animals, which people call monsters. Fire is a human monster, and her life is complicated by the love of her best friend, being pressed into service to prevent a plot against the king, and the continuing suspicion of many that she may be no better than her father, who used his powers to nearly bring the kingdom into ruin. This is another action and romance-filled fantasy with an unforgettable heroine. Recommended for older teens.

Touch Blue by Cynthia Lord

2011-09-19T14:01:00.002-04:00

I recommend this book for: grades 4-7

Tess loves living on a small island in Maine - catching lobsters on her father's boat, attending a tiny school, and knowing everyone by name feel like home to her. Unfortunately, her school is so tiny that the state wants to shut it down, which would force Tess and her family to move to the mainland and an entirely different way of life. The residents of the island decide to increase the school's population to reverse the state's decision, and several families take in foster children.

Tess thinks she knows all about foster kids after reading Anne of Green Gables and The Great Gilly Hopkins, but her new foster brother Aaron (although red-headed) is not what she's expecting. A 13 year old musician, he's been in foster homes since his grandmother died, and he hasn't seen or heard from his mother since before that. It's hard for him to relate to Tess and her happy family, and just when it seems she's getting through to him and gaining his trust, her plan to make him want to stay with her family threatens to get him taken away for good.

I loved Lord's Rules, so I was very excited to see this one on the shelf. There are some similarities, but instead of rules for behavior, Tess is governed by superstitions about luck. I liked the local color of Touch Blue - the details of the place really made it shine. Another thing I really appreciated was that, although religion wasn't a major theme of the book, church was a part of life for the characters. That is a rare thing in books for young people, and it was nice to see kids involved in church activities and thinking about God without it being a heavy-handed thing. This is a nice, uplifting story about family and what it means to belong somewhere.

Reviews and an excerpt

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

2011-09-12T13:44:00.000-04:00

I recommend this book for: grade 7 and up

I read this one months ago, promptly devoured the sequel, and have been waiting impatiently for the third ever since. In this adventure full of steampunky goodness, WWI is just about to explode in Europe. Alek, the teenage son of Archduke Ferdinand, is on the run to escape those who want to kill him. Deryn, a young Scotswoman who passes as a boy to serve in the Royal Airforce, gets her dream assignment aboard the Leviathan - a living airship created from a genetically modified whale, among other creatures. These two are theoretically on opposite sides of the conflict, but they are forced to cooperate when Leviathan crashes near Alek's hideout and Deryn takes him prisoner.

A little background knowledge on WWI would help with understanding the story, but Westerfeld's world-building is so good that it's not necessary. And the history of Alek and Deryn's world is definitely different anyway - did I mention the mechanical walkers and the giant floating jellyfish? Fast-moving and fascinating, I would recommend this one to a wide variety of readers.

But don't take my word for it - check out the review and excerpt!

And if you like this one, try: Airborn by Kenneth Oppel

Remember me?

2011-09-08T14:05:00.003-04:00

Why yes, it HAS been two years since I posted to this blog! Life has been insane - my daughter was born, and then insisted on growing into a very energetic toddler, which I am informed is the only kind of toddler that exists. I started taking two classes per semester to finish up my master's degree and served as a Cub Scout leader and then in the Primary (the children's organization) for my church. I've been a busy bee! Amazingly, I have still had time to read, just not to post (and it's been my loss, because I can't keep it straight and occasionally bring home a book, start it, and realize I read it last year!)

Anyway, that time is at an end. The lack of homework has left me wondering "Gee, what do I do now?" and I thought that blogging might be a constructive way to use that time. So, new book reviews are coming soon - hopefully that's good news for someone other than me!

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

2009-10-18T14:57:00.005-04:00

I recommend this book for: middle school and up

Isabel and her little sister Ruth are slaves in the colony of Rhode Island. Their mother is dead and they were separated from their father years ago, but the lady who owns them has promised to free them in her will. Only when she dies the will is nowhere to be found, so her nephew sells them to the Locktons, a Loyalist couple from New York City. Their liberty has been taken away, to be replaced by hard work and cruelty with no end in sight. In New York, Isabel meets Curzon, the young slave of a Patriot. He offers her the dangerous opportunity to spy on her master and help the rebels gain their independence.

This was a very good book - to be expected from this author. Isabel's story is heartbreaking but hopeful in the end. It asks some very good questions that occur to most young people as they study history, such as "How could the Americans own slaves if they said all men were created equal?" Of course, there are no easy answers, but the exploration is worthwhile.

Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway

2009-08-13T21:43:00.003-04:00

Forgive the short review, I read this months ago!

I recommend this book for: high school

Audrey lives for music, which is why it should be no suprise that her boyfriend is in a band. Then she dumps him, which shouldn't have been a big deal - except that he writes a song about it that propels his band to stardom, and Audrey is launched into the spotlight right along with them. Reporters call her house, photographers find her at school, and the ice cream parlor where she works is suddenly much more popular. Audrey is mortified and angry, but there are perks -like getting invited backstage at concerts and becoming a fashion trendsetter. There are also a lot of annoyances, like being misquoted, feeling like she's losing her best friend, and not being able to go on a date with a new guy without becoming the subject of national interest and hatred.

This is a fun fun fun book about music, getting famous, making a lot of bad decisions and a few really good ones.

Reviews and an excerpt.

Concerned about mature content? Start highlighting here: There is a lot of cursing in this one. Sex is discussed, but all that happens "on-camera" is some intense making out backstage at a concert. Teens and rockstars party with alcohol and drugs. End of invisible print.

Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

2009-08-03T22:53:00.005-04:00

I recommend this book for: grades 7 and up

D.J. works hard on her family's farm over the summer while her father recovers from an operation. Most of what needs doing falls to her because her older brothers are both away at college, and after a huge argument, they don't come home to help out. One chore that turns into her favorite activity is acting as a personal trainer to the rival high school's quarterback, who needs some pushing to do his best. As her relationship with Brian grows she decides to do what will make her happy for once - try out for the football team herself.

This is a fun summer book with substance. D.J. has a lot of problems teens can relate to between her family, friends, romantic interests, and schoolwork, plus the complicated position of being a girl trying out for the football team. There are funny moments and some heartbreaking ones too. Very worthwhile!

Reviews - be careful, there are spoilers in them!

If you're concerned about mature content, start highlighting here (there may be more, this is what I remember): There are a few instances of teen drinking, and one of the major complications in D.J.'s life is that although she is interested in guys, her female best friend wants to be more than friends. End of invisible text.

A few good books

2009-08-02T18:58:00.002-04:00

Okay, so I have an eight-week old baby now. I have lots of time to read while holding and feeding her, but not as much to type. As a result, there's a ridiculous number of books that I read weeks ago and haven't blogged. Due to the mom-brain phenomenon (a lovely combination of sleep-deprivation and hormonally induced memory loss), I don't remember much about some of them. Please note, I take no responsibility for remembering all of the mature content for the books in the next few mini-posts - we'll be lucky if I remember the plots! If you're concerned about content, please check on these books elsewhere before reading! I would suggest starting with the reviews on Amazon, and if your local library offers it, Novelist. On to the books!

The Queen's Thief Series by Megan Whalen Turner

2009-07-16T14:17:00.004-04:00

I recommend this series for: grade 6 and up

I normally review each book in a series separately, but since I'm waaaay behind (who knew that little babies take up so much time? ;-) and I sped through these three books at lightning speed, I'll just do them all together.

In The Thief, Gen is a young man who is rescued from the king's prison by a royal advisor with a vitally important mission. The king wants to marry the queen of Eddis, the neighboring kingdom, and since she has refused him, he needs a gem given by the gods that bestows the right to rule her kingdom. As an extremely talented thief, Gen is ordered to steal it.

I can't say much about the two sequels without giving away major spoilers, but all three books are serious page-turners. There is a lot of political intrigue written on a level that even younger readers can grasp fully. Gen is bold, hilarious, and fallible, which makes him interesting and fun. As a reader, you don't get to see what he is thinking until he puts his plans into action, which makes for a lot of surprises along the way.

What else did I like about the series? The twists and turns, the relationship between Gen and his monarch, the Grecian-esque world, the myths that characters share with one another, the way that characters speak to the gods and receive their answers, romance in the most unexpected places, and how Gen always, always turns out to be smarter than you (or any of the other characters) think he is. This is a must-read series, particularly for fantasy fans, and it would be great for reluctant readers as well - there's a lot of action and some really funny moments. And there's more to come - book four is due in 2010!

Reviews for The Thief, The Queen of Attolia, and The King of Attolia. Beware of major plot spoilers in the reviews for Queen and King.

Mature content - there are a few instances of mild swearing, and a reference or two to "the king's wedding night" in book 3 that are never made more explicit than that.

Airborn by Kenneth Oppel

2009-07-08T20:17:00.005-04:00

I recommend this book for: grade 6 and up

This is probably my favorite book of the summer so far. Matt Cruse was born in an airship, a giant blimp-like vehicle, and has never felt comfortable on the ground. Now a teenager, he works as a cabin boy on the Aurora, a luxury liner, to support his widowed mother and two sisters. He rescues an old man in a hot air balloon who claims to have seen some kind of fantastic winged animal. He nearly forgets about it until the man's granddaughter arrives on the Aurora. Kate deVries is rebellious, beautiful, and determined to find real evidence of her grandfather's creatures. Although they are from vastly different spheres, Kate and Matt are drawn to one another as he tries to help her in her quest. Then, the pirates attack!

This book has something for just about everyone - a wonderfully built fantasy world, a sympathetic narrator who just wants to follow in his father's footsteps, a rich and spunky heroine who does exactly what she wants, pirates, a mysterious desert island, the beautiful creatures, and all the swashbuckling you could ask for. A definite winner - and I've already put the sequels on hold!

Reviews.

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

2009-07-05T22:16:00.004-04:00

I recommend this book for: grade 6 and up

In this final volume of Percy Jackson's adventures, Kronos and the Titans make their attack on Olympus. With the gods tied up fighting battles elsewhere, it's up to the halfbloods to defend Manhattan.

This book had some great moments - but on the whole, I wasn't as impressed as I was with the previous four. Maybe I just have trouble when a good series comes to an end? It certainly had lots of good points - resolution of the Percy/Annabeth/Rachel love triangle, background on the Oracle and Luke's troubled past, clever chapter titles, and another quest for Percy that takes him down a path few heroes have been brave (and foolhardy) enough to travel. Definitely read it if you've enjoyed the others.

Specials by Scott Westerfeld

2009-07-02T10:12:00.006-04:00

I recommend this book for: grade 7 and up

In this sequel to Pretties, Tally has become a Special. She's Shay's lieutenant in a unit under Dr. Cable's control, dedicated to destroying the Smokies once and for all. She is fast and strong, and completely dedicated to her mission - except for when she starts thinking. When she's forced to choose between Shay and the now-crippled Zane, she picks him - and chooses a path that leads her to a new city to prevent a war.

I absolutely loved Uglies and Pretties. This installment had all of the futuristic technology and ethical questions of the first two, but it didn't excite me as much even though it had hoverboard chases and explosions. It's definitely a worthwhile read for anyone who has enjoyed the series, but not as good as the first two.

Reviews and an excerpt.

Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce

2009-06-03T10:03:00.006-04:00

I recommend this book for: grade 8 and up

Sequel to Terrier.

Another fantastic adventure. When counterfeit money pouring into Corus threatens the livelihood of rich and poor alike, Beka and Goodwin are sent to the city of Port Caynn undercover to try to find the source. Disguised as a corrupt guard and her young protege, they make connections in the gambling world. Among Beka's new friends is a very charming gambler who seems very interested in her, but might be one of the very criminals they seek. Her new enemy is Port Caynn's very dangerous Rogue.

As always, Pierce's characters are superbly well-drawn and entertaining. The lines between good guys and bad guys are often blurry. Beka, who is so tough and so very good at her job, is very clueless about love and relationships, adding another layer to her character. This was a great follow up to Terrier, and it'll be another painful wait for Mastiff, book 3.

A review and an excerpt.

If you're concerned about mature content, start highlighting here:This one is a bit more mature - Beka enters into a sexual relationship in this one - no details are given (as she writes in her journal, who'd want to read that stuff anyway? :-) While undercover, Beka and Goodwin gamble and drink as well as cavort with the criminal element. End of invisible print.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

2009-05-24T18:22:00.002-04:00

I recommend this book for: grade 4-8

Coraline is a girl who loves to explore and is many times dissatisfied with her parents. When they move to a flat in a very old house, there are a few rather odd neighbors (including two former actresses gone to seed who keep lots of dogs and a man working very hard on his mouse circus), but no other children. To entertain herself, she explores the house and the yard - discovering a door that is sometimes bricked up and sometimes is not. Going through it, she discovers an even stranger world where everyone has buttons for eyes, animals talk, and her "other mother" wants her to stay for good.

This is a scary book - many children no doubt fantasize at times about having other parents or having their own parents disappear, and the story plays on what that might really be like. It's not for very sensitive children. With that being said, it's also very fun! Coraline is a brave, resourceful, kind of odd girl, and the cat is completely delightful. Kids who like scary should definitely give this a try.

Reviews.

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

2009-05-19T12:46:00.005-04:00

I recommend this book for: middle and high school

I confess, my decision to read this one was more than a little influenced by the cover illustration - just look at that glorious dress!

In this retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, the twelve sisters are forced to dance every night for the King Under Stone, a ruler full of dark magic and evil plots. The curse is such that they physically cannot tell anyone what is happening to them or why their shoes wear out so frequently. Galen, a young soldier returning from war, finds employment in the palace garden and a friend in Rose, the eldest princess. Determined to succeed where princes have failed to save the sisters, Galen tries to find out the secret. He does have some things going for him, that the princes do not - for instance, his military training, the trust of the princesses, and the ability to knit with magical yarn.

I enjoyed this one. Galen is not a typical hero, what with his knitting hobby. The King Under Stone is a sinister character, but there are threatening political forces at work here too. If you enjoy Donna Jo Napoli's books (or any fairytale retellings, for that matter), give this one a try!

What the pros said.

Heroes of the Valley by Jonathan Stroud

2009-05-14T11:05:00.004-04:00

I recommend this book for: middle and high school

Halli has grown up with the legends of the great hero Sveinn, his ancestor. Long ago, Sveinn led the other heroes to defeat the Trows, beasts who emerged from underground at night to devour humans. Thanks to him, the Trows stay out of the valley, which is still protected by the graves of the heroes and all their descendants, but there is no safety beyond the line of cairns. Anyone who leaves the valley will be devoured. In the valley, there is peace - swords have been outlawed, and any disputes between the families are settled by the Council. Crimes are punished with the transfer of land between the families.

A born troublemaker, Halli wishes he had lived in the time of the warlike heroes. When his beloved uncle is murdered before his eyes, Halli wants more than land for his family to repair the breach - he wants revenge. He sets off on his own to become a hero and finds that it isn't nearly so easy as Sveinn made it look - and that even Sveinn wasn't all he was cracked up to be.

This was a great book. It has a lot of funny moments, the tiniest hint of romance (but nothing that would turn off boys who still think girls have cooties), and a lot of character development. The stories of Sveinn that preface chapters give insight into the culture and Halli's mentality. Halli himself is a great character - you can see his flaws, but that doesn't stop you from admiring his cleverness and eventually, his nobility. This would be a great choice for readers of historical fiction (it feels very medieval) or fantasy - but be warned that it does get a bit scary and somewhat gruesome toward the end.

What the pros said.

Wuthering High by Cara Lockwood

2009-05-13T22:25:00.005-04:00

I recommend this book for: grade 7 and up

In a twist on the "bratty girls at boarding school" genre, Mia is sent to Bard Academy after wrecking her father's car and treating herself to a shopping spree on her stepother's credit card. Not only is the school depressing and strict, but strange things are happening. Mia is convinced that her room (which she shares with a devil worshipper who has taken a vow of silence) is haunted by the ghost of a girl who disappeared years earlier. Also, it seems that the strange boy named Heathcliff is following her - a boy who claims to be from a place called Wuthering Heights.

I have to admit, this is not my kind of book. I picked it up because I thought the premise of "all of my teachers are really famous dead authors" was cool, but the execution left a lot to be desired. The writing is not great, and Mia's character is so shallow that I wasn't really interested in her at all. I think it's a problem of audience - people like me who actually enjoy the Brontes will get really annoyed by the teen characters, and readers who are interested in the poor little rich girl aspect probably won't know or care who Virginia Woolf was. I could be wrong, but that's how it seems to me.

This title could be good as a clean alternative to the Gossip Girl books or similar series - no sex (there is mention of an attempted date rape in Mia's past, but she got away) and only minor cursing. Otherwise, though, I'd recommend teens who think fictional characters running around in the real world sounds cool read Jasper Fforde's excellent Thursday Next books (The Eyre Affair is the first) and leave this one alone.

No reviews on Amazon, but you can read part of the first chapter.

Cassandra's Sister: Growing Up Jane Austen by Veronica Bennet

2009-05-13T22:07:00.003-04:00

I recommend this book for: middle school and up

First of all, the subtitle is a bit misleading, since Jane is already around 17 when this novel opens. The storyline focuses on Jane, her older sister Cassandra, and the family joys and heartaches that could have inspired Jane's writing.

This book didn't do much for me. While the details of Austen's family life were interesting, there seemed to be very little emotional connection, even when people were taking drastic measures. Even the romance seemed pretty distant, perhaps a side effect of the time period - but then, social rules and all, Mr. Darcy never seemed to have that problem.

Austen fans will probably find this worth looking at, but it won't have much appeal to teens who haven't enjoyed at least one of her novels.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

2009-04-09T17:38:00.003-04:00

I recommend this book for: middle and high school

Katniss lives in a future world where life is bleak. Twelve districts occupy the continent that was once North America, surrounding a capital that keeps the people in line by oppression and hunger. The dirtiest trick of all is the Hunger Games, a yearly event in which a teen boy and girl from each district are forced to compete in a survival contest - all televised for the entire country to watch. The winner gets fame and privileges for his or her district, while the losers all die. The story begins on the day when the tributes are chosen by lottery, and the girl tribute turns out to be Katniss' beloved 12 year old sister. Katniss immediately volunteers to go instead, knowing it means almost certain death.

This was a fantastic book. The concept of reality tv gone really really wrong should strike a chord with most readers - and if not, the realistic characters will. Katniss is an interesting heroine - the breadwinner for her family, determined to win at any cost but willing to risk her life for others she comes to care for - and still as confused as any teenager about her emotions.

I haven't read many books recently that made me immediately look for the sequel's release date, but this was one. It's also one I can unreservedly recommend to teens of all ages - other than the violence you should expect from the plot, it's a good clean read. I can't rant enough - just read it!

Reviews - watch out, they contain some spoilers, particularly the last one by Stephen King.

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

2009-03-24T14:36:00.006-04:00

I recommend this book for: high school

Marcus is just your average teen tech geek - he knows how to get around school surveillance, build his own laptop, and do some neat tricks with his cell phone and alternatives to the Internet. But everything changes when terrorists blow up the Bay Bridge in San Francisco, and Marcus and his best friends are arrested by the Department of Homeland Security. They're innocent, but treated like they're guilty, and Marcus has a big problem with that. So what's a teen to do when his liberties are taken away? Take them back!

So starts the story of Marcus and his fight against those who try to convince the city that they're trading liberty for security without actually providing that security. Doctorow does a good job of explaining all of the technology and what it does in terms that non-geeks can understand. Marcus is brilliant, not just when it comes to computers, but in the connections he makes between his social studies class and his current situation.

A great book that gives teens and adults plenty to think about - why is that we're content to be under surveillance everywhere? What does the Declaration of Independence mean in today's world? How do you go about proving that you're not a terrorist? It is definitely for mature audiences - the violence isn't graphic, and the message of thinking for yourself is applicable for everyone, but there's also a good bit of rather frank sexual content.

Don't trust anyone over 25! Trust these reviews . . .

Hero Type by Barry Lyga

2009-03-18T16:33:00.007-04:00

I recommend this book for: grade 8 and up

Kevin is a hometown hero after he saves a classmate from being abducted by a killer responsible for rapes and murders all over the country. Instead of a nobody, he's suddenly being followed by reporters and making appearances on national tv. He receives the key to the city and a new car. Then, a photographer publishes a picture of him removing the "Support the Troops" magnets from his bumper and throwing them away. Suddenly, everyone in his small town is against him, and Kevin finds himself defending not only his actions, but free speech in its many forms to a town that just isn't listening.

I loved this book. It was complex - Kevin knows that saving Leah wasn't the heroic act everyone thinks it was, and what he calls his "inner Catholic" causes him guilt over a lot of his actions. What makes a hero or a villain was discussed without being preachy, and the debates Kevin has with John Riordan (and just about everyone else) over free speech vs. patriotism - and whether those two things are mutually exclusive or not - are fantastic. Was it entirely realistic for everyone to jump all over Kevin? Maybe not, but I can certainly understand him feeling like the whole world was against him.

Side characters were well-developed, although Kevin was certainly the most complex - he does things that you know are despicable, but he's still a sympathetic narrator, and his growth is impressive. The Fools are fun, and Fam is especially great for bringing out Kevin's cluelessness. A very worthwhile read!

From the reviewer types.

Some mature content that includes plot spoilers - for details, start highlighting here: Kevin and his friends drink, smoke pot, and play some pranks that could be considered vandalism. There is talk about sex and some references to male anatomy. Here's the big plot spoiler - you find out that Kevin was actually following Leah and videotaping her without her knowledge. But he's not actually a crazy stalker - he feels bad about it, stops, and tries to make amends. End of invisible text.

Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd

2009-03-16T14:19:00.004-04:00

I recommend this book for: high school

Fergus lives in the troubled Ireland of the 1980s. His brother is in prison because of his involvement with the freedom fighters, hunger strikers are dying regularly, and violence can explode suddenly and without warning. His biggest dream is to do well on his exams, get into medical school, and get out of Ireland. Then he makes an amazing discovery while digging peat with his uncle - the body of a child. Suddenly he has a new dream - all about this Iron Age girl and how she came to be in the bog.

This was a powerful book - the exploration of Ireland both of ancient and modern times and the different sacrifices people make. Difficult decisions abound. Fergus' friendship with a Welsh soldier who guards the border was a fantastic element. I loved the intense part in the middle where Fergus gets wrapped up in transporting illegal packets across the border - especially the resolution of it. One problem with this book though, is that it doesn't give much background on Ireland at this time, or explanation of the various acronyms (RUC, IRA) that are tossed around, so a reader who doesn't know anything about Ireland's history would be really lost.

Content makes this a high school book - it includes strong language, talk about sex and some sexual situations (although not the actual act).

Reviews.

Snoring Beauty by Bruce Hale, ill. by Howard Fine

2009-03-12T10:16:00.006-04:00

I recommend this book for: older kids and grownups

It's a picture book, but I'm not sure how much kid appeal this one has. In a twist on the Sleeping Beauty story, Princess Drachmina Lofresca Malvolio Margarine (Marge for short) is cursed to be run over by a pie wagon and die when she turns 16. But all is not lost - a slightly deaf fairy changes the curse so that she'll merely turn into a sleeping dragon until she is awoken by a quince.

I found this book to be funny in an off-beat sort of way, but young kids won't get the jokes. The pictures are lovely, and although I couldn't figure out why the story was narrated by a frog, I liked him. This title could be useful for older students studying fractured fairy tales, or just for a good laugh as a read-aloud.

1, 2, Buckle My Shoe by Anna Grossnickle Hines

2009-03-12T10:12:00.004-04:00

I recommend this book for: preschool

The traditional rhyme is illustrated by gorgeous quilted illustrations. Each panel with a number features both the arabic form and the corresponding number of buttons, and the details and colors of the picture panels are gorgeous and add interest. The last page is a double spread featuring the numbers and colorful hands with buttons on the fingers to represent the numbers. The rhyme would be great for sharing with a group, and the pictures make this a great one to share one on one.
Simple and fun!

Reviews.

Wake by Lisa McMann

2009-03-11T12:32:00.005-04:00

I recommend this book for: high school

Janie has an alcoholic mother, a burning desire to go to college, and a secret she's never told anyone. Whenever she's in a room with a sleeping person, Janie sees into that person's dreams. The results of this are sometimes comical and sometimes terrifying, and she has no control over it. Now in high school, Janie has learned to manage her condition to a degree - she blacks out but can usually ride out a person's dream safely and get back to life. Then one nightmare really gets to her - and it turns out to belong to someone who's starting to matter to her.

A fast-paced, exciting read. The intense pace is supported by the format of listing a date and time before each short section. A lot of the action seems to be based more on character development and relationships than on actual events, but Janie's world is so complex and interesting that it works. The final third of the book is where most of the actual action happens. A major theme is that things aren't always what they seem - with the dreams Janie stumbles into, with Cabel, and even with Janie's mother.

This is definitely a book for high school because of content - without spoiling the plot I can say that there is very liberal use of the f-word, teen drinking and partying, drug use, and sex (after all, she gets sucked into the dreams of teenagers . . .) It's also a novel that doesn't shy away from society's problems - in addition to Janie's alcoholic mother, there is a character who has suffered from physical abuse, a drug dealer, etc.

Read an excerpt on Amazon.

Mary Had a Little Lamp by Jack Lechner ill. by Bob Staake

2009-03-10T18:50:00.003-04:00

I recommend this book for: preschool to grade 2

This quirky tale tells of Mary and her beloved gooseneck lamp, who goes everywhere with her. It follows the meter of 'Mary had a little lamb', but has a lot more pizzazz! The illustrations are mostly fantastic, featuring oddly-shaped people who reminded me a bit of Tim Burton's The Corpse Bride, but much more colorful. Mary and her lamp have a lot of personality, and the perplexed faces of Mary's parents and classmates are priceless.

But - there's virtually no explanation of why Mary leaves her faithful lamp behind in favor of another appliance, which bugged me. Also, there's one picture of a swingset where the swing would clearly be lying the ground if it wasn't forward and up in the air - shattering the laws of physics gets on my nerves, too!

Final verdict - a few issues, but lots of fun!

Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers

2009-03-10T15:14:00.004-04:00

I recommend this book for: grade 7 and up

In 2003, 19 year old Robin Perry leaves Harlem to serve his country in Iraq. His father is upset at his decision, but Robin feels compelled to make a difference. This book chronicles his experiences as part of a Civilian Affairs unit - the people who go in when the shooting is supposedly over to deal with the people and help them see that Americans are the good guys.

I'm not a war book person, really, but this one had good points. The men and women in Robin's unit (who dub him "Birdy") are interesting, and their banter is entertaining to read. Myers portrays the immediacy of the war well - one minute the soldiers are just riding to the market, the next a car explodes. Birdy has to face his fears, particularly of himself and what he will become as a result of what he sees and does. The letters he sends home - cheerful, hopeful, and reassuring - make an interesting counterpoint to the confusion and doubt he actually feels.

There were also bad points. I felt some of the dialogue was a bit overdramatic. Also, I knew without a doubt pretty much as soon as all of the characters from Birdy's unit were introduced who was going to die, which really lessened the impact when it happened.

Reviews.

Parental stuff - as you might imagine in a war book, there is some bad language and violence. It doesn't get terribly gory, but there are descriptions of severed body parts and a somewhat graphic scene where two men are killed at point blank range. There are a few sexual innuendoes ("I want to see what she's got under those fatigues"), but it's all talk.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

2009-03-07T10:44:00.004-05:00

I recommend this book for: high school

In a world where some people are born with Graces - special gifts for anything from baking to mind-reading to predicting the weather - Katsa serves her uncle, the king of the Middluns. Her Grace is fighting, and she uses it at the king's command to threaten, hurt, or kill his enemies - or sometimes just subjects who have ticked him off. She despises herself for it. But Katsa has a secret - the Council, a group that she and sympathetic friends have started to fight the kinds of abuses she herself is forced to lay on the common people. It is on a Council mission that she meets Po, the prince of another kingdom - and another Graceling fighter. His grandfather has been kidnapped and they have to find out why, because it could have ramifications not just for his family, but for all of the seven kingdoms.

This book blew me away. The world was original and lovely, and Katsa was a fantastic heroine. She grows a lot during the course of the book, but she has certain principles that she holds to and will not sacrifice. The development in the other main characters was also great. The ending wrapped up a little too quickly for me, but the story was definitely well-plotted. As in real life, there were no easy answers about why the villain is doing what he does. The love story was completely engrossing. Definitely one of the better fantasies I've read!

If you're concerned about mature content, highlight starting here: There is sex in this book! One scene makes it very clear what is happening, and there are a few other references to lovers sharing a bed and some innuendoes. A medicinal form of birth control is used - I know that might reassure some parents and offend others, so I thought I'd bring it up. The villain is a very bad man who takes pleasure in the pain of others - the book describes how he cuts up animals, hurts servants, and it is implied that he wants an inappropriate relationship with his daughter. End of invisible text.

Reviews.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

2009-03-02T14:22:00.004-05:00

I recommend this book for: grade 8 and up

Frankie was a freshman at her exclusive boarding school last year - a geek, a nobody. This year, she's getting noticed, in particular by the popular senior Matthew Livingston. But Frankie isn't just a pretty girl who will be contented with being Matthew's girlfriend. When she realizes that he has a secret, she does her homework and finds out about the Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds - an all-male secret society bent on causing mayhem. A society that Frankie's father belonged to in his own boarding school days. A society that is at a total loss for some good prank ideas. Which is where Frankie comes in . . . and the resulting hijinks involving ladies' undergarments, vegetable sculpture, and statue abduction are hilarious.

This was a fantastic book. Frankie is a strong girl who applies what she learns to real life, with pretty amazing results. She is passionate about what she believes in, regardless of how silly other people think she is. She's brilliant and creative, and very fun to read about. The other characters are also drawn very well, particularly Matthew - the reader can see what he's really like and still understand why Frankie likes him. The ending is also fantastic - I don't want to give too much away, but I will say that I respect Frankie's independence and that it remains intact. A very fun read!

A fairly clean read, but read the invisible text if you're concerned about content: Although Frankie does not drink, she does attend a party with lots of teens drinking beer, and the boys in the Loyal Order do a lot of drinking when they get together. Frankie's relationship never progresses beyond making out, but there is (non-graphic) discussion of other characters having sex. No bad language to speak of. Oh, and Frankie definitely makes war on the administration, so if you find rebellion against adults offensive, this one may not be for you/your child. End of invisible text.

Snow Falling in Spring: Coming of age in China during the Cultural Revolution by Moying Li

2009-02-26T17:22:00.005-05:00

I recommend this book for: middle and high school

This memoir covers moments in the life of Moying Li, from the time that she was 4 years old until she left China as a university student. The Cultural Revolution was a time of upheaval and uncertainty in China, and life was spent trying to conform to the standards demanded by the government so as not to be labeled an enemy of the people. It didn't seem to take much to deserve that label - long hair or the wrong style of clothes could put you under suspicion, not to mention fondness for Western literature or joking about the wrong things. Some of the details she shares are absolutely appalling - family members hauled off to labor camps, persecution of teachers by their own students, people driven to suicide, near starvation. Among all these ugly events, Li was able to get a good education and commit small rebellions against the madness.

This book would make a good introduction to this period of history for middle or high school students (or adults for that matter!), as it uses a young person's perspective. Li shares essential historical background for understanding this period, and the details really bring it to life. A sad but fascinating story - and ultimately, a hopeful one.

Reviews.

Cat and Mouse by Ian Schoenherr

2009-02-26T12:40:00.004-05:00

I recommend this book for: preschool

So cute! This book combines 3 nursery rhymes (I love little kitty, Hickory Dickory Dock, and Eeny Meeny Miney Mo) and illustrates them with the antics of a very quick mouse and a generally stressed out cat. The pictures have lots of motion and dominate the pages, which would make it great for preschool storytime, and the cat's facial expressions are priceless. The fact that the rhymes are well known (2 of them, anyway) also makes this a good read aloud. Fun fun fun!

What the pros said.

The 3 Bears and Goldilocks by Margaret Willey

2009-02-19T14:52:00.006-05:00

I recommend this book for: age 4-6

A kind of bland retelling. Not enough is different from the traditional tale to make it stand out, and there isn't much sense of place (other than the first page stating that she lived "in the farthest reaches of the far north"). The pictures do a lot to characterize Goldilocks - for example, she's always losing things and helpful forest creatures are cleaning up after her. However, some of the illustrations are confusing - the one where she flees the bear's house features 6 bears, 4 little girls, and two of the same bird carrying her scarf. The bear's house is relatively interesting - less humanized than one might expect from bears who eat porridge, the floor is covered in fish bones and the beds are made of pine needles and feathers covered in a blanket. Far from wanting to eat Goldilocks, they are angry at the meddling in their home but feel sorry for the furless, clawless creature they find asleep in Baby Bear's bed. That doesn't stop her from running home as fast as she can! The moral of this version seems to be "listen to your parents", but I'm not sure kids would grasp it. Overall, it seems to be lacking in kid-appeal, which means it only gets a so-so rating from me.

Chalice by Robin McKinley

2009-02-14T10:37:00.002-05:00

I recommend this book for: grade 7 and up

A totally engrossing fantasy for the right reader. Mirasol is a simple beekeeper in the Willowlands who has just been named Chalice - a leader second only to the Master of the land, responsible for keeping balance. Her job is complicated by her complete lack of training to be Chalice (she simply has to listen to the earthlines and do what feels right), the turmoil in the land after the excesses and violent death of the previous master, and the upheaval of a new one taking power. The new Master is the brother of the previous one, but he has been away for years studying to become a priest of elemental fire - and as such, is no longer quite human. The people fear him, and there is even a plot to remove him from power and replace him with an outlander - which would have disastrous consequences for the land.

This is definitely a book for sophisticated readers - not because of content, but because of structure. There are frequent flashbacks, and there are no epic battles to move the plot along. There is intrigue and romance, but they are quiet. There is magic, but it is related more to listening to the earth than saying the right spell. There is a great deal of ceremony, and a lot of character and world-building. The result is a fascinating place where people and land are so tied together that political upsets can cause natural disasters. I say it's a winner, but those who prefer their fantasy with a hearty helping of dragons or wand-waving may not be as interested.

Reviews.

Sovay by Celia Rees

2009-02-02T12:02:00.005-05:00

I really really wanted to like this book. The cover is beautiful (let's face it, we all judge by that, right?), and the storyline sounded fantastic. Unfortunately, the execution was mostly ridiculous.

Sovay is a rich and privileged young woman living in England while the Reign of Terror rages in France. She dresses as a highwayman and holds up a carriage to get revenge on her unfaithful fiance, and continues to do it for kicks. The game turns serious when she finds papers calling for the arrest of her father, a sympathizer with the French revolution, among her takings.

Sovay is beautiful and independent, both qualities which get her into and out of all sorts of scrapes as she travels to London and beyond to try to save her father. The plot is complicated by various men who fall madly in love with her but are perfect gentlemen about it (even when invited not to be), a villain who seemed to be a combination of Inspector Javert and Dr. Frankenstein, a brothel full of boys, and intrigue at every turn.

In the end, I only finished this one because I wanted to see how bad it would get. Some fans of historical fiction and spunky heroines might receive this one better - particularly if they don't mind extremely awkward dialogue. Anyone else should probably skip it.

No professional reviews on Amazon, but there are some rather mixed ones from customers.

You should probably also avoid this book if you object to content that includes: (begin invisible text here) boys who work as prostitutes, a secret society whose initiation includes sexual acts (neither aspect described in detail), or a scene where a girl practically asks a highwayman to sleep with her - he refuses. (End invisible text here.) But really, the most offensive part was probably the awkward dialogue and narration.

Ever by Gail Carson Levine

2009-01-25T21:12:00.005-05:00

I recommend this book for: middle and high school

Another winner from Gail Carson Levine! Like Fairest, this book has echoes of old stories put into a new fantasy world, and the results are brilliant.

Kezi loves to dance and knot rugs, but she does not realize how much she loves life until a vow made by her father threatens to take it away from her. He promised a sacrifice to Admat, the god of their land, not realizing that his daughter would be the one to meet the criteria. She has thirty days to live.

Olus is the god of the winds, worshipped in a neighboring land. However, he is lonely among the gods (his closest brother is 412 years older than he is) and poses as a mortal shepherd, renting land from Kezi's father. Watching the family, he falls in love with the girl and determines to save her.

More than a simple love at first sight story, this book explores some really interesting questions about religion and what it takes to be a hero. I really appreciated that Kezi made her own decisions about faith and rescued herself when she got into trouble. Fans of fantasy and good clean love stories should eat this one up!

Tell me more!

White Sands, Red Menace by Ellen Klages

2009-01-18T20:13:00.004-05:00

I recommend this book for: middle school and up

I was very excited to see a sequel to The Green Glass Sea, and it doesn't disappoint! Although a little slow in the beginning, things quickly pick up. Which is strange, because not much actually happens - it covers the time after the end of WWII, with America settling down and figuring out what "normal" is again.

Dewey is still living with the Gordons, in a small town in New Mexico. She is worried about fitting in at her new school - not easy for a girl who would rather take shop than the required home ec course - but it turns out that Suze has more problems when she echoes her mother's anti-bomb philosophies. Mrs. Gordon is running an awareness campaign about the effects of the atomic bomb and trying to prevent it from being used ever again. There is tension at home as well, since her husband is still working on rockets for national defense and to try to beat the Russians into space.

This is a relatively quiet book, but there is a lot happening on the personal level - Suze's jealousy over Dewey's relationship with her mother, the tension between the adult Gordons, new friendships for both girls, a fantastic piece of art/machinery, and a little romance. As in the last book, the characters feel real and the writing is lovely. Klages gives a feeling for what it was like to live in this period, and it's a must-read for fans of historical fiction. Just make sure you start with The Green Glass Sea first!

Tell me more! But don't be fooled by the product description - Rita's appearance is nowhere near the focus of this book.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

2009-01-11T21:33:00.003-05:00

I recommend this book for: grade 7 and up

I don't read a lot of science fiction, but this is my husband's new favorite book, so I made a deal with him to read it. (I can't say what he's reading in return, but it's one of my favorites that he'd never have picked up on his own.) And I enjoyed it!

Ender Wiggin is 6 years old when he becomes humanity's last hope. Twice, a race of insect-like aliens has tried to invade Earth and wipe out the human race. Earth needs a brilliant military leader to prevent them from coming a third time, and Ender looks like the best bet. He leaves his family and enters Battle School, where in addition to lessons and military strategy, he spends the next years of his life fighting mock battles in zero gravity against other armies of students. He is different from the others, he is a target for bullies, and he is absolutely brilliant.

There were some things I really liked about the book - the major plot twist was beautifully written, in that I completely didn't see it coming, but as soon as it had happened I realized all the foreshadowing that came earlier and that I should have seen it coming. Card has a talent for making you want to read just one more chapter, and the reader gets to see several sides of the more complex characters. All of this was really good.

However, I had trouble relating to Ender - it was difficult to remember that most of the characters were under the age of 12 for most of the book because of the way they spoke and interacted, but Ender was so brilliant it was almost like he wasn't human. No matter what he was up against, he was able to find the answer quickly, and he won far more than he lost. He had some major character flaws as well, so it wasn't that he was perfect - just scarily smart.

Anyway, this was a pretty enjoyable read. The vocabulary and concepts are a bit higher level (I had to look up Hegemon to see what it meant), and parts of the book are political. There are also a few pretty gross/violent moments, which may be a turn-off for some readers, but it's a great choice for anyone even mildly interested in science fiction, and the beginning of a still-growing series.

Other thoughts, plus the first chapter.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

2009-01-11T21:09:00.003-05:00

I recommend this book for: middle school and up

The book that Harry Potter fans have been eagerly awaiting, ironically, makes almost no mention of Harry at all. Not that it's a bad thing. These 5 stories from the wizarding world are entertaining and magical, and not just because they're about wizards. Interestingly, the wizard you do learn a lot more about is Dumbledore, through his written commentary following each story, supposedly discovered among his papers after his death. He reveals tidbits of wizarding history as well as anecdotes from his personal life (who knew that Nearly Headless Nick was a victim of witch hunts?) This is a quick read (my 13 year old brother-in-law and I read the same copy on the same night), but enjoyable.

A word to the squeamish - story #3, "The Warlock's Hairy Heart" is a bit gruesome, and the reason for the middle school and up recommendation. The other stories would be fine for younger readers, although the last one, "The Tale of the Three Brothers" as featured in Deathly Hallows is also rather dark.

Amazon page.

I still exist!

2008-12-30T15:17:00.002-05:00

For anyone keeping track, I haven't fallen off the face of the planet! I haven't even not been reading - I've just been doing a lot of re-reading, from the full Harry Potter series to Little Women to The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, so the blog has been languishing a bit. But, more reviews are coming, I promise!

Un Lun Dun by China Mieville

2008-11-08T18:47:00.005-05:00

I recommend this book for: 6th grade and up

Wow. Un Lun Dun takes the prize for the best fantasy I've read this year. It's unlike anything I've read before, and that's a good thing!

Zanna and Deeba are best friends who begin to notice unusual things happening around them. They soon find themselves in UnLondon, an alternate version of the city where buses fly, garbage comes to life, and the inhabitants are the oddest assortment of creatures imaginable - ghosts, tailors with pins for hair, and various animals who have adapted to live in humanlike bodies, to name a few. This strange city is under attack from the Smog, pollution that has gained consciousness and wants to burn everything to incorporate it into itself. The girls find out that Zanna is the Shwazzy, the chosen one who has been written about in prophecies, destined to save UnLondon from the Smog.

And then, this already slightly deviant fantasy gets really interesting - she fails. Zanna is knocked out and the girls return to London. She doesn't remember a thing about the whole adventure, leaving Deeba to decide whether she can forget - or should she return to do what she can to fight the Smog, prophecies or not?

I loved this book. The world-building is amazing, and after so many "chosen one" fantasies, it was refreshing to read a book where the heroine triumphs not because of prophecy, but because she makes the choice to do the right thing and is able to think on her feet. The secondary characters were fascinating as well - Hemi the half-ghost boy, Curdle the milk carton, and the book of (sometimes correct) prophecies were all fantastic allies. Oh, and did I mention how cool the librarians are in UnLondon? Let's just say that it's a dangerous job that requires spelunking equipment. Read this one!

Other thoughts.

Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman

2008-10-13T09:34:00.005-04:00

I recommend this book for: grade 7 and up

World War II is raging in Europe, but India is stifling under British rule. Teenage Vidya is a Brahmin girl with an exceptional, free-thinking father who treats the injuries of Indians hurt by British soldiers and promises his daughter the opportunity to go to college instead of being married off young. Vidya's joy is shortlived - her father suffers a terrible injury that affects his mind as well as his body, and the family must go to live with his father in his far more traditional home. There, the women live on the bottom floor and the men live upstairs, meeting only when the men come down for meals. Vidya and her mother are persecuted by the other women of the house, and they are forced to hear other family members refer to the good man they love as an idiot. Vidya seems destined for unhappiness in this stifling environment - until a refuge appears in the form of her grandfather's upstairs library, and that is not the only door to open to her . . .

This is a beautifully written story. There is enough context given to appreciate the story, even for those who don't know anything about India's culture or history. Vidya is a flawed and sympathetic heroine, and the relationship she forms with her grandfather especially touched me. This novel explores love, loyalty, freedom, and a rich period of history, and I loved every page.

The Opposite of Invisible by Liz Gallagher

2008-09-21T14:43:00.006-04:00

I recommend this book for: high school

Alice is an artsy sophomore in Seattle, and she and her male best friend Jewel do just about everything together. Jewel has always been enough for her, but lately Alice has felt invisible at school, and she wants to be seen - particularly by Simon from the football team. When Simon makes it clear that he does see her, and wants to see more of her, Alice is ecstatic to accept his invitation to the Halloween dance. Which happens on the same day that Jewel makes his move and she has to turn him down. Does dating a popular guy mean she has to lose her best friend completely?

This is a fast read, and it has really great momentum. The descriptions of Seattle are beautiful, and I could almost see the art that Alice and Jewel were creating. Most teen girls can probably relate (or want to!) to the too many boys at one time problem, and Gallagher handles the complex emotions of friendship and crushing very well. A fun high school romance with a happy ending, but it doesn't go on the "squeaky clean" list - highlight to find out why here: SPOILER ALERT! Alice's relationship with Simon moves very fast - almost to the point of having sex before she thinks better of it - she even buys pretty underwear for the occasion! Simon likes to party, and Alice gets drunk once before deciding to never do that again. So in the end, there's a lot of talk and some description of teen drinking and sexual activity, but Alice either learns from her mistakes or decides against making them in the first place. End of spoilers.

The buzz.

Not a Book Review 2: Join our book club!

2008-09-20T10:08:00.002-04:00

Ladies interested in a book club - we're ready to get goin'! Check out our new Church Girls Book Club blog for more information!

Invisible Small Print!

2008-09-16T09:51:00.005-04:00

I'm the kind of person who really hates spoilers, and I hate thinking that a book might be ruined for someone by something I put out there. However, I also want to keep presenting "the small print" - details about content that parents and others who recommend books to children and teens may want to be aware of before putting it into someone's hands - which often does give away plot details. So now I'm going to experiment and continue to do the small print, but I'll be using white font instead of small print. That way, if you want the full disclosure, you can highlight the bottom of the post (I'll always label the beginning and end of it with visible text), but if you aren't as concerned about mature content or want to keep yourself in the dark about the plot, you don't have to try very hard to not read the bottom of the post. I'd love any comments readers might have about how this works out - I modified my review of Crushed (below), so you can let me know what you think!

Crushed by Laura and Tom McNeal

2008-09-15T12:46:00.007-04:00

I recommend this book for: grade 8 and up

Audrey and her two best friends are outsiders, recently arrived in public school after 4 years in what one might call an artsy fartsy environment. They also all happen to be loaded - or appear to be. Clyde is a quiet outcast who rides a scooter and works at a country club to help pay the medical bills for his mother, who is dying of cancer. The Yellow Paper is a publication that exposes the dirtiest secrets of the school, about both students and faculty. Wickham Hill is the new kid in school, with a Southern drawl and charm that has every girl swooning - but the one he asks out is Audrey.

If you've never read Pride and Prejudice (get to it, it's amazing! Plus, it gives context for this book!), allow me to enlighten you - guys named Wickham are not what they appear to be! In fact, hardly anyone in this novel is what they seem to be at first - friends betray one another, the guilty-looking turn out to be innocent, and even the villain has reasons you can almost understand. The dialogue is fun, and the ending, although not the one I personally was hoping for, was mostly happy.

What the pros said.

You may want to know: Wickham is a drinker (there's a clue that he's not a good kid!), and although Audrey doesn't sleep with him, she does allow him to unbutton her shirt while making out. The dirty secrets revealed in the paper involve plastic surgery, cheating, suspected murder, and manslaughter while driving drunk, but none of these things are portrayed in a positive light. End of invisible text.

Not a book review: Wanna join a club?

2008-09-15T10:59:00.003-04:00

So I was talking to some church girls yesterday about our love for Jane Austen and need for a book club. The wheels were already turning in my head, so here's my idea: Let's have a book club! We could do it online - I'd be willing to set up a blog to host it - or, schedule permitting, in person, or maybe some combination of the two - maybe with a discussion of a new book every month, and a "real" meeting every other, or something like that. I'm putting out the call here because I know that some of the avid readers in the ward check in now and then. So, ladies, what do you think? We need not limit ourselves to Jane Austen - we could do other classics, or books that make teenage girls swoon, or books by women, or no theme at all. Please leave a comment if you're interested, with some details about what you'd like to do. (Also, if you have a family blog, would you be so kind as to spread the word? Your readership in the ward is probably much higher than mine!) I'm looking forward to some kind of adventure!

Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

2008-09-10T16:11:00.004-04:00

I recommend this book for: grade 8 and up

Tally Youngblood is now a Pretty. The biggest problems she has are deciding what to wear to which party and trying to get into the Crims, the hot clique known for the semi-criminal behavior of its members. She's been reunited with Shay and Peris, and Zane, the leader of the Crims, is showing a lot of interest in her - but even through her now-damaged brain, the past is tugging at her. When a Smokey arrives with the letter she wrote to herself at the end of Uglies and two pills, she has to choose between staying Pretty and ignorant or getting a serious reality check.

It's been over 2 years since I read Uglies, but I wasn't lost for a second. Maybe just because the story was so memorable, the world so facinating, the characters so interesting - I don't feel like I forgot anything other than the names of minor characters, and they came back rather quickly. This one was exciting in a different way - Tally and Zane have to navigate the Pretty world while trying to keep their minds above it, which they call "staying bubbly." There is action, a romantic plot, more betrayal, and a stellar cliff-hanger at the end which sets up perfectly for Specials, volume 3. If you liked Uglies, read this one. If you haven't read Uglies - what are you waiting for?

Reviews agree!

Some readers may disapprove of the Pretty lifestyle - lots of drinking is involved, although it's very clear that alcohol is one of the things that keeps Pretties from realizing how controlled and senseless their world really is. You're supposed to disapprove! There is no explicit sex, although Tally does stay at her boyfriend's place a good bit of the time - no further details are mentioned.

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

2008-09-08T20:14:00.006-04:00

I recommend this book for: middle and high school

This was my first Shannon Hale, and I loved it! In a fantasy world reminiscent of central Asia, Dashti becomes a maid to Lady Saren. On her first day on the job, Saren's father locks his daughter up in a tower for refusing to marry the powerful man he has chosen, and Dashti is locked in with her. At first it doesn't seem so bad to practical Dashti - there is enough food for seven years, and she has plenty of time to write in her journal - but then rats, extreme temperatures, and a visit from Saren's angry suitor combine to make conditions extremely uncomfortable. Even when the man Saren wants to marry, Khan Tegus, comes to visit, the noble girl is too frightened to speak to him and orders Dashti to take her place. You can probably guess where that goes!

The story comes from a little-known Grimm fairy tale, but it reminded me of a cross between Cinderella and Cyrano de Bergerac. This is a great one for fans of fairy tales, fantasy without dragons or wizards, or chaste romance.

Book reviews.

Terrier by Tamora Pierce

2008-09-04T15:52:00.008-04:00

I recommend this book for: grade 8 and up

Beka Cooper was raised in the Lower City, the home of thieves and scoundrels of every description. Her crime-solving skills got her and her family out of the poor district and into the household of the Lord Provost when she was 8 years old. Now 16, she is following her dream of becoming one of the guards who patrol the city and keep order - they're called the Provost's Dogs. Although she has a good head on her shoulders and likes a good brawl, being a Puppy (guard in training) is more difficult than she had anticipated. Her partners are among the most respected Dogs, but they seem to resent being saddled with a trainee. She makes beginner's mistakes and is ridiculed for her inability to speak in public. Worst of all, Beka feels drawn to a murder case - that of her friend's little boy - but she could be getting in way over her head trying to solve it.

I suddenly remembered why I like Tamora Pierce's work so much as I read this one. Beka is one tough young lady, but her weak points and the feelings she grudgingly admits to in her journal make her very real. It's easy to relate to her, even though her world is one of magic and she can hear the voices of dead spirits. It has action, mystery, a touch of romance, and magic. I'm so upset that I have to wait until April for the sequel, Bloodhound.

Read some reviews and an excerpt here.

Not much fodder for the tiny print in this one. There are some non-explicit references to body parts (i.e. "my peaches"), and to characters sleeping together. Probably more disturbing is the criminal plot, which involves many dead bodies.

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

2008-08-18T08:46:00.005-04:00

I recommend this book for: high school and up

The Twilight saga ends . . . sigh. It's definitely a more grown-up book than previous volumes, and not quite as satisfying. I really feel that I can't do much of a review without completely spoiling the plot - and if it's spoilers you want, they're all over the Internet elsewhere by now! Suffice it to say that the major loose ends are wrapped up neatly (although you never do figure out who Embry's father is!), the ending is happier than I could have guessed, and although I threw a minor temper tantrum when I first read about Jacob's fate, I was happier with it by the end of the book. I didn't love this volume like I did Twilight and New Moon, but I liked it well enough. I don't feel the need to buy it, but it was definitely worth reading.

A rather scathing, spoiler-ific review from PW, plus the copy from the flap: Don't say I didn't warn you!

Small print contains some spoilers!
This volume is different from the previous three, in that there is sex between married characters - not explicit, but there's no question of what's happening, and there is quite a bit of discussion about the love lives of several characters. The graphic description of a human giving birth to a half-vampire child was rather scary - bones breaking, etc. There also seemed to be more profanity in this one, possibly because Jacob narrates the middle third of the book!

Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story by Leonie Swann

2008-08-18T08:38:00.005-04:00

I recommend this book for: high school/grownups

In the small Irish town of Glenkill, a flock of sheep investigates the grisly murder of their shepherd.

I picked this one up because I read a good review . . . and I stuck with it because I wanted to find out what happened, but I wasn't thrilled with this book. Trying to figure out the motivations of the humans as viewed through the eyes of the sheep was difficult, and I found many parts of the book confusing. This could have partly been because of the translation (or partly because this is the first adult book I've read for some time!), but it threw me off. It was an interesting read, but I doubt I'll be picking up the author's next title.

On the Road

2008-07-15T10:16:00.003-04:00

The previous post is going to be my last book review for a while - it's vacation time! Since we're going on a road trip and I get very sick if I try to read in the car, there won't be much reading happening for the next three weeks, and I won't have much computer time either. Don't worry, I'll be back - with a review of a grownup book, no less! Happy summer!

The Oracle Betrayed by Catherine Fisher

2008-07-15T09:59:00.006-04:00

I recommend this book for: middle and high school

In a world somewhat based on Ancient Egypt, nine priestesses serve the god, who by turns takes form as a scorpion, a snake, and inhabits the body of one man, known as the Archon. The highest priestess is the Speaker, who communicates with the god through the Oracle - and the current Speaker is involved in a plot to replace the Archon with a puppet who can be controlled by herself and the general, her lover. The current Archon knows of the plot, and warns Mirany, the newest and meekest of the Nine, putting the fate of the nation in her very unsure hands. From doubting the very existence of the god, Mirany is suddenly risking her life to find and protect his new incarnation, a 10 year old boy, and making very unlikely alliances along the way.

The premise is fantastic, and this came highly recommended - so I was disappointed when I read this one. The world is well-built and interesting, and Fisher clearly spent a lot of time developing the culture and religion. The characters, however, left something to be desired. Mirany's change is very swift, and Rhetia, another priestess, seems to completely change motivations midway through the book. One plot point that bothered me was the law that a priestess who betrayed the Oracle was to be sealed alive in the tomb of the Archon. It works out here because the Archon has just been sacrificed - but what do they do if a priestess betrays the Oracle at another time? Kill the Archon off so she can be buried alive? Dig up the last one and throw her in? It just didn't fly with me. There were also a few places where I was unable to tell whether what was happening was actually happening or happening in a vision - and maybe that's what Fisher was going for, but I found it confusing. So overall, pretty interesting, but not a favorite, and I don't see myself reaching for the sequel anytime soon.

But hey, everyone else seemed to like it . . .

A Girl Named Disaster by Nancy Farmer

2008-07-08T12:35:00.004-04:00

I recommend this book for: middle and high school

Nhamo, whose name literally means "Disaster", lives in a small Shona village in Mozambique with her grandmother and aunts and uncles. Her mother was killed by a leopard when she was young, and she has never met her father. When a corrupt healer promises her family that the sickness in their village will end if they marry Nhamo to a cruel man who already has 3 wives, her grandmother tells her to flee to Zimbabwe, to find her father. She makes it sound simple, but the journey is far longer and more difficult than either of them could have imagined.

Nhamo sets out with a boat and supplies for a few days, but she gets set adrift and lost. She discovers islands where she can find supplies, but they are also inhabited by dangers both physical and spiritual. Her struggle to survive and get to Zimbabwe is complicated by damage to the boat, baboons, a witch named Long Teats and other African spirits, landmines, and Nhamo's own fears - and leaving a small traditional village for a city in 1981 provides its share of culture shock. She pulls through using her own intelligence, the help of spirits and her ancestors, and by telling stories to pass the time - one of my favorite parts of this book. A great read.

Reviews.

Sister Spider Knows All by Adrian Fogelin

2008-07-08T12:19:00.005-04:00

I recommend this book for: grade 5-8

Fun and moving. Rox is 12, and she lives with her grandmother (Mimi) and 23 year old cousin John Martin, who is very smart but is still in college because he has to work full time to try to support the family. Mimi and Rox do their part on weekends, selling grapes, pumpkins, and all sorts of odds and ends at a fleamarket. They struggle, but they're surviving. Life gets very shaken up when John Martin brings Lucy home - she's the rich daughter of a doctor, and she gets a big kick out of 'redneck' things like riding in the back of John Martin's truck and learning how to make fried chicken. Mimi can't stand her at first, but what Rox sees in Lucy is a big sister, someone to confide in.

There is a lot of story here, but I felt that the main focus was the relationships - between Rox and Lucy, Lucy and the family, Rox and the people at the fleamarket, and especially between Rox and the mother who ran off when her daughter was just 3 months old (that one is facilitated by a diary Rox finds in the attic). It was just a fantastic exploration of family, and a girl trying to figure out what it means for her.

Reviews.

Just a few things here, and they are spoilers: Rox's mother was only 17 when her daughter was born, and her diary reveals that she was rather wild as a teenager - not in detail, but some parents might be uncomfortable with it.

Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

2008-07-08T07:42:00.005-04:00

I recommend this book for: high school

Ruby is 17 and has been living alone for months. Her mother is an alcoholic who frequently disappears, but this time she doesn't come back. Ruby is working and going to school, managing just fine - or so she thinks until her landlords realize the situation. Suddenly Ruby is taken from her home and put under the care of her older sister, who she hasn't seen since the day Cora left for college almost 10 years earlier. Cora is now married, practices law, and has a huge house in an exclusive neighborhood. Ruby is also enrolled in private school, and the adjustment she has to make is huge. And then there's Nate, the attractive and extremely popular neighbor who insists on driving Ruby to school and being Mr. Nice Guy, but there's a lot more going on his life than he's letting on.

I'll admit, I didn't like this one as much as The Truth About Forever or Just Listen, but it was everything a Sarah Dessen book should be, and that's saying a lot. The characters are complex people in difficult situations, and Ruby comes out as a strong young lady. Not all of the issues are resolved by the end, but they're manageable, and you get the feeling that this group of people can handle whatever else might come their way. Definitely a good read!

Mini-reviews.

Some spoilers here! You knew there was going to be small print on a Dessen book! This one obviously deals with the alcoholism of Ruby's mother, and Ruby and her friends drink and smoke pot in the beginning of the book. Ruby is semi-dating a drug dealer as the book opens. However, Ruby leaves all of that behind her after a discussion with Cora in which she realizes that she's becoming too much like their mother. There's one scene where sex is implied, but it happens "off-camera", and Ruby mentions that her mother sometimes brought home strange men. One of the characters has a physically abusive parent.

A Stone In My Hand by Cathryn Clinton

2008-07-07T09:00:00.002-04:00

I recommend this book for: middle and high school

Malaak is 12 and lives in the Palestine of 1988. Occupying Israeli soldiers are everywhere, the Palestinian flag is banned, and unrest and violence are everywhere. Malaak's own father has disappeared, and her older brother's activities make her worry that he will be harmed as well. This is a detailed look at what war in the Middle East really means for people old and young (although Clinton makes note that she is writing a historical novel and not attempting to comment on the current political situation, certainly many of the details hold true in the present conflict) - school closings, barricades, terrorist attacks, disrupted funerals, broken families, and fear. Some of the scenes are difficult to read, but not gory, and it's definitely a worthwhile book.

Reviews.

The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene Dubois

2008-07-05T18:25:00.006-04:00

I recommend this book for: grades 4-6

Professor Sherman is ready to retire, and since he likes nothing better than hot air ballooning, he decides to retire in his balloon. Equipped with supplies for a year, he sets off over the Pacific with the intention of leisurely circumnavigating the globe. What he actually does is get rescued a mere 3 weeks later in the Atlantic Ocean, amidst the wreckage of not 1, but 20 hot air balloons. And despite the burning curiosity of everyone from the boat captain who rescues him to the President of the United States, Professor Sherman absolutely refuses to tell his story until he gets back to San Francisco, to the Explorer's Club of which he is an honorary member. As such, I wouldn't feel right revealing the details here ;-), but I can tell you that it involves the island of Krakatoa, a different restaurant for every day of the month, bumper couches, a fortune in diamonds, and a very, very big volcanic eruption. A charming and fun adventure that far exceeded my expectations, because I find that many of the older Newbery winners are a bit dull - this one was great!

Noman by William Nicholson

2008-07-05T18:14:00.005-04:00

I recommend this book for: middle and high school

Have you ever been looking forward to something so much, that your expectations are ridiculously high, and even though it's pretty good when it comes, you're still disappointed? That's what happened to me with this book. I can't rave enough about how fantastic Seeker and Jango are . . . and this one was just alright.

As it opens, Seeker is tracking the remaining savanters to finish his mission to kill them. But the Old Ones are crafty, and it's proving more difficult than expected. Meanwhile, Morning Star is getting fed up with the Wildman and life in the spiker army and sets out for home. When she gets there, she finds that everyone has abandoned the village and joined the Joy Boy, a young man who promises eternal life and joy to anyone who joins him - and his following has become huge. Although she is skeptical at first, Star quickly begins to believe him and sets out to bring him what he wants. And what he wants is Seeker.

The world is still beautiful, the thoughts on belief and religion thought-provoking, but I found the characters somewhat disappointing. Seeker has become so powerful that it's hard to empathize with him, and I found the glimpse into his future more confusing than enlightening. As for the romance, it seemed a bit too predictable in the end, and the ending was too neat for the group of characters who destroyed and then recreated the world order.

No real reviews on Amazon, but you can read an excerpt.

The Secret Under My Skin by Janet McNaughton

2008-06-30T11:44:00.004-04:00

I recommend this book for: grade 7 and up

In a future where the planet has been ravaged by pollution and extreme weather and the people fear technology, a girl who can't even remember her name gets the chance for a new life. Blay grew up on the streets, under the care of an older girl and master thief, protected by one of the tribes of homeless children who roam the city. She now lives in a work camp, picking through a dump for anything useful, and reading poetry in her spare time. It is the reading that gives her a new chance - the opportunity to help Marella pass the tests to become a bio-indicator (someone who is sensitive to the pollution in the environment and helps to protect the people). But there's more here than a tutoring assignment - there's a whole revolution, and everything Blay has learned about the past (of the nation, and her own personal history) is called into question.

This complex setting is actually explained much better than this in the book. Blay is an interesting character, and although the environmental message can be somewhat preachy, the story was still compelling enough to keep me reading. Not a favorite, but not bad, either.

They liked it!

Seeker by William Nicholson

2008-06-23T11:48:00.004-04:00

I recommend this book for: middle and high school

A re-read for me, and so worth it! I summarized the first book in my review of Jango, so I won't go into much detail here, but allow me to recommend the Noble Warriors series for fans of fantasy and adventure. I love the fast pace of the plot, the banter between the characters, and the way Nicholson follows a well-known formula but makes it feel fresh and exciting. Even on the second read, I devoured this one and the sequel, and I'm biting my nails waiting for Noman to come in for me!

Read it from the pros.

Quaking by Kathryn Erskine

2008-06-23T11:29:00.005-04:00

I recommend this book for: grade 8+

Matt was abused as a child, and has been shuffled from relative to relative for years. Every time, her attitude and emotional damage have been enough to make them send her on. She's now on her last chance, a Quaker couple who have already adopted a mentally retarded five year old boy. Sam and Jessica are kind and peace-loving - in fact, Sam is in charge of weekly peace demonstrations in their community. This puts him in danger, as a series of attacks have been hitting churches, the mosque, and other organizations that do not support the war in Iraq. Matt takes flak at school from a bully she calls the Rat and the civics teacher she dubs "Mr. Warhead" because of his propaganda-filled lessons, simply because they don't think she is 'patriotic' enough. They're completely ridiculous, and unfortunately, that makes them more believable these days.

Despite her normal M.O. of not getting attached to anyone, Matt finds herself beginning to care about her new family and what happens to them, and tempted to join the peace club at school to make a stand against the violence and repression she sees. Definitely a thought provoking book, although it had a few problems. The one thing that really annoyed me was the fact that Matt never used contractions - it was definitely a bold choice for her character, but many times it made her sound like a sarcastic, emotionally damaged robot. Despite that, her voice was interesting and her growth was wonderful to watch. The best part of the book was the developing relationship between Matt, Sam and Jessica, and the little boy they adopted.

Reviews.

* The parental stuff: There is a lot of violence in the community, as well as in Matt's past, which gets described in flashbacks. She frequently talks about God - sometimes reverently, and many times not. She often observes the group of bullies drinking and smoking.*

The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman

2008-06-20T07:22:00.004-04:00

I recommend this book for: grades 3-5

What kid doesn't dream about having a homework machine? Probably even before Shel Silverstein's poem planted the idea in millions of heads, kids have been looking for ways to escape homework without getting into trouble. This book explores what happens when a team of four unlikely companions get stuck together in their 5th grade classroom. At first there is a lot of tension between the new kid, the smart girl, the not-so-smart girl, and the genius/loser (they're definitely archetypes, but each character is interesting and not just a stereotype) - until genius Brenton tells them about his homework machine. Suddenly he's much more popular - but is it really a good idea to share his invention? What happens if they get caught?

A fun read, with the interesting premise and the growth of the characters and their relationships. One I definitely recommend to the older elementary crowd!

Reviews - but there are important spoilers in the first one, so I wouldn't recommend reading that!

Going Under by Kathe Koja

2008-06-15T20:31:00.006-04:00

I recommend this book for: high school

Hilly and her older brother Ivan have always been very close, pilot and co-pilot. They've been home schooled by their (largely clueless) parents and have always depended on one another. This novel is narrated by both of them, and as it progresses the reader comes to understand that the one who seems to be the unreliable narrator is really the one who has it together.

Unfortunately, the storyline was only so-so. Hilly is plunged into darkness when a friend from a public school commits suicide. She wants to deal with it in her own way, by writing privately in her journal, but she is forced into counseling by her parents, then forced to switch therapists by her brother. The new therapist sounds brilliant, but his main goal isn't helping teen girls to heal - it's exploiting them, and Hilly is his new target. It wasn't really believable, but it had good points, such as the extended metaphor of Persephone in the underworld, and the rich and complex relationships between Hilly, Ivan, and to a lesser extent, their parents. And Hilly's poem at the end is chill-inducing. This isn't my favorite Koja book - if you really want to see what she can do, try Kissing the Bee instead.

Reviews.

*I already mentioned that teen suicide plays a role in this book - other issues you may want to be aware of are language, teen smoking (Ivan), and sexuality (Ivan again!)

Araminta Spookie: My Haunted House by Angie Sage

2008-06-09T23:00:00.005-04:00

I recommend this book for: grades 1-3

A fun fun fun start to the series! Araminta Spookie (isn't that a fantastic name?) lives in a haunted house, where she has a different bedroom for every day of the week, her uncle has a large tower to keep his many bats, and they both agree that their home is perfect. Unfortunately, Aunt Tabby feels otherwise - she's tired of bats and spiders, and most of all she's tired of fighting with the boiler, which likes to throw tantrums and soot frequently. Aunt Tabby has decided that the house is going up for sale. Araminta, however, has other plans, which involve fiendish stares, impersonating ghosts, and scaring away anyone who has an interest in the house. The crisis comes when a family comes to look at the house and everything she does to scare them away makes them more interested. And did I mention the real ghosts?

This one was great! There were a few things that may need to be explained to children (like what a boiler is, the role of a real estate agent, and a few British-isms), but it was very enjoyable with a strong plot, interesting characters, and a situation that many kids can understand - not wanting to move. This one gets an A!

Hmm, not everyone loved it . . .
Don't read the first review if you don't want the ending ruined!

Rules by Cynthia Lord

2008-06-01T17:14:00.003-04:00

I recommend this book for: grade 4-7

Catherine is 12, and her little brother David is a problem. He can't help it, because he is autistic, but that doesn't make it any easier to explain why he won't keep his pants on if they get wet, or why the first thing he does when he goes to anyone's house is to tear through it and make sure the basement door is closed. Or why he quotes extensively from Frog and Toad Are Friends rather than using his own words. She loves her brother, but their parents have little attention to spare for her, and now Catherine is afraid that he's going to hurt her social life when a new girl who's sure to be popular moves in next door.

Her vision changes a bit when she meets Jason at the office of David's therapist. Jason is a few years older than Catherine and in a wheelchair, and he can't physically speak. He communicates by pointing to words printed on cards in a binder. As Catherine starts making new words for him and they become friends, she's forced to make choices about how to spend her time and what is most important. This is a great book, with real characters, funny moments, and a protagonist who does the best she can.

Read it from the pros.

Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling

2008-06-01T16:58:00.005-04:00

I recommend this book for: age 4 and up

One of my favorite books from childhood, Just So Stories is a collection of tales that explain why things are the way they are - how the camel got his hump, how the alphabet was invented, where the elephant got such a long nose, and more. Children will meet a mariner with suspenders (which are very important - take care not to forget the suspenders!), a very naughty Elephant's Child, a Camel who says "humph" so much that he earns one of his very own, and a Cat who walks by himself. What makes these tales really special is Kipling's diction - the stories got their name from his daughter's insistence that he tell them over and over just so, with not a word left out . . . and what words he uses! Some of my favorite phrases include "the great gray-green greasy Limpopo River" and a very wise, very verbose "Bi-Colored Python Rock Snake." Many of the words might be challenging or require explanation, but these tales are meant to be read aloud, and even young children need to hear wordplay like this and will enjoy the funny sounds of the words. The strange word choices form oddly lyrical prose, and my guess is that there is more than one child who will beg to hear them over and over - as I did.

Reviews, Best Beloved - have you forgotten the suspenders?

Davey's Blue-Eyed Frog by Patricia Harrison Easton

2008-06-01T16:46:00.004-04:00

I recommend this book for: grades 1-2

Davey is playing by the pond, catching tadpoles with his neighbor Becky when he finds something even better than a tadpole. He finds a frog – and it talks! She claims to be an enchanted princess who needs to be kissed soon to change back, but Davey isn't so sure . . . and if she is telling the truth, he wants the frog to put on a good show for his friends before he smooches her. What could have been an interesting fantasy for low-level readers becomes essentially a moral dilemma - should he kiss her and free her, or wait to show her off for his friends and take the chance that the time allotted by the spell will pass? This is certainly a serviceable story, but it really didn't do much for me. One thing I hated was how Easton kept hitting the reader over the head with the fact that Davey wasn't very responsible about pets, to create fear for what was going to happen to Princess Amelia. I'd still recommend it, especially to boys who are ready for early chapter books, but it's not a favorite.

But the pros sure seem to dig it . . .

Brevity is the soul of book reviews

2008-06-01T16:42:00.002-04:00

FYI - some of the reviews might be very short for a while. I don't think I ever go on and on and on about a book (okay, maybe a few of the really juicy ones!), but I'm trying to catch up now on blogging a month's worth of reading. I've been reading almost exclusively from my library's summer reading list to prepare for booktalking, so my apologies for what will probably result in very short reviews for a while. At least I'm back!

Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City by Kirsten Miller

2008-06-01T16:13:00.004-04:00

I recommend this book for: grades 5-9

What do you get when you mix Eastern European royalty, a secret city below the streets of New York, a band of rogue girl scouts, and a little espionage? You get the Irregulars, a band of very talented young women led by the mysterious, elf-like Kiki Strike.

Ananka Fishbein has more brains than she knows what to do with and is an outsider at her exclusive private school. Life gets interesting for her when she sees a city park collapse to reveal an underground room, and a mysterious figure fleeing from it. With a mystery to solve, Ananka starts to seek out answers and finds the Shadow City, a complicated network of tunnels and rooms that were a haven for thieves, smugglers, and undesirables of every variety in New York's history. When she meets Kiki Strike and is offered the chance to explore the Shadow City and possibly find wealth beyond her wildest dreams, Ananka finds it difficult to say no. But is Kiki really who she says she is, or does she have a more sinister purpose than any of the Irregulars could guess?

This was a very fun, fast-moving book. It requires a lot of suspension of disbelief - many of the young characters are either too smart or too evil for even adolescent girls - but the storyline is compelling and exciting. I loved Ananka's narration, particularly when she gave out tidbits such as this:

The Boy Scouts were onto something when they advised their members to "Be Prepared." They understood that those who prepare will prevail. Why they chose not to share that bit of wisdom with their sister organization is anyone's guess. Maybe they couldn't handle the competition (83).

Ananka also gives out handy lists of tips for girls embarking on their own adventures, such as "How to Care for an Injured Colleague", "How to Foil a Kidnapping", and "How to Be a Master of Disguise." Major fun, with a serious dose of girl power.

How to Read Reviews of a Fabulous Book.

Bella at Midnight by Diane Stanley

2008-05-10T07:53:00.005-04:00

I recommend this book for: grade 4-7

In this reworked Cinderella tale, infant Bella is sent to live with peasants by her cruel father, a knight who can't deal with the death of his wife. Prince Julian is the insignificant fourth son, who was nursed by Bella's new foster mother and frequently comes to visit "Princess Bella." The wicked stepmother thinks only of herself and her daughters, but she has suffered hard times of her own and does what she must to make a life for them. The fairy godmother is Bella's maternal aunt, who isn't magical in the slightest but does possess some beautiful clothes and some very interesting glass shoes.

There is more at work in this story than the traditional rags to riches love story. Julian's kingdom has been at war with a neighboring realm for 100 years, and stories of the brutality exhibited by the other nation run rampant - and are wonderfully proved to be false when circumstances force Bella to make a journey there. There is also a great deal of faith exhibited by the characters, who frequently speak of God and hope for better times, then act on their faith. And there is magic. I found it refreshing to read a book where religion and magic went hand in hand explicitly. Bella is a wonderful heroine, who exhibits doubts but ultimately does what she knows to be right and saves the day. Older readers will probably realize the big twist at the end, but it shouldn't keep them from enjoying it. Despite the somewhat scary cover, this is a worthwhile read for fans of fairy tales and strong girls.

Reviews.

The Entertainer and the Dybbuk by Sid Fleischman

2008-05-10T07:28:00.003-04:00

I recommend this book for: ?

Freddie is a struggling American ventriloquist working his way through Europe post-WWII. His act isn't fantastic until a dybbuk (a possessing spirit from Jewish folklore) shows up in his closet and makes him an offer he can't refuse - fame and fortune in return for the use of his body. Suddenly Freddie is one of the most sought-after entertainers in the trade, because not only is the dybbuk funny, but he can speak while Freddie drinks a glass of water and performs other 'impossible' stunts. Audiences everywhere are amazed. But the dybbuk doesn't just want to make people laugh - he wants to tell them some ugly truths about the Holocaust, and he wants help in tracking down the SS officer who killed him just before his 13th birthday.

I wasn't exactly sure what to make of this book. It certainly showed a familiar topic in a different light, and the relationship between the two main characters was interesting. However, I'm not sure where it should fit as far as age group is concerned. Freddie is in his early 20s, the dybbuk was nearly 13 when he was killed, and that would normally indicate YA to me, as would some of the grisly descriptions. However, much of the language and explanation seems targeted to a younger crowd, and the resolution is somewhat tidy and reassuring. An interesting read, but not a favorite.

The pros.

Your Own, Sylvia: a verse portrait of Sylvia Plath by Stephanie Hemphill

2008-05-04T16:00:00.005-04:00

I recommend this book for: high school and adults (particularly poetic types)

Novels in verse are becoming more common, and this one marries the form to the subject beautifully. Hemphill applies extensive research and a clear love for Sylvia Plath's poetry to a fictionalized account of the poet's stormy life. The collection begins with a poem by "A Reader" in Spring 2007, then moves back to Sylvia's mother on the day of the poet's birth. Using the voices of Plath's family, friends, and others who came into contact with her, an idea of her life comes into focus. There are also poems with the heading "Imagining Sylvia Plath" - each of these takes the form of one of Plath's famous works and expresses what may have been her thoughts and emotions as she moves through school and boyfriends, marriage, motherhood, and her various episodes with depression and suicide attempts.

Beautifully written, this is really an engrossing read. At the bottom of each poem is a short blurb with information about Plath's real life, and most of them are related to the topic of the poem. I found myself torn between reading the poem first or reading the information - both were informative and interesting. A definite winner.

Reviews.

*Plath lived a rocky life, struggling with depression. This book doesn't flinch away from the ugly feelings and events, including sexual abuse, her husband's infidelity, and Sylvia's suicide attempts - the last of which succeeded.

Dear Blog . . .

2008-04-23T15:32:00.002-04:00

I know I've been ignoring you. I hope you don't take it personally, as my husband, my journal, and my housework are all suffering from similar cases of end-of-the-semester neglect. What it comes down to is the fact that my final paper is due on May 22nd and I have yet to firmly nail down a topic, what with doing all of the other assignments for this class . . . I know, excuses don't make it right, but I really am very sorry, and we'll have a whole summer together to catch up before the fall semester starts. I hope you'll understand.

Apologetically yours,
Krystel

Unwind by Neal Shusterman

2008-04-03T10:32:00.003-04:00

I recommend this book for: grade 7 and up

Sometimes teens feel like the world doesn't respect them or treat them like real people, and they have a point. But just wait until they read this . . .

In a future America, abortion has been banned. The population explodes, and to make up for it, unwinding has been introduced. Everyone has the chance to live up to age 13. Between the ages of 13 and 18, legal guardians have the option of having their children unwound - sent to a harvest camp to be essentially recycled for parts. Instead of fixing medical problems, surgeons replace the organs and limbs of adults with healthy young parts from unwinds. An unwinding order is irreversible, and there's an entire force of juvie cops dedicated to finding runaway unwinds and bringing them in to serve their useful purpose.

In alternating chapters, Unwind tells the story of three teens sent to be unwound. Connor ran away from home when he found out that his parents were sending him to harvest camp because of his problematic behavior. Along the way he encounters (and kidnaps) Lev, a 13 year old who has been prepared for unwinding from his childhood - his parents are offering him as a tithe, as prescribed by their religion. Then there's Risa, an orphaned piano player who was deemed by the state not quite good enough to justify the cost of keeping her in one piece. The three band together to face the challenge of staying alive to 18, and the difficult process puts them in the path of the law, terrorists, and outlaws who help unwinds in a modern day Underground Railroad. This is a chilling and fascinating book, with characters who are as complex as the world in which they live. I became deeply attached to the three main characters, and the various story threads are woven together beautifully. I'll be recommending this one to older fans of Shadow Children and scary stories, but not to kids who can't handle a bit of the disturbing. This is a story that will stay with readers.

Really? No reviews on Amazon? There is an excerpt of the first chapter, though!

A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass

2008-04-03T10:18:00.004-04:00

I recommend this book for: middle and high school

Mia is 13 and sees colors - words, names, sounds, and numbers all have colors for her. She has kept it secret since she figured out that she was the only one, but the truth has finally come out. She has synesthesia, and although it is rare, she's not the only one. Life is suddenly different in a big way - she has an online community of people who understand how she sees things to support her and recommend ways of coping with and celebrating her uniqueness, but on the other hand, her best friend is furious with her for keeping the secret, her parents don't understand, and her failing math grade isn't getting much better. Can she balance these two worlds?

This was an intriguing book that really showed what it might be like to live with synesthesia and provided good information without sacrificing the storyline. Mia's withdrawal from the people who loved her most in favor of those she thought would understand her better was believable, and the trigger that brought her back equally so. The characters were mostly well-drawn and realistic, and the relationships compelling. There was really only one problem I had with the book - I find it difficult to believe that any licensed professional would provide acupuncture to a 13-year old without a parent's permission. Otherwise, though, this was a completely engrossing read.

What the pros said.

Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles

2008-03-30T17:06:00.004-04:00

I recommend this book for: high school

Maggie had a crush on Caleb a long time ago - before he was arrested for driving the car that hit her, ruining her leg, her tennis career, and her life. He was drunk, and the accident was a hit and run. After nine months she's finally going back to school, and he is being released from juvenile detention. As they come into contact again, all of their hurt and other emotions come out, ending with the most surprising one of all. Maggie's normal life has been wrecked by the accident, but so has Caleb's, and the story of their friendship and more is thrilling to read. I really appreciated Maggie's strength, the complexity of Caleb's character, and (although it upset me for about 30 seconds when I first finished the book), the lack of a traditional happy ending. A few plot threads weren't tied up as neatly as I would have liked, but then, that's real life. Compelling stuff!

Professional reviews.

So, there's obviously teen drinking in this one, although Caleb does not drink after his return from prison - but his friends do. Caleb does continue to hook up with his ex-girlfriend, who is now dating one of his friends.

The small print

2008-03-30T16:49:00.003-04:00

If you read reguarly (I'm not sure that anyone does, but if so, thanks a lot!) you've probably noticed that I've started discussing the content of books that some might find objectionable in small print at the bottom of each post. I'd like to clarify my intention in doing this. I am in no way attempting to censor these books or to suggest that young people should not read them - it is the job of individuals to determine what they should or should not read for themselves, and of course parents have the right to determine what is appropriate for their children.

What I'm trying to do with the small print is to let people know that if they object to strong language, some of these books may not be for them - ditto for sexual content, drug use, lots of violence, etc. I know some parents are very concerned about these issues, so I'd like to be able to give a heads up - I think that's part of good reader's advisory, as I certainly don't want to send anyone home with a glowing recommendation for something he or she will find offensive. One of the more frequent questions I get asked about teen literature is "Will this book be appropriate for my middle schooler?" and I'd like to be able to answer that question by letting parents know what is in the book and letting them decide for themselves. Consider it fair warning. If it's not important to you, you can skip the small print from now on. I hope that makes my intentions clear.

Harmless by Dana Reinhardt

2008-03-30T16:32:00.003-04:00

I recommend this book for: high school

Mariah is the coolest girl in the freshman class at a small private school. Anna and Emma have been best friends since 3rd grade, but they're practically nobody until Mariah starts hanging out with them. Then she invites them to spend the night with her at her older boyfriend's house - no parents, and public school guys enough for everyone. They lie to their parents, thinking no harm will be done, but when they get caught, they concoct a story about being attacked by a man with a knife. Suddenly the three girls are heroes in their community, the center of attention at safety assemblies and rallies to take back the streets. Then a man is arrested for the crime, and the girls have to face what they have done.

This was an interesting book that brought up a lot of issues about honesty and the consequences of actions. I had a hard time getting completely into it for a few reasons - one was that all of the male characters (with the exception of the police officers, and to a degree, Emma's brother) seemed to be almost completely centered around sex. The other was that Mariah seemed very one dimensional up until the point where the homeless man was arrested - then she had misgivings about what she had done and began pondering the consequences of her actions, but not before. Not a favorite.

But hey, they liked it . . .

Okay, now for the small print stuff - as you probably gathered from the part above, sex plays a huge part in this book. There's the made-up sexual assault, but there's also the party where Emma loses her virginity to a boy she has just met, and Mariah's older boyfriend is just using her for sex. Nothing more graphic than hickeys gets described, but the attitude is very casual. There's drinking and swearing as well.

Re-gifters by Mike Carey, Marc Hempel, and Sonny Liew

2008-03-30T16:20:00.004-04:00

I recommend this book for: middle and high school

This one is a definite winner! Dixie is a Korean-American girl who practices hap ki do, but her balance is completely thrown by Adam, a cute boy in her dojang. She blows the money she was supposed to use to enter the national hap ki do championship to buy him an expensive birthday gift, only to have him toss it aside in favor of a Superman Returns dvd from a popular girl. Her family is too poor to pay for her entry now, and a lot rides on her doing well in the tournament. Several twists follow, which made for a story that fit together perfectly and a climax that made me want to laugh out loud and cheer (okay, I really did laugh out loud, but I managed to keep the cheering inside my head. . . I think.) I studied hap ki do in college, and I was happy to see that the authors used the Korean terms accurately - at least, as far as I could tell. The characters were lively and enjoyable in both the art and the dialogue, and I was left hoping for more volumes chronicling the life of this heroine who literally kicks butt.

Re-viewers.

Rucker Park Setup by Paul Volponi

2008-03-18T21:29:00.004-04:00

So I just found this one in my manage post sections and realized I had never posted it . . . I read the book months ago, but here's what I remember about it!

I recommend this book for: high school

Mackey and his best friend J.R. live and breathe basketball, spending most of their time playing at legendary Rucker Park. They can't wait to play in the huge championship there, which could mean hitting the big time for both of them. Then J.R. is stabbed on the court, and Mackey, feeling immensely guilty, has to choose how he will go on.

This was a gritty book, full of basketball and street violence, rappers and gangstas. The narration puts the reader inside Mackey's head, which isn't always a pleasant place to be. Readers may not agree with all of his choices, but they certainly could generate discussion - what would other people do if they were in Mackey's sneakers?

No professional reviews on Amazon, but there is some more info.

*Contains violence and mature language

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

2008-03-18T12:59:00.005-04:00

I recommend this book for: grades 3-6

One of the true tests of popularity for books is when the holds list reaches 20 or more (due to at least one kid asking for it daily). This book has it, at least in my system.

Greg Heffley is keeping a journal - NOT a diary, even though that's what it says on the cover - and not because he wants to, but because his mom thought it would be a good idea. In it he chronicles his (largely unsuccessful) quest for popularity and his adventures with his best friend Rowley, which include getting chased by high school kids on Halloween and hosed down by Greg's father, performing as a singing tree in the school musical, and trying to avoid a really old and smelly piece of cheese on the basketball court.

I can see why kids like this book - it has really funny moments, and Greg is fairly clueless, which makes him an interesting character. He's also ridiculously self-centered (which you could argue is an adolescent trait, but I'd like to think that most kids have a conscience, which Greg doesn't seem to develop until the last few pages), and some of his antics are more mean-natured than oblivious. I really couldn't like him as a character, which kept me from being a huge fan of the book - but the kids are dying to read it, particularly some of the reluctant boys, which I am a huge fan of, so yay Jeff Kinney!

Reviews that are less conflicted.

His Dark Materials and an informed public

2008-03-06T10:56:00.005-05:00

Right, so I started off on a tangent from my last post about The Ruby in the Smoke, and just kept going, so although I intended to just ignore the whole controversy and take the high road, it seems my dander is still up. Here we go!

I loved His Dark Materials. I am a Christian. I was not offended - in fact, I admired the characters in the novels who were strong enough and sensible enough to recognize the difference between what was the right thing to do and what an organization that was abusing its power to keep the rest of the population under its strict control said was the right thing to do. I think the whole debate that broke when the movie came out is ridiculous. If you want to read it or watch it, do so. That goes for any book, film, tv show, etc. If you don't want your kids to read it or see it, I respect that, but do the world a favor and develop an informed opinion by actually reading it for yourself first. How else will you know what you think of the material? You can always stop if you find it inappropriate. You can prevent your children from reading it or watching it- that's your right as a parent. What you do not have the right to do is say that because you find something inappropriate, no child should have access to it. That takes away the rights of other parents and their children. We often hear in library land that if we removed everything that offended someone, there would be nothing left on the shelves, and it's quite true. Need an example? I hate Elmo. But I respect that others want to experience Elmo, so I haven't checked out all of the Elmo videos and destroyed them. I haven't complained to the administration. I choose not to watch Elmo myself, but I don't keep others from having the opportunity to do so. This is how a public library works.

Intellectual freedom aside, I would say that Pullman wasn't maligning religion in his books at all - he was condemning the kind of organization (and I personally think it could be religious, governmental, what have you) that keeps people in ignorance. "Don't read that, it could hurt you!" Of course, I'm just a crazy liberal librarian who doesn't believe in banning books, but it seems to me that standing up against something just because you got a chain email about it or there was a notice in the church bulletin, without having any personal knowledge, is dangerous. For one thing, where did the folks writing that get their information? How far along the chain would you have to go before you found someone who had actually read the material firsthand? It makes me think of the Middle Ages, where nobody could read the Bible except for the priests, and sometimes not even them . . . people just had to blindly follow whatever the priest said was in the scriptures, and I don't think I need to go into detail about how much corruption there was in those days because of it. That's the kind of thing the characters in His Dark Materials are fighting against - keeping people in the dark. And how do you get out of the dark? Personal knowledge. Read the book - unlike all of those unfortunate serfs, we have the option (and I might even add, the responsibility) of finding out for ourselves. Don't just take anyone's word for it. Develop your own opinion.

End of rant. For now.

The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman

2008-03-06T10:23:00.005-05:00

I recommend this book for: grade 7 and up

Before there was Lyra, there was Sally Lockhart. I picked this up thinking, "Victorian mystery? Feisty heroine? What's not to like?" And I'm rather pleased with this one, overall.

Sally Lockhart is the 16 year old daughter of a recently deceased merchant. Within the first couple of pages she accidentally kills a man with a few words - "the seven blessings." What does the message mean, and who sent it to her after her father's death at sea? As she investigates she learns that her father was murdered and that, somehow, a ruby famous for causing destruction is her inheritance - if she can find it before the others who want it do. A fun mystery and adventure in the underbelly of London, complete with street children, opium addicts, betrayal, and yes, a bit of romance.

But don't take my word for it . . .

*This is a very clean read - sex mentioned only obliquely, only a few instances of profanity, and for those Golden Compass-haters out there, no portrayal of religion** - but opium is a huge presence in the novel. Although the effects of the drug are clearly portrayed (a few characters are completely ruined as a result of their addiction, and realistically so), there is also an important plot point that hinges on Sally having an opium dream. She uses it only once, and fearfully, but it is portrayed as the only way for her to get a crucial answer to one of her questions. Just thought you might like to know!

** See the next post for my rant about the His Dark Materials controversy - it became longer than my original post, so I decided to make it a separate post.

Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell, ill. by Nathan Bean

2008-03-02T17:23:00.004-05:00

I recommend this book for: grades 4-5

Emmy is miserable, and for good reason. Although she gets good grades and has won 2 whole shelves full of awards and trophies, nobody notices her. Not her classmates, not her teacher, and not even her parents, who recently inherited a large fortune and now spend all of their time taking expensive vacations. Emmy spends all of her time in the care of Miss Barmy, a nanny who enrolls Emmy in every kind of class imaginable, forces her to take all sorts of vile medicines and see the school psychologist regularly, and is generally cruel. Emmy is upset about her life but fairly resigned to it until the first conversation she has with the class pet - a rat who sneers when students make mistakes and bites any finger that comes into his cage - about the merits of being bad. That's when the excitement begins . . .

As it turns out, rodents have special powers. They can all talk, but the Rat's bite can make humans understand rodent speech, among other curious effects . . . Emmy's experiment with being bad leads her to some new friends - human and rodent - who help her to find out what is really going on in her house, and how to save her parents and herself from Miss Barmy's clutches.

I thought this was a fantastic book. It reminded me of Roald Dahl mixed with the Rats of NIMH, and it made a delightful combination. The rodent and human characters are interesting and . . . perhaps believable isn't the right word, but their relationships work. The names of the adults are silly and reveal something of their character (in addition to Miss Barmy, there is Cheswick Vole and Professor Maxwell Capybara). My only complaint is the openness of the ending - after enjoying these characters so much, I really wanted to know what became of all of the rodents, whether Joe and his father managed to get along better, and what family life was like for Emmy and her parents in the end. Overall, though, this is a very fun read!

Reviews from the pros.

A Lifetime of Secrets by Frank Warren

2008-02-22T11:08:00.009-05:00

I recommend this book for: high school and adults

If you're not familiar with PostSecret, do yourself a favor and check it out.

Frank Warren began PostSecret as an art project, asking people to make post cards with their secrets written on them on them and mail them to him. This simple project has turned into a phenomenon, with hundreds of postcards pouring in daily, and Warren has exhibited them all over the country. This is the 4th collection of PostSecret cards to be published in book format, and it's wonderful. You can read straight through or browse at your leisure. Arranged by the approximate age of the person with the secret, the cards range from beautifully artistic to scrawled on the back of an envelope, messages of despair, grief, hope, and above all, honesty. Some of the contributers have written because they have no one to tell, or nobody will believe them, and it's amazingly cathartic to read the secrets of strangers. Some of the secrets are a bit dirty (in more than one sense of the word), so recommended for high school and up. This should be of special interest to those who love art and people with secrets of their own - and really, who doesn't?

More PostSecret fun: go to the video for Dirty Little Secret to see some more featured secrets. The Yahoo! music player worked best for me.

Hmm, no real reviews for the book on Amazon, but you can look at the intro and some sample cards and see how you like them!

Emma and Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

2008-02-16T12:49:00.006-05:00

I did it! One of my goals in life was to read all of Jane Austen's novels, and I'm done! I'm not going to do extensive reviews on either of my final two, but here are my thoughts: Emma has supplanted Pride and Prejudice as my favorite Austen novel - Emma herself is so complex, and she grows immensely during the story. It was fantastic and funny. Mansfield Park is very different from the other books - darker, slower-moving, and the protagonist is much more timid than any of Austen's other heroines, but still enjoyable. Now what classics shall I turn to for breaks from the kid/teen lit world?

Sara's Face by Melvin Burgess

2008-02-14T19:04:00.005-05:00

I recommend this book for: high school

Sara Carter is destined to be famous - that's what she believes. She's a complex, scary 17 year old who sees ghosts, becomes different people for weeks on end, and self injures. She sees plastic surgery as a way to make all of her dreams come true, and meeting Jonathon Heat is her big chance. Heat, a pop star/cultural icon whose face has collapsed after too many surgeries, offers her the chance to get the work she wants done and make her big debut with him - but once she's moved into his mansion, Sara and the people around her begin to realize that the deal is not exactly what it appears . . . Heat is desperate to get a new face, but would he stoop to stealing one from a teenage girl? Or has he already tried it before . . .?

Burgess covers a lot of territory in this novel written in the style of a true crime narrative. The narrator is an unnamed journalist who frequently quotes his interviews with Sara's boyfriend, best friend, mother, nurse, and other people around her. Sara herself is absent except for in excerpts of her video diary. A compelling read that deals with celebrity, body image, reality, and how far people are willing to go for what they want.

*Note: The plot centers around a teen girl in a celebrity's house, and there's a good bit of the scandal you might imagine involved. The sex and drinking aren't graphic, but they are definitely present, and there's a good bit of profanity.

From the pros.

Dramarama by E. Lockhart

2008-02-13T10:05:00.004-05:00

I recommend this book for: high school

Sarah lives in a boring small town in Ohio but longs for glamour. She fills up her lonely hours with watching musicals and tap lessons, trying to find a release for the "lurking bigness" inside her. Then she goes to an audition for a summer theatre camp and meets Demi - a boy who plays as straight as they come at school but really likes boys and Liza Minelli. From the day of the audition, they're inseperable, and Sarah (now dubbed Sadye) knows they're destined for stardom. They go to camp together convinced their dreams are all about to come true, using a tape recorder to document the experience "for posterity."

Now of course, drama camp isn't that easy - there's always rivalry, backstabbing, romantic tension, big fights, poor directing, and huge decisions to deal with, as well as a colorful array of characters. I loved every minute of reading this book, and every time I was compelled to put it down, I walked away wondering what would happen next. The climax was one I definitely didn't predict, and although I was disappointed at first, the ending turned out to be perfect. This is a fantastic read for teens who love theatre (it does help to be somewhat familiar with Guys and Dolls, although Lockhart does a good job of explaining the necessary points) or anyone who is curious about what happens behind the scenes. Fun fun fun!

Note: There is a good bit of profanity, some teen drinking, and mention of sex in this book. Don't say I didn't warn you!

Tell me more, tell me more!

Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature by Robin Brande

2008-02-13T09:40:00.005-05:00

I recommend this book for: grade 7 and up

Mena is an only child who used to go to church with her parents and all of her friends. Then she got kicked out because of something she did - something she was sure was right, but the result is that the church is being sued by a young man and his parents. No longer welcomed by her church family, largely ignored by her disappointed parents, and persecuted by the youth group that made up her circle of friends (they call her Judas), Mena is not enjoying the beginning of her high school career. One bright spot turns out to be biology class, which is taught by the brilliant Ms. Shepherd, and where her lab partner is a smart, funny, and pretty cute boy whose biggest problem with her is that she's never seen Lord of the Rings (sorcery isn't allowed in her house).

And then Ms. Shepherd begins the evolution unit, and the church group decides to fight against it. As the drama unfolds in Mena's classroom she has to choose where she stands on science and faith, how close to get to Casey and his family, and how to relate to her parents in the aftermath of her big decision.

What made this book for me? The characters were wonderful, from nerdy/cute Casey and his bossy, activist sister to the youth group girl who wears her Jesus Freak shirt two sizes too small to show off her chest. Mena's narrative voice is dead on, funny but making you feel for her at the same time. Watching Mena's life evolve is fantastically satisfying, and the themes of questioning faith and friendships are applicable to the lives of many teens.

The pros. The first two chapters are excerpted after the review, and if they don't make you want to read this book, I don't know what will!

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schliltz, illustrated by Robert Byrd

2008-02-05T11:05:00.000-05:00

I recommend this book for: grade 6-9

This one was so cool! As a theatre person, I appreciated the monologue form, which gave the characters their own voices to tell about their lives. It also gave the reader a sense of the interconnectedness of the small village, how everyone depended on the others. There were great details (including gross ones like kidneys and fleas that the boys are sure to appreciate), and the background essays that give context to some of the monologues were well-written, informative, and interesting without ever taking up more than two pages. This would be a solid choice for historical fiction assignments, pleasure reading for kids interested in the time period, or for a reader's theater performance (oh how I hope that wouldn't be copyright infringement - it begs to be read aloud for an audience!) My personal favorite was Giles the beggar, who gets the last word in the book and makes the most of it.

From the pros.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

2008-01-31T16:45:00.001-05:00

I recommend this book for: grade 4-7

Wow and a half. I was slightly skeptical when I found out that this one won the Caldecott, but now I'm a definite supporter.

Hugo Cabret is an orphan, the son of a clockmaker who has inherited his love and dexterity for fixing things. He now lives in a train station in Paris, where he keeps the clocks running for his uncle - but his uncle has disappeared, and Hugo is forced to turn to stealing to get enough food. The other thing he has to steal is parts to finish the project his father was working on when he died - an automaton, a mechanical man with a pen. Hugo is sure that if he can make the man write again, he'll get a message from his father. Then the man who runs the toy booth realizes Hugo is stealing from him and takes away his book of drawings of the automaton - and with it Hugo's every hope of being able to repair it.

This is just the beginning. The story is incredible, and it takes you on a tour of Paris in the 1930s, especially when it comes to early films. The presentation is amazing as well, as there are quite possibly more pages of (gorgeous black and white) pictures than there are of text. It's not quite a graphic novel and not quite a picture book, but the pictures tell a good portion of the story very clearly - you don't even have to pore over the details to understand what is happening. And the ending? It was so perfect that I gasped.

Don't trust me or the Caldecott committee? (There's a letter from the author at the top of the page, but keep scrolling down for the reviews.

Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party by Ying Chang Compestine

2008-01-20T16:48:00.001-05:00

I recommend this book for: grade 6 and up

Compestine drew on her own experiences growing up under Chairman Mao to write this novel. Ling lives with her parents, both doctors, in a complex with other hospital staff. Her father studied under an American doctor, and so comes under suspicion of being an enemy of the government. An official named Comrade Li moves into their apartment, and although he is friendly with Ling and plays games with her, she soon sees him arresting her parents' friends and tormenting anyone who does not fully support Mao. Over the four years that the book covers, Ling's father is demoted from surgeon to janitor and eventually jailed. Her best friend is forced to become part of the Red Guard, and Ling herself is tormented at school for her long "bourgeois" hair and her anti-revolutionary parents. Between food shortages, Comarade Li, and the gang of young Red Guards who terrorize her at school, Ling is fighting for survival. This is great historical fiction, the kind that puts the reader right into the time and place. The senselessness and fear that reigned at this time in China are palpable, and Ling's rebellions made me want to cheer. A fantastic novel.

Reviews.

Skin Hunger by Kathleen Duey

2008-01-20T16:26:00.000-05:00

I recommend this book for: grade 8 and up

I read a few great reviews of this one on the blogs I read regularly, and let me add my voice to the raving - this is a fantastic, engrossing dark fantasy. It tells the story of magic in a world at two different times. Sadima, a girl whose family hates wizards because a charlatan allowed her mother to die, has to hide her ability to communicate with animals until a young wizard named Franklin invites her to come with him and help restore real magic to the world. He and an intense young nobleman named Somiss have plans to learn all they can and open a school where they will teach magic and end the hold fake magicians and fortunetellers hold on the people. Her life with them in the city, their struggles to find the old songs that trigger the magic without getting caught by the authorities, and her growing relationship with Franklin and fear of Somiss make up half of the narrative.

The other half takes place many years later, as Hahp, the second son of a rich merchant, is sent away to learn to be a wizard. He has always suffered his father's cruelty, but he is completely unprepared for conditions at the school. The boys are forced to run around barefoot in the freezing stone passages, liable to be awoken at any time for a lesson, and they are not permitted to help one another. They are not allowed to eat unless they can make food for themselves, and those who cannot make the magic work starve to death. Franklin and Somiss are among the wizards who instruct them.

The chapters alternate between Sadima's time and Hahp's, and it's thrilling to make the connections between the two times. The questions the format raises are also intriguing: what happened to change Somiss and Franklin's vision? Why has Franklin gone along with it all these years? What has happened to Sadima? I think it also should have a lot of appeal for boys and girls, as there is one narrator of each gender - when recommending this one, though, be aware that there is some mention in Hahp's chapters of the male genitalia and his compromises on his wizard's vow of chastity, although it isn't at all explicit. I'm very excited to see what happens in the next two installments of this trilogy.

Hungry for more reviews?

The Naked Mole-Rat Letters by Mary Amato

2008-01-20T16:08:00.000-05:00

I recommend this book for: grade 4-7

This one has been on my "to read" list for a couple of years, and I finally stopped pushing it out of the way. I'm glad - it was fantastic! Frankie, 12, is surprised, angry, and hurt to find out that her father met a woman and went on dates while he was away at a conference. When the woman (a keeper at the National Zoo who happens to specialize in naked mole-rats) sends Dad an email, Frankie quickly replies that she should never try to contact him again and takes desperate measures to make sure it doesn't happen. Along the way she finds herself getting into deeper trouble with Dad, her teachers, the school counselor (who sees Dad as her last chance to get married!), and her friends. Although she nearly burns the house down and makes a lot of people angry, Frankie eventually also sees beyond rumors to make a new friend at school, finally really comes to terms with her father over her mother's death, and - as much as she didn't want to - befriends "Ratlady" through their emails. A funny and touching book, it reminded me of the newer and also fantastic Emma Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree, by Lauren Tarshis.

But don't take my word for it!

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, art by Ellen Forney

2008-01-14T08:45:00.000-05:00

I recommend this book for: grade 8 and up

Junior is an outcast on the Spokane reservation for several reasons - he was born with fluid on the brain, which caused all sorts of physical problems. He has to wear ugly, lopsided glasses, he has seizures, and his body is lopsided. But he has other problems too - poverty, an alcoholic father, a sister who lives in the basement doing nothing, and Junior himself is the constant target of bullies on the rez. Still, he accepts it until a conversation with a teacher prompts him to do something no one else ever has - start attending the white school 20 miles away instead.

Instantly, Junior goes from being an outcast to a traitor. He's ostracized at his new school for all the same reasons he was on the rez on top of his race, and the reservation people (even the adults) begin to ignore him completely. Even his former best friend hates his guts. Things come to a head when he makes the basketball team at his new school and they play a game at the reservation school.

As with most great stories, there's a lot more going on here than Junior's personal life. There's a lot of tragedy but also some hope for a young, slightly vulgar, talented young man who wants something better for himself than what he sees happening to his family members. There are a lot of serious topics addressed, sometimes lightened with Junior's funny cartoons. It wasn't one of my favorite books of the year, but it was enjoyable and went into a few places that YA fiction tends not to go, so it's definitely worth reading.

From full-time reviewers.

A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban

2008-01-11T19:38:00.000-05:00

I recommend this book for: grade 4 and up

Zoe dreams of playing the piano, but when her super-anxious father goes to the music store, he comes home with an organ instead. Playing 60s TV themes is not what she had hoped for, but Zoe tries to make the best of things - even if her real dream is to play a grand piano in Carnegie Hall. None of Zoe's dreams seem to work out - her best friend ditches her for the popular crowd and their ridiculous shoes, and her new friend comes home with her every day but ends up baking with her father (since Dad doesn't like to leave the house, he does a lot of correspondence courses in things like cake decorating). Also, Mom is a workaholic and her organ teacher enters her into a competition where she'll be playing against kids who have been playing the organ for years. There's a lot of disappointment in this book, but instead of moping (much), Zoe moves on and finds things that make her happy. This was a lovely book with funny and touching moments, and I think Urban captured a lot of the spirit of being a kid in a period of transition. Recommended and a half.

Professional kind of reviews.

Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller

2008-01-11T19:22:00.000-05:00

I recommend this book for: grade 6 and up

This book takes the reader inside the mind of Annie Sullivan as she meets Helen Keller for the first time, struggles with Helen's habits and family, and faces her own personal demons. I was unfamiliar with Sullivan's history, which is a story as inspirational (and sadder) than Helen's. Annie just wants someone to love her, and envisions Helen being that person, but it is difficult. Helen has no manners and does whatever she wants, from putting her hands in everyone's dinner but her own to locking Annie into their bedroom when she doesn't want to have another lesson.

I definitely recommend this one for its historical value, the new look at some famous women, and the realistic portrayal of their emotions and struggles. I devoured it!

The pros.