Grades 5 & Up Cont.

-- School Library Journal, 7/1/2006

Fiction Cont.

MANCUSI, Mari. Boys That Bite 262p. Berkley Jam 2006. pap. $9.99. ISBN 0-425-20942-3. LC number unavailable.

Gr 10 Up–Rayne and Sunshine McDonald, 16, may be physically identical, but the similarities stop there. Rayne has been covertly studying to become a vampire, and her moment of love-at-first-bite has arrived. Unfortunately, her decidedly nonvampiric twin is at the receiving end of that kiss of death. Now Sunny has just one week to un-bloodmate herself from the newly appointed King of the Coven, Magnus, and return to human form before her dream date to the senior prom. Though filled with teen and supernatural romance clichés and slang, Mancusi’s take on the vampire myth is entertaining. The language is a little coarse, but the characters are sound and behave like many teens with their references to underage drinking and sex. Liberal doses of humor keep things interesting. The plot gains momentum in the second half, and the surprise ending will leave readers bloodthirsty for the next installment of the twins’ misadventures with the undead. A ghoulishly fun read for a summer day at the beach.–Elaine Baran Black, Gwinnett County Public Library, Lawrenceville, GA

Gr 3-6–Set in British Columbia in 1939, this story illuminates the struggles of an Italian immigrant family. Mariangela, 11, has wanted a piano since she was eight, but money has always been tight. Now her Nonna presents her with a family treasure, her grandfather’s beloved accordion. She struggles to hide her disappointment and humiliation as she pulls the instrument in a little red wagon that her hard-working father built just so she could take music lessons. She must also deal with a bully who throws rocks at her and uses derogatory ethnic terms. Her music teacher helps her to deal with the bully, appreciate the accordion, and unravel a family secret. Throughout these experiences, she gains some understanding of her family, sees friendships evolve, and eventually befriends the bully. The values and norms of the culture are clearly reflected, and Italian words and phrases with the meanings in context are interjected throughout. However, the grandmother’s speech patterns might deter some readers, e.g., “Dis is notta toy. You keep-a dis-a clean,” or “Thass-a jus’ yo kind-a luck.” While the plot and characters are not exceptional, they are believable. The ending is somewhat predictable with Mariangela performing for the king and queen when they visit her town. The newspaper references to war in Europe assist in developing the reality of the times. A good choice for units on the immigrant experience or simply a story of coming of age.–Margaret R. Tassia, Millersville University, PA

Gr 8 Up–High school seniors Seth and Jenna are running from their demons. Franny, Seth’s girlfriend and Jenna’s sister, was killed in a car accident caused by his inexperience and recklessness. Seth and Jenna have alienated themselves from their friends and from one another and have wrapped themselves in anger, regret, and guilt. The story is told through their alternating voices. Seth tries to deal with his guilt by volunteering as an EMT. Jenna is plagued with the question of how Seth could be responsible for the death of her beloved sister. She also becomes an EMT and finds herself infringing on his refuge. Their stories revolve around the constant danger and adrenaline rush of an EMT’s work. Tensions are high between Seth and Jenna as neither one is willing or able to talk about what happened. It takes a natural disaster for them to begin the long healing process. The characters’ voices are realistic and the way the teens deal with their pain rings true. The themes of loss and forgiveness run throughout the book. The plot is fast paced and the climax, while a little far-fetched, will hold readers’ interest.–Angela M. Boccuzzi-Reichert, Merton Williams’ Middle School, Hilton, NY

Gr 8 Up–The pack of lies about her academic achievement that Mina has told to satisfy her mother’s high expectations (she has her heart set on her daughter going to Harvard) is unraveling as her senior year approaches. Jonathon Kim, a Stanford-bound teen and the son of her mother’s best friend, has helped with the deception by forging Mina’s report cards and backing up her many fictions. He asks too much of her, though, while Ysrael, the attractive new employee in the family cleaning business, encourages her to follow her own dreams–and him–to San Francisco. The tension in this Korean-American family is as uncomfortable as the heat and Santa Ana winds of the southern California setting. Mina’s mother’s bitterness over her lot in life and her neglect of Mina’s hearing-impaired younger sister, Suna, have left the teen responsible. The story is told in two voices: first-person past tense for Mina and a distancing third-person present for Suna, just entering middle school and just beginning to find her own voice. The book is carefully crafted and beautifully written; even the punctuation emphasizes the fact that this is the younger generation’s story. The adults speak without quotation marks. Na plays with her readers, suggesting in the prologue that the resolution of this story will come with a car crash, but instead makes Mina’s decision about her future a logical outcome of her emotional growth. Accessible and wonderfully discussable, this story of family secrets and family love is a worthy successor to Na’s A Step from Heaven (Front St, 2001).–Kathleen Isaacs, Towson University, MD

Gr 7-10–Cat’s mother has remarried, forcing her family to move from Scottsdale, AZ, to Boston, where the teen can’t seem to make connections. She hates the weather, she refuses to resume her old sport of diving, and her friends are dropping off the map. Then her best friend, Sabrina, offers up a summer trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, for Spanish credit, and Cat jumps at the chance to get away. Once they arrive, however, Sabrina surprises her by having a boyfriend along, preventing the girls from finding those much-needed moments for reconnection. Refusing to let this get in her way, Cat makes new friends, absorbs the environment around her, takes in the cultural studies, and gets to know her host family. In branching out, she also realizes that things in Boston aren’t nearly as toxic as she originally thought. She returns home with a new perspective and a more positive attitude. At times the characters seem cardboard and their actions forced, but overall this is appropriate light summer reading for the chick-lit crowd.–Emily Garrett, Naaman Forest High School, Garland, TX

Gr 4-8–This tale is rich in imagery that brings the setting to life. Mella is the daughter of a king in ancient Zimbabwe, when it was known as the Land of the People. Her father is ill and their land is withering along with him. Her brother, a warrior who has become proud and boastful, goes on a quest to fetch the python that the Great N’anga says can cure their father. Unfortunately for her brother, the ability to fight is not all that is needed to succeed on a treacherous journey. With N’anga’s help, Mella and two other village girls are trained to reclaim their heritage as Daughters of the Moon. This story is told with a strength and dignity that shines through its characters. Like classic epics where the hero is tested and wisdom prevails, the girls come to trust their inner gifts and learn from the world around them. Complete with the threat of marriage to an awful old man and an auntie who gives classic stepmothers a run for their money, this story will resonate with folk- and fairy-tale readers as well as adventurers, and with girls who are looking for their own sense of purpose by learning to listen to their hearts.–Genevieve Gallagher, Murray Elementary School, Charlottesville, VA

Gr 3-6–Otto Pillip loves palindromes, which isn’t surprising, given his name. Although he’s only 11, he invents all kinds of incredible devices and drives a race car named Racecar. Having lost his parents mysteriously as a baby, he lives with his two peculiar aunts, FiFi and FooFoo. Otto enters a race with a one-million-dollar purse, but, the night before the event, Racecar is stolen by two exceptionally obtuse bad guys. They don’t realize that Otto has loaded his car with an invention to defeat every deception imaginable. Perlman (yes, the comic actress of Cheers fame) breaks the novel into tiny, easy-to-digest bits (some of the 36 chapters are only a few words long), which offers the possibility of a fun read, especially for hard-to-motivate readers. Unfortunately, the humor, as well as the story, is mostly lame and repetitious, and Santat’s cartoon illustrations add little to the mix. In the second book, Otto receives a secret message implying that if he travels to the Grand Canyon, he might obtain a clue to the whereabouts of his missing parents, so he and his aunts head west. Much silliness ensues involving a crook in a dress, aunts disguised as uncles, 10,000 sticks of dynamite, and a pet cockroach. Like the first novel, Canyon Catastrophe seems designed for reluctant readers, but the gags tend to repeat themselves, the humor involving palindromes and anagrams gets old fast, and the art is only adequate.–Walter Minkel, New York Public Library

Gr 4-6–In this sequel to Clemency Pogue: Fairy Killer (S & S, 2005), the young human is asked by her friend and hobgoblin, Chaphesmeeso, for help on a quest–to find the changeling of a human boy, Kennethurchin. He was stolen as a baby by goblins and a clay-baby was put in his place, but instead of dissolving as these babies usually do, the infant kept developing, and could destroy both the world of Make-Believe and Kennethurchin (who is in training to become a hobgoblin). If this sounds complicated, imagine the addition of a pointless subplot involving a box of bobbed boxer-dogs’ tails, a nasty Fairy of Long Goodnights, and a tale of sibling rivalry. The self-consciously glib language doesn’t make this tale any more enjoyable or easy to understand. The size of the book is deceptively small and the cover is appealing, but younger kids will feel swamped by the convoluted prose and odd plot, and older readers would probably prefer Eoin Colfer’s “Artemis Fowl” series (Hyperion).–Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library

Gr 4-7–Temporarily orphaned by workaholic parents trapped in tanning beds at the mall, Milton and Chloe Nasselrogt escape the local zipper factory-cum-orphanage only to end up in the village of Goodfellow’s Landing. Taking up temporary abode in the candy maker’s abandoned house, the children discover that his squampkin patch (think carnivorous attack pumpkins) may be responsible for several mysterious disappearances. The plot becomes tangled when hundreds of viney squampkins rush the house. Petty has a tremendous gift for humor, his witty style paralleling that of Roald Dahl and Lemony Snicket. Gems like “What did I tell you about talking to yeti?” and “Milton could spot an Oompa Loompa reference from a mile off” will choke chuckles out of the most hardened readers. The zigzagging zany story shares Jean Ferris’s talent of being almost too implausible to believe, although Petty avoids predictable happily-ever-after orphan story clichés. The squampkin patch captures its share of victims, leaving readers with disquieting images mixed with relief for Chloe and Milton’s escape. While the ending is disappointingly rushed, readers will relish Petty’s joyous use of language in this tantalizing confection.–Caitlin Augusta, The Darien Library, CT

Gr 5-8–Twelve-year-old Gussie Davis, the hearing daughter of deaf parents in 1948 Birmingham, AL, is feeling rebellious. She sings out loud during the mass at St. Jude’s Church for the Deaf, where her father is the minister; when her parents send her to the hearing church, she skips out of Sunday school and uses her collection money to buy sodas; and she steals an old love letter from Miss Grace, one of her parents’ boarders. Because of her actions, her father won’t let her take a much-loved trip to her aunt in Texas and instead involves her in his missionary efforts at a black deaf church and with supporting the use of sign language at the Alabama School for the Deaf. Gussie gradually comes to terms with her parents’ deafness and her place in the world. An excess of subplots–including her foray into popularity, her relationship with an eccentric boarder, the lost-love tale of a deaf boarder, and befriending a “colored” deaf boy–renders the story a bit difficult to follow, but the exploration of Gussie’s feelings toward her parents and the hearing world, which she is part of and simultaneously at odds with, is heartfelt.–Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

Gr 8 Up–In isolated, rural British Columbia, as World War II is ending, Sheila Brary turns 16 and yearns for a life different from the sad existence of her mother. Struggling to raise four sons and a daughter mostly on her own, the woman has turned hard and cold, always angry at her bright and emotional daughter who reminds her too much of her unfaithful, undependable husband. Sheila finds connection with other adults and develops a bond with Helga, who long ago lost her husband and sons to the ocean. The teen wins one struggle with her mother and manages to finish high school, while she loses another with her own awakening sexuality and finds herself desperate and pregnant. When she runs off to Vancouver, her distant father helps her to abort the pregnancy and then abandons her one last time. Sheila survives a terrifying miscarriage on her own, returns to her family long enough to see what her mother has sacrificed, and starts a new life with promise and support. This is a quiet, introspective novel that takes a while to build its power, and it has some stunningly dramatic scenes. Somewhat autobiographical, Snow Apples is imbued with difficult themes, from poverty and ambition to sexuality and abuse to emotional abandonment and growth. For mature, thoughtful readers, it will inspire discussions of the struggles of women in recent history.–Susan Oliver, Tampa-Hillsborough Public Library System, FL

Gr 7-9–Rennison’s angst-filled, dramatic, and smart-aleck heroine is back in her seventh book. Nothing much has changed in her life; Georgia is still tormented by embarrassing parents, an annoying little sister, diabolical cats, and inaccessible boys. This time around, she is an unwilling participant in a school production of Macbeth. She’s having a fight with her friend Jas, and the gorgeous Italian, Massimo, is playing hard to get. She is just beginning to realize, though, that the attractive, hard-to-get guys whom she usually goes for may not be for her and that her good friend “Dave the Laugh” might just deserve a second look. There is nothing new or outstanding about this book compared to the others in the series. Though the teen’s phrases like “the cakeshop of agony” and “the bakery of pain” are funny at first, the silliness is so heavily layered throughout the novel that it eventually draws away from the action. Except for a new love interest or two, the plot hasn’t progressed much since the second book. As usual, the best part is the glossary; some of Georgia’s definitions are laugh-out-loud funny. No matter how similar it is to the previous books, however, many teens will want to read each and every Georgia Nicolson story to see what trouble she gets into next.–Stephanie L. Petruso, Anne Arundel County Public Library, Odenton, MD

Gr 6-10–In Victorian London, Albert Wilkes returns home for tea four days after his funeral. While his shocked and terrified wife rushes to prepare it, Wilkes takes the family dog for a walk and is abducted. His kidnapping is witnessed by young pickpocket Eddie, who becomes embroiled, along with an assistant at the British Museum and a clergyman’s daughter, in a deadly plot involving the fragments of a diary, a secret department at the British Museum, and a dinosaurlike creature roaming the streets. Oh, and there are some zombies. This thoroughly absorbing page-turner is a terrific blend of horror and mystery with three teen protagonists. It is a quick read packed with twists, turns, and just enough gore to keep things interesting. A great choice for horror fans.–Michele Capozzella, Chappaqua Public Library, NY

Gr 7-10–Skateboarding Andy Ramos, an aspiring teen trumpeter whose understanding parents and loving, late grandfather were musicians, forms a “fusion music” band (mixture of hip-hop, Latin jazz, and rock) called “FuChar Skool” with two like-minded friends. At the same time, he meets up with Glory Martinez, a former neighbor in San Diego’s funky, honky-tonk Ocean Beach neighborhood who has just returned to the area. When he and Glory were in elementary school, she was a great embarrassment to him, but now she has matured and become a promising softball pitcher. Gradually Andy develops a close and somewhat codependent relationship with her–Glory needs Andy’s trumpet riffs at her games to pitch effectively and he needs her to be present at his performances. Ritter adds to this mix three offbeat, strangely omniscient tricksters–a Croatian fortune-teller who speaks in riddles; a street “Holy Jokester” who speaks in jive rhymes; and Max Lucero, a mysterious, ominous figure who attempts to buy Andy’s soul by guaranteeing his musical success at all costs. Sparkling with descriptions of music improvisation and softball action, and with expressive, idiomatic Spanglish dialogue, Andy’s poetic first-person narrative superbly catches the weird uniqueness of Ocean Beach and briskly moves the somewhat overlong story to a satisfying conclusion.–Jack Forman, Mesa College Library, San Diego

Gr 4-7–On the night before his birthday, Patrick disappears. Three months later, his friend Luke sees him outside the gym where the boys used to take karate classes together, only now Patrick acts like a complete stranger, and he has a threatening bodyguard. Luke figures out that a local drug company called LennoxGen is somehow involved, and he and Patrick’s sister, Emma, present themselves at the headquarters, disguised as student reporters. They meet Lisa MacKenzie from the company’s PR department. Luke and Emily discover that Patrick is the clone of Rupert Lennox, the company’s recently deceased president, and that his memories are being implanted into Patrick, using an experimental drug. Moreover, Luke and Emma are also clones, and (surprise!) their progenitors just happen to die just as the kids are giving their information to the police. With Lisa’s help, Luke is able to destroy the corporation and save them all. The book reads more like the outline of a story then a finished work–it has a fast-moving plot, superficial characterizations, wild improbabilities (and even wilder coincidences), and far too much left unexplained at the end. And just how old are these boys supposed to be, anyway? Readers are told that 12-year-old Emma is Patrick’s younger sister, but the cover art makes Luke look like he’s about 6. This is a quick but nonessential read.–Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library

Gr 5-9–In thoughtful, vividly descriptive, almost poetic prose, Roy retells the true story of her Aunt Syvia’s experiences in the Lodz Ghetto during the Nazi occupation of Poland. The slightly fictionalized story, re-created from her aunt’s taped narrative, is related by Syvia herself as a series of titled vignettes that cover the period from fall, 1939, when she is four years old, until January 1945–each one recounting a particular detail-filled memory in the child’s life (a happy-colored yellow star sewn on her favorite orange coat; a hole in the cemetery where she hides overnight with her Papa). The book is divided into five chronological sections–each with a short factual introduction to the period covered. An appended author’s note tells what happened to Syvia’s family after the war. A time line of World War II, beginning with the German invasion of Poland, is also included. This gripping and very readable narrative, filled with the astute observations of a young child, brings to life the Jewish ghetto experience in a unique and memorable way. This book is a standout in the genre of Holocaust literature.–Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH

Gr 5-9–During the Dakota Conflict in 1862, Chaska, who is part Dakota, draws closer to his people and away from his friend Johnny, who is white. But when the boys are recruited to act as interpreters between the tribes and the town leaders, they are confronted by gruesome scenes of slaughter and looting by a rogue band of Indians. Although Johnny continues to stand up for his friend and the peaceful Indians, Chaska pushes him aside more and more, blaming all whites for the injustices against his people. When he is charged with a crime he didn’t commit, he learns that Johnny is the only one he can really trust. This novel provides not only a colorful and eye-opening look at the war for territory in the Dakotas but also the innocent struggle to maintain friendship amid hostility. Although Johnny’s is the dominant voice, Chaska is clearly the character who draws the most emotion from readers as he is challenged to choose between friendship and family.–Kimberly Monaghan, formerly at Vernon Area Public Library, IL

Gr 8-10–A sequel to I Was a Non-Blonde Cheerleader (Putnam, 2005). Annisa made her South Florida high school squad last year after moving from New Jersey. Now, the cheerleaders have the opportunity to attend the national competition. She still doesn’t feel accepted by her teammates, and when they suggest they dye her hair to “match” theirs, she is upset. Her resistance to the idea only serves to make the other girls question her dedication. Additionally, she is interested in a boy whose ex-girlfriend is on the squad and who makes it clear that she doesn’t like Annisa. Her relationship with him isn’t really fleshed out, and his proclamation of waiting for her “his entire life” feels forced. Nationals are exciting, Annisa’s squad takes first place, and everything works out in the end, including a first real kiss. Snappy dialogue and current references might make this formula book popular with the cheerleading set, but the subject matter, along with the propensity for using italics for effect, will leave other readers unimpressed.–Karen Hoth, Marathon Middle/High School, FL

Gr 8 Up–This is a coherent and well-developed historical novel that, despite elements of the paranormal, paints a very real picture of the era. Seventeen-year-old Alexandra has foreseen the death of others since she was a child, but no one believes her or wants to talk about her uncanny ability. As World War I breaks out, she is tormented by almost daily visions, nightmares, and premonitions, yet she strives to become a nurse, despite her father’s objections. Alexandra’s brothers both end up on the front lines. Having foreseen the death of Edgar before the telegram arrives, the teen makes plans to escape her confined life in Brighton and make her way to France to try to find and save her other brother, Tom. This first-person narrative develops the characters well and readers will empathize with Alexandra and her struggles. She challenges her family’s views and strikes out on her own in order to make a difference. This novel provides the female perspective of war and the chaos and trauma that nurses dealt with, along with women’s role in society in England around 1915.–Dylan Thomarie, Johnstown High School, NY

Gr 7 Up–Shinn returns to the world of The Safe-Keeper’s Secret (2004) and The Truth-Teller’s Tale (2005, both Viking), creating a stand-alone story with a unique heroine. When Kellen starts school at age 11, she is considered strange by the other children. She meets Gryffin, who is teased because his legs are deformed. As the girl grows and becomes more independent, she begins working at a local inn, which becomes a shelter for her friend when he needs to escape his uncle’s abuse. After becoming involved in the lives of many of the travelers who frequent the inn and becoming ever-closer friends, the young people learn that Gryffin is the new Dream-Maker, whose very presence can cause others’ dreams to come true. Kellen follows him to the capital, where more adventures follow, leading to a surprising conclusion full of twists and mistaken identities. Kellen’s voice is authentic and direct, and her comments add humor and perspective to her adventures. This is a fast-paced and captivating tale, sure to appeal to fantasy fans looking for a touch of romance. Shinn has created a fully realized world full of unusual characters.–Beth L. Meister, Pleasant View Elementary School, Franklin, WI

Gr 6 Up–This third book in the series stars Cara De Fido, who is so ugly that her reflection breaks mirrors. She’s a champion speller but even that accomplishment is spoiled after she’s tricked into spelling words like “grotesque” and “abomination” at a spelling bee. She suffers from a type of sleepwalking she calls “sleep standing” because she doesn’t move. In this state, Cara dreams of a handsome boy in a beautiful green valley. She befriends the town’s other outcast, an old lady who lives in the cemetery, who tells her that she has a destiny that she must search for. After a guy she likes betrays her, she runs away to find her dream place. There, the inhabitants hold the secret to everlasting beauty. Cara longs to be one of the beautiful people, but she can’t forget those she left behind. She goes back but not before being warned that she can only stay away for a short time or she will find that there are “worse things than being ugly.” By returning, she makes a decision that she knows is wrong but that she can’t help and, as a result, she creates “a world of suffering.” While not as richly written as the fairy-tale retellings by Donna Jo Napoli or Robin McKinley, Shusterman has created his own dark, edgy, and suspenseful tale that cleverly borrows from such classics as the “The Ugly Ducking,” “Sleeping Beauty,” and “Beauty and the Beast.”–Sharon Rawlins, NJ Library for the Blind and Handicapped, Trenton

Gr 4-6–This plot-driven story begins with immediate action that never lets up. Archie Wiggins is kicked out of The Baker Street Irregulars, kids who are paid eyes and ears for Sherlock Holmes, because of his culpability in the death of his friend Tim Doolan. The gang is taken over by someone working for London’s criminal element. Archie ultimately makes three friends and forms the Raven League in order to help the presumably kidnapped Holmes. Together, they attempt to track the villains while trying to convince Dr. Watson that Holmes is indeed missing. A plot to assassinate Queen Victoria on Jubilee Day is uncovered. Through teamwork, faith, and courage, the children are able to save the day with the now-freed Holmes’s help. The characters are fairly well developed; Victorian East End London is vividly conveyed with all of its sooty, dangerous, poverty-stricken reality; and the flavor of Arthur Conan Doyle’s mysteries is successfully captured. This story will quickly grab readers’ attention.–B. Allison Gray, John Jermain Library, Sag Harbor, NY

Gr 7 Up–Oz, 15, knows that his mother’s new boyfriend is up to something, and he has no one to turn to for help. As the situation rapidly deteriorates, the teen describes events in a series of letters addressed to his recently deceased father, a narrative device that occasionally rings false. In short order, the offensive boyfriend becomes an abusive stepfather and arranges to have Oz sent away to the Briarwood School. The institution is really a kind of prison for “difficult” teenagers, hidden on an island in Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp. As if that weren’t bad enough, Oz suspects that Briarwood is really a front for a more sinister conspiracy. While the protagonist is a compelling narrator, the other characters are barely sketched. Uneven pacing and too many lucky accidents turn an intriguing plot into a messy series of confusing events. The captivating beginning may draw readers initially, but this title is strictly an additional purchase.–Beth Gallego, Los Angeles Public Library, North Hollywood

Gr 4-6–After her parents’ divorce, Willa and her mother move into a run-down trailer in the country, near Willa’s Uncle Andrew. The 10-year-old keeps her mind off her dad’s absence by helping out at her elderly neighbor Hazel’s while her mom is at work, but whenever she goes near the woods, she is plagued by sparkly visions of tiny houses and people. These images mesh with tales that Hazel tells her of a community of woodland fairies who live in and around an old tree stump, and after a scary incident involving a neighbor and his dirt bike, Willa meets the Nutfolk. This story is a bit unsatisfying as a fantasy; most of the information about the Nutfolk comes secondhand, from Hazel’s stories. Willa has minimal interactions with the fairies, and even those come late in the book. A “mystery” regarding some lost paintings falls rather flat. More satisfying are Willa’s friendships with old Hazel and with a local boy named Vincent, and her efforts to deal with her parents’ divorce. The pacing is slow and the dialogue can be a bit folksy (“gee” and “heck”), but there are enough satisfying moments to hold readers.–Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library

Gr 8 Up–Josie is an independent, self-assured sophomore who doesn’t care what anyone thinks about her–until Carson Gold, senior and hottest guy around, suddenly shows an interest. Neither Josie nor her best friends quite understand why she tentatively indulges his attention. At first, she makes out with both Carson and Michael, her neighbor and longtime best friend, following her own philosophy of not getting too involved with one person. Though her friends discourage the relationship, pointing to Carson’s fame as a heartbreaker, Josie still finds herself falling for him and his lifestyle. She begins to dress to impress and alters her behavior to fit in with “the Beautiful People.” Pleased to see Josie taking an interest in her appearance, and also impressed by Carson, her mother approves Josie’s request to go on a trip with him and his friends. Several traumatic events during the weekend lead Josie to rediscover what is really important to her. Ultimately, she proves that she is the bright, secure person her friends have always admired. Throughout her first-person narrative, confident vs. insecure Josie argues with herself about all of her relationships, giving readers a true glimpse of her confusion. Her friends are realistically portrayed and their reactions to her romance add to the story’s development. Josie shows what often happens to a smart, young woman when a charismatic young man starts paying attention to her. This cautionary tale begs to be read by girls everywhere, before, during, and after they fall in love.–Linda L. Plevak, Saint Mary’s Hall, San Antonio, TX

Gr 6 Up–It’s 1972, in the small town of Palmers Gate, NJ. Robbie, 10, is considered old enough to stay home after school without a babysitter, help out his single mom by making simple dinners, and hang out in the neighborhood with friends. Life is pretty straightforward, if limited, until a new family moves in next door. Robbie is never sure what’s going on, never asks an adult or talks about it with his friends, but he knows that there is something strange about Colleen, the frightened girl who plays with his G. I. Joes and then offers to strip in the woods for the boys in his class. One night Robbie finds Colleen’s ineffectual mother drunk in his yard and hears strange noises coming from her house. He doesn’t understand what he overhears, although most savvy kids will guess that the father is sexually abusing Colleen. Robbie longs to be a hero, but all he can think to do is grab a can of gasoline and set fire to the house. In the aftermath, he is sent to military school and never sees Colleen or Palmers Gate again. There is no insight here for young readers, no clues for understanding the girl’s predicament or Robbie’s misplaced effort to help–just a sense of dread and helplessness. Readers are better served by Chris Crutcher’s Chinese Handcuffs (HarperCollins, 1989) and Jacqueline Woodson’s I Hadn’t Meant to Tell You This (Putnam, 2006), both of which explore the challenges and risks that a young person faces in trying to understand and help a friend who is being abused.–Carolyn Lehman, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA

Gr 5-8–Mikey Elsinger and Margalo Epps are back in this fifth book in the series. Improbable best friends since fifth grade, the girls are now in ninth grade. Margalo has more than $200 stolen from her and tries to find the thieves. Mikey is thrown off the tennis team because she refuses to follow the advice of her coach and cheat on line calls. The girls both come up with a scheme to get rid of the bullies who are tormenting their dorky friend Hadrian and help a friend whose boyfriend is threatening to ruin her reputation if she doesn’t have sex with him. Most teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators are no help at all; in fact, they add to the problems. Much of the book centers on the girls’ table in the cafeteria, where the jockeying for position, one-upmanship, self-involvement, and shallowness are so obnoxious that it is as difficult to care about these kids as it is to keep the flat minor characters straight. Unfamiliar details, particularly about the girls’ families, make this book difficult to read on its own. Clearly not up to the standards of some of the author’s award-winning novels, this latest installment should be purchased only for hardcore fans of the series.–Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME

Gr 6-9–Eleni is a twilight child; born at dusk, she can talk to all sorts of magical creatures, including the fairies and sprites of her native Finland. Because of her father’s involvement in the current (1790s) conflict with the Swedes and Russians, family circumstances force Eleni on a long sea voyage to Tobermory Bay on the Scottish island of Mull. Working there in a laundry, the girl finds kindred spirits in abundance. The novel ends with a chance for a fresh start in Nova Scotia. Grounded in thorough research and including a liberal sprinkling of terms in Finnish, Scottish, and Swedish, Warner’s novel promises many things, delivering on some of them. While the fantasy premise is intriguing, it fails to remain central to the plot, which is in places sparse, losing out to details of the protagonist’s travels and the history and geography of the Finns and the Scots. Eleni is a brave and likable heroine, but some of the minor characters are underdeveloped. However, the vivid settings and tantalizing hints of magic along with a twist of romance will please many readers. The story concludes with helpful pronunciation guides, sources, and an author’s note. This is not an essential purchase, but it will easily find an audience among girls who enjoy historical fiction.–Caitlin Augusta, The Darien Library, CT

Gr 6 Up–There is something evil brewing in Bixby, and the teens from the previous “Midnighters” titles must save the world from the darklings. The monsters have found a way to expand midnight so that all humans will enter the blue time and become prey. Complicating the crisis is Rex’s residual darkling characteristics that leave him with the unsettling notion that other humans are food, Jonathan’s secret desire that the midnight hour could last forever so that he would always be free of the confining “flatland” gravity, and the fact that no one has yet figured out why the darklings wish to dispose of Jessica Day. Blue Noon has an “end of the world” premise that will appeal to “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” fans. Even though the characters are not completely developed, they all have distinct skills that set them apart from one another. Westerfeld doesn’t rehash all the events of the earlier books. Instead, he subtly includes the information that is needed to follow the story. Since the characters’ schemes never proceed according to plan, the plot maintains an exciting pace. However, it is never fully explained why everything works out the way it does. Despite this minor flaw, this is fun recreational reading.–Heather M. Campbell, Philip S. Miller Library, Castle Rock, CO

Gr 8 Up–This final installment in the series is a warning of the dangers of overconsumption and conformity. Set some time in the future, after a human-made bacteria destroyed the modern world, the trilogy tells of new cities established and tightly controlled through brainwashing and a series of operations leading to a compliant society. Tally Youngblood, the 16-year-old protagonist, learns in the first two books that free will and truth are more important than a false sense of security. In Specials, she has become an elite fighting machine, fully enhanced with nanotechnology and super-fast reflexes, and made to work as a Special Circumstances agent for the nameless city that she fled. As in the first two books, much of the story takes place with characters whizzing through the air on hoverboards, but Tally and her friends are in for some harsh realities here. Readers who enjoyed Uglies and Pretties (both S & S, 2005) will not want to miss Specials, but those who have not read those books will not understand much of what is happening. Westerfeld’s themes include vanity, environmental conservation, Utopian idealism, fascism, violence, and love. In this trilogy, the author calls for a revolution in our hearts and minds–think The Matrix.–Corinda J. Humphrey, Los Angeles Public Library

Gr 5-8–In this sequel to The Golden Hour (Abrams, 2004), twins Xanthe and Xavier Alexander are reunited with their friends Rowan and Nina Popplewell. After Aunt Agatha recommends the children for membership in the Twilight Tourist Frequent Flier Club, giving them greater access to the time-traveling alleviators of the Owatannauk resort, they are sent on a trial mission to ancient Egypt. Xanthe’s resentment of her brother leads her to feel more sympathy for Cleopatra, who mistakes the girl for the goddess Isis, resulting in an accidental changing of history. A visit to an alternate present reminds the siblings of their importance to one another and leads to their return to the past for an effort at restoring the proper course of history. Williams uses extensive detail about daily life in ancient Egypt and the conflicts between the Ptolemies to frame her story, and concluding notes describe her sources and explain where she deviated from actual history. The twins’ roles in Egypt are limited because they are African American, an unusual touch for a fantasy novel. Xanthe’s resentment of her brother for taking over what she sees as her personal territory will ring true to any reader with siblings, and the changing relationships and development of the four main characters add realism and depth to the story. After a slow start that re-establishes the characters and focuses on Xanthe’s resentment, this novel finds its stride as the characters learn about the past and themselves.–Beth L. Meister, Pleasant View Elementary School, Franklin, WI

Gr 4-6–When 11-year-old Minerva McFearless and her younger brother, Max, discover that they are the latest generation in a family of monster-hunters, their widowed father forbids them to learn anything about his dangerous occupation. Nonetheless, the siblings soon come upon Ms. Monstranomicon, a monster-hunter’s manual that is a monster herself, and find themselves pursued by the minions of the vile Zarmaglorg, king of the monsters, who kidnaps their father. Zappa has written a passable first novel whose roots aren’t hard to see–Ms. Monstranomicon bears strong similarities to one of Harry Potter’s textbooks, for example. But the sardonic back-and-forth between Minerva, Max, and their know-it-all guide, Mr. Devilstone, is amusing, as are the photo-illustrations and the “nature guide” pages describing the disgusting creatures that they encounter and the often-disgusting formulas that the monster-hunter employs to defend against them. The protagonists are engaging, but the plot is fuzzy and the villains are stock. Still, children will enjoy the story, which ends, unsurprisingly, with the promise of a sequel.–Walter Minkel, New York Public Library

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