Grades 5 & Up Cont.

-- School Library Journal, 8/1/2006

Fiction Cont.

LE GUIN, Ursula K. Voices 341p. maps. CIP. Harcourt Sept. 2006. Tr $17. ISBN 0-15-205678-5. LC 2005020753.

Gr 7 Up–The year Memer was born, a foreign army overthrew her city’s elected government, declared the written word demonic, and destroyed every book it could find. Seventeen years later, possession of books is still punishable by death, and Memer and her mentor, the Waylord, are the protectors of a hidden library and the intermediaries of an oracle within it. At the invitation of the head of the occupying forces, Orrec the poet and storyteller and his wife Gry visit the city, and their arrival catalyzes the end of the occupation and the renewed prominence of Memer’s extended family. Some readers will recognize Orrec and Gry from Le Guin’s Gifts (Harcourt, 2004), although Voices stands entirely on its own. Filled with thought-provoking parallels to our own world, this political saga adeptly shows some pragmatic reasons why a war might end: growing personal connections between an occupying army and a local populace, changes in leadership and dimming of religious fervor within an invading nation, the expense of maintaining a distant garrison, and the recognition by two parties of shared economic goals better served by cooperation than oppression. While her prose is simple and unadorned, Le Guin’s superior narrative voice and storytelling power make even small moments ring with truth, and often with beauty.–Beth Wright, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, VT

Gr 6-9–Enrique has a tough life, starting with ESL class. He wishes he could take a sensible language like French, which he’s sure would be easier than English. Middle-school complications, however, are easier than those at home where taking care of his sibling triplets while his mother works consumes almost all of his free time. Not that his abusive stepfather, Juan, shows any appreciation. Still, Enrique stalwartly tries to balance all the requirements as best he can. Things disintegrate when he finds one of the babies not breathing and has to call 911, following directions that keep Yunior alive until the EMTs arrive. Authorities recognize that Enrique is a hero but shouldn’t be the sole caregiver, so Juan’s mother comes to help out, causing even more trouble. When his friend Horacio gets involved with drugs and is shot, and Enrique sees who did it, all of the elements come together to create impossible challenges and equally difficult solutions. All readers will empathize with Enrique’s problems, but Latinos will particularly appreciate the language and cultural cues that are embedded as issues of immigration, green cards, and prejudicial stereotypes appear without taking the focus off an admirably human and resilient protagonist.–Carol A. Edwards, Douglas County Libraries, Castle Rock, CO

Gr 7 Up–The McCaffreys return to Pern. The story is set in the same time period as Dragon’s Kin (Del Rey, 2003), the second Interval after landing, but has a different focus. The colonists are preparing for the next 50-year pass of the Red Star and the start of Thread, a mindless killer that falls from the skies destroying all organic material in its path. To combat this threat, the dragons must chew firestone to burn Thread from the sky. However, the mining of the firestone is difficult–any drop of moisture makes it explode, and it has killed countless dragons and miners. The other problem is what to do with the Shunned. They are holders who have committed crimes that have banished them from the holds but with Thread coming, they will die if they are holdless. The story is brought to life by a mute harper’s apprentice, Pellar, and a miner’s son, Cristov, who take it upon themselves to save the Shunned and the dragonriders alike. This novel reintroduces readers to well-known characters such as Kindan and Master Zist and introduces new characters and concepts of the world of Pern. A companion volume, it also stands on its own.–June H. Keuhn, Corning East High School, NY

Gr 7 Up–In this sequel to To Catch a Prince (S & S, 2005), Helene is forced to spend her summer with her megawealthy father and her wicked movie-star stepmother at their Paris home. Before she leaves, stepsister Alexis issues Helene another silly challenge: snag Daniel D’Artois, the most eligible bachelor in Paris. But can Helene get over last summer’s lost love, Laszlo? Meanwhile, Alexis, bitter after being dumped yet again by her absentee mother, ends up following Helene to Europe to lend moral support. Once again, the story is rife with implausible elements. Alexis is hired as an intern for an elite fashion-design house while Helene is contracted to be its hip new face, despite a complete lack of experience. Both teens have unlimited amounts of spending money. The only believable aspects of the novel are their feelings of insecurity, but, even then, those fleeting thoughts are inconsistent with their personalities and are easily remedied by quick pep talks. Even with a capricious plot, the story line drags, and it is difficult to keep track of the passage of time. However, if readers are in need of a break from the typical teen behavior–experimentation with sex, drugs, and alcohol–then this is the way to go. This latest installment in the lifestyles of the rich and far-fetched would do well with a fantasy label.–Erin Senig-Schirota, Bronxville Public Library, NY

Gr 8 Up–In 1770s Virginia, Matt McLaren escapes after Indians kill his parents and kidnap his little sister. Living with a cruel innkeeper, he is rescued by a kindly local farmer. When the farmer is murdered by a man whom Matt later kills, the boy goes on the run. He hunts with the likes of Daniel Boone, is captured by Indians and later escapes, and helps build a fort with other white settlers. He also searches for his sister. The harshness of frontier life is not spared, from brutal encounters with Indians to brutal encounters with settlers. There is even an illustration of Matt’s friend being burned alive at the stake. The plot is long and meandering and sometimes difficult to follow. Characters and place names drop in and out quickly, making them hard to remember. The story does pick up speed toward the end and ties up the loose ends satisfactorily, but it’s unlikely that most kids will get that far. Readers interested in life on the frontier might try Shelley Pearsall’s Crooked River (Knopf, 2005).–Kristen Oravec, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Strongsville, OH

Gr 8 Up–Once again Lulu Dark, reluctant girl detective, finds herself in the middle of an increasingly complicated Halo City mystery. Age discrimination is at the root of a number of kidnappings as a group of out-of-work actresses joins in a plot to get them movie roles. Lulu’s “sort of” boyfriend and her C-list actress mother are among those in peril due to the actions of a deranged Hollywood figure. As in the first adventure, there are many references to pop culture, such as the television shows The Apprentice and Veronica Mars as well as Jessica Simpson. The novel keeps moving, with a few red herrings thrown in for added piquancy. Today’s Hollywood starlets are mockingly portrayed as vapid, self-absorbed teens spoiled beyond belief. Lulu and her friend Daisy wisecrack their way through the book. The denouement leaves them all in danger until Daisy’s scarily controlling mom shows a new facet of her personality with a daring rescue. While many of the situations are outlandish, they are also amusing, such as when Lulu hijacks a city bus and involves the passengers in helping her get into a suspect’s building. Teens will enjoy this smart, funny chick-lit heroine who has real problems and a satirical outlook.–B. Allison Gray, John Jermain Library, Sag Harbor, NY

Gr 4-6–This sometimes-tedious sequel to Matlin’s Deaf Child Crossing (S & S, 2002) focuses on Megan, a deaf girl whose speechreading and signing skills allow her to thrive in the hearing world. Megan can’t wait for her “positively purple” birthday party, but her perfect plans get derailed when a new girl, Alexis, joins her class and rebuffs Megan’s invitation. Alexis seems to be smart, athletic, and pretty, but she brushes off all of Megan’s attempts to be friendly. Not until the two girls are paired up for a science project does Megan find out the reason behind Alexis’s behavior. She’s ashamed of her autistic brother and is afraid that her new classmates will find out about him. When Megan teaches him some basic sign language, it opens up communication with both him and Alexis. As in the first book, every character except Megan is sketchy at best, and the plot hangs on the flawed, funny forcefulness of the protagonist’s giant personality. Information about Megan’s school days, though often clunkily inserted into the story, provides interest. Readers unfamiliar with deafness will be fascinated by the descriptions of how she studies for a spelling bee and her interactions with her American Sign Language interpreter in the classroom (though actual interpreters will be appalled at the woman’s use of bright red nail polish, an extreme no-no). Illustrations showing the manual alphabet are appended.–Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

Gr 9 Up–Kiley, Esme, and Lydia are back in this third installment in the series. After her rock-star boss, Platinum, is arrested for drug possession, Kiley is left not only homeless, but also jobless. Without work, her mom will never let her stay in California, and without California residency, she will never be able to afford to go to the Scripps Institute of Oceanography. With some help from her friends, she finds more nanny positions, one more awful than the next. Dating the boss’s son is catching up with Esme, and when the Goldhagens find out, they whisk her and the kids (sans Jonathan) off to Jamaica. Lydia is working as a nanny for her overprotective aunt, who keeps her children’s lives scheduled every minute. But what is really getting her down is the fact that her boyfriend isn’t ready to “go all the way.” Fans of the series will enjoy seeing the new situations in which these three girls find themselves. However, those who haven’t read the first two books might be a little lost. There is a fair amount of underage drinking, and although most of the sex is only talked about, there is a scene in which Kiley inadvertently walks into an orgy. For more nanny adventures try Melissa de la Cruz’s The Au Pairs (S & S, 2004) or Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus’s The Nanny Diaries (St. Martin’s, 2002), which is sure to be requested because of the forthcoming movie.–Michelle Roberts, Merrick Library, NY

Gr 8 Up–A story that is lyrical and mesmerizing in subject and scope. In the year since her twin sister’s death, practical and pragmatic Laurel has had dreams filled with fairies, giant birds, and questions about a king. While back in Ireland at her grandparents’ home for Honor’s memorial service, Laurel encounters a messenger from the Fairie realm who tells her that to save Honor, she must find the Summer King to light the Midsummer Fire. Hoping to bring her sister back, Laurel forces herself to share Honor’s belief in Fairie and enlists the help of Ian, the village bad boy. Their relationship is complicated by the fact that she was on a date with him the day Honor died by falling off a cliff wall into the ocean. While trying to complete their task in the allotted time, they encounter a cluricaun who may or may not be telling them all he knows, ravens trying to stop them from freeing the Summer King, and unexpected things about Ian’s true nature. Melling has taken Irish folklore and made it not only accessible, but also alive to readers unfamiliar with the stories. Through Laurel, an athlete who never had time for the fantasies that Honor loved so much, the tales are introduced seamlessly. Laurel’s anger and indecision about being with Ian and his volatile anger bring these characters to life. An essential purchase for fantasy collections in which Tamora Pierce is popular.–Lisa Prolman, Greenfield Public Library, MA

Gr 9 Up–Recovered from the vampire attack that hospitalized her in the conclusion of Twilight (Little, Brown, 2005), Bella celebrates her birthday with her boyfriend Edward and his family, a unique clan of vampires that has sworn off human blood. But the celebration abruptly ends when the teen accidentally cuts her arm on broken glass. The sight and smell of her blood trickling away forces the Cullen family to retreat lest they be tempted to make a meal of her. After all is mended, Edward, realizing the danger that he and his family create for Bella, sees no option for her safety but to leave. Mourning his departure, she slips into a downward spiral of depression that penetrates and lingers over her every step. Vampire fans will appreciate the subsequently dour mood that permeates the novel, and it’s not until Bella befriends Jacob, a sophomore from her school with a penchant for motorcycles, that both the pace and her disposition begin to take off. Their adventures are wild, dare-devilish, and teeter on the brink of romance, but memories of Edward pervade Bella’s emotions, and soon their fun quickly morphs into danger, especially when she uncovers the true identities of Jacob and his pack of friends. Less streamlined than Twilight yet just as exciting, New Moon will more than feed the bloodthirsty hankerings of fans of the first volume and leave them breathless for the third.–Hillias J. Martin, New York Public Library

Gr 5-7–Morpurgo frames this story with a grandmother sharing her girlhood journal with her grandson and a letter explaining what she has recently done. In the main story, Lily is 12 in 1943 and lives in southern coastal England. The war brings a foreign teacher, American soldiers, evacuees from London, and the sound of warplanes to their rural area. The girl’s family is forced to move from their farm to an uncle’s so the army can use their land to practice sea landings. A boy evacuee moves in with them. Lily’s rocks during this unsettled time are her cat, Tips, and the friendship she strikes up with a black American soldier, Adolphus, better known as Adie. Decades later, Lily sees Adie and his son on the beach. Their friendship is rekindled and, after her husband’s death, she visits him in Atlanta, GA. As the story ends in the present, she tells her grandchild that she and Adie have just married and that she is bringing him home to London with her. This is an appealing story, but it has a nostalgic quality that may limit its interest to children.–Jane G. Connor, South Carolina State Library, Columbia

Gr 7-10-This installment in the series takes place during the summer between Alice’s sophomore and junior years. Her older brother’s beautiful black girlfriend ends their relationship because her family objects to her marrying outside of her race, and an acquaintance is diagnosed with leukemia, which is what Alice’s mother died from several years earlier. Neither subplot weighs down the story, which places its emphasis on more ordinary events in the life of this likable teen. Embarrassing or funny moments balance the serious ones. Perhaps the most striking feature of this story is the amount of advice that is offered on how to handle a number of tricky situations in which teens might find themselves. When Alice and her friends spend a weekend at the beach, four drunk boys stalk them on their way back to the hotel and Alice does some quick thinking to get them to safety. Throughout the story, Alice yearns to have more family nearby, or to attend a family reunion. Her wish is granted in the end, but not in the manner that she had imagined. Fans of the series will enjoy the teen’s latest trials, but readers new to it are unlikely to be hooked. The episodic nature of the story, in which Alice deals with many inconsequential incidents, does not result in a compelling stand-alone read.–Catherine Ensley, Latah County Free Library District, Moscow, ID

Gr 7 Up–The Noble Warriors (Nomana) are dedicated to protecting the All and Only god who, according to prophecy, will be killed by the Assassin. Once a year, pilgrims are allowed on the island of Anacrea and accepted into the Nomana. Seeker after Truth, 16, has wanted to join the Noble Warriors all of his life even though his father is intent on him being a scholar. When he enters an open door into the monastery, he sees his brother being publicly humiliated and cast out of the Nomana. Soon two pilgrims arrive who will change Seeker’s life forever: Morning Star, who can sense a person’s colors and interpret what they mean, and The Wildman, a spiker (outlaw) who is looking for power and peace. After all three teenagers are rejected by the Nomana, Seeker formulates a plan to ensure their acceptance. Written in the same style as Christopher Paolini’s Eragon (Knopf, 2003) and Terry Brooks’s The Sword of Shannara (Ballantine, 1983), the quest itself will form the characters into the people they were always meant to be. A novel of friendship, loyalty, and accomplishment, Seeker will draw readers into the conflict between believing with the eyes or with the heart.–June H. Keuhn, Corning East High School, NY

Gr 8-10–Rural Illinois during the 1950s is a simple place on the face of it, but for Plenty Porter, the year between her 12th and 13th birthdays is one of enormous complexity. The youngest of 11 children, Plenty is nevertheless alone, an outsider narrating her story in an impeccable if oftentimes distancing voice. She is too independent to follow local customs that separate whites and “coloreds,” is willing to take risks to bridge the gap with her estranged, alcoholic grandfather, and is intent on discovering how she fits into her world. Stylistically innovative, the book opens with a prologue, then the story jumps one year back in time and continues on until it catches up with and crosses over the prologue’s events to conclude in both tragedy and growth. The ending, in which a poor man protects a family member by killing a rich man and plans no action but to hide the facts, is likely to bother adults more than it will kids. While the content is mature, alluding to attempted suicide, probable statutory rape, and murder, that is not what makes this a work for sophisticated readers. It is Plenty herself who, with her conflicting aloofness and intensity, makes this a demanding read. Beautifully written sentences, a well-shaped plot, and an unusual protagonist will make the novel worth the effort for advanced readers. This is Noonan’s first novel, and he is a writer to watch.–Faith Brautigam, Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin, IL

Gr 5-8–Since the death of their mother seven years earlier, Will, 15, has been responsible for his disabled twin. His desire to help on his father’s ranch, ride off to the rodeo, prove himself as a man, and escape being his brother’s caregiver is the pivot of the plot; the fact that Denny follows him, showing himself to be just as tenacious and stubborn as Will, drives the plot to another level. The unique bond shared by the boys is aptly described. Will is repelled by Denny and his needs, but he is also fiercely protective of him. He does get to the rodeo, and the description of his rides is exciting and realistic, bringing the arena to life. In the end, Will finally has a chance to talk to his father. Not all problems are resolved, but Nuzum leaves readers with the hope that both Will and Denny will be able to begin their lives as adults relatively unhampered by the past. The images of the stark 1940s Colorado countryside suffering from drought, and the wild animals that populate it, are clearly drawn with poetic turns of phrase. Characters, plot, and theme all combine to make a compelling story. Although Will is the narrator, readers also hear the voice of Denny through dialogue and through Will’s projections of his brother’s thoughts. Nuzum clearly knows her rodeo and she knows how to evoke a teen’s ambivalent feelings toward a disabled sibling. A thoughtful, perceptive story, beautifully told.–Wendy Smith-D’Arezzo, Loyola College, Baltimore, MD

Gr 6-10–Jack Sutton is a member of “Club Meds,” which is what the kids who have to be medicated call themselves. He has ADHD and needs Ritalin to function. He has spent the summer dreading the start of ninth grade because once again he will have to deal with bully Chuck Williams. Early on, Chuck corners Jack and forces him to turn over 20 Ritalin tablets each week. Afraid of being beat up, Jack goes along with the demand and enlists his friend Mary, who is also ADHD, to help him. Not only does she share her pills, but she also devises a plan to get him out of the mess he is in. While the issues of facing up to bullying, surviving the first year of high school, and dealing with parents and friends are relevant, the long discourses and reflections on ADHD make the book seem as though it was written simply to fill a need. As a result, the plot is secondary to heavy-handed information, and Jack becomes a poster child rather than a well-rounded character. While the book fills a niche for older readers, it pales in comparison to Jack Gantos’s “Joey Pigza” novels (Farrar).–Janet Hilbun, Texas Woman’s University, Denton

Gr 6-9–Based on actual experiences, this World War II novel tells the stories of Italians living near Monte Cassino, caught between the German army and the Allied forces. Young Domenic Luppino and his family live north of the fighting, but fear the advancing troops. Fifteen-year-old Antonio lost his entire family when fighting moved into the town, and now he’s on his own. Both boys face hardships and risk their lives for friends and family. Their stories of strength, resourcefulness, and survival are deftly placed within the context of the Monte Cassino campaign and will give readers a poignant look at the ways in which the war affected average citizens. The Allied forces’ destruction of the sixth-century Benedictine monastery and the deaths of some of the Italian refugees sheltered there are not glossed over or presented in a judgmental way. The author allows readers to draw their own conclusions, and students who are interested in the topic will perhaps be inspired to read more about the complex issues surrounding the battle.–Cheri Dobbs, Detroit Country Day Middle School, Beverly Hills, MI

Gr 6-10–This book picks up exactly where The Angel Experiment (Little, Brown, 2005) left off. The six genetically engineered bird children have escaped from the wolf-hybrid Erasers again, Max is still hearing “The Voice” in her head, and she is still reeling from the revelation that Ari, the most persistent of all the Erasers, is dead by her hand and that he might be her brother. From this point forward, there is action, but no distinctive plot. The closest the story line comes to compelling is when the kids are taken in and enrolled in school by a seemingly kind woman who just happens to be a high-ranking FBI agent. It will not shock readers when it is eventually revealed that she has betrayed them. This book is full of as many twists, turns, and conspiracies as an episode of daytime drama. And just like a soap opera, it relies heavily on melodrama until the very end, whereupon readers discover that very little has actually happened. The story is disappointingly anticlimactic and violent. Still, it does have some appeal–the children continually outmaneuver their attackers without permanent damage. Plus, the talking dog they pick up during their adventures is sure to entertain.–Heather M. Campbell, Philip S. Miller Library, Castle Rock, CO

Gr 6 Up–Drawing on newspaper accounts and his own fertile imagination, Paulsen tells Reeves’s story. Brief sections give the known facts of this hero’s life, set in historical context, and longer, narrative sections (the longest being about his boyhood) fill out the details. The result is a compelling tale of the runaway slave who lived as a fugitive among the Creek Indians for 22 years, until the Emancipation Proclamation freed him to become a cattle rancher in Arkansas and, finally, a federal marshal appointed to help bring order to the Indian Territory. Bring order he did, with thousands of arrests and 14 gunfights to his credit. Paulsen doesn’t romanticize the Wild West or flinch from descriptions of the lawlessness (including murder and prostitution) that was rampant in the Territory, but this dark backdrop only serves to illuminate Reeves’s heroism. The protagonist is a fully fleshed-out character whose story is made all the more satisfying by the truth behind it.–Laurie Slagenwhite, Baldwin Public Library, Birmingham, MI

Gr 7-9–This fluffy narrative takes place just outside present-day London. Anna and Beth decide to create a list of 10 things to do to become fabulous before their 16th birthdays. Their priorities range from getting fantastic hair and finding hot boyfriends to perfecting leg waxing and fake tans and learning to walk in stilettos. The teens’ voices are believable, and there are some laugh-out-loud results of their attempts to become extraordinary. However, one might wonder where the girls’ parents are for some of their more ridiculous schemes. Also, the ending wraps up a bit too quickly and the big night out, which is the goal of all their efforts, is anticlimactic after so much preparation. Readers who clamor for chick-lit imports such as Louise Rennison’s “Georgia Nicolson” books (HarperCollins) will enjoy this one as well, but it’s not a priority purchase.–Rebecca Stine, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT

Gr 4-7–An unlikely baseball story begins to unfold when Mr. G. H. Entwhistle’s rowboat makes it into a remote fishing village on the coast of British Columbia. A group of kids including the narrator, a boy best known as Thumb, take the Englishman to their town, population 138. It is then that the nine children come up with a plan for a school-sponsored visit to a big city. And Mr. Entwhistle, author and illustrator of the “Bobby and Bernice Beaver” books, assumes a role as unique as his outfit on the foggy day his boat came to the village. The kids realize that they have enough players for a baseball team. Although they’ve never played the game, they make creative decisions and preparations for the provincial championship in Vancouver, supported by Thumb’s father, the schoolmaster. The trip has surprising results while allowing the players to experience a big city, so different from their hometown, which has 42 buildings and no roads. Thumb’s voice is wise, allowing humor to arise from his observations of others and their responses to sights and events. The setting is both familiar and exotic; the children are geographically isolated but research baseball and more via the Internet. The characters are appealing and the plot unfolds naturally to create a satisfying and plausible story. Thumb, as an adult, no longer lives in New Auckland but returns with his children to view the trophy and carry on an old family baseball tradition.–Maria B. Salvadore, formerly at Washington DC Public Library

Gr 5-7–Sir Edmund Dowe, a middle-aged knight who’s fallen on hard times, has decided to join his countrymen in the first stage of the Hundred Years War between England and France and takes his ragtag servants with him: Tullo, a cruel but effective huntsman; Philip, Dowe’s weedy nephew and page; and 12-year-old Brind, the dogboy. As a baby, Brind was found among a litter of mastiff puppies, and as a boy, he is invaluable to Sir Edmund as someone who can communicate with the large, fierce dogs. During the battle of Crécy, Glaive, the leader of the mastiff pack, escapes from his French attackers into the woods. Brind tracks the wounded dog (who is also his best friend) and stumbles across a 10-year-old French refugee named Aurélie. Despite a rough start, the two become companions during their journey to survive the perils that follow them, including an English lord bent on owning Brind for his own dogboy and the vengeful Tullo. The action is fast-paced with narrow escapes at every turn and elements of dry humor at the most unlikely times. While the coincidences of all the characters repeatedly meeting up might stretch credulity at times, the elements of the deus ex machina are important to keeping up the speed of the story. Readers who are in transition from the “reluctant” to the “eager” phases will find enough adventure here to hold their attention.–Farida S. Dowler, Mercer Island Library, WA

Gr 6-9–This sequel to Under the Blood-Red Sun (Delacorte, 1994) continues the story of Tomi Nakaji, a Japanese American living on the island of Oahu. It’s 1943 and Tomi, now 13, is forced into the role of the man of the house. His father has been arrested and imprisoned; his grandfather has also been taken away. All people of Japanese descent are suspect in the virulent racism of the times. Vigilantes stalk the streets, enforcing a curfew. Tomi decides to keep hope and faith alive that his father will return by raising Papa’s fishing boat, the Taiyo Maru, a sampan that was sunk by the army. His former friend, Keet Wilson, has become his nemesis, bullying, stealing from, and terrorizing Tomi. Other haoles, or white people, however, become allies in his ultimately successful struggle to raise the boat and look toward a better future. The nearly impossible task is accomplished largely through Tomi’s determination and perseverance and his ingenious approaches to the problem. Salisbury paints the tropical setting with vivid details. He writes with balance of the ways in which war touches people, creating characters with fully realized motivations. It is not necessary to have read the first book, as the author seamlessly brings his audience up to date. Give this to readers who enjoyed Rodman Philbrick’s The Young Man and the Sea (Scholastic, 2004), another story with an ocean setting and a fiercely determined boy’s coming of age.–Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME

Gr 8 Up–California sophomore Evie Gomez has benefited from all the accoutrements of upper-class life, including a maid, private school, successful parents, and every whim fulfilled–even a surfboard she has yet to dip into salt water. Her friends call themselves “the Flojos” for the flip-flops that are their trademark, some of which cost more than 100 dollars. The hip language, omnipresence of drugs and alcohol, plus the cars, games, and freedom of these teens combine with Latina cultural icons and Spanglish galore. Not that Evie really speaks Spanish, as she often has to get help from Dee Dee, who recently has returned from a number of years in Mexico City. The plot centers around Evie’s identity crisis as she moves from her initial chopped blue hair to the honey blonde she adopts when hanging out with “the Sangros,” a slightly wilder clique. This chick-lit title with a Latina flair manages to capture the confusion of these privileged yet vulnerable teens, and it also provides a balance to the white-bread world often pictured in this genre.–Carol A. Edwards, Douglas County Libraries, Castle Rock, CO

Gr 6-9–When Morgan, 12, is banished to her grandmother’s home in “a stupid farm town” for summer vacation, she wonders how she’ll survive without e-mail or her friends. She describes a new friend whom she met at softball tryouts just before school let out and Arden Hampton-Price, her archrival in the upcoming track meet. But anyone who has ever played a high-school sport will wonder how Morgan can be catcher on a softball team without being at a game or the favorite in the high jump if she is out of town all summer. Coming back for one day to participate in a county meet is far-fetched along with most of the other situations. The illusion to Seraphina’s Circle, named for a great-aunt who had died tragically at a young age, is just as sketchy as the long list of relatives and characters who remain flat and hazy with no realistic dialogue to give them a breath of life. Ruth White’s Belle Prater’s Boy (Farrar, 1996) offers a better look at how history can affect the lives of family members.–Cheryl Ashton, Amherst Public Library, OH

Gr 3-6–Elementary school student Tiernay West is a wonderfully eccentric character who is determined to find buried treasure, become a true adventurer, and right past wrongs. She knows that other kids think she’s weird but she is confident that she is on the right track to becoming a world-renowned explorer. She is not adept socially but becomes friends with Kevin, the son of her mother’s boyfriend, and they spy on a bully to try to find the Revolutionary War sword that was stolen from a local antique shop. Easily able to justify anything so long as it aids an investigation, Tiernay and Kevin are placed in real peril when she spies on nasty Daryll Jensen. Excerpts of Tiernay’s internal monologue start many chapters. One cannot help but laugh at the melodrama inherent in the protagonist’s determined personality. Tiernay is an irrepressible role model in her unwavering self-confidence, intellectual curiosity, and sense of humor. Like the waiter who remembers she likes her soda with lime, cherries, and lemon wedges, readers will not forget Tiernay West anytime soon.–B. Allison Gray, John Jermain Library, Sag Harbor, NY

Gr 6-9–Sixteen-year-old Jodi Greer must return from Earth to the future/dream world of Aten. Enrial, leader of the magical Nereen, has entrusted her with a magical snake charm to aid in her mission to save the world from destruction. Jodi vows to rescue her lost love, Caden, from the evil Major and fulfill her destiny. Rescued from the cannibalistic Chuma by the mysterious Rad, she begins her adventure. Her blossoming love for swashbuckling Rad will appeal to readers, and Harry Potter fans will shiver at the basketball-sized spiders called Hachi–always crowd-pleasers. Nonstop action will keep the pages turning, and a magical forest and helpful cat are interesting touches. Unfortunately, the many, somewhat disconnected story elements are not convincing. The dizzying changes in Jodi’s loves and loyalties impede character development, and the teen’s “special” ability to raise the dead works unevenly and lacks credibility. Although the first chapter of Key to Aten (Brown Barn, 2005) is included at the end, this book does not really stand on its own. For a more intriguing look at the line between dreams and reality, try Lois Lowry’s Gossamer (Houghton, 2006).–Quinby Frank, formerly at Green Hedges School, Vienna, VA

Gr 5-8–Paolo O’Neil, 12, has one of those large families so full of love that they absorb stragglers without a thought. One of them is his deaf cousin, Billy, nine, who has been abandoned by his mother and become Paolo’s best friend. This riotous sequel to The Boys of San Joaquin (S & S, 2005) follows the boys through the summer of 1951 in their small California town. They take on a paper route, the family dog is kidnapped, they meet a strange out-of-town visitor, and Paolo inadvertently gets his first girlfriend. In fact, so much goes on in the story that the central mystery–the identity of the dognapper–is anticlimactic. Readers won’t mind, however, as the real treat here is Paolo’s first-person, present-tense narration, brimming with sly humor and lovely turns of phrase. The main characters feel real, especially Billy, whose deafness is simply one aspect of his character. Each chapter title includes a description of an American Sign Language sign, but some of them are contextually inaccurate. However, this is a minor quibble. If the book is short on plot, its humor and richness of characterization make up for it.–Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

Gr 8 Up–In this action thriller, a teenager loses days of his life to a debilitating form of narcolepsy. Tom believes he is asleep during his blackouts until it is revealed to him in a dream that he is actually being groomed as an assassin by a secret branch of the government. The Janis Project, as it is called, takes orphans with severe narcolepsy and gives them new, split identities: one being that of a narcoleptic child in a loving family, the other, an unfeeling, efficient killing machine. Once Tom learns of his alternate, murderous identity, the sinister leader of the project becomes bent on erasing this knowledge from his mind. If he is to escape with his life and learn just how far his deception has reached, Tom must find a way to unite both his identities. Tom is portrayed as an otherwise typical teenager, as is his neighbor and romantic interest. Other characters are equally well introduced and secrets are revealed in a way that creates suspense. Readers looking for fast-paced action and espionage will enjoy this first book in the two-part “Sleeper Conspiracy.”–Emily Rodriguez, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL

Gr 4-7–Ratbridge is populated by a variety of odd creatures and equally unusual humans. “Underlings,” including “boxtrolls” (shy trolls that wear boxes) and “cabbageheads” (they worship cabbage and wear them tied to their heads), live in tunnels and caves beneath the city. A boy named Arthur emerges from his subterraneous home and discovers an evil plot. The shady members of the Cheese Guild, led by an unpleasant fellow called Snatcher, are kidnapping underlings and plotting to take over the town. Arthur’s allies against the Guild include underlings, a man in iron socks, and the pirates and rats who run the Nautical Laundry. There’s a great deal of inspired silliness throughout, which may appeal to fans of Roald Dahl and Lemony Snicket. Although the characters are not particularly well developed through words, numerous high-quality, black-and-white illustrations bring Ratbridge and its citizens to life, accentuating the comical tone and helping to pace the tale. The action is clearly played for laughs rather than suspense, as when the heroes repulse an attack on their ship by firing balls of bilge-pump gunk using catapults made of knickers. Some readers might lose interest in the sometimes-rambling series of events, but the short chapters, intriguing creatures, quirky humor, and engaging art make this book a good choice for youngsters who enjoy lengthy and lighthearted fantasy.–Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library, OR

Gr 6-8–A goofy, action-packed fantasy that pokes fun at every heroic convention possible. Having endured quite enough mayhem at the hands of Groan Teethgrit, a slow-witted but undeniably huge barbarian warrior, the lords of Illmoor meet in the conspirators’ haven of Shadewell and come up with a plan to rid themselves of the giant mercenary menace. In short order Groan, his equally large but somewhat smarter brother Gape, and his sidekick Gordo Goldeaxe are off on a quest for nonexistent treasures in the most dangerous corners of their enchanted kingdom. The plot consists mostly of the trio stomping around Illmoor getting assaulted and not finding the fictitious treasures, but middle schoolers won’t care. After all, Groan and company do find a vampire zombie count married to a chicken. Other notable characters include King Phew of Phlegm, Baron Muttknuckles of Sneeze, and Loogie Lambontroff, who spends most of the book as a disembodied head dispensing dubious advice and hanging off tree branches by one nostril. While this book is neither as clever nor as subtle as Gerald Morris’s humorous Arthurian novels (Houghton), this latest installment in the series, like its predecessors, will have readers snickering away.–Beth Wright, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, VT

Gr 5-8–Amanda Stanhope is an average eighth grader living an average life in a suburb near Chicago; her brother David, a sixth grader, is pretty much the same. So it’s a surprise when, cleaning out the attic, they find a ruby that launches them into Abraxas, a medieval-style fantasy world full of knights, elves, and dragons under attack from a nasty magician called Adrian the Deceiver. What makes this novel different from most other fantasies targeted at this age group is that their parents travel with the children to battle Adrian and his gnome and troll minions. Unfortunately, there’s nothing else about this fantasy that’s innovative or interesting; the plot is leaden, and the dialogue and characterizations are hard to swallow. There is no feeling of “otherness,” and very little magic, in the air of Abraxas.–Walter Minkel, New York Public Library

Gr 4-9–The story land inhabitants inside The Great Good Thing (2001) and Into the Labyrinth (2002, both S & S) now find themselves wrongly loaded onto a ship and launched into outer space. Princess Sylvie and her fictional costars find life inside a book turned upside down. Microgravity and the laws that bring normalcy to Earth are only the beginning of adjustments that the fleshly crew and book characters must overcome. Astronaut Kara is the only being to read the medieval drama when the mission is dealt a fatal blow. Trouble with the flight parallels trouble inside story land as Princess Sylvie realizes that the court jester Pingree has become her nemesis, and that the spaceship has missed its entrance to Earth’s atmosphere. Even in the midst of her own grim problems, Princess Sylvie realizes that the fate of the astronauts depends on the intervention of the storybook crew. More than just cardboard characters, Princess Sylvie and the cast grow beyond their own narrow roles of text. The well-paced plot is in keeping with the first two books and beautifully marries two realities into a clever telling of tales. NASA space facts bring authenticity to two worlds existing on one plane. The quick pacing and easy reading add to an already witty blend.–Robyn Gioia, Bolles School, Ponte Vedra, FL

Gr 5-8–When soccer superstar Brian Hobble borrows a pink Easyflow pen from his nemesis Nathan Lumsdyke, he is suddenly blessed with creative writing skills. Unfortunately, the pen is only capable of writing sappy romantic fiction, even when used on a science test, and he’s forced to read it aloud. (It turns out that the pen belongs to Nathan’s mother, a well-known romance writer.) Word spreads about Brian’s supposed talent and he is chosen to be in a Special Interest Writing Group. He then has to figure out how to gain the admiration he craves from the brainy girl he has a crush on and not disappoint his favorite author, who selected him for the group. Though there are no surprises here, readers will want to know how the boy gets out of his predicament. The black-and-white sketches are humorous, as are Brian’s interpretive definitions of select words at the start of each chapter. An interesting premise couched in a contemporary, comical narrative.–Emily Rodriguez, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL

Gr 9 Up–Set in Brooklyn, this urban drama novel depicts Ty Johnson’s life as a 17-year-old African-American drug dealer. Taking over his father’s territory seemed to be “all that” to Ty when he was younger, but now he realizes that there is more to life–mainly forming a relationship with Alyse, a single mother and his classmate at the local continuation high school. Struggling to hold onto the pieces of his father’s business, he faces competition from out of town and things get serious. Neither Alyse nor his mother knows what sort of “work” Ty does until he ends up in the hospital after a drive-by shooting. Then the teen leaves school completely and moves out of his mother’s apartment. He must decide who he is as his life is threatened and he loses the people closest to him. Easy to read and written in street slang including drug references and profanity, this debut novel will appeal to reluctant readers.–Corinda J. Humphrey, Los Angeles Public Library

Gr 5-8–Sam Palmer, a lonely boy fascinated by insects, is hit by a car while riding his bike and transported to the parallel world of Aurobon. There he discovers a race of people who use insects as war machines and a plan to rid the Earth of humans using a deadly virus transmitted by mosquitoes. With the help of a girl named Skipper, one of the best pilots ever, Sam, the dreamwalker’s child, must fulfill his part in an ancient prophecy to restore order to the land. This page-turner has something for everyone. Boys will love the exciting chase scenes and girls will appreciate Skipper’s fearlessness when she is sent to rescue Sam. There is a clear environmental message, but it is not heavy-handed. A riveting adventure that offers something a little different.–Michele Capozzella, Chappaqua Public Library, NY

Gr 9 Up–Clay, 17, a pot abuser, and his cousin Addison, 18, a crack dealer, both attend Daytop, a day-treatment program in New York City. At one time close, then separated by a family feud, the teens are now working through their problems together. Their parents have just begun to put their dispute behind them when Clay sees Addison shot by the police on the rooftop of the projects where he lived and the incident becomes the focal point of a campaign for racial justice. The pace of the story slows a little just before the shooting, but quickly picks up as the community rallies around the perceived injustice. Delving into the psychological trauma of Clay and the comparison of how he and Addison’s younger brother deal with the killing, the author gives readers a realistic look at individuals, family dynamics, and moral dilemmas. The raw language is in keeping with the story’s events. Parallels can be drawn between this fast-paced novel and Walter Dean Myers’s Monster (HarperCollins, 1999), and a classroom unit could easily be developed about the treatment of minorities within the U.S. justice system. The many facets of life in the projects are revealed through excellent character development, which enables this novel to shine.–Dylan Thomarie, Johnstown High School, NY

Gr 9 Up–Haven High’s teens manipulate their way through relationships with cunning, lies, and emotional blackmail. Harper feigns sweetness to hang on to Adam. Kane turns on false charm to lure Beth to sleep with him. Kaia responds to her attraction to enigmatic Reed by treating him like dirt, all the while keeping secret trysts with the French teacher. It’s the stuff of a steamy soap opera, replete with sophisticated villains and charming innocents, over-the-top plotting by the characters, lusty encounters, and betrayals climactically revealed. Although it’s hard to imagine many teens relating to the stereotypically drawn players, there are undoubtedly those who will find the page-turning pace addictive. Purchase for fans of Cecily von Ziegesar’s “Gossip Girl” and Zoey Dean’s “A-List” series (both Little, Brown).–Rebecca M. Jones, Fort Myers-Lee County Library, FL

Gr 5-8–After the death of his father, who is fighting in the Pacific, 14-year-old Harley Wallace is abandoned by his stepmother. She leaves him with a few dollars and a letter of introduction to his grandfather, whom Harley has never met. The teen’s journey to his grandfather’s house becomes an adventure filled with unexpected kindnesses and the irrepressibility of family ties, as well as a brush with espionage and a couple of suspenseful shoot-’em-up scenes. A colorful cast of characters and a nod to teenage romance help make this a good choice for middle school boys. Historical notes provide the context that could make this a plausible choice in the study of World War II and/or provide a great escape as a summer read.–Elizabeth Fernandez, Brunswick Middle School, Greenwich, CT

Gr 6-8–The yearly summer pleasures of a Michigan cottage away from the stress of school, work, and city life are interrupted in 1942 for 14-year-old Belle and her family. Wartime has required her parents to stay behind with her father supervising the production of warplanes and her mother returning to her medical practice, covering for male doctors leaving for the army and navy. Belle and her three siblings return to their grandparents’ cottage and are joined by their 15-year-old cousin, Carrie, who has been raised, following her mother’s death, in Paris and Washington, DC, and whose father is in war-besieged Europe. Belle anticipates much-needed friendship and camaraderie, yet Carrie arrives with a sophisticated and arrogant demeanor, upsetting the normally simple lifestyle of her family. Whelan masterfully paints a tension-filled story of two opposite worlds colliding and clashing with one another through her well-developed principal characters. Belle’s first-person narrative expresses her mixed feelings, from excitement about the arrival of a new relative to bewildered disappointment in and anger toward her unappreciative, snobby cousin. When Carrie’s father is killed in a bomb raid in London, the entire family must not only come to terms with his death, but also with the mutual adjustment that permanently living with their orphaned cousin will require. Whelan aptly combines themes of war, death, loss, adjustment, and coming of age through her symbolic references of both personal and global warfare. A worthy, discussable page-turner.–Rita Soltan, Youth Services Consultant, West Bloomfield, MI

Gr 7-10–In this follow-up to Pay the Piper (Tom Doherty, 2005), the authors have converted “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” into a modern fairy tale that once again has a musical flair. Sixteen-year-old Moira, a harpist, has been named one of the 12 Dairy Princesses in the small town of Vanderby, MN. There is a long-standing tradition of carving the Princesses’ heads out of butter and placing them on the Trollholm Bridge during the state fair. But this year, the tradition isn’t carried out, and the girls are taken into Trollholm, a magical realm filled with man-eating trolls and a talking fox, Fossegrim. At the same time, the popular teen band, the Griffsons, is taking a much-needed break. When the boys discover the Trollholm Bridge, they too are taken into the troll world. The result is a fast-paced adventure story in which Moira and the Griffsons must escape the great troll Aenmarr. They work together with Foss to rescue his magical fiddle, which promises to send them back to their own world. But all is not as it seems, and the story ends with a grand twist that is totally satisfying. The writing is filled with humor and straightforward prose, and the song lyrics are so well written that one can almost hear the music that accompanies them. Add a touch of romance and you have a great, well-rounded book for teens.–Tasha Saecker, Caestecker Public Library, Green Lake, WI

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