Fiction

ABRAHAMS, Peter, et al. Up All Night: A Short Story Collection. 240p. CIP. HarperTeen/Laura Geringer Bks. 2008. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-137076-2; PLB $17.89. ISBN 978-0-06-137077-9. LC 2007021355.

Gr 8 Up–Six stories share a thread teens can relate to—a sleepless night. Libba Bray, Patricia McCormick, Sarah Weeks, Peter Abrahams, David Levithan, and Gene Luen Yang relate tender sibling relationships, magical city nights, and loneliness that changes in the light of a new day. The premise, as a prompt, may inspire student writers. B

BUSBY, Cylin, ed. First Kiss (Then Tell): A Collection of True Lip-Locked Moments. 224p. Bloomsbury. 2008. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-1-59990-199-2; pap. $8.95. ISBN 978-1-59990-241-8. LC number unavailable.

Gr 7 Up–Lighthearted confessions from such young adult authors as David Levithan, Naomi Shihab Nye, and Jon Scieszka describe both romantic and embarrassing lip-locked moments. Not limited to prose, these accounts may include cartoons, poems, a play, or a journal that could serve as sample writing prompts for students. Interesting kissing trivia appears throughout this high-interest title. B

CROSSLEY-HOLLAND, Kevin. Crossing to Paradise. 400p. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine Bks. 2008. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-05866-7. LC number unavailable.

Gr 5-9–The irrepressible Welsh peasant girl Gatty, first introduced in the author’s “Arthur” trilogy (Scholastic), comes into her own in a novel set in the early years of the 13th century. Gatty’s pure singing voice helps her secure a position as serving maid to Lady Gwyneth, who has declared her intent to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Written against the backdrop of a teeming medieval landscape and seen through the eyes of many colorful characters, this novel will give today’s readers a glimpse into the complexities of a medieval journey through the eyes of an impulsive teenage girl who wears her heart on her sleeve. B

DOCTOROW, Cory. Little Brother. 384p. Tor. 2008. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-0-7653-1985-2. LC number unavailable.

Gr 10 Up–Following a terrorist attack in San Francisco, 17-year-old Marcus and his friends are questioned by the Department of Homeland Security. After the harrowing experience, the teens are further appalled to find themselves and the rest of the city’s residents under constant surveillance. An exciting techno-thriller that raises important questions. B

DOWD, Siobhan. Bog Child. 336p. Random/David Fickling Bks. 2008. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-385-75169-8; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-385-75170-4. LC number unavailable.

Gr 9 Up–A powerful novel set in Northern Ireland in 1981. Fergus, 18, wants nothing more than to leave the country and pursue his studies as a doctor, but because his brother is a member of the IRA and in prison, his family’s days are fraught with worry and pain. While the teen and his uncle are pilfering peat, Fergus discovers a body that has been buried for 2000 years. This richly rewarding double narrative explores the ideas of sacrifice and destiny. B

COLLINS, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. 374p. CIP. Scholastic. 2008. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-439-02348-1. LC 2007039987.

Gr 7 Up– The Hunger Games is an annual, government-run competition in which two dozen 12 to 18 year olds fight one another to the death on national television. When 16-year-old Katniss’s younger sister’s name is drawn, Katniss takes her place and must hold her own against stronger and more ruthless representatives. A compelling and often-poignant portrait of young people forced to deal with unspeakable evil. B

FREITAS, Donna. The Possibilities of Sainthood. 280p. CIP. Farrar/Frances Foster Bks. 2008. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-374-36087-0. LC 2007033298.

Gr 7 Up–For eight years, Antonia Labella has been petitioning the Vatican to name a new patron saint, for everything from fig trees to first kisses, and always volunteers her services as the perfect candidate. None of her missives merit a response, but the 15-year-old Rhode Island resident remains undaunted. A story rich in faith, family, and romance told with heaps of pasta and good humor. B

KOSTICK, Conor. Saga. 367p. CIP. Viking. 2008. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-670-06280-5. LC 2007032175.

Gr 9 Up– Cindella Dragonslayer, the colorful avatar of Erik Haraldson, introduced in Epic (Viking, 2007), returns in a new iteration of the game, called Saga, and finds herself grossly out of place. Saga is a virtual-reality game in which the characters have become sentient beings and are ruled by the 2000-year-old, iron-fisted Dark Queen, who has enslaved inhabitants of Erik’s world with a drug that makes them play or die. An exciting, action-packed adventure for fans of video games and dark fantasies. B

PEARSON, Mary E. The Adoration of Jenna Fox. 272p. Holt. 2008. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8050-7668-4. LC number unavailable.

6 CDs. 7:30 hrs. Macmillan Aufio. 2008. ISBN 978-1-4272-0443-1. $29.95

Gr 8 Up–Part dystopian fiction, part medical thriller, and part coming-of-age novel, this complex and compelling book has it all. When Jenna Fox, 17, wakes after a year-long coma, she has a hard time recognizing anyone or anything, least of all herself. Her parents have moved, leaving everything behind, and instruct her not to tell anyone about her accident. Slowly, her memories return, and the teen realizes that they are keeping a terrible secret. BA

SCHMIDT, Gary D. Trouble. 336p. Clarion. 2008. Tr $16. ISBN 978-0-618-92766-1. LC number unavailable.

Gr 7-10–When a priviledged white teen is struck by a car and killed by a Cambodian teen from a nearby town, a world of trouble rains down on both boys’ families and their communities. This powerful narrative is told from the point of view of the deceased youth’s younger brother who, as he gets to know the perpetrator, is lead to question everything he has been taught to believe about strength, justice, and reconciliation. B

SINGER, Nicky. Gem X. 311p. CIP. Holiday House. 2008. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8234-2108-4. LC 2007014975.

Gr 7 Up–When a crack appears in the picture-perfect visage of 16-year-old Maxo Strang, and, in those of his fellow GemXers, it signals a flaw in the genotype and with it his highly enhanced and choreographed lifestyle begins to crumble. His search for a cure takes him outside of his circle and introduces him to the world of naturally born Dreggies, with which he’s had no previous contact. A smart and intriguing futuristic novel. B

STAPLES, Suzanne Fisher. The House of Djinn. 224p. glossary. CIP. Farrar/Frances Foster Bks. 2008. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-374-39936-8. LC 2007005093.

Gr 7-10– In this powerful sequel to Shabanu (1989) and Haveli (1993, both Knopf) set in modern-day Pakistan, 15-year-old Mumtaz has been raised in the Lahore household of her deceased father’s extended family. When her beloved grandfather dies and names her cousin and best friend Jameel as tribal leader, the flabbergasted teens learn that they are expected to marry. A compelling exploration of traditional and Western societal values filtered through the experiences of well-delineated, memorable characters. B

VALENTINE, Jenny. Me, the Missing, and the Dead. 208p. HarperTeen. 2008. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-085068-5; PLB $17.89. ISBN 978-0-06-085069-2. LC number unavailable.

Gr 8-11–In this wacky dark comedy set in London, Lucas is a 16-year-old who still idolizes his dad who disappeared a decade earlier. When he is mysteriously drawn to an urn containing the ashes of a woman named Violet, he unwittingly becomes involved in unraveling the puzzles of her identity and his father’s whereabouts. B

VOORHEES, Coert. The Brothers Torres. 316p. Hyperion. 2008. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-0304-2. LC number unavailable.

Gr 9 Up–Frankie tests his bravado on his older brother’s nemesis, a jock named Dalton, confident he will be protected by Steve’s “cholos.” Upon learning his family may also be losing their New Mexican restaurant to the Dalton family, the stakes get higher. Authentic language dialogue and humor will draw students to this coming-of-age story featuring a protagonist whose inner voice, family conflicts, friendships, and social pressures will ring true to teens. B

WERLIN, Nancy. Impossible. 384p. Dial. 2008. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-8037-3002-1. LC number unavailable.

Gr 9 Up-This modern fairy tale, based on the ballad “Scarborough Fair,” features fluid writing and fully fleshed-out characters. The story revolves around a family curse; 17-year-old Lucy is destined to go mad at 18 unless she can perform three impossible tasks described in the song. There is plenty of darkness in the story—rape, teen pregnancy, madness–but love, logic, and family prevail. B

Airman (unabr.). 9 CDs. 11:22 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape (library.booksontape.com). 2008. ISBN 978-0-7393-6126-9. $55.

Gr 7 Up–Eoin Colfer’s tale (Hyperion, 2008) details the life and times of Conor Broekhart—born in a hot-air balloon over Paris and destined to save his parents, recapture a kingdom, and win the hand of a princess. John Keating’s boyish voice and slight Scottish accent give this swashbuckling adventure story just the right combination of realism and fantasy. A

The Crack Between Worlds: Ghost Stories & Mysterious Tales of Life at the Edge. CD. 1:13 hrs. The Storycrafters (storycrafters.com). 2007. $14.95.

Gr 6 Up–Barry Marshall and Jeri Burns put a unique spin on five original and traditional stories that explore the realms where ghosts, sorcerers, and fear lurk. Among the selections are “Fiddler in the Woods,” a tale about a talented fiddle player who, on a shortcut home, encounters a hungry wolf pack; and an original rap based on the classic tale of “Dead Fred.” The aural quality is clear and crisp and the narration moves smoothly between the storytellers. A

Deadline (unabr.). 8 cassettes or 8 CDs. 9 hrs. Recorded Books (recordedbooks.com). 2008. cassette, ISBN 978-1-4281-8816-7: $61.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4281-8821-1: $87.75.

Gr 9 Up–Eighteen-year-old Ben is diagnosed with a terminal, aggressive blood disorder in this novel (Greenwillow, 2007) by Chris Crutcher. The teen decides to keep his illness a secret and live his last year to the fullest. Mature listeners (strong language and sexual situations) will relate to the messages about tolerance, forgiveness, and honesty. Steven Boyer delivers an endearing Ben, and creates perfect voices for a large cast of characters. A

Spanking Shakespeare (unabr.). 6 CDs. 6:35 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape (library.booksontape.com). 2007. ISBN 978-0-7393-6325-6. $45.

Gr 10 Up–Shakespeare Shapiro, 17, believes he has received the short end of the stick in almost every area of his life. The teen doesn’t want much, he just wants to “be someone worth knowing.” Jake Wizner’s hilarious first novel (Random, 2007) vividly captures the confusing, hormonal world of young adult males. The raw language gives life and dimension to the characters and Mike Chamberlin’s comedic timing, tone, and expression are impressive. A

The Sweet Far Thing (unabr.). 16 CDs. 20:29 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape (library.booksontape.com). 2007. ISBN 978-0-7393-6097-2. $75.

Gr 9 Up–A complex, multilayered finale (Delacorte, 2007) to Libba Bray’s Gemma Doyle trilogy. In this mystery/fantasy, the heroine struggles to fend off those who want the magical powers she inherited from her mother, tries to understand the mystical netherworld beneath the Earth, and copes with her laudanum-addicted father and societal constraints. Josephine Bailey creates distinctive voices for the human and mythological beings. Both heterosexuality and homosexuality are discreetly presented in the context of this novel set in Victorian England. A