Grades 5 & Up

Gr 9 Up–Karl Shoemaker, in group therapy at school since fourth grade, turns a new leaf on the first day of senior year, 1973. His goal is to be normal and avoid therapy while still keeping his friends, who are all part of the Madman Underground. Karl’s widowed mother is an alcoholic, hippie, conspiracy-theorist slut who steals his earnings (he has five jobs) for benders. At one time or another, most Madmen are locked out of their houses by drunk or absent parents, or don’t go home to avoid getting beaten, or felt up. They depend on one another’s hospitality by way of empty basements, open windows, and unlocked cars. Barnes writes with amazing ease and clarity. He has a light, immediate feel for character, and the ensemble of Madmen, teachers, parents, and crotchety townspeople is distinct and fully formed. Dialogue between Karl and this motley crew is mostly hilarious, expletive laden, and consistently flawless. Karl’s conversations with Marti, the newest Madman, are among the most heart-melting in teen literature. Barnes’s descriptions of small-town Ohio defy the usual pitfalls of the back-when-the-author-was-a-teen setting–Lightsburg is so believably backward it seems timeless. While a moral dilemma may seem an underwhelming plot device, Karl’s psychological journey is consistently gripping. His narration is so easy and engaging, so sweet and funny, so astonishingly truthful that teens will rip through these 500-plus pages and want more.–Johanna Lewis, New York Public Library

Gr 4-6–A pampered pooch from Manhattan falls overboard while sailing with his owners and is washed ashore on Prince Edward Island. Discovered by Augusta Smith, a fisherman’s widow, the little Yorkie reluctantly adapts to the island ways although he yearns to return home. Along with Miss Gustie, he gathers an odd assortment of friends from an elderly fox to a 12-year-old runaway. When conniving and vicious feral cats set a trap for him, his tenacity and his new friends’ loyalty prevail and ultimately he realizes that he wants to stay where he is. The anthropomorphized characters are well crafted, from the wise and weary fox to the lonely and picked-on three-legged cat who desperately wants to belong but is repeatedly betrayed by the other felines. The human characters are empathetic and interesting as well. McKenna, the young runaway, wants her independence but also is looking for a place to call home. The themes of loyalty, courage, and belonging are effectively woven throughout the exciting plot twists of this animal fantasy.–Carol Schene, formerly at Taunton Public Schools, MA

Gr 4-7–The final volume of the series hits the ground running as Miles Wednesday is robbed of the rare and powerful Tiger’s Egg by the Great Cortado and his buffoonish sidekick. Accompanied by his friend Little and the blind explorer Baltinglass of Araby, Miles races the villains to the home of Nura, his mother’s twin sister, who may know the secret of unlocking the Egg’s power. The rousing pursuit sends the 12-year-old sailing on fantastic airships, trekking across desert sands, and even into the Realm of Angels, where he must defend himself against the Sleep Angels and the death sentence they have passed on him. The various plot threads and colorful characters from The Palace of Laughter (2006) and The Tiger’s Egg (2007, both HarperCollins) are pulled together for a grand, albeit chaotic, finish. The final chapters are especially hectic, as Berkeley races to make sure all the loose ends are tied up. The journey there is a fine one, however, filled with the evocative description and engrossing narrative style that have typified the series, and the conclusion is on the whole satisfying.–Christi Esterle, Parker Library, CO

Gr 9 Up–A well-written and well-paced sequel to Exodus (Walker, 2008). Mara has sailed away with a group of people to find a land that may or may not exist at the top of the world. Fox, her true love and co-revolutionary, has chosen to stay behind to fight the corrupt government. Mara communicates with him using their stolen “cyberwizz” technology. Tuck is a sticky-fingered, misunderstood boy from a floating atoll of scavengers whose existence is said to have brought bad luck to his family and his town. After the ship that Mara is on destroys part of his town, he sees his chance of escape and stows away on it. Their quest to build a future while trying to survive will keep teens involved from the first chapter. While familiarity with the first book is not a necessity, it is recommended. Fans of postapocalyptic fiction will snap this novel up.–June H. Keuhn, Corning East High School, NY

Gr 7-9–Bee, 13, wants to eat the dirt in her mother’s garden; Haze believes that he is half-alien; and Stephanie thinks that she is a reincarnated slave girl from the 1800s whose name was Sarah. One day Bee sees a girl in her room who could be her twin. After the girl says, “You are me,” she disappears. Bee usually doesn’t talk to anyone, but decides to ask Haze about the vanishing figure. He explains that she is a doppelganger and that seeing one means your eminent death. Bee hears Sarah sing a Billie Holiday song about lynching and talks to her. The three loners become friends. They crash a party by deciding to be invisible and enjoy drinking and dancing before being caught. They grab hands, run out of the party, and fly away. When they land, Bee finds a poisonous plant in her pocket. The teens figure out that she is a changeling, and the real Bee is desperate to have her body back. The author does an excellent job of integrating background slices of paranormal history and poetry. This slim novel is comprised of short chapters, is quickly paced, and has a surprise ending. It will appeal to reluctant readers, fans of the bizarre, and teens who feel that they don’t quite fit in.–Samantha Larsen Hastings, West Jordan Public Library, UT

Gr 5-7–Named after the famous artist, Matisse Jones, 11, has one problem: “My family is like the sun. It’s dangerous to look right at them.” His father takes pride in his Dead Meat Catering business. His mother is head of security at the museum and wants one of her children to become an artist. Matisse’s older sister, Frida, has an obsession with purple. And the boy spends his after-school hours copying masterpieces. When his namesake’s exhibit opens, Matisse replaces the original Portrait of Pierre with his replica during a security breach. Eventually, he confesses to the owner of the painting, Pierre Matisse himself, who tells the youngster that art comes from the “couer” and advises him to trash his copies. The writing is fast paced and Matisse’s observations provide some laugh-out-loud amusement, but the characters are little more than plot elements. Overall, this novel offers a series of anecdotes about an art-loving boy dodging his mistake in a grown-up setting. The plethora of adult characters and interactions may limit the book’s appeal to avid art buffs.–Richelle Roth, Wilmington Public Library, OH

Gr 9 Up–In this riveting debut novel, 16-year-old Nick and his older brother, Alan, are accustomed to life on the run. Since their father was murdered, the boys have been forced to slay demons set on them by magicians seeking the powerful charm stolen by the boys’ mother. Nick is furious when Alan receives a “first-tier” demon mark while saving a neighborhood boy. While seeking to remove it, Nick begins to suspect that his brother is lying to him about the reason for the magicians’ attempts to kill them and about why their mother screams whenever Nick touches her. Fans of the Supernatural television series will be hooked from the novel’s opening lines (“The pipe under the sink was leaking again. It wouldn’t have been so bad, except that Nick kept his favorite sword under the sink.”). Even teens who don’t consider themselves genre buffs will appreciate the solid writing, fast-paced plot, and sense of authenticity that Brennan gives to the shadowy world between ordinary, modern-day London and the otherworld of demons and magicians. Though Nick and Alan’s story is mostly resolved with Nick discovering the truth behind his father’s death and his mother’s fear of him, readers will no doubt clamor for the next book in this planned urban fantasy trilogy.–Leah J. Sparks, formerly at Bowie Public Library, MD

Gr 8 Up–In the medieval canal city of Cassaforte, all noble children between the ages of 11 and 16 are tested, once every 6 years, to determine which school they will attend to learn the enchantments that make the craft work of their families so valuable. When 16-year-old Risa Divetri, a cazarra of one of the seven most important families, is not chosen for either school, she is convinced the gods have abandoned her. Only after those who can crown a new king are kidnapped does Risa begin to realize that the gods may have something greater in store for her after all. Cassaforte is a beautifully drawn city of piazzas, gondolas, beauty, and magic. The rules of magic Briceland introduces are clear, and enough hints are present at the beginning of the novel to make Risa’s rise to importance natural. Though the quickly paced plot drives the narrative, Risa’s musings (and occasional bouts of temper) are never cut short. Her relationships with her parents, the glassmakers who work under her father, her treacherous uncle, and the beggar she rescues with the help of young guard Milo are well drawn. Each of the characters has the feel of greater depth than readers are allowed through Risa’s eyes, and the romantic thread between her and Milo is subtle enough that it does not derail the narrative, but still tugs the heartstrings of romance seekers. Readers will find much to love in The Glass Maker’s Daughter and its stubborn and strong-willed heroine.–Alana Abbott, James Blackstone Memorial Library, Branford, CT

Gr 9 Up–In Virginia in 1969, 15-year-old Bowser gets sent to the Hill, an institution for troubled and delinquent teens. There he meets Evan, Babybird, and Snicklesnort, three other white boys who seem indistinguishable from one another. After Bowser gets into a fight with a black boy, Nose, the two develop a rivalry that becomes a friendship. The action finds a focus about halfway through, when Evan is killed in a tractor accident. Shorty Nub, the sadistic staff member who was in charge of the work crew, pressures the boys into lying about the incident. When the administration seems poised to blame Nose, Bowser investigates, and his discovery that Shorty Nub is running a child prostitution ring makes Bowser’s quest to expose the truth more pressing and dangerous. Despite its edgy elements, the novel is off-putting and confusing. Though he narrates the book, Bowser doesn’t always make his motivations and thought processes clear, and readers will be unsure how to react to his unsettled mental state and his sometimes-disturbing behaviors. Throughout the novel, various characters tell stories that are presented in a different font. Though these pieces highlight the power of storytelling, the sudden shifts in the narrative perspective rob the novel of its immediacy. Symbols, including the titular “hoppergrass” (a grasshopper in a jar), recur throughout, but are not well integrated into the plot. Readers will be turned off by the slow pacing, shallow characters, and lack of emotional resonance.–Megan Honig, New York Public Library

Gr 5-8–Thirteen-year-old Paul Fortune, an Abenaki with a long line of military service in his family, goes to live with his stoic veteran grandfather while his parents are serving in the Middle East. Paul and Grampa Peter have subtle, nonverbal ways of communicating with one another, which comes in handy when bad guys arrive, kidnap them, and force them to search for mythical treasure on a journey up Mount Washington, one of the coldest and most dangerous spots in the northeast. Darby Field, the ringmaster of the group and the sinister host of TV’s Forbidden Mysteries, has specifically sought out Grampa Peter, who is known for his scouting skills and expert knowledge of Native legends, including Pmola’s treasure. Although scenes of the large, dark, birdlike Pmola menacing the group are frightening, the real scare here is actually the evil and occasionally violent Mr. Field and his cohorts, who have pillaged cultural treasures around the world. Using Paul’s keen birdlike sense of smell and sight, and employing military tactics and strategy, Paul and Grampa ultimately prevail over the villains. The intriguing Native lore, the realistic teen narrative, and cliff-hanger sentences that build suspense at the end of each chapter are signature Bruchac and will captivate readers.–Madeline J. Bryant, Los Angeles Public Library

Gr 4-7–Life with her irresponsible father has left 13-year-old T.J. wary and independent. She must come to terms with the fact that the father she loves allowed the rest of her family to spend 10 years believing she was dead. When she reluctantly goes to visit the mother and twin sister who are effectively strangers to her, it is painful and awkward for everyone. Picking up roughly where Do You Know the Monkey Man? (Peachtree, 2005) left off, this narrative switches from Samantha’s to T.J.’s point of view. The events of the first book are well-integrated, allowing T.J.’s story to stand alone or to be read as a sequel. While the plot revolves around developing relationships and shifting perspectives, the pace is quick and there is enough action and tension to make this a good candidate for reluctant readers. The implausible backstory won’t bother kids, nor will the other minor flaws, including a rather abrupt resolution. They’ll find it highly readable, and it might even make them think about the effect of parents’ behavior on who one becomes.–Faith Brautigam, Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin, IL

Gr 9 Up–In this sequel to Oh. My. Gods. (Dutton, 2008), Phoebe, a descendant of the Greek Goddess Nike, is sent to Goddess Boot Camp by her stepfather so that she can learn to control her magical powers, on which she will be tested. But Phoebe is in training for a marathon in the Pythian Games, her boyfriend may be cheating on her, and the other girls at camp are about 10 years old. Add the fact that her evil stepsister is a counselor, and life is worse than it might be in Hades. Phoebe’s inner thoughts and emotions are conveyed well, and readers will feel for her. The plot has many twists and turns and moves along nicely, and there are beautiful descriptions of the Greek islands. However, the novel falls short in the last few chapters, which wrap up the several plot threads too neatly and have a disappointing resolution. Nevertheless, those who enjoyed the first book will want to read this one.–Jennifer-Lynn Draper, Children’s Literature Consultant, Oshawa, Ontario

Gr 8 Up–In the two previous books, Clary learns that she is a member of a race of demon-hunters and that she has the special ability to create new versions of the runes that give these Shadowhunters their power. Her mother has been hiding the truth from her for years to protect her from her father, Valentine, a cult-leader-turned-villain who is seeking to gain control over the Shadowhunters by obtaining the three Mortal Instruments. Now, Valentine has only one Mortal Instrument left to find, and the Shadowhunters must ally with the despised Downworlders, including vampires, werewolves, and fairies, to prepare their final defense. The question of whether Clary will be able to harness her unique abilities in time to help–and whether they will let her–is sidelined by the question of whether her love interest, Jace, is really her brother. Though the story is hampered by predictability and overblown writing, Clare continues her talent for mixing hip, modern humor with traditional fantasy, and fans eagerly awaiting the series conclusion should come away more than satisfied.–Eliza Langhans, Hatfield Public Library, MA

Gr 7-10–On a parent-mandated cross-country road trip with Mere, their unpredictable grandmother, 15-year-old Octavia and 17-year-old Tali make the transformation from complaining, self-absorbed teens to observant, supportive family members. Mere promises not to smoke if the sisters promise not to use earphones on their way to a family reunion. And then she begins to tell her life story. As the miles pass from California across the southern states, the girls become intrigued with memories of Mere’s harsh childhood of domestic work and her struggle to protect herself and younger sister from their widowed mother’s lecherous boyfriend. Mere’s account of her war years is full of historical detail and lively personal anecdotes about the training, treatment, duties, and social life in her African-American regiment of the Women’s Army Corps both on assignment in the U.S. and in the European Theater during 1944 and 1945. Octavia and Tali write postcards home to family and friends revealing their adolescent reactions to what they see and hear. Their bickering subsides as they begin to understand the experiences, people, and decisions that shaped their grandmother and the family bond they all share. Told in alternating chapters of “Then” and “Now,” this contemporary intergenerational story resounds with mutual exasperation, criticism, discovery, and humor. Octavia and Tali are believable and at times devious as they try to escape Mere’s scrutiny. A steady travelogue, realistic banter, memorable characters, and moments of tension, insight, and understanding make this an appealing selection.–Gerry Larson, Durham School of the Arts, NC

Gr 5-8–Returning from an unsuccessful mission to contact a hermit living in the Himalayan Mountains near Silver Valley, 15-year-old Anand finds that his home has disappeared, along with his magical conch. With the help of a powerful mirror, he and his friend Nisha travel to a distant future, arriving in a land devastated by pollution and class warfare. Navigating the slums and the metropolis, the teens learn that the scientific miracles are achieved at the expense of magical objects, and the draining of the conch will also destroy Anand’s village. They forge an uneasy alliance with one of the scientists and embark on a mission to reconcile the future and restore the past. In this conclusion to the trilogy, Divakaruni continues to explore the values of honesty, family, and responsibility. Readers are likely to find his narrative heavy-handed, with a strong moralizing tone. The characters are robotic in their behaviors, but they are only there to deliver lectures on the author’s core values anyway. Both action scenes and suspenseful moments are competently done, but there is no sophistication within those passages. Dialogue is choppy at best, and may be too advanced for the targeted audience. Fans of the series will appreciate Anand’s adventure, but new readers will be puzzled by the relationship between the young Healer and the mystical conch.–Chris Shoemaker, New York Public Library

Gr 8 Up–During their senior year at Douglass High, tightly knit friends confront both personal struggles and unsettling school situations. Arielle, Kofi, and the rest of their group mend fences after and come to grips with a lethal hazing event from the past. But there are more problems to tackle. Arielle accidentally witnesses a repugnant bullying incident that the victim asks her to keep secret and resolutely deals with her rich and controlling stepfather. Kofi worries about his irresponsible parents, securing college funding, his pain-pill addiction, and keeping his romance intact. New mother November returns to her classes, determined to finish school. Crazy Jack hides his mental instability by appearing funny and cool. Meanwhile, someone is stealing money and personal property at school. Alternating third-person chapters zero in on Arielle and Kofi while skillfully weaving their friends, classmates, teachers, and others into the plot. The discovery of the thief near the end is surprising and unsettling, and Jack’s breakdown, which involves an assault rifle and holding students hostage, immediately following is jarring. Though it is all a bit much, the quick pace, convincing dialogue, and interesting characters and situations will compel teens, especially those who have read The Battle of Jericho (2003) and November Blues (2007, both S & S).–Diane P. Tuccillo, Poudre River Public Library District, Fort Collins, CO

Gr 5-9–Fortunata is the quick-thinking and resourceful heroine of this once-upon-a-time tale set in a fictional realm. The 17-year-old has been fending for herself and her father since her mother succumbed to a fever. Papa, once a renowned shoemaker, now concocts the world’s ugliest footwear (he lost his creative genius when his wife died) and that, among other things, causes them to leave town in a hurry. Circumstances force them to join a traveling band of performers led by a cruel taskmaster. Fortunata becomes a fortune-teller and though her new “gift” consists mainly of trickery and artifice, it makes people happy–until she tells a fortune to a prince that must come true or her father dies. The plot glides along nicely, as does the development of the characters. Fagan’s language evokes images of fairy tales and legends, and the protagonist’s first-person narrative sparkles with humor. In this book, words are powerful, impressive, mystical, and, sometimes, downright silly. Mixing romance, adventure, and unpredictable plot twists, this heartwarming story is a must for every collection.–Jennifer-Lynn Draper, Children’s Literature Consultant, Oshawa, Ontario

Gr 10 Up–This complex novel explores the fragility of innocence and the existence of miracles in everyday life. Jenny, a prepubescent girl in an Australian mining town, retraces the last year of her teenage sister’s life in an effort to understand what appeared to be Beth’s descent into moral degradation but was perhaps actually her acceptance of martyrdom after seeing an angel. Told through Jenny’s naive and trusting voice, the narrative is nonetheless rich and languid, with the natural world awash in similes, the manmade world brimming with specific-pop culture references of 1980s Australia, and metaphors on nearly every page–of birds, fairies, winged insects, or angels. While Jenny’s voice evokes characters in classic preteen literature–Lois Lowry’s A Summer to Die (Houghton, 1977) and Katharine Paterson’s Jacob Have I Loved (HarperCollins, 1980) come to mind–there is a truly adult sensibility to this story, especially in the brutality of the sexual situations in which Beth becomes involved, that recommends it to sophisticated readers. This is an unusually literary book that some readers will find deeply meaningful and beautiful, while others will roll their eyes at the preponderance of metaphorical imagery.–Rhona Campbell, Washington, DC Public Library

Gr 4-7–When Julian Carter-Li, 12, becomes ill, he is sent by his school to the office of his wealthy, bullying uncle with whom he lives. There he sees email from a Robin Elder degrading the man for being “a moron and world class jerk,” and he quickly becomes fascinated with this spirited person. Through their exchanges, Julian learns that homeschooled Robin lives next to a grove of redwood trees that his uncle’s company plans to harvest, and Julian ditches math camp to see the trees for himself. Drawn to both the forest and Robin’s family, Julian embarks on a campaign to save the trees, and the children take up residence in the Elder family’s tree house. With his friend Danny and Robin, he faces down his uncle to save the forest. Fast paced and full of fun, the story captures the excitement and satisfaction of defeating a large corporation. Situations are sometimes resolved too easily, and character development is spotty, but the story motivates readers to turn the pages regardless. Julian’s relationship with his younger cousin is well done, balancing the tension of a favored kid with genuine affection. Teachers will be able to use this novel for Earth Day discussions and can foster conversations on environmental activism of all types. The resolution reminds readers that everyone, no matter how large or small, can take action on issues that are important to them.–Chris Shoemaker, New York Public Library

Gr 5-8–When Roxanne’s mother returns to Israel to care for an ailing relative, the 13-year-old and her younger sister are left to fend for themselves. They eat cold cereal and canned mushrooms for dinner every night or buy hotdogs from the neighbors, and spend their afternoons and evenings watching television while their father works late nights as a cab driver in Manhattan. But when Liat moves into the “cursed house” next door, Roxanne slowly discovers that her obsession to become all-American might not be as important as she once thought. Confident and unconcerned with what others think, Liat is proud to retain her Israeli name (Roxanne has changed hers from Ravit) and is not embarrassed by her father’s clothes, thick accent, wildly decorated car, or outrageous girlfriend. The fact that Liat’s house does turn out to be cursed–a mysterious house fire forces the family to return to Israel–seems a bit far-fetched, but it does add drama to the story. Roxanne’s fixation with television quickly becomes tiresome, and today’s readers might not relate to all of the aspects of 1980s culture sprinkled throughout the narrative, such as the coveted “winged” hairstyle. Despite these weaknesses, this is a readable coming-of-age story that captures many universal aspects of the contemporary immigrant experience coupled with middle school angst, first crushes, and the importance of finding one’s own wings.–Rachel Kamin, North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, Highland Park, IL

Gr 6-9–Something strange is happening at Nettie’s London home. Her beloved tutor, Miss Kovachev, has mysteriously departed, and there appears to be a ghostly figure of a boy in the shadowed hallways of Regent Mansion. Almost 13, Nettie is beginning to resist being the sheltered only child of rich, indulgent parents, Vlad and Peachy Roberts. Then Great-aunt Laetitia comes to live at the mansion, and Nettie’s independence and love of the arts grow as she is invited to study ballet with this once-celebrated ballerina. She explores her former tutor’s room, seeking clues, and finds a hidden notebook written in Miss K’s native Bulgarian, a poignant diary. Nettie also meets the “ghost,” Benny, a boy from Barbados who lives in the mansion’s basement with his father, the Roberts’s doorman. Benny aspires to be a secret agent and is adept at computer hacking. He reveals a hidden back staircase that accesses the many levels of the mansion and implies knowledge of Nettie’s father’s secretive business while recalling the rule of the three monkeys, referenced in the title. Persuading her parents to send her to school, Nettie finally escapes the confines of her well-guarded home and meets Raisa, a student from Bulgaria, who, along with Benny, helps in the suspenseful resolution of the missing tutor. Nettie also learns the terrible truth about her father’s wealth. This well-written novel has descriptive language, atmosphere, and lots of intrigue as it moves to a stunning conclusion.–Susan W. Hunter, Riverside Middle School, Springfield, VT

Gr 8 Up–Though 14-year-old Andrea has a strong relationship with her father, a supportive best friend, and a newfound interest in running, her mother’s mental illness casts a shadow over her life. With the help of a therapist, she gradually becomes better equipped to deal with her conflicted feelings of love and fear toward her mother, although the plot holds a few false starts along the way. For instance, though the title alludes to a story of redemption through running, the inner peace Andrea initially finds shatters when she has a panic attack and breaks her leg. This breakdown, coupled with her nightmares and emotional outbursts, makes Andrea and readers question her stability. These meanderings in direction make the teen’s eventual confrontation with her mother fall a bit flat, but as a whole, Gonzalez offers a realistic portrayal of a teenager coming to terms with her parent’s schizophrenia. While not as emotionally raw as Sonya Sones’s Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy (HarperCollins, 1999), this book makes for a contemplative prose alternative.–Joanna K. Fabicon, Los Angeles Public Library

Gr 5-9–Gwendoline Riston has always had an affinity with nature, and like her deceased mother, an understanding of the healing properties of plants. But in 17th-century England, her skills set her apart, and when her bargeman father brings news of a plague outbreak in London that threatens to spread to the countryside, the villagers begin to point fingers at the 14-year-old with mutterings of witchcraft. Her father convinces her to hide in a secret chamber in the village church while he heads back down the river to try to track down Jack, his ward who is apprenticed in Oxford. As days turn to weeks and he hasn’t returned, Gwendoline must watch with horror from her small attic room as the villagers succumb one after another to the plague. Adding to her turmoil, she discovers that Jack, for whom she has feelings, is betrothed to beautiful Hannah Mullin, whom she must try to nurse back to health when Hannah contracts the disease. The story has a strong beginning, but Graber carries the theme of communing with nature to an extreme, having a white rook befriend Gwendoline and help her in ways that become increasingly far-fetched. If readers are willing to suspend disbelief in regard to the bird, however, the author offers a compelling glimpse into 1665 England. Gwendoline’s formal old-English narration adds authenticity to the story, but makes it more challenging for reluctant readers to follow.–Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA

Gr 7 Up–In the second in a planned six-book series, the children of Perdito Beach, CA, have survived without adults for three months following the FAYZ, a nuclear event that caused everyone over the age of 14 to vanish and an impenetrable barrier to rise for 20 miles around the town. Now their food is almost gone, and in their desperation and fear, the young people are beginning to sort themselves into factions; those without special powers opposing those who have them. To add to the suspense, a terrifying presence that calls itself the Gaiaphage, a being of overwhelming hunger, is insinuating itself into the minds of the susceptible. Like Gone (HarperTeen, 2008), this novel is not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach. Nonstop action and recurring scenes of graphic violence, death, and torture will keep readers on the edge of their seats as they race toward the climactic cliff-hanger ending. Give this to teens who liked Stephen King’s The Stand (Doubleday, 1990) or William Golding’s Lord of the Flies (Penguin, 1959).–Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK

Gr 4-8–In this sequel to Football Genius (HarperCollins, 2007), Troy White, 12, continues to put to good use his uncanny ability to predict an opposing team’s next move. He is employed by his beloved Atlanta Falcons to send in plays during games, thus helping the team to build a winning streak and prolonging the career of his idol, the aging and injury-riddled linebacker, Seth Halloway. Seth is dating Troy’s mom (also a Falcons employee) and coaching Troy’s youth league football team. While Troy is technically doing nothing against the rules, the Falcons want to keep his contribution to the team’s success a secret. When he is outed by a sportswriter who has a grudge against Seth, the Falcons’ season, Troy’s upcoming youth league championship game, and his mom’s job are all placed in jeopardy. Troy is able to demonstrate to the NFL Commissioner that he can predict plays without cheating and tricks a corrupt doctor into admitting, on tape, that he lied about Seth’s steroid use. The Falcons’ season is saved, Seth coaches Troy’s team to the championship, and Troy is approached by an agent who promises millions for his play-predicting abilities. The unexpected appearance of Troy’s biological father in the final chapter sets up the next book in the series. While the novel’s premise is somewhat outlandish, the characters are engaging and the game action is exciting. Short cliff-hanger chapters make this a good bet for reluctant readers.–Richard Luzer, Fair Haven Union High School, VT

Gr 4-6–Brenton, Snik, Kelsey, and Judy thought that they had disposed of their homework-completing computer at the end of The Homework Machine (S & S, 2006), but the device apparently isn’t quite off-line yet. Brenton remembers that the main power chip was still live when they pitched the machine into the Grand Canyon, and the friends believe that the powerful component has never been recovered. The kids decide to retrieve the chip, but discover that two old adversaries are also interested. Ronnie, the school bully, wants to build a similar contraption, and con-man Richard Milner has a more sinister scheme in mind. When the children’s teacher proposes a treasure-hunting expedition into the heart of the canyon, the four are excited, but they find that Ronnie and Milner have the chip and are also after the Egyptian artifacts that are rumored to be hidden in the park. Slightly darker than the first book, Return also has some welcome touches of humor, particularly concerning the online religious cult the kids start as a prank. There is a lot going on here–lost Egyptian hoards, Japanese gangsters, even model rocketry, but it all comes together. The unconventional and challenging narrative consists entirely of excerpts from police interviews (conducted after the treasure-hunting expedition, when one character is killed) that depict the action from multiple viewpoints. Familiarity with the first book is helpful but not essential. An exciting choice.–Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL

Gr 7-10–With her purple-tipped hair and Goth style, Madison didn’t fit in when she was alive, and she has real problems now that she is dead. She went to the prom with popular and handsome Josh, but when she found out that her dad had arranged the “fix-up,” she ran off with the dangerously charming Kairos. This was a bad idea. Kairos is a dark timekeeper who needed to strike down Madison because his own time was about to run out and when he tried, she stole his amulet. This event sets off a unique adventure in which Madison is stuck somewhere between life and death. Caught up in a world of dark and light reapers, seraphs, and guardian angels, she has to fight to get the correct amulet and to reunite her body and soul so that she can live out a life cut short. The characters and their specific jobs and places in the hierarchy of heaven and earth are hard to follow, perhaps because this first book in the series is the setup for those that follow. The final chapters are by far the best as readers finally get a handle on all of the intricacies of the story and become attached to some of the characters, such as Grace, a funny and charming guardian angel who often speaks in limericks.–Jake Pettit, Thompson Valley High School, Loveland, CO

Gr 9 Up–Carlos has a new job at the Long Beach Contemporary, a local art museum. His accounts of hanging with his friends Snake and Will at the bleachers, seeing a bizarre guy who pees on the floor at the museum, his girl tossing him aside for another guy she slept with, and meeting his coworker Vanessa are interspersed with Isabel’s, a girl he doesn’t know, though she goes to his high school. Her chapters begin as she is preoccupied with her boyfriend’s death nearly a year earlier; later, they focus on her friendship with Vanessa, who pulls the two narrators into the same sphere. Aside from having loving parents, Isabel and Carlos seem to have more than their share of disappointment and tragedy when their first date at a Valentine dance ends with friends wrenched from their lives in a dreadful car accident. This slice-of-high-school-life captures reality, though Isabel’s voice doesn’t read quite as true as Carlos’s. Readers will need to stick with the first half to get to a far more rewarding second half. Those who do may be touched by the hope the teens must garner to risk caring for one another in the wake of loss, a hope that Hernandez nicely embodies through skillful narrative structure and evocative language.–Suzanne Gordon, Peachtree Ridge High School, Suwanee, GA

Gr 5-8–Twelve-year-old Jake’s parents have separated, so his mom won’t even get out of the car when she dumps him at a rundown lakeside cabin to spend the summer with his dad, a newly minted professor whose focus is finishing his PhD. With nothing much to do, Jake befriends neighbors Adrian and Allie, both 14. Tensions soon develop with Adrian, who flies off the handle at nothing. Why won’t he let them in his house? Is he being abused? Is his dad really a scientist working on secret experiments? No, but the man has serious mental-health issues, has lost his job, and won’t leave their filthy house, and Adrian is afraid that if Social Services finds out, he’ll be placed in foster care. Jake realizes he should be thankful even for his driven and inattentive father, but a crisis involving Adrian leaves the boys in police custody, which leads Jake to an unwelcome discovery about his father. The resolution begins when Jake confronts him about his feelings. Allie, a steadying and sober influence on the boys, is lightly sketched, as are the rest of the supporting characters. Subplots about rich neighbors from other parts of the lake, Adrian’s other friends and neighbors, and an apparently homeless man are unresolved. Still, readers may identify with the boys’ problems, lack of apparent options, and need for adult support.–Joel Shoemaker, South East Junior High School, Iowa City, IA

Gr 7-10–Fifteen-year-old Callie’s class trip to England is, like most things in her life, remarkably unremarkable. Ever since she was overheard making a derogatory remark about cheerleaders by one of the most popular girls in school, Callie has been permanently on the “D list.” To her misery and embarrassment, she has been ditched by her class-trip “buddy,” leaving her stranded at their London hotel. A scheme to join fellow classmates on a surreptitious trip to a hot club leads to her tripping spectacularly over her new Prada heels. Upon waking from her blackout, Callie discovers that she has been transported to Regency England and is now the long-lost American friend of Emily, a well-to-do teenager. True to her character, she makes a series of faux pas with the titled gentry, earning her the disapproval of a matriarch and a dashing 19-year-old duke. Although her adjustment to an 1815 lifestyle is rough, she begins to appreciate her friendship with Emily and her surprising budding romance with the duke. Callie’s perpetual awkwardness, chronic foot-in-mouth syndrome, spiritedness, and openness make her genuinely likable. Endearingly funny episodes involving a “Heart and Soul” pianoforte duet and a CPR rescue in front of an astonished crowd are contrasted with Callie’s determination to rescue Emily from an engagement to a suitor 30 years her senior. Although some aspects of the book and character traits are stock and predictable, this is a fun and charming read, sure to be popular with fans of humor and romance.–Jennifer Schultz, Fauquier County Public Library, Warrenton, VA

Gr 9 Up–This bleak tale of star-crossed love will have little appeal for teens. Angry, orphaned Henry has been raised as a brother to sweet daydreamer Catherine, though their feelings for each other run much deeper than that of siblings. After her father dies at the beginning of the novel, her domineering brother, Hindley, drives the two apart. Catherine finds solace with Edgar, the preppy son of a wealthy neighbor, while Henry becomes caught up in violence at his new public high school. After another tragedy further widens the gap between Henry and Catherine, she resolves to make a clean break with him, but then yet another tragedy occurs. James is known for his unflinching novels about teens battling issues such as child abuse and depression. In The Heights, he cleverly alternates between Henry’s and Catherine’s points of view of the same incidents to show how their feelings for each other change over the course of the book. However, the angst is over-the-top even for a YA novel, and the attempts at profundity fall flat. Send readers to Wuthering Heights instead.–Leah J. Sparks, formerly at Bowie Public Library, MD

Gr 7 Up–Set during the Civil War, this teen romance tells the story of love found in the most unlikely of places. Seventeen-year-old Jo Best is a free black living with her family in Michigan. She’s beautiful, smart, and ambitious. She’s also a trained hairdresser who plies her trade in her own shop. The town she lives in has its share of characters, not the least of which is her best friend, Trudy, who has her head turned by a lothario with surprising consequences. Although the story is historically accurate and informative, the Civil War is merely a backdrop to a tale about young love and its possibilities. A quick, fun read.–Carol Jones Collins, Hanover Park High School, East Hanover, NJ

Gr 5-8–Olive Garnaut is a tiny, pale girl in her seventh year at the exclusive Joanne d’Arc School for Girls in Victoria, Australia. She and Mog, her highly successful barrister mom, live in a disorderly house by the sea. Left on her own much of the time, Olive depends on the friendship and efficient family life of her best friend. When Mathilda suddenly drops her for popular Amelia, she turns within, and Pip suddenly makes her debut as the antithesis of quiet, strange Olive. In a desperate attempt to find completeness to the missing parts of her life, Olive, with Pip at her side, executes a plan to track down the father she has never met, WilliamPetersMustardSeed, a “persona non grata” from Mog’s hippie past. The meeting disappoints yet brings closure and a new acceptance of herself and her family. Pip recedes from Olive’s life as Olive shines brighter. Kane lets readers decide whether Pip is a facet of Olive’s personality or a fantastical twist in the plot. Either way she succeeds in creating a charming, empowering, offbeat story of middle-school ups and downs.–D. Maria LaRocco, Cuyahoga Public Library, Strongsville, OH

Gr 7-10–This interminable girl-sleuth mystery, set in a Bizarro World-version of a Seattle high school, focuses on freshman Suzi Clue’s search for the culprit behind the attacks on the four BGs (Bimbo Girls) running for Prom Queen. Suzi chases down clues, apparently just because she likes mystery novels. A gold nose ring, a tube of pink lipstick, and a slip of paper with a cryptic note are the pieces she gathers to lead her to the guilty one. Is it the female coach miffed about her own unsuccessful bid for queen 20 years prior, the vegan-feminist-prom-hating Fiona Fiercely, or someone else altogether? Time in the novel seems as off as the high school itself: football games appear to be on Tuesdays, classes convene occasionally, coaches are known by their first names and odd predilections, and the principal has an unusually strong attachment to Prom. Virtually nothing rings true, and yet the novel doesn’t manage the campy vibe to which it aspires, though it takes up 300 pages in the attempt. Real young adults are not likely to recognize much about Mountain High or the people who populate it. Characterization yields to caricature so that even Suzi Clue herself seems like the copy of a copy of a hip, drum-playing, French-exchange-student-crushing, latte-loving Nancy Drew type. For a much better written mod teen mystery, try Bennett Madison’s Lulu Dark Can See Through Walls (Penguin, 2005).–Suzanne Gordon, Peachtree Ridge High School, Suwanee, GA

Gr 4-6–When Lindy, 11, gets stuck having to eat a dish prepared by Mrs. Unger, aka Granny Goose, at the annual Bloomsberry Cucumber Festival, she finds a ruby-encrusted locket in the concoction. The item is one of the many heirlooms Mrs. Grimstone reported stolen from her home earlier in the week. Lindy seriously doubts that Granny is the thief. The woman cares little for material goods and spends most of her time rescuing and looking after animals, especially her goose. Lindy, her friend Margaret, and their classmate Gus set out to solve the mystery and hopefully nab the $5000 reward. The novel is full of likable characters and fun twists and turns. The plot moves quickly, and Kelsey writes with wit and verve. An enjoyable addition to the genre.–Beth Cuddy, Seward Elementary School, Auburn, NY

Gr 8 Up–When her mother dies of cancer, 16-year-old Katie finds it painful to continue the patterns of her old life, so she makes the unexpected choice of taking a summer job in the gardens of the nearby estate belonging to reclusive Miss Martine. There she works under the caretaker with the other part-timers and stumbles upon a two-pronged mystery: Why are they digging so deeply near the river, and how does that relate to whatever sent the debutante Miss Martine out of society more than 50 years earlier? Katie’s father, a brilliant art-restoration expert, contributes to the search for answers as he cleans an elaborate painting that he believes Miss Martine’s father, a millionaire industrialist, created near the time of her seclusion. Research into some donated boxes of local lore at the library and assistance from the librarian and an intriguing boy who also works at the estate aid in her investigation. Meanwhile, Katie grieves: memories of a family spur-of-the-moment trip to Barcelona the summer before remind her of how her mother made an event out of everything and made her feel loved. Somehow it’s easier for the teen to deal with Miss Martine’s ghosts than with the aching absence of her mother. Nice writing and characterization can’t quite compensate for a lack of suspense, a romance that never really gets off the ground, and a story that doesn’t draw one in.–Suzanne Gordon, Peachtree Ridge High School, Suwanee, GA

Gr 4-7–In the 1950s in Sierra Madre, CA, four seventh graders, enamored of horror movies, have the thrill of a lifetime when a movie crew comes to town to film Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Paul is the narrator. His colorful friends include the son of a blacklisted sound editor, a scrawny scaredy-cat, and a tough guy who can’t help picking on the others. The Red Scare plays a prominent role as the boys investigate a professor at a nearby university who worked on the Manhattan Project and was friendly with a Russian spy. The novel covers a lot of ground. The boys are charming and real, although readers may come away wishing there had been more closure concerning the children’s family lives and interpersonal relationships. Still, they will learn a lot about the era, and the details about the horror and science-fiction genres and the movie industry are stellar. Expect questions about spies and bombs, and circulation of 1950s horror flicks to skyrocket.–Jake Pettit, Thompson Valley High School, Loveland, CO

Gr 5-8–As the son of a third-rate stage magician, Nick is familiar with theatrical illusions. On his 13th birthday, however, he discovers that magic is real. He learns that he is one of the ancient Magickeepers, charged with finding and guarding arcane artifacts from the evil Shadowkeepers. Apprenticed to Las Vegas star magician–and chief Magickeeper–Damian, Nick moves into the clan’s palatial casino headquarters to begin his training. Although he is impressed by their opulent lifestyle, he feels a bit cramped by the family’s almost obsessive devotion to their tsarist Russian heritage–formal dress, caviar crepes instead of cheeseburgers, and no TV or video games. Nick’s talent as a Gazer enables him to see into the past. Rasputin, their most powerful enemy, has spent nearly a century hunting the secret to the Eternal Hourglass, a mystical relic with the power to stop time. Now they find that the mad monk and his Shadowkeepers are in Vegas, and he knows that Nick has the key. As the first in a projected series, the book devotes considerable space to background about the Magickeepers and their nefarious rivals. While these passages occasionally slow the pacing, the action is generally suspenseful and the historical references add to the atmosphere. Nick’s efforts to introduce the family to American-style food and activities add a touch of humor to the proceedings.–Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL

Gr 6-10–Darby Ell is a mathematical genius who has recently begun attending an elite school for the gifted. His older sister is a cheerleader at River Oaks High. Darby’s IQ score is threatening to the current smartest kid at school, who is also a bully. Livey needs to improve her algebra performance or be pulled from cheerleading while also dealing with a surly and off-putting, yet somehow attractive new student, Johnny Magnus. Even throwing in the facts that Darby’s mysterious friend, Aether, is a seraph, that Johnny is a fallen angel, and that the NSA is interested in Darby for his mathematical abilities doesn’t take readers far from common tropes of youth fiction, although they do create a story overstuffed with plot elements. Added to all of this is Bob, a mathematical creation that Darby proves early in the story and thus allows to exist in our plane of reality. His odd mathematical viewpoint and powers soon begin to cause trouble. Darby, Livey, Johnny, and Aether work to banish Bob as followers of the Pythagorean cult try to thwart them. Many young people find mathematics challenging, boring, or frustrating, and Lewis isn’t likely to convince them that it could create something truly frightening. Without a powerful antagonist, the rest of the story just doesn’t hold together.–Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Gr 3-6–Living in the shadow of the Fruitless Mountain, Minli and her parents spend their days working in the rice fields, barely growing enough to feed themselves. Every night, Minli’s father tells her stories about the Jade Dragon that keeps the mountain bare, the greedy and mean Magistrate Tiger, and the Old Man of the Moon who holds everyone’s destiny. Determined to change her family’s fortune, Minli sets out to find the Old Man of the Moon, urged on by a talking goldfish who gives her clues to complete her journey. Along the way she makes new friends including a flightless dragon and an orphan and proves her resourcefulness when she tricks a group of greedy monkeys and gets help from a king. Interwoven with Minli’s quest are tales told by her father and by those she meets on the way. While these tales are original to Lin, many characters, settings, and themes are taken from traditional Chinese folklore. The author’s writing is elegant, and her full-color illustrations are stunning. Minli’s determination to help her family, as well as the grief her parents feel at her absence, is compelling and thoroughly human.–Jennifer Rothschild, Prince George’s County Memorial Library System, Oxon Hill, MD

Gr 8 Up–Stuck with a bunch of “Barfers” and “Starvers,” Janie, 16, describes her experiences at Golden Slopes, a rehab facility. Partly dead serious and partly humorous, her narrative slowly changes as she goes from believing that she’s almost normal to understanding that she is sick and needs help. Other patients include various girls, an older woman, and a couple of boys, all of whom have wide-ranging issues at the heart of their pain. While other books are more realistic about the time involved in treating eating disorders, Littman provides a sympathetic character and a quick overview of treatment and hopeful progress. Janie moves from denial of habitual bulimia to release back to her regular routine in only three weeks. Her parents are loving, her family is loyal, and her friends are forgiving. The universality of Janie’s blindness to her own behavior is clearly portrayed, as is her later insight into her destructive choices. Drinking and sexual situations are necessary to the plot and are described realistically. This is a worthy addition to the current books on the topic for its relatively lighter touch and accessibility.–Carol A. Edwards, Denver Public Library

Gr 4-8–Lina attends middle school in Corpus Cristi, TX, has a crush on classmate Luís, loves science and sports, and has a sock obsession as a result of her pants never being long enough for her tall body. Her best friend, Vanessa Cantu, lives across the street with her mother, who is still bitter about a divorce that happened a few years earlier. Lina’s mother died last year, and her father is still grieving but struggling to live up to his responsibilities. Dichos, Spanish sayings or proverbs, are translated at the top of every chapter. Spanish phrases are sprinkled throughout the text, reflecting Lina’s bilingual community. The budding romance, and typical middle school events such as detention, lunchroom disasters, and reports, keep things moving. Lina is essentially a sunny, happy child and her sadness and anger are more blips on the radar than real angst. A subplot about Luís’s stuttering seems extraneous. Quite typical in characters, plot, and style, this story is most notable for its casual introduction to Spanish language and culture, overtly accessible to all.–Carol A. Edwards, Denver Public Library

Gr 4-5–Julia Gillian is one month into fifth grade at Lake Harriet Elementary School in Minneapolis and she is not happy. Mr. Wintz, substitute for the beloved lunch lady who broke her ankle, is imposing strict new rules; best friend Bonwit Keller has started making his own lunch and stopped inviting her to his house; and, despite her enthusiasm, good embouchure, and music teacher’s exhortation to “find the joy,” she cannot manage to make a sound with her trumpet. Inspired by the words carved long ago on a lunch table, “Vince knows all,” and determined that, at age 10, she should be able to solve her own problems without help, Julia Gillian gets caught up in a web of fibs and misunderstandings until, through the intervention of her savvy babysitter Enzo, all ends well. What bring this typical school story up several notches are the wonderfully quirky characters; rich, playful language; funny dialogue; and lots of heart. Spot and full-page amusing illustrations throughout carry the story along. Readers will welcome this worthy sequel to Julia Gillian (and the Art of Knowing) (Scholastic, 2008). –Marie Orlando, formerly at Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY

Gr 9 Up–Shawna is abandoned in Las Vegas by her mother, a gambling addict and shoplifter who no longer wants the responsibility of a child. She is left with only $100, a bus ticket to Sweet River, CA, and the name and phone number of a grandmother she’s never met. She leaves, taking only her backpack and two small packages she has hidden behind the refrigerator. Kay, her grandmother, agrees to take her in. Both have strong defenses against hurt, and neither wants to let down those walls. Shawna is tough, used to depending on herself and living her way, but she must abide by Kay’s rules: dinner at 7:00, chores on the horse ranch, and only Sunday off. Soon after the teen arrives in California, readers find out what was in the packages: a razor blade and a set of library cards from every place Shawna and her mother have lived. The girl cuts herself while hearing the voice of “Monster,” and as time goes on, she also communicates with a horse she grows to care for on a nearby farm. Sliding reads like a problem-of-the-week novel. The protagonist only comes around after discovering the redemptive power of a horse and a grandmother’s love (though Kay’s abrupt change from irritation with her new charge to caring for her seems forced and perplexing). Too much is left unexplained: the reason Shawna keeps the library cards, why she self-mutilates, the identity of a woman with a long red braid who seems to be her only good memory. The characters are flat stereotypes, and Shawna’s turnaround is too sudden.–Suanne Roush, Osceola High School, Seminole, FL

Gr 5-8–Franny, 13, expects this hot, dry summer to be like all the others, but it turns out to be far from expected. Life in her sleepy Oklahoma town is woken up when Lucas Dunn and his mother move into the abandoned cottage next door. Franny’s life has been one of lemonade, quilting bees, and normal sibling arguments, and she soon learns that Lucas’s family is quite unlike hers. The close-knit town welcomes the Dunn family, enveloping them in their warmth and friendship, but Lucas and his mother seem to be harboring pain and dark secrets. A severe drought threatens many wild animals, and Franny starts her own animal hospital, which soon bursts with creatures in need. When Lucas’s alcoholic and abusive father shows up to reclaim his family, Franny is forced to discover many harsh realities in life. As the children’s friendship grows, she realizes that there are others besides the animals that are in need, but that giving help to people is often difficult. This debut novel is a poignant, emotional, and beautifully written coming-of-age story.–Michele Shaw, Quail Run Elementary School, San Ramon, CA

Gr 9 Up–Teens will revel in the juiciness of this fictional exposé. In The Nanny Diaries (St. Martin’s, 2002), McLaughlin and Kraus took on the world of the rich and neurotic. In their first novel for teens, they expose the malicious underbelly of the reality-TV industry. When Jesse O’Rourke gets chosen to be part of the cast of a new documentary series, The Real Hampton Beach, about seniors dealing with the real world and real issues, she has considerable reservations, but the offer of $40,000 in college tuition is too good to turn down. It sounds easy enough–pretend to be best friends with people you despise, wear designer clothes you cannot afford, and give up any semblance of privacy–right? If only it were that simple. Between the phony friendships, the staged fights, and the product placements, Jesse can no longer differentiate between what’s real and what looks good on television. She and the other players are just pawns in the network’s moneymaking game. However, that changes when Jesse gets dirt on the network’s president of programming. Now they have the upper hand and can finally regain control over their lives. This book is far more entertaining than most of the so-called reality programs on television. The authors have a natural ability for digging up the dirt and bringing it to the surface.–Robyn Zaneski, New York Public Library

Gr 5-8–This interesting story had great potential. Set in Jamaica, it tells about the lives of fraternal twins, Pollyread and Jackson, 11, during the year they complete their primary school education and make plans for their futures. Mordecai portrays the challenges that the children’s parents and neighbors face with resourcefulness, hard work, and the ameliorating effects of sharp humor. When an ex-convict moves back to their community and begins to cultivate their father’s land, the twins discover that it can be more difficult to determine right from wrong than they’d previously suspected. Subjects including farming, marketing, the criminal justice system, competitive academic examinations, the drug trade, emigration, and more are crowded into the novel, which frequently veers off on tangents to the detriment of the plot.–Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Public Library, NY

Gr 7-10–Like The Restless Dead (2007) and Gothic! (2004, both Candlewick), this is a masterpiece of 10 short stories by world-class authors. Contributors include David Almond, Annette Curtis Klause, and Vivian Vande Velde. Particularly noteworthy is Cecil Castellucci’s “The Bread Box,” in which a teenage girl learns the secret of her elderly aunt’s extremely vivacious bread starter. True to Margo Lanagan’s style, “Living Curiosities” is a multilayered tale that requires several rereadings to fully appreciate. Not all of the stories are traditional prose; several are graphic renditions, including Matt Phelan’s masterfully drawn “Jargo!” which portrays a mysterious circus performer who is never seen out of costume. Several of the stories pack the same punch as old-fashioned O. Henry or Roald Dahl classics and are the stuff that will fill the English literature textbooks of tomorrow. Suspending disbelief, readers of this fantastic anthology may start investing in psychics and sleeping with the light on.–Leah Krippner, Harlem High School, Machesney Park, IL

Gr 9 Up–Wyatt Reaves opens his soul to an unnamed stranger on a bus taking him away from his bleak past and negligent parents, Fever and Ma. When he was 12, he burned down his family home. For the next five years, he is taken on a circuitous road trip by Uncle Spade, Fever’s brother, an unscrupulous, hard-drinking traveling salesman with girlfriends in several locales. Stopping in Arkansas, Wyatt makes friends with Clark, a small, bespectacled boy. Together they invent a game of cruelty to polliwogs, but soon the beat-up Chevy is back on the road heading wherever Spade’s shady deals take them. Wyatt’s height and developing musculature belie the fearful, lost child inside, who is unable to cry. His thwarted emotions coalesce into an intense rage that is often violent and out of control. Spade eagerly becomes Wyatt’s manager, coaching him, sending him on long beer runs, and collecting the cold cash flowing from Wyatt’s dominance as a fist-fighter. They stop to visit one of Spade’s girlfriends, whose kindness touches Wyatt, but things go badly when Spade batters her on her front lawn, and Wyatt begins to question his own sanity when he feels a compulsion to go and kill his one friend, Clark. He demands to return to Fever and Ma, a move that only confirms the harm and hurt of a family culture laced with vulgarity, mockery, and insults. Characterizations are strong in this searing, yet affirming first novel of a young man determined to define himself and make a new life.–Susan W. Hunter, Riverside Middle School, Springfield, VT

Gr 7-10–Homeschooled Laurel begins public high school as a tenth grader when her adoptive parents move to LA., leaving behind the land that has been in her mother’s family since the Gold Rush days. The many clues that Laurel is different (she is strictly vegan; sunlight seems to shine through her fair skin; she never gets cold; she craves the outdoors; she doesn’t menstruate) culminate in a bump on her back growing to the size of a softball and blooming into a flower that has foot-long petals. Returning to her parents’ land, she meets Tamini, a faerie to whom she is attracted, who tells her that she is not human, but rather is a plant or, more specifically, a faerie. David, her accepting and supportive classmate, tests her tissue and confirms that Tamini is right. When a creepy alleged realtor pressures the family to sell the land, the teens become suspicious, and they are soon fighting for their lives in a centuries-old battle between faeries and trolls. Laurel’s struggles to figure out what it means to be human are matched by her struggles to determine what it means to be a faerie, and she is torn between love for David and love for Tamini. The ending allows for many possibilities in the upcoming sequels. The book has a nice mix of danger and romance, the world of magic and the world of high school, with well-developed characters and a quick-moving plot.–Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME

Gr 6-8–Owen is the fattest–and smartest–seventh grader in his New York City school. When he’s not ducking the school bully or trying to survive the world’s most sadistic P.E. teacher, he invents things. Currently Owen has two projects–a TV that will show events in the past and a trap to catch the thief who keeps stealing the Oreos from his lunchbox. There’s a lot of middle school banter and adolescent dialogue. However, what begins as a lighthearted adventure gradually takes on a darker tone. Owen calls his invention Nemesis and insists that it needs to reach exactly two years back. As the story evolves, readers learn that there are places in town where he feels distinctly uncomfortable, and that he treasures a note that says only “SLOB.” Step by step, Owen reveals the tragedy behind his concerns. Two years earlier, he was hiding in the basement of the family store, listening as his parents were killed by an intruder. Adopted by the 911 operator who took his call after the murders, he dreams of identifying the perpetrator. Although Nemesis fails to solve the crime, Owen is finally able to find closure, with help from his sister, their friends, and, surprisingly, from the dreaded bully himself. A sensitive, touching, and sometimes heartbreakingly funny picture of middle school life.–Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL

Gr 9 Up–Fourteen-year-old Jamie–street name Punkzilla–is AWOL from military school. He’s already lived hand to mouth in a west coast city, stealing iPods, doing cheap drugs, and getting the occasional joyless hand job. Now he is headed to Memphis where his oldest brother, Peter, a gay playwright, is dying from cancer. His story is told through his letters to Peter as he hitchhikes across the country, written in the backseats of cars, under a tree where a man hanged himself, and ultimately in retrospect when he reaches his journey’s sad end. Along the way he meets the good, the bad, and the skewed, including a girl who gives him his first experience of loving intercourse. Like his brother, punk boy Jamie will never fulfill the expectations of his rigidly conservative father or meet the needs of his ineffectual mother. As in 33 Snowfish (Candlewick, 2003), Rapp pulls no punches in depicting the degrading life of children on the streets. The choice to live free from parents and school comes at a cost–to survive Jamie becomes both exploited and exploiter. But there is more here than the sordid streets. Impulsive and naive as he may be, Jamie is struggling for something that just might come close to integrity. Readers can see the good in him and even in his infuriating parents. In the end he finds shelter with his brother’s lover, who opens the door to the creative life, a more intelligent and focused world-outside-the-box where Jamie just might find what he needs. Exquisitely true in its raw but vulnerable voice, this story is a compulsive read.–Carolyn Lehman, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA

Gr 5-8–It’s 1863 in Vicksburg, MS, and 13-year-old Claire Louise Corbett and her well-to-do family flee their comfortable home for the safety of a cave as Union soldiers shell the town. On one of Claire’s infrequent trips outside, she comes upon her older brother, Landon (a doctor in the Union army), tending to Robert, a wounded Confederate soldier. Claire befriends Robert and learns that he is responsible for misplacing an order issued by General Lee, causing the South to lose the battle of Antietam. Her brother feels honor-bound to turn Robert over to the authorities, and Claire is torn between letting Landon do so and somehow helping Robert escape. This choice weighs heavily on her mind and almost ruins her relationship with Landon, but in the end, all turns out well. Though readers will find the idea of living in a cave fascinating, Rinaldi focuses more on the protagonist’s heroism and her difficult decision. Claire comes across as a strong-willed individual who is not afraid to think for herself. A good choice for fans of historical fiction, particularly the Civil War era.–Shannon Seglin, Patrick Henry Library, Vienna, VA

Gr 9 Up-In April 1989, Anna leaves Australia for Shanghai to study painting before starting college. While she grapples with cultural contrasts and her father’s exclusive expat lifestyle, it is her student translator and guide, Chenxi, who draws most of her attention. As Anna strives to grow closer to him, she inadvertently brings him, his subversive art, and their relationship to the attention of the oppressive government. Chenxi marvels at the luxuries and freedoms that Anna takes for granted, but she misses this point until the story’s devastating conclusion. In this reworking of her 2002 novel of the same name, Rippin explores race, class, and freedom in a love story set in the buildup to the Tiananmen Square protests. This new version adds adult language, a sex scene, and a deeper exploration of Chinese politics. Anna only spends a month in Shanghai, so she never fully understands the issues at play, but readers do feel her confusion and isolation. Her attraction to Chenxi is instantaneous and she commits serious cultural and political faux pas in her attempts to be close to him. Rippin’s portrait of 1989 China is accurate and chilling. Her afterword explains how much China and Shanghai have changed in the ensuing 20 years. –Jennifer Rothschild, Prince George’s County Memorial Library System, Oxon Hill, MD

Gr 9 Up–For her 16th birthday, Spencer Davis gets her first ob-gyn exam and birth control pills, thanks to her progressive mother. Uninterested in losing her virginity, Spencer doesn’t drink and is the responsible one in her group of friends, The Crew. Zach, gentlemanly romantic math nerd, is her special guy pal. Her best friend, Alyssa, Asian American and super thin, vows to lose her own virginity soon. Goth girl Morgan has regular sex with her on-again off-again boyfriend, Justin, who has sex with any girl available. Ryan, wealthy bad boy, gets drunk and hooks up with a different girl every weekend. When dreamy Ben moves to their western Washington town and joins The Crew, Spencer is surprised when he bestows his attention on her. Could Ben be the One, perfect for her first time? Spencer’s character is satisfactorily developed, including her struggle with body image and the complexities of her friendship with Alyssa, who wants Ben, too. The other characters remain flat stereotypes. Justin and Ryan openly offer their sexual services to Spencer (“So, Davis, who gets to pop your cherry?”) and publicly brag about their conquests. Ben is just another egotistical, horny guy looking for hookups. Spencer does his chemistry homework and accepts his invitation to the Winter Formal, but by the middle of the book, readers will see what’s coming. Terra Elan McVoy’s Pure (S & S, 2009) covers similar ground with complex and interesting characters, realistic repercussions, and without crude conversations.–Joyce Adams Burner, National Archives at Kansas City, MO

Gr 6 Up–Safia has grown up believing her father died in the fighting in Somalia. When she finds out that he is alive and on his way to London to join the family, she is apprehensive about the difference his presence will make in her life. Though she is comfortable with her identity as a Muslim, she struggles with how her values differ from those of her rebellious brother and cousin. Her father is not prepared for his family’s hybrid British-Somali culture, which causes a great deal of conflict. Safia must learn to cope with the new dynamics in her home and learn to love a father she has never known. At times, the author’s intent of creating a window into Somali culture and the immigrant experience is a bit heavy-handed. The book does do a good job of showing the richness of Somali culture as something positive and separate from the war that has torn the country apart for decades. This is a unique title that will be popular in regions that have large Somali populations or where Randa Abdel-Fattah’s books are popular. A glossary of Arabic and Somali words and phrases is included, but it is unclear from which language each one comes.–Kristin Anderson, Columbus Metropolitan Library System, OH

Gr 7-9–After her mother’s death, eighth-grader Emily and her father move to be near her uncle. At her new school, she raises the ire of the reigning mean-girls clique and endures some intense bullying before finding a way to change things. Through her uncle’s job, she gains access to a top PR firm and their celebrity world, and she uses it to re-create herself as a better “brand” that can unseat the current queen bees. The plan is so effective that she is soon tempted to become the kind of girl she sought to overcome. Sections of the book are named for the stages of a PR campaign, such as “Launching the Brand Alternative.” Rue’s work as an advice columnist for a teen girl magazine shows in the book’s many insights. Fortunately, the lessons are woven into the story well and never feel forced. It’s tempting to hate the villains, but the author shows them to be unequipped to deal with their social power, rather than simply nasty. And she demonstrates that it’s easy for adults to say “be yourself,” but harder for young people to do so while they’re still figuring out who they are. Some of the cattiness is really cruel and might upset more sensitive readers. On the other hand, this tender revenge story might be just what they’re looking for.–Amelia Jenkins, Juneau Public Library, AK

Gr 5-8–Fourteen-year-old Nikki J. Maxwell has been awarded a scholarship to a prestigious private middle school as a part of her father’s bug extermination contract. Her angst as she deals with the resident mean girl, her embarrassing parents, her crush on the hot boy, and making new friends are all recorded alongside numerous sketches of her life. Although occasionally amusing, Nikki is not a very likable character. She is shallow and self-centered and fails to show any growth in the book, even as she one-ups popular and cruel MacKenzie in the end. In fact, Nikki, who steals her neighbor’s hearing aid and plays pranks on her little sister, is somewhat of a mean girl herself. All the other characters are underdeveloped, including Nikki’s family and her new BFFs, Chloe and Zoey. Black-and-white drawings, which are often witty, appear throughout the text, which is printed on lined pages as though from a diary. Fans of Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Abrams) may enjoy this book, but it’s an additional purchase.–Terry Ann Lawler, Phoenix Public Library, AZ

Gr 7 Up–Diego MacMann is in trouble. At 16, he faces juvenile court, charged with assault. He just can’t control his fists, especially when he feels that his masculinity is threatened. Anger-management classes have failed, and now this earnest young man teeters between self-loathing and defensive pride. Hope comes unexpectedly when he establishes a bond with Mr. Vidas. The probation officer asks questions that challenge Diego to examine his motivations and his emotional life. How does he feel about his absent birth father? The stepfather who committed suicide? The gay student who looked at him “that way” just before Diego punched him out? The third-person narrative keeps readers one step ahead of Diego as he unravels the effects of abandonment, poverty, and sexual abuse on himself and his struggling family. During the short sessions with Mr. Vidas, he finds some of the tools and insights he needs to navigate his rocky passage to maturity. Unlike most recent fiction that addresses sexual abuse, this story focuses not on the telling of secrets, but on making sense of the experience and building a healthy foundation for moving forward. This groundbreaking novel brings to life an appealing young man who is neither totally a victim nor a victimizer, one who struggles to handle conflicts that derail many young lives. Teens will identify with Diego’s dreams and frustrations, his feeling of difference, his yearning for “normal” life and relationships. High interest and accessible, this coming-of-age story belongs in every collection. For the one in six boys who is sexually abused, it could be a lifesaver.–Carolyn Lehman, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA

Gr 6-10–The third book takes up immediately where The Magician (Delacorte, 2008) left off, and the events described occur over the course of a week. Having fled a destroyed Paris, Nicolas Flamel and the twins are now in England with their every move being tracked by John Dee, the Dark Elders, and their denizens, who are now convinced that Sophie and Josh are the twins of legend. In the meantime, Flamel’s wife, Perenelle, the titular sorceress, is attempting to escape Alcatraz. Joined first by the knight Palamedes, and then by William Shakespeare, Flamel and the children try to stay ahead of their pursuers in an attempt to reach Stonehenge, where they hope to find a gate that will allow them to get to San Francisco. In the midst of evading pursuit, Josh finally gets the knowledge of an elemental power, Water Magic, from the insane Elder Gilgamesh, which, of course, conveniently becomes valuable. The chase and escape plots are rather thin and highlight the fact that this series feels bloated, and probably doesn’t need the six long volumes the author is planning to tell the story. The inclusion of historical characters such as Shakespeare and Billy the Kid seems primarily a gimmick, and these two characters in particular feel oddly anachronistic. This book is a must-read for fans of the series, but even they will tire if the author doesn’t get to the point with reasonable dispatch.–Tim Wadham, St. Louis County Library, MO

Gr 7-10–Sensible Evie Johnson arrives alone to face her new life at the Wyldcliffe Abbey School for Young Ladies. Raised by her beloved grandmother, Evie never wanted to attend boarding school, especially one for spoiled rich girls. But Frankie has fallen gravely ill and Evie’s father is away in military service, so off to Wyldcliffe she goes. It is as horrible as Evie suspected it would be. The girls mistreat her, the headmistress is a nightmare, and she keeps seeing a girl who looks just like her. Evie’s only joy comes from her budding romance with elusive Sebastian, who tells her that he lives near the school. Why will he only meet her at night? What does he know about the mysteries surrounding the school? And who is that shadowy girl? Billed as the first in “a paranormal romance series,” this lightweight story is filled with romance, mystery, and suspense. The moors provide plenty of atmosphere and Wyldcliffe Abbey and its teachers are downright spooky.–Sharon Grover, Hedberg Public Library, Janesville, WI

Gr 9 Up–This dark romance is told in alternating chapters from the perspectives of 17-year-old Miranda and her guardian angel, Zachary, in an alternate America in which vampires and werewolves exist. Early in the novel, Zachary falls from grace as punishment for materializing in his full radiance in a failed attempt to save Miranda from being bitten by a vampire. The tale resumes a year later with the now-vampire Miranda a revered princess living among vampire royalty and feasting regularly on humans. Zachary, meanwhile, has sunk into a life of aimless debauchery and is resigned to never regaining his wings when an archangel suddenly gives him the opportunity to become Miranda’s personal assistant. Determined to save his former ward, with whom he has fallen in love, Zachary takes the job. Miranda finds herself drawn to him, and the murders she has carelessly committed begin to weigh on her conscience. With his help, she is determined to find a way to redeem herself and help him return to grace. The plot is occasionally choppy and frequently grisly, and the dialogue seems forced in places. Neither Miranda nor Zachary is particularly likable, and the ending, while logical, is not one that romance fans will favor. The story lacks the elegance of Stephenie Meyer’s hugely popular novels, but serious vampire buffs will undoubtedly add the novel to their must-read list.–Leah J. Sparks, formerly at Bowie Public Library, MD

Gr 8 Up–Two high school girls decide to test their boyfriends’ fidelity in this lackluster novel based on Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte. The format–chat-room conversations, instant messages, and blog excerpts–proves more confusing than innovative. At the urging of a cynical friend, Annie, Bliss and Tamra agree to impersonate exchange students (one from England and the other, in a nod to Mozart’s opera, from Albania). They will each spend time in a chat room with the other girl’s boyfriend, attempting to lure him into an online romance. Both girls seem convinced that the boys won’t cheat, but still throw themselves into the dangerous game. Meanwhile, the guys try to resist but soon weaken. A subplot deals with the cynical friend, Annie, and her reasons for proposing the deception in the first place. The author has limited success at developing the characters, though the boys are more vivid than Bliss and Tamra, who come off as weak and easily manipulated. Teens will probably prefer Lauren Myracle’s ttyl (2004) and other books in her “Internet Girls” series (all Abrams).–Miranda Doyle, San Francisco Unified School District

Gr 5-9–From the riveting prologue to the satisfying conclusion, readers are hurled headlong into Enola Holmes’s latest case. Still eluding her brothers, Sherlock and Mycroft, who will, she fears, place her in a finishing school, Enola is horrified one day to find that her beloved landlady, Mrs. Tupper, has been kidnapped. Using her wealth of disguises, Enola sets out to solve the crime. Much to her astonishment, the trail leads to a meeting with Florence Nightingale, with whom Mrs. Tupper was acquainted. The atmospheric setting and the voice of the heroine are so compelling that even though readers may not know what a crinoline is, they will want to find out. Kids who enjoy the details of historical settings and solving mysterious ciphers will cheer this feisty heroine as she leaps out of windows, jumps onto the backs of coaches, and fights evil villains in the dark streets of London to rescue her dear landlady. Well done!–Tina Martin, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, IL

Gr 9 Up–Sixteen-year-old Dru Anderson has grown up traveling the country with her demon-hunter father. When he tries to tackle a powerful “sucker” named Sergej in the Dakotas, he is turned into a zombie. After stopping him from killing her, Dru must save herself when she, too, becomes Sergej’s target. She is befriended by Graves, a classmate who is quickly bitten and turned into a loup-garou (half werewolf), and meets Christophe, a djamphir (half-vampire vampire hunter). Dru also learns that she is growing into her own special powers. This is the first book in a series, and a large portion of it is spent developing the three lead characters, which occasionally slows down the action. While Graves seems to be the love interest, it is clear that both young men are attractive enough to draw Dru’s attention, promising tension in future installments. However, the book is plagued by frequent odd descriptions (a werewolf the size of “a Shetland pony” and Graves, who is half Asian, described as a “half breed”), and the choppy pacing is sometimes distracting. Dru’s inner monologue is a bit wordy during action scenes as well, which drags down the pace. Despite flaws, the similarities to Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight Saga” (Little, Brown) will make this book an easy sell (though Dru is, by far, a tougher heroine than Bella, both in her language and her behavior), and the cliff-hanger ending will leave readers eager for the sequel.–Kristin Anderson, Columbus Metropolitan Library System, OH

Gr 5-8–Sixth-grader Miranda lives in 1978 New York City with her mother, and her life compass is Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time. When she receives a series of enigmatic notes that claim to want to save her life, she comes to believe that they are from someone who knows the future. Miranda spends considerable time observing a raving vagrant who her mother calls “the laughing man” and trying to find the connection between the notes and her everyday life. Discerning readers will realize the ties between Miranda’s mystery and L’Engle’s plot, but will enjoy hints of fantasy and descriptions of middle school dynamics. Stead’s novel is as much about character as story. Miranda’s voice rings true with its faltering attempts at maturity and observation. The story builds slowly, emerging naturally from a sturdy premise. As Miranda reminisces, the time sequencing is somewhat challenging, but in an intriguing way. The setting is consistently strong. The stores and even the streets–in Miranda’s neighborhood act as physical entities and impact the plot in tangible ways. This unusual, thought-provoking mystery will appeal to several types of readers.–Caitlin Augusta, The Darien Library, CT

Gr 7 Up–Haruhi Suzumiya, who dislikes boredom and has cravings to meet aliens, time travelers, and espers, decides to liven up things in her high school. She starts a new club, the S.O.S. Brigade, and takes over a classroom, some computer equipment, and, because she forces them to join, a big part of the new members’ lives. Kyon is especially drawn in by Haruhi’s demanding nature and her cute face. It is hard to imagine why, as she bosses everyone around, is moody and abrupt, and is generally unlikable. Soon, Kyon discovers that the other club members are some sort of aliens with powers that intervene in human affairs for the Data Overmind when certain humans have thoughts and feelings that affect the configurations of space and time. For some reason, Haruhi is one of those humans, and the interfaces try to use Kyon to intercept and influence her reactions and deflect problematic results. This novel goes nowhere conclusive, serving only as an introduction to a series of 10 sequels popular in Japan. Characters are sketchy and at times the story drags. The writing style has a mangalike sensation, with several manga drawings included. Interestingly, there is an excerpt from a new graphic novel based on the same story appended at the end, announcing the upcoming publication of it in that format, for which the tone and style of the narrative seem much better suited.–Diane P. Tuccillo, Poudre River Public Library District, Fort Collins, CO

Gr 5-7–The Spring Fling is just around the corner and love is in the air at William Gladstone Middle School. Academically gifted Emma-Jean is back, still logical to a fault and just beginning to get a glimmer of the emotional side of life that has often been a mystery to her. This story takes place a few weeks after the conclusion of Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree (Dial, 2007), and once again she tries to solve a problem for a classmate and also feels the need to compose another letter to ensure that her mother’s romance progresses satisfactorily. She also experiences her first crush, an odd feeling to be sure, but made more understandable by her loving and sympathetic mom. Emma-Jean’s recently acquired friends are all included, but Colleen is the character whom readers get to know better. While the events of the first book are summarized adequately, the best audience will be those who have already met Emma-Jean and company. This story lacks the originality of its predecessor, but Tarshis’s use of language and depiction of middle school society are good fun.–Faith Brautigam, Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin, IL

Gr 7-9–This second book about the Avery sisters retells the events in Lucky (HarperTeen, 2008) from the perspective of middle sister Allison. She sees herself as the plainest of the three, stuck “between two pillars of perfection,” and wishes she, too, were gorgeous. The ninth grader also has to come to terms with the effect that the loss of her mother’s high-powered job has on the entire family. One night, she dreams that she has sold her cell phone to the devil in return for at least seven people who think she is gorgeous, and strangely, after the dream, things start to change in her life. She becomes friends with new girl Roxie Green, who talks her into cutting school and going to Manhattan for an open call for models for teen magazine zip. To her utter amazement, Allison is selected as a finalist in its cover-model contest, but she then has to deal with the fallout from keeping this a secret from her family and from Roxie and with her fading friendship with her best friend. As always, Vail is spot-on in her depictions of young teen girls and their complex relationships with friends and family, and her treatment of the clichéd “girl whom everyone thinks is plain becomes successful” is fresh, innovative, and realistic. Allison is an engaging, funny character, and girls will identify with her disappointment with her looks and her longing for respect and recognition.–Kathleen E. Gruver, Burlington County Library, Westampton, NJ

Gr 4-7–Twelve-year-old Alex McPherson, who has been living with his uncle ever since the mysterious disappearance of his parents several years earlier, is set to spend the summer with his aunt in Scotland. When she gets sick, he is sent to live with the McRae family on their farm beneath the ruins of the castle Duncragglin. Mrs. McRae is missing as well and Alex soon gets the sense that the castle ruins have something to do with all of the strange disappearances. On a middle-of-the-night exploration of the caves underneath the ruins, he and his new friends are transported back in time to the 11th century, where William Wallace and his followers are fighting for their freedom against the English. Is this where all of the people have been going? And will Alex find his parents there? This book fills a hole in the historical fiction genre by showcasing Scotland in the Middle Ages. It will appeal to reluctant boy readers with its many battle scenes, descriptions of torture devices, and darkly humorous lines. Fans of the movie Braveheart will adore this book. There are a few moments where the action bogs down with too much description, but this is still an appealing, well-researched adventure.–Kathleen Meulen, Sakai Intermediate School, Bainbridge Island, WA

Gr 5-7–Seventh-grader Joshua Ramírez has been friends with Artie Mendoza since kindergarten and knows that he is always telling lies. When Artie starts insisting that Mrs. Foley killed her husband, Joshua is hesitant to believe him. One day, however, they overhear a conversation between the woman and one of her friends about poison, Mr. Foley, and someone being dead, dead, and gone. Could she have killed her husband or is Artie just a big, fat liar? Although the book is moderately paced and the characters seem a little one-dimensional at first, this is still an intriguing tale that will capture readers’ imaginations. They will also like the lighthearted humor and wrestling antics that have been integrated into the story. The sprinkling of Spanish words reflects Joshua’s Hispanic neighborhood in Texas.–Kira Moody, Hunter Public Library, West Valley City, UT

Gr 8 Up–Fiona can be hard to get along with: she’s a little prickly, clueless, opinionated, and unrelenting. When a course on marriage, a requirement for graduation, forces her to “wed” Todd, a male cheerleader, she is flabbergasted. They are the worst match on the planet, and she just knows this will be torture. To make matters worse, her best friend announces that she is in love with Fiona’s lifelong crush, and that she finds Fiona too self-absorbed. Fiona is, of course, hurt, and left without a friend on whom she can rely. However, her senior year is also filled with hilarious situations. As she deals with her trials and tribulations, Fiona learns a great deal about herself and about how to interact with other people. While the book is laugh-out-loud funny in some places, it also gives readers time to pause and think about priorities, relationships, and making the most of trying situations.–Emily Garrett Cassady, North Garland High School, Garland, TX

Gr 4-7–As in many other books for this audience, the protagonist’s best friend moves away; she makes a quirky new friend or two; a mean girl is the nemesis; and diary entries, lists, and IMing cut through the text. Throw in comic-book art with big-eyed characters and you have Mackenzie Blue. Zee is starting seventh grade in Brookdale Academy with Jasper, an awkward Brit she befriended that summer. She is a guitar player who is looking forward to Teen Sing, a national contest that offers its winner a recording contract. Auditions will take place in her school’s auditorium. Zee enters instrumental class expecting a famous classical teacher and finds Mr. P., a nervous rock enthusiast. Kathi, the mean girl, is mean to him. Chloe, a girl from the South who plays cello, becomes perky friend number two. So why, when Zee’s diary is lost, does she suspect her friends and not Kathi? With its pop credentials, the book will have some appeal to tweens, but it’s nothing special.–Tina Zubak, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA

Gr 4-7–Exiled to Seattle for the summer with a grandmother she has never met, Maya, 13, is mad. With her father MIA in Vietnam and her mother back in college in San Francisco, she plots to escape Grandma Ruby, at first pouting petulantly and later manipulating the stern widow with false charm. Maya wonders why Ruby and her mom are estranged and searches the old house for clues to her African-American heritage. Maya and Ruby slowly warm up to one another, sharing an interest in Tommy, an autistic boy who is a musical savant and comes over to play Ruby’s piano. When Tommy discovers Maya’s grandfather’s trombone in the attic, Maya learns of her grandparents’ shared career as jazz musicians and discovers her own musical gift. She grows from a self-centered, immature brat into a caring, considerate girl sharing genuine love with Ruby, who reveals the tender secrets hidden by her protective shell. The 1970 setting remains incidental to the story. Maya’s participation in the local peace movement, only mentioned in passing, erupts in a jarring scene at a protest march, and her fear for her father is underdeveloped. Maya is a very young 13-year-old, with a little girl’s emotions and reasoning and no mention of puberty. The sound development of the two main characters and their warm relationship will appeal to upper elementary girls, but this will be a hard sell to middle school readers.–Joyce Adams Burner, National Archives at Kansas City, MO

Gr 4-6–Verna and her sister Carlie are still dealing with the death of their mother and the arrival of her harsh and dour sister, Aunt Maude, when their father accepts a position as a staff doctor at a hospital for the mentally ill. When he brings Eleanor, a young patient recovering from depression, into the home to help with the chores, Aunt Maude sees her as a threat while the girls welcome her with joy. Though Maude and Eleanor’s father bring condemnation and pain into Eleanor’s life, the children, their father, and the hospital administrator reach out to her with acceptance and love. The story explores the prejudice that shadowed the lives of the mentally ill at the turn of the century as well as what it means to be “normal.” As Verna stands up for what she thinks is right while trying out questionable means to attain her goals, the author allows readers to experience the development of her maturity and character. At the conclusion of the story, readers see a real girl who has not learned all of life’s lessons and has not made all the right choices but is still in the process of learning and growing. A thoroughly enjoyable read.–Debra Banna, Sharon Public Library, MA

Gr 6-8–Based on the story of the MS St. Louis in 1939, the journey of the fictional Nazi luxury liner MS St. Francis from Germany to Cuba and the United States creates the dramatic underpinning for this story. Focusing on 15-year-old Thomas Werkmann and 14-year-old Priska Affeldt, Whitney chronicles what happened to more than 900 Jews seeking refuge from growing anti-Semitism in Germany. Thomas is traveling alone. His father, who is Jewish, is in Dachau, and his mother, a Christian, could raise the money for only one passage. A strong friendship develops between the wary boy and optimistic Priska, who is traveling with her family. Whitney integrates, sometimes in an overly journalistic tone, information about oppression in Germany, but readers’ attention is held by the young passengers’ playful pranks, the developing romance between the two main characters, and tension between the passengers and the Nazi crew. Chess becomes significant to the story, possibly leaving some readers at a loss. The dramatic tone is sometimes too subdued, especially when the passengers are forced to make the return trans-Atlantic journey after being turned away from Cuba and the United States. In spite of these shortcomings, this story will hold readers’ interest and heighten awareness of history that could become forgotten. The author imparts the fates of the passengers in the last two chapters, one set 10 years after the ship returns to Europe and the other 70 years after. A chronology of German anti-Semitic legislation is appended.–Renee Steinberg, formerly at Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ

Gr 7 Up–In this thriller, 13-year-old Kyra lives in an isolated polygamist cult. Life in the compound is as dry as the surrounding desert, more confining than the chain-link fence on its perimeter. But Kyra finds small freedoms despite the tightly controlled communal environment and is able to slip outside to wander the desert. There she chances upon a friendly book-mobile driver who opens the world of children’s literature to her. Kyra even begins a flirtation with her classmate, Joshua, a dangerous sin for which they will both pay dearly. The brutal leader, Prophet Childs, has plans for Kyra and will brook no disobedience. He assigns her to be the seventh wife of her own 60-year-old uncle. Repelled, she resists. She and Joshua are badly beaten and she is told that other young people have been killed for taking a similarly defiant stand. Kyra’s loving father is powerless to help her and counsels her to accept her fate, but she cannot. The story ends in a high-speed chase with the Prophet’s goons gunning for her as she improbably races toward freedom in the blood-spattered book mobile. Has the friendly driver been killed on her account? Is anyone looking for him? What retribution will be taken on her family and what kind of a life lies ahead for her? These unsettling questions are not addressed, but these omissions do not diminish the relief of her successful escape. For a more layered examination of the internal as well as external struggles of a young teen coming of age in a polygamist community, see Shelley Hrdlitschka’s Sister Wife (Orca, 2008).–Carolyn Lehman, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA

Gr 9 Up–Mimi Shapiro, film studies major at NYU, leaves her predatory professor lover and escapes to a remote Canadian cottage that belongs to her father, Marc Soto, a prominent artist who walked out on Mimi and her mom years before. She finds the cottage occupied by Jay Page, a music student who is also Marc’s progeny by a local woman. Despite knowing nothing of one another, the half-siblings forge a quick bond and investigate a series of odd occurrences at the cottage. They discover a hidey-hole under a trapdoor in the floor with an escape tunnel, raising alarm that escalates after a break-in. The story unfolds in alternating viewpoints between Mimi and local loner Cramer Lee, yet another secret Marc Soto offspring, who lives nearby with his mentally unstable artist mother. Cramer supports her by working two jobs and spends his spare time working out with weights and spying on Jay and Mimi. Despite the thriller premise, the tension tends to be tepid, bogged down by overly picturesque descriptions of surroundings, clothing, and cuisine. Cramer’s character is well developed and sympathetic in his pathological shyness and twisted maternal relationship. City girl Mimi enthusiastically takes on rural life and travel by kayak, growing past self-absorption, but Wynne-Jones devotes more space to her possessions than her qualities. Jay remains peculiarly flat for a passionate musician. The complications and improbability of suddenly becoming family thrust upon the three are largely untapped.–Joyce Adams Burner, National Archives at Kansas City, MO

Gr 9 Up–When Stella Madison’s boyfriend says he loves her, those words are not what the 17-year-old wants to hear. Max is adorable, sure; it’s just that commitment is not really her thing, and she has a lot on her plate. The daughter of a famous chef and a restaurateur, Stella has a paid summer internship at the local newspaper, and she is sneakily swooning over Kitchen’s irresistible new intern, Jeremy. Juggling Max, Jeremy, work, semi-separated parents, and friends is not easy, and Stella learns that you can’t make an omelet without breaking some eggs. Sweet Life is brimming with teen appeal. Zeises has created a refreshing protagonist sure to captivate readers, who will enjoy following along as she learns about romance through food, and vice versa.–Emily Chornomaz, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

Gr 6-9–Amblard tackles this topic not only from the side of adolescents but also from parents’ point of view. She discusses communication, the need for privacy, school, rules, and the desire for freedom. This book is helpful to those readers seeking to better understand themselves and to those who desire open and honest communication with the people around them. The colorful, stylized illustrations and open format will appeal to younger readers, but the language and situations are more appropriate for young teens.–Denise Moore, O’Gorman Junior High School, Sioux Falls, SD

Gr 8-10–Written in a relatively journalistic style, Belanger’s texts show that he has obviously done his research. Chapters include photographs of each haunt, interviews with locals familiar with the cases, and background information on the events that triggered the ghost stories. Sources are cited. Readers looking to be spooked, however, will be disappointed. Both books are very text heavy and dotted only sparingly with small black-and-white photographs. Stories of spirit sightings are matter-of-fact and don’t inspire chills or thrills. Though both books would be great sources for school reports, kids reading for pleasure would probably prefer Hans Holzer’s Ghosts I’ve Met (2005) or The Ghost Hunter’s Strangest Cases (2006, both Barnes & Noble).–Kelly McGorray, Glenbard South High School, Glen Ellyn, IL

Gr 9 Up–This book is essentially a compendium of articles garnered from other sources, all relaying information on how to protect oneself in a variety of situations, and how to respond in a crisis. Topics include medical emergencies and injuries; driver safety; safety at home, school, work, and play; and disaster preparedness. Chapters are short, and information is often repeated to the point of redundancy, which detracts from the overall flow. Because of the multiple sources, the writing quality and reading level are highly varied. Further, the intended audience of the original articles is not always teens: one article refers to readers’ toys, while another uses highly advanced vocabulary, and still another is directed toward adults with parenting concerns. Some articles are from other countries, and thus use statistics and vocabulary that might not be familiar to American audiences. Many articles assume a prior understanding of situations and procedures. Inset boxes don’t always match the topic of surrounding text. This book would be best suited for use of specific articles that educators can frame and extend for students.–Joanie Terrizzi, New York City Public Schools

Gr 9 Up–A brief introduction by Bloom is followed by a biographical sketch of the featured author, a list of the characters for each book, a summary of each chapter, and several articles on various aspects of the work. The entries are signed but only fully cited in the appendix. Still, these articles, along with Bloom’s summary and analysis, will aid students looking for assistance with grasping the nuances of these books.–Carol Fazioli, Gwynedd-Mercy College, Gwynedd Valley, PA

Gr 3-6–Christian the lion lived in London with two antique dealers until they decided he needed to be trained to survive in the wild and live out a happier life in Africa. Bourke and Rendall tell this strange tale of buying the lion cub in a department store, giving him the run of their home and store, and introducing him to their life in the thick of the city. They describe where he liked to sit, what he liked to do, and how he reacted to new situations. All of the circumstances pile up on one another, making for a slow-paced narrative. The story is based on the authors’ experiences, but, according to the CIP, “the names of people, places, dates, the sequences and details of events, and the actions and conversations of real-life figures have been changed.” So it is difficult to know what is true and what is not other than their love for this gentle lion and their understandable unhappiness about their preparations for his eventual departure. Some of the photos seen on YouTube are grouped with other black-and-white and color shots in the center of the book. Back matter contains tidbits about Christian, lions in general, and various famous animals. This is not an essential purchase.–Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA

Gr 5-7–Each of these books has an identical preface that states in part, “the pride that Americans have in their ethnic roots is one of the abiding strengths of both the United States and Canada.” After that, Bowen and Temple present brief personalized accounts and continue with straightforward and readable overviews about the relevant group’s immigration history, arranged in short chapters such as “Before European Dominance” and “The Subarctic People” in Native Americans, and “The First Wave” and “Life as a Peddler” in Arab Americans. Native Americans stands out as an odd title in the series. Though it is true that Native Americans have been affected by immigration, they are not a traditional immigrant group. Also, the book itself spreads too thin as it covers the history of dozens of tribes. Though the book has readable text and engaging pictures, it does not offer sufficient information for reports, and the most recent title in the list for further reading was published in 1997. Both titles provide succinct coverage over a broad time period, so readers seeking details about a specific region or era will need additional resources.–Joanna K. Fabicon, Los Angeles Public Library

Gr 4-8–These titles offer a great deal of detailed information. Both have solid introductions that provide some background on the sports and descriptions of the equipment and skills needed to begin. The majority of the content consists of clear, step-by-step color photos and directions for performing various movements. However, Gymnastics has a busy layout that readers might find overwhelming or confusing. No mention is made of safety or of using a “spotter,” and only two photos show a coach helping with a move. The section on scoring in competitions is incomplete. Skateboarding is the better of the two. One page is dedicated to using helmets and pads and another discusses how to handle injuries. Horsley frequently mentions the necessity of performing tricks with friends so that help can be summoned quickly in case of injury. Unfortunately, all of the photos feature boys. Because the titles include difficult and highly technical moves that are unlikely to be learned from books, they will work only as supplements to lessons or as review materials.–Kate Kohlbeck, Randall School, Waukesha, WI

Gr 7 Up-Hate Crimes includes excerpts from Supreme Court decisions, relevant dissenting opinions, and pro and con analyses from lawyers and journalists, many of whom approach the topic with special concern for free-speech restrictions. Organized Crime is less structured. It is difficult to present a positive side to a subject that is universally vilified, so the secondary-source analyses are mainly supplemental, reiterating the positions of the court decisions and other governmental proceedings presented as primary sources. The writing in Hate Crimes is tighter, but it is extremely dry and full of legalese, and while Organized Crime has the potential to be engaging due to its subject matter, it meanders. On a positive note, both titles contain excellent further-reading sections. Still, these topics are covered by books in the publisher’s “At Issue” series, and those titles are much more readable, though they do not contain primary-source material.–Lisa Crandall, formerly at Capital Area District Library, Holt, MI

Gr 8 Up–In this clear and lively biography, Caravantes discusses her subject’s childhood adventures in Missouri, which later became the basis for his short stories and novels. Throughout his life, he loved to travel and wrote many detailed letters from the road, which were often printed in various newspapers. He earned his river pilot’s license and navigated the Mississippi River, taking the pen name of Mark Twain from a nautical expression. The author recounts how Clemens’s wife and four children were important parts of his life and describes the period of deep depression he suffered after the deaths of his wife and two daughters. His financial struggles brought on by faulty investments and failed inventions are also mentioned. The author offers a straightforward chronological glimpse of the man behind the larger-than-life legend of Mark Twain. The black-and-white and full-color photographs and reproductions enliven the presentation, and a lengthy time line and source notes make this a good resource for reports.–Ann Nored, Wilson Central High School, Lebanon, TN

Gr 10 Up–This book provides a wealth of sound advice. It focuses on time management, careful planning of class selection and scheduling, organizational skills, developing discipline, communication with professors and instructors, and sharpening study skills. Each tip is addressed succinctly in two to three pages of conversational writing. Chapman suggests taking general education classes at a community college when possible, sitting at the front of the room, overscheduling classes at the beginning of each semester and then dropping the least favorite and least needed, keeping socializing under control, choosing to be with people who are serious about their education, and more. A Web site not yet active is planned to explore many other facets of the college experience. The book will also be available for purchase as an audio download or on CD.–Susan Shaver, Hemingford Public Schools, NE

Gr 4-6–Taken together, these books boast the usual categories of social, geographic, cultural, and historical information. Culture has sections on art, music, and language; Land includes a more extended examination of animals and plants than is common in single-volume works at this level; and People discusses apartheid and some of the heroes who opposed it. There is significant repetition of background information among the volumes. In addition, they have a number of minor inaccuracies and typographical errors. Also, much of the information is couched in generalities and skims the surface of the topic. For example, the section on religion gives some basic information on a few of the major religions of South Africa, but there is little on specific beliefs or practices. These books are collections of facts that lack an exploration of a vibrant and complex society. The clear and bright illustrations have captions that are occasionally inaccurate and frequently fail to supplement the text.–Sue Giffard, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, New York City

Gr 3-6–This colorful guide is filled with information and activities. Cox defines the food web of a backyard and encourages attracting wild animals not only to help them survive, but also to enjoy observing them. The environmental activities are illustrated with full-color photographs of enthusiastic children accomplishing these projects mostly without adult help. But composting, making a bog garden, and creating a bee hotel could be difficult and frustrating for children (where do you get pieces of bamboo cane, and how do you cut them to the right size?). The photographs, drawings, and collages are bright and cheery, but sometimes cluttered and distracting, and the table of contents is not easy to follow. Although this book is jam-packed with ideas for projects, its flaws make it an additional purchase.–Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA

Gr 4-6-Airmen celebrates the pilots’ extraordinary achievements by placing them within the context of their time, when segregation was common. De Capua explains that some army officials were certain that African Americans lacked the “ability, intelligence and courage to be military pilots,” while other leaders passionately supported the Airmen and their right to serve. Personal accounts, historical photographs of training, news stories about the men’s fighting ability, and records of successful missions help to explain the squadron’s determination not only to fly but also to prove its proficiency and bravery. By demonstrating how the pilots’ success encouraged desegregation within the army and set a precedent for the then impending Civil Rights Movement, the author makes a case for the profound effect of past actions on the present. Underground Railroad describes how this secret system worked and introduces key figures. Williams discusses relevant laws and amendments as well as the advent and conclusion of the Civil War. The facts, presented through stories, historical news accounts, and biographical sketches of Harriet Tubman and Levi Weeks, capture the desperation of the enslaved as well as the abolitionists’ commitment to them. The books are concise and direct, yet the writing remains sophisticated. Vibrant personal stories accompanied by striking photographs of historical figures and artifacts provide a sense of the subjects’ hopes and dreams.–Margaret Auguste, Franklin Middle School, Somerset, NJ

Gr 4-6–This exceptional book uses excellent color photographs and accessible text to introduce the subject of global warming. Obvious and hidden signs of warming, and the resultant changes to our life and the lives of future generations, are presented. The frightening facts are tempered by possible solutions. Following each chapter, a “Bulletins” spread describes the effects of warming the Earth by one degree in increments up to six degrees. In boxed sections that include a photograph, environmentalists and scientists answer questions about their methods for reducing their personal carbon footprints; simple tips for young readers are included. This book stands out for its clarity, visual appeal, and ability to reach students by offering clearly defined situations and ideas. A first choice for environmental-science sections.–Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY

Gr 4-7–This well-organized and useful book includes occasional boxed notes to adults, who are advised in the interest of safety to be present any time sharp tools are being used. Carvers are bluntly warned, “Never put anything that can bleed in front of the blade.” The first half of the book introduces wood and how it grows and describes the supplies, tools, and techniques that are used in the projects. The second half is comprised of the projects themselves. The first one is the easiest, a soap-bar boat carved with nonmetal tools so that a supervising adult can assess a young person’s skills. The seven Scout-like projects then progress in difficulty, building sequentially on skills and using a greater range of tools. Quality paper, full-color photographs, and illustrated step-by-step instructions enhance the presentation. There is a mention of a DVD by the author that is available for purchase, but the “Resources” list of five suppliers provides contact information and seems unbiased.–Joel Shoemaker, South East Junior High School, Iowa City, IA

Gr 3-6–Created as a companion to The Care & Keeping of YOU (American Girl, 2009), this set of questions and answers has been adapted from American Girl magazine’s column. Topics range from body hair and shaving to menstruation and breast development to talking to a trusted adult about puberty. While the advice covers familiar ground, the tone of the book is comforting. After reading what the experts say, there is commentary from real girls as well. The colorful cartoon illustrations mirror the style of the text.–Elaine Baran Black, Georgia Public Library Service, Atlanta

Gr 5-8–This addition to the series provides succinct and captivating biographies of 10 sovereigns, primarily men from Western culture, from early times through the end of the 18th century. The author chronicles their formative years, their reigns, and their legacies. Cousens’s eye-catching graphic art establishes a visual reference for the setting in which the featured ruler lived, and it evenly matches the dramatic events and themes highlighted. With life links that connect one leader with the next, maps that detail the area of the monarch’s reign, text bubbles with additional information, and a pictorial time line, the book lends itself well to browsing. One noticeable omission is a bibliography or a recommended book list. While the “Graphic Biographies” (Rosen) and the “You Wouldn’t Want to…” series (Watts) cover some of the people or time periods featured here, this book is refreshing in that multiple biographies and a historical context are provided in one volume. For those libraries that need to enhance their world history or biography collections, this is a solid choice that will likely appeal to reluctant readers.–Hilary Writt, Sullivan University, Lexington, KY

Gr 5-9–This guide to puberty is designed to answer questions about physical and mental changes that occur during adolescence. It combines basic biology with graphics and art design reminiscent of MySpace pages. Though likely meant to arm readers with solid information, the tone of the book may increase readers’ anxiety. For example, on the spread “Puberty: It’s Gross vs. It’s Great,” the “great” side seems like a stretch to counterbalance the “gross” column. Separate sections on boys and girls are good, but the shared-experience section, “100% Me,” is pretty spare. Also irksome are the references to the “majority of people” being heterosexual. While statistically supported, it may still unintentionally serve to isolate GLBTQ readers. Other books on puberty, such as Lynda Madaras’s titles, cover the same ground with a more reassuring, neutral tone.–Elaine Baran Black, Georgia Public Library Service, Atlanta

Gr 8 Up–This updated, full-color edition of a text first published in 1986 includes traditional high school newspapers, yearbook production, and broadcast journalism. Introductory chapters cover the history of American journalism, the rights and responsibilities of journalists, and style conventions. Chapters on writing news, sports, features, editorials, columns, headlines, and captions follow. Information on advertising, photography, and careers in journalism rounds out the coverage. A “Digital Age” chapter is new to this edition. Other updates include current events (e.g., the Don Imus controversy), emerging technologies such as RSS feeds and podcasts, and digital photography. Despite some discussion of daily newspapers’ declining numbers, the careers chapter devotes minimal attention to their uncertain future and keeps the focus strictly skills-oriented. Some advice borders on quaint: “knowledge of typing and use of computers are becoming critical.” Pages feature samples from high school publications that demonstrate concepts from the text. Two quibbles are the almost unreadable small print in some images, and images from the reverse pages that bleed through the scans of student publications. Sidebars provide more in-depth information on specific chapter topics as well as definitions and industry tips. Exercises that conclude each chapter provide many opportunities for students to practice the skills described. Some lengthy guidelines, ethics codes, and rules for various writing scenarios make for a detailed but dry reading experience. Overall, this textbook presents a popular elective topic in a visually appealing, appropriately unbiased, format, but it’s not an essential purchase for libraries that own the 2003 edition.–Amy Pickett, Ridley High School, Folsom, PA

Gr 7 Up–Though at first glance this handbook may seem like a tween/teen version of William Powell’s The Anarchist Cookbook (Barricade, 1990), it’s actually a lot more like Conn Iggulden and Hal Iggulden’s innocuous The Dangerous Book for Boys (Collins, 2007). While the focus is on how to execute perfect pranks, and while there is definitely an illicit feel to the book design, there’s also strong emphasis on mischief-makers’ ethics as defined in a “Prankster’s Code,” which is repeated throughout the book. Among its prescriptions: Always be careful; don’t be a bully; do no lasting damage; and be funny. That last edict is a biggie. The book constantly emphasizes that, ultimately, pranks should be creative and harmless enough to be entertaining to parties on both sides of the equation–even if perpetrators have to return to the scene of their crimes to help clean up any lingering messes. While it’s destined to be devilishly attractive to reluctant readers, most of the pranks outlined are actually of the dribble-glass and Whoopie cushion variety. But some, like any worthwhile high jinks, could go awry and land pranksters in hot water. If that happens, the manual also provides tips on how to get out of trouble gracefully. Some techniques, like the Ping-Pong ball smoke bomb, may give some professionals pause, no matter how many safety guidelines accompany them.–Jeffrey Hastings, Highlander Way Middle School, Howell, MI

Gr 4-8–Both books follow the same format, which is not chronological and does not flow in sequence. Instead it pulls in world history, math, science, and language arts, and has a careful balance of text, captions, pictures, original art, and short discourse. The author discusses the technique and then presents and analyzes works by master artisans and explains what the artist was trying to convey. Harris has chosen spectacular examples to showcase his points. Three clever projects highlight the featured technique with step-by-step procedures and complementary photos. Unfortunately, the index is too simplified to support the quality of the content. Still, with their captivating tales and visual appeal, these titles will enhance art collections.–Donna Leigh Edwards, Pembroke Elementary School, Danbury, CT

Gr 4-6–Written in a straightforward style, these series entries, originally published in 2003, will update collections even though their traditional textbook format makes them look dated. The coverage is broad–history, people, culture, and the arts. Words in boldface are defined in the glossaries but are not necessarily included in the two-page indexes. In South America, color illustrations of each flag; area and population of each country; and maps and leading products of each nation are included. The suggestions in the “Project and Report Ideas” sections are creative, but they don’t always seem well considered–“listen to Andean flute music, an Argentine tango, a Brazilian samba, and a Colombian cumbia,” but no CD titles are offered, nor are the dance names listed in the index. Each book contains representative recipes, and while the dishes look good, the directions have not been modified or simplified for young audiences. Each title is illustrated with stock photographs in color and black and white, drawings, and maps.–Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA

Gr 4-8–Three scientists whose research entails physical danger are featured here: one flies into hurricanes; another explores caves; and the third climbs the world’s tallest trees. Through interviews, the author explores their work and its physical and psychological challenges. Although each section mentions that researchers can die from accidents in the field, the benefits and joys of each area of work are emphasized. Large color photos show the people (all Caucasian), their equipment, and the beauty of the extreme nature they explore. The section on cave explorer Hazel Barton has the most human interest and even shows a tattoo on her arm that depicts a partial map of South Dakota’s Wind Cave. References to the subjects’ childhood interests in science suggest that it’s never too early to begin exploring. This exemplary title is just the thing for those who think that all scientists are sedentary.–Ellen Heath, Easton Area Public Library, Easton, PA

Gr 8 Up–This book is filled with black-and-white photos of all types–landscapes, portraits, action shots, stills, and more. The images are paired with a quote from scholars, writers, philosophers, celebrities, politicians, etc. For example, a shot of a gymnast supporting himself in mid-air is matched with Lance Armstrong’s comment, “Pain is temporary, quitting lasts forever,” and an image of a little girl taking a picture appears with a quip from Dorothea Lange: “Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.” Each entry is also joined with one or more of the following writing prompts: questions to consider, possible opening lines, ideas for writing, or possible key words. The book, which is accompanied by a CD containing all of the photos and text, concludes with five pages of suggestions by teachers as to how one can use the volume to inspire writing. A terrific resource for ELA and creative-writing teachers.–Joanne K. Cecere, Monroe-Woodbury High School, Central Valley, NY

Gr 9 Up–All of the monologues in this collection are written in the same voice with mostly the same character: a white, middle-class, college-bound “good girl.” Despite their homogeneity, they are better written and are about more interesting subjects than those by Kristen Dabrowski (Smith and Kraus). McCormick presents delicate topics with aplomb, including teen pregnancy, divorce, peer pressure, and cheating. While many of the selections are obviously gender specific, others could easily be about boys. Discussion questions follow each monologue; they could be useful in group-counseling sessions or classes in civics, sociology, or psychology.–Terrilyn Fleming, Colby Public Schools, KS

Gr 5-7–Geordie’s grandparents give him a journal, and he writes lists, vignettes, poems, and reflections over the course of one year. His poems observe and record human activity, science, and nature. Most often, his subjects are family, school, or the outdoors, including the carrots he and his father plan to plant. The book is presented in journal style with different type fonts and some full-page concrete poems. New’s poems, such as “Band Practice,” demonstrate a pleasing command of rhythm and imagery. However, the spare details in the journal entries provide a weak narrative thread and leave Geordie as a half-baked persona. The rather banal prose entries bear little resemblance to the wistful poems. The poems do yield some moments of insight, but they don’t illuminate the writer who supposedly penned them. Nor do they feel like the creations of a child. Extensive poetry collections may wish to add this hybrid, but most libraries should stick with Sharon Creech’s Love That Dog (HarperCollins, 2001) and Ron Koertge’s Shakespeare Bats Cleanup (Candlewick, 2003) for this audience.–Caitlin Augusta, The Darien Library, CT

Gr 6 Up–Thorough examinations of banned or challenged books. Each work features an introductory chapter explaining the type of literature included and the importance of intellectual freedom. Specific books such as the Bible, Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “Little House” series, and Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird (in Classic Books) and the anonymous Go Ask Alice, Walter Dean Myers’s Fallen Angels, and Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower (in Outsider Fiction) are then discussed in a chapter each. Otfinoski starts by outlining the basic plot and continues with critical reaction and details of controversies. Further reading on each title provides more background on the book and the challenges, and five appendixes per volume include ALA’s “Most Frequently Challenged” lists and information on Banned Books Week. While Outsider Fiction covers more works, the coverage is less in-depth than that in Classic Books. Both cover a broad range of literature, however, featuring many commonly assigned books. The writing is clear and the author provides both sides of the debate on the titles, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions. Solid information for report writers and teachers.–Melissa Rabey, Frederick County Public Libraries, Frederick, MD

Gr 4-8–Rice attempts to provide a snapshot view of the lives of Tom, Boston, and George (“Autie”) Custer. However, the five short chapters, which focus primarily on their military endeavors, are plagued with awkward sentences, such as the description of the Custer Brothers’ “raid” against a Cheyenne village in which more than 100 people and 900 ponies were massacred. “Native Americans will ever remember the incident as a timeless monument to mourning and the myth of the white man’s justice.” The author assumes prior knowledge of military hierarchies and rank, the Civil War, and major events in Native American history such as Wounded Knee, which are referred to yet not defined or explained. In the case of Little Bighorn, the battle in which all three brothers met their demise, no map is provided. Each chapter concludes with a “FYInfo” page, highlighting a related topic. The abundance of tacky-looking graphics (eagles, stars and stripes, and shiny scrolls on photos) gives this uneven book a busy look.–Madeline J. Bryant, Los Angeles Public Library

Gr 6-9–From his birth to his current life as a senator, Kennedy is portrayed as a strong, supportive family member and friend. In the face of tremendous tragedy and personal loss, illness of children, and public ridicule, he continued to pursue his dreams and goals. World and national events, such as World War II, the Korean War, and the assassinations of his brothers are explained not only as they affected Kennedy but also as they affected the nation. These explanations give readers who might be unfamiliar with some political events a better understanding of the Kennedy family’s role in American politics. Issues such as alcoholism are dealt with frankly yet without condemnation. Appealing photographs appear throughout the book.–Denise Moore, O’Gorman Junior High School, Sioux Falls, SD

Gr 4-6–The volumes on individual countries cover the historical, geographic, ethnic, political, and economic aspects adequately, and Central America briefly introduces the countries in the isthmus. The books conclude with recipes, project and report ideas, and brief chronologies. Belize and Costa Rica contain maps of the relevant nation and portions of bordering ones, but there is no map showing their location relative to the rest of the region. Even more surprising, Central America has only maps of the individual countries. Also, the books are nearly word-for-word reissues of titles in the publisher’s “Discovering Central America” series (2003), with only the statistical and political leadership information updated. Some of the color photographs appear dated. The recipes make no note of adult supervision/assistance (definitely required for some of the preparation steps), and the vocabulary and assumed culinary expertise are beyond the targeted age group. The activities (most of which consist of making flash cards and writing book reports) vary; some are too difficult while others are simplistic. The further-reading resources are almost exclusively for adults.–Lisa Crandall, formerly at Capital Area District Library, Holt, MI

Gr 5-8–Dubbed Spirit and Opportunity in a naming contest won by a nine-year-old, the two golf-cart-sized rovers sent to Mars in 2003 were designed to last for three months. Battered but game, they’re still inching along all these years later. Here Siy not only pays affectionate tribute to their longevity–titling her final chapter “Shake off the dust, recharge at the rest area, and continue indefinitely”–but also describes and explains in exact detail their most stirring discovery: strong evidence that water once “drenched, dribbled, dripped, doused, trickled, gushed, and poured” on the Martian surface. An array of large illustrations includes a labeled diagram that identifies all of the rovers’ scientific gear, plus color photos, photo composites, and (carefully identified) artists’ conceptions of Martian vistas, craters, rocks, and even microscopic features. Closing with plenty of useful end matter and a full-page planetary portrait, this title will sweep readers up in an exploratory mission that has come closer than any other so far to finding sure signs of extraterrestrial life.–John Peters, New York Public Library

Gr 4-9–Skotko and Levine address preteens and teenagers who have a sibling with Down syndrome, answering questions that have been generated through their work with this population. Siblings want to know everything from what causes this condition to how to be protective and how they can make sure things are fair at home. They want to help when they can, but don’t want to be burdened with too much responsibility. In clear, concise language, the authors ensure that siblings know that all of these concerns are normal and they are careful to honor their feelings. They point out that it’s okay to feel jealous of a sibling with Down syndrome, just as it’s okay to feel jealous of any sibling at different points in the life of a family. The authors are also quick to suggest that readers consult with their parents or seek help from another adult if situations get too difficult to manage. With a wealth of information, numerous resources, and the reassurance that all siblings of people with disabilities sometimes go through periods of contradictory feelings, this is an excellent guide for young people who are trying to figure out how to negotiate an often-confusing relationship.–Wendy Smith-D’Arezzo, Loyola College, Baltimore, MD

Gr 5-9–Early in the morning on June 11, 1804, Aaron Burr shot and killed Alexander Hamilton. Both men were prominent citizens of the infant United States of America–Burr, indeed, was the vice president–but while Hamilton was lionized, Burr was vilified for the rest of his life. Interestingly, this marked the parting of ways in two lives that were remarkably similar. Both men had been orphaned young; both were excellent, driven students; both men had served on the staff of General George Washington during the Revolutionary War; both were lawyers in New York City; and both were deeply involved in politics. In the course of 25 years, their life paths crossed time and again, culminating in a tragic duel, as senseless as it was damaging for both parties. St. George does an excellent job of presenting the stories of the two men, informed by particulars that give a sense of character as well as of the historical milieu. Readers who like historical fiction will find this equally intriguing and approachable. The nine chapters, chronologically organized and compellingly written, move along smoothly to the inevitable, but still distressing, end. Similar in content to Dennis Brindell Fradin’s excellent Duel! Burr and Hamilton’s Deadly War of Words (Walker, 2008), St. George’s book has a bit more background on both men. Given its illustrative content, Fradin’s title will move better with younger readers, but most collections could use both volumes.–Ann Welton, Helen B. Stafford Elementary, Tacoma, WA

Gr 7 Up–This British import is organized into eight chapters, each featuring a different main ingredient chosen by teenage Sam’s “mates.” Potatoes, pasta, vegetables, and chocolate are some of the items represented. There is a commendable emphasis on local food and fresh ingredients, although nutrition information is not included. Each recipe is accompanied by a photo of the dish, and throughout the book there are also many photos of the teens cooking, eating, or just hanging out. Some of the recipes will have wide appeal; others are more exotic, like “Cool Cauli Curry.” Unfortunately, some of the recipes are vague. For example, the main ingredient for “Steak Jalapeño Pockets” is listed as “4 rump or sirloin steaks,” with no weight given. Does Stern really mean “lemon rind” instead of lemon zest in the “Carrot Pasta” recipe? “Eggplant Roll-ups in Tomato Sauce” advises readers to break eggs into a dish but doesn’t tell them to stir them before dipping the eggplant slices. Experienced cooks can probably read between the lines in cases like these, but that shouldn’t be necessary. Those looking for a cookbook by teens, for teens, might want to try Megan, Jill, and Judi Carle’s Teens Cook: How to Make What You Want to Eat (Ten Speed, 2004).–Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL

Gr 5-10–The Beatles song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” was playing the night paleoanthropologist Donald Johnson found the first fossilized remains of the hominid that became known around the world as Lucy. This extraordinary discovery changed how scientists understood one of the basic concepts of human evolution–it proved that our ancestors began walking upright before the size of their brains increased. Thimmesh uses this discovery to explore several topics in the fields of anthropology and evolutional biology, such as how the bones were fossilized, the process for deciding that Lucy belonged to a previously unknown species (Australopithecus afarensis), and the cast-making process that allowed biological anthropologist Owen Lovejoy to reconstruct her pelvis and prove that she was bipedal. The author even touches upon what fossils can’t teach us about our ancestors–their emotions and family patterns. The final chapter discusses the process used by paleoartist John Gurche to create a life-size sculpture of Lucy. The book’s greatest strength is how it underscores the fluidity of our understanding in a field like anthropology; it shows how one discovery can change the thinking of scientists in a dramatic way. This book also emphasizes the rigor of the sciences that study our human ancestors and explains clearly how these scientists carefully take the known to formulate new ideas about the unknown parts of our human history. The clear writing, excellent photographs, and the unique approach of exploring the field of anthropology through one spectacular specimen make this book a first purchase.–Caroline Tesauro, Radford Public Library, VA