Book Reviews by Young Adults
RSSSneak Peek Reviewers Club
I couldn't wait to get my hands on Mary Pearson's follow-up to her novel The Adoration of Jenna Fox (Holt, 2008). I completely agree with our reviewer—the new book is a winner. And because we librarians just love seeing ourselves portrayed as keepers of the light, you're definitely going to want to dig into MK Reed and Jonathan Hill's Americus. Be sure to take a look at the companion website, www.saveapathea.com, for more information on the creation of this terrific graphic novel, which will be released in conjunction with ALA's Banned Books Week (September 24-October 1). PEARSON, Mary E. The Fox Inheritance. Holt, August 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780805088298. Gr 8 Up—Everybody thought that Jenna Fox, Locke, and Kara were dead after Jenna's car crashed into a tree. Their bodies were buried but their minds were saved in boxes, with the hope that they'd eventually be brought back to life. After a year, Jenna's father, who was a bioengineer, brought Jenna back to life. Jenna went to her friends' cubes and destroyed them so her friends wouldn't have to suffer the same nothingness that she went through in her box. Little did she know that copies of their minds had been made and hidden in a warehouse. Now it is 260 years later, and Locke and Kara have been given new bodies by the evil Dr. Gatsbro. At first, they're thankful to him for reviving them and taking them out of the nothingness, but they soon discover that he's just using them as floor models to sell Bio-Perfect (the substance that their bodies are now made of) to his rich clients. Locke and Kara narrowly escape his compound knowing no one and nothing about this new world they're now in, except that Jenna is alive somewhere. Locke and Kara travel to find Jenna for two very different reasons: Locke wants to learn about the new world and to know someone in it, but Kara wants revenge on Jenna for not reviving them. All the while, Dr. Gatsbro is desperately trying to find and capture them. This action-packed novel takes the reader on a journey through a world where nothing is like it is now, where robots have feelings, and America is two separate countries. The Fox Inheritance shows how forgiving is always better than holding a grudge and how in a world where nothing makes sense, having a friend is a good thing.—Christopher L., age 14 REED, MK and Jonathan Hill. Americus. First Second, August 2011. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-768-5. pap. $14.99. ISBN 978-1596436015. This graphic novel is centered on a young book lover's battle with censorship. It portrays each aspect of the fights that librarians and teachers around the nation participate in to keep kids reading and keep intellectual freedom alive. Although at moments the motives of the activists are exaggerated, the message still shines through. Through Neil's life, we see how reading shapes the lives of young people everywhere and of how it empowers them to think and believe in themselves. For the most part, the characters are very believable, with the exception of Danny's mother, whose Christian moral compass seems to be slightly exaggerated. This book does a wonderful job portraying Neil's change in character from a quiet bookworm to an outspoken, confident person. Although this story is mainly about censorship, multiple storylines regarding the main characters weave together to form a very entertaining story. This book will appeal to those interested in censorship, humor, and happy endings.—Liane Y., age 17. SMITH, Cynthia Leitich. Tantalize: Kieren's Story. Candlewick, August 2011. pap. $19.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-4114-6. Gr 8 Up—Tantalize: Kieran's Story is a graphic novel about Kieren's life as a half werewolf/half human, and is based on Smith's 2007 novel, Tantalize. Kieren must learn to keep his inner beast at bay until he joins the pack. The problem is that his best friend, Quincie, is being targeted by Brad, a vampire who's more powerful than Kieren expected because of his age and experience. The storyline needed more depth or a more intriguing story. This graphic novel is an OK way to pass the time, but I wouldn't go out of my way to buy it. The story was too predictable. The book gets a 5.5 out of 10.—Martin G., age 14 BICK, Ilsa J. Ashes. Egmont, September 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-60684-175-4. CD $24.99. ISBN 978-1-4558-2419-9. Ashes is a well-written, gripping, dark novel. Bick has readers questioning human nature, looking for insight, and noticing how animal instinct is often right. This book is very disturbing, with lots of death and gore-it's definitely not for young children. Since Ashes isn't a happy, romantic book, please don't mistake it for anything but a horror novel. Personally, the story didn't make a good impression on me or uplift my spirit. This is the first book in a trilogy focusing on Alexandra's dystopian world.-Rachel A., age 17. KATZ, Farley. Journal of a Schoolyard Bully. St. Martin's Griffin, September 2011. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-312-68158-6. This is a great book. It's perfect for kids who've been bullied, even though a bully is the hero. Plus, the story is well written and there's a joke on every page. Even though this novel is intended for readers who are younger than me, the story held my interest.—Tyler L., age 12 KROSSING, Karen. The Yo-Yo Prophet. Orca, September 2011. Tr $12.95. ISBN 978-1-55469-827-1. This is boring book set in current times. With poor economic conditions, the main character strives for the best. He's filled with greed, pride, and overconfidence once he's famous. The overall story is too typical with no unique aspects. It's a book that will please much younger readers but this book can be considered common compared to others like it. It's both good and bad, at times, but I think that if you're in high school or older, you may want to skip it. It might be compelling to other readers, but for me, the story had nothing special, no spark.—Herrick F., age 13 WARNER, Penny. The Code Busters Club: Case #1 The Secret of the Skeleton Key. September 2011, Egmont. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-60684-281-2. Gr 4-8—The Code Busters Club is on the case of the Skeleton Man's will. Cody, Quinn, Luke, and M.E. are trying to find his will before his evil-minded cousins do. Using their special talents for codes, the Code Busters try to fight against the evil cousins. As in all good mysteries, you can never tell if everything will be all right in the end! Using a key book and solutions at the back of the book, the author always has you flipping through this interactive mystery to find the clues. This book is very well written and it'll keep a reader focused and wondering what's going to happen next. In short, this could become a favorite new series.—Tyler L., age 12 This article originally appeared in School Library Journal's enewsletter SLJTeen. Subscribe here. People make too much out of the banned books thing. The books aren't banned at all. They aren't illegal and people can still freely read them. Mostly it's simply wanting them in age appropriate places in the library and what's appropriate for reading in school and what isn't. And libraries can be guilty of censorship themselves...they shouldn't reject the donations of gay-related books from a Christian perspective, but some school libraries have done it. And even if some things aren't totally censored, they're very skewed. You very rarely see books about the Christian perspective on gay relationships or ex-gay books. I wonder especially with YA books...I think more authors need to venture into the area of kids becoming ex-gays and leaving the lifestyle. Or choosing God and what he wants over a life of sin. There shouldn't be only one perspective represented. And I know there are fears about people making objections, but libraries are supposed to have items on as many viewpoints as possible anyway. (although I understand why they wouldn't have, for example, KKK books or something. Though many have copies of Hitler's book.)I think in some cases authors may not be comfy tackling the stuff but I think they should be brave enough to do it.
Despite all that, I probably will check out the Jenna Fox sequel. * = Required information
Gr 8 Up—Neil Barton has always had a hard life, but it gets even more difficult when his best friend is sent off to military school. Alone in the halls on the first day of high school, Neil also has to face the activists who are trying to ban his favorite book series—The Adventures of Apathea Ravenchilde. Neil is forced to speak up for what he believes is right, and it changes him for the better.
Gr 8 Up—After learning she has only a few months to live because of a brain tumor, Alexandra sets out to find the things she has always dreamed of -yet fate has other plans for her. After a huge electromagnetic pulse sweeps the earth, things start getting a little funny. Alexandra begins to change in ways she never thought possible, and yet she's not the only one changing. When she encounters other humans, some are good and want to help her find shelter—others have much more evil intentions.
Gr 5-8—Niko Kayler is a professional schoolyard bully. The only reason he does it is because he's good at it. He's even made bully machines (one can shoot smelly paper airplanes!), a bully business card, and a science project about bullying. After being kicked out of school for destroying the science fair four years straight, Niko is sent to a school for troubled children. The other bullies make him look like the people he bullies, a nerd!
Gr 7-11—Calvin is half Asian, and he's not the most academically inclined kid in his high school. He doesn't fit in with many people, and has to deal with many problems out on the street. Living alone with his grandmother—who's having a tough time remembering things and is too sick to run the family's dry-cleaning business—Calvin tries to save their shop, which is danger of being sold to the wrong kind of man. When Calvin performs several yo-yo tricks on the street, he attracts an appreciative crowd. And he's soon confronted by the high school bully, the muscular Rozelle, who wants a piece of the action. She promotes his yo-yo tricks and even adds to his persona, saying that he can predict the future with his yo-yo. Will Calvin survive his street performing, or will he just crash and burn?
Reader Comments (2)
Posted by MM on September 8, 2011 12:17:57AM
