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November 1, 2011

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Nonfiction

Fiction Series Roundup

Fiction

ABELA, Deborah. The Ghosts of Gribblesea Pier. 240p. CIP. Farrar. 2011. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-374-36239-3. LC 2010022517.
Gr 3-6–In this charmer of a ghostly adventure tale, Aurelie Bonhoffen celebrates her 12th birthday on Gribblesea Pier, the amusement park that has been in her family for generations. She learns of another family legacy: the Bonhoffens can choose to return from death, only once, as ghosts. The Gribblesea Pier has been a town staple for as long as anyone can remember; now it is in danger of being demolished to make way for a new and profitable development if Mr. Crook has his way. He strong-arms the town’s mayor, Mr. Bog, into following through with his plans and the two go so far as to have the town’s Child Welfare Society take Aurelie from her home. In her new home, she meets her Uncle Rolo’s long-lost love and sets in motion the events that will bring all things to a satisfying conclusion. Abela weaves a good old-fashioned tale, replete with evil money-grubbing villains and an independent heroine who battles injustices at school and on the home front. The friendship that develops between Aurelie and the mayor’s son is a wonderful exploration of being true to oneself and avoiding peer pressure. This fast-paced, engaging, and charming story has echoes of Jeanne Birdsall’s “Penderwicks” (Knopf) and some Dickensian elements, but in the end this is just a finely executed story of family and friendship and the ties that bind a community.–Mary Beth Rassulo, Ridgefield Library, CT

ADAMS, S. J. Sparks: The Epic, Completely True Blue, (Almost) Holy Quest of Debbie. 258p. Flux. Nov. 2011. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-0-7387-2676-2. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8 Up–Debbie, a junior, has been in love with her best friend, Lisa, for five years. In fact, she has created an entire set of interests and religious beliefs as a way of remaining by her side. But when Lisa suddenly gets a boyfriend, Debbie realizes that she needs to figure out who she really is and what she really wants. With the help of two unlikely sidekicks, she sets off on a quest of hilarious adventures where she receives her first kiss, makes some great new friends, and figures out how she wants her life to look from then on out. A funny and quirky coming-of-age novel, this book will appeal to teenagers who are a little bit on the outside looking to find their places in the world.–Sharon Senser McKellar, Oakland Public Library, CA

ALLEN, Elise. Populazzi. 416p. Houghton Harcourt. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-48153-1. LC number unavailable.
Gr 7 Up–Starting a new school for her junior year, suburban Philadelphia teenager Cara embarks on a project to date her way “up the Ladder” with the ultimate goal of becoming one of the “populazzi.” This predictable and satisfying chick-lit novel is easy to read and easier to describe: just imagine that Jeanette Rallison and E. Lockhart cowrote Mark Waters’s 2004 film Mean Girls after they’d both been reading Laura Ruby’s Good Girls (HarperCollins, 2006). The elements: a funny and smart virginal narrator; a perfect boy (here he’s a cute, clever Indian-Filipino-American actor); a large suburban high school culture; witty, unintended double-entendre tongue-trips (“you’ll be begging to dip your fries in my shake”); contextualized references to current pop culture and clothing; relatively supportive parents; some teen issues (drug/alcohol use, sex, bulimia) modeled primarily by supporting characters; several token gay characters; and, of course, the ultimate realization to be true to oneself. Several elements are rather unrealistic (e.g., the cyberbullying that doesn’t phase our plucky heroine, a teacher who makes penis jokes in class sans consequences, some glaringly fast changes in Cara’s behavior to fit the narrative). It’s almost twice as long as most books of its genre, but this brilliantly titled novel delivers exactly the right escapist fluff while remaining clean and innocent enough to appear on both junior high and high school shelves... and it should.–Rhona Campbell, formerly at Washington, DC Public Library

ALMOND, David. My Name Is Mina. 304p. CIP. Delacorte. 2011. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-385-74073-9; PLB $18.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98964-3; ebook $15.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98965-0. LC 2010040143.
Gr 6-8–Mina fills her new journal with thoughts, dreams, and stories. She has left St. Bede’s Middle School to be homeschooled by her mum. The reasons for this are slowly revealed. Mina writes about her home life (happy with her mum, but they both miss her late father). About her time at St. Bede’s (unhappy since some of her teachers did not appreciate her extreme sense of whimsy). About a new family moving in up the street (with a young boy who turns out to be Michael from Skellig). About nature (particularly the blackbirds nesting in her tree). And about the time she attended an alternative school (that did not last long). The layout is great fun. Since this is a journal, the main font looks like handwriting. When Mina writes a poem or focuses on a particular word, the “handwriting” gets thicker and darker, as though written with a felt-tip marker. When Mina wants to distance herself from the action, she drops into the third person and writes a story in a more formal typeface. Boxes scattered throughout the text include “Extraordinary Activity” suggestions: writing a particular kind of poem, watching the stars, or flying while you dream. Almond portrays Mina as a girl with a great love of words and learning, and he plays joyfully with language. This might make for tricky going for some readers, but it is truly a wonderful book.–Geri Diorio, Ridgefield Library, CT

ANDERSON, Jessica Lee. Calli. 184p. CIP. Milkweed. 2011. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-57131-702-5; pap. $8. ISBN 978-1-57131-699-8; ebook $8. ISBN 978-1-57131-845-9. LC 2011007076.
Gr 7-10–Calli has been the only child of lesbian parents for a long time, so when they take in a foster child, she begins to feel ignored by her two moms. Then she witnesses her foster sister, Cherish, kissing her boyfriend in the school hallway, and that’s the start of a meltdown for the 15-year-old. She’s tired of being a mousy wallflower and decides to get even with Cherish, which has consequences that spiral out of her control. A sickly mother with lupus and a best friend who doesn’t offer Calli the support she wants don’t help her case. And what was her boyfriend thinking anyway? There’s a lot happening in this short novel. So much so that what could be intriguing plotlines–such as exploring the life of a teenager living with two moms and the fostering experience from the biological child’s perspective–are glossed over in short chapters that leave little time for the characters to develop. Calli’s life is complicated for sure, maybe a little too complicated to make this story cohesive.–Shawna Sherman, Hayward Public Library, CA

ARCHER, E. Geek Fantasy Novel. 310p. Scholastic. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-16040-7. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6-9–Ralph Stevens, 14, is a typical nerd, inept at most things except gaming and computers. The only thing atypical about his life is that his parents have always forbidden him to make wishes of any kind. For some reason, he does not question this odd rule. Then one day he receives a letter from distant relatives in England asking him to spend the summer with them. Disobeying his parents’ request that he not go, he books a flight and is soon engrossed in the lives of his cousins Cecil, Beatrice, and Daphne. It turns out that the family’s evil Aunt Chessie wants to get hold of all four children, whom she’s been barred from seeing. Her motives are unclear, but she wants to grant the cousins’ wishes. In this family, wishes are granted only after the wishers complete a fairy-tale-inspired quest, and soon arrogant Cecil is off on his adventure. What ensues is a labyrinth of stories within stories with an abundance of hackneyed fable motifs ranging from fairies to evil queens, and even a dip into the underworld. Characters are killed and resurrected multiple times on their journeys. What makes the book even more annoying, however, is the narrator, who is also a character. He interrupts the action over and over again, even when he claims he will stop. Although he may evoke a few chuckles, the humor does not save his grating voice. Add his part to the meandering plot, weak character development, clichéd themes, and ridiculous side stories, and the result is a totally unsatisfying book.–Lauren Newman, Northern Burlington County Regional Middle School, Columbus, NJ

ASHER, Jay & Carolyn Mackler. The Future of Us. 356p. Penguin/Razorbill. Nov. 2011. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-1-59514-491-1. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8 Up–The year is 1996. Josh and Emma, lifelong best friends and neighbors, are in the midst of sorting out their awkward, possibly romantic feelings for one another when Emma receives her first computer and logs on to the Internet with a free AOL CD. Mysteriously, the teens find themselves on a website called Facebook, which has all sorts of information about their lives… 15 years in the future. This intriguing premise is an instant hook for today’s social-media-savvy readers. Clever references to cassette tapes, dial-up Internet access, and camera film are sure to induce chuckles from those who remember 1996, but the nostalgia is subtle enough that the writing will feel fresh to contemporary teens, and the idea of glimpsing one’s future is a tantalizing draw for any reader. Although the discovery of Facebook initially propels the plot, there is a solid and appealing story beyond the sly humor that comes from poking fun at trivial status updates. In addition to sustaining well-crafted romantic tension, the authors deftly address universal questions relevant to teens, such as, “What do I want?” and “How do my actions affect my future?” As Josh and Emma confront these dilemmas and reevaluate their feelings, their alternating first-person narratives have a sense of urgency that makes this book impossible to set aside. This quick, highly engaging read is a tremendously likable, soul-searching romantic comedy and a subtle reminder to occasionally unplug and live in the moment.–Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA

ATKINS, Catherine. The File on Angelyn Stark. 250p. Random/Alfred A. Knopf. Nov. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86906-8; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-375-96906-5; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89989-8. LC number unavailable.
Gr 9 Up–Angelyn thought she had put her past behind her. When she was 12, a neighbor, Nathan, witnessed her stepdad molesting her. He reported it to his grandmother, who attempted to stop the abuse. The family denied it and moved on. Then Jeni Traynor shows up at her high school three years later. She knows Nathan and his grandmother, and Angelyn fears that the truth will come out. Her friends and boyfriend are always pressuring her to make bad choices, but she can’t get over her neediness. Mr. Rossi, a teacher, tries to help her make better choices and give her confidence, but it backfires. Angelyn is vulnerable and misinterprets his attention and comments. When he confides in her that his wife has left him, blurring the boundaries even more, Angelyn sees an opportunity to express her interest in him. Unfortunately, Jeni witnesses her kissing Mr. Rossi but fails to see that he is rejecting her advances. Readers will feel the teen’s vulnerability and understand her inability to have an appropriate relationship with any of the males in the book. The novel is not only about the sexual abuse, but also about the ease with which a vulnerable teen with a troubled past can be misled. Unfortunately, while it leaves readers hopeful, they will feel unsettled about the adults and the decisions that are made throughout.–Karen Alexander, Lake Fenton High School, Linden, MI

BANKS, Tyra. Modelland. 563p. Delacorte. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-385-74059-3; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98956-8; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89944-7. LC number unavailable.
Gr 9 Up–Tookie De La Crème is a Forgetta-Girl. With her awkward body, large forehead, mismatched eyes, and wiry hair, she is the girl everyone, including her parents, would rather not be around. Despite her flaws, she is selected to be a Bella in Modelland over her more attractive, though less intelligent, sister. Only the most beautiful and poised girls are selected to train to possibly become one of the elite seven IntoxiBellas. Along with three other misfit Bellas, Tookie struggles through courses such as CaraCaraCara and Run Away Intensive while dodging the dangerous obstacles of Catwalk Corridor and Thigh-High Boot Camp. The odd behavior of the mysterious and infamous IntoxiBella, Ci~L, convinces the misfit group of Unicas that their lives are in danger and they hatch a plan to flea Modelland. Tookie is heartbroken over her impending departure because she has made new friends and started a relationship with a young Bestostero, Bravo. This first installment in a projected trilogy drags on for 563 pages. The world-building is weak with labels that merely misspell or combine common words. The dialogue is often stilted, and the characters’ voices are indistinguishable. While the message about nonstandard forms of beauty is a pertinent one, the heavy-handed treatment becomes tiresome and predictable. This tome may only appeal to teens who are expressly interested in Banks’s efforts to redefine beauty.–Lynn Rashid, Marriotts Ridge High School, Marriottsville, MD

BENNARDO, Charlotte & Natalie Zaman. Sirenz. 270p. Flux. 2011. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-0-7387-2319-8; ebook $9.95. ISBN 978-0-7387-2968-8. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8 Up–Seniors Meg and Shar, unwilling roommates at a boarding school in New York City, make a deal with Hades and end up way over their heads. In a sequence of events that teeters between being ridiculous and horrific, the girls accidentally push an attractive new acquaintance in front of a train while they are fighting over a pair of shoes. Luckily (or unluckily), Hades pops up, dapper and chatty, and offers to restore Jeremy (he’s been “sliced in half”) if they work for him as Sirens and lure a reclusive fashion designer into the Underworld. They agree, and he gives them special powers, not mentioning that each time they use one they will transform slightly into the bird-women of legend. As the teens try to fulfill their contract by the deadline, other meddlesome deities make cameo appearances. Filled with outrageous, campy humor, Sirenz is mostly a fun romp for readers interested in shopping and fashion, though Hades’s openly lascivious interest in Shar crosses the line into creepy.–Eliza Langhans, Hatfield Public Library, MA

BLAKE, Kendare. Anna Dressed in Blood. 316p. Tor. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-7653-2865-6; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4299-8281-8. LC number unavailable.
Gr 10 Up–Theseus Cassio Lowood is a legacy ghost killer. He inherited his gift and his weapon, an athame, from his father, who was killed and devoured by a ghost when Cas was seven. The teen and his mother, a white witch, are constantly on the move following leads to unquiet spirits wreaking havoc on the innocent. After the killing with which the book opens, Cas and his mom head to Thunder Bay, Ontario, on the trail of a particularly violent ghoul nicknamed “Anna Dressed in Blood.” Here, he finds friendship as well as his ghost. Just when readers think they’ve reached the denouement, Blake propels the plot in new and unexpected directions. The novel is a love story, a high-school buddy story, a story of revenge and tragedy, and a bildungsroman. The language is typical-teenage-coarse, and it is totally in keeping with the realities of adolescent speech. The violence is fittingly disgusting and not for the weak of stomach. The relationships among the characters, including Cas and his mother, are multidimensional and satisfying.–Nina Sachs, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME

BOOK WISH FOUNDATION. What You Wish For: A Book for Darfur. 272p. Putnam. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0399-25454-3. LC number unavailable.
Gr 5-10–The 18 stories and poems in this anthology by an all-star cast of writers are about the wishes, hopes, and dreams of young people. They range from realistic fiction with yearnings for family, friends, and fitting in, to retellings of fairy tales. Nate Powell’s “Conjurers” is in graphic-novel format, and Ann M. Martin’s “The Lost Art of Letter Writing” is an epistolary tale. Proceeds from the book will help fund libraries in refugee camps in Darfur. None of the stories is set in that region, though John Green’s poignant “Reasons” focuses on a middle-school boy’s obsession with Aisha, a Kashmiri orphan whom his mother sponsors through a Save the Children-type relief organization. This is a quality collection of writings by well-known and respected YA and adult authors.–Patricia N. McClune, Conestoga Valley High School, Lancaster, PA

BOWLER, Tim. Buried Thunder. 216p. CIP. Holiday House. 2011. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8234-2397-2. LC 2011005025.
Gr 7-10–Maya Munroe’s family has just bought a quaint inn in the small village of Hembury. While her parents and brother are excited about the move, Maya is filled with an inexplicable sense of dread. She is afraid of her new bedroom, and in the forest abutting the village she finds three dead bodies that no one else can see. Strange noises at night, half-wild teens, and a mysterious fox drive her to irrational behavior. Something is wrong in Hembury and Maya knows that death is coming, but can she do anything about it? Unfortunately the mystery at the center of the story is just not that compelling. Throughout the narrative, the author hints at supernatural causes but in the end everything is explained in mundane terms. Too much needs to be explicitly revealed to the main characters–and to readers–for the story to make sense. And too much (Maya’s “psychic” abilities, the fox, strange figures carved on trees, the meaning of the title, etc.) is never explained at all. A disappointing offering from Bowler.–Anthony C. Doyle, Livingston High School, CA

BOYCE, Frank Cottrell. The Unforgotten Coat. photos by Carl Hunter and Clare Heney. 96p. CIP. Candlewick. 2011. RTE $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5729-1. LC 2010048224.
Gr 5-7–It’s the end of sixth grade, and all Julie can think about is makeup and boys. Things change when two oddly dressed brothers show up at school. Even though it’s hot outside, they wear identical fur-lined coats and claim to be Mongolian nomads. Chingis is cheeky to the teacher, demanding in no uncertain terms that his younger brother, Nergui, stay in the class with him for protection. The boys single out Julie to be their Good Guide. She takes her title seriously–she shows them how to dress and act and researches Mongolian history to share with the class. She’s hoping that all this helpfulness will translate into an invitation to their home–she is sure it is filled with exotic silks and samovars. As Julie gets to know the brothers, she discovers that their life isn’t as romantic as she imagined. They are fearful and evasive, believing that a demon is trying to make them vanish. Nergui isn’t even the younger boy’s real name–it means “no one,” and he uses it to confuse the demon. When the boys disappear from school, Julie decides to follow them, using the images in Chingis’s photos to guide her to their whereabouts. This story stems from the author’s encounter with a young deportee, a Mongolian girl. Although the novel deals with the serious subject of illegal immigration, Boyce’s dialogue is warm and humorous, keeping the book engaging. Chingis’s mysterious Polaroids, displayed throughout the book, make for an intriguing format. Julie narrates the story as an adult, looking back, but an unusual ending gives it a contemporary, touching twist.–Diane McCabe, Loyola Village Elementary School, Los Angeles

BRENNAN, Sarah Rees. The Demon’s Surrender. Bk. 3. 388p. (The Demon’s Lexicon Trilogy). CIP. S & S/Margaret K. McElderry Bks. 2011. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-6383-7; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-2393-0. LC number unavailable.
Gr 9 Up–The Ryves brothers–charismatic, bookish Alan and brooding heartthrob Nick–are back for the closing volume of Brennan’s urban fantasy trilogy. This time the narrative centers on Sin, dancing diva of the Goblin Market, who contends for Market leadership with Mae, a “tourist” (i.e., outsider). Meanwhile, the villainous magicians are torturing Alan in an attempt to gain control over Nick. The Demon’s Lexicon (2009) focused on Nick and his complex relationship with Alan; The Demon’s Covenant (2010, both S & S) did the same for Mae and her wizard brother, Jamie. Unfortunately, Sin pales in comparison with the previous protagonists. Frankly, she is not an appealing character. Her actions and inner thoughts can often be trite and superficial. In the competition for Goblin Market supremacy, many readers will root for likable Mae over Sin. However, Brennan’s skilled plotting and evocative setting win out in the end. Fans of Jonathan Stroud’s “Bartimaeus” series (Hyperion) will enjoy the witty dialogue and the fast-paced plot. To appreciate the finely drawn dynamics among Nick, Alan, Mae, and Jamie, teens should read the previous titles before tackling The Demon’s Surrender. –Sam Bloom, Groesbeck Branch Library, Cincinnati, OH

BREWER, Heather. First Kill. Bk. 1. 310p. (The Slayer Chronicles). CIP. Dial. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-837-3741-9. LC 2011006061.
Gr 6-8–When he was 10, Joss witnessed the murder of his 6-year-old sister. His parents and the authorities believe it was the random act of a criminal, but he knows that Cecile was targeted, and that the murderer is a vampire. Now 13, Joss wants revenge. He spends the summer with his eccentric Uncle Abraham, who runs a secret training camp for vampire slayers, training to be one. While the story has potential, it never takes off. First, characterizations are inconsistent. Second, several events lack conviction. While training, Joss is whipped, punched, and thrown. Outsiders, even the EMTs, believe the repeated excuse that his injuries are the result of encounters with mountain lions. When Joss discovers the true identity of the camp’s medic/chef, he still tries to rationalize away his discovery.–Jennifer Prince, Buncombe County Public Library, NC

BURTENSHAW, Jenna. Shadowcry. 312p. CIP. Greenwillow. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-202642-2. LC 2010025823.
Gr 7 Up–Ten years after the last time the wardens came through their town and stole away everyone who might be useful in the war, including her parents, 14-year-old Kate Winters lives with her uncle running the family bookstore. Now rumors arise that the wardens are again on the move. Before they have a chance to escape, it is discovered that Kate is the last of her family who holds the power of the Skilled, making her a prime target for the wardens. Unfortunately, the heroine has power but little savvy, and her willingness to be influenced by friend and foe alike doesn’t win her much reader sympathy. Silas, the villain, is easily the most interesting character and isn’t well utilized. The opening chapter, with all its dark creepiness, is the best part of the novel, but long, meandering descriptive passages and lackluster dialogue don’t live up to a promising beginning. Skip this one and recommend John Flanagan’s “Ranger’s Apprentice” (Philomel) or Tamora Pierce’s “Beka Cooper” series (Random).–Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK

CARMAN, Patrick. Floors. Bk. 1. 261p. Scholastic. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-25519-6. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-6–Designed and built by Merganzer D. Whippet, duck-obsessed billionaire inventor, and filled with secret rooms and wacky inventions (some dangerous), the Whippet Hotel in New York is a place unlike any other. Only the most elite and eccentric dare stay there. It is the only home that Leo, the 10-year-old son of the maintenance man, has ever known. Lately, something is amiss. Merganzer has disappeared without a trace, and the hotel is falling apart. Is someone trying to sabotage it, or is there some other reason that everything seems to be breaking down at once? Following a series of mysterious clues left in boxes he comes upon, leading him to even more mysterious hidden rooms, Leo uncovers the truth, and he learns he is much more important to the hotel’s future than he could have imagined. This story will tug at the imagination of any readers with a healthy appetite for adventure. Even reluctant readers will delight in Leo’s escapades.–Alissa J. LeMerise, Oxford Public Library, MI

CARMAN, Patrick. Things That Go Bump in the Night. 162p. (3:15 Season One). Scholastic. 2011. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-545-38475-9. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-6–In this chilling new series, 3:15 is a “place where spooky stories find a home.” Readers will experience 10 terrifying tales in three parts: a fearsome audio introduction, several pages of spooky text, and a spine-chilling video conclusion accessible online or through a free downloadable mobile app–all in 15 minutes or less. Each story contains a cliff-hanger that includes a password unlocking its ending. Readers meet Cody Miller, whose greediness leads to an ominous mistake involving a man with a hook as a hand; Emma Franklin, who learns that not all childhood tears are foolish; and Dylan Smith, who should know better than to show off his snowboarding skills on a haunted mountain. The other stories range from a mirror with diabolical powers to a cannibalistic teacher, horrific ghosts, deathly gargoyles, gruesome monsters with claws, and giant atomic ants. The selections are filled with light suspense, encouraging readers to watch the endings. While this is a great multimedia experience, readers without access to the Internet or mobile applications will not be able to experience the stories’ conclusions. For those who do have access, it’s a first purchase.–Krista Welz, North Bergen Public Library, NJ

CARTER, Ally. Uncommon Criminals. Bk. 2. 304p. (A Heist Society Novel). CIP. Hyperion/Disney. 2011. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-4795-4; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-4809-8. LC 2011006793.
Gr 7-10–After robbing the most secure museum in the world, Katrina Bishop, 15, has a reputation as a top thief. Unsure of what she wants to do with her talent, she has been avoiding family heists and striking out on her own to return priceless art to its rightful owners. When she is approached, however, about stealing the infamous Cleopatra Emerald, she finds herself tricked and her uncle’s reasons for forbidding anyone to steal the precious gem coming to light. This is an exciting, entertaining read with a fast-moving plot, a spot of romance, and a strong and smart female protagonist. Readers will hope for another heist from Kat.–Clare A. Dombrowski, Amesbury Public Library, MA

CASTAN, Mike. The Price of Loyalty. 150p. CIP. Holiday House. 2011. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-0-8234-2268-5. LC 2010024065.
Gr 7-9–Transitioning to a big middle school can be hard, but Manny has his friends from elementary school with him. He lives with his “American Abuela” in the urban city of Orbe Nuevo, gets good grades, and stays out of trouble. During the first weeks of school, Manny and his friends hang out together and other kids start calling them a gang. The boys like what they hear and they decide to call themselves the “Conquistadors,” a Latino-only gang. An innocent beginning soon turns into a daily struggle for Manny as he tackles maintaining a gang image while still staying out of trouble. Loyalty to his friends is the priority and being a “rat” is to be avoided at all costs. Life gets more complicated when the gang starts using drugs and alcohol and turns violent. Two boys get seriously injured and Manny struggles with deciding whether or not to tell the truth about what happened. A short cautionary tale with simple prose, this book will speak to kids who have had to make difficult decisions about friendship and loyalty versus doing what is right. While it may appeal mainly to urban Latino readers, it delivers a good message.–Mindy Whipple, West Jordan Library, UT

CASTLE, Jennifer. The Beginning of After. 425p. HarperCollins. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-198579-9; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-209320-2. LC number unavailable.
Gr 7-10–Laurel is home doing her French homework while her parents and brother go out for dessert with the neighbors. A car accident kills everyone except the driver, her neighbor. Laurel’s grieving is complicated by not knowing if the accident was the driver’s fault (he had been drinking), and by a strained and complicated relationship with David, his son, who was not in the car either. With his mother dead and his father in a coma, David runs away and Laurel is left caring for his dog. Her grandmother moves in, and the story follows Laurel as she makes her way through senior year. Castle has created a strong and independent girl. Laurel struggles through a crisis even as she deals with more-typical teen problems. Two boys are love interests, but they are never Laurel’s sole focus. She has her art; her college applications; a new job; and, most of all, her grief to deal with. Castle gives her a solid support system–a loving grandmother; an understanding guidance counselor; a sweet best friend; and a stereotypical, but well-intentioned, therapist. Perhaps all this support is why she copes so well. In fact, Laurel copes almost unbelievably well, breaking down and crying only a time or two throughout the entire 400 pages. The pace is slow, but the detailed writing and smart, realistically cool characters will be appealing to many girls. Offer this to teens who are waiting for the next Sarah Dessen book.–Geri Diorio, Ridgefield Library, CT

DAVIES, Stephen. Outlaw. 290p. Clarion. Nov. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-39017-8. LC number unavailable.
Gr 5-8–Jake Knight, 15, is trapped in a stifling British boarding school while his sister gets to live in exotic Burkina Faso with their mother and father, who is the British ambassador. Then Jake gets caught breaking into a prison while playing a 21st-century version of a child’s game that involves using GPS and is kicked out of school. What starts off as a promising vacation in West Africa goes violently awry when he and his sister are kidnapped by the alleged outlaw Yakuuba Sor. As they are staring down the barrel of a gun, they are saved by some young men and taken to the real Yakuuba Sor, an 18-year-old African Robin Hood. Jake soon realizes he is caught up in a deadly plot to bring the wrath of the British Empire down on this unsuspecting contemporary folk hero. Outlaw moves at a strikingly quick pace yet is not without humor. There are a number of high-tech elements, all explained in a way as to make them believable for the resources available in the desert. Davies alludes to corruption and a social system that favors the rich without any lengthy asides to detract from the story, making it subtly educational. This thriller is a great way to get readers hooked while introducing them to the issues affecting contemporary Africa.–Devin Burritt, Jackson Memorial Library, Tenants Harbor, ME

DAVIS, Heather. Wherever You Go. 312p. Web sites. Houghton Harcourt. Nov. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-50151-2; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-67767-5. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8 Up–Dealing with grief and overwhelming family responsibilities are themes blended with the sort of paranormal characters that populate Gayle Forman’s If I Stay (Dutton, 2009), Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones (Little, Brown, 2002), and the 1990 movie Ghost. When Rob’s car goes airborne while he’s driving his girlfriend home after a party, Holly ends up in the hospital, and he ends up dead–but not gone. His best friend, Jason, can’t see him; his family can’t see him; and Holly can’t see him. He doesn’t understand why he’s stuck on Earth. Finally, when Holly’s Alzheimer’s-addled grandfather moves in, Rob registers on someone’s radar. Too bad Aldo’s rapid Italian mutterings to Roberto seem to Holly like just another facet of the disease that forced him to move in. She’s just trying to cope with losing Rob and taking care of her nine-year-old sister while her mom works two jobs when Aldo becomes yet another burden piled on her young shoulders. Slowly, Jason reaches out to Holly, even pitching in with her family duties and helping Aldo revisit his precious memories. Rob punctuates the narrative of Holly’s growing trust and affection for Jason in talks with Aldo about how to move on, by observation of his family’s counseling sessions, and yes, through some jealousy as he watches his best friend and girlfriend fall in love. This tale is a comfortable read for those who want more than a pink-covered romance or a melodramatic story of loss, neither cotton-candy light nor three-hankie dark.–Suzanne Gordon, Lanier High School, Sugar Hill, GA

DELSOL, Wendy. Frost. 376p. Candlewick. 2011. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5386-6; ebook $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5616-4. LC number unavailable.
Gr 7 Up–This modern-day retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s “Snow Queen” picks up where it left off in Stork (Candlewick, 2010), with plenty of backstory included. Kat is adjusting to her membership in the ancient Stork society that delivers souls and is still enamored with her boyfriend, Jack, descended from Jack Frost, who can control the weather. Together, their powers often have disastrous results, like an out-of-control snowstorm on Christmas Eve. The storm catches the attention of Brigid, a beautiful foreign researcher, who takes an unusual interest in Jack. Kat is suspicious of his obsession with her but is caught up in her role in the school play, managing her Stork responsibilities, and taking care of her pregnant mom. However, when Brigid takes Jack to Greenland for a field study and they go missing, Kat risks everything to save the boy she loves. The continued growth of bold and determined Kat is endearing as she develops her life-giving Stork abilities while still being a fashion-focused teenager in a small Minnesota town. The underlying themes of culture and heritage affecting the present and the motivating and empowering nature of love, even in impossible situations, complement the quick-moving plot and beautifully drawn settings of Minnesota, Greenland, and Iceland. Frost sustains the momentum of the first book and effectively sets the stage for the final installment in the trilogy.–Elizabeth C. Johnson, Fort Vancouver Regional Library, WA

DOWNHAM, Jenny. You Against Me. 416p. Random/David Fickling Bks. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-385-75160-5; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-385-75161-2; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98938-4. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8 Up–Mikey’s life is a juggling act: Mum spends her days and nights with cheap sherry, seven-year-old sister Holly needs help getting to school each day, and Mikey is working at a menial job that offers the hope of a tantalizing career. He faces further complications when his 15-year-old sister, Karyn, completely withdraws, suffering the devastating aftermath of a rape by Tom Parker. Ellie Parker has always been a quiet little nerd until she witnesses her brother’s brutal sexual assault of her classmate. The pressure from her family to protect Tom at all costs has forced her into the position of fabricating a statement to the police about what she knows. For both Mikey and Ellie, the balancing act of their personal lives becomes more precarious when they meet. They are drawn to each other but are torn between family solidarity, an inability to trust any member of the enemy’s family, and the feelings of their hearts. Downham brilliantly captures the struggle of these two star-crossed lovers as they navigate the stormy waters of family loyalty, social workers and legal systems, job and school. With touching honesty, she brings her characters to life in this poignant story of love and choice. Mesmerizing.–Barbara M. Moon, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY

DUDLEY, David L. Caleb’s Wars. 264p. Clarion. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-23997-2. LC number unavailable.
Gr 7-10–In 1944 rural Georgia, 15-year-old Caleb has been taught to step off the sidewalk whenever white folks approach and not to talk back to a white person of any age. His older brother enlists to fight the Nazis and is relegated to an all-black unit supervised by white officers. When Caleb’s father beats him one time too many, Caleb approaches Mr. Davis about work. The plantation owner has pulled some strings to get German POWs incarcerated close by, so he has all the field help he needs, but he offers Caleb a dishwashing job in his Dixie Belle Café. Then he decides to bring one of the POWs in to the Dixie Belle to help out in the kitchen. Over time, the soldier proves to be a quiet, steady worker, and slowly he and Caleb develop a friendship. When Caleb’s parents get news that their older son has been injured and taken prisoner, he feels guilty about the relationship: How can he be civil to a person who represents the enemy? His confusion grows when he sees several POWs eating at the Dixie Belle: even though the townspeople detest them, the color of their skin allows them to be served. Furious, Caleb sits down, leading to a confrontation with Mr. Davis that provides no easy answers, but hints that his battles are just beginning. Caleb is compelling and believable, and Dudley’s rich writing is impressive, clearly showing the various wars black Americans were fighting in the 1940s, both abroad and closer to home.–Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA

EDWARDSON, Debby Dahl. My Name Is Not Easy. 248p. Marshall Cavendish. 2011. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-0-7614-5980-4; ebook $17.99. ISBN 978-0-7614-6091-6. LC number unavailable.
Gr 7 Up–Prior to the Molly Hootch Act of 1976, which required Alaska to build and staff high schools in even the smallest of the rural villages, children who wished to continue their education beyond what was offered in their communities traveled to BIA or church-supported boarding schools in the lower 48 or more populated parts of Alaska. Luke’s Inupiaq experience of leaving his home near the Arctic Circle in 1960 to journey with his two younger brothers to the Catholic sponsored Sacred Heart School is based in large part on Edwardson’s husband’s memories of boarding school. The author unflinchingly explores both the positive and negative aspects of being away from home at such a young age. Nothing is familiar to Luke and his fellow students; the terrain, the food, the language are strange, and their struggle with feelings of homesickness and alienation is heart-wrenching. Edwardson’s skillful use of dialogue and her descriptions of rural Alaska as well as boarding-school life invoke a strong sense of empathy and compassion in readers as they experience Luke’s emotions along with him. It is rare that an author can write about a controversial subject such as this without prejudice. Edwardson is to be applauded for her depth of research and her ability to portray all sides of the equation in a fair and balanced manner while still creating a very enjoyable read.–Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK

ELDRIDGE, Jim. Jungle Kill. Bk. 1. 192p. (Black Ops). Egmont UK, dist. by IGP. 2011. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-1-4052-4780-1. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6 Up–After being released from the military for killing his commanding officer, Paul Mitchell is recruited by Special Forces: Delta Unit commander Charles Nelson for an undercover mission to rescue a West African politician kidnapped by African rebels. Mitch and Nelson, along with the other four members of unit, are dropped into the Nigerian jungle where they interrupt a terrorist raid on a local village. After killing the rebels in charge of the attack, the local villagers befriend the members of Delta Force and show them the rebels’ hideout, where Joseph Mwanga is being held for ransom. After successfully rescuing him, Mitch and Two Moons, another member of Delta Force, stay behind to defend two of the villagers captured in the attack. The villagers are rescued but Mitch and Two Moons are captured. Nelson and his team come back to rescue them after Mitch kills the rebel leader. Deep literature this isn’t, but boys will devour the testosterone-filled, nonstop action and page-turning suspense of this cinematiclike read. Caution: there’s enough violent imagery to denote a warning of “graphic scenes of warfare” and just enough Briticisms that American readers might be confused by the vocabulary. More may be coming; this reads like the first in a series.–H. H. Henderson, Heritage Middle School, Deltona, FL

ELLIOTT, Patricia. The Traitor’s Smile. 304p. chron. Holiday House. 2011. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-0-8234-2361-3. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8 Up–In this sequel to The Pale Assassin (Holiday House, 2009), aristocratic teenager Eugenie de Boncoeur arrives safely in England after fleeing the horrors of the French Revolution. She is quickly assimilated into upper-class British life with her uncle and cousin Hetta; mopes over her royalist brother, imprisoned in Paris; and hesitates between two potential suitors. This tedium ends only when, halfway through the story, Eugenie (finally) realizes that one beau is a scoundrel, and then finds herself unexpectedly back in France with Hetta, thanks to an escapade in a hot-air balloon. Unfortunately, most characters (particularly Hetta) are underdeveloped, and the plot is highly implausible; too many coincidences, and too much foolish behavior by one or both girls, advance the story. Elliott scatters numerous untranslated French words and phrases throughout and fails to define unfamiliar English terms as well. Sally Gardner’s The Red Necklace (2008) and The Silver Blade (2009, both Dial) are vastly superior treatments of the Revolution, evocatively re-creating the atmosphere of that era in a blend of history and magic.–Ann W. Moore, Schenectady County Public Library, NY

ESTEP, Jennifer. Touch of Frost. Bk. 1. 372p. (A Mythos Academy Novel). Kensington. 2011. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-0-7582-6692-7; ebook $8.50. ISBN 978-0-7582-7260-7. LC number unavailable.
Gr 9 Up–Gypsy teen Gwen Frost feels that she is the least powerful student at Mythos Academy in Asheville, NC. She is surrounded by Valkyries, Spartans, Trojans, Ninjas, and Amazons, but her fighting skills are seriously limited and her magical abilities consist of psychometry–the ability to touch an object and know its history. When Gwen finds the most popular girl in her class dead in the library, however, she is determined to use her powers to discover the truth about the murder. Along the way, she gets to know bad boy Logan Quinn and Daphne Cruz, a computer-savvy Valkyrie with a crush on a band geek. She also learns that the mythical forces she scoffed at when she first came to the academy are more real than she could have imagined. While the plot is fairly predictable and the writing never rises to excellence, teens are likely to enjoy this book, which feels like a cross between Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy (Penguin, 2007) and Rick Riordan’s “Percy Jackson” series (Hyperion). Gwen’s Gypsy heritage appears to have little to do with Romani history or culture, and the rich background of the mythological characters mentioned in the book is never fully explored. Readers searching for books that explore classical mythology in a modern setting may be disappointed, but those looking for a paranormal story with a little mystery, a little action, and a little romance will eagerly embrace this book.–Misti Tidman, Licking County Library, Newark, OH

EVANS, Richard Paul. Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25. 336p. S & S/Pulse/Mercury Ink. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4516-6183-5; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4516-5822-4. LC number unavailable.
Gr 5-9–Michael Vey, 14, has problems. Not only does he suffer from Tourette’s syndrome, but he also has electricity coursing through his body. He can shock people without rubbing his feet on the carpet; he can jump-start his mother’s car by holding the battery connectors and “surging,” and he can knock bullies who attack him off their feet. Michael and his mother have moved to Idaho because there was an “incident” in his former town, and now he discovers that the prettiest girl in his new school has powers, too. Taylor can read people’s minds. Ostin, Michael’s best friend, doesn’t have powers, but he is wicked smart and helps them to figure out that there is more to the mystery than the fact that they were born in the same hospital within days of each other. Soon there is a terrifying adventure afoot when they are captured and introduced to others with powers who, under the lead of the sinister Hitch, have kidnapped Michael’s mother and have evil plans for the world. The dialogue and interactions among the teens seem more like they belong in the 1950s rather than today, but the fast-paced action and cool powers will probably outweigh any negatives.–Jake Pettit, Thompson Valley High School, Loveland, CO

50 CENT. Playground: A Mostly True Story of a Former Bully. with Laura Moser. 272p. Penguin/Razorbill. Nov. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-59514-434-8. LC number unavailable.
Gr 7 Up–After clobbering his former best friend with a sock full of batteries, “Butterball” thinks he’ll finally get the respect he deserves from his middle-school classmates. But this is just a front for the overweight eighth grader who in therapy sessions slowly reveals his true struggles as a child of divorce recently transplanted from the city to the suburbs, trying to fit in at school and make sense of his overworked mother’s new relationship. He eats lunch alone in a bathroom stall at school and has little support from mom, her ever-present female “friend,” and a verbally abusive father, who wrongfully teaches him that violence will gain respect. This first YA novel from rapper 50 Cent clearly portrays the life of a maligned middle-schooler vulnerable to the negative messages he receives from peers and his father that inevitably lead to some bad choices. The occasionally raw language is perfectly in keeping with the character. The narrative follows a predictable plot, but offers an observant and aware character often brimming with deep insight, who luckily has an outlet in amateur filmmaking and movies.–Shawna Sherman, Hayward Public Library, CA

FLAVIN, Teresa. The Blackhope Enigma. 304p. CIP. Candlewick/Templar. 2011. RTE $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5694-2. LC 2010047654.
Gr 4-7–This novel presents the intriguing premise that because of a 16tth- century artist’s exploration of the magical arts, a person can physically enter one of Corvo’s paintings. Sunni, 14, and her younger stepbrother, Dean, accidentally enter one such painting when they visit Blackhope Tower and walk a labyrinth in Mariner’s Champer. They are followed by Sunni’s friend Blaise, who wants to rescue them. The children travel through various layers, looking for a way back to the real world. The outer layer is completely dead, with no movement or speech, just what the world sees when the painting is viewed. However, as the children travel along, they meet several nefarious characters as well as some helpful ones. No rules apply in the painting’s world: a talented artist with the assistance of some sorcery can draw someone’s picture, trapping him within it; invisible monsters stalk the labyrinth; boats magically appear to offer aid; and an artist can hide his other magical paintings so that they are inaccessible to villains. The unusual premise is quite involving. Granted, some characters are a bit two-dimensional but many fairly jump off the pages. Recommended for lovers of mythology and monsters, mystery and magic.–B. Allison Gray, Goleta Public Library, CA

FREITAS, Donna. The Survival Kit. 352p. Farrar/Frances Foster Bks. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-374-39917-7; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4668-0004-5. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8 Up–Rose’s mother died in June, and now, as she starts her junior year, she wonders how she will get through each day. She can’t bear to listen to music, she’s dropped out of cheerleading, and watching her boyfriend on the football field brings back only sad memories. Her father has turned to alcohol, and her brother is away at college. Still, she does have her best friend, Krupa, the encouragement of her friends from cheerleading, and the seemingly unremarkable, yet poignant treasures left by her mother in Rose’s Survival Kit. This story takes some familiar turns: Rose’s boyfriend won’t or can’t wait for her to grieve, the quiet boy she overlooks turns out to have still waters running deep, a relative blows into town with a lot of bluster but turns out to have a caring heart. After a winter of watching hockey, dealing with the snow, and trying to keep her father sober, romance blossoms amid the tragedy as Rose uses the tools in the Survival Kit, support from her family and friends, and the passage of time to make her way forward with a lighter heart and the sense that joy and happiness can again be a part of her life. Suggest this one to students weary of werewolves and looking for a heartfelt (though a bit predictable) story of loss and love.–Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX

GARVEY, Amy. Cold Kiss. 304p. CIP. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-199622-1; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-210335-2. LC 2010040421.
Gr 9 Up–When her boyfriend dies in a car accident, Wren is so inconsolable that she uses her budding supernatural gifts to raise Danny from the dead. He waits patiently for her nightly visits to their little nest in the loft above her neighbor’s garage, and she endures his cold kiss. Wren slowly realizes that she made a mistake, and that the boy she loved is gone though his reanimated body remains. Then Gabriel arrives at school, and he seems to know more about Wren’s mysterious powers than she does. She feels an undeniable attraction to Gabriel, who can see into her mind, where he discovers what she’s done. Danny, meanwhile, grows restless as he remembers more about the night he died, and he escapes from the garage to find answers. Suddenly, he’s more than a gruesome secret–he’s a danger to Wren and Gabriel. Because he is already undead at the beginning of the book, and the courtship is relayed through Wren’s memories, readers miss out on many of the qualities that made the prickly teen fall so hard for Danny, and the narrative lacks emotional intensity. Nonetheless, this novel succeeds on many levels, especially as a cautionary tale about the all-consuming power of first love and the need to move on after it ends.–Amy Pickett, Ridley High School, Folsom, PA

GEORGE, Jessica Day. Tuesdays at the Castle. 232p. Bloomsbury. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59990-644-7. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-8–Princess Celie has been trying to map out the rooms in her beloved Castle Glower. The difficulty is that it whimsically manufactures, alters, and moves its rooms around whenever it deems necessary. It has chosen the kings of Sleyne, including Celie’s father, King Glower the 79th, and his heir, Celie’s brother Rolf. Everyone finds the meddling castle delightful and proper until the king and queen are ambushed and presumed dead. Now it seems that the Royal Council has treason in mind as it threatens Rolf, Celie, and their sister, Lilah. Celie relies on Castle Glower’s affectionate interference to help them quash the cabal and reinstate the rightful rulers. Castle Glower is the true star of this charming story of court intrigue and magic. A satisfying mix of Hogwarts and Howl’s Moving Castle (Greenwillow, 1986), Castle Glower helps its true citizens, but never at the expense of plot or character development. Celie and her siblings have to display courage in order to deserve its help. Celie’s escapades keep the action moving briskly. Adventure stories fans will enjoy this as much as children who wear their wizard cloaks proudly. It is a good for those not quite ready for Gail Carson Levine’s Ella Enchanted (HarperCollins, 1997) or Shannon Hale’s Princess Academy (Bloomsbury, 2005). Most libraries will want to add Tuesdays to their fantasy collections. While the story stands alone, it is the first in a new series.–Caitlin Augusta, Stratford Library Association, CT

GERVAY, Susanne. Butterflies. 256p. Kane/Miller. 2011. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-1-61067-043-2. LC 2010941662.
Gr 7 Up–High school is hard enough for teens who look normal, but for Katherine, who fell into a fire when she was three years old and endured 37 surgeries to repair the damage, it’s even worse. She is getting ready to graduate and seeking independence, but she is self-conscious about her appearance. She is sensitive to the fact that Mum, who tells her she is beautiful, tries to give her confidence and works hard to make a living for her and her sister as their father left shortly after the accident. Katherine holds back tears when a classmate makes a rude remark, and a boy whom she dates a couple of times withdraws. Even though she is needy at times, her best friend is always supportive. Katherine is a swimmer, but when the coach recommends that she compete in the Paralympic Games, she realizes that others see her as handicapped instead of scarred, and she pushes for more surgery. Whenever readers think that Katherine is moving forward and accepting herself, she has a setback; she refers to herself the Beast. Readers will wait for the Beast to retreat for good and cheer when it finally does. This hopeful, heartfelt novel will give teens an understanding of what it means to have a reason to be self-conscious. Librarians won’t be able to keep it on the shelf.–Karen Alexander, Lake Fenton High School, Linden, MI

GIFF, Patricia Reilly. R My Name Is Rachel. 176p. CIP. Random/Wendy Lamb Bks. 2011. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-375-83889-7; PLB $18.99. ISBN 978-0-375-93889-4; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98389-4. LC 2011004303.
Gr 4-7–The 1930s Depression is chipping away more and more at the average American family, and 12-year-old Rachel’s is no different from the others. Her father, a single parent, loses his job at the bank and relocates the family from the city to a dilapidated farmhouse in upstate New York. A snowstorm prevents Pop from getting to a bank interview in their town. Rachel and her younger siblings, Cassie and Joey, must fend for themselves when he leaves them for a time to take work building roads farther north. Rachel is extremely disappointed that the school and library are closed because of hard times, and the farm is isolated. Still, the siblings are determined to make a go of it. Rachel’s correspondence with her friend Miss Mitzi, who owns the flower shop on her old city block, gives her strength and encouragement. When Cassie loses the money Pop had left for them to buy food and pay rent, she runs away, giving rise to the well-calculated suspense and pathos of the story. Giff’s depiction of the children’s living conditions, daily activities, and fears and triumphs create a realistic, discussable, thoroughly enjoyable read. The ending is almost too perfectly “happy ever after” yet that is easy to overlook, given this gift to readers, even reluctant ones.–D. Maria LaRocco, Cuyahoga Public Library, Strongsville, OH

GOLDING, Julia. The Glass Swallow. 304p. CIP. Marshall Cavendish. 2011. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-0-7614-5979-8. LC 2010035253.
Gr 8 Up–Rain Glassmaker, 15, is a brilliant stained-glass designer but must keep her talent a secret due to guild rules prohibiting the work of women. Her doting father permits her to travel to a foreign land to design windows and forge business connections. Unfortunately, her caravan is attacked and Rain is the only survivor, left alone in an inhospitable country rigidly locked into a caste system that has brought the economy to the brink of disaster. After enduring months of servitude, Rain takes shelter with a family of unclean scavengers when the economy collapses. A romance begins with Peri, a falconer disgusted by the excess of the rich ruling class and concerned only with the survival of his family. Rain’s artistic vision, born from pulling glass shards together into a beautiful whole, allows her to see how the fragmented society must pull itself together to heal. Her spunk and initiative bring the disparate groups together in a satisfying conclusion. This gentle fantasy is a quick, fun read that tackles economic and social issues with a light touch.–Caroline Tesauro, Radford Public Library, VA

GOODE, Laura. Sister Mischief. 364p. Candlewick. 2011. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-4640-0; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5464-1. LC 2010038706.
Gr 9 Up–Told from the perspective of Esme Rockett, this novel follows the teen and her friends as they coalesce as Sister Mischief, an all-girl hip-hop group, and depicts Esme’s first same-sex relationship. Esme and her girlfriends and bandmates Marcy (DJ SheStorm), Tess (The ConTessa), and Rowie (MC Rohini) have always felt out of place in their small, conservative Minnesota town and, as outcasts, are often the target of the popular students’ ridicule. When the girls petition to form a hip-hop gay-straight alliance, they face more derision and even opposition from the administration, but find strength in the community. The narrative voice is peppered with hip-hop slang and often achieves a kind of poetic effect, particularly as Esme describes her encounters with and admiration for her lover, Rowie. These encounters aren’t explicit, but they are sensual and culminate in questions of identity and living “out” for both Esme and her would-be girlfriend. Goode incorporates the trope of footnotes to document the characters’ text messages and Esme’s spur-of-the-moment scribbling in her journal, and this feature neither adds nor detracts from the greater narrative. The novel is notable for the uncommon credit for critical thought it gives its characters, and their ruminations on hip-hop history, sexism, and social alliances are inspiring, though in some cases (in the proposed student alliance mission statement, for example), they veer into unrealistically academic territory. A nontraditional approach to an uncommon subject, Sister Mischief sets the lesbian coming-of-age narrative within a markedly positive hip-hop culture of the characters’ own creation.–Amy S. Pattee, Simmons College, Boston

GRANT, K. M. Belle’s Song. 300p. chron. Walker. Nov. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8027-2275-1. LC number unavailable.
Gr 7 Up –A medieval, coming-of-age love story with unexpected twists and turns. Grant takes readers on a journey that becomes an action-packed, behind-the-scenes peek at the legendary Canterbury Tales. Belle, 15, feels guilty for having caused an accident that crippled her father, so she is easily persuaded to join the pilgrimage to Canterbury to pray for his healing. She makes many friends along the way, including Chaucer’s scribe, Luke; Walter, a squire who is dashing and kind; and the poet himself. She also makes enemies, most notably the summoner, who is convinced that Chaucer is a spy for the inept King Richard and that Belle is a partner in his scheme. Teens will relate to Belle, who is confused about her feelings for Luke and Walter and struggles with her own idiosyncrasies. This tale is bawdy without being gratuitous and canters along at the pace of a pilgrimage, with enough excitement and interesting characters to keep readers turning the pages. The author’s note reveals much about Chaucer. A light, fun read.–Wendy Scalfaro, G. Ray Bodley High School, Fulton, NY

GURTLER, Janet. If I Tell. 256p. Sourcebooks/Fire. 2011. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4022-6103-9. LC number unavailable.
Gr 7-10–Jasmine has a terrible secret. At a party, she sees her best friend, who is four years older than Jaz, drunkenly kissing her mother’s boyfriend and, to make matters worse, her mom is newly pregnant. Born to a white teenage mother and an absent black father, Jaz has been raised by her grandparents and is coping with the loss of her grandpa, her closet mentor and confidant. Living in Tadita, WA, she feels like the only biracial person in the world. Now her mother’s partner, one of the few African Americans in town, has jeopardized their usually warm relationship. She hesitantly turns to the new boy in town, a reformed drug dealer. As she intermittently faces–and refuses to face–the impending birth of a sibling, Jaz’s anger grows. She shuts out those closest to her and lives in the emotional cocoon she has made for herself since being bullied by her all-white fourth-grade classmates. The story suffers from too many issues brought in and only briefly touched on. Teen pregnancy, racism, alcohol and drug addictions, cheating, sexual abuse, coming out in high school, and even severe postpartum depression all are mentioned. They muddy the focus of the story: how one insecure teen deals with betrayal by two people very close to her. The book uses undeveloped characters to put a face on teen issues, dealing with them in a superficial way and tying up loose ends neatly by the last page.–Karen Elliott, Grafton High School, WI

HAMILTON, Kiki. The Faerie Ring. 348p. Tor. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-7653-2722-2; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4299-8530-7. LC number unavailable.
Gr 7 Up–Tiki, 16, is a pickpocket who lives with a group of other orphans near Charing Cross Station in London. One evening she flees a mark by jumping on the back of a cab, only to fall asleep from exhaustion. Tiki wakes to find herself at a grand house in an unfamiliar part of the city and can’t resist sneaking in, hoping to steal a bit of food. She’s forced to hide in the house’s library from two brothers and finds a ring that one drops when they are called away by their mother. The ring might be worth enough to pay for medicine for little Clara and take all the orphans away from the streets. Tiki learns that this is no ordinary ring but one that binds a truce between the Faerie realms and the royal family. The house she invaded is Buckingham Palace. Both the fey and the royals are eager to get their hands on the ring. Before the story ends, Tiki must decide in whom to place her trust. In this Victorian orphan story with a twist, Hamilton places the conflict between humanity and the Seelie and Unseelie courts in a new time period, neither medieval nor modern. Tiki is an engaging heroine and, while the novel concludes satisfyingly, the door is definitely left open for further tales.–Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids, WI

HANDLER, Daniel. Why We Broke Up. illus. by Maira Kalman. 354p. Little, Brown. Dec. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-316-12725-7; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-316-19458-7. LC number unavailable.
Gr 9 Up–After classic movie aficionado Min Green breaks up with good-looking, popular athlete Ed Slaterton, she dumps a box full of mementos at his doorstep along with a very long “letter.” The letter–the text of this book–explains step by painful step the reasons for the breakup and why their relationship was doomed from the start. Each chapter is introduced with a complementary, full-color painting of a memento, ranging from bottle caps to movie tickets to condom wrappers to rose petals, each representing an important element in the progression of and subsequent decline in their romance. Min’s exposé begins at the end and flashes forward through meeting and falling for Ed, losing her virginity, and realizing that the course of true love rarely follows a Hollywood script. Characters are vivid, and their portrayal is enriched by realistic dialogue. Despite Min’s somewhat distracting tendency to expound on feelings, experiences, and images in a run-on fashion, and that her unusual perceptiveness stretches belief in her voice as that of a high school girl, the story ultimately comes together. Handler offers a heartbreaking, bittersweet, and compelling romance with a unique angle and flare that will satisfy those who immersed themselves in Jandy Nelson’s The Sky Is Everywhere (Dial, 2010).–Diane P. Tuccillo, Poudre River Public Library District, Fort Collins, CO

HARPER, Suzanne. A Gaggle of Goblins. Bk. 1. 304p. (The Unseen World of Poppy Malone Series). CIP. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-199607-8; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-210174-7. LC 2010025558.
Gr 3-6–The daughter of paranormal investigators, Poppy Malone comes face-to-face (or perhaps knee-to-face) with a wily, old gnome in the attic of her new home. Now she thinks she knows what’s causing the general chaos throughout the house in the hours since they moved in–the electricity failing, doors collapsing, and food containers exploding. The premise for this fantasy, set in the steaming heat of a Texas summer, is a good one, but the narrative falls short in its believability, and the characterization of everyone except Poppy is weak. Integral to the story are her three siblings, yet readers learn little about them except for the fact that one is annoying, another lethargic, and the third wayward. Poppy is likable and, for the most part, exhibits the true characteristics of a girl on the cusp of 10 years old. Inexplicably, she continually doubts the solid evidence of a veritable company of gnomes, including numerous sightings and even conversations, despite the fact that her family traipses around the world looking to authenticate the existence of otherworldly creatures. It’s also unbelievable that Poppy never tells her parents about the intruders, even after her incorrigible four-year-old brother is kidnapped by gnomes and replaced with one of their own. The rationale for this: not to upset Mrs. Malone. Poppy’s mother is a professional ghost hunter; would she really be unnerved by a colony of gnomes? Students might be happy to follow Poppy on further adventures, but not before a generous dose of pragmatism makes its way into the story.–Margo Doble Schmidt, Convent of the Sacred Heart, Greenwich, CT

HARRISON, Mette Ivie. Tris & Izzie. 272p. CIP. Egmont USA. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-60684-173-0; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-1-60684-257-7. LC 2010051588.
Gr 7-10–Harrison crafts a modern retelling of the “Tristan and Isolde” story with magic love potions and all. Isolde, Izzie to her friends and family, is dating the “king” of her high school, Mark, and has a BFF, Branna. Everything is going along swimmingly and non-magically, despite the fact that her EMT mom makes potions that she occasionally slips to the patients transported in her ambulance. But all of that changes when Mel Melot brags of having a magical never-empty wine bottle. Suddenly Izzie’s normal life is turned upside down. Now she is “burning” for the new boy, Tristan, and battling slugs and serpents on school grounds. The idea of a retold fairy tale is intriguing, but this offering falls totally flat. A slow buildup is followed by a rushed ending, and the story is filled with unlikable characters, poor narration, and out-of-place dialogue. Mark is drawn as a typical all-American prom king, and Tristan is a pale, brooding antihero. Branna has been pining for Mark for years (of course she has). Libraries are best advised to pass on this one.–Elaine Baran Black, Georgia Public Library Service, Atlanta

HARVEY, Alyxandra. Haunting Violet. 344p. CIP. Walker. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8027-9839-8; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4088-1672-1. LC 2010031077.
Gr 7 Up–This novel is a mixture of mystery and historical fiction, with added bonuses of mediums, ghosts, and teenage love, all set in the backdrop of Victorian society. Violet Willoughby has participated in her medium mother’s fraudulent séances since she was nine. Now 17, she is used to seeing her mother scheme rich widowers and old men out of their savings, and she is skeptical about the supernatural. However, on a visit to the country estate of Lord Jasper, Violet encounters the ghost of a girl her own age who is seeking help. Violet must find out what happened to Rowena, who died the year before, and she must do so quickly, before Rowena’s twin sister suffers the same fate. She turns to Colin, her mother’s assistant and the one boy she’s grown to love, to share her visions. Also, there is a chance that Violet could escape her mother’s wrath by marrying a gentleman of means. This all could be jeopardized if her secret ability is known. With the help of Colin and a friend, she may be able to accept her strange talent, prevent another girl from dying, and save her chances for a future free of lies. Readers will connect with Violet, who is struggling with coming to terms with her self-identity.–Shannon Seglin, Patrick Henry Library, Vienna, VA

HAVARD, Amanda. The Survivors. Bk. 1. 300p. (The Survivors Series). Chafie Pr. 2011. Tr $21.99. ISBN 978-0-9833190-0-9; pap. $11.99. ISBN 978-0-9833190-2-3; ebook $2.99. ISBN 978-0-9833190-1-6. LC 2011922297.
Gr 10 Up–Sadie only wants death. Since fleeing her isolated Montana compound, she has failed to fit in with society. But Sadie isn’t human. She’s a Survivor, a descendant of 14 children accused of witchcraft, exiled, and left for dead 300 years earlier. Somehow, they and their offspring became immortal. Then Sadie encounters Mark Winter, a mysterious young man of superhuman strength and terrifying violence. She knows he is immortal, but not like her. But if he isn’t a Survivor, what is he? Fear and curiosity lead Sadie back to the Montana wilderness where she discovers the horrifying vampiric truth about the Survivors–and about herself. Now she must fight in a deadly vampire war to save humanity and just might find the mortality she seeks. And maybe even love. The first in a series, this title is yet another nail in the coffin of vampire fiction. The writing is overly descriptive, yet lackluster, and packed with clichés. Sadie’s sections are long-winded and morbidly whiny, which may frustrate readers. Overall, this seems like a haphazard hodgepodge of “Twilight” and Ann Rice’s vampire/witch books. For collection development, there are better options.–Alissa J. LeMerise, Oxford Public Library, MI

HODKIN, Michelle. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. 464p. S & S. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-2176-9; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-2178-3. LC number unavailable.
Gr 7 Up–Mara Dyer, 16, and three of her friends were in an abandoned building that collapsed; the friends died, and Mara escaped with no memory of the accident and, other than a bad case of PTSD, no real injuries. Her family moves from Rhode Island to Florida to help her heal, but that doesn’t go very well. Mara is having nightmares and increasingly frequent horrifying hallucinations. Or are they? Her private school is populated with mostly snotty rich kids, with the exception of her one friend, Jamie Roth, and Noah Shaw, a gorgeous guy with a British accent who has both a dangerous attitude and reputation. As Mara tries to figure out whether or not she is crazy or if there is something more to her strange connections to people who have died, she and Noah become closer, causing other students to assume that he is using her like he supposedly used other girls. There is no graphic sex in this book, only some language, and anyone who thinks old-fashioned romantic scenes can’t move teens today will be proven wrong here. This boy will make readers swoon. As her love life heats up, Mara remembers more about the night of the accident and learns more about her abilities. The characters are real and wonderful, and the supernatural story is riveting. While the ending seems a little forced to make the various pieces fit, the final pages leave some mysteries unsolved and hint at a sequel. Expect this book to fly off the shelves.–Jake Pettit, Thompson Valley High School, Loveland, CO

HOFFMAN, Nina Kiriki. Meeting. Bk. 2. 314p. (Magic Next Door Series). CIP. Viking. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-670-01283-1; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-1-101-52934-8. LC 2011003002.
Gr 4-8–Having been accepted into the world of Janus House and its magical inhabitants, Maya Andersen continues to explore their world and her relationship with Rimi, the alien sissimi she bonded with in Thresholds (Viking, 2010). Though Rimi exposes Maya to a wealth of new senses and abilities, the seventh grader still struggles with her limitations and finding her place in the new world that has opened up to her. Questions from prying siblings and meeting strangers with their own secrets (including the proprietor of a comic shop not everyone can see) compound Maya’s inner turmoil, and the number of secrets on her conscience tends to leave her bewildered (a feeling readers unfamiliar with the first book may share). Hoffman’s knack for invention is evident in the worlds and inhabitants accessible through Janus House’s portals, and a gentle magic pervades her writing and the tender friendship between Maya and Rimi.–Christi Esterle, Parker Library, CO

HOLDER, Nancy & Debbie Viguié. Damned. Bk. 2. 544p. (Crusade Trilogy). CIP. S & S/Pulse. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9804-4; pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9805-1; ebook $8.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9809-9. LC 2011005474.
Gr 8 Up–In a cataclysmic present day, the Cursed Ones–vampires–are the epitome of evil, and cities the world over are crumbling under their brutality. A band of specially trained humans led by Jenn Leitner has sworn to hunt and kill them. Then the vampires release a brutal army of scientifically engineered vampire/werewolf/human super-soldiers. Confrontations escalate. With nearly two dozen regularly appearing or referenced characters, the relationships in this action-packed, occasionally violent and bloody story are challenging to keep straight. Who has a crush on whom? Who has a vendetta against whom? Who has what special skill or power? Religion, particularly Catholicism, and witchcraft are themes throughout. Skye, one of the hunters, is a white witch who uses her “magick” to heal and cast nonviolent spells. Father Juan, the priest who trained Jenn’s group, prays. Toward the end of the book, the story turns preachy. Skye tells Father Juan, “But in your world ‘good’–well, that’s a moving target, isn’t it? The Crusades of the Middle Ages–you killed people like Taamir [an Arab hunter] by the hundreds of thousands.” She continues, “In my world things are only good as long as no one is hurt.” Then, to bring Antonio, a would-be priest turned vampire, back from evil, Father Juan“[sets] aside his Christian god” to aid Skye in “Drawing Down the Moon,” a process described at length. The second in the trilogy, this book works as a stand-alone.–Jennifer Prince, Buncombe County Public Library, NC

JAY, Stacey. Juliet Immortal. 306p. CIP. Delacorte. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-385-74016-6; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-385-90826-9; ebook $17.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89893-8. LC 2010049563.
Gr 9 Up–Here is a Shakespeare retelling with a difference: What if Romeo actually murdered Juliet as part of a bargain with evil powers called Mercenaries in order to become immortal? The dying Juliet is recruited by the Ambassadors, opponents of the Mercenaries, as a protector of lovers and soul mates, and, for the next 700 years, she fights Romeo, who seeks to convince others to sacrifice their true loves as he himself did. He and Juliet take up temporary residence in new bodies every time they battle each other. Juliet’s latest host is a troubled girl whose self-centered best friend, Gemma, appears to be one of the soul mates Juliet has been sent to protect. However, Juliet finds herself falling in forbidden love with good guy Ben, who seems to be Gemma’s soul mate, and she also has to resist Romeo, who claims to have found a way to release both of them from their immortal bondage, if only she can love him again. Will Juliet find a true love after centuries of tragedy and loss? The paranormal romance elements work surprisingly well in combination with the play, although the backstory of the Ambassadors and Mercenaries is not always clear. Jay includes some interesting critiques of popular notions of romantic love associated with the story of Romeo and Juliet, which would make for a lively book discussion with teens who have read the play. Readers who enjoyed Amy Plum’s Die for Me (HarperTeen, 2011) and Cynthia Leitich Smith’s Eternal (Candlewick, 2009) will also enjoy this one.–Kathleen E. Gruver, Burlington County Library, Westampton, NJ

JOBLING, Curtis. Rise of the Wolf. 450p. (Wereworld Series). Viking. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-670-01330-2. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6-8–This book starts with a classic fantasy opening: an oh-so-ordinary teen lives with his parents and brother on a remote farm. Odd how he doesn’t look like anyone else in his family. Note his amazing ability to sense and understand animals. Then… the scent of a predator on the wind, a violent storm, and suddenly the boy, known as Drew Ferran, undergoes a strange transformation as he tries and fails to save his mother from an unknown beast. Forced to flee by his vengeful father, who thinks that his son is the murderer, Drew hides in the forest until he is captured by the villainous werelords. It will come as no surprise to readers that Drew is a werewolf, and not just any werewolf but the son of the murdered werewolf king. To win his rightful place, he must battle many werecreatures, including werelions and wererats, and ally with many others, including wereboars and werebears. The story is lengthy and bogged down with too many interchangeable characters. The writing is pedestrian; as a whole, the book feels as if it were put together by a marketing team. Still, with a promotional campaign designed to outpace its flaws, this lackluster fantasy may find an audience among avid genre fans.–Eliza Langhans, Hatfield Public Library, MA

KACVINSKY, Katie. Awaken. 310p. CIP. Houghton Harcourt. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-37148-1; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-57407-3. LC 2010007330.
Gr 9 Up–Because of school violence, terrorism, drugs, etc., all students in Corvallis, OR, in 2060 attend online classes, called Digital School. Virtually all relationships are now digital. Teens visit virtual coffee shops, take virtual runs on the beach, and go out on virtual dates. Maddie, 17, is practically the poster child for DS, since her father invented it. Unbeknownst to her thousands of online “friends,” she is serving three years probation for hacking his files and passing them to anti-DS activists. When Maddie meets one of her virtual study buddies for a tutoring session, she is reintroduced to the physical world and unplugged relationships. Justin, older, mysterious, and smoking hot, has more than just studying–or even sex–in mind when he chooses her. He aims, like his parents before him, to bring down DS, and Maddie is faced with a difficult decision. Lest readers be a little slow on the uptake, the author all but shouts at them that virtual relationships are not as good as real-life ones. The story requires a suspension of disbelief that is hard to maintain. Can Maddie really not know why an anti-DS activist would recruit her of all people? In a world that is almost free of personal automobiles, how is it that the police are unable to find Justin’s Mustang V-8 or connect it to his online persona (user name “Mustang V-8”)? The story picks up in the middle with some exciting chases and a budding romance, so the ending is perhaps the biggest disappointment of all.–Anthony C. Doyle, Livingston High School, CA

KADE, Stacey. Queen of the Dead. Bk. 2. 266p. (The Ghost and the Goth Series). Hyperion/Disney. 2011. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-3467-1. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8-11–As this sequel to The Ghost and the Goth (Hyperion, 2010) opens, Alona and Will are waiting for the ghost of Mrs. Ruiz so they can help send her into the light. However, Mina Blackwell is trying to earn her full membership in the Order, and containment of Mrs. Ruiz was to be her final test. She has a plan, though: if Will helps her, she’ll share information about what he is and the shadowy Order. The idea that he’s not the only ghost-talker staggers Will, and he agrees to help her. Meanwhile, it seems that Alona’s mother is moving on just two months after her daughter’s death; she is throwing away all of Alona’s memorabilia. Distraught, the teen flees to her father’s house, where she witnesses him and his new wife rejoicing over the upcoming birth of a new baby girl. Alona decides that the only way to stop her parents from forgetting about her is to send them a message they can’t ignore, but her scheme backfires and she is sucked into the body of a coma patient and can’t get out. Kade has created interesting and engaging characters in the ghost-talker and his spirit guide. They handle the drama in their lives in a believable fashion, and the well-paced plot pulls readers into a novel in which the dead are still capable of surprising the living. This excellent novel stands alone, but readers will want to read the first book to find out more about the characters.–Heather Miller Cover, Homewood Public Library, AL

KIRBY, Matthew J. Icefall. 324p. CIP. Scholastic. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-27424-1. LC 2011000890.
Gr 4-7–Solveig and her two siblings are sent to the far end of a fiord for safety’s sake while their father battles to save his kingdom. Solveig knows that the elite warriors who brought them there are entrusted to guard her younger brother, Harald, the crown prince. Older sister Asa, favored for her beauty and marriage potential, causes Solveig to agonize about her own insignificance and lack of purpose. Supplies dwindle while waiting for victory news, and anxiety increases as a warship full of the king’s berserkers arrives just as ice closes over the fiord. Stranded for the winter, the untamed warriors are restless and unpredictable, and begin to raise mayhem in the camp, killing Solveig’s pet goat and accusing one another of treason. Calmed only by listening to stories told by Alrec the skald (poet of the living past), the boorish Vikings become attentive to Solveig as well, bolstering her confidence and providing a means for the author to (ingeniously) integrate tales from Norse mythology, featuring gods Odin and Thor, supernatural creatures, and fallen warriors. In a page-turning climax, the fiord thaws and enemies arrive to overpower the berserkers and kidnap Harald. The ensuing battle and survival scenes are vividly portrayed, and characters fight back with the epic heroism of gods. Solveig is an empathetic heroine and Hake, the hulky berserker war chief, is also a well-developed and (eventually) endearing character. Fans of John Flanagan’s “Ranger’s Apprentice” series (Philomel) will enjoy this adventure tale.–Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY

KURLANSKY, Mark. Battle Fatigue. 244p. Walker. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-8027-2264-5. LC number unavailable.
Gr 7 Up–Joel Bloom grows up in the shadow of World War II, his father, uncle, and neighbors having served their country proudly. The idea of war is entrenched in his boyhood experiences and those of his friends, and they spend much of their time playing at war, choosing sides in stereotypical portrayals of Nazis and Japanese. They grow up knowing they will fight “their war.” Yet, when he turns 18 and it comes along, Joel finds himself unable to fight. He defers being drafted by entering college, where he participates in antiwar demonstrations. After graduation, he takes a stand as a conscientious objector, but the government denies him that option. Now he must decide whether he will do what others expect him to do or follow his own moral code and head to Canada. Joel narrates this coming-of-age story that shows his gradual development. The novel fulfills an important role for teens who may not know about the personal side of men who escaped the Vietnam War by leaving the country, and the reasons they did so. However, while the characters are believable, they are underdeveloped. Also, the pace is too slow, and the ending is anticlimactic.–Wendy Scalfaro, G. Ray Bodley High School, Fulton, NY

LEACH, Sara. Count Me In. 164p. Orca. 2011. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-55469-404-4. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-6–After having difficulties at school, Tabitha is sent on a hiking trip with her aunt and two cousins to spread her uncle’s ashes. The trip gets off to a bad start, as her cousins seem to hate her. When Ashley breaks her jaw while showing off, the group tries to head back down the mountain. The river, however, has risen well above a crossable level and the group finds itself stranded with little food, the tension among the three cousins rising, and a storm that seems to go on forever. To make matters worse, a bear attacks and takes all of the food, and the family’s dog, Max, goes missing. At this point, Tabitha’s cousins quit speaking to her. Can she survive the storm and their wrath? Will she ever be able to find Max? Will they ever escape? The characters and their motivations are well developed. The plot is simple, but entertaining, and the survival aspects of the story are realistic and suspenseful. Chapter transitions are smooth and easy to follow. Fans, including reluctant readers, of Gary Paulsen, Will Hobbs, and other writers of survival fiction will enjoy this book.– Kira Moody, Whitmore Public Library, Salt Lake City, UT

LEVIN, Mark, Jennifer Flackett, & Dan Elish. The Family Hitchcock. 276p. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Bks. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-189394-0; ebook $8.99. ISBN 978-0-06-209328-8. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-6–This first novel relates the Hitchcocks’ entertaining, albeit unlikely, vacation. When Mr. Hitchcock arranges a house swap, the family reluctantly goes to Paris while the suave Vadims come to the States. It quickly becomes apparent that the Hitchcocks have found themselves right in the middle of an international incident involving theft, secret formulas to end world hunger, kidnapping, and murder. Maddy, 13, cannot get along with her mother or younger brother, who is a genius, but the family must work through their personal issues in order to survive the summer; death is always lurking around the corner. The plot-driven story is preposterous fun with genuine touches of emotion about family dynamics. Fans of Polly Horvath’s Everything on a Waffle (Farrar, 2001) should enjoy this comical romp.–B. Allison Gray, Goleta Public Library, CA

LIM, Rebecca. Mercy. Bk. 1. 280p. CIP. Hyperion/Disney. 2011. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-4517-2; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-5249-1. LC 2011004942.
Gr 7-9–Mercy, a fallen angel, is doomed to inhabit various bodies on Earth. She takes over the soul of Carmen Zappacosta, a scrawny, eczema-covered teen with the voice of an angel, while she is on a bus headed to the small town of Paradise, where Carmen is supposed to participate in a multi-school choral program. In town, she stays with the parents and “spectacular” brother of Lauren, a teen who also has an angelic voice and mysteriously disappeared two years earlier. Only Ryan believes that his sister is alive. He becomes a romantic interest for Mercy, although she has a lost love who visits her in her dreams and tells her he does not want her to investigate Lauren’s disappearance. Then another teen disappears and Mercy realizes that her true purpose as Carmen is to discover what has happened to the missing girls. With Ryan’s help, she locates them but not without putting herself, or at least Carmen’s body, in grave danger. The conclusion has a great twist that will satisfy readers’ need for a neat ending. Unfortunately, Mercy is still doomed to settle in different bodies, never knowing when she will be reunited with her lost love. Mercy is the only female character who is truly fleshed out, and her sarcasm, courage, and determination will hook readers.–Julie Shatterly, W.A. Bess Elementary School, Gastonia, NC

LITTMAN, Sarah Darer. Want to Go Private? 336p. Scholastic. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-15146-7; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-545-38934-1. LC number unavailable.
Gr 10 Up–Abby is ambivalent about her first day of high school. She has never been part of the cool crowd like her younger sister, Lily. Her best friend since second grade, Faith, encourages Abby to try new things and make new friends. But discouraged by her lack of popularity, a horrifying attempt to audition for the school play, and her parents’ inattentiveness, Abby retreats to her online sanctuary, ChezTeen.com, where she meets Luke Redmond. Unlike her family and increasingly distant best friend, Luke completely understands Abby’s concerns about high school and assures her that she is smart, funny, and attractive. Abby becomes enamored of Luke and begins to honor his requests for nude photographs and webcam stripteases. She agrees to meet him, resulting in a kidnapping scare that produces unintended but tragic consequences for all the players involved. The plot moves along at a compulsively readable pace. However, the characters’ alternating voices are often impossible to distinguish and the message about Internet safety, while pertinent, is at times too heavy-handed and repetitive. Littman does not skimp on the descriptions of the sexual exploitation, creating a realistic portrayal of the sordid nature of predators. Despite the flaws, this book is a compelling, if not disturbing, read.–Lynn Rashid, Marriotts Ridge High School, Marriottsville, MD

LONDON, Kelli. Boyfriend Season. 256p. Dafina. 2011. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-0-7582-6127-4; ebook $8.50. ISBN 978-0-7582-7241-6. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8-11–Set in Atlanta, Boyfriend features three African-American teens who experience first heartbreak and first love. Santana Jackson is a popular “it girl” and the envy of all her friends, but her life is nothing more than smoke and mirrors. She shoplifts designer clothes and handbags, her mother is a serial dater, and her boyfriend is a two-timing hustler. Then she meets Gully, a prepster from the inner city who is striving for a better future. Suddenly, Santana is questioning her choices. Dynasty Young lives with her abusive aunt while her junkie mother sits in jail. Dynasty hopes her book smarts will help her rise above her circumstances, but when she meets City, a Brooklyn boy with Jay-Z ingenuity, she starts seeing dollar signs as a way out. Patience Blackman is the Bishop’s dutiful daughter, who longs to express herself with music, but her severe, strict dad does not approve of her singing R&B songs. Then she meets Trill, a famous rapper, and starts sneaking out. As she gets swept up in Trill’s glamorous life, she wonders if a career in the music business is truly for her. The girls relish the attention these bad boys give them, only to find out that the good guys are the reliable, trustworthy ones who have been there the whole time. London’s message is clear: self-respect and good judgment are what bring happiness and true love. Recommend this novel to fans of Ni-Ni Simone.–Kimberly Garnick Giarratano, Northampton Community College, Hawley, PA

LORE, Pittacus. The Power of Six. Bk. 2. 416p. (The Lorien Legacies). HarperCollins. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-197455-7; ebook. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-207786-8. LC number unavailable.
Gr 9 Up–Following on the heels of the action-packed I Am Number Four (HarperCollins, 2010), The Power of Six opens with the introduction of a new character, Number Seven, also known as Marina, who, with her Garde, Adelina, has been confined to a convent in Spain for several years following their arrival by spaceship from the planet Lorien. One afternoon, while exploring the Internet for her allotted 10 minutes, she comes across a reference to John Smith of Ohio, which gives her the impetus to flee her relatively safe hideout and search for the remaining survivors. As they age, the Lorien children’s Legacies, or powers, are beginning to emerge and strengthen, leading them to take the fight to the heart of the Mogadorian stronghold. While this second book in the proposed six-book series has many of the same weaknesses of the first–a lack of character development, pedestrian dialogue, and uneven continuity–the nonstop action and violence-packed fight sequences will keep fans of the first novel happy. Think Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles instead of Heinlein’s Starship Troopers. Readers should expect mayhem and monsters rather than traditional science fiction, but the popularity of the first book and the movie will create a demand for this and subsequent titles.–Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK

MCCLAIN, Lee. Sizzle. 192p. Marshall Cavendish. 2011. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-0-7614-5981-1; ebook $17.99. ISBN 978-0-7614-6093-0. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6-9–Linda Delgado, 14, lives with her aunt in Arizona. Together they run a restaurant that serves fresh, local Mexican food. When her aunt has a ministroke, Linda is sent to Pittsburgh to live with a relative she’s never met. Aunt Pat is famous for her local TV program, Cooking from Cans, and she completely eschews fresh foods. She has seven kids through domestic and foreign adoptions, one foster child, and one biological teenage daughter, who resents the newcomer’s presence. Linda’s friendly narration is compelling and easy to read. Chapters are broken up with screen shots of her food blog. With a light but honest touch, this book addresses many serious matters. It explores the struggles and the triumphs of children from difficult backgrounds, food as comfort, the adolescent struggle to be true to oneself without hurting others, the value of culture, and the results of these issues being lost on a well-meaning but overwhelmed family.–Amelia Jenkins, Juneau Public Library, AK

MCELLIGOTT, Matthew & Larry Tuxbury. Benjamin Franklinstein Meets the Fright Brothers. Bk. 2. illus. by Matthew McElligott. 148p. (Benjamin Franklinstein Series). CIP. Putnam. 2011. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25480-2; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-1-101-53556-1. LC 2010040431.
Gr 4-6– This sequel picks up right where Benjamin Franklinstein Lives! (Putnam, 2010) ends. Can there really be vampires prowling the skies and streets of Philadelphia? That’s what the newly reawakened Benjamin Franklin and his friends Victor and Scott must find out, and quickly, if they have any chance of thwarting the evil plans of the mysterious Emperor. This book includes several new characters and gives more depth to established ones. Readers also discover the current fate of the Modern Order of Prometheus, the organization Franklin founded to suspend, then reawaken, gifted scientists and inventors in the future, when their talents will be needed once again. The characters are interesting and believable, and the plot has just the right mixture of fun, adventure, suspense, and mystery. The short chapters are peppered with delightful black-and-white illustrations and diagrams ranging from a Tesla Coil to Other Uses for a Bathtub Besides Throwing It. This entertaining book should have readers eagerly awaiting the next installment.–Erik Knapp, Davis Library, Plano, TX

MACKALL, Dandi Daley. The Silence of Murder. 336p. CIP. Random/ Alfred A. Knopf. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86896-2; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-375-96896-9; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89981-2. LC 2010035991.
Gr 8 Up–After her autistic brother is accused of murdering the town’s beloved baseball coach, 16-year-old Hope Long determines to exonerate him. To prove Jeremy’s innocence, she must overcome significant obstacles, including his inability to defend himself because of selective muteness, criminal evidence that is damning, and the townspeople’s judgmental attitudes toward the 18-year-old’s disability. With the assistance of her friend T. J. and the sheriff’s son, Chase, she compiles a list of suspects and seeks clues that will clear Jeremy. In the course of their detective work, romance ensues between Hope and Chase, which helps lighten the novel’s dark tone. Hope uncovers a shocking revelation about her mother, dramatically impacting Jeremy’s case. Paced like a riveting television courtroom drama, with the ultimate conclusive twist, The Silence of Murder is gritty and intense, and it will appeal to readers who appreciate realistic depictions of criminal investigations. Mackall portrays autism with compassion and sensitivity; Hope’s unerring devotion to her brother, and her ability to see beyond his disability, beautifully anchors this novel.–Lalitha Nataraj, Escondido Public Library, CA

MCKINTY, Adrian. Deviant. 356p. CIP. Abrams/Amulet. 2011. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8109-8420-2. LC 2010023465.
Gr 7-10–A newcomer to the Colorado Springs area, Danny Lopez is interested in giving his stepdad a hard time, riding his skateboard, and eyeing the pretty girl across the street. But he soon discovers that Cobalt Junior High Charter School, where everyone wears white gloves and behaves like silent robots, is not the only thing about the town that’s creepy. Not only is there a maximum-security prison nearby, but a psychopath is systematically and ritualistically disemboweling the local domestic cats. Naturally curious, and concerned about his own pet, Danny gets caught up in solving the mystery of the serial cat killer–and consequently becomes a target himself. Considering the sadistic premise, revealed within the first pages of the book, this would be a poor fit for squeamish or sensitive readers. Plot-driven, with minimal character development, the narrative is interspersed with letters from the killer that add to the creepiness factor. Worth a try by strong-stomached fans of true crime and horror.–Emma Burkhart, Springside School, Philadelphia, PA

MALCHOW, Alex & Hal Malchow. The Sword of Darrow. 259p. BenBella. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-9356-1846-1; pap. $12.99. ISBN 978-1-9356-1847-8; ebook $12.99. ISBN 978-1-9356-1888-1. LC number unavailable.
Gr 5-8–For 10 years the people of Sonnencrest endured the cruel and tyrannical rule of the Goblins. Then Princess Babette, the only surviving member of the royal family, and Darrow, a crippled boy, become the unlikely forces in the fight against the oppressors. The authors paint convincing portraits of the characters. Malmut, the Goblin king, is described as having a large and bulbous head “with two tiny eyes planted close together and a hooked nose jutted out far from his face.” Babette, with the help of a dwarf named Thor and the wizard Asterux, becomes worthy to be the true heir to the throne. Darrow, a frightened boy who only desires to be free of Malmut, becomes a great leader, both through his gift for words and his talent for galvanizing the peasant army. Training and superior weapons are no match for the passion and desire of the people of Sonnencrest. Readers will be drawn to this fledgling rebellion and follow it to its spectacular success. Magic, monsters, and wizards add to the excitement.–Lana Miles, Jackson Elementary School, Rosenberg, TX

MARTIN, Alexa. Girl Wonder. 286p. Hyperion/Disney. 2011. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-2135-0; ebook $16.99. ISBN 9781423152460. LC number unavailable.
Gr 9 Up–Charlotte Locke’s life can’t get much worse: she has to move and leave her best friend, and her learning disability (dyscalculia) prevents her from being accepted into her younger brother’s exclusive school or the Gifted and Talented Education program at her new school. Shocked to find herself in a rundown public school with a rough and largely apathetic student body, she reluctantly attaches herself to Mimi, the only student who befriends her, yet dismisses her when she strikes up a friendship with outrageous Amanda, a brilliant and intimidating GATE student. Charlotte also catches the eye of Neal, an attractive GATE student. After they have sex, he insists that they keep their relationship a secret, while his friendship with Amanda increasingly worries Charlotte. Neal and Amanda encourage her to smoke cigarettes and take drugs, which lead to permanent rifts in their relationships. The wide divide between the GATE kids and the general track students is truthfully portrayed. Charlotte’s relationships with Neal, Amanda, and her family are realistic and understandable, yet the plot breaks credulity toward the latter part of the novel. Although uneven in parts, this story will pique the interest of teens looking for a quick and somewhat gritty read.–Jennifer Schultz, Fauquier County Public Library, Warrenton, VA

MARTIN, Amy. Symphony City. illus. by author. unpaged. McSweeney’s McMullens. 2011. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-936365-39-5. LC number unavailable.
Gr 5-8–Beset with boredom, the needle of her record player broken, a young teen rushes off with a family member to a free concert. On the crowded subway, she gets separated and consoles herself: “I can find my own way…if I follow the sound.” And she does. She finds music everywhere and overcomes her fear of navigating the city solo. The story is told visually through the gradual outpouring of color; the division of space in surprising vertical and horizontal lines, with cityscape backgrounds like blueprints; and colors layered as if silk-screened. Newsprint gray overwhelmingly marks the beginning of the girl’s journey, but the scene gradually brightens with her yellow raincoat and yellow birds, a series of street musicians’ red instruments, and the blue, slanting rain. The economical text is a paean to music: “It starts as a sprout and bursts into a forest…even the moon wants to listen.” Visual symbols that celebrate childhood and discovery abound, like red shoes and a kite in the form of a carp. To the music of a guitar duo, the girl dances amid orbs of color and starlight before finding her way home and into joyfully relieved arms. Craftsmanship reigns in this title. A flock of birds embossed in gold flies from the back to the front of the textured orange binding, and the jacket folds out into a two-sided poster. A perfect book for music lovers and bibliophiles.–Sara Lissa Paulson, American Sign Language and English Lower School PS 347, New York City

MAYER, Julia. Eyes in the Mirror. 216p. Sourcebooks/Fire. 2011. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4022-4040-9; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-402-26911-0. LC number unavailable.
Gr 9-11–Samara is sad, lonely, and distant. Dee is bored with her life and searches for an alternate universe. One day, a mirror breaks, and her mother falls through it to another world where Dee goes to rescue her and sees a girl who looks very much like herself–Samara. The two girls become friends and decide to switch places for a day, and that’s when life changes for both of them. Dee ends up pregnant and Samara ends up in rehab. Filled with an abundance of teen issues such as cutting, pregnancy, drug use, school alienation, and dead parents, this debut novel is difficult to recommend. There are inconsistencies and dangling plot threads, didactic speeches from adults, and an unsuccessful fantasy element that muddy the story. Pass on it unless your collection truly needs another issue-laden problem novel.–Angela J. Reynolds, Annapolis Valley Regional Library, Bridgetown, NS, Canada

MILLER, Kirsten. All You Desire. Bk. 2. 416p. (Eternal Ones Series). Penguin/Razorbill. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-59514-323-5; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-1-10154-346-7. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8 Up–This sequel to The Eternal Ones (Penguin, 2010) can stand alone. The story follows Haven and Iain from their lovers’ retreat in Florence, Italy, back to New York City, where Haven’s best friend from her hometown of Snope City, TN, and brother from a previous life, Beau Decker, have been abducted. She again becomes immersed in the organization of reincarnates via The Ouroboros Society, led by the enigmatic Adam Rosier, who was also Haven’s lover from past lives; he completes the love triangle. Adam has begun a school for young recruits to the Ouroboros Society, whose talents he hopes to develop and use, ostensibly, to the benefit of mankind. But Phoebe/Pythia, one of 12 sisters and a soothsayer, has other plans and blackmails Haven into helping her try to capture Adam. The reincarnated leaders of good and evil, Pythia and Adam, are presented in the guise of Order and Chaos, which, along with reincarnation, creates a rather sophisticated subtext. However, the writing is light and moves along at a brisk pace, focusing primarily on the love triangle. New York City’s historical architecture makes a perfect backdrop for the reincarnated characters.–Meredith Toumayan, Langley-Adams Library, Groveland, MA

MILLS, Claudia. Mason Dixon: Pet Disasters. illus. by Guy Francis. 176p. Knopf. 2011. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86873-3; PLB $15.99. ISBN 978-0-375-96873-0; ebook $12.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89958-4. LC 2010029724.
Gr 3-6–Mason Dixon is a curmudgeonly nine-year-old who prefers to wear brown socks, thinks all cookies should be Fig Newtons, and does not–repeat, does NOT–like pets. His parents are not put off by him, encouraging their only child to bond with a goldfish, a hamster, and then a cat. Mason’s relationship with each one is, well, less than successful. But when his friend Brody, a joyful kid who wears his heart on his sleeve, overrides Mason’s strident veto on getting a dog, things begin to change. Dog, a three-legged charmer, wriggles his way into the boy’s good graces, and he learns to loosen up. His change in attitude is not without risk, though: Dog is injured, and Mason’s friendship with Brody is nearly ruined. Mason discovers that smelling the roses sometimes means getting nicked by a thorn or two. Mills’s account of this quirky kid and his trials and tribulations is both funny and touching. Tucked in among the tales of the daily grind of being a kid–bullies, exasperating parents, etc.–is a nice lesson about opening up to all of life’s experiences. An enjoyable read with cartoon-style pen-and-ink illustrations scattered throughout.–Alyson Low, Fayetteville Public Library, AR

MOORE, Peter. Red Moon Rising. 330p. glossary. Hyperion/Disney. 2011. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-1665-3; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-0921-1. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8 Up–Dante, aka Danny Gray, is half-vamp and half-wulf, and in his world, this means disaster. There are only three distinct and very separate classes. The elite are the vampyres–rich, powerful, and beautiful. In between are the humans, tolerated because they admire vampires and acknowledge their dominance. Then there are the werewolves, who are poor, ugly, despised. They must register themselves and during the time of the “Change” are forced to live in prisonlike compounds. Danny and his sister had genetic treatments when they were young to suppress their wulven genes and allow their vampyre side to take control. The treatments worked for his sister, but Danny became sick and was unable to finish them. As a result he has vamp-blue eyes but the darker coloring and the stockier build of a werewolf. Everyone in his almost all-vamp high school assumes that he is half-vamp and half human; only a few close friends know the truth. When he starts exhibiting wulf behavior, Danny is terrified but realizes that he must accept who he is before time runs out. Red Moon Rising is a well-written coming-of-age story with a diverse cast of characters. Moore tackles important issues such as self-esteem, prejudice/discrimination, loyalty, and acceptance, all woven into a teen paranormal adventure drama. The ending leaves some unanswered questions that hopefully will be addressed in a sequel. Fans of the genre will enjoy this different spin on the supernatural.–Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NY

MORIARTY, Chris. The Inquisitor’s Apprentice. illus. by Mark E. Geyer. 352p. map. Houghton Harcourt. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-58135-4; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-67779-8. LC 2011009596.
Gr 4-7–This novel is based on an interesting premise, but its realization falls short of its potential. Sacha Kessler lives in an alternate history in which people are capable of magic, which is illegal, and policed by Inquisitors, whose mission is to stop it. He can see magic is being worked, earning him the position of assistant apprentice to the foremost Inquisitor in New York City, an unlikely position for a Jew. Shortly after he begins his prestigious class-defying job, he discovers a dybbuk, a creature from Jewish folklore, has been set loose and he must stop it from killing Thomas Edison. The Inquisitor’s Apprentice has the innocent appeal of a “Hardy Boys” novel set in 19th-century New York (with magic). The simple black-and-white illustrations support the time frame. While the content and art will appeal to younger readers, the quality of writing, details, jokes, and class commentary targets the book at an older crowd. Unfortunately, instead of satiating both, it satisfies neither. A number of Yiddish words are difficult to understand in context, further deterring many readers. The plot moves slowly, but will keep kids hooked in the beginning. As the story progresses, however, it becomes more convoluted, culminating in a confusing and hurried ending. Several class issues are raised throughout the book and often associated with ethnicity. While this is appropriate for the time, it will leave many readers with an uncomfortable feeling.–Devin Burritt, Jackson Memorial Library, Tenants Harbor, ME

MULLIN, Mike. Ashfall. 464p. Tanglewood. 2011. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-933718-55-2. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8 Up–Alex, 15, is separated from his family when the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts. The eruption leaves his world in confusion, with no infrastructure and drifts of ash everywhere. He decides that he must leave his home in Iowa to seek out his family, who were traveling toward Pennsylvania when the explosion occurred. Alex uses his Tae kwon do skills to keep himself safe as he skis over the ash. Food is in short supply for everyone. Eventually he is taken in by Mrs. Edmunds and her daughter, Darla. When tragedy strikes, Alex and Darla must set out on their own to find safety and food. Not surprisingly, along the way, a romantic attraction develops between them. Ultimately, they must figure out how to survive in a refugee camp. The conclusion is satisfying, but unresolved enough to indicate the beginning of what appears to be a planned trilogy. The tough self-sufficiency of the two lead characters (Alex’s Tae kwon do coupled with Darla’s automotive prowess) adds to their appeal. The romance develops believably over the course of the book. Tautly paced and well researched, this is a high-action read-alike for fans of Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Life As We Knew It (Harcourt, 2006).–Kristin Anderson, Columbus Metropolitan Library System, OH

MYERS, Jason. Dead End. 365p. S & S/Pulse. 2011. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-1430-3; ebook $8.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-1431-0. LC 2010939783.
Gr 10 Up–Dru Weiben, 16, and Gina King, 17, are in love as evidenced by their passionate sex life, described in raw detail from the first page. Dru comes from a troubled family; his brother is in jail and his drunk father drove off a bridge to his death. But Dru is the star of the wrestling team, and he is determined to be better than the assumptions people make about him. Gina also comes from a struggling family. The Aldersons, the local power family, own half the county in Nebraska and apparently half the law-enforcement officers as well. When the self-indulgent only son of this family rapes Gina and, in a tragic turn of events, ends up dead, the two young lovers go on the run. The corruption in the police force drives readers to believe that there is little hope for them, and eventually they are proven right in this modern tale with a Shakespearean ending. There are some good characters, and the sometimes-brutal passages will attract some readers, but a better choice might be Simone Elkeles’s Perfect Chemistry (Walker, 2009).–Jake Pettit, Thompson Valley High School, Loveland, CO

MYKLUSCH, Matt. The Secret War. Bk. 2. 530p. (A Jack Blank Adventure). CIP. S & S/Aladdin. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9564-7; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9566-1. LC 2010041779.
Gr 5-8–After using his powers over machinery to save a city full of superheroes in Jack Blank and the Imagine Nation (S & S, 2010), the protagonist now struggles with fame, friends, and all kinds of enemies. While Jack tries to decode a hidden computer virus that could destroy the Imagine Nation, he also battles a conscious parasite trying to control him for the purposes of the evil Rüstov empire. At the same time, a rival uses media scare tactics to portray the popular young hero as a villain rather than a hero. The plot is fairly complex and holds together well, although readers familiar with the first book will have an easier time keeping the characters and background straight. There are some neat twists, including the surprising return of a key character from the first book. Jack’s human flaws show in believable ways as he frets about public opinion and keeps secrets from trusted friends, but the way he ignores his urgent task of fixing the virus is more puzzling. The teen’s less-than-heroic behavior makes it hard to empathize with him until he eventually begins to face his mistakes. Lessons learned about trust and honesty come through clearly at the end, though with a rather heavy hand. The final battle scene provides a satisfying resolution of events in the Imagine Nation; then a surprising shift in the final chapter sets up intriguing possibilities for the next volume.–Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville Public Library, OR

NARAYAN, Natasha. The Book of Bones. Bk. 3. 308p. (A Kit Salter Adventure). map. Quercus, dist. by IPG. 2011. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-1-84916-241-8. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-6–In this third installment in the series, Kit and her friends are kidnapped by the evil Baker Brothers. Believing it will help them on their quest for immortality, the brothers want the Book of Bones stolen from the Shaolin monastery in China. The tweens are tricked into stealing it for them, traveling to Shanghai, Peking, and the Songshan mountains, accompanied by Yin, a Chinese girl who can see the future. Ample kung fu action, daring escapes, and even a battle with pirates climax in an extreme cliff-hanger ending. While Kit has thoroughly modern views on women’s rights, when it comes to her views on other cultures, she is a strong product of her British Victorian upbringing. Unfortunately, the backward, barbaric, ferocious, and opium-addicted China she enters strengthens these negative stereotypes. Pidgin is spoken by merely adding “ee” to the ends of words, even female laborers have bound feet, and British children are too tall and big to fit into adult Chinese clothing. Although Kit eventually befriends mysterious Yin, she still finds the “Chinaman” and his ways “odd.” This unfortunate backdrop discredits an otherwise exciting adventure.–Jennifer Rothschild, Prince George’s County Memorial Library System, Oxon Hill, MD

NEWMAN, Emma. 20 Years Later. 314p. CIP. Dystopia. 2011. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-0-9844981-2-3; ebook $9.95. ISBN 978-0-9844981-1-6. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6 Up–Zane lives in relative peace with his mother, Miri, in the London of 2032, which is controlled by myriad gangs and still littered with the bones of all those who perished when It happened 20 years earlier. The 15-year-old helps Miri with their garden, which provides both food and healing herbs. They use the latter to treat the injuries of members of the nearby Bloomsbury Boys after clashes with rival gangs. When Titus and his sister, Lyssa, stumble into the Bloomsbury Boys’ territory, Zane rescues Titus but mysterious figures able to shoot lightning kidnap Lyssa and injure the Bloomsbury leader. Zane learns that Titus has extraordinary healing powers and strange abilities, too. When the two begin training with Luthor, the champion of the Red Lady’s gang, they meet his daughter, Erin. The three of them find that they can meet in their dreams. Titus is determined to rescue his sister and Zane wants to find out more about his father, who may actually be alive. By the end of the novel, the three friends discover a fourth teen with strange skills and determine what It actually was. Newman’s postapocalyptic world has interesting elements, but Zane’s naïveté and the teens’ ignorance of some things from the previous world but not others, feels odd. Still, this novel should appeal to the large readership of dystopian fiction.–Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids, WI

NIZ, Susan. Kara, Lost. 230p. North Star. 2011. pap. $14.95. ISBN 978-0-87839-368-8. LC number unavailable.
Gr 9 Up–Kara, 16, runs away from her suburban home to live in Minneapolis in this well-meaning but unremarkable novel. Kara’s parents don’t understand her and try to force her to take an antidepressant, so she flees to the city where she hopes to move in with her older sister. Marisa, however, lives with a controlling boyfriend who throws Kara out. A counselor from a youth shelter takes her home, but that arrangement ends when Kara and the counselor’s boyfriend become a little too close. With her pay from a job washing dishes at a Vietnamese restaurant, Kara rents a rundown apartment in a dangerous neighborhood. An accident, an ill-fated reunion with her parents, an escape from a group home, a new friend, and a chance to go back to school all add drama to Kara’s life as a runaway. Unfortunately, the author summarizes and describes too much of the story, and readers rarely get to know the characters through their words or actions. Though Kara ends up in what might be a better situation, it’s hard to know, based on her prior lack of good judgment about the people she encounters. Some of the details are interesting–for example, the difficulties of finding a job and apartment as a minor–but overall, the story is not well told. Teens looking for novels about life on the streets may prefer Wendelin Van Draanen’s Runaway (Knopf, 2006) or Todd Strasser’s Can’t Get There from Here (S & S, 2004).–Miranda Doyle, Lake Oswego School District, OR

NYE, Naomi Shihab. There Is No Long Distance Now: Very Short Stories. 198p. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-201965-3; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-209346-2. LC number unavailable.
Gr 7 Up–These short, seemingly unconnected stories are set in the current moment but told by different adolescent characters from around the world. Two girls with a passion for cooking face the disappointment of their cooking teacher; another searches for her father in San Marcos, TX; another buys socks in Cairo; and a young man deals with depressed parents in Nebraska, to name but a few. And yet Nye’s stories are indeed connected, some loosely and others in more abstract ways. Despite place, gender, and other superficial differences, they all weave together a perspective on what it means to come of age in the contemporary world. Rich thematic threads–dealing with loss, accepting the responsibilities of maturity, negotiating misunderstandings, for example–can be found throughout. Nye’s stories are the beginning, middle or end of longer stories waiting to be written. With her characteristic strong, often quirky characters, and with much pathos, these vignettes invite readers to make meaning of the story fragments. They’re a bit like Chris van Allsburg’s The Chronicles of Harris Burdick (Houghton Harcourt, 2011), but for a teen audience.–Jennifer Miskec, Longwood University, Farmville, VA

O’DELL, Kathleen. The Aviary. 338p. Knopf. 2011. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-375-85605-1; PLB $18.99. ISBN 978-0-375-95605-8; ebook $15.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98935-3. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-6–A crumbling seaside mansion is the only home 11-year-old Clara has ever known. Forbidden a normal childhood because of a weak heart, she lives her days in isolation, her only company being her housekeeper mother, Ruby the cook, and elderly Mrs. Glendoveer. There are the aviary birds, but Clara fears their piercing screeches. One stormy day a mynah screams the name: Elliot. A single inquiry leads Clara to a terrible story involving the kidnapping and drowning of the five oldest Glendoveer children and the disappearance of baby Elliot. The children’s father, a famous magician, was blamed for the tragedy. Fueled by curiosity and the promise of friendship with a new girl, Clara digs deeper. The girls learn that the aviary birds are key to what really happened that fateful day and devise a plan to bring the real kidnapper to justice, find Elliot, and free the trapped souls of the Glendoveer children. In solving the mystery, Clara learns of her own connection to the Glendoveer family. O’Dell weaves a tapestry of hauntingly gorgeous imagery with this atmospheric tale of suspense, magic, and adventure. Readers will be captivated from the first page on.–Alissa J. LeMerise, Oxford Public Library, MI

OLIVER, Lauren. Liesl & Po. illus. by Kei Acedera. 308p. CIP. HarperCollins. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-201451-1. LC 2011019372.
Gr 5-8–Liesl’s father has died, and she has been locked in an attic by her cruel stepmother. To the attic comes Po, a ghost whose memory of whether it was a boy or a girl has faded in its time in the world beyond. Po meets Liesl’s father on the Other Side and carries a message back: he would like his ashes to be buried next to his first wife so that he can move on. In the same town on one fateful night, the apothecary’s apprentice, Will, has two errands. The first is to deliver a box containing magic that the apothecary has conjured at the commission of the powerful the Lady Premiere, magic the apothecary claims will bring the dead back to life. The second is to stop by the undertaker’s for some magical ingredients. Unwittingly, Will swaps the box of magic with the one containing the ashes of Liesl’s father. When the mix-up is discovered, he flees the wrath of the apothecary and the Lady Premiere. Meanwhile, with Po’s help, Liesl finds an opportunity to escape the attic and her stepmother. Their paths and destinies converge in an entirely satisfying way, and the plot gains forward momentum through chance encounters and lives crossing paths. This fantasy is written with the gentle simplicity of a fable infused with a storyteller’s wisdom. Acedera’s black-and-white charcoal illustrations are soft, warm, and somewhat old-fashioned, adding a great deal to the charm and emotion of the story. This is a case in which the illustrations truly enhance the book and make it something more special than it otherwise would have been. A lovely tale.–Tim Wadham, Children’s Literature Consultant, Fenton, MO

PATTERSON, James & Chris Tebbetts. Middle School, the Worst Years of My Life. illus. by Laura Park. 288p. CIP. Little, Brown. 2011. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-316-10187-5; ebook $15.99. ISBN 978-0-316-13470-5. LC 2010022852.
Gr 5-8–The first 20 pages of this novel seem to be a blueprint for classic middle-school rebellion. As the story continues, Patterson’s ability to hog-tie his target audience into a sympathetic relationship with Rafe, the sixth-grade protagonist, becomes clear. Along with his friend Leo the Silent, Rafe concocts a plan to break every rule in the Hills Village Middle School Code of Conduct by the end of the year, creating palpable tension between him and every adult character in the book. As Patterson artfully weaves a deeper and more thought-provoking tale of childhood coping mechanisms and everyday school and family realities, readers are drawn into a deeper understanding of and compassion for the main characters. Taking the best of the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” (Abrams) formula, he successfully melds it with an emotional and, at times, unexpected journey. Hand this book to misbehaving, socially awkward, or disengaged boys and girls who are willing to take it. It might help them believe that there is a place for them in the world, no matter how dire times may seem in the present.–Colleen S. Banick, Tomlinson Middle School, Fairfield, CT

PETERS, Andrew. Ravenwood. 350p. CIP. Scholastic/Chicken House. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-30550-1; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-545-38944-0. LC 2010044484.
Gr 4-8–A kingdom existing entirely amid the huge, intertwining branches of a giant forest is the intriguing setting for this fantasy. When a 14-year-old plumber named Ark overhears a treasonous plot to attack Arborium, the boy must escape the conspirators and find a way to save his homeland. The origins of the tree-based society are based in a thoughtful mixture of technology, religion, and magic, and the imaginative concept is fleshed out through descriptions of plumbing systems, root mining, and other logistical details. While the setting is vividly rendered, plot and characterization are more conventional. The narrative alternates between Ark, a fairly standard orphaned hero with a secret destiny, and Petronio, the conniving son of Arborium’s evil High Councillor. Ark’s experiences are remarkable, but his emergence into the savior of his kingdom is not especially compelling. Petronio is actually the more interesting of the two; he begins as a whiny bully, then develops into a crafty and truly dangerous villain. Occasionally stiff dialogue and brief shifts to viewpoints of minor players make it harder to connect strongly with any of the characters. There’s plenty of action, though, and enough twists and surprises to keep pages turning. Several tree-based expressions (“what the holly?”) add some light humor. The primary appeal here is for the strongly realized fantasy setting and the mythical and scientific elements that support it. Though the initial attack on Arborium is rebuffed, key villains survive, setting the stage for a likely sequel.–Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville Public Library, OR

PIXLEY, Marcella. Without Tess. 280p. Farrar/Margaret Ferguson Bks. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-374-36174-7; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4299-6982-6. LC number unavailable.
Gr 7-9–Lizzie Cohen, 9, and her sister, Tess, 11, are incredibly close. They live in a world all their own, filled with selkies, magical toads, and horses with beautiful wings. When Lizzie tries to leave this fantastical world in favor of reality, Tess tries hard to keep her there. Her imagination becomes more and more delusional, and she becomes harmful to herself and others. She starves herself, claiming that she is immortal and doesn’t need nourishment. Then she makes a decision that leaves Lizzie, five years later, struggling to confront the past through Tess’s worn-out Pegasus Journal, full of poetry and disturbing images. With the help of the school psychologist and a childhood friend, Lizzie tries to find a way to let go of her guilt. Alternating between chapters of prose and poetry, the novel gives readers glimpses into the minds of both girls, balancing past and present and slowly revealing the entire story. The setting is a riverside town, and the pivotal events take place at the razor’s edge of fall and winter, creating a chill of apprehension. Girls struggling with anorexia may benefit from reading about an issue that hits close to home, and anyone coping with harmful relationships, especially within the family, will relate to this lyrical, heartrending novel.–Kimberly Castle, Stark County District Library, Canton, OH

RASCHKA, Chris. Seriously, Norman! illus. by author. 340p. Scholastic/Michael di Capua Bks. 2011. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-0-545-29877-3; ebook $17.95. ISBN 978-0-545-38846-7. LC 2011927653.
Gr 5-8–When 12-year-old Norman Normann “craps out” on a test, his successful businessman father says, “I want to see a turnaround in the fortunes of that hot little prospect I call my son.” So Norman is sent to an eccentric but likable tutor named Balthazar Birdsong, who ends up entertaining and educating the boy and his three best friends. Before long, they learn that Norman’s father sells bombers, not airplanes, and they set off on what becomes a worldwide mission to dissuade him from this risky business. This novel, the first for renowned picture-book artist Raschka, has a lot going for it, especially in its use of wordplay and the type of sarcasm middle-school kids enjoy. There are some great pieces of advice along the way, too (“If you want to avoid danger, don’t get born”). Raschka’s small black-and-white pictures throughout add bright and funny touches. The book isn’t without a few flaws, though. For instance, some of the philosophical bits go on too long, a few of the more-madcap events take on a somewhat random quality, and often the voices of Norman and his friends sound alike. But overall, avid fans of offbeat humor will enjoy the story.–Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL

RIEL, Jørn. The Shipwreck. Vol. 1 . tr. from Danish by John Mason. illus. by Helen Cann. 112p. (The Inuk Quartet Series). Barefoot. 2011. pap. $12.99. ISBN 978-1-84686-335-6. LC 2010041871.
Gr 4-6–This beautifully illustrated epic adventure, set circa 1000 CE, begins with the shocking, retaliatory beheading of young Viking Leiv’s father by Thorstein Gunnarsson. The playful boy becomes withdrawn and vows to take revenge. When Thorstein casts off from Iceland for Greenland to serve out his sentence of exile, Leiv stows away onboard but is swept into the sea during a storm. An Inuit brother and sister, Apuluk, 12, and Narua, 11, find him and care for him in secret–their shaman would regard the stranger as an evil spirit–until he has learned enough Inuit words to be taken to their settlement. Leiv learns their ways and comes to admire the independence of the children, their ability to survive happily in a harsh environment, and their lack of interest in violence or useless material possessions. The narrative is straightforward and well paced, with several engaging dramatic episodes. Riel skillfully interweaves information about the Inuit culture, language, and environment without being didactic. Vocabulary may pose a challenge for less-advanced readers, and mention of beheadings and amputations may be unsuitable for others. But Cann’s ethereal watercolor, graphite, and collage illustrations in cool blue tones and browns have a calmer mood that will enchant readers with the beauty of the Arctic landscape. With its engaging story and important messages, this book will be an asset to multicultural and social-studies units. Also suggest it to lovers of Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet (Bradbury, 1987) and Margi Preus’s Heart of a Samurai (Abrams, 2010).–Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MI

SCHLICK NOE, Katherine. Something to Hold. 256p. glossary. Clarion. Dec. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-55813-4. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-6–It’s the summer of 1962 and Kitty’s father’s job as the forest manager for the Bureau of Indian Affairs has landed them on the Warm Springs Reservation in Oregon, where nearly everyone else is Native American. When she and her brothers attempt to find the local swimming hole, they are told, “You don’t belong here.” Kitty, 11, is both frightened and furious, and certain that she will never make friends at her new school. However, when her class is forced to sing the state song about free men bravely conquering the West for a Columbus Day assembly, the sixth grader begins to understand the resentment the Native American students hold for white people. Eventually, in the face of life-threatening wildfires, an Indian boy’s abusive white stepfather, and an ultraconservative teacher, Kitty bravely stands up for a peer. Her narrative, interspersed with beautiful descriptions of the landscape, allows readers to make their own judgments about racism. Based on the author’s own experiences, this novel fills a gap in the historical fiction genre. Great for classroom discussion as well as independent reading.–Mary-Brook J. Townsend, The McGillis School, Salt Lake City, UT

SCHRAFF, Anne. The Unforgiven. 198p. (Urban Underground Series). Saddleback. 2011. PLB $19.60. ISBN 978-0-60623-412-2; pap. $8.95. ISBN 978-1-61651-586-7; ebook $13.95. ISBN 978-1-61247-232-4. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6 Up–It’s been three years since Naomi Martinez, a junior at Cesar Chavez High School, saw her oldest brothers. Her father, Felix, disowned them when Orlando interceded to prevent him from hitting their mother. Now Naomi and her mother speak to Orlando and Manny in secret while her father and other brother, Zack, continue their estrangement. Turning 50 is depressing Felix, and it doesn’t help matters that his cousin, Monte Esposito, is a murder suspect who recently lost his seat on the city council. Amid all this drama, Naomi juggles school, her relationship with Ernesto Sandoval, her new job at Chill Out, and her ex-boyfriend’s attempts at winning her back after giving her a black eye. Naomi helps clear her uncle and another innocent man and then plans a successful birthday party for her father that involves reuniting the family. Schraff delicately addresses abuse and its consequences in a way that is not overly didactic but fails to ease up on the moral lessons throughout the book. Discerning readers will find the dialogue to be inauthentic with teens using words like “crook,” “wimp,” and “bum,” as well as other words that left teen slang long ago. The plot is exciting enough, but the only readers likely to stick with this hi/lo title are those already invested in Schraff’s “Urban Underground” series.–Adrienne L. Strock, Maricopa County Library District, AZ

SCHRÖDER, Monika. My Brother’s Shadow. 224p. CIP. Farrar/Frances Foster Bks. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-374-35122-9. LC 2010033107.
Gr 7 Up–Moritz, 16, struggles with the political climate and the realities of life in Germany near the end of World War I. He and his family feel the impact of the fighting acutely: Moritz’s father died serving his country, and his brother, Hans, is injured in battle. Schröder gracefully weaves in the effects of war throughout the novel without being overbearing. To make up for the absence of his father and Hans, who suffers even more psychologically than he does from his physical injuries, Moritz works at the local newspaper and steals food to supplement rations. Meanwhile, his aunt, mother, and sister, all disillusioned with the Kaiser’s government, become active in the socialist movement. Hope comes in the shape of two of Moritz’s relationships. His friendship with a Jewish teen, Rebecca, blossoms into an innocent romance, and Herr Goldmann, his newspaper colleague, stokes his passion for writing by giving him assignments for the paper. The author develops Moritz’s character through a series of difficult decisions he must make, some pitting him against his own family in a striking manner. The rushed ending foreshadows the anti-Semitic climate that developed in Germany in the years between the two World Wars. An author’s note contains further information about the complex political and social environment of the period. Libraries in need of fiction from the World War I era will find this an acceptable choice.–Hilary Writt, Sullivan University, Lexington, KY

SEIFERT, Christine. The Predicteds. 352p. Sourcebooks/Fire. 2011. Tr $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4022-6049-0; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4022-6051-3. LC number unavailable.
Gr 9 Up–Seifert takes the concept of futuristic profiling to a whole new level in this page-turner. PROFILE, an experimental program, can determine people’s future behaviors before they happen. After a school shooting, 16-year-old Daphne learns that the students at Quiet High are taking part in PROFILE. They learn who they’re going to be and are told to accept what is predicted–even when the outcomes are horrible. The author brings the reality of teen angst and struggle to life through Daphne and her love interest, Jesse. They are torn between their love for one another and the separate outcomes predicted by PROFILE. This novel demonstrates how people can be convinced that technology is infallible. Readers will become engrossed in the questions the couple must face throughout the novel. Will their love conquer all? Who controls your future? Can destiny be changed? How well does technology know the human spirit? This book will make readers appreciate the world around them.–Katie Hageman, Gar-Field High School, Woodbridge, VA

SHARIF, Medeia. Bestest. Ramadan. Ever. 312p. Flux. 2011. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-0-7387-2323-5; ebook $9.95. ISBN 978-0-7387-2851-3. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6-10–Fifteen-year-old weight-obsessed Almira is trying to fast through her first Ramadan. She looks forward to slimming down during the month. She and her best friend, Lisa, both develop a crush on the same boy and conflict ensues. Almira has to balance her religious beliefs, her parents’ expectations of her, and the pressure to “fit in.” The teen is described as being a size eight, and while she may feel chubby next to her exercise-obsessed mother (whom she consistently and somewhat creepily describes as “hot”), a girl who wears a size eight is not fat and neither is Ramadan a holy diet plan. Also, Lisa’s stupidity is played for laughs, although someone in an honors class not knowing that The Diary of Anne Frank was written by Anne Frank is hardly amusing. The book is too long, and Almira’s incessant whining about her size becomes tiresome. There is a sweet scene in which Almira goes to mosque and enjoys the experience of practicing her faith with other Muslims; during this passage she finally seems real and not a caricature of a weight-obsessed teen. While books with Muslim lead characters are needed, this one is an additional purchase for libraries in which Randa Abdel-Fattah’s (very fine) books are popular.–Kristin Anderson, Columbus Metropolitan Library System, OH

SIMNER, Janni Lee. Faerie Winter. 272p. CIP. Random. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86671-5; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-375-96671-2; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89683-5. LC 2010014250.
Gr 8 Up–In this sequel to Bones of Faerie (Random, 2009), Simner paints a hauntingly exquisite portrait of a postapocalyptic world. The war between the Mortal and Faerie worlds has had disastrous consequences. Faerie is destroyed, and humans are in the grips of a winter so deep that not even the green hearts of slumbering seeds can stir. Survivors live in small, huddled colonies, threatened by starvation and fearful of outsiders and all things magical. Like all children born after the war, Liza, 16, possesses magical abilities that society believes in suppressing. Along with the rest of her village, she and her mother await a spring they fear may never arrive. Then one evening a strange boy with badly burned hands stumbles from the woods, mumbling incoherently and hinting at terrible danger. Liza decides to investigate. What she discovers is a nightmare: a vengeful Faerie Queen has been tricking human children into using their powers to destroy what remains of humanity. Now Liza must find a way to stop the queen’s deadly plot and put an end to the winter before all is lost. But spring brings its own dangers…. Faerie Winter is a beautifully crafted tale, peopled with believable characters and overflowing with dramatic plot twists. But perhaps the most exceptional quality is the vivid imagery that plunges readers into the story and keeps them enchanted throughout. Fans of both fantasy and dystopian fiction will devour this one.–Alissa J. LeMerise, Oxford Public Library, MI

SLEATOR, William & Ann Monticone. The Phantom Limb. 207p. CIP. Abrams/Amulet. 2011. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8109-8428-8. LC 2011010396.
Gr 6-8–Isaac, new in town and friendless, is having a really bad time. His mother is in the hospital and his grandfather has started to forget things. When the 14-year-old finds a strange mirror box in the attic, he does a little research and discovers that it was once used to negate phantom pain in someone with an amputated limb. He discovers that Joey, the child who lived in the house before him, first lost a limb and then his life. Now Joey is using the mirror box to communicate with Isaac to potentially save his mother from the same psychotic killer. It’s up to Isaac and some newly found friends to rescue her from the hospital where she just keeps getting worse and worse. The premise for this thriller is promising, but the execution is not quite spot-on. Some plot points are a little confusing, and many kids will find the story predictable. Isaac’s character is believable and endearing, but other characters can be one-dimensional.–Jessica Miller, New Britain Public Library, CT

SMITH, Roland. The Surge. Bk. 2. 136p. (Storm Runners Series). CIP. Scholastic. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-08179-5; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-545-38832-0. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6-9–In Storm Runners (Scholastic, 2011), Chase Masters, 13, and his friends Nicole and Rashawn survived the storm of the century, Hurricane Emily. They made it safely to Nicole’s family farm, the winter home of the Rossi Brothers Circus. Now, floodwaters are rising and they must get to higher ground. This isn’t going to be easy because some lions have escaped their cages, and a leopard is on the loose. Oh, and there is a chained elephant in the barn that could give birth at any moment. The short chapters have headings that designate the time, giving a sense of urgency to the narrative, and they alternate between Chase and his friends and Mr. Masters, who is trying to get to the barn. Readers will want more of this fast-paced, exciting adventure, but will have to wait for the next installment in the series.–Shannon Seglin, Patrick Henry Library, Vienna, VA

SPRINGER, Kristina. Just Your Average Princess. 208p. CIP. Farrar. 2011. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-374-36150-1; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4299-6986-4. LC 2010036250.
Gr 7 Up–Jamie Edwards, 17, has loved growing up and working on her family’s pumpkin patch in Average, IL. This year is extra special as she can enter and become the Pumpkin Princess, a lifelong dream. Jamie thinks she is going to win the contest hands down. Her hope is shattered when her beautiful cousin, Milan Woods, moves to Average from Los Angeles for some unknown reason. Milan’s parents are celebrities, she is beautiful, and she has captured the attention of everyone in town (included Jamie’s crush). But the worst thing Milan does is decide to run for Pumpkin Princess. To keep her from winning the title, Jamie is determined to find out why her cousin is there and use that against her. In the process, she learns about the importance of family and putting one’s priorities in order. Fans of Catherine Gilbert Murdock’s Dairy Queen (Houghton Harcourt, 2006) and Jodi Lynn Anderson’s Peaches (HarperCollins, 2005) will enjoy this lighthearted, often humorous read.–Shannon Seglin, Patrick Henry Library, Vienna, VA

SPRINGSTUBB, Tricia. Mo Wren, Lost and Found. illus. by Heather Ross. 248p. CIP. HarperCollins/Balzer & Bray. 2011. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-06-199039-7; ebook $8.99. ISBN 978-0-06-209338-7. LC 2011001896.
Gr 3-6–Mo liked her life just the way it was when she lived on Fox Street. However, when her mom dies, everything seems to change. Her dad sells their house and moves the family to a new neighborhood where everything is different. Fox Street had everything: a player piano, the best burrito maker in the city, and, most of all, memories of her mother. In this sequel to What Happened on Fox Street (Harper Collins, 2010), Mo’s new home is an apartment over an old restaurant that Mo is certain has a curse on it. She doesn’t fit in at her new school and misses her friend Mercedes. The girls keep in touch mostly by phone, but Mercedes has problems of her own. Mo wonders if she will ever feel as if she really belongs on E. 213th Street, but she eventually makes some new friends and gains a new outlook on just what “home” really means. Readers will laugh and cry with Mo and will want to find a friend just like her.–Tammy DiBartolo, Rapides Parish Library, Alexandria, LA

STEINHÖFEL, Andreas. The Spaghetti Detectives. tr. from German by Chantal Wright. 168p. CIP. Scholastic/Chicken House. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-28975-7; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-545-38922-8. LC number unavailable.
Gr 3-6–Rico Doretti calls himself a “child proddity,” a scrambled word to describe his thought processes, a condition that lands him in special classes at school and keeps thoughts jumping through his brain like the ping-pong balls in the lotto-drawing drum. Similar to the character of Joey Pigza, Rico tends to view the world a little differently. When he makes friends with a true child prodigy, seven-year-old Oscar, the unlikely friendship allows Rico to put together clues and solve a serial kidnapping case that has had the police working overtime. While the story of a unique friendship is humorous and the insights into Rico’s perceptions of his world and his struggle to keep order and overcome fears are well written and colorful, many of the situations might not translate well for an American audience. Why Rico’s single mother chooses to leave an ADHD child alone for several days while she visits a relative or even why he is allowed to travel and maneuver the city by himself while a kidnapper is at large in his neighborhood might draw concern from some readers. The plot tends to drag along before coming to a tidy conclusion, but the characters are well developed and the story does offer an inside look at a youngster who marches to his own quirky beat.–Cheryl Ashton, Amherst Public Library, OH

STEWART, Kiera. Fetching. 296p. Hyperion/Disney. Nov. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-3845-7. LC number unavailable.
Gr 5-9–Hubert C. Frost Middle School is full of dogs of every type, with alphas in charge and lesser pack members doing their bidding. Or, rather, it is full of middle schoolers, all of whom have definite positions in the school’s social hierarchy. Unpopular eighth-grader Olivia and her equally unpopular friends from the Bored Game Club are constantly made the butt of practical jokes by kids in the clique that rules the school. Tiring of the bullying, Olivia decides to apply the dog-training techniques she has learned from her grandmother, a professional dog behaviorist, on her classmates. At first, the training seems to work beautifully. Olivia and her friends turn the tables on the kids who have been taunting them, and they find themselves becoming social leaders of the school. Predictably, however, Olivia finds that things aren’t as simple as they seem. She and her friends begin to behave just like the students who mistreated them, and Brynne, the mean popular girl, turns out to be extremely vulnerable and to have a lot in common with Olivia. As the class election approaches, Olivia feels so guilty that she confesses all to Brynne, who is outraged about having been trained like a dog and tells the whole school what has been going on. This is an entertaining, if predictable, read, and the protagonist is a sympathetic character, flaws and all. The details of the dog training are fairly accurate, and it is an amusing plot device. Give this one to tweens looking for a lighter take on mean girls and middle-school life.–Kathleen E. Gruver, Burlington County Library, Westampton, NJ

STIEFVATER, Maggie. The Scorpio Races. 408p. CIP. Scholastic. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-22490-1; ebook $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-38827-6. LC 2011015775.
Gr 8 Up–On the sea-battered and wind-swept isle of Thisby, fall brings the famed and feared capaill uisce, or water horses, and with them, death. These animals are bigger and faster than their terrestrial cousins, and they are carnivorous and predatory. Many islanders have lost family members to the beasts, including narrators Sean Kendrick and Kate Connely. For them, and others, the annual Scorpio Races are both a celebration and a grotesque spectacle. Island men test their mettle and risk their lives racing the water horses, capping a weeks-long festival. Sean, the island’s foremost horse expert, races Corr to win the money to finally buy the horse from his boss, Benjamin Malvern. Kate, aka Puck, races her land horse to save her family home from foreclosure by the same man. Both cannot win, and it is doubtful that both will survive. While there is plenty of action, conflict, excitement, and a heart-stopping climax, it is the slowly developing relationship between Kate and Sean that makes the book remarkable. Though different, they are both products of the island and have an intense love for Thisby that is not shared by all of the residents. Stiefvater makes readers care deeply for them, their desolate island, and even the monstrous water horses. The author takes great liberties with the Celtic myth, but the result is marvelous.–Anthony C. Doyle, Livingston High School, CA

TAK, Bibi Dumon. Soldier Bear. tr. from Dutch by Laura Watkinson. illus. by Philip Hopman. 144p. maps. photos. Eerdmans. 2011. Tr $13. ISBN 978-0-8028-5375-2. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-6–Inspired by true events during World War II, Tak tells the story of a bear who served in the Polish army. Despite its serious setting, most of the novel is lighthearted. Voytek is found by soldiers when he is a cub and is officially enlisted as a private, serving as an ammunition carrier and mascot for five years. His innocence and shenanigans bring about an incredible sense of humanity in the soldiers and everyone they meet, causing otherwise gruff, stoic figures to smile and joke. Voytek and the other animals that the company picks up along the way cheer the soldiers up and help them get through the difficulties of war. However, the hardships are mostly discussed in terms of missing friends and family and being far away from home. In one small section of a chapter, a soldier witnesses the deaths of two others and is grief stricken. This is followed by a touching encounter that is shared with the other soldiers, as well as Voytek, which for children will probably be more meaningful than a series of gruesome and abstract battles. In this way, the story is thought-provoking, but not overwhelming. The unit is stationed in the Middle East, transporting supplies and soldiers, so it’s a rather different perspective of World War II than most readers are used to. Black-and-white drawings appear throughout the book, which closes with photographs of the real Voytek and his friends. Kids are sure to fall in love with this bear while being gently introduced to war and being touched by the message of peace.–Kerry Roeder, Corlears School, New York City

TASHJIAN, Janet. My Life as a Stuntboy. illus. by Jake Tashjian. 256p. CIP. Holt/Christy Ottaviano Bks. 2011. Tr $13.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-8904-2. LC 2010029884.
Gr 4-7–Twelve-year-old Derek Fallon, from My Life as a Book (Holt, 2010), returns to face another school year and the dreaded task of reading. However, there are some bright spots in his days, including Frank, his capuchin monkey; his best friend, Matt; and the sport of parkour, which uses climbing, jumping, and running to get around obstacles. The boys’ friendship is tested when Derek’s parkour skills attract the interest of a Hollywood stuntman. Derek is ecstatic when he gets hired to be a “stuntboy,” but shocked when he discovers that he’s the double for a popular teen actress–and a pretty one, too. After his monkey is stolen, he needs all his friends and parkour skills to help with the rescue. Likely intended for the Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Abrams, 2007) crowd, this book won’t disappoint Greg Heffley’s fans, even if Tashjian’s humor is milder than Kinney’s sharp wit. The details about parkour and a behind-the-scenes peek at filmmaking add interesting information. Stick-figure illustrations cleverly show Derek’s practice of drawing his vocabulary words, e.g., the sketch for “analyze” has a stick figure boy scratching his head while staring at a blackboard. They add depth when depicting words readers may find unfamiliar, such as “heinous” and “reverie.” However, a great number of them (“gymnasium,” “nerdy”) need no explanation and are simply humorous. A fast-moving plot and relatable protagonist make this stand-alone sequel a good choice for boys who, like Derek, would rather reach for a TV remote or game controller than a book.–M. Kozikowski, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY

TAYLOR, Laini. Daughter of Smoke and Bone. 420p. CIP. Little, Brown. 2011. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-316-13402-6; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-316-19214-9. LC 2010045802.
Gr 9 Up–Blue-haired Karou is 17, and, in addition to her unusual tresses, has other intriguing aspects to her personality. She supports her life as an art student in Prague by running errands for her foster parent, a supernatural chimera named Brimstone. These errands, which take Karou through strange portals to strange places to meet with even stranger individuals, reap rewards not only of money, but also wishes. Taylor builds a thoroughly tangible fantasy world wherein a complex parallel universe competes with far-flung geographic locales for gorgeously evoked images. Karou herself is a well-rendered character with convincing motivations: artistic and secretive, she longs for emotional connection and a sense of completeness. Her good friend Zuzana goes some way toward mitigating Karou’s solitude, but a sour breakup with beautiful bad boy Kaz has left her feeling somewhat bereft. Taylor leads readers from this deceptively familiar trope into a turbulent battle between supernatural species: angel-beings seek the destruction of demonlike chimera in revenge for the burning of the archive of the seraph magi. The more Karou discovers about the battle, however, the less simple good and evil appear; the angels are not divine, the chimera are not evil, and genocide is apparently acceptable to both sides in this otherworldly war. Initially, the weakest part of the story appears to be the love story between Karou and Akiva, an angel of “shocking beauty”; there is little to support their instant bond until their true connection is disclosed. The suspense builds inexorably, and the philosophical as well as physical battles will hold action-oriented readers. The unfolding of character, place, and plot is smoothly intricate, and the conclusion is a beckoning door to the next volume.–Janice M. Del Negro, GSLIS Dominican University, River Forest, IL

URSU, Anne. Breadcrumbs. 312p. CIP. HarperCollins/Walden Pond. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-201505-1; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-204924-7. LC 2010045666.
Gr 5-8–Hazel Anderson’s 10-year-old world is teetering on the unsteady foundation of her parents’ separation, as she is now at a new school where she feels like an outsider, both as a dreamer and as an adoptee from South Asia. She is bullied and misunderstood, and her best friend, Jack, is spending more time with his male friends than with her. When a demon drops a shard of an enchanted mirror into his eye and he becomes drugged and manic under its influence, he accompanies the Snow Queen into the woods. During her search for him, Hazel’s realistic world collides with surreal fantasy and she is thrown into the eerie, threatening woods of broken and transformed fairy tales. She encounters shadowy threats in the form of creepy, unscrupulous adults who have their own agendas and victims: a girl ensnared in the body of a bird, and children trapped as flowers. Hazel’s challenge consists largely in persisting in her quest to rescue Jack despite her insecurity about their friendship and the lack of a breadcrumb path in a confusing world. Unlike the triumphant ending of Andersen’s “Snow Queen,” Hazel’s rescue of Jack and its aftermath is realistically bittersweet. Jack is who he is, a boy who is growing away from her. It is Hazel who is changed by her experience, and who learns to approach her life with positive energy. Although this is a fantasy, its grounding in psychological realism and focus on Hazel’s feelings makes it a fine choice for readers who prefer realistic fiction. Ursu’s multilayered, dreamlike story stands out from the fantasy/quest pack.–Sue Giffard, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, New York City

VALENTINO, Amanda & Peter Silsbee. Revealed. Bk. 2. 226p. (The Amanda Project). CIP. HarperTeen. 2011. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-0-06-174215-6. LC 2010042673.
Gr 7 Up–This novel begins where Invisible I (HarperTeen, 2009) left off. Earlier events are alluded to, and some are explained, but it’s best to have read the first title. Invisible was narrated by Callie; now Hal picks up the story. They are two of the three students implicated in Amanda’s disappearance by Vice Principal Thornhill, who was attacked in his office and is in a coma. Amanda is still missing, yet she seems to know what the three are up to. Hal, Nia, and Callie have launched a website called The Amanda Project, and people are posting Amanda sightings and clues, but they don’t add up to anything substantial. The interactive website contains profiles, quizzes, and a teacher/librarian kit for downloading. Readers who register may contribute clues, art, and playlist suggestions. Teens will rapidly turn the pages of this tautly written mystery to reach an ending that leaves fans panting for the third installment.–Brenda Kahn, Tenakill Middle School, Closter, NJ

VAN RIJCKEGHEM, Jean-Claude & Pat Van Beirs. A Sword in Her Hand. tr. from Flemish by John Nieuwenhuizen. 288p. CIP. Annick, dist. by Firefly. 2011. Tr $21.95. ISBN 978-1-55451-291-1; pap. $12.95. ISBN 978-1-55451-290-4. LC 20109072464.
Gr 7-9–Through a broad reimagining of the life of Marguerite von Male, the last heiress of the Count of Flanders, the repression, ugliness, and grandeur of the Middle Ages are brought to life. Despite her mother’s many pregnancies and labors, Marguerite remains the sole offspring of the Count of Flanders. Repeatedly told by her father that she is unwanted and a joke, Marguerite withdraws from him. Despising the normal trappings of young womanhood, she plays pranks and secretly takes fencing lessons. Soon after her 14th birthday, she is betrothed to Prince Edmund, the youngest son of the British king. Although initially resistant, Marguerite is wooed through letters; after Edmund’s visit greatly disappoints, she enters into a new arrangement with Philip, nephew to the French king. Although the authors include a massive amount of information about 14th-century Belgian court life, history, fencing, and other matters involving Middle Ages nobility, they manage to incorporate such details through memorable and fascinating characters and scenes. Gruesome events are handled with frankness. Back matter includes notes about the real Marguerite (1348-1405) and the authors’ writing process. Although the story is in the same vein as other historical fiction featuring brave young women flailing against the social conventions of their time, the deft characterization of Marguerite and the sumptuous details woven throughout this captivating novel will engage readers.–Jennifer Schultz, Fauquier County Public Library, Warrenton, VA

VERNICK, Shirley Reva. The Blood Lie. 160p. Cinco Puntos. 2011. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-1-933693-84-2. LC number unavailable.
Gr 7 Up–The year is 1928. Jack Poole, 16, wants nothing more than to leave his small, insular upstate New York town to study music in Syracuse. This ambition is a welcome distraction from his yearning for Emaline, a girl he cannot date because he is Jewish and she is Christian. The depth of the town’s anti-Semitism is revealed when Emaline??s sister goes missing, and Jack is accused of her murder. Investigators assume that Yom Kippur involves human sacrifice and the use of children’s blood for religious ceremonies. The plot twist may seem improbable, so young people will be fascinated to read in the afterword that the novel is closely based on an incident that occurred in the author’s hometown of Massena, NY. The dialogue and details about the characters’ social world seem historically accurate and carefully researched, and readers will have a sense of being transported to 1928 while identifying with the characters’ universal desires and feelings. The action in this concise novel is extremely compressed. This makes for a fast, if at times unsatisfying, read because teens might long for a deeper, more-nuanced knowledge of the characters. Still, the historical accuracy is impressive, and Vernick gives teens a terrifying view of America’s recent history that is absolutely crucial. This book would be a fine addition to a social-studies curriculum.–Jess deCourcy Hinds, Bard H.S. Early College, Queens, NY

VIEHL, Lynn. After Midnight. Bk. 1. 346p. (A Youngbloods Novel). Flux. 2011. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-0-7387-2632-8; ebook $9.95. ISBN 978-0-7387-2792-9. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8-10–Since her parents’ deaths when she was young, Catlyn Youngblood, a sophomore, has never stayed in one place long enough to call it home. She dreams of the day when she can settle down with her adult brothers and live a normal teenage life. She gets her wish when the family moves to Lost Lake, FL, but things quickly become complicated. Not only does she have a difficult time fitting in at school, but she also senses that something in not quite right in her new surroundings. Horseback riding late one night, Catlyn meets Jesse Raven, a good-looking but mysterious boy to whom she is immediately drawn. She learns that his family is surrounded by secrets and that these secrets are rooted in the history of Lost Lake. Between their nightly rendezvous and Catlyn’s investigation, she discovers that her family and the Ravens are linked in ways she never expected. After Midnight is an engaging read that is full of suspense, intrigue, and romance. Viehl addresses issues such as loyalty to family while being true to oneself, all woven in with a paranormal setting. However, while certain parts are intense, the pacing is a bit off and at points seems to drag. The ending is also a bit rushed with so much happening that readers will be left wanting more. Fans will have to wait for the next installment.–Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NY

VILLAREAL, Ray. Don’t Call Me Hero. 202p. Piñata. 2011. pap. $10.95. ISBN 978-1-55885-711-7. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6-10–Rawly Sanchez struggles with a brother in prison, working at his mom’s Mexican restaurant that isn’t doing too well, an unrequited crush, and a best friend who may not be truly a friend. He loves comic books and heroes. In a not so subtle plot device, he is in the right place at the right time, and he saves a woman who gets caught in a flash flood. The rescue is captured by the local news, and the woman turns out to be a famous model. Rawly is hailed a hero, suddenly dealing with the spotlight and all it brings: popularity, girls, jealousy, advice on how to collect money, and, most importantly, who he is and what he really believes. The ending is a bit abrupt, but, on the plus side, not all of the threads are resolved neatly. This is a welcome addition for libraries short on books about Latino males.–Amy Cheney, Alameda County Library, Oakland, CA

VOLPONI, Paul. Crossing Lines. 242p. CIP. Viking. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-670-01214-5; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-1-101-52904-1. LC 2010033292.
Gr 9 Up–Adonis is a football player. He’s not the quarterback. He’s not a leader. He’s not the star. So when an effeminate transfer student named Alan starts at his school, and all his football-player friends resolve to make fun of him, Adonis is trapped. He can’t go against his friends because he doesn’t want to be ridiculed, too. Things become even more complicated when his sister Jeannie and girlfriend Melody form a close friendship with Alan, who eventually starts coming to school wearing lipstick and calling himself Alana. When they are paired together in a school project, Adonis gets to know Alana better and realizes that, while he’s still struggling to discover his identity, he’s not the monster that his friends make him out to be. When a foul plot to humiliate Alana during a public fashion show is revealed, Adonis has a decision to make. Does he say nothing? Or does he stand up for what he thinks is right? While this title highlights the relevant issue of LGBT bullying, Adonis’s crisis of conscience comes a little too late. He spends the early half of the story thinking that Alan is disgusting and wrong, so much so that his redemptive turn at the end seems almost out of character. However, focusing neither on Alan/Alana nor the true bully, Ethan, the story convincingly presents the perspective of the guy uncomfortably stuck in the middle.–Ryan Donovan, New York Public Library

WALTERS, Eric. I’ve Got an Idea. 208p. CIP. Fitzhenry & Whiteside. 2011. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-55455-119-4. LC number unavailable.
Gr 5-8–Alex and Sam have been best friends since kindergarten. They are known as “brainers,” so sixth grade has not been particularly easy for them. All that changes when Twilight Stevens joins their class. Twilight tells the two boys that she overheard the principal say that they are dangerous. Sure, they have gotten into a little trouble at school, but nothing that could be described as dangerous. When she convinces them to sneak out of their New Jersey home and go to New York City for a rock concert, things do get dangerous for the three. Just getting around in a large city is frightening, and then there is Skully, the street-smart teenager who threatens the boys. The story gets off to a slow start, the situations are predictable, and the characters are not well developed, so readers never really get to know them.–Tammy DiBartolo, Rapides Parish Library, Alexandria, LA

WATSON, Paul E. The Robot. 264p. Penguin/Razorbill. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59514-372-3; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-1-10154-326-9. LC number unavailable.
Gr 7 Up–Gabe and Dover, both 15, have been friends for as long as they both can remember. Outgoing and boisterous Dover encourages more nerdy and shy Gabe to break out of his shell. One of the ways to do this, Dover argues, is for Gabe to defy his inventor father by breaking into his private lab while his parents are on vacation. The boys are unprepared when they discover Mr. Messner’s latest project, the lifelike automaton T.R.I.N.A. After activating her by accident, the boys race to put her back before Gabe’s father gets home. What ensues is a wild journey involving a trip to New York City, two National Security agents, and one Dr. Phil. While at times incredibly corny, this novel may prove to be the type of book that works best in luring reluctant adolescent males into the world of reading. The idea of two love-starved boys finding the perfect “woman” is hardly original, but the twisty, action-packed climax is sure to thrill readers searching for a dynamic story. While the boys resort to high fives much too often, the narrative is paced well enough that readers can forgive some of the teens’ juvenile antics.–Ryan Donovan, New York Public Library

WEBB, Philip. Six Days. 340p. CIP. Scholastic/Chicken House. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-31767-2; ebook $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-38829-0. LC 2010054233.
Gr 5-8–A science-fiction story that’s a mixture of 2001 A Space Odyssey and apocalyptical literature. Cass, 15, and her family spend their days picking through a London destroyed by poison gas. Working for the Vlads, their Russian masters, they are living in hovels and attempting to find “the artifact.” No one knows what it is, until Cass discovers her brother, Wilbur, in Big Ben with a stranger from an ancient spaceship. They end up traveling into space with Peyto and Erin, who have just woken up after thousands of year of sleep in pods on a mysteriously alive ship called Aeolus, which holds other slumbering captives. Both of the aliens have a flinder. The ship believes that this is what the Vlads seek, and if it is not brought back in six days, the world will be destroyed. But can the ship be trusted? Unfortunately, Wilbur and Cass learn of the flinder just as the Vlads find them. The story is not for the fainthearted as the kids encounter dead bodies and live in a violent world. Cass’s language is inconsistent slang. The constant use of “cos” for “because” can be distracting. The characters are emotionally flat so readers don’t feel much for them even when Cass and Wilbur’s grandfather is shot in front of them. The story, however, is fast paced and does have adventure that keeps readers’ turning the pages, although Adam Rex’s The True Meaning of Smekday (Hyperion, 2007) might be a better recommendation for fans of the genre.–Clare A. Dombrowski, Amesbury Public Library, MA

WILSON, N. D. The Dragon’s Tooth. Bk. 1. 496p. (Ashtown Burials Series). Random. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86439-1; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-375-96439-8. LC 2009038651.
Gr 5-8–The Order of Brendan is an underground collective of sages, historians, and explorers who’ve been guarding the world’s secrets for millennia. On an unseasonably warm summer evening, a mysterious tattooed man arrives at the rundown motel that Cyrus and Antigone Smith and their older brother Dan call home. Before perishing in a bizarre shoot-out, he gifts Cyrus with a set of keys and hints at his father’s involvement in the Order. Morning finds the motel destroyed, Dan kidnapped, and Cyrus and Antigone are plunged headlong into an exciting and dangerous world and pursued by a deadly advisory who will do anything to possess their strange inheritance. Their only hope is to claim birthright admission into an organization they know nothing of–and that may not entirely welcome their presence. They soon discover that the fate of the Order–and of the entire world–is in their hands. This volume marks the birth of an extraordinary new series. Populated with well-crafted characters, peppered with mythological references, and brought to vivid life through Wilson’s masterful storytelling, this book is sure to appeal to the adventurous spirit in all who delve into its pages.–Alissa J. LeMerise, Oxford Public Library, MI

YEP, Laurence. Dragons of Silk. 340p. (Golden Mountain Chronicles: 1835-2011). bibliog. CIP. HarperCollins. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-027518-1. LC 2011016553.
Gr 5 Up–This final installment in the series tells the tale of three generations. The connections they have are more than blood-relation ties. They are also bonded together by their affinity for silk. Based on Chinese mythology, which is also rich with silk, the family’s story is presented in varying first-person accounts in a five-part process. Generations are represented from the years 1835, 1881, 1932, 1962, and 2011. Throughout these parts, readers see the changing dynamic of the silk industry, from the days when the silkworms were grown and cultivated in China in one’s own home to the age of industry, when factories and sweatshops line the streets in and around San Francisco’s Chinatown. Changes are noted also in the way the family functions; in the 1800s, the relatives do what is necessary to help one another. In the 1962 to 2011 accounts, the women push youngsters to reach for their dreams rather than settling for the norm. The result is a success story that encourages belief in self and encouragement to strive for a goal. This story not only provides readers with a brief history of China and Chinese immigration, but also gives them a boost of confidence to reach for the stars when all they might see is impossibility.–Kathryn Kennedy, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA

YOLEN, Jane. Snow in Summer: Fairest of Them All. 244p. CIP. Philomel. Nov. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25663-9. LC 2010044242.
Gr 5-7–As she did in Briar Rose (Tor, 1992), Yolen retells a classic fairy tale. The protagonist, named Snow in Summer but called Summer by her doting parents, is enjoying an idyllic childhood in post-Depression Appalachia. Papa’s singing accompanies all he does, and both his garden and Summer thrive because of his attention. Mama surrounds her daughter with her warmth and love. But when Mama and her new baby are lost in childbirth, Summer and her father find themselves lost. Cousin Nancy attempts to fill the void for Summer, but Papa becomes more distant with each passing day, spending every evening playing music at his wife’s gravestone. When he returns from the cemetery one evening with a new woman on his arm, Cousin Nancy warns that he has been besotted by a witch. So begins Summer’s journey toward a showdown with Stepmama. Yolen’s “Snow White” follows the familiar path of the childhood story but adapts well to its more modern setting and characters. Period details feel authentic to both the time and the story line. The use of Appalachian turns of phrase may leave some readers stumped, but the language adds to the story’s firm grounding in its new setting. A well-imagined and well-told addition to collections of retold fairy tales.–Colleen S. Banick, Tomlinson Middle School, Fairfield, CT

ZEVIN, Gabrielle. All These Things I’ve Done. Bk. 1. 354p. (Birthright Series). CIP. Farrar. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-374-30210-8; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4229-3376-6. LC 2010035873.
Gr 8 Up–Anya Balanchine, 16, is trying to get through high school with the weight of being the daughter of New York City’s deceased and most notorious crime boss, who ran the Family’s chocolate trade. It’s 2083, and chocolate and alcohol are illegal, and the city is bankrupt, corrupt, and crime infested. Anya’s days are spent keeping tabs on her younger sister and older, but slightly brain-damaged, brother. Then she finds herself accused of attempted murder when her ex-boyfriend falls deathly ill from the contraband chocolate she shared with him, and she is sent to a juvenile prison. Once released, she has to deal with her scheming mafia family and the fact that the irresistibly cute son of the new number two in the district attorney’s office is her lab partner. Anya is a pragmatic heroine, strong and smart. Zevin throws a lot at her leading lady, and the teen deals with it all in a realistic way. The story is incredibly compelling–an intriguing future with a classic tale of star-crossed lovers. Readers will be racing to find out the sequel’s release date as soon as they finish the last page. All These Things I’ve Done has exceptional teen appeal.–Emily Chornomaz, Camden County Library System, NJ

Nonfiction

BERNSTEIN, Richard. A Girl Named Faithful Plum: The True Story of a Dancer from China and How She Achieved Her Dream. 272p. photos. CIP. Knopf. 2011. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86960-0; PLB $18.99. ISBN 978-0-375-96960-7; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98434-1. LC 2010048722.
Gr 5 Up–In 1978, 11-year-old Li Zhongmei traveled for three days and two nights from her remote town on the Chinese-Soviet Union border to Beijing to audition for the Beijing Dance Academy. Despite her lack of connections, she was one of a dozen girls chosen from more than 60,000 applicants. In addition to the rigorous curriculum, she faced ridicule from her urbane classmates and teachers for being a “country bumpkin,” and initially was unable to take the required Fundamentals of Ballet class. Despite many hardships, Zhongmei became one of China’s most famous ballet dancers. Written by her husband, the book reads more like a novel than a biography; it’s full of re-created dialogue, letters, and visual detail. The vivid descriptions bring China in the post-Cultural Revolution, pre-Tiananmen Square era to life. While the book does not discuss present-day China, it mentions that the country was extremely poor at the time and that living conditions are different today. Unlike Li Cunxin’s Mao’s Last Dancer (Walker, 2008), this volume focuses less on politics and more on Zhongmei’s struggles to succeed as a dancer. Readers of ballet stories and biographies, such as Siena Cherson Siegel’s To Dance (S & S/Atheneum, 2006), will enjoy seeing how Chinese ballet differs from Western styles and appreciate Zhongmei’s long hours of hard work and practice.–Jennifer Rothschild, Prince George’s County Memorial Library System, Oxon Hill, MD

BRIMNER, Larry Dane. Black & White: The Confrontation between Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth and Eugene “Bull” Connor. 112p. photos. further reading. index. notes. Calkins Creek. Nov. 2011. RTE $16.95. ISBN 978-1-59078-766-3. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6 Up–The relative fame of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rosa Parks tends to obscure other primary, important players in the Civil Rights Movement. One of these was the Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth, a Baptist minister who served churches in Alabama from the late 1940s to the early 1960s. Committed to his belief in the equality of all people before God, he was the driving force in bringing about the integration of Birmingham; and in this endeavor, he had help from a most unexpected source. Eugene “Bull” Connor was the Birmingham Commissioner of Public Safety and strong proponent of the city’s segregation ordinances. His enforcement techniques were legendary: dogs, fire hoses, brutality. Klan supported and driven by a set of beliefs as strong as, but counter to, Shuttlesworth’s, Connor was in large part responsible for turning the tide of public opinion in favor of civil-rights progress. In this highly pictorial book, Brimner limns the characters of both men and the ways in which their belief systems and personalities interacted to eliminate segregation from the Birmingham statutes. Black-and-white pages and red sidebars containing supporting information on topics such as the murder of Emmet Till and Autherine Lucy’s attempt to integrate the University of Alabama make this a visually arresting book. The writing style is lively and informative. A brief bibliography, excellent source notes, and a sound index round out this volume, which can stand alongside Russell Freedman’s Freedom Walkers (Holiday House, 2006) and Brimner’s own Birmingham Sunday (Calkins Creek, 2010) as fine examples of both civil-rights history and photo-biographies.–Ann Welton, Helen B. Stafford Elementary, Tacoma, WA

BURGAN, Michael. Ronald Reagan. 128p. photos. bibliog. chron. further reading. DK. 2011. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-7566-7075-7; pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-0-7566-7074-0; ebook $4.99. ISBN 978-0-7566-7739-8. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-8–This pocket-sized volume chronicles the life of our 40th president. With at least two additional photos or a boxed inset on each spread, there is enough variety in the layout to break up the text. Still, with an overall size of 5 x 8 inches, it hardly qualifies as “a photographic story of a life.” It is really Burgan’s accessible voice that carries the story as he covers Reagan’s life from birth to death. Descriptions of his early career as a radio announcer reading telegrams and making up the visuals while broadcasting baseball games are a convincing depiction of his ability to create a good story and punt when necessary. While coverage of the Iran-Contra issue indicates this is not completely laudatory, the general impression is that President Reagan was a nice old man who was well liked by his colleagues and even his challengers. Much space is spent on his fight against communism and how his efforts and relationship with Mikhail Gorbachev brought an end to the Cold War. Additional sources and a bibliography don’t include resources specifically for kids, but offer a variety of media that may prove useful.–Janet S. Thompson, Chicago Public Library

BURRIS, Judy & Wayne Richards. The Secret Lives of Backyard Bugs. photos by authors et al. 128p. diags. glossary. index. CIP. Storey. 2011. Tr $24.95. ISBN 978-1-60342-985-6; pap. $14.95. ISBN 978-1-60342-563-6; ebook $14.95. ISBN 978-1-60342-707-4. LC 2010051177.
Gr 4-6–The life cycles of more than three dozen common insects and a smattering of spiders are examined in a smooth blend of text and photos. The book outlines a garden’s seasonal cycles, explains the process of metamorphosis (complete and incomplete), and then profiles a variety of groups and individual species of arthropods. In each section–mostly spreads–short paragraphs of text and extended picture captions describe the featured “bugs’” distinctive physical and behavioral characteristics at each developmental stage; their diets; host plants; defense mechanisms, etc. A series of different-sized, sharp, color close-ups depicts their metamorphosis; about two thirds of the sections show the egg stage. Among the insects profiled are ladybugs, hoverflies, aphids, and butterflies. An abbreviated section on spiders describes general characteristics of orb-weavers, lie-in-waits, jumpers, and the Black Widow. The well-organized text is clearly written, peppered with engaging personal anecdotes and observations of the author/photographer team. While Melissa Stewart’s Maggots, Grubs, and More (Millbrook, 2003) describes the characteristics of seven of the same insects in more detail, this title profiles a greater number of arthropods and offers more visual detail on their development. Young naturalists wanting to identify the backyard “bugs” they encounter will find this book easy to use.–Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public Library

DAVIES, Nicola. Talk, Talk, Squawk!: A Human’s Guide to Animal Communication. illus. by Neal Layton. 64p. glossary. index. CIP. Candlewick. Nov. 2011. RTE $14.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5088-9. LC 2010040794.
Gr 3-6–This creative team adds to its cheeky series with this volume devoted to animal communication. Through an upbeat, conversational narrative, Davies introduces youngsters to key methods of communication (such as uniforms, smells, sounds, songs, and body language), important messages (“one of us,” “danger,” “keep out,” “I am gorgeous,” “Where are you?,” etc.), why communication is important, and examples from a wide variety of animal species. In organizing her material, Davies uses headings that range from the straightforward “Long-Distance Calls” and “Where’s My Baby?” to some less intuitive choices like “Simply Divine” and “Happy Families.” As a result, the volume might not function quite as well as a quick reference, but the engaging prose and Layton’s comical cartoons provide enough interest to tempt students and browsers into a closer reading. Layton’s liberally anthropomorphized and scribbled out cartoons, which convey an active imagination and silly sense of humor, set the tone and play off the more interesting examples in the narrative. A glossary clarifies scientific terms that aren’t defined in the text, and an index lists the animals and some types of signals mentioned. More detailed and lighthearted than Steve Jenkins’s Slap, Squeak and Scatter (Houghton, 2001), Talk, Talk, Squawk! is entertaining and worthwhile.–Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MI

DENENBERG, Barry. Titanic Sinks!: Experience the Titanic ’s Doomed Voyage in This Unique Presentation of Fact and Fiction. 72p. photos. bibliog. notes. Viking. Nov. 2011. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-670-01243-5. LC number unavailable.
Gr 3-8–Using the form of a fictional magazine from the early part of the 20th century, Denenberg brings the story of the Titanic to life in a way that is both informative and accessible. From its earliest inception, shipping line White Star’s plan was to compete in the transatlantic travel business with the German company Cunard, not in speed but in luxury accommodations. In this they succeeded, building three ships nearly simultaneously that were the biggest ever seen, and easily the most elegant, becoming the very definition of luxury transport. Headlined articles provide information about the construction of Titanic, as well as the various features that set the ship apart from other ocean liners. The events surrounding its collision with an iceberg and sinking are shared through the “journals” of a fictional reporter aboard the vessel, though actual details are based on established fact. Period photographs and key players such as Captain Smith, White Star Chairman Bruce Ismay, and others perfectly complement the magazine format and draw readers into the story and the period. Readers with little more than a passing knowledge of the Titanic will find this an excellent introduction to the topic, and those possessing more facts will find plenty of meat in the details to keep them engaged. Librarians looking to update their collections on Titanic as the 100th anniversary approaches will find this to be an interesting and unique addition.–Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA

EBNER, Aviva, ed. Environmental Science Experiments. 140p. ISBN 978-1-60413-851-1; ISBN 978-1-4381-3643-1. LC 2010011204.
–––– . Forensic Science Experiments. 155p. ISBN 978-1-60413-850-4; ISBN 978-1-4381-3611-0. LC 2010011203.
ea vol: (Experiments for Future Scientists Series). charts. diags. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Chelsea House. 2011. PLB $35.; ebook $35.
Gr 5-8–These books will help students discover and appreciate science. Solar stills, model landfills, handwriting analysis, and DNA extraction are just a few of the topics included. Each of the 20 experiments opens with a brief introduction that includes a little background information and an explanation of the activity. The extensive supply lists, clear illustrations, and data tables offer useful guidance. Unfortunately the sometimes vague or absent instructions will leave students puzzled, so these experiments are best done with the close supervision of an adult. While some of them can be done at home, others require a well-equipped lab and specialized materials. The “Further Reading” choices are not the best, with some of titles being tomes of information well above the heads of the intended audience and others outdated or out of print. With the wealth of new materials available about these quickly changing fields, this section is a missed opportunity. Each title includes a “Scope & Sequence Chart” and “Tips for Teachers.”–Heather Acerro, Rochester Public Library, MN

GISH, Melissa. Bison. ISBN 978-1-60818-077-6. LC 2010028305.
–––– . Jaguars. ISBN 978-1-60818-079-0. LC 2010028315.
ea vol: 48p. (Living Wild Series). map. photos. reprods. bibliog. glossary. index. CIP. Creative Education. 2011. PLB $23.95.
Gr 5-7–At first glance, these books appear to be for a young audience. However, by page 10, they get a lot meatier in tone and content. Each one offers a population map and an array of interesting facts. Photography is large and beautiful–a real draw. Extensive indexes, glossaries, and even animal folklore round out each title. There are quite a few books on these subjects, mostly for younger audiences. These are worthwhile additions for research and browsing.–Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI

HAGGLUND, Betty. Epic Treks. illus. by Peter Bull. 64p. (Epic Adventure Series). charts. maps. photos. reprods. chron. glossary. index. Kingfisher. 2011. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-7534-6668-1. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-7–Positively festooned with an array of maps, photos, time lines, and period prints, this account of 19th- and early-20th-century exploratory ventures–conducted by Lewis and Clark, Stanley and Livingstone, Burke and Wills (across Australia), and, in a double dose of the Antarctic, by Amundsen and Scott–offers feasts for both the eyes and the imaginations of budding travelers. Slipping in short text blocks and captions among visual matter that fills the large pages and multiple gatefolds, Hagglund presents biographical profiles of each explorer and lays out the expedition’s historical background, rationale, gear, course, observations, major discoveries, and (all too often) tragic reverses. Though the author’s language is sometimes Eurocentric, there are at least occasional visual and verbal references to indigenous peoples, and the highlighted historical figures aren’t always cast in entirely heroic molds. Nonetheless, though this will certainly kindle or heighten interest in finding out more about the achievements of these and other doughty explorers, surveys like Stewart Ross’s Into the Unknown (Candlewick, 2011) or Marc Aronson’s The World Made New (National Geographic, 2007) will provide readers with broader, more balanced contexts.–John Peters, formerly at New York Public Library

HAMBY, Zachary. Greek Mythology for Teens: Classic Myths in Today ’ s World. illus. by author. 199p. reprods. bibliog. CIP. Prufrock. 2011. pap. $19.95. ISBN 978-1-59363-717-0. LC 2011016960.
Gr 7 Up–This follow-up to the author’s Mythology for Teens (Prufrock, 2009) takes a unique approach to introducing ancient tales. Ranging from “Orpheus & Eurydice” to “Daedalus and Icarus” to “The Golden Touch,” various myths are presented in the form of reader’s theater–crisply scripted and ready to act out in the classroom. Nine chapters are organized according to a broad theme (e.g., “The Power of Music,” “Wisdom vs. Intelligence,” “Greed”). Each one includes a play designed to run between 25 and 40 minutes. In addition, a wealth of background information provides additional insights into the characters and ideas, highlights examples of Greek history and culture, and makes connections to other works of art as well as modern-day perceptions. While the organization works well for exploring thematic units, individuals wanting to know if a specific myth is included will be frustrated as the tales are not listed in the table of contents and there is no index. Hamby also includes quotes from ancient sources–Ovid and Hesiod, for the most part–and summations of related myths, neatly tying the package together and encouraging youngsters to read further. Sidebars offer topics for additional discussion and analysis, writing prompts, ideas for further research, fun facts, and more, all intended to stimulate creativity and active learning. The scripts present adequate retellings of the myths, souped up with touches of contemporary language and eye-rolling humor just right for a teen audience. All in all, a great way to bring these stories to life.–Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal

HERRERA, Nicholas as told to Elisa Amado. High Riders, Saints and Death Cars: A Life Saved by Art. photos by John T. Denne. 56p. CIP. Groundwood. 2011. Tr $24.95. ISBN 978-0-88899-854-5. LC C2010-905905-0.
Gr 9 Up–It’s a fortunate teenager who will come across this beautifully produced art book and its subject, self-taught folk-artist Nicholas Herrera. Not only does he describe his creative process, inspirations, and technique, but he also speaks frankly about his wild youth, bad behavior, and the consequences thereof. Using found materials, including parts of cars and motorcycles, he creates vivid sculptures full of drama and danger. Whether cautioning viewers against such vices as alcohol and drug use, calling attention to situations that he finds unjust, or telling stories from his own life and the lives of his friends, Herrera’s work is strong, masculine, and attention-grabbing. The vocabulary and sentence structure are simple and declarative, matching the strong colors and blocky shapes of the art. Photographs of Herrera, his work, his surroundings, and the people who have influenced him keep the book grounded in the real world. The book’s weak spot–though not a critical one–is its organization, which darts from Herrera’s beliefs about water rights to his love of automobiles or to his daughter, for example, with no transitions and no section heads. An exceptional book, especially for schools with a strong art program, any manner of focus on folk- and traditionally inspired art, or Latino students.–Paula Willey, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MD

HUNTER, Zach. Be the Change: Your Guide to Freeing Slaves and Changing the World. rev. ed. 169p. Web sites. CIP. Zondervan. 2011. Tr $9.99. ISBN 978-0-310-72611-1; ebook $8.99. ISBN 978-0-310-72612-8. LC 2011017986.
Gr 8-11–In seventh grade, Hunter started an organization called Loose Change to Loosen Chains, to raise money for groups that rescue slaves. With this update to his Be the Change (Zondervan, 2007), the 19-year-old abolitionist continues his campaign to raise awareness about human trafficking. Motivating teens to action, he shares his personal experiences and encounters with other modern-day humanitarians. Hunter has an easy, conversational tone and maintains an upbeat, empowering outlook. Inspired by the 2006 movie Amazing Grace, he mentions Christian idealist William Wilberforce and others depicted in the movie. He asks readers to “consider what that must have been like” to suffer under oppression or to fight for their beliefs. “Just the facts” sidebars offer statistical data from named sources (e.g., U.S. State Department, UNICEF) but no dates. Compared to the original, this revision offers minimal changes. The preface states, “we decided to leave my 14-year-old voice and writing intact.” The majority of new material consists of a few paragraphs about agencies of social change and supplementary sentences to some personal stories. End-of-chapter discussion questions remain the same. While websites have been updated, only some statistical data in “Just the facts” has been changed. The discussions of abolition and trafficking are mostly anecdotal, more suited to general readers than report writers. With little difference between editions, this is an optional purchase.–June Shimonishi, Torrance Public Library, CA

JUSTER, Norton. The Annotated Phantom Tollbooth . intro. and notes by Leonard S. Marcus. illus. by Jules Feiffer. 320p. illus. photos. appendix. bibliog. index. 2011. Tr $29.99. ISBN 978-0-375-85715-7; PLB $32.99. ISBN 978-0-375-95715-4. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6 Up–Feiffer’s original, whimsical, black-and-white illustrations accompany the humorous text in this expanded new edition with copious insightful and extensive annotations. In an introduction that includes photos, copies of Juster’s notes, early cartoons by Feiffer, quotes from interviews with the author and illustrator and many sources, Marcus presents biographical information about Juster, an architect and prankster, and Feiffer, the cartoonist and introvert. Readers will also learn about the New York publishing scene and the unique history of the publication of The Phantom Tollbooth (Random, 1961). In addition to the historical and cultural derivations of the puns, wordplay, idioms, and proverbs, the annotations provide insight into the creative process of the collaborators. Feiffer’s inspired use of the same illustration for the smallest giant and the tallest midget was the result of a good-natured challenge to the artist by the author. Literary allusions to fairy tales, the works of Lewis Carroll, E. B. White, and Mark Twain and artistic allusions to Maurice Sendak, the French illustrator Gustave Doré, and Cubism are explored. Marcus further points out philosophical connections, such as “unintended consequences” and middle-class conformity, and finally compares Milo’s newly gained wisdom to Voltaire’s Candide. Younger readers will delight in the imaginative wordplay and absurd adventures of Milo and Tock and be informed by many of Marcus’s annotations. Teens, teachers, librarians, and children’s literature specialists will appreciate the extensive scholarship that brings insight to the text and illustrations as well as into the lives of the two creators.–Jackie Gropman, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library System, Fairfax, VA

KIERNAN, Denise & Joseph D’Agnese. Signing Their Rights Away: The Fame and Misfortune of the Men Who Signed the United States Constitution. illus. by Robert Carter. 254p. chart. bibliog. chron. index. Quirk. 2011. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-59474-520-1. LC 2011922694.
Gr 6 Up–The Constitution is glorified, misquoted, and occasionally vilified, but few people doubt the impact of this oldest of functioning constitutions. This compact book presents short biographical sketches of the 39 signers in clear, accessible language. Organized by state, entries initially identify each man with his signature, a pen-and-ink portrait, his name, and a snappy descriptive phrase (e.g., “The Signer Who Lived the Longest,” “The Signer Who Was Ruined by Drink”), along with birth and death dates, age at signing, profession, and burial site. At a uniform four pages each, the entries cover each subject’s life prior to the Constitutional Convention, how he came to be present, contribution to the Constitution, and major events of later life. Opening with an informative introduction, comparison chart of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, and a time line, the volume closes with the text of the Constitution and a “Miscellany” that includes information on preservation and printing and a list of convention attendees who did not sign. More detailed and for a slightly older audience than Dennis Fradin’s The Founders: The 39 Stories Behind the U. S. Constitution (Walker, 2005), this entertainingly written book may take a bit of promotion due to the subject matter and dull cover.–Ann Welton, Helen B. Stafford Elementary, Tacoma, WA

LANDMANN, Bimba. The Fate of Achilles. illus. by author. unpaged. Getty Museum. 2011. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-60606-085-8. LC 2011924979.
Gr 4 Up–This is a great title to convince older students that picture books aren’t just for preschoolers. A retelling of the story of Achilles specifically designed to capture the feel of epic storytelling, it is perfect for readers interested in ancient Greece or the art of the picture book and those studying the Iliad. Tall, heavily illustrated pages enhance the tale with broad landscapes or huge looming figures with rectangular, often unsympathetic faces. Zeus and Poseidon are depicted early on against a grid of stars, overlooking a small river scene, and another spread depicts Achilles’s battle victims floating lifelessly down a river, drawn long and fluid like fish. These illustrations enhance the epic feel of the book, which utilizes small blocks of text on heavily illustrated pages, with italics to set apart what would have been the lines of the chorus. Young people will get a lot out of this beautiful book.–Heather Talty, formerly at Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School, New York City

LEE, Dora. Biomimicry: Inventions Inspired by Nature. illus. by Margot Thompson. 40p. glossary. index. CIP. Kids Can. 2011. Tr $18.95. ISBN 978-1-55453-467-8. LC C2011-900085-7.
Gr 5-7–Nature has been inspiring scientists for a long time–think Newton and that apple. However, it has been an inspiration in purely practical matters as well–think of Velcro, of camouflage, of solar cells, of pottery. Then add the maybes, the possibles, the probables, as Lee has done in this slim volume. The readable text is broken down into specific areas such as “Medical Marvels” and “Dealing with the Tough Stuff,” consisting of an overview and a series of examples already in use or dreams on a design board. The term “biomimicry” may not be familiar to all, but the science has been around for some time, and Lee’s discussion provides food for thought. Thompson’s elegant acrylic-on-canvas illustrations, softly realistic in execution, give the book a goodly measure of eye appeal. Softer in approach and appearance than Phil Gates’s Nature Got There First (Kingfisher 2010), this book will be of interest not only to budding scientists and science fair hopefuls, but also to those who like a splash of art with their science.–Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY

LYON, George Ella. Which Side Are You On?: The Story of a Song. illus. by Christopher Cardinale. unpaged. photos. bibliog. further reading. score. CIP. Cinco Puntos. 2011. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-933693-96-5. LC 2010037398.
Gr 3-6–When the coal miners in eastern Kentucky went on strike in the 1930s, the company’s hired thugs and the local sheriff united forces to convince strikers to return by shooting at their homes and families. Brave and angry, Florence Reece, the wife of a union organizer, tore the calendar off the wall and began to write each time the bullets stopped. Her determination to combat the violence resulted in words for a song of defiance. “Which Side Are You On?” was a demand for social justice and was written to “bring folks together.” A progression of busily detailed, full-bleed block-print illustrations, with almost captionlike brief sentences, follows the attacks and opens the Reece home to readers. The brief story is told through the eyes of one of the children, and it captures the danger as well as the fear the family experienced. Views from varied perspectives reveal the seven children with their mother, from above and hiding under the bed and in portraits sharing conversations marked by speech bubbles. Ribbons of song lyrics weave across scenes of the miners’ tools of their trade and the guns of hired company toughs. A thorough author’s note follows the text, ending with the song’s musical notation and one version of the words on the back cover. The use of music as a protest element makes an interesting addendum to resources on union history or the time period.–Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX

MCPHERSON, Stephanie Sammartino. Iceberg, Right Ahead!: The Tragedy of the Titanic . 112p. maps. photos. reprods. bibliog. chron. further reading. glossary. index. notes. Web sites. CIP. 21st Century Bks. Nov. 2011. PLB $33.26. ISBN 978-0-7613-6756-7; ebook $24.95. ISBN 978-0-7613-8048-1. LC 2011002352.
Gr 4-8–With innumerable books, movies, documentaries, novels, and biographies all telling versions of the Titanic story, it would seem that there is little more to learn, yet by providing more details and some of the most up-to-date research, McPherson’s compelling, thoughtful narrative proves otherwise. Organized chronologically, the volume begins with the inspiration for the construction of the Titanic, giving a brief overview of transatlantic travel at the time, thereby setting the stage for the tragic events to follow. Weaving together quotes from interviews, newspaper accounts, and other primary-source material, the author lays out what happened on April 14, 1912, taking readers all over the ship, from first class to steerage, from the depths of the boiler rooms to the heights of the crow’s nest lookout. She doesn’t shy away from areas of controversy, using research to show where mistakes were made or misinformation was given. The layout includes plenty of period photographs, diagrams, artwork, and sidebars with interesting tangential tidbits, making for a thorough resource. McPherson closes with the Titanic’s legacy in maritime safety regulations, the salvaging laws of shipwrecks, and, of course, the timeless story of heroism and tragic loss. A comprehensive, well-written, thoroughly researched title.–Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA

MARKLE, Sandra. The Case of the Vanishing Golden Frogs: A Scientific Mystery. 48p. map. photos. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Millbrook. 2011. PLB $29.27. ISBN 978-0-7613-5108-5; ebook $21.95. ISBN 978-0-7613-7983-6. LC 2010042642.
Gr 5-7–This eye-catching, well-written book provides a window into the efforts of a coalition of scientists, wildlife groups, and zoos to decode the mysterious die-off of the Panamanian golden frog, which began in the mid 1990s. Markle follows the work of biologist Karen Lips as she studied and investigated the deaths of so many of these creatures. Further, it records the work of Project Golden Frog to protect those still alive. Fine full-color photos grace every page in this excellent exposition of science at work in field and lab. An author’s note is appended, as is a listing of local and global rescue efforts. Pair this gem with Pamela Turner’s equally fascinating The Frog Scientist (Houghton, 2009) detailing an investigation into the effects of agricultural chemicals on frog populations, and for a nifty look at froggy facts, try Mark Moffett’s colorful Face to Face with Frogs (National Geographic, 2008).–Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY

NGUYEN, Duy. Zombigami: Paper Folding for the Living Dead. 122p. diags. index. Sterling. 2011. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-4027-8646-4. LC number unavailable.
Gr 5-8–Featuring both a detachable photo gallery of folded ghouls placed in atmospheric settings and a package of origami paper in suitably ominous colors and patterns, this collection of 13 undead figures may not survive intact for long but offers experienced paper folders hours of creepy fun. Nguyen opens with a tutorial of creases and folding symbology then, giving each of his figures an evocative name like “Suzie Gravemaker” or “Abominable Deadman,” goes on to show how each figure is folded with plenty of carefully drawn and clearly labeled step diagrams. Nonetheless, most of these models are challenging projects, made from more than one piece of paper and with hands or fine details that involve finicky folding. Many also involve a dab or two of glue and–particularly in the case of the aptly named “Seymour Guts”–scissors work. The completed models may be more impressionistic than realistic, but their difficulty makes them all the more satisfying to create, and children will have no trouble envisioning rousing zombie attacks and other graveyard horrors with them. “Fold at your own risk,” the author warns. “Possible side-effects of Zombigami include drooling, stiff joints, thirst for blood, hunger for brains, loss of speech, and unexpected loss of limbs.” Take heed!–John Peters, formerly at New York Public Library

O’CONNELL, Caitlin & Donna M. Jackson. The Elephant Scientist. photos by Caitlin O’Connell and Timothy Rodwell. 72p. (Scientists in the Field Series). diags. further reading. glossary. index. notes. CIP. Houghton Harcourt. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-547-05344-8. LC 2010014134.
Gr 5-8–O’Connell traveled to Africa in 1992 to observe wild animals; the trip turned into a job offer to study elephants at Etosha National Park; the text focuses on the scientists’ work, findings, and problems encountered. The authors offer an outstanding look at new discoveries about elephant communication and how this knowledge can be used to slow the animal’s slump into extinction. Combined with stunning full-color photographs by the scientists, the elephants’ world is brought to the forefront. Readers enter the researchers’ camp to see their setup, fieldwork, and takedown in action. They will learn how elephant anatomy and hierarchy work together to aid in communication. Children will be interested in O’Connell’s growing interest in science, how family and teachers encouraged her, and her efforts to protect these threatened animals. This amazing presentation is a must-have for all collections.–Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA

OSMUNDSON, Linda L. How the West Was Drawn: Cowboy Charlie’s Art. unpaged. reprods. chron. CIP. Pelican. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-58980-884-3. LC 2010036749.
Gr 3-6–This lesson-oriented art-appreciation book instructs readers to “use your five senses” when examining various works by the famous Western artist Charles Marion Russell. Eleven paintings, one sculpture, and a letter are displayed on individual pages with a brief description opposite each image. Questions about each piece are inconsistent in maturity level, ranging from “Can you find a baby?” and “Can you find geometric shapes?” to those that assume prior knowledge, such as “How does the Eastern woman dress differently from Indian and Western women of that time?” Although functional enough as an art critique, the formatting in this book is clumsy and distracting. Text is divided into two tightly spaced columns, often breaking up sentences and leaving ample, wasted white space on the page. Overall, this book serves only as a rudimentary introduction to the topic and is an additional purchase at best.–Madeline J. Bryant, Los Angeles Public Library

ROIZEN, Michael F. & Mehmet C. Oz. You: The Owner ’ s Manual for Teens: A Guide to a Healthy Body and Happy Life. illus. by Gary Hallgren. 374p. S & S. 2011. pap. $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7432-9258-0; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-7432-9259-7. LC 2011009184.
Gr 7 Up–Dr. Oz and the chief medical consultant for his television show want the alluded “You” in the title to be the best you possible. Thus, in true self-help manual fashion, they tackle the gamut of teen issues dealing with physical, mental, and sexual health, and all the embarrassing questions in between. Sections begin with bullet points about what readers will learn before discussion about the biology of what exactly goes on in the body that would make a teen act/look/think a certain way. “Fantastic Five: Steps for Success” end and summarize each chapter. Black-and-white illustrations are in a comic style, with facial features on a hair follicle, a tiny duck swimming in the bladder, and elfish figures demonstrating the information passing through neurons by playing baseball more prevalent than actual diagrams. Still, this is part of what makes this book accessible, though not the most authoritative. A “You Plan” presents recipes, exercises, and further tips.–Joanna K. Fabicon, Los Angeles Public Library

ROTHSTEIN, Barry & Betsy Rothstein. Eye-Popping 3-D Bugs: Phantogram Animals You Can Practically Pet! additional images by David Burder and Steve Boddy. photos by authors. 64p. diag. Chronicle. 2011. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-8118-7772-5. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-6–A new kind of 3-D photography is employed here, so realistic that the images of insects and other arthropods seem to lift right off the page when viewed through the glasses provided (two pairs of the paper-framed glasses are included in an envelope on the front fly-leaf). A foreword explains how 3-D functions and how the book’s photographs, known as “phantograms,” were created, after which a series of separate sections focuses on a variety of invertebrates. In most, a full-page, 3-D image of one or two of the animals appears opposite a page of text. A small photo is also centered on the text page. Each section briefly describes the subject animals’ major physical and/or behavioral characteristics; defense mechanisms; diets; etc.; about half also discuss life cycles. Sixteen common insects, including crickets, cockroaches, tarantulas, scorpions, centipedes, and millipedes, are featured. Extended captions provide additional information on distinctive characteristics of the species depicted. Although clearly written, the text is marred slightly by subjective comments, such as “yuck” or “gross” after descriptions of some insects’ feeding habits. The photos are unique and have definite browser appeal.–Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public Library

ROY, Jennifer Rozines & Sherri Mabry Gordon. Sharpen Your Business Letter Writing Skills. charts. notes. ISBN 978-0-7660-3972-8; ISBN 978-1-5984-377-5. LC 2011008167.
–––– . Sharpen Your Debate and Speech Writing Skills. charts. ISBN 978-0-7660-3904-9; ISBN 978-1-59845-341-6. LC 2010053475.
–––– . Sharpen Your Essay Writing Skills. charts. notes. ISBN 978-0-7660-3903-2; ISBN 978-1-59845-342-3. LC 2010053474.
–––– . Sharpen Your Good Grammar Skills. charts. notes. ISBN 978-0-7660-3902-5; ISBN 978-1-59845-339-3. LC 2010053473.
–––– . Sharpen Your Report Writing Skills. charts. diags. notes. ISBN 978-0-7660-3905-6; ISBN 978-1-59845-338-6. LC 2010053476.
–––– . Sharpen Your Story or Narrative Writing Skills. diags. notes. ISBN 978-0-7660-3901-8; ISBN 978-1-59845-340-9. LC 2010053471.
ea vol: 64p. (Sharpen Your Writing Skills Series). illus. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Enslow. 2011. PLB $27.93; pap. $7.95.
Gr -6-9–These books are redesigned and modernized versions of the “You Can Write” series (Enslow). An encouraging narration, simple sentence structure, and organizational headings help students make writing for various purposes approachable. However, the target audience is problematic. The cover photos feature teens, and Business Letter discusses writing about after-school or summer jobs, but the cartoon pencil that appears throughout, repeating information, asking questions, and attempting to make jokes, is likely to turn off the older students who might find the books helpful. There is some useful information in the other titles for younger students.–Kari Allen, National Writing Project, Plymouth State University, NH

SEIPLE, Samantha. Ghosts in the Fog: The Untold Story of Alaska ’ s WWII Invasion. 224p. maps. photos. index. notes. Scholastic. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-29654-0. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6-8–Though a plethora of World War II titles exists, very little has been written about the invasion and occupation of Alaska by Japanese forces in June 1942. At first denied by the U.S. Navy, and then kept in a cloud of secrecy to avoid embarrassment and panic, details of “one of the bloodiest and deadliest hand-to-hand combat battles” between the U.S. and Japan in sealed documents for decades to come. This title shows how the country was unprepared for an invasion, how the “Ghost Warriors” of Japan gained territory, and how American soldiers fought to reclaim the westernmost section of Alaska. The well-written text reads easily, focusing on various individuals and military units and the feats they performed. The cooperation of the native Aleuts is well documented. Sadly, so is their callous treatment at the hands of the U.S. government (e.g., removal from their lands under the pretext of evacuation, substandard living conditions, and many years of waiting for reparation). The text is liberally illustrated with black-and-white images. The quality is not exceptional, as most were likely taken with a vintage personal box camera. They are, however, unique.–Eldon Younce, Anthony Public Library, KS

SENKER, Cath. Strength in Numbers, 1861-1899: Industrialization and Political Activism. ISBN 978-1-60413-931-0; ISBN 978-1-60413-931-0. LC 2010045964.
–––– . Women Claim the Vote, 1828-1860: The Rise of the Women ’ s Suffrage Movement. ISBN 978-1-60413-930-3; ISBN 978-1-60413-930-3. LC 2010045960.
TASCHEK, Karen. Daughters of Liberty, 1775-1827: The American Revolution and the Early Republic. ISBN 978-1-60413-928-0; ISBN 978-1-4381-3633-2. LC 2010033717.
WOOLF, Alex. Finding an Identity, 1492-1774: Early America and the Colonial Period. ISBN 978-1-60413-927-3; ISBN 978-1-4381-3593-9. LC 2010029225.
ea vol: 64p. (A Cultural History of Women in America Series). photos. reprods. chron. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Chelsea House. 2011. PLB $35; ebook $35.
Gr 7 Up–These titles offer comprehensive, vivid, and thought-provoking looks at the struggles and triumphs of our Founding Mothers and the women who followed them in shaping our nation. Through succinct, informative text, each heavily illustrated volume incorporates the history of three major groups of people: the Natives, European settlers, and African slaves. Featured quotes from books, articles, letters, and speeches bring the history to life, and “Breakthrough Biography” and “Women of Courage and Conviction” sidebars introduce key historical figures. Readers new to the subject will find quick access to quality information, and history-savvy youngsters may find something new to ponder. Unbiased, engaging writing makes these books excellent additions to most collections.–Sara Saxton, Wasilla Meta-Rose Public Library, Wasilla, AK

SILHOL, Sandrine & Gaëlle Guérive. Extraordinary Endangered Animals. illus. by Marie Doucedame. 160p. diag. maps. photos. glossary. index. Abrams. Nov. 2011. RTE $24.95. ISBN 978-1-4197-0034-7. LC number unavailable.
Gr 5-9–The authors showcase more than 30 endangered animals from around the globe to raise awareness about threats to their survival. Each four-page entry includes two stunning full-page photos plus several small watercolor paintings. The species’ location is clearly indicated on a map, and a text box contains information about the animals’ relation to human cultures in myths, legends, or personal interactions. Unfortunately, as the main entries note, those encounters usually spell disaster for the animals. Habitat loss, hunting, disease, pollution, and introduction of nonnative species all imperil these remarkable creatures. The theme of human environmental destruction is unrelenting. The authors note that their selections represent only a tiny fraction of the 43,000 species currently facing extinction. Browsers drawn to the oversize book’s attractive layout and visuals can gain an awareness of the problems after reading a few entries about some unique animals. Reading the entire book could produce an overwhelming sense of despair despite a few author suggestions in the back matter about “ways you can help.” Potentially a useful supplemental resource if taken in small doses.–Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato

SINGH, Rina. Guru Nanak: The First Sikh Guru. illus. by Andrée Pouliot. 64p. map. further reading. glossary. CIP. Groundwood. 2011. Tr $24.95. ISBN 978-0-88899-958-0. LC C2011-900511-5.
Gr 4-6–This biography of the founder of Sikhism highlights Nanak’s life in 12 brief chapters. Features include a map showing Nanak’s travels and a list of Sikh gurus. The book is attractively illustrated with primitive paintings in the Indian miniature tradition. Singh explains in her introduction that “exact details of Nanak’s life are unknown” and that stories written by his disciples “may have been embellished with metaphors and miracles.” Her honesty is admirable, but in her retellings she makes no attempt to be objective or analyze Nanak’s life. She includes numerous quotes, but never identifies her source(s). There is minimal background information on Sikhism. Unfortunately, Singh makes a major error in discussing the Hindu caste system, listing four with “Shudras (untouchables)” at the bottom. Shudras, however, are the artisan/servant caste; untouchables are below all castes. Finally, the use of “corn” for “wheat” will confuse American readers. The book is most suitable for Sikhs; others will find it pleasant but falling more into the realm of legend than history.–Ann W. Moore, Schenectady County Public Library, NY

VAUGHAN, Marcia. Irena ’ s Jars of Secrets. illus. by Ron Mazellan. unpaged. photos. bibliog. glossary. CIP. Lee & Low. 2011. RTE $18.95. ISBN 978-1-60060-439-3. LC 2011016386.
Gr 4-7–Vaughan’s biography in picture-book format details the heroic deeds of Irena Sendler, a Polish Catholic social worker who helped save nearly 2500 children from extermination. In 1940, when German soldiers confined Warsaw’s 400,000 Jews to a neighborhood of rundown apartment buildings surrounded by a high brick wall, Sendler remembered her father’s words about the necessity of risking one’s own life in order to save others. Her position as a senior administrator in the Warsaw Social Welfare Department allowed her to enter the ghetto to check sanitary conditions, and to sneak in food, medicine, and money. She joined the underground organization Zegota (the Council for Aid to Jews), whose members worked with her and other social workers to smuggle children out of the ghetto. Vaughan describes the incredibly dangerous methods used to rescue several children. As she promised their parents, Sendler kept lists of the children’s real names, false identities, and whereabouts (convents, orphanages, foster homes), which she buried in glass jars in a friend’s garden; when the war ended, she provided these lists to the Jewish National Committee, an organization that searched for and reunited relatives, and placed parentless children with other families. Mazellan’s dramatic oil paintings–mostly in appropriate dark, somber grays and browns–cover most of each spread, leaving a buff-colored strip to hold the succinctly written, yet descriptive, text that can be understood even by those who have little or no knowledge of World War II or the Holocaust. A two-page recap that includes the impressive awards and honors bestowed upon Sendler is appended.–Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH

WEAVER, Janice. Harry Houdini: The Legend of the World’s Greatest Escape Artist. illus. by Chris Lane. 48p. photos. reprods. further reading. index. notes. Web sites. Abrams. 2011. RTE $18.95. ISBN 978-1-4197-0014-9. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-7–Prestidigitator, ghost hunter, magician, tie cutter, and messenger boy were some of Houdini’s many pursuits, but escape artist is what he is most famous for, and rightly so. In this picture-book biography, Weaver tells the tale of how Ehrich Weiss, a Jewish immigrant and rabbi’s son, morphed into the great Harry Houdini, magician and illusionist. His story is an interesting combination of luck, both good and bad; hard work; and sheer willpower, and the author conveys all of those elements in a manner that is accessible and thrilling to young readers. She covers everything from his early life in Wisconsin to the controversy surrounding his untimely death, as well as his widow’s attempts to contact him in the afterlife through mediums. Period photographs from newspapers, personal collections, advertising flyers, and other sources alternate with full-page color artwork to create a rich, engaging tableau. While there are several excellent biographies of Houdini available, including Tom Lalicki’s Spellbinder (Holiday House, 2000) and Sid Fleischman’s Escape! (Greenwillow, 2006), this one is a solid addition. Houdini was a fascinating character and most collections can never have too much of a good thing.–Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA

WELLS-COLE, Catherine. Charles Dickens: England’s Most Captivating Storyteller. unpaged. (Historical Notebook Series). illus. photos. reprods. Candlewick/Templar. 2011. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5567-9. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-7–In this scrapbook homage to Dickens, each page teems with images and reproductions, from letters to book excerpts to maps, all pertaining to a different area of Dickens’s life and work. The topics range widely, skimming the surface of both the esteemed author’s life and the subjects that interested him most, from his own melancholy childhood to the state of Victorian prisons. This title is more an experience than a traditional biography. The gorgeous, high-quality reproductions make a strong visual impact, and while the flaps, folds, and envelopes make readers work to uncover information, most will be quickly drawn into the hunt for more treasured tidbits about Dickens and his time. Clearly, the nontraditional layout will appeal to more visually oriented readers and certainly suits the nonlinear reading to which today’s kids are accustomed. Of course, while the folds and flaps add another dimension (literally) to the already playful layout, they will also make it exceedingly difficult to keep this book in working order. While it lasts, though, any student in need of information about Dickens will welcome the approach and the meaty information found within.–Jill Heritage Maza, Montclair Kimberley Academy, Montclair, NJ

WINTER, Jonah. Wild Women of the Wild West. illus. by Susan Guevara. 40p. map. bibliog. chron. index. CIP. Holiday House. 2011. RTE $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8234-1601-1. LC 2010030911.
Gr 3-6–Women were scarce in the Wild West, and the few who were there had to be tough. This book introduces 16 figures who made their mark between the California Gold Rush and the end of the 19th century. Some of them, like Belle Starr, were on the wrong side of the law, while others, like Mary Ellen Pleasant, were successful in business. Others were performers, reporters, stagecoach drivers, preachers, or adventurers. Winter includes stories about Native Americans, ex-slaves, and women of Hispanic heritage. Each page-long biographical sketch is written in a delightful colloquial style that gives the text verve and sparkle. Each biography is accompanied by a full-page, watercolor and ink portrait of the subject. All are based on historical photos and show the women as strong and powerful. The back endpapers feature a helpful map of the region. Holly George-Warren’s The Cowgirl Way (Houghton Harcourt, 2010) highlights some of the same women, but is not as entertaining. Teachers will be eager to add this title to their American history curriculum, and children will take to it, not because of its educational value, but because it is fun to read.–Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT

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