Red Riding Hood

Title: Red Riding Hood
Author: Sarah Blakley-Cartwright
Publisher: New York : Poppy (2011)
ISBN: 0316176044 9780316176040 9780316190855 0316190853
Pages: 329
Characters: Valerie, Peter, Henry, Lucie
Bookmarks: 3 1/2

Daggerhorn is a village cursed with a werewolf. Villagers give the wolf monthly animal offerings at the full moon in return for their safety from the animal. One day, a villager Lucie, is found dead in a wheat field, apparently attacked by a wolf. When more villagers are attacked, a professional werewolf hunter is called in. When the professional arrives, the villagers discover that the werewolf is one of them. While being courted by both Henry and Peter, Valerie, discovers that she can hear the wolf speak but does not recognize the voice. Will she and the villagers be able to figure out who the wolf is before the village is wiped out? And if the do find out, will they be able to kill one of their own?

This was actually a really interesting book. It was hard at first to accept the idea of the Big Bad Wolf of my childhood as a werewolf, but it actually makes a lot of sense once you get further into the book. The only real complaint I have about this book is that it was written really simply. There were times that I got bored with the author's writing style. The story however was interesting enough that it kept me reading until the end.

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: Traitor to the Nation

Title: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation
Author: M. T. Anderson
Publisher: Cambridge, Mass. : Candlewick Press, (2006)
ISBN: 0763624020 9780763624026
Pages: 351
Characters: 03-01, Octavian, Casseopeia,
Bookmarks: 4

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing tells the story of Octavian, a slave boy, as he grows up in the years leading up to and during the American Revolution. Unlike most slaves, he is treated incredibly well as he is serving as a science experiment. After his mother, also a slave, has a failed affair with a wealthy investor for the Lucidity Society Octavian's owner 03-01 works for, his life is irrevocably changed. No longer is he treated well, instead, he lives his life as a house slave. One day, he escapes only to be captured and brought back. With the help of one of the Society's scientists, Octavian escapes. Will the two make it back to freedom or be caught?

Up until about page 200, I was really into this book. I loved when Octavian was narrating and it abruptly and unexpectedly switched to a different narrator who was not as interesting. This was really disappointing, going from a very insightful narrator to one that was very limited. I really liked that Anderson used language, spelling, and grammar that was authentic to the Revolutionary War period. While not Anderson's best work, it is definitely a good but difficult read.

The Mysterious Benedict Society

Title: Mysterious Benedict Society
Author: Trenton Lee Stewart
Publisher: New York : Little, Brown (2007)
ISBN: 9780316057776 0316057770 9781439512050 1439512051
Pages: 485
Characters: Reynie Muldoon, Sticky Washington, Kate Wetherall, Constance Contraire, Mr. Benedict
Bookmarks: 3

Through a series of test, 4 unlikely children are united by the mysterious Mr. Benedict. The 4 children- Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance enroll at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened. There, they work to try to solve the myster that Mr. Benedict has presented them with. If they do not solve it in time, the fate of the world may be at stake.

Onced again, I had heard great reviews about this book and was disappointed. Maybe I should stop listening to the reviews. While the storyline was good, I felt that hte book dragged on a lot. It would have been better if it has been shorter by 50 or 60 pages at least. These pages could have come from early on in the book because it was slow to start. Once the kids got to the Institute, the book picked up pace fairly quickly. As an adult reader, I thought the ending a bit contrived and predictable, but younger readers may find it enjoyabl.e

Born to Run

Title: Born to Run
Author: Christopher McDougall
Publisher: New York : Alfred A. Knopf (2009)
ISBN: 9780307266309 0307266303
Pages: 287
Characters: Christopher, Caballo Blanco, Taramahura
Bookmarks: 3 1/2

Christopher McDougall is a runner who has hurt his foot. He has heard about the Taramahura, a group of Mexican runners who are among the most elite, an (up until now) least known in the world. Through the book, McDougall relates how he has learned about the Taramahura and the world of ultra-running in his quest to discover why his foot hurts and how to fix it.

I really did not enjoy this book very much until about the halfway point. In fact, the first hundred or so pages had a tendency to put me to sleep. The second half of the book is a lot better. While the chapters tend to skip around, focusing on different characters and different times, I feel that it actually adds to the story by giving background information. If the book had started out better, it would be enjoyable, but it takes a bit too much time to build up interest.

I am Number 4 - book versus movie

I find that I generally do no like movies that are based on books for the simple fact that the movie typically differs significantly from the book. I am Number 4 follows that rule, but the movie is still enjoyable. It is really hard for me to say which I liked better overall because each had certain parts that were better. If forced, I would have to say that I liked the book only slightly better, because the story line was a bit more engaging and realistic (yes, I am saying a fantasy book can be realistic).

Unlike many books turned into movies, for the whole first half of the movie, I was really excited- they were being pretty much the same. John didn't get picked on quite as much and the romantic aspect of his relationship is emphasized a bit more in the movie than the book, but otherwise pretty close. I did really like that we saw Number 6 earlier in the movie than in the book. While Sam in the movie is great, I liked how geeky he was in the book and wished that this would have been played up a little more.After about the halfway point in the movie, things started to go really off course from the movie. It bothered me that Sam didn't get his girlfriend like in the book. I also really didn't like that Sam didn't introduce John and Henri to the alien newsletter. It seemed a little more believable that geeky, space obsessed Sam would have been subscribing to it than that Henri just found it. I also didn't really like that Mark James and John didn't become friends until the end of the book. I like seeing their relationship change from that of enemies, to acquaintances, and finally to friends. It made for some very interesting scenes in the book that were left out of the movie. My biggest complain about the movie though is that the battle between the Loriens and the Mogadorians was not nearly as impressive as it could have been. Yes, it was interesting, but with some of John's legacies lacking, little involvement from Mark and Sarah, and Henri dying so early, it changed the feel of the battle. It made it seem as though it were really just the Loriens against the Mogarodians instead of the Loriens and their Earth friends against the Mogardians. While I can understand that this was done because it was a Disney movie and the kids have to do all the brave cool stuff in Disney movies, it was a let down. I also didn't like that there was not a lot of the backstory about how the Loriens wound up on Earth that was mentioned in the book. It would have made things a bit easier to understand for people who hadn't read the book. I understand why it was omitted though, because you can only cram so much into a movie and still expect people to watch the entire thing and not get bored.

There were some things that I did like better about the movie than the book though. I loved being introduced to Number 6 early on. If I hadn't already read the book, I would have really been wondering who she was. While she was cool in the book, she was absolutely bad-ass in the movie. Loved her whole attitude of can't mess with me. I also really liked how the Mogadorians looked in the movie. I'd had a lot of trouble imagining how they looked while reading the book since it never really had good descriptions. I also liked that the movie made it a little easier to figure out that John's pet dog was also the lizard that he had while he was living in the Keys. While it was a puzzle that I enjoyed figuring out while reading the book, it was neat to see the lizard change into a dog and know that it was going to play some kind of special role at some point.

The Burn Journals

Title: The Burn Journals
Author: Brent Runyon
Publisher: New York : Vintage (2004)
ISBN: 1400096421 9781400096428
Pages: 374
Characters: Brent Runyon, Mom, Dad, Craig, various doctors and nurses
Bookmarks: 5

One day after an incident at school Brent Runyon comes home and attempts to light himself on fire. He immediately regrets it and puts himself out. Brent spends the next several months in the burn unit recovering. Some parts of his recovery are pretty normal- watching TV, fantasizing about sex, talking about movies. Other parts are more harrowing- having to see psychologists, get skin grafts, physical therapy. Once out of the unit, he must adjust back to being in the real world and having his scars. He must recover both physically and emotionally. Yes, some of what Runyon does during recovery like listening to tapes, watching movies on a VCR, playing Nintendo (especially Mario Brothers) may be a bit dated to teen readers, but it doesn't take away from his story.

I had heard a lot of great review about this book and was excited to Runyon has done an amazing job. The detail and emotional involvement of the book sucked me in immediately. Runyon's descriptions of how he felt through the whole experience, physically and emotionally are incredible. The book is completely gripping. One of the few books emotionally powerful enough to make me have to put it down at times because I couldn't handle what was going on. I can't imagine putting into writing for anyone to read hardly any of the experience of my life, especially not something as traumatic and life-changing as a suicide attempt. While I would love for any teen to read this book, I am afraid that some parts of it may glamorize Runyon's experiences- getting free stuff from Magic Johnson and meeting celebrities. Overall though, it is a great book.

I.D. Stuff that Happes to Define Us

Title: I.D. Stuff that Happens to Define Us
Author: Kate Scowen and Peter Mitchell
Publisher: Toronto : Annick Press (2010)
ISBN: 9781554512249 1554512247 9781554512256 1554512255
Pages: 160
Characters: N/A
Bookmarks: 4

We all have moments in our lives that help to define us, to make us who we are. Many of these happen during adolescence. I.D. Stuff that Defines us is a compilation of 12 episodes from the lives of real teens. Each of the stories is about a defining moment in their life- getting hit by a father, getting in a street fight, pretending to be an orphan, a youth camping trip. Each story is presented along with wistful illustrations.

I loved this book. It was really interesting to read about defining moments for real people and how they coped with them. It would be an excellent book for teens to read and I can see it being especially useful for guidance to use. Teens today have to deal with a lot of tough things- this book has stories of real people living through many of the same things that teens today have to live through. It can give teens insights into how to cope themselves. I especially loved that at the end was a listing of phone numbers and website for teens to call if they need help.

Beastly

Title: Beastly
Author: Alex Flinn
Publisher: New York : HarperTeen (2007)
ISBN: 9780060874162 0060874163 9780060874179 0060874171
Pages: 304
Characters: Kyle Kingsbury/Adrian King, Linda Owens, Will, Magda, Kendra
Bookmarks: 5

Kyle is "that guy" in school- hot, popular, smart. Only he treats other people like trash. That is until the night of Spring Formal when he plays a trick on a classmate, Kendra. In return for his cruelty, she transforms him into a beast. He is given two years to break the curse by finding his true love and getting a kiss from her. Kyle believes that it is impossible. His father banishes him away from home and Kyle retreats from the world, with only his tutor Will and maid Magda for company and changes his name to Adrian. That is until his home is broken into one night and in return for his freedom the would-be thief gives Kyle/Adrian his daughter, Linda in return. Kyle/Adrian and Linda quickly adjust to being together and you can feel the chemistry between them. Despite having everything she didn't in her previous life, Linda is unhappy due to missing her father. Kyle/Adrian lets her go to him, only for Linda to run into trouble. Will Kyle/Adrian be able to rescue her? Will the curse be broken in time?

I absolutely LOVED this book!!!! Granted, it probably helps that Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairy tales. I loved that Flinn wove in a couple of other fairy tales (Little Mermaid, Snow White & Rose Red, Frog Prince) through a chat group that Kyle/Adrian was a part of. I also loved that Flinn not only completely fleshed out the story, but set it in the modern world, complete with cell phones and Internet. (It would be interesting to see 20 years down the road how the modern world holds up.) The characters in the story are extremely interesting and the plot moves along quickly. I actually listened to this on tape on my way to and from work and was always disappointed to arrive at my destination. More than once, I was almost late because I stayed in my car until the end of a chapter. While it is definitely more of a girl book than a boy book, I highly recommend it!

Seeing Redd

Title: Seeing Redd
Author: Frank Beddor
Publisher: New York : Dial Books (2007)
ISBN: 9780803731554 0803731558 9781428755949 1428755942
Pages: 371
Characters: Alyss Heart, Redd Heart, Hatter Madigan, Dodge Anderson, Bibwit Hare, Homburg Molly, King Arch
Bookmarks: 3 1/2

In Seeing Redd, Beddor has re-imagined Wonderland. There has been a war between Redd Heart and her niece, Alyss Heart with Alyss coming out the victor. Alyss has taken over the throne and is trying to set everything in Wonderland back to how it should be, but is finding it a difficult task. Unfortunately, her neighbor King Arch is plotting to use a secret weapon against Wonderland. To further complicate matters, Redd has returned from where she went to Earth and is trying to gain back control of the throne. Will Alyss be victorious against these two or will Wonderland once again be taken over by Black Imagination?

Once again, I was disappointed by a book that I was pretty excited about. Maybe this time, it was my own fault for starting out with the 2nd book in the series rather than the first. It bothered me that Wonderland creatures and objects (gwormy, spirit-dane, etc) that came up frequently were never really explained. Perhaps they were in the first book and I just missed out. I did like that I was able to easily identify which characters from the traditional Alice in Wonderland most of Beddors characters represented. I did miss the Dormouse though- not sure which character was supposed to represent him. It bothered me some that Beddor did not keep truer to the traditional Alice in Wonderland story, but his re-telling was imaginative and would be enjoyed by most readers who are not incredibly attached to Alice in Wonderland.

Kick

Title: Kick
Author: Walter Dean Meyers and Ross Workman
Publisher: New York : HarperTeen (2011)
ISBN: 9780062004895 0062004891 9780062004901 0062004905
Pages: 197
Characters: Kevin, Sergent Brown
Bookmarks: 2 1/2

13 year old Kevin is a soccer star who happens to have gotten into trouble with the law. Sargent Brown, who knew Kevin's father, becomes Kevin's mentor in an attempt to help him reform so that he doesn't go to jail. As Kevin and Sargent Brown become closer, Sargent Brown discovers that Kevin really is a good kid and learns the true reason for why he was driving a friend's father's car in the middle of the night. Kevin also gets a father figure in his life which he was previously lacking and Sargent Brown and his wife gain a son figure.

I loved the idea of this book and really wanted to like it- a fan and a famous author collaborating to write a book. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. I did like that the two authors alternated chapters- Meyers writing as Sargent Brown and Workman writing as Kevin. This did give the book a bit more of an authentic feel. It was more the content of the book that bothered me- a woman is beaten by her husband for being depressed and two kids feel like they have to be the ones to take on the entire problem. I wanted to scream where are the adults in this situation!!!! The whole relationship between Sargent Brown and Kevin seemed to be really cliched, which was disappointing coming from such an accomplished author as Meyers

A Kiss In Time

Title: A Kiss in Time
Author: Alex Flinn
Publisher: New York : HarperTeen (2009)
ISBN: 9780060874193 0060874198 9780060874209 0060874201
Pages: 371
Characters: Talia, Jack, Malvolia
Bookmarks: 4

Talia is the Princess of Euphrasia, a country located near Belgium. That is until she pricks her finger on a spindle (the result of a curse) the day before her 16th birthday and falls asleep for 300 years. She is awakened when Jack kisses her after wandering away from a European tour that his parents sent him on. Jack brings Talia home to American where she learns about modern culture and eventually falls in love with Jack and he with her. Despite their love, Malvolia still intends to get revenge on Talia's father. Which will win- love or Malvolia?

Sleeping Beauty has always been one of my favorite fairy tales, so how could I pass up reading this book? I'm genuinely glad that I did. In it's traditional form, nothing is mentioned about little details like is there food left in the kingdom when the princess awakens and how do her parents react. Flinn fleshes out the story, providing the missing details. I'd never thought about the people in the kingdom not being able to fit in with the world they awaken in. I was glad that this was brought to life in the story. It made the tale almost believable.

Cloaked

Title: Cloaked
Author: Alex Flinn
Publisher: New York : HarperTeen (2011)
ISBN: 9780060874223 0060874228 9780060874230 0060874236
Pages: 341 pages
Characters: Johnny, Princess Victoriana, Meghan
Bookmarks: 3 1/2

Johnny works in the family business repairing shoes. The stall next to him is run by his best friend, Meghan. One day, Johnny is approached by the beautiful Ailoranian Princess Victorianna and sent on quest to find her brother, who has been transformed into a frog. Johnny, tired of living a life repairing shoes and wants to do something else- design shoes and escape from his life at the hotel. Johnny accepts the quest. On the way, Johnny is helped by magic and to his surprise, Meghan. Will he be able to find the frog prince and make him human again?

The premise of this book is really interesting. During our childhood, we are all introduced to fairy tales. What would it be like if these fairy tales are set in the present instead of "once upon a time"? While I liked that the book combined several lesser known tales (frog princess, elves and the shoemaker, fisherman's 3 wishes, and several others). This makes the book seem to be rather busy. It would be improved if it were limited to less fairy tales. It is still an enjoyable and quick read.

I am Number 4

Title: I am Number 4
Author: Pittacus Lore
Publisher: New York : Harper (2010)
ISBN: 9780061969553 0061969559
Pages: 440
Characters: John Smith, Henri Smith, Mogadorians, Sam Goode, Sarah Hart, Mark James, Bernie Kosar
Bookmarks: 4 1/2

The planet Lorien has been destroyed by the Mogadorians. Earth is their next target. Lorien and Earth have one hope- the 9 children and their guardians who were sent away from Lorien to try to give the planet a chance to be re-populated. John is one of those children, number 4. The Mogardians know that in order to win Earth, they will have to wipe out the children. 1, 2, and 3 are dead. They are coming after John. He has only his Legacies, Henri his guardian, and his friends to help him. Will he and his new found Earth friends be able to defeat the Mogaradorians who are out to kill him?

I loved this book! Normally, I don't go for the whole aliens among us genre. Not that I don't enjoy the idea, usually books in this genre get a little too Star Trek for me. I am Number 4 didn't. It was completely believable. Loved the fast pace and the anticipation that Lore built as John's Legacies developed. For once, I was actually surprised when reading a book with the unexpected development when the Mogadorians arrived to kill John.

The Game

Title: The Game
Author: Diana Wynne Jones
Publisher: New York : Firebird (2007)
ISBN: 0142407186 9780142407189
Pages: 179
Characters: Hayley, Harmony, Troy
Bookmarks: 2

Hayley has lived with her grandparents since she was a small child. Her grandmother is very controlling while her grandfather is more lenient. After talking to two men she refers to as Flute and Fiddle, Hayley is suddenly shipped off to Ireland and thrust into a life with her many cousins. Her cousins introduce her to "the game" where they go into they mythosphere (a magical land that contains the worlds myths). When "the game" is discovered by her Uncle Jolyon, trouble ensues and Hayley learns about her past and that of her family.

I really wanted to like this book. It had a good premise- the Gods and characters from myths are alive and among us. This book was really disappointing though. The story often moved slow and it seemed as though Jones had to work to hard to include some of they mythical characters. If a reader does not have a decent knowledge of mythology, they will be a little lost with much of the story. I did however like that at the end there is an explanation of the different characters.

Banned books response

Censored Books

The information here has been pulled from the ALA website and the Children's Literature Database

Whale Talk

Who censored?
Limestone County Alabama School District

Why was it censored?
Profanity- “We can’t allow students to go down our halls and say those words, and we shouldn’t let them read it,” said board member James Shannon. “That book’s got a lot of bad, bad words.”

Was there just a complaint or more formal censorship?
The District Superintendent recommended to the School Board that the book be removed from the high school libraries. The School Board rejected the recommendation on the basis that the message of racial tolerance is more important than the issue of bad language.

Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Crutcher's (Running Loose; Ironman) gripping tale of small-town prejudice delivers a frank, powerful message about social issues and ills. Representing one-third of his community's minority population ("I'm black. And Japanese. And white"), narrator T.J. Jones voices a darkly ironic appraisal of the high school sports arena. Despite his natural athletic ability (at 13, he qualified for the Junior Olympics in two swimming events), T.J. has steered away from organized sports until his senior year, when Mr. Simet, a favorite English teacher, implores him to help form a swim team for the school (and thereby help the teacher save his job). T.J. sees an opportunity to get revenge on the establishment and invites outcasts to participate on the team; he ends up with "a representative from each extreme of the educational spectrum, a muscle man, a giant, a chameleon, and a psychopath." As might be expected, he accomplishes his mission: his motley crew of swimmers is despised by more conventional athletes (and coaches). The swimmers face many obstacles, but their dedication to their sport and each other grows stronger with every meet. The gradual unfolding of characters' personal conflicts proves to be as gripping as the evolution of the team's efforts. Through T.J.'s narration, Crutcher offers an unusual yet resonant mixture of black comedy and tragedy that lays bare the superficiality of the high school scene. The book's shocking climax will force readers to re-examine their own values and may cause them to alter their perception of individuals pegged as "losers." Ages 12-up.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 8 Up-T. J. Jones, the mixed-race, larger-than-life, heroic, first-person narrator of this novel, lays out the events of his senior year, with many digressions along the way. The central plot involves T. J.'s efforts to put together a swim team of misfits, as he tries to upset the balance of power at his central Washington high school, where jocks and the narrow-minded rule. However, a number of subplots deal with racism, child abuse, and the efforts of the protagonist's adopted father to come to grips with a terrible mistake in his past. Crutcher uses a broad brush in an undeniably robust and energetic story that is also somewhat messy and over the top in places. T. J. himself is witty, self-assured, fearless, intelligent, and wise beyond his years. In fact, he has all of these qualities in such abundance that he's not an entirely plausible character. The novel's ending sweeps to a crescendo of emotions, as T. J.'s mentally tortured father saves a life and atones for past sins by diving in front of a bullet and dying in his son's arms. Young adults with a taste for melodrama will undeniably enjoy this effort. More discerning readers will have to look harder for the lovely passages and truths that aren't delivered with a hammer.
Todd Morning, Schaumburg Township Public Library, IL
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 8-12. Crutcher's fans will recognize the author's signature style and subject matter in his new novel, his first in six years. Adopted, biracial high-school senior The Tao Jones (his birth mother seems to "have been a little too 'spiritual'") is well-adjusted on the surface. A smart, likable kid with a great sense of humor and athletic ability, he glides through academia with everything an adolescent boy needs--decent grades and female companionship. What T. J. doesn't need is competitive sports, which Cutter High School jocks and coaches see as a personal snub. T. J.'s resolve weakens, however, when English teacher-coach Mr. Simet makes an unconventional offer: Be the anchor of the swim team and pick your fellow fish. Perfect, especially since racist football bully Mike Barbour has taken up letter jackets as a cause. It seems developmentally disabled Chris Coughlin has been wearing his dead brother's jacket, and Mike is annoyed. If Chris, naturally comfortable in the water, is on the swim team, T. J. reasons, Chris will earn a jacket of his own, and Mike will be put in his place. The veteran author once again uses well-constructed characters and quick pacing to examine how the sometimes cruel and abusive circumstances of life affect every link in the human chain, and a heartwrenching series of plot twists leads to an end in which goodness at least partially prevails. Through it all, as expected, shines Crutcher's sympathy for teens and their problems. For more about the book, see the Story-behind-the Story on the opposite page. Kelly Halls
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Awards
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2002 ; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Capitol Choices, 2001 ; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Children's Book Sense 76 Picks, Spring/Summer 2001 ; Book Sense 76; United States
Los Angeles' 100 Best Books, 2001 ; IRA Children's Literature and Reading SIG and the Los Angeles Unified School District; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2002 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
Parent's Guide to Children's Media, 2001 ; Parent’s Guide to Children’s Media, Inc.; United States
Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books, 2001 ; Cahners; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, March 2001 ; Cahners; United States
Senior High School Library Catalog, Sixteenth Edition, 2002 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2002 ; American Library Association; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Award, 2002 Winner Young Adult Readers United States
Heartland Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature, 2003 Finalist United States
Pacific Northwest Book Award, 2002 Winner United States

State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, 2002-2003 ; Nominee; High School; Maryland
California Young Reader Medal, 2004 ; Nominee; Young Adult; California
Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award, 2002 ; Nominee; Colorado
Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award , 2003-2004 ; Nominee; Indiana
Iowa High School Book Award, 2003-2004 ; Nominee; High School; Iowa
Nevada Young Readers' Award, 2004 ; Nominee; Nevada
Rhode Island Teen Book Award, 2002 ; Nominee; High School Students; Rhode Island
Soaring Eagle Book Award, 2002-2003 ; Nominee; Grades 7-12; Wyoming
South Carolina Young Adult Book Awards, 2003-2004 ; Nominee; South Carolina
Tayshas High School Reading List, 2002 ; Texas
Virginia Young Readers Program, 2003-2004 ; Nominee; High (Grades 10-12); Virginia
Volunteer State Book Award, 2004 ; Nominee; Young Adult, Grades 7-12; Tennessee
Young Adult Reading Program, 2002 ; Grades 7-12; South Dakota
Young Reader's Choice Award, 2004 ; Nominee; Senior (Grades 10-12); Pacific Northwest

My conclusion
Whale Talk deals with a lot of very serious issues- racism, abuse, rape. It is important that these issues be presented to readers in a very true light. By including bad (but authentic) language, it helps to make the story all the more believable. I would whole heartedly endorse keeping this book in a school or public library. This book however should be marketed towards high school readers. Middle schoolers may not be able to appreciate all of the issues that the book deals with.



The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Who censored?
Stockton, Missouri School Board

Why was it censored?
The book was censored for content
Was there just a complaint or more formal censorship?
A parent complained and the School Board held an open forum to discuss returning the book to the library with restrictions. Despite letters and protests, the School Board upheld the decision to remove the book from classrooms and school libraries.

Reviews

From School Library Journal
Starred Review. Grade 7–10—Exploring Indian identity, both self and tribal, Alexie's first young adult novel is a semiautobiographical chronicle of Arnold Spirit, aka Junior, a Spokane Indian from Wellpinit, WA. The bright 14-year-old was born with water on the brain, is regularly the target of bullies, and loves to draw. He says, "I think the world is a series of broken dams and floods, and my cartoons are tiny little lifeboats." He expects disaster when he transfers from the reservation school to the rich, white school in Reardan, but soon finds himself making friends with both geeky and popular students and starting on the basketball team. Meeting his old classmates on the court, Junior grapples with questions about what constitutes one's community, identity, and tribe. The daily struggles of reservation life and the tragic deaths of the protagonist's grandmother, dog, and older sister would be all but unbearable without the humor and resilience of spirit with which Junior faces the world. The many characters, on and off the rez, with whom he has dealings are portrayed with compassion and verve, particularly the adults in his extended family. Forney's simple pencil cartoons fit perfectly within the story and reflect the burgeoning artist within Junior. Reluctant readers can even skim the pictures and construct their own story based exclusively on Forney's illustrations. The teen's determination to both improve himself and overcome poverty, despite the handicaps of birth, circumstances, and race, delivers a positive message in a low-key manner. Alexie's tale of self-discovery is a first purchase for all libraries.—Chris Shoemaker, New York Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist
Arnold Spirit, a goofy-looking dork with a decent jumpshot, spends his time lamenting life on the "poor-ass" Spokane Indian reservation, drawing cartoons (which accompany, and often provide more insight than, the narrative), and, along with his aptly named pal Rowdy, laughing those laughs over anything and nothing that affix best friends so intricately together. When a teacher pleads with Arnold to want more, to escape the hopelessness of the rez, Arnold switches to a rich white school and immediately becomes as much an outcast in his own community as he is a curiosity in his new one. He weathers the typical teenage indignations and triumphs like a champ but soon faces far more trying ordeals as his home life begins to crumble and decay amidst the suffocating mire of alcoholism on the reservation. Alexie's humor and prose are easygoing and well suited to his young audience, and he doesn't pull many punches as he levels his eye at stereotypes both warranted and inapt. A few of the plotlines fade to gray by the end, but this ultimately affirms the incredible power of best friends to hurt and heal in equal measure. Younger teens looking for the strength to lift themselves out of rough situations would do well to start here. Chipman, Ian --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Awards
Best Books:
Amazon Editors' Picks: Top 10 Books, 2007 ; United States
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2008 ; Bank Street College of Education; Outstanding Merit; United States
Bulletin Blue Ribbons, 2007 ; The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books; United States
Capitol Choices, 2008 ; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Choices, 2008 ; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Horn Book Fanfare, 2007 ; Horn Book; United States
Kirkus Best Young Adult Books, 2007 ; Kirkus; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, July 15, 2007 ; United States
Middle and Junior High Schoool Library Catalog, Ninth Edition Supplement 2008, 2008 ; H.W. Wilson Company; United States
Notable Books for a Global Society, 2008 ; Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group IRA; United States
Notable Children's Books, 2007 ; New York Times; United States
Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books, 2007 ; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal Best Books, 2007 ; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, September 2007 ; Cahners; United States
YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2008 ; American Library Association; Top Ten; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
American Indian Youth Literature Award, 2008 Winner Young Adult United States
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Excellence in Children's Literature, 2008 Winner Fiction and Poetry United States
California Young Reader Medal, 2010 Winner Young Adult California
Cuffies: Children's Booksellers Choose Their Favorite (and not-so-favorite) Books of the Year, 2007 Honorable Mention Favorite Book to Handsell United States
Cuffies: Children's Booksellers Choose Their Favorite (and not-so-favorite) Books of the Year, 2007 Honorable Mention Hottest Selling Book to Go Out of Stock United States
Cuffies: Children's Booksellers Choose Their Favorite (and not-so-favorite) Books of the Year, 2007 Winner Favorite Young Adult Novel United States
Cybil Award, 2007 Finalist Young Adult Fiction United States
Delaware Diamonds, 2009 Winner High School Delaware
Los Angeles Times Book Prize, 2007 Finalist Young Adult United States
Mind the Gap Award, 2008 Best book overlooked by the United States
National Book Awards, 2007 Winner Young People's Literature United States
National Parenting Publications Award, 2007 Gold Book Ages 12 & Up United States
Odyssey Award, 2009 Winner United States
Pacific Northwest Book Award, 2008 Winner United States
Thumbs Up! Award, 2008 Honor Book Michigan United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award, 2011 ; Nominee; Illinois
California Young Reader Medal, 2009-2010 ; Nominee; Young Adult; California
Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award, 2009 ; Nominee; Colorado
Delaware Diamonds, 2008-2009 ; Nominee; High School; Delaware
Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award, 2009-2010 ; Nominee; Indiana
Florida Teens Read, 2009-2010 ; Nominee; Florida
Grand Canyon Reader Award, 2010 ; Nominee; Teen; Arizona
Green Mountain Book Award, 2009-2010 ; Master List; Grades 9-12; Vermont
Iowa Teen Award, 2009-2010 ; Nominee; Iowa
Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 2009 ; Nominee; Grades 9-12; Kentucky
Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award, 2009-2010 ; Nominee; Young Adult; Pennsylvania
Rhode Island Teen Book Award, 2009 ; Nominee; High School; Rhode Island
Sequoyah Book Award, 2010 ; Masterlist; High School; Oklahoma
Soaring Eagle Book Award, 2009-2010 ; Nominee; Grades 7-12; Wyoming
South Carolina Young Adult Book Award, 2009-2010 ; Nominee; South Carolina
Tayshas High School Reading List, 2008-2009 ; Texas
Volunteer State Book Award, 2009-2010 ; Nominee; Grades 7-12; Tennessee
West Australian Young Readers' Book Award (WAYRBA), 2009 ; Reading List; Older Reader; Australia
Wisconsin Battle of the Books, 2008-2009 ; Senior; Wisconsin
Young Reader's Choice Award, 2010 ; Nominee; Senior; United States

My conclusion
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a great book. Yes, it does have a masturbation scene in it. Yes, there is racism. However, it has been given numerous awards and honors. It clearly has literary merit. While I can see why some parents might not like the book, it has a definite place in both the school and public library. It should be placed in a YA section. It would be more appropriate for high schoolers than for middle schoolers but acceptable reading for both.

Twilight

Title: Twilight
Author: Stephanie Meyer
Publisher: New York : Little, Brown, and Company (2005)
ISBN: 0316160172 9780316160179 1417755911 9781417755912 9781424243723 1424243726
Pages: 498
Characters: Isabella Swan, Edward Cullen, Jacob Black, Jacob Cullen, Alice Cullen, Jasper Hale, Carslile Cullen, Esme Cullen, Rosalie Hale, Charlie Swan

3 1/2 bookmarks

Isabella (Bella) Swan moves to Forks to live with her father. Forks is really different from her previous life in Arizona where she lived with her mother. She quickly makes several friends, including Edward Cullen. As the story progresses, she falls in love with Edward and discovers that he is a vampire. Through her relationship with Edward she is put into danger. Will she make it out okay?

I know that this book is really popular with young adults right now. I really tried hard to like it, but found it to be a little flat. At times, it was downright boring. Bella was a little annoying, constantly complaining about the weather and about wanting to be with Edward. The book does have a lot of potential and definite appeal to young adult readers with the romance that it included.

Looks

Title: Looks
Author: Madeleine George
Publisher: New York : Viking (2008)
ISBN: 9780670061679 0670061670
Pages: 240
Characters: Cara, Aimee, Meghan, J-Bar

3 bookmarks

Think back to high school. Were you popular, nerdy, a jock, or nobody- invisible. That is exactly what Meghan is. Described as almost tank like and constantly tormented by the jocks, she has no real friends. Aimee, the classic anorexic, is new to the school. She thinks she has found a friend in Cara. When Cara violates her trust, Aimee decides to get back at her. Along with Meghan, Aimee finds the perfect way to get back Cara. Only it doesn't work out quite how either of the girls expected and they must live with the consequences.

I really wanted to like this book. It had such potential. After all, the main characters are such physical opposites yet form an unlikely friendship. There is a great subplot of a fight between athletics and academics (which comes to a head but no real resolution). Worst of all, there is no real resolution at the end between Cara, Aimee, and Meghan. None of them seems to grow at all.

Target

Title: Target
Author: Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson
Publisher: Brookfield, Conn : Roaring Brook Press (2003)
ISBN: 0761319328 9780761319320 0761327908 9780761327905
Pages: 175
Characters: Grady, Jess, Pearl

5 bookmarks

Rape is something that just happens to women, right? Wrong. Rape can happen to anyone. Part way through last school year, Grady, is raped. After the rape, he withdraws from his school and friends and essentially stops eating. The next school year, he moves to a different school where no one knows him. He does try to fit in, he just tries to get by. That is until he is befriended by Jess and Pearl who manage to learn the truth about his past.

I knew that YA lit has been tackling some serious issues. Couldn't believe it when I found a YA book that actually dared to tackle the taboo subject of a young man being raped. This book absolutely blew me away, not only due to the subject matter but to Johnson's sensitivity. This book could very easily have been a huge flop or sob story. Instead, you really root for Grady to pull through. While you don't know fully by the end that he will fully get closure, you do know that he has made some progress.

Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian

Title: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Author: Sherman Alexie; illustrated by Ellen Forney
Publisher: New York : Little, Brown Books (2007)
ISBN: 0316013684 9780316013680 142876450X 9781428764507
Pages: 230
Characters: Arnold "Junior" Spirit,

4 bookmarks

Arnold, known on the reservation as Junior, was once happy on the Spokane reservation with his family. He yearns for a brighter future though and decides to move off the rez and go to the wealthy public school nearby. His family struggles to be able to afford to get him there and feed him lunch, but gladly makes the sacrifice. After starting at the public school, Junior becomes almost exhiled from the tribe. During the school year, his father's best friend, his grandmother, and his sister all die tragically. Junior joins the basketball team and twice has to face his former teammates from the reservation. Following his sister's and grandmother's deaths, Junior is once again accepted as part of the tribe.

During my undergraduate studies, I took a course in Native American religion. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian made me think back to this class and how Native Americans are perceived by whites and what Native Americans think about it. Alexie captured both sides of this perception quite well. This is a great book for young people to read. It briefly introduces them to a culture that they most likely will not experience otherwise. It also helps to show how important it is to feel like an accepted part of the community.

Whale Talk

Title: Whale Talk
Author: Christ Crutcher
Publisher: New York : Greenwillow Books (2001)
ISBN: 0688180191 9780688180195 0060293691 9780060293697
Pages: 220
Characters: T.J. ,

5 bookmarks

T.J. isn't your typical student. He's incredibly smart, bi-racial (Japanese-American and black), and adopted by white parents. He doesn't exactly fit in at his white school in suburban Washington state. After seeing a student with disabilities, Chris Coughlin, get picked on for wearing his dead brother's letter jacket and for being picked on and snubbed for not participating in sports, T.J. decides, with the help of teacher Mr. Simet, to start a swim team. For the swim team, T.J. gathers together the most unlikely group of boys, all social rejects with in the school. The boys and their coach quickly bond, and surprising everyone actually manage to swim well. While swimming, T.J. must deal with former football player Rich Marshall and current football player Mike Barbour harassing him at school. Which T.J's life at home collides with Rich Marshall's personal life, only trouble can ensue. What will happen when Marshall and T.J. finally have a confrontation?

I absolutely loved this book. The cast of characters on the swim team is great, ranging from one legged Mott, to former bodybuilder Tay-Roy, and mentally handicapped Coughlin. It's amazing to see how well the boys bond and stick together. It shows what the good side of high school sports can be- camaraderie, trust, and providing a support system. The ending did come as a bit of a surprise, but made a lot of sense within the context of T.J.'s home life and dealings with Marshall. Perfect book to show that not everyone is what they seem to be and that who you are in the community doesn't determine how you will act.

The Plain Janes

Title: The Plain Janes
Author: Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg
Publisher: New York, New York : Minx (2007)
ISBN: 9781401211158 1401211151
Pages: unpaged

5 bookmarks

After being the victim of a bombing, Jane and her family move to the suburbs from Metro City. Jane longs for the culture of the city until the day that she sits at the reject table and finds a group of girls who she fits in with. Ironically, all the girls are name Jane. Together, the four Janes form a group- PLAIN (People Loving Arts in Neighborhoods) and put on random art attacks. Unfortunately, not all the people in the suburbs like the art attacks and a curfew is imposed on the teens of the town. Through the random art attacks, the Janes are able to inspire people to bring their town to life. Our Jane is also able to finally get some closure about the bombing when she learns that "John Doe", another victim of the attack has been released from the hospital, fully recovered, and she makes plans to meet him.

I absolutely loved this book! It is a shining example of how we can overcome our personal tragedies and come out stronger for them. It also shows what can happen when people with a vision join together. A single vision can work change on an entire community for the better.

Delirium

Title: Delirium
Author: Lauren Oliver
Publisher: New York : Harper (2011)
ISBN: 9780061726828 0061726826
Pages: 441
Characters: Lena
5 bookmarks

Imagine a world where love is viewed as a disease that can be cured. That is the future that Lena lives in. She cannot wait until her 18th birthday when she will be able to have the treatment. A few months before she is scheduled to be cured, Lena does the unthinkable- meets a boy and falls in love with a boy who has sneaked in from the outlands. Lena discovers that her secret is found out when she is placed under house arrest and makes a desperate plan to escape.

This book is cruel in that the rest of the series is not out yet. I cannot hardly wait until the 2nd book in the series comes out next year. This book completely sucked me in and I was hardly able to put it down. Instead of going to be around 10 the night I finished it, I went to bed at 1....and didn't regret it in the least only that the book was over.

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood

Title: Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
Author: Marjane Satrapi
Publisher: New York : Pantheon Books (2003)
ISBN: 0375422307 9780375422300 037571457X 9780375714573
Pages: 153

4 bookmarks

Perseoplis is the story of Marjane, is actually the memoir of the author's childhood in Iran. Satrapi is the great-granddaughter of Iran's last emperor and the daughter of Marxist parents. Persepolis tells the story of Satrapi as she grows up in Tehran following the overthrow of the Shah, during the Islamic Revolution, and into the war with Iraq. While growing up, she ponders why everything is going on and worries about the safety of her parents as they demonstrate and people around her are arrested.

I really like Persepolis and can understand why it has been compared to Art Speigelman's Maus. I am not quite as impressed with Persepolis as I was Maus however. I did like that the book was about an area that most of us Americans do not know much about- Iran. It is fascinating to get that different perspective on things. This book would be great to use in the classroom at the high school level. It would be great to use in a history classroom to help students learn about the history of Iran.

Dangerously Alice

Title: Dangerously Alice
Author: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Publisher: New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers (2007)
ISBN: 9780689870941 0689870949
Pages: 294

4 bookmarks

I was first introduced to the Alice series of books when researching puberty in children's literature for a class last year. The series was mentioned repeatedly in the literature I read so I thought, what better series to read a book from than the Alice series, which has received a lot of acclaim for being realistic.

I have to admit that I was not disappointed. High school is a rough time for a lot of teens. You struggle between living up to the expectations of your teachers, parents, and peers. Most of the time during high school, it is the expectations of peers that we actually wind up living up to. This is exactly the case with Alice. It seems that through most of high school so far, Alice has pretty much followed the rules- made good grades, worked for the school paper, didn't really go out drinking and partying. When she is labeled MGT, she decides that she needs to show that she really isn't a "Miss Goody Two-shoes". When interviewed for the paper she says she wants to be a bubble dancer, dates Tony (who is notorious for being "fast"), and writes a story for the paper after pretending to be a teenage runaway. She also fights with her stepmother about the new family pet and having a car. Alice realizes that she is in over her head when she goes to a party without her parents permission and tragedy almost strikes. It's then that Alice realizes that she can't keep being the bad girl and that every action has possible consequences.

If the rest of the Alice series is as good as Dangerously Alice was, then the entire series is pretty good. While not at all one of my favorite books, Dangerously Alice was enjoyable. Phyllis Reynolds Naylor did accurately depict what it is like to be a teenager. She didn't shy away from some touchy issues that parents might not necessarily like their teens to read including fighting with parents, teenage drinking, and masturbation. This would be a great book to read to facilitate a discussion about actions having consequences if it could be approved for a reading list. We need to have books that deal with real life in our English classes.

Space Between Trees

Title: The Space Between Trees
Author: Katie Williams
Publisher: San Francisco : Chronicle Books (2010)
ISBN: 9780811871754 0811871754 9780811877299 0811877299
Pages: 274

1 bookmark

16 year old Evie feels that she has no real friends. She stretches the truth about her relationships. In order to fit in with "The Whisperers", she fabricates a relationship with Jonah, who does pest removal in Hokepe Woods where she delivers papers. When he finds her classmate Elizabeth (Zabet) murdered one day, Evie finds herself fabricating another relationship, this time to be accepted by Zabet's father. Evie quickly becomes friends with Hadley, Zabet's best friend in order to cover up her lie. Together, the two hatch a plan to find Zabet's killer. Unfortunately, someone else who is innocent gets caught in the crossfire of their plan and Evie must live with the consequences.

They say don't judge a book by its cover. This book is definitely a case where you should follow that advice. The cover of the book is fabulous- a black tree shape is cut out of the center and placed over purple end papers. The visual effect is striking, specially with barely being able to make out the girl in the background. Sadly, the rest of the book does not live up to the cover. I was seriously disappointed by this book. The premise had so much potential. Instead, the book moved slowly and Evie changed from just being annoying and whiny to being annoying, whiny, and easily manipulated. The fact that she blindly followed Hadley and at the end covered for her made Evie's character really unbelievable. I was also completely shocked at her lack of feeling in cleaning up and re-arranging Zabet's room. It was not something that I see most people doing. Real people would understand that the room didn't need to be disturbed, that Zabet's dad would take care of it in time. I also kept wanting to see some major change in Evie, maybe that she would let someone know that Hadley was crazy and living dangerously. Never happened. The whole book could have been redeemed if the surprise of the murderer had been any good. Seriously, a vagrant. I kept wanting it to be Hadley so that I could have a reason to dislike her other than her being more annoying that Evie.

Life as We Knew It

Title: Life as We Knew It
Author: Susan Beth Pfeffer
Publisher: Orlando : Harcourt (2006)
ISBN: 0152058265 9780152058265
Pages: 337

5 bookmarks

The moon - not something that we think about very often. We all know that it controls the tides, but what would happen if something happened to the moon? That is exactly what happens in Life as We Knew It. Astronomers forecast that a large meteor is going to hit the moon. The residents of her small Pennsylvania town decide that they will celebrate the occasion by going outside to watch. Only something goes horribly wrong.

The moon suddenly becomes much larger and brighter, evidently pushed closer to the Earth by the impact. As can be expected, mass chaos ensues as coastlines around the world experience flooding and tsunamis. Weather patterns quickly change as the stronger gravitational pull makes volcanoes world wide erupt, even volcanoes that have previously been extinct. Along with the volcanoes come earthquakes. The world as we know it, is thrust into a deep winter. People everywhere are freezing and starving. Miranda's family has prepared some. Early on, they stockpile food, ration their remaining gas and oil, and re-arrange their house to attempt to survive the coming changes. As the problems in the world grow, so does the conflict within the house as everyone experiences some cabin fever. Will the family be able to survive the disaster?

Sometimes a book comes along that absolutely sucks you in and makes it hard to determine where the book ends and where reality starts. This has been one of those books for me. (Granted it doesn't help that the past few weeks have had some unusual weather). Susan Pfeffer expertly uses the voice of a teenage girl, Miranda, to capture what we all would be feeling if life as we knew it were instantly changed and all the things we take for granted (easy travel, fast food, television, even electricity) were suddenly to disappear without warning. The use of journal entries is especially effective.

Hunger Games

Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: New York : Scholastic Press (2008)
ISBN: 9780439023481 0439023483 9780545310581 054531058X
Pages: 374
Bookmarks: 5

Awards: North Carolina Young Adult Book Award (2008), British Fantasy Award for Top Ten (2009), Georgia Peach Book Award (2009), A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (2008), Cybils Award for Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2008),
Amelia Bloomer List (2009), An ALA Notable Children's Book for Older Readers (2009), Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (2008), West Australian Young Readers' Book Award (WAYRBA) for Older Readers (2010), Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award Nominee (2011), Red House Children's Book Award for Older Readers & Overall (2010), New York Times Notable Children's Book of (2008), Publishers Weekly's Best Books of The Year, South Carolina Book Award for Junior and Young Adult Book Awards (2011), Rhode Island Teen Book Award (2010), Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award (2010), ALA Teens' Top Ten (2009), Milwaukee County Teen Book Award Nominee (2010), Sakura Medal for Middle School Book (2010), Silver Inky Award (2009), Michigan Library Association Thumbs Up! Award (2009), Florida Teens Read (2009), Iowa High School Book Award Nominee (2011), ALA's Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults (2009)Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People (2009)

If book awards mean anything to you at all, clearly The Hunger Games is a great choice. Even if book awards mean nothing to you, The Hunger Games is a great choice. It is very rare that I wholeheartedly recommend a book to just about anyone. This book is one of the few instances that I can honestly say is a must read.

Panem, located in the future North America, is divided into 12 districts. The Capital rules these districts. Each year, The Capital requires that 2 tributes, one male and one female, are sent each year to participate in The Hunger Games as punishment for an uprising. The Hunger Games are an annual televised death match in which 12-18 year-olds from each district battle each other to the death in an arena designed by The Gamemakers. When Katniss's younger sister, Prim is selected, Katniss takes her place, despite participating in the Games is most likely a death sentence. Along with Peeta, the other tribute from District 12, Katniss goes to The Capital to participate in the Games. After somewhat limited preparation, Katniss, Peeta, and the other tributes are thrust into The Arena and The Hunger Games begin. Katniss quicky decides that she is in it to win, whatever the cost. However, while playing, she is confronted by the decision- is survival worth the loss of friendship, love, and their humanity.

The Hunger Games was one of those books that it is almost impossible to put down. You get sucked into the world that Collins creates and quickly become attached to the characters. It is a little disturbing to think of a world in which often brutal murders are committed by teenagers for the entertainment of others and that some of these teens are specially groomed for this role. Suzanne Collins definitely makes you think with this highly entertaining (and addictive) book.

I actually think that this book would provide a lot of good discussion in a high school English class, especially if read in conjunction with Lord of the Flies as there are some similarities in the brutality that can be found within people. Comparisons could also be drawn by history teachers with the brutality found in the Roman Empire and in Medieval Europe (although both can be argued are somewhat less disturbing than the mandatory, televised Hunger Games).

Mockingbird

Title: Mockingbird
Author: Kathryn Erskine
Publisher: New York : Philomel Books (2010)
ISBN: 9780399252648 0399252649
Pages: 235

4 bookmarks

Awards: National Book Award for Young People's Literature (2010), YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults (2011), International Children's and Young Adults Book Award (2011)

Mockingbird is a touching story about 10 year old Caitlin, who suffers from autism. Caitlin sees everything in concretes- black-white, good-evil. She often has trouble "getting it" and has relied a lot on her older brother, Devon to help her. However, Devon has been killed recently in a tragic school shooting, leaving Caitlin and her father reeling and struggling to get closure. The tragedy makes it even more difficult for Caitlin to make friends than it was before. With the help of her school counselor, Caitlin learns to cope with her grief and make friends. In order to help her and her father, Caitlin happens upon the idea of finishing the chest that Devon was working on for his eagle scout project.

It is not often that an author tries to take on the perspective of a person with a disability, especially one such as autism. Kathryne Erskine is able to make a fairly believable portrayal of Caitlin, who is obviously high functioning autistic. This book would be great for students to read who are have an autistic classmate so that they are able to understand that perspective on things. It would also be a great book for students to read who have suffered a tragedy, such as the loss of a classmate.

Playing with Matches

Title: Playing with Matches
Author: Brian Katcher
Publisher: New York: Delacorte Press (2008)
ISBN: 9780385735445 9780385905251 0385905254 0385735448
Pages: 294

4 bookmarks

Leon Sanders is your average teenage guy. Not terribly popular, but has a core group of close friends. He is essentially an unknown in his high school, which is better than Melody, a classmate who was badly burnt as a child and is more of an outcast. In order to escape working on a group project with a classmate he hates, one day Leon decides to work with Melody and discovers that the two of them share many interests and quickly become friends. Soon, feelings start to develop on both sides, but Leon can't get over his obsession with his dream girl Amy. Who will Leon choose, the beautiful but often petty and mean Amy or disfigured but smart and entertaining Melody?

Like much of the YA fiction that I have read, this is a bit cliched and predictable. What normal teenage boy is going to stay with a girl who is amazing but disfigured when he can have a beautiful and popular girl instead? I did like though that at the end, Leon realized that he should have stayed with Melody and that Amy was basically just going to use him. This is your typical story of "it's what's on the inside that counts". Thankfully, it is a quick read and does have some parts that are genuinely funny.

What I liked the most about the story is the transformation that Melody underwent. At the beginning of the book, she is pretty quiet and tries to stay in the background as much as possible. After becoming friends with Leon, she starts to make more friends and becomes a lot more confident and social. It was through Leon's friendship that she was able to start to value herself and not just see herself as a disfigured burn victim, but as a complete person that other people might actually like.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson

Title: Will Grayson, Will Grayson
Author: John Green and David Levithan
Publisher: New York: Dutton (2010)
ISBN: 0525421580 9780525421580
Pages: 310

4 bookmarks

We all know that there are other people out there who share our name. How often though, do you happen to meet someone with the exact same name as you? Chances are slim to none. However, one night in Chicago, Will Grayson does just that after being ditched by his friends who snuck into a club.

Will Grayson is best friends with Tiny (who is anything but tiny). Tiny, who is pretty flamboyantly gay, has written about his life that he wants to perform for the school. After Will Grayson introduces Tiny to the second Will Grayson, Tiny's play and the life of the original Will Grayson are changed.

While I can't say that this book was epic, or changed my life, or any number of glowing over the top compliments, I can say that it pretty much sucked me in. Despite gay Will Grayson being whiny and complaining constantly, straight Will Grayson being boring and just sort of floating through life, and Tiny being over the top, the book was enjoyable. The flaws in the characters were what actually made them believable. I loved the fact that John Green and David Levithan used the names of actual bands in real life that the characters liked.

I do have to say that the lyrics to Tiny's musical and the musical itself were epic. His musical is one that I definitely would go see. At times, they are funny enough that I would laugh, not just a snort, but an actually laugh. Unfortunately, I do not see the possibility of many high schools putting on a musical like Tiny's. While I do not want to ruin the ending, I do have to mention that it was really touching and showed that both Will Graysons had grown some over the course of the book.

An Unspeakable Crime: The Prosecution and Persecution of Leo Frank

Title: An Unspeakable Crime: The Prosecution and Persecution of Leo Frank
Author: Elaine Marie Alphin
Publisher: Minneapolis : Carolrhoda Books (2010)
ISBN: 9780822589440 0822589443
Pages: 152

2 bookmarks

Leo Frank was the superintendent of the pencil factory in Atlanta, Georgia until the fateful day in 1913 when an employee, Mary Phagan, was found murdered in the basement. While there were several other suspects, the Jewish Leo Frank quickly became the prime suspect in the murder. Following a media feeding frenzy, Leo Frank is convicted of the murder on shaky grounds. Even after his death sentence was commuted, "justice" at the hands of Georgia citizens prevailed when Frank was kidnapped and lynched for the crime.

It is true that much of what is taught in history class is taught from the perspective of white middle class males. History as taught in most high school classrooms glosses over anything that is negative in history. This is a fact that continuously bothers me. Not everything in United States history has been good. In fact, much of our history has revolved around persecuting people of different ethnicity, religion, and cultures. A compelling argument can be made that the case of Leo Frank is one of those. Much of this is lost though with the highly pro-Frank bias of the author and her sometimes condescending tone (for example explaining that there wasn't always the Internet). If a high school teacher wants to use a book in class that reveals some of the negatives of American history, they would be much better served by Lies My Teacher Told Me, That's Not in My American History Book, or The People's History of the United States

Girl by Bart Bare

Title: Girl: a novel
Author: Bart Bare
Publisher: Vilas, North Carolina : Canterbury House Publishing (2010)
ISBN: 9780982539644 0982539649
Pages: 182


4 bookmarks

Loren Creek isn't your typical teenager. Most teenagers live with their parents. Loren lives by herself, illegally. After her mother dies from cancer and the state tries to force her into foster care, Loren runs away from the mountains of Tennessee and crosses over into Boone, North Carolina with the help of 2 friends. There, she sets up a new life, disguised as Lorne. Living as Lorne, she rents a house from an old man, posing as his grandson and enrolls in the local high school. There, Lorne is one of the guys and even becomes one of the stars on the football team. All the while, her caseworker from Tennessee is desperate to find her. Living a double life as Lorne is hard on Loren, but she makes the best of it and is able to get by until disaster strikes during a game. Then, the truth about her past and her identity comes out with surprising results.

While the book was pretty well written Loren/Lorne does not always seem like a teenager. She seems to be more of an adult that some of the adults in the book. She's more responsible and insightful than a lot of the adults that I know. I can't make up my mind whether or not this was intentional.

I think that this book seemed a bit more real because it is set in Boone, NC. I have spent a good deal of time there, and Bart Bare is able to capture the city well.

Introduction

My name is Erin and I am an MLS student at Appalachian State. In a year, I will be graduating with my Master's in Library Science and be a for real librarian. Given that fact, it can be assumed that I am an avid reader. Typically, I like either dystopian or historical fiction, but will read anything that strikes my fancy. Some of my favorite authors include Ray Bradbury, Margaret Atwood, Neil Gaiman, Roald Dahl, and C. S. Lewis.

Here, you will find reviews of the many books that I read.