A Greener Christmas by Sheheerazade Goldsmith. Dorling Kindersley, 2008. 350 pages.

A Greener Christmas was not exactly what I expected-- it is a holiday craft book-- a good one-- but not all that different from countless others. A great book for someone who needs a holiday craft book, but if you have a few already there is no reason to purchase it.
Now- if you ARE in the market for a holiday craft book, this one has lots to recommend it. The photos are gorgeous and because this is a british import, it has a little something many domestic books do not. The crafts are simple and mostly easy to do, the traditional british recipes are very simple and lovely and appropriately old fashioned christmassy. The recipes and craft and decorating ideas are interspersed throughout the book. There are some green ideas in the book-- recycle your tree, reuse wrapping paper, buy organic, etc. and, of course, the simpler more down to earth things do leave less of a carbon footprint, but in general you a getting a holiday craft book, albeit a well done one. i would recommend it to the right person...but i still can't get my dried orange and lemon slice ornaments to look the way hers does!

The Giggler Treatment by Roddy Doyle. Scholastic, 2000 112 pages.

When Mr. Mack punishes his children unfairly, he gets 'The Treatment'-- that is, tiny, gremlin like creatures called Gigglers must find a fresh dog poop and make him step in it. This is the story-- told with lots of reference to poo, bums, rudies, etc. A favorite of my own daughter Rose for several years, the book is funny and irreverant and much loved by kids. Definitely for the "The Day my Butt Went Psycho" and "Captain Underpants" crowd---which is virtually every 3-5th grader, I believe. In addition, since the author is Irish, the book comes with a glossery of the Irish/Anglo expressions used in the text. Cheeky and loads of fun!

The Story of Babar by Jean De Brunhoff. Random House Books for Young Readers (1967), Library Binding, 56 pages

A french classic i never read until today! A sweet tale of a young orphaned elephant who finds friendship and adventures in the city and then returns home to the forest to be crowned King. Lovely in its simplicity, Babar feels like a bedtime story created by a favorite aunt or uncle. The illustrations are exquisite-- both old fashioned and timeless. One warning though--while the script style font is charming, early readers may have trouble reading the text. Still, a lovely and charming tale loved by generations of children around the world.

The Jumping-Off Place by Marian Hurd McNeely. South Dakota Historical Press, 2008 (1929) 321 pages

After the death of their beloved uncle, four orphaned siblings settle a homesteading claim in South Dakota in 1910. Led by their older teen sister, Becky, they spend their first year on the prairie. Originally published in 1929, this is definitely an old fashioned children's book, and it is very reminiscent of the Little House series. The book starts off a little slowly, but Hurd McNeely develops her characters very well-- quietly but quickly--and i found my self pulled deeper into a story that is quiet but consistent-- chronicling events --not adventures, exactly-- that occur during the family's first year on the claim. The story ends when the year finishes, and while the ending is certainly predictable, it is also satisfying-- and in keeping with the quiet nature of the work itself. I really enjoyed the book --- it is very well written and full of subtleties that enhance the story without hitting you over the head-- for example, the seasonal weather on the prairie mirrors the mood of the narrative as it progresses. i knew little about South Dakota or the prairie experience before The Jumping-Off Place and i did not expect to like the book anywhere near as much as i did, and i have a new found understanding for the settler experience. When i talk about this book and this period, however, I do feel compelled to point out that this was the last of the large native american land thefts, and this land ----that the Linville kids and other prairie families so loved-- was stolen from native people as part of US policy to decimate the Indian population, separate the people from their ancestral lands and destroy native culture. I believe the book's afterward, by Jean L. S. Patrick, should have made this point more clearly. So....that being said, I clearly liked the book quite a bit, and while it is not for every child, i think that for upper elementary and middle school kids with a taste for the Little House series, or A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, or Secret Garden, etc. I would recommend it. Also, a great Read-A-Loud for a younger group. Recommended-with historical notes--

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. Penguin, 2003. 336 pages

It is Georgia, 1964, and 14 year old Lily Owens hates her life. She has vague, ominous memories of her mother 's violent death, lives with a cold, abusive father (physical and emotional abuse) and is a social outcast among her peers. The only stable figure in her life--Rosaleen- is-a middle aged black farm worker employed by her father to watch over Lily while he operated his peach farm. One day, Rosaleen goes into town to register to vote --it is 1964-- and insults the biggest racists in town and Lily and Rosleen are forced to flee. They end up in Tiburon SC, at the home of 3 sister bee keepers--the first real home Lily and Rosaleen have ever had. All goes well until one day, when the past catches up with them. i enjoyed the story, told from Lily's point of view. The characters, who continue to develop as the story unfolds, are fun and interesting, quirky and sad. It feels very southern, full of strong, colorful women who are both in conflict and bonded together and like family. The book is well written, holds your interest and moves along rapidly. I do want to note, however, that the backdrop is Georgia and South Carolina, 1964-- big events from the civil rights movements frame the story, but it is not a work of historic fiction--and the sensibility is completely 21st century-- as a historian, i cannot let this go and it did mar my enjoyment of the book. For example, the interraccial love affair between Zach and Lily is treated by the church ladies with knowing smiles and cute asides-- which certainly does not ring true because in that historical time and place, Zach's life would have been in real danger; young black men were murdered for a lot less than that. Still i enjoyed the book immensely-- a fun, fast read with lots to talk about for book groups. i recommend it with the above disclaimers.

Runaway Radish/El Rabano Que Escapo by Janice Levy. Raven Tree Press C/O Delta (2008), Edition: Bilingual, Hardcover, 32 pages

i really wanted to like this book-- i love folktales, i love Oaxaca, i love bilingual books.... but I was so disappointed. i love Oaxaca and have visited many times---i am familiar with the radish festival, although i have never been. I love the gingerbread man but this story does not flow, does not feel or sound authentic and seems very hokey to me. While i understand that the target audience is not latino, but US born children--Levy's tale still has a clumsy and stereotypical feel to it. i do not like the art work at all--it had an unfinished quality to it that was unappealing and failed to enhance the story. The other reviewers, who all liked the work, were correct to try it out on an audience, and so i read it at a storytime filled with boys and girls from 3-10. The kids listene, but by no means did they love it--and the 2 nine year olds immediately began talking about the gingerbread man --a great connection, of course-- but they then requested the gingerbread man which was a real crowd pleaser. So, while I love the concept, i am very disappointed in the work, and cannot recommend it. Mexico has plenty of lovely folktales that are readily available in english and spanish --Cucú, by Lois Ehlert, La Mujer que brillaba aún más que el sol, by Martinez and Horse and Hooves by Neil Philip, to name a very few. Runaway Radish just cannot compare.

Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary. HarperTrophy, 1983. 134 pages.

12 year old Leigh has been writing to Mr. Henshaw off and on since a school assignment in 2nd grade mandated he contact a published author. Now in 6th grade, Leigh begins writing in earnest--ostensibly for another school project-- revealing the unhappy details of his life. It is Mr Henshaw's brief, but thoughtful, response that leads Leigh to start keeping a letter-journal and it is through these letters--some sent (Dear Real Mr. Henshaw) and some journaled (Dear Fake Mr. Henshaw) that we learn about his struggle with his parents recent divorce and separation, the move to a new house, a new school, his loneliness, and the unreliable father that he loves and misses. As in real life, things improve for Leigh by the end of the book--he meets a new friend and comes to terms with the new living situation but, just as important, there is no happily ever after and his parents do not get back together----instead, they all move on.
Well written and brilliant--this is a great book for individual reading and for book club and class room discussions. The issues of divorce and unhappiness and alienation are very common in YA books, but much less so for this age level--when many children are aware of family issues but do not know how to talk about them, leaving them full of fear and anxiety. Thoughtful and moving, Dear Mr. Henshaw is popular and well received by children and adults and serves as a great introduction to the works of Beverly Cleary. Recommended

Hot Girl by Dream Jordan. St Martin's Griffin, NY. 2008. 214 pages

Kate has had a tough life so far; her drug addicted parents forfeited their parental rights to the state when she was only months old, and Kate, a former gang-banger, has bounced from foster home to group home to foster home all her life. With the help of a much respected social worker, Kate is staying clear of trouble--but its hard. Then Kate meets wild and sexy Naleejah and things change fast...With the help of her new friend kate is now hot and sexy and commanding everyman's attention, even Charles, her homeboy and not so secret crush...of course things don't stay happy long and street smart Kate realizes she should have followed her instincts about Naleejah--who does not really have her interests in mind...
I did not care for this book at first-- i thought the neverending streetslang was over the top...but i was wrong--some kids do speak like that and the dialog language changed even within characters--depending on the situation and whom the character was speaking--just as it does in real life. Kudos to Jordan for that. Plus, i really like t Kate--and find the characters and the situations very authentic and real on many levels. The characters are interesting and believable and the story is fast paced and interesting, and i love the ending--really loved it- it was both positive and credible at the same time--no small feat for any literature, let alone YA lit. In fact, the deeper i got into the novel, the more i liked and appreciated it. Hot Girl is great for a girl's group, a book club, a classroom or on its own. There is already an informal waiting list for my review copy and i am ordering it for our YA collection where i know it will be a huge hit!

Jamela's Dress by Niki Daly. Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1999.

When her mother buys material to make a new dress for a friend's wedding, Jemela falls so in love with the beautiful fabric that she wraps it around herself and parades throught the street. But this is a busy neighborhood and on the way the fabric gets ruined. What will mama do?
Warm and earthy illustrations complement this wonderful story. Filled with images of modern South African street scenes, as well as Nguni works, children everywhere will love the story and identify with its heroine. Kwela Kwela!

My Piles of Rows and Coins by Tololwa M Mollel. Clarion Books, NY. 1999

A young boy in Tanzania saves the money he earns while working in the market with his mother. He is saving to buy a bicycle, which he believes will allow him to help his parents more at home. Although the other kids often ridicule him, he practises every chance he gets and, with the help of his father, he eventually learns. When he finally saves 350 coins he runs to the bike shop only to find out that, although 350 coins is an enormous amount to a young boy, it is no where near enough to buy a bicycle. Dejected, he returns home to Yoyo, but a surprise awaits.
This beautifully illustrated and wonderful tale manages to introduce themes that speak to experiences both universal and uniquely African.

Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman. HarperTrophy, 1994. 212 pages

Although it sounds deadly--one year in the life of Birdy, the13 year old daughter of a minor knight in 11th century England, as told through her diary entries--it is, instead, brilliant. Birdy is irreverent, manipulative, modern, lively, funny, thoughtful, moody, anxious, headstrong and thoroughly alive--she is Anne of Green Gables, Hermoine Granger, Jo March, Charlotte Doyle-- a strong adolescent female character coming of age and trying to make sense of her world. Birdy, as the daughter of a poor and minor knight, hates lots of things about her life--killing fleas, cleaning rushes, her older brother, endless needle work--and she fights against the social constraints put on women of her era-- sometime actually longing for the imagined greener grass life of the peasantry. In the course of the year she loses her best friend to a less than happy marriage and is herself facing the very real prospect of being married off to the highest bidder--which she decides to fight with every tool in her limited power. The details of daily life are certainly realistic--the actual character of Birdy--i'm not so sure--but that does not diminish the story at all--the character is one many girls (and boys) will identify with and while the ending is a bit convenient (yes, i 'll give you that) it is historic fiction and a great story and one that kids love. This is Karen Cushman doing what she does best.

Bully Buster (Jake Drake). Aladdin Paperbacks (2001) 73 pages.

Jake Drake recounts how he managed to stop being a "bully magnet" and became a "bully buster". A fairly realistic account of the problems kids have dealing with bullies...no solution that we as adults offer seems to work--not telling, not keeping quiet, not being nice, not avoiding them, etc. Kids often feel on their own with this stuff--as Jake does. The bully ends up needing Jake's help when they are partnered together for an assignment and while Jake and the bully never become friends (thank goodness..that's so lame at this age!) Jake is no longer a victim. Not great literature or deep thinking, but i do love Andrew Clements for school age kids and the Jake Drake series is great for the younger chapter readers..advanced 2nd graders, 3rd and some 4th graders. And, of course, bullies loom large in all of our lives.

The Jacket by Andrew Clements. Aladdin (2002), Paperback

A white student, Phil, sees a black student, Daniel, wearing his brother's jacket and assumes the boy has stolen it. Daniel is righteously angry and Phil, in questioning his own actions, begins to see his entire world--including his family--in the context of racism and white privilege. it is not great literature and the story line is a little pat--Phil suddenly sees and understands subtle racism in himself, his family, his society, and in the end, he and daniel become friends. Yes, i agree--clumsy and hoky--BUT, this is a great message--a real, complex message about racism in our society that IS very complex and that occurs right now and that involves otherwise good people. The Jacket is a great book for class discussion and begs to be assigned to a 4th or 5th grade book club. The adults, in general, do not want to talk about the incident that bothers Phil so much, and with the exception of Lucy, Phil's family maid and Daniel's grandmother (a little contrived, i know!) they all fail in their response in some way--the principal, phil's mother, his father...
A wonderful book that will read well for most in the age group--a great book for encouraging a REAL discussion about racism in the age group. Realistic realistic fiction...I love Andrew Clements!

The Savage by David Almond. Candlewick (2008), Hardcover, 80 pages

When Blue's father dies, everything changes for him--the loss is enormous, huge, devastating, and raw. At the same time blue is also forced to deal with a bully---a really meanspirited and viscous boy--who torments him in a really disturbing way. As the child becomes depressed and more introverted, his teacher suggests he write a story to help him deal with his feelings--Blue writes from the pain and creates a savage character (this is the graphic) who may be real or not, who may be Blue, or not....The story Blue creates is intensely personal--for a long time he will not share it with even his mother--and the Savage becomes an embodiment of Blue's feelings--the pain, the frustration, the rage--and desire for revenge--and in the end, becomes the catalyst for Blue to recover..with a little magical realism help!
I really like The Savage-- i found it beautifully written-- slim in volume but deep in emotion. And like all works for young people that deal with the issue of bullying in an authentic manner, the adults in the story--even loving, caring ones, fail to deal with the issue in any direct or effective way---leaving the victim feeling truly on his own. This is a British import filled with british english expressions that i think it is good to expose our kids to. The graphic within a novel format works very well, allowing us to see both sides of Blue--the boy and his psyche---and his healing. Magic and emotion, pain, bullying, fear, shame , anger, revenge, longing--the book has lots to think and talk and teach about. Highly recommended.

The stories of devil-girl by Anya Achtenberg. Ann Arbor, MI : Modern History Press, 2008. 103 pages

There is so much to say about this slim novella, but i have trouble finding the words. Devil-Girl grows up in a cold, disfunctional home, neglected by a physically and emotionally abusive mother. Brief descriptions of her father drift in and out of the work, and i get the impression that he abandons devil girl and the rest of the family. A loveless, unhappy home---devil girl is repeatedly told --and comes to believe--she is worthless of any thing good and worthy of all the abuse she gets--almost seeking it as a young adult. She moves or is thrown out of hte house, then becomes homeless, a drunk, drug addict, petty criminal, prostitute whore, eventually marrying an abusive man. Similar in many ways to Sapphire's PUSH, Devil-Girl eventually finds community, friendship, purpose and self worth in education, at a school in Boston and later in Minnesota. She is saved, redeemed, renewed. In fact, my only complaint about the work is that Achtenberg does not tell us more about the road to recovery...does not go into more detail and carry us along on the recovery route...That will be the next Devil-Girl novella, perhaps?? Beautifully written --lyrical, musical language that moves --rich in imagery ..."Fatherless, I roam. Dead-tongued kisses lodged in my throat." Achtenberg correctly states that this work sounds like poetry and reads like prose--part diary, part memoir, part storytelling, The Stories of Devi-Girl is beautifully written but difficult to read. It is not for everyone-to be sure, but i really liked it and enjoyed reading some parts aloud-- Anya Achtenberg is a very strong writer.

Mick: Blue-eyed son #1 by Chris Lynch. HarperCollins, 1996, 146 pages

This is the first in a series of books about a young white working class teenager from an alcoholic, racist family in an Irish American neighborhood in Boston filled with parochialism and thuggery. Mick wants more. When he rejects racism, he also rejects his family as well as the parochial, lumpen neighborhood he has lived in his entire life; so his family and neighbors come after him physically and at one point, almost kill him. The racist reputation of his neighborhood follows him to school where he is always in danger of physical attack from groups of Asians and Latinos. He falls in love with a Latina named Evelyn, who hates his guts and he develops a new friendship, his first since kindergarten, with Toy, a mysterious loner who, while definitely not white, is race is unknown. This first book ends with Mick on the ground, bloody and beat up, denying he is “one of them” to the object of his affection, Evelyn. She slams the door and leaves him on the sidewalk; clearly a set up for the sequel.
Mick has lots of appeal for local youth, especially white working class youth. The voice and scenarios are totally authentic and come directly from white working class culture in Boston neighborhoods, especially from South Boston and Dorchester. “Why don’t you just go an have your own pissy little yellow faggot-ass parades and leave us alone” (p.30). and “—he’s always sayin’ something when he’s slapping me, y’know, so it takes forever; I hate that (p.130). I speak with authority because I’ve lived here my whole life. In addition, the story incorporates lots of real events, (names changed to protect the innocent??) such as the influx of Vietnamese families into the neighborhoods and the attempts by gay groups to march in the St. Patrick’s Day parade. It has real local flavor, so much so that I wonder how popular they are outside the area. I really liked it.

Rainbow Party by Paul Ruditis. Simon Pulse, 2005, 256 pages.

Okay, it is clearly not the best writing in the world but I think the story is useful and the issue important. A teen who sleeps around, Gin, decides to throw a Rainbow Party, where girls wear different colored lipstick and then perform oral sex on all the boys; theoretically the boys should have rainbows on their penises. Gin is carefully choosing the guest list because she believes oral sex is not real sex (“it’s only oral”) and that doing it gives her power. She is hoping to advance socially at school and the entire story takes place in the hours before the party is to begin. Like, Gin, the other girls agree to it for different reasons; to keep a boyfriend interested, to learn how to do it, to finally hook up with a crush. (The reasons the boys want to go are not quite so varied). There is a lot of sex in the book, including 2 male “friends with benefits” (benefits for one, anyway), Hunter and Perry. Their uneven relationship mirrors the uneven male/female dynamic inherent in the Rainbow Party concept. The invitees struggle with themselves in the hours before the party and in the end no one shows up.
I like the book because the topic is so important and I think it will get teenage girls talking. The characters ask the kind of questions that teens must have such as “Isn’t it one sided” and “What do I get out of it”. Many of the concerns of the characters are teen concerns… I want to be popular, I want to be good in bed, I want to keep my boyfriend interested. I do not know if Rainbow parties are real, but I do know they are legend. And the attitudes about oral sex expressed in the book are definitely real for some teens. It is especially well suited for high school girl’s groups for discussion.

Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez. Simon Pulse, 2003, 272 pages

This work speaks directly to gay and questioning youth in an authentic voice. Nelson, loud and in-your-face out, is continually harassed by other students while adults look the other way; he is full of insecurity at the same time he exudes confidence. Kyle, a nice quiet swimmer, is afraid to confront his parents and wants to keep it quiet; Jason, basketball jock, finds the closet still can’t protect him from his abusive father, and he is confused, afraid of the risk and in denial. Rainbow Boys tells the story of three different gay teens (“types?”) who have all the usual teen angst (too fat, ugly braces, poor grades), combined with all the gay teen issues (coming out, parents, bullies) and so much more ( first sex, safe sex, first love, getting used, getting rejected, falling in love, therapy/help groups). The characters are well thought out and are imperfect (until the end) and real. I saw bits of many gay men I have known in their story…the beatings, the political activism, the depression and self loathing, the problems with dad. It reads well and really pulls you in; you care what happens to these characters.
Overall I loved it, but at the end it seemed like Sanchez added in a couple of quick things, perhaps… suddenly it got little hokey, i.e. The GSA is approved “unanimously”; the sudden re appearance of Debra to tell Jason she accepts him and they can still be friends (this isn’t boy meets boy!); the seeming ease with which Kyle and Jason came out in high school at the end lacked the credibility that had been present in the entire book before this. Still, it does not detract much from the work. I really enjoyed reading this book and I think it is good for all youth to read; either to validate your own experience or to gain a better understanding of what it is like to be a gay teen in high school.

Be More Chill by Ned Vizzini. Miramax, 2005, 304 pages.

Jeremy Heere, at the bottom of the high school social hierarchy, spends his days being bullied by his social betters and keeping “humiliation sheets” that document his dork and loser status. Jeremy hangs out with his one dork friend, lusts after the beautiful Christine and spends his nights masturbating to internet porn and firmly believes that ”being Cool is obviously the most important thing on earth…”. Jeremy wants to get laid but doesn’t know how and life as a loser looks settled for Jeremy until he finds out about the squib, a microcomputer you swallow that tells you how to talk, and dress and how to be cool. Suddenly, Jeremy is the coolest kid in high school and he finds out that things don’t always turn out as you expect them to.

A Bad Boy Can Be Good For A Girl by Tayna Lee Stone. Wendy Lamb Books, 2006, 240 pages.

I did not find this book; it found me. I was searching through the stacks for YA graphic novels when I came across it, hidden in that group. An especially juicy section was bookmarked with a slip of paper from the library and I assumed some YA did not feel comfortable checking it out, but was ‘checking it out’ just the same. I scooped it up only to find it on the READING RANTS list of the best YA romances and with great reviews. I never would have picked it up based on the title or the graphic-y cover, but I LOVED IT and I loved the premise: a high school girl who knows better gets burned by the school heart throb. Instead of hiding she admits her mistakes to herself and her slighted girl friends, and turns her heartbreak and humiliation into a positive force for change by telling her story and using it as a cautionary tale for other victims (actual and potential). Using Judy Blume’s romance classic, Forever, she warns girls of what happened to her by writing all over the volume in the school library. Two other girls realize too late and after they are burned they also read the notes, only to realize that many, many girls have fallen for that jerk. They are not alone; instead they are empowered.

More Ready-To-Tell Tales From Around the Word by David Holt. August House, 2000, 256 pages

This is my favorite storytelling book! I stumbled across it by accident in Borders and have been raving about it ever since. It is my bible. Each multicultural tale is fully indexed to audience age, type of tale, and country of origen. All tales are donated by world class professional tellers who not only put their stories in the public domain, but also add story background information and tips for telling the tales. Small list of acknowledgments serves as a mini-bibliography. I have turned to it many times when I need a story for a quick tell or a more involved program. While I love them all, "The Barking Mouse" and "Dog Tails" are now part of my permanent repertoire.

Stay Awake, Sally by Mitra Modarressi. G P Putnum's, 2007.

In a clever and very funny role reversal, a very mature young racoon child pleads with her parents to be allowed to go to bed--"Tomorrow's a school day, I must get some rest. If i don't sleep now, I can't do my best."
--Her parents try every trick in the book to get her to stay up--"One story? Choose four! Stay awake, Sally, just a few minutes more!"
--A huge hit with parents and caregivers --but my preschoolers were only mildly amused, and mildly annoyed--by the story...Too suble for the youngest crowd, but all the adults loved it!

Mommy's Little Star by Janet Bingham. Scholastic, 2008

An inquisitive fox kit continually asks the question " What's higher in the sky?" to each answer his mother gives him--the trees, the rainbow, the cloud, etc.---Reminiscent of Sam McBratney's Guess How Much I love You, This is a sweet bedtime tale that leaves our kit (and yours) feeling safe and loved.

First the Egg by Laura Vaccaro Seeger. Roaring Book Press, NY., 2007.

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Seeger's beautifully illustrated picture book details the progression of several living things --egg then chicken, tadpole then frog--simply at first---carefully progressing to word/writing, paint/picture, finally leading us to the satisfying and clever lifecycle conclusion...back to egg! Accurate and cleverly written, this beautiful book will is certain to inspire lively conversations about the circle of life. A winner!

Mean Soup by Betsy Everitt. Voyager Books (1995), Paperback, 32 pages

A bad day at school puts Horace in a foul mood that he will not be cajoled out of--until his mother makes Mean Soup. ---Not as serious as Juanita Havill's Brianna series, nor even as the Viorst classic Alexander and the terrible, horrible no good day--still, this sweet and light hearted story works and works best as a tool to use with younger children to help them shed those bad moods brought on by everyday frustration. Everitt's book is fun and clever and charming ...and who knows...it may do for bad days what Patricia Polacco's Thundercake did for thunderstorms!

Meeting Lizzy by SarahBeth Carter. LJW Publishing, 2008. 211 pages

I'm so disappointed with this book--it is very poorly written and looks as if it is self published or computer generated.While i like the concept of a book written from dual points of view--the narrative really lacks authenticity--One voice--purported to be told from the point of view of a male 17 year old, particularly does not ring true, --- no teen ever sees themselves, let alone speaks of themselves as "in disguise" as a freak because i hate my father. In public, Cy goes around dressed like what sounds like a poor man's version of Edward ScissorHands--everywhere, even to school where he is shunned for this by all but one, even stranger, friend...while at home (where he lives alone because his father is always out of town) Cy washes the makeup off his face and wears jeans and t-shirts, so he can be "normal" in secret. It is so contrived it is ridiculous and no teen will ever take this seriously...Domestic violence among teens is a topic of enormous importance and very little is written on it--the subject deserves better treatment than this. Poorly written, unappealing, contrived, contorted and ludicrous storylines such as this one hold the entire subject up to ridicule.

The Secret Olivia Told Me by N. Joy. Just Us Books, Inc. (2007), Edition: 1st, Hardcover, 32 pages

Olivia shares a big secret with the narrator--a friend who swears she will never tell. Predictably, (to adults) "the secret accidentley slipped" and travels through the entire class, until everyone not only knows, but has added their own flourish to the original story. In the end, the narrator screws up her courage to tell her friend the truth. Nancy Devard's illustrations, limited in color to black, white and red, really pop and because all the characters are drawn in silhouette--without identifiable features--the story could have happened in any class, in every class. Included in the back pages are discussion questions to help guide the conversations that this book will no doubt initiate.

Too Much Noise by Ann McGovern. Houghton Mifflin, 1992, 52 pages.

A good version of the well known Jewish folktale, McGovern's retelling is detailed enough to appeal to older children and adults, while still managing to retain the simplicity, the repetition and the humour that makes this tale a favorite of young children. (see the flannel board version from Judy Sierra). Simms Taback's illustrations--lively, colorful and fun--only enhance the retelling of this well loved classic. One of my current favorites, it is a favorite when storytelling for all ages and it should circulate widely.

Lost and Found (Bluford High Series #1) by Anne Schraff, Townsend Press, (2002), 133 pages.

I wanted to like Lost and Found---I really did. The entire Blueford series is wildly popular with teens and I loved The Bully, one of the Bluford boy books, but i was disappointed with Schraff's work. HIghschool student, Darcy Willis, has some problems. Her Dad abandoned the family and hasn't been seen in years, her mother struggles financially and works very long hours as a nurse to make ends meet; she is tired and distracted. Darcy's grandmother had a stroke and now lives with them--paralyzed and unable to talk--needing constant care. and Darcy's younger sister, Jamee, deals with her issues by shutting down emotionally, pushing away everyone who loves her, and acting out at home and in school with lots of at risk behavior. Darcy is smart and studies hard and does well academically, but she is lonely and doesn't make friends easily and acts superior to her peers--partially to hide her shyness. Things get mysterious and even ominous when, for a class project, Darcy is paired with 2 students with bad reputations. A stranger begins to follow her and then her sister disappears. Darcy must put the pieces together to save herself and her family.
The book, like the others in the series, has lots to recommend it--relatively short, easy middle reader with Black characters and urban settings and typical kid problems and situations--Darcy's life seems very real to me. The problem with Lost and Found, i thought, was not only the predicable ending, but also that it sends a poor message to girls; Darcy learns that if you stop being stuck up and stop thinking that you are better than your lower achieving peers, then a boy and his male friends will beat up a male bully who is threatening you, and your father will comeback into your life and save your sister. i was really disappointed --especially since i really loved The Bully and it's very positive and realistic storyline. Unfortunately, i cannot say the same for Lost and Found; it sends a bad message to teen girls and I cannot recommend it.

The Skin I'm In by Sharon G. Flake. Jump At The Sun (2007), Paperback, 176 pages

Maleeka Madison is desperately trying to blend into the middle school wood work. The nail that stands out gets pounded, and Maleeka has plenty to pound-- no money, homemade clothes, book smarts and good grades and, impossible to hide, very black skin. She is at exactly the age when so many girls lose their confidence and Maleeka learns to avoid, live with, deal with the bullying by becoming "friends" (minions?) with her main tormentor Charlese Jones who bestows favors and humiliations at her whim. Her reputation and grades and self esteem suffer because of the association, but to Maleeka's thinking-- this is the best deal she can get..until Ms. Saunders shows up. A career changer with ideas and attitude, Saunders isn't like the other teachers and she is not having it. She sees the potential in Maleeka and she encourages her--over and over again--to love herself and have pride and be who you want to be--not who you think you have to settle for. Aim higher!
A great book for middle schoolers-boys as well as girls--i found it fast paced and well written and real--no one is perfect here--the characters are complex and nuanced just like in real life and this is a good book that teens will identify with and eat up. Similar in theme and in teen popularity to Anne Schraff's Lost and Found (Bluford Series) The Skin I'm in is far superior with complex and well developed characters and plot lines, as well as a much better, and more realistic examination of the issues bullying and low self esteem. A Coretta Scott King Award winner. Highly recommended.

Anansi and the Pot of Beans (Story Cove: a World of Stories) by Bobby and Sherry Norfolk, August House, 2006

Noted storytellers Bobby and Sherry Norfolk's updated version of Anansi and the Hat-Shaking Dance (made famous by Harold Courlander's collection of the same name)is updated for western children has a teenage Anansi shirking his duties and burning his head with Grandma Spider's spicy beans. While the illustrations are vibrant and and colorful, the story is made for vigorous telling--nose twitching, hat lifting and bean tasting-- and a good vehicle to practise your animal voices! And everyone loves Anansi--always a winner at storytime and family programs.

Frindle by Andrew Clements. Aladdin (1998), Paperback, 112 pages

Nick Allen is a clever student who prides himself on his ability to waste time in class--to ask that last question right before the homework is assigned that is guaranteed to get the teacher off on a tangent that goes nowhere--and guarantees no homework assignment that night. He is the master at it until he finds himself in Mrs. Granger's fifth grade class, where his question gets him assigned extra work. Nick soon comes up with a clever plan to turn the tables on Granger by inventing a new word for ordinary item -- a frindle. What starts as a trick to upset a rigid teacher soon snowballs beyond anything either of them can control.Fast paced and fun to read and discuss, this clever book will engage readers-- from every surprising plot twist to it's satisfying end.

Drown by Junot Díaz. Riverhead Trade (1997), Paperback, 224 pages

Ten intensely personal vignettes of life for a young male Dominican immigrant living in the New York/New Jersey area in the 1980s and 90s. That soul-sucking urban poverty in both the DR and the US is the background for every story, along with dysfunctional families--functioning in the ways they know how--girlfriends, aunts, uncles, distant moms, disappointing dads--living their everyday lives and told in the disconnected voice of a young male relating everyday struggles and humiliations as if he were not a part of them. Some loom large---Your dad brings you and your brother to his mistresses house where he, apparently, has another family. His mistress is nice to you, the house is nicer than the one you live in with your mother, and they leave you in the living room to watch TV while they go into the bedroom. On the way home, back to your mother, your dad doesn't talk about this.... Others are much more subtle---hide the government cheese and the picture of yourself with an afro before a new girlfriend comes over...
I loved this book and read through it twice. Diaz creates sympathy for often-unsympathetic characters and sucks us into the lives of his characters with subtlety and lightness of touch. Lots to talk and think and write about here. Older teens and adults will eat this up. Highly recommended.

Visiting Day by Jacqueline Woodson. Scholastic Press (2002), Hardcover, 32 pages

A moving view of “visiting day”-- the monthly routine of a young girl going with her grandmother to visit her incarcerated father. Told from the point of view of the little girl, the picture book is powerful in its simplicity.--- almost a spare retelling of the facts—waking up early to the smell of fried chicken, grandma fixing your hair just right, a neighbor coming by with a package to be delivered to her son, waiting for a certain bus, etc…held together with the simple refrain ”Only on visiting day”. Woodson is gifted at speaking in any voice she chooses, and the personal note she adds at the end, about visiting a favorite uncle when she was young, only adds to the tale. James E. Ransome’s watercolor illustrations are stunning and only add to the power of the text. Thought provoking and moving and visually rich, my only concern was the danger of stereotyping black men and their families. The percentages of black men incarcerated in this country far outstrip other groups, but care needs to be taken not to unwittingly reinforce racist beliefs about black youth. I would not hesitate to use it as part of a Woodson author study or in a unit/program about families or the Black experience. Love Woodson. Grades K-3 +

The Red Lemon (Deluxe Golden Book) by Bob Staake. Golden Books (2006), Library Binding, 40 pages

Farmer McPhee adores yellow lemons and after much lavish praise of their many wonderful attributes, he discovers a RED lemon on one of his trees. Determined to be rid of it because "it's too red to bear!", McPhee pitches it to a faraway island where the seeds thrive and prosper. Years after McPhee's yellow lemon grove has become nothing but a patch of weeds, the Red Lemons, "six times as sweet" remain a sensation. Staake's illustrations are clean, colorful and bold. The rhyming text is fun to read and very reminiscent of Dr. Seuss at his best. A huge hit at story time and reading readiness programs... served with red lemonade, of course. PreK-1.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate Dicamillo. Candlewick (2006), Hardcover, 228 pages

Although Edward- a china rabbit- enjoys a very comfortable existence being well loved and cared for by a wealthy young girl, he is a cold, disinterested creature, lacking in empathy and unable to feel love. Things change quickly for Edward, however, when he is lost at sea and begins his journey from one owner to another, traveling over land and through time and economic circumstance. DiCamillo pulls us into the story and we feel with edward as he travels to lonely but kindhearted fishermen and sick and poverty stricken young children; we travel the country with him, through the different locales and lives of his various owners, and as Edward's luck rises and falls, he becomes more and more empathetic and sympathetic, and more and more real. A truly remarkable story;well crafted and beautifully written. A great read aloud. Grades 2-5.

Eragon (Inheritance) by Christopher Paolini. Laurel Leaf (2005), Mass Market Paperback, 768 pages

Eragon is a 15 year old boy living a simple but happy life on his uncle’s farm in the land of Alagaesia when he finds what he realizes is a dragon egg. The egg hatches, he names her Sapphira, and his life is changed forever. The presence of a dragon—long thought to be extinct—brings danger when Eragon and Sapphira are forced to flee with Brom (who is secretly a former dragon rider) when minions of the evil king, Galbatorix destroy the farm and murder Eragon’s family looking for the dragon. A strong bond forms between teen and dragon (they communicate telepathically and can feel each others emotions) as Eragon learns the history of what has happened in the past, becomes a dragonrider, develops magical and telepathic powers, learns about and joins a group of rebels, (an alliance of former dragonriders (humans, like good guy knights), and magical people (elves and witches). A classic good versus evil story as the allied resistance fights the evil king and his forces of urgals and shades (evil magical creatures) over the dragons (there are 3 eggs) culminates in a great battle, where Eragon kills the Shade leader Durza, but is disfigured and almost dies. The ending is a set up for a sequel.
I liked the book, but I did not love it. I not think it is especially well written; heavy-handed and overly descriptive. ”He saw a young woman, bent over by sorrow, chained in a cold, hard cell. A beam of moonlight shone through a barred window set high in the wall and fell on her face. A single tear rolled down her cheek like a liquid diamond.” (212) or “Her teeth were as lethal as any sword, her tail a giant mace”(481). I attribute this to that fact that Paolini was so young when he wrote it; an older author might not feel compelled to use every word he/she knew to describe something. I know little about fantasy and have not read much, but even I know the general theme—teen’s entire life changes and he is called upon to defend good over evil in battle—is a common one and while reading Eragon I could clearly see the influence of the Harry Potter series, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, and JRR Tolkien. It will not be sophisticated enough for a teen fantasy fanatic, but it is still something I could recommend; it has lots of action and a formula popular in the genre. I would recommend it to some one who likes fantasy but does not know a lot about it and who likes to sink into books (high reading level and 500pp).

Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman. HarperTeen (1997), Hardcover, 80 pages

In this slim novel, Fleischman presents a series of vignettes revolving around a vacant lot/community urban garden in a run down neighborhood in Cleveland—---different people, ages, ethnic groups, motivation, points of view. The connection between the people they represent seems tenuous at first, but like the garden that, once nourished, takes root and blooms, the bond grows and we are really sucked into the story, finding the connections as we continue along. As I said, the book is very slim; less than seventy pages, but Fleischman is a true poet and manages to speak volumes in a few well chosen words. And like every community garden it is filled with hope and promise and possibilities. Great for stimulating class discussions of community and racism and human nature, it would also work well in a unit on community empowerment with, for example, Karusa’s The Streets are Free , Disalvo-Ryan’s Granpa’s Corner Store or McGovern’s Lady in the Box. –for younger YAs, and children, 4th grade up

Witness by Karen Hesse. Scholastic Press (2001), Hardcover, 161 pages

It’s Vermont, 1924 and the Ku Klux Klan comes to a small town in Vermont and recruits. Written in verse and told in the voices of different people in the town, Witness tells the story of how the Klan affected a small Vermont town; an aimless 18 yr. old Melvin joins the KKK to feel he is a part of something bigger than himself; 12 yr. old Leonora Sutter, the only African American girl in town, watches as life slowly gets more frightening; Sara Chickering who cares for and loves 6 yr. old Ester Hirsch, a motherless Jewish girl, and has no use for the Klan at all. As the KKK begins to assert more power over the town, things begin to get dangerous for Esther and Leanora. After the Sutters are threatened and someone shoots at Mr. Hirsch, many people in the town come out against the Klan. This is a quiet story with a very positive message. I enjoyed it and found the telling of the tale from the points of view of different townsfolk to be very effective.

The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause. Laurel Leaf (1992), Mass Market Paperback, 224 pages

Depending on the edition, the book cover can be a BIG LOSER…but the story is very good… not great literature, but it reads well. The characters are well thought out and very believable; Thirteen year old Zoe looks like she is keeping it together but is overwhelmed by issues that no teen should have to deal with alone; her mother is dying of cancer; her father is distracted and distant and shutting her out; he is emotionally unable to comfort her. Her best (and only) friend is moving across the country when she meets a young, handsome and hip vampire who loves her (or is he putting her under a spell) and asks for help to kill his evil brother. As a vampire, Simon has powers, including the power to force people to act according to his will, and several times I wondered if he was really the evil one. Like Cut the story involves an emotionally arrested father who is distant and unable to help a daughter who feels alone and needs him. And like Cut, the story ends with signs that father and daughter will rebuild their relationship. Fast paced and well crafted this is a good and chilling read.

One Big Building: A Counting Book About Construction (Know Your Numbers) by Michael Dahl. Picture Window Books (2004), Library Binding, 24 pages

Follow the numbers 1 to 12 through a construction site--from one plan to "a building twelve stories high". Includes extras, such as fun facts about building construction, a glossary and additional information websites. Ouren's illustrations are bold, bright and especially appealing. For youngsters interested in the topic (and there are many!) this is one great counting picture book.

Good Boy, Fergus! by David Shannon. The Blue Sky Press (2006), Hardcover, 40 pages

We've all met dogs like Fergus--happy, puppy like dogs who know what they like and who do everything--chasing motorcycles, taking a walk, peeing on hydrants-- with enthusiasm. And like Fergus's unseen owner, who says "don't beg" and then gives him bits of food, we are all charmed. Shannon's illustrations -- bright and colorful and larger than life--add the the feeling of warmth and home, comfort and fun. Like Shannon's David Books, the text consists of simple commands and statements directed to Fergus by his owner, making it easy to connect with and fun to read. --great for storytime

Go Ask Alice by Anonymous. Simon Pulse (2005), Paperback, 224 pages

Presented as a real diary written by an unnamed 15 year old drug user, Go Ask Alice follows the life of a middle class suburban teenager for a year and a half as she begins to experiment with and later becomes addicted to drugs. The narrator eventually runs away from home only to end up living a drug addicted life on the streets; stealing and prostituting herself, preyed upon by men and other young addicts, alternately sick from grief and withdrawal, she eventually returns home and is faced with all the difficulties of getting and staying clean, as well as re-entering the cruel and unforgiving social world of her old high school. It all takes place against the backdrop of all the usual teenage life situations: popularity, body image, romance, fitting in, parent problems, school issues, etc. The story is presented in the first person through the diary entries that, presumably, we were never meant to read. Okay, it’s dated. (“The fuzz has clamped down until the town is mother dry”p.96-97).) But the story is still frighteningly believable and the dramatic ending, a notice that after the last, hope filled, diary entry the girl was found dead from a drug overdose, leaves open the question of whether “Alice’s” OD was intentional or not.

The Chocolate War (Readers Circle) by Robert Cormier. Knopf Books for Young Readers (2004), Paperback, 272 pages

Jerry Renault is a freshman at Trinity School, an all-boys Catholic jock school who bucks the system by refusing to sell chocolates; his life is unhappy now that his mother is dead and his father is depressed and emotionally distant and Jerry refuses to sell because he is inspired by a poster in his locker that asks “Do I dare disturb the universe?” Although Jerry initially refuses to sell because the Vigils, a group of bullies unofficially sanctioned by Brother Leon, the new interim director, tells him he must refuse, Jerry continues to refuse even after the Vigils tell him to accept. Leon uses the Vigils to isolate Jerry, by then becoming a local hero and overnight Jerry turns form local hero to pariah. No happy ending here, the Vigils continue to harass and isolate Jerry culminating in a public fight between Jerry and the school’s big physical bully, Emile, where students decide who hits whom with which punch. Jerry is badly beaten as Brother Leon watches and he learns, not only that you pay an enormous price for universe disturbing, but also that the adults around him are hypocrites; A dark and powerful book, The Chocolate War will appeal to many teens who often feel powerless and often seem to have an innate ability to sniff out hypocrisy, I loved this book and would recommend it to any middle or high school student individually or as a group. It would generate some interesting and honest discussion about issues important to teens that most of us forget as we become the adults and gains some semblance of control over our lives. This is the kind of book that would have spoken to me like a bible if I had read it when I was young.

Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan. Laurel Leaf (1990), Mass Market Paperback, 224 pages

A group of high school seniors, afraid that the most unreasonable teacher in school, Mr. Griffin, will prevent them from graduating, plan to kidnap him in order to scare him and to send a message to him that he had better lighten up. They plot to enlist the help of Sue who agrees against her better judgment to help because she has a crush on David. But nothing is as it appears to be and Mr. Griffin fights back hard; He warns Sue to run thinking she was being victimized too; Griffin has a heart condition and dies and the ringleader of the group, Mark, is a psychopath who will kill anyone who gets in his way. As things continue to go wrong the kids are sucked deeper and deeper in as they try to cover their tracks. I enjoyed the quick and easy read. It is a dark read, and I couldn’t help noticing that Sue would absolutely be looking at time if it were written today. The kidnapping scene and death were gruesome. For me, the most horrifying part was that only Sue seemed to have any compassion at all for Griffin or his wife.

Cut (Collins Flamingo) by Patricia McCormick. CollinsFlamingo (2002), Paperback, 176 pages

Cut has a diary feel about it. Callie is not speaking to me, as the reader, she is speaking to her therapist whose name we never learn. This is very clever because when we first meet Callie, she does not speak; she is in a mental institution and she cannot speak because she is so traumatized by her brother’s illness and her parents dysfunctional behavior over it and by the responsibility she has to take care of a seriously ill little boy in an increasingly dysfunctional family where her parents, especially her father, are distant and withdrawn, that she is compelled to cut her own flesh over and over again. Callie gets to know the other guests at “Sick Minds” (Sea Pines) by observing them and their behavior and Callie keeps her secrets until the arrival of Amanda, (who also cuts,) forces her to face herself, her family and her cutting. As she begins to speak she begins to heal and finally is able to confront herself and her father and start dealing with some serious family dysfunctions. The story comes full circle when Callie decides she does want to be healed and she tells her therapist she is ready to talk. The book then, is Callie telling her story to the therapist.

Shooter by Walter Dean Myers. Amistad (2005), Paperback, 256 pages

I love contemporary issue books. Myers does here what he does so well, he tells the story of an unstable, alienated white student who takes a gun to school and kills the school bully who has been tormenting him. Myers tells the story through various official records of the incident (autopsy report, police report, psychological interviews) as well as newspaper accounts and the killer’s diary. We see the same group of incidents through the eyes of three different teens; Len, the unstable killer who showed lots of warning signs that were not properly dealt with by any of the adults he came in contact with; Carla, his maybe girlfriend who was treated so badly and Cameron, his best friend, one of the few black students in the school who is also an outsider and subject to bullying. Cameron was in the school with him the day of the shootings. Looking at the same incident through the accounts of different sources is very effective to stimulate thoughtful reflection, for example, in the news paper story the murdered bully’s father says: “you don’t send your kid to school, teach him the right things to do, to have it end like this.” (p156). But Brad appears very different in Len’s diary “At the ranch, Brad called me a faggot. He pushes and pushes into me” (197). The different viewpoints -focus reinforces that people and events are not black and white; they are much more nuanced and, I hope it will promote a more thoughtful examination in everything teens read and hear. Could lead to good discussions of important topics. 12/06

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff. Wendy Lamb Books (2006), Paperback, 224 pages

It is the age of modern terrorism--seemingly the not too distant future—and 15 year old Daisy leaves NY to spend time in rural England with cousins she barely knows. The family is a little odd, as is Daisy herself, with the family patriarch, who Daisy never does meet, away in the war, but Daisy instantly connects with the group, especially with cousin Edmund, a twin with whom she shares a special telepathy, as well as an incestuous relationship. Life is idyllically absent any adult oversight ( her aunt goes off somewhere and is unable to return due to an invasion of foreign troops) and the children all take good care of eachother, until the war reaches their very doorstep and they rapidly find themselves terrorized, starving, enslaved, lost hungry and in constant danger from civilians and , troops foreign and domestic. Determined to reunite with Edmund and the other boys, Daisy and Piper’s existence becomes more and more desperate. They eventually meet, but much has happened and eventually Daisy’s parents in the US manage to get her back home where she stays for several years until she is able to return to Edmund as a young adult…But life is very different for everyone now… I liked the book but it is not for everyone. Rosoff is a very talented writer and the entire book is written in first person as a narrative… as if Daisy is recording it for an interview. I found myself pulled into the story that is told in an absolutely authentic voice. The story line is odd and mundane and fantastic all at one….my first true understanding of the genre Magical realism. Many reviewers say 8th grade, but I say highschool. Good book club book. needs guidance for best result.. Printz award. 9th grade +

Push: A Novel by Sapphire. Vintage (1997), Paperback, 192 pages

This is the story of Clareece Precious Jones, a black, illiterate middle-school student molested by her mother, physically beaten and pregnant for the second time by her father. When she is sent to an alternative program for at risk girls she meets a lesbian teacher who teaches her to read and to love herself, and she leaves her abusive family to find a new family with her teacher and classmates. As she learns to read, her tolerance and understanding expand and Clareece-- once classified as mentally retarded-- makes huge gains intellectually, emotionally and spiritually. But, no happy ending for Clareece; she finds out she is HIV positive and the future for her is uncertain.
I loved this book. The language is authentic and flows easily—I can hear her voice! This is not a book to read; it needs to be spoken aloud. It is powerful. I really love contemporary issue books and I especially like the way the text changes with the literacy level of Clareece. It reminded me somewhat of Hesse’s Music of the Dolphins where the language and fonts change with that characters ability to use language. It is a powerful work, already popular with YA audiences; libraries cannot keep it on the shelf. Lots of sex and raw language.

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi. Pantheon (2004), Paperback, 160 pages

Graphic novel memoir told in the voice of the young teen Satrapi, Persepolis shows us what life was like under the Iranian Islamic revolution for a 10 to 14 yr old and her family. We see the uncertainty, the terror, the bad behavior and lack of charity, the very real fear of the secret police, the political repression, school days, censorship, family life, and war with Iraq. All seen through the eyes of a young Satrapi , the memoir ends with her hasty trip out of Iran to Austria because the family thought it was too unsafe for her in Teheran. She was forced to leave Iran alone. The story is told in dialogue and is thought provoking. Persepolis (an ancient city in Persia) is autobiographical, and while it deals with her growing into a young adult, it all occurs in Iran during the Iranian revolution. We get a rare glimpse of family life under a repressive regime right as events unfold. It is well written, well drawn and powerful.