The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler. RazorBill, 2011. 356 pages.

The story line-- that in 1996 Emma Stone installs AOL on her new computer and, inexpicably, finds her facebook page from 15 years in the future-- promises more than it delivers. The writing and the plot were mediocre at best. EEEh, its alright.

No Ordinary Day by Deborah Ellis. Groundwood Books, 2011, 160 pages.

A fast paced quick read-- realistic fiction issue book from Deborah Ellis-- well done and powerful. Valli's short life has been very rough-- coal picking and virtually enslaved to a poor family in India. Abused in every way, Valli runs off to live by herself on the streets of Calcutta where she eventually meets a Doctor who convinces her to trust enough to get medical treatment for her leprosy. Sharp and powerfully told in Valli's own voice. All too realistic fiction. I love Deborah Ellis.

Pie by Sarah Weeks. Scholastic Press, New York, 2011. 183 pages.

Alice's aunt Polly is the Pie Queen of Ipswitch Pennsylvania. She has made the town famous with her mouthwatering pies and has touched the lives of everyone with her wit and charm and smarts and kindness. And she is Alice's whole world. This becomes even more clear when Polly dies and leaves the town without Polly, without her delicious pies, without a source of income and with a big mystery-- why would she leave her million dollar pie crust recipe to a bad tempered unlikeable cat named Lardo

The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: a novel in pictures by Caroline Preston. New York: Ecco/Haper Collins, 2011

A coming of age story. A decade in the life of Frankie Pratt told with pictures and ticket stubs and newpaper clippings and captions from her scrapbook. 1920s, Cornish NH, high school graduation, inappropriate relationship, looking for love, Vassar, love, NY, Paris, NH. Clever and tender and very readable-- and rereadable. so much to see on everypage and i love non linear reading and journal books. Adult book but great for teens-- Alex Award winner. Loved it. Buying it for YA.

Hunger (Riders of the Apocalypse) by Jackie Morse Kessler. Graphia, 2010. 180 pages.

Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel. Scholastic Press, 2010. 375 pages.

It is the mid 1970s and 13 year old Ben has just relocated from Toronto to Victoria-- new school, new friends, new...brother? Ben's parents are scientists embarking on a new project: can our closest living relatives, chimpanzees, learn true language? Zan, a baby chimpanzee, joins the family to be raised as a human within the family. Initially reluctant, Ben gets more and more attached to Zan at the same time he must negotiate the minefields of middle school, social class, love, friendship, and family relationships. off to a somewhat slow start, Half Brother feels predictable and pleasant without being anything special-- at first. But the story and the characters slowly deepen and grow drawing us in with action and drama as well as the deeper philosophical questions of what it means to be human. The ending seems a little rushed. Still--thoughtful and provocative--lots to discuss here. I enjoyed it and recommend it.

Tortilla Sun by Jennifer Cervantes. Chronicle Books, 2010. 224 pages.

With her mom working in Costa Rica for the summer and her father dead, 12 year old Izzy is visiting her nana and her mom's home village in New Mexico for the first time. Izzy hopes to find out more about her father----(her mom is secretive) and in the process she learns about herself-- her family and her heritage. Full of el sabor de la south west, Izzy visits her ancestral village, hears the folklore and sees the old ways, learns to cook, meets her nana- a seer and curandera, visits with her father's ghost, improves her relationship with her mom, and finds friendship and love. yes, the storyline is somewhat predictable but this is a sweet and gentle story appropriate for the 10-13 year olds-- a time when we all tried to figure out who we were, where we came from and how we would fit in. i really enjoyed this book and recommended it to two 6th grade girls (neither of whom are latino) who like to read and are curious about the world around them. They loved it too. **includes a glossary of common spanish words and an easy tortilla recipe.