Friedrich by Hans Peter Richter. Puffin Books, 1987. 149 pages.

School room classic tale of the holocaust translated from the German and told from the point of view of Friedrich's best friend and neighbor, an Aryan youth, whose first name we never learn. A chronological listing of memories, vingnettes, of the life of Friedrich and his family from 1930 through 1942, told in a factual, reporter style. We see as things turn to bad and worse for the jewish family, but the narrator only reports what happens- leaving it to us to guess the meaning or to feel the emotion. A quick read, a classic and very well done. great for discussion and to recommend. A chronological listing of historical events at back. 12+

Ten Things I Hate About Me by Randa Abdel-Fattah, Scholastic, 2010. 297 pages.

Travel Team by Mike Lupica. Puffin Books, 2004. 274 pages.

12 year old Danny eats, drinks and sleeps basketball. And he is a great player-- despite his very, very small stature. Basketball defines him- in no small part- because it is the only way he and his dad relate to each other. His Dad, divorced from Danny's mom and living across the country, was a local basketball phenom who is still legendary in Danny's Connecticut town but who tragically lost it all his first year in the majors when he crashed his car in a drunk driving accident that ended his sports career and almost ended his life. When Danny is not chosen for the 6th grade travel team because of his small size- the team his legendary dad brought to its only state championship victory, Danny is devasted. But thanks to Aly, Danny's mom,
 (who is the rock in his life and throughout this story) Danny and his Dad reconnect and start their own travel team for all the kids who were unfairly denied a team spot by the parents (Dads) who run the league.  A story about redemption, new beginnings, over coming adversity, trying hard, good sportsmanship, fairness, life, bouncing back and telling truths. A good story for any kid-- advanced 5th graders and up. A great book for basketball fans. Well written. i enjoyed it, and it has the exact amount of truth and feel good to be a great choice for bookclubs too.

The Sister's Grimm: The Fairy Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley.Amulet Books, 2005. 284 pages.

Two sisters, Daphne, 7, and Sabrina Grimm, 11, find themselves in a series of awful foster homes after their parents (and only living relatives) inexplicably disappear. The real story starts when the girls are dropped off with a new foster mom who turns out to be their grandmother Grimm, an Everafter  who lives in an isolated and strange little town in upstate New York filled with mythic and fairy tale characters. Snow White is a school teacher, Prince Charming the Mayor, The 3 Pigs are Police. The sister's Grimm must get used to their new life while solving a crime involving a destroyed farm house and a huge foot print, while saving their Grandmother from a kidnapping Giant.  Part mystery, part fractured fairy tale, part adventure the story is delightful, but long and windy-- take note because not all 4 to 6 graders will be ready for a thick twisty plot and 300 pages. But for those that are the book is a clever and funny and satisfying. series.

Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff. Henry Hold & Co. 1993, 200 pages.

First person narrative written in verse. LaVaughn is 14 and wants to go-- is determined to go-- to college. She has lots of support from her mother and her teachers and while it will not be easy, she is going to get out. LaVaughn agrees to babysit for  17 year old single mother -2 kids- Jolly because she needs to save money for college. Jolly, with no support, is, of course, a mess. Their unlikely friendship helps Jolly find her way to a better life and gives LaVaughn some important life lessons.

I am glad is stuck with this book-- it was recommended by a young patron. Initially, i thought i knew where the story was headed-- yadddah yaddah yaddah-- but i was wrong. The story is not new but it is very real and is told in an honest and truthful way that is hopeful without being deceptively simple or trite. I really enjoyed it and just added the rest of the trilogy to the ya collection. And the verse style really enhances the telling. 

Keesha's House by Helen Frost. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 2003, 116 pages.

A novel in verse, told in the voices of  at risk teens in crisis. Most feel they cannot go home-- 'Keesha's house' offers  safety and a chance to pause and try to pull yourself together.
 The book is brief but full of story and emotion, the teens who give voice are varied in race, class and issues-- it will speak to teens on many levels.

An added surprise for me was that the author includes backpages that recount the sestinas and sonnets she employed in creating Keesha's House.  Real poetry with organized rhythm and meter in voices so compelling and current that we did not even notice. Well done and very impressive. Printz Award.

Shine by Lauren Myracle. Amulet Books, 2011. 359 Pages.

A good teen read-- not great literature but a dark mystery taking place amid rural poverty, meth addictions, gay bashing, coming of age, hope amoung the hopeless, friendships, secrets, lies, rape and abuse. 17 year old Cat is entering her senior year. She has isolated herself from everyone --including her supportive friends-- because she was sexually abused by a local boy from a powerful family (a theme that runs throught the work). She is compelled to reengage, however, when her formerly best friend, Patrick, is found comatose and near death strung up to a gas pump with the nozzel shoved down his throat and SUCK ON THIS carved into his torso.While the church ladies blame the victim and the sheriff looks for gay bashing outsiders, Cat begins her own investigation, certain the answer is to be found in the local red neck posse and friends who,like all bullies, operate in plain view of the adults who never see a thing. i like the mystery and the setting and the inclusion of gay characters. it is good teen lit but not great-- i solved the mystery long before the book ended and the ending is very very neat and too happy for the rest of the book (left me wondering if publisher or focus group told her to lighten it up at the end.) i am also disturbed by the relationship she ends up having with her abuser. He is not a monster and a little unhappy with the redemption and acceptance of him or of her abuse-- i will think on this for a while. let me know how you see it. still, i will recommend with caveats.


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