Book Love

Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans

2012-02-15T08:31:00.000-06:00

Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson, Balzar + Bray, 2011, 108 pp, ISBN: 0061730742

Recap:
"Most folks my age and complexion don't speak much about the past. Sometimes it's just too hard to talk about... [but] you gotta take the good with the bad I guess. You have to know where you come from you so can move forward. Most of us are getting up in age and feel it's time to make some things known before they are gone for good. So it's important you pay attention, honey, because I'm only going to tell you this story but once." - Heart and Soul

Review:
First off, the cover is pure gorgeous. I would like to frame it and hang it on my wall. And this weighty book is bursting with similarly stunning paintings - all by author and illustrator Kadir Nelson. What incredible talent.

With a sub-title like "The Story of America and African Americans," you know that this is book is going to be full. Full of history, full of emotion, and full of questions and connections and feelings that come up, long after one has finished reading.

It is told through the voice of an "everywoman" character, whose family history can be traced back to Africa and connects throughout history with both Frederick Douglass and Martin Luther King Jr. Her strong, comforting voice comes through crystal clear. Tracing the path of her family from slave ships, through cotton fields, across multiple wars, into Reconstruction and the Great Migration, and ending around the dissolution of Jim Crow, there isn't much that this story doesn't touch on. President Barack Obama made his appearance in the Epilogue.

An incredibly deserving recipient of both the Coretta Scott King author award, and Coretta Scott King illustrator honor for Heart and Soul, Kadir Nelson is a force to be reckoned with. He has made decades of history engaging and accessible for both school children and adults - no easy feat.

My one little nitpick? I wish Claudette Colvin would have made an appearance in these pages. Ever since reading Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice it just irks me to see Rosa Parks getting all of the credit for staying seated on the bus.

Recommendation:
Teach it in your classrooms and treasure it in your homes - Heart and Soul is truly a work of art.

Celebrate Love!

2012-02-14T16:49:00.001-06:00

This is our first Valentine's with our precious little Babe Lincoln. Today I'm eager to forget the fact that we all only slept for about four hours last night, and just celebrate the abundance of LOVE that he has brought to our lives. And of course, this day will be filled with our favorite love books...

Snuggle Puppy by Sandra Boynton
Hands down, Lincoln's favorite book of all time. We can read it over and over and over again. He squeals with delight every time we get to the "Ooooooh!" lines.

Hug Time by Patrick McDonnell
This sweetly rhyming story is my personal favorite to read aloud. Jules the kitty travels the world, trying to give every single animal a hug - even a gigantic blue whale. I love it. I kind of want the board book version too, just because this book is so lovely. And! I just figured out author/illustrator Patrick McDonnell is also the creator of this year's big winner: Me... Jane. Nice.

Spot's Valentine by Eric Hill
Spot is the next best thing to Snuggle Puppy for Linc. And I love this one because the book is as tall as my baby when he's sitting up! Sometimes it's just fun to read really big books :)

What are you reading today, book lovers?

Now is the Time for Running

2012-02-13T07:31:00.000-06:00

Now is the Time for Running by Michael Williams, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2011, 240 pp, ISBN: 0316077909

Recap:

Deo and his family might be slowly starving in the Masvingo Province in Zimbabwe, yet they have confidence that their President will send soldiers with food. But when the soldiers arrive, they bring death instead.

After everyone in his village in murdered - except Deo and his brother Innocent - the two boys must escape from their home country to the safety of South Africa. Yet while that in itself will be a harrowing journey, surviving South Africa will be just as dangerous to attempt.

Review:

Wow. I was expecting a soccer book. Instead, I got a real-life survival story with sprinkles of soccer mixed in. Now is the Time for Running was intense from start to finish.

Author Michael Williams has written a story that reflects the lives of far, far too many people living in parts of Africa today. Using real places that are traceable on a map, Williams has readers holding their breath as the brothers travel from Masvingo to Beitbridge, across the Limpopo River, and into South Africa.

After the atrocities that they had experienced in Zimbabwe, I was actually furious that life got better, and then got so much worse once Deo and Innocent were in South Africa. Deo is a character that readers will love: a gifted athlete, fiercely protective of his older (developmentally delayed) brother, and forced to grow up far too soon. He and his brother did not deserve a single thing that happened to them, and my heart broke for all of the real people who have had similar experiences.

As a Humanities teacher, I immediately recognized that Now is the Time for Running is rich with opportunities for teaching both Language Arts and Social Studies: Zimbabwe's child soldiers, the history of apartheid in South Africa, South Africa's xenophobic attacks in 2008, the geography of southern Africa, the various languages that are spoken across the continent... There is just so much to digest here.

Without revealing the ending, I can say only that I was sad, but also satisfied. And I have a brand new sports obsession come World Cup time. And no, I don't mean the World Cup.

Recommendation:

I would feel comfortable recommending Now is the Time for Running to mature middle school readers and up. There is some extremely graphic violence, but it is violence that is based on truth. I think this could be a fantastic book club selection as discussion points leap off of every other page.

Map from here.

C'mon Now, Is this Really Historical Fiction?

2012-02-11T08:42:00.001-06:00

A few weeks ago I was reading The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler. Set in 1996 and filled to the brim with 90s references, a question kept coming back to me - Is this historical fiction?

Just the other day I finished Ninth Ward by Jewell Rhodes Parker. Set in 2005 (only 7 years ago!), it made me ask the same question again - Is this historical fiction?

The most basic definition of the genre - "fiction set in the past" - leaves a lot of room for interpretation. Sarah Johnson, a professor at Eastern Illinois University, half-joked that one could say, "All novels are historical, but some are most historical than others." Sidenote: If you're looking for more info on this topic, I was thoroughly engaged by her entire article, "What are the Rules for Historical Fiction?"

Personally, I think the genre of historical fiction is much broader than I used to believe. In fact, I feel pretty comfortable labeling both The Future of Us and Ninth Ward as such. So what do you think, book lovers? Does a novel need to be set at least a certain number of years in the past? Does it need to focus on a specific event in history? Where do you draw the line?

Ninth Ward

2012-02-10T08:56:00.004-06:00

Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2010, 224 pp, ISBN: 0316043079

Recap:
With Hurricane Katrina on its way, twelve-year-old Lanesha is all alone with Mama Ya Ya. Well, all alone unless you count the ghost of her Momma and a dog named Spot for company. Goodness knows her uptown family - her blood relatives - sure aren't going to do anything to help her.

And Mama Ya Ya was right when she foresaw that the storm wouldn't be the worst of their troubles. Lanesha's real work would be surviving what came after.

Review:
Ninth Ward may be told through the voice of a child, but there is absolutely nothing childish about this story. Giving a warm, love-filled glimpse into what life was like in the Ninth Ward, prior to Hurricane Katrina, Jewell Parker Rhodes eases her readers into Lanesha's tale.

In the person of Lanesha, Rhodes crafted a character that I hope students will look up to - socially on the fringe because of her ability to see ghosts, Lanesha wastes no time pitying herself because she isn't popular. Instead, she works her tail off in school, befriends the friendless, and lavishes love on those who do love her. Mama Ya Ya, the woman who raised her, taught her to love herself and that's exactly what she does.

"At lunch, I eat my tuna sandwich and apple juice at my table. I call it "my table," 'cause no one else will sit with me. But, unlike TaShon, I don't try to be invisible. I sit right in the middle of the cafeteria. I'm not ashamed of me."

Much of Ninth Ward gives an inside look into what life was like for residents of New Orleans' Ninth Ward in the days leading up to, and after, one of our country's most notorious hurricanes. Many people there, like Mama Ya Ya, were too poor to own a car or too old to leave on their own two feet, so they were forced to stay in their homes for the duration. The flooding that followed was perhaps more terrifying than the storm itself - a disaster that Lanesha simply and powerfully illustrates.

It bears mentioning that Ninth Ward is also a ghost story. Lanesha can see spirits and Mama Ya Ya has an uncanny ability to interpret dreams and foretell future events - an ability that saves more than one life in this story.

Recommendation:
A gem of a middle grade novel, and one that will surely resonate with older readers as well, Ninth Ward deserves a spot on your reading list. This is another novel that I would have loved to have taught with my sixth graders. And if YOU are interested in teaching this novel with your own students, check out the wealth of teaching tools and other related resources on Jewell Parker Rhodes' site.

PS: Did any of you catch the Teach for America shout out in the first couple of chapters?! Love it.

PPS: AD: After the Deluge (a graphic novel) and Hurricane Song (a YA novel) are two other great texts if you're planning a unit on Hurricane Katrina.

Bleeding Violet

2012-02-09T08:49:00.003-06:00

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves, Simon Pulse, 2010, 464 pp, ISBN: 1416986189

Recap:

When Hanna shows up on her mother's doorstep with a suitcase full of pills and purple clothes, she doesn't seem too worried about the fact that she and her mother have never met. And that her constant companion is the ghost of her Poppa. And that she's leaving behind the aunt whom she most likely murdered - but she can't be sure since she didn't stick around to check for a pulse.

Hanna's mother doesn't want anything to do with her, but that doesn't stop 16-year-old Hanna from making herself at home. Together, they wager a deal: Hanna has two weeks to fit in and make friends in Portero, TX - something her mother thinks will be impossible. If she does, she can stay. If she doesn't, she'll be on the first bus back to Aunt Ulla's (who, by the way, is still alive).

After years of different diagnoses, the latest being manic depressive, Hanna is used to being the "freak" in her class. But she's never been to a town like Portero before. Here, she's just another teenage girl.

Review:

Bleeding Violet is another book that I picked up based on wildly adoring recommendations from Ari. It was even chosen as the book for last February's African American Read-In. In this interview with author Dia Reeves, Ari calls Bleeding Violet "fantastically bizarre." That's the best description I can come up with.

Our protagonist, Hanna, is faaaaaar from typical: She talks with ghosts and a wooden swan, is completely unafraid of suicide, uses sex to make allies, and wears only the color purple. That last one seems pretty normal in comparison now, right? When she shows up at her mother's house, whom she's never even met, and just walks right in in the middle of the night and starts making grilled cheese sandwiches, Hanna can't understand why Rosalee isn't happy to see/meet her.

But while Hanna is pretty bizarre in her own right, Dia Reeves has created something even more strange in the town of Portero, TX. This town is full of monsters, hidden doors, magical keys, possessed people, and a mayor who isn't afraid to put a curse on you - even after you're dead.

Using Portero as a backdrop, Reeves tackles intense themes like mental illness, abandonment, and death. Sex and race also play a role in this story. At one point Hanna comments, "I'm sorry. I can't believe I asked you that. I hate it when people ask me that [What are you?]." When her friend responds, "Why would they ask you?" Hanna replies, "Because I'm biracial. People look at me and can't figure me out, so they ask, 'What are you?' Like I'm a whole other species."

From my point of view, the primary theme of the novel was finding one's self - Where do you fit in your family? Where do you fit in your town? Where do you fit in the world in general? These are all questions that teens will quickly connect with, and Reeves' wild world of ghosts, magic, and monsters will help to make this book an easy sell.

Recommendation:

Can I say that I truly enjoyed Bleeding Violet? Well, no. Hanna was just a little too intense for me to ever really connect with her. But did I ever consider not finishing her story? Absolutely not. Bleeding Violet is unlike anything I've ever read, and there's not a doubt in my mind that many, many teens will love this book. **I would not recommend this book for any students younger than high school.

PS:

Dia Reeves is a school librarian and reading her FAQ page was just as entertaining as reading her debut novel. I highly recommend it!

8th Grade Super-Zero

2012-02-07T10:03:00.000-06:00

8th Grade Super-Zero by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, Arthur A. Levine Books, 2010, 336 pp, ISBN: 0545096766

Recap:
"Say to them,
say to the down-keepers,
the sun-slappers,
the self-soilers,
the harmony-hushers,
'even if you are not ready for day,
it cannot always be night.'" - Gwendolyn Brooks, from "Speech to the Young: Speech to the Progress-Toward"

Reggie is a zero. After vomiting in front of the entire student body on the first day of school, more people now know him as "Pukey" than as "Reggie." He has his two best friends, Ruthie and Joe C, but it's tough to be thankful for two when you're teased on a daily basis by pretty much everyone else.

Reggie's youth group, made up of kids from all different schools, is the only place where he gets to just be himself. When the group gets involved at a local homeless shelter, Reggie stops trying to shrink into the background and actually starts stepping up to lead some things. And it feels pretty good.

But stepping up at school, in front of Donovan, Hector, Sparrow and all of the other kids who love making him miserable... it would take a super hero to do that.

Review:
This is NOT at all what I was expecting. I vividly remember seeing this title on at least 6 different blog posts over at Reading In Color last year. I had wanted to read it because Ari was such a huge fan, but just kept putting it off. When I decided to take on the personal challenge of reading ONLY books by or about people of color for this month, 8th Grade Super Zero was at the top of my list.

Honestly, even though it had such stellar recommendations, the title had me expecting it to just be kind of kiddish, and maybe not in such a good way. Oh, how wrong I was!

In this incredibly rich novel, Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich tackles themes like racism, homelessness, social justice, bullying, and religion. And she does it all with grace, truth, and a sense of humor. Now that's talent.

All throughout the novel, Rhuday-Perkovich illustrates examples of what it could be like to be young and dark skinned in America today. Since he was five-years-old, Reggie's parents have taught him to do quick "police scans" when he sees an officer, just in case he gets hassled later. When he complains that his friend Joe C doesn't have to sign up for community service, his mother responds, "White folks have that luxury." When Joe C gets into DJing and invites Reggie on a hip-hop tour of New York, Reggie wants to go but thinks, "Maybe, but it also sounds like it has a high awkward quotient." And so he responds, "I don't think so. I don't think Black people go on those tours. We know all of that stuff already." The book is filled with similar scenes that made me think about what I take for granted.

Reggie's family is from Jamaica, so his story also includes "tastes" of traditional Jamaican food like his mother's callaloo, festival and fried fish, and codfish and ackee. His father also gives him "Black Voices in Poetry: A Pan-African Panthology," a book that Reggie is initially reluctant to read, but whose words end up making several significant appearances over the course of his story. One of my favorite scenes was when his father quoted the wildly talented, Jamaican-American, Claude McKay:

"If we must die, O let us nobly die/ So that our precious blood may not be shed/ In vain; then even the monsters we defy/ Shall be constrained to honor us though dead!"

Religion also played a large role throughout the novel. Reggie got involved with the homeless shelter, which is the catalyst for his personal transformation, because of his youth group. Their leader forces them to grapple with tough questions and is a steady presence in the back of Reggie's mind.

There's so much that I'm not mentioning because this review could easily become an essay: the many faces and voices that Rhuday-Perkovich gives to the homeless, the election for class president, the comic book-super hero tie in, Reggie's feisty best friend Ruthie - who would surely change the world were she not a fictional character... There is just SO MUCH GOODNESS here!

Recommendation:
I think I would peg 8th Grade Super Zero more as MG than YA. This book would be AMAZING to use as a class novel, and I am SO disappointed that I didn't read it while we were still in Baltimore, because I would have immediately DonorsChoose'd a class set for my 6th graders! Read, read, read this book. You will be so happy you did.

Carmen: An Urban Adaptation of the Opera

2012-02-04T10:15:00.000-06:00

Carmen: An Urban Adaptation of the Opera by Walter Dean Myers, Egmont USA, 2011, 122 pp, ISBN: 1606841920

Recap:
When Carmen - a gorgeous, young, Dominican woman - sees Jose - the boy she had a crush on so many years ago - it doesn't matter that he is a police offer (who will soon be arresting her!), all of the old feelings come rushing back.

Jose quickly falls deeply in love, but it isn't long before he begins to show the darker side of his feelings. Carmen always thought true love was dangerous, but she still wasn't prepared for this.

Review:
Walter Dean Myers is the man. 145th Street, Street Love, Handbook for Boys... these books are phenomenal, convincing kids who think they hate reading that books might not actually be so bad.

But Carmen? This was a big miss for me. Written like the script of a play, or an opera in this case, Carmen is an extremely quick read. I initially envisioned using it for readers theater once I'm back in a classroom again. But as the story progressed, I felt increasingly disenchanted.

The main characters, Carmen and Jose, fall madly in love in the space of about one page. And then a few pages later they've broken up. And then a few pages later they're in love again. And then... you get the idea. The cycle repeats. And it was all the more irritating because there wasn't any real, rational backstory on WHY they were seeming to fall in and out of love. Carmen thought Jose didn't love her anymore because he had to go to work. Jose thought Carmen didn't love him because she wouldn't move to Puerto Rico. Sheesh.

And I typically think Mr. Walter Dean Myers is an outstanding writer. But the dialogue here? Not so much. It just felt choppy and stilted, like there wasn't a real person behind it. Here's just one example:

"Pain? Not love? Jose, maybe we need to slow this train down. I don't know if I'm ready to make a lifetime thing of this."

"Carmen, don't... Don't think of being away from me. I've given up my whole career on the force for you. It's going to be me and you. Don't even think about it being any other way. You don't want me disappointed in you. That would really piss me off."

By the time I reached the final pages, I didn't even care that it ended in tragedy. I was already thinking about the next book on my reading list... It's entirely possible that I just didn't get as much out of this story as I could have because I've never seen Carmen and really didn't know the story of the opera beforehand. What do you think, book lovers? Have any of you read this adaptation of Carmen? What am I missing?

Recommendation:
If you're already a fan of the opera Carmen, give this urban adaptation a shot. If you really love Walter Dean Myers or you're in the mood for a re-telling of a classic, I would choose Street Love, his adaptation of Romeo and Juliet instead. It's a novel in verse and had my students, male and female, spellbound while we took turns reading aloud.

Quotable Quote:

"How do you know you're in love? It could be swine flu." - Frasquita

Let's Battle!

2012-02-03T05:20:00.000-06:00

While others spend months eagerly anticipating the Superbowl or NBA championships... I get all hot and bothered over SLJ's The Battle of the Kids Books! This March-Madness-bracket-style-tournament is just way too much fun to follow. Not only do your favorite books of the past year duke it out against each other, each day's winner is decided by a different author and then eloquently defended by said author. These are typically my favorite reviews of the entire year.

I'm thrilled that the list of contenders is out now because I'm going to make darn sure I read every single one before the battle begins.

And if Between Shades of Gray doesn't win... someone will pay. Unless A Monster Calls wins. Ok, who am I kidding? I've only read 4 out of 16 books on the list! Lots of catching up to do... What about you, book lovers?? Which of the contenders gets your vote?!

Mare's War

2012-02-02T13:48:00.001-06:00

Mare's War by Tanita S. Davis, Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2009, 352 pp, ISBN: 0375857141

Recap:
Octavia and Tali may not realize it yet, but Mare didn't used to be anybody's grandmother.

Spending the summer on a cross-country road trip in Mare's little red sports car should have made for the most boring summer of their lives. But both girls are in for a few surprises. Before this trip is over, Octavia and Tali are going to get a whole new perspective on their grandma, their own family, and their country.

Review:
Holy smokes, I could not have chosen a better book to kick off my BHM reading challenge!

I've always wanted to read Mare's War because I L.O.V.E. that cover. The original cover (below) is just fine, and reflects a little bit more of the story, but the paperback cover... wow. That is one gorgeous, powerful image! For more information on the cover, check out this post and this post from thatcovergirl.

Author Tanita S. Davis used one of my favorite techniques to tell the story of Mare's War: duel narrators. Octavia, the younger granddaughter, narrates the chapters titled "Now," giving us the scoop as their road trip progresses, and reacting to Mare's narrative, titled "Then." Octavia and her older sister Tali's commentary certainly wasn't the real meat of the story, but their present-day relationship created an interesting parallel alongside Mare's remembrances of her own relationship with her little sister Feen. The presence of the two girls also helped to flesh out the image of Mare as a grandmother:

"Mare mutters something under her breath and turns toward Tali. Tilting down her enormous sunglasses, she stares down at my sister.'Talitha, you're not going to be a pain in my behind this whole trip, are you?'"

Love that woman. Mare's chapters were by far my favorite. Beginning her narrative at home in Bay Slough, Alabama, and then moving on to her time in the Women's Army Corps (WAC), Mare proves over and over again that she is simultaneously soft-hearted and tough as nails.

Although her story is deeply personal, it is also an eye-opening look at a rarely told piece of our country's history: the role that African Americans, particularly women, played during World War II. At one point Octavia voices a sentiment that I believe many readers would share:

"'So, Mare. Weren't there any other African Americans overseas?' ...'Sure there were - but they were male soldiers. Something like one point two million African Americans fought during World War II. They sent a lot of us overseas. I'd say almost fifty thousand.' ...I can't believe my teachers never mentioned this....'But it's history,' I insist. 'Shouldn't people tell you about history?''It's there if you know where to look, but the colored WACs are also part of segregation history,' Mare reminds me. 'Talking about segregation isn't as nice and neat as talking about being the 'greatest generation' that won the war. For some folks, it's just stirring up bad memories.'"

The ending is somewhat surprising, and deeply satisfying. My biggest disappointment concerning Mare's War is not reading it earlier, because I would have prized the opportunity to read this skillfully written novel with my students.

Recommendation:
Read Mare's War by Tanita S. Davis! Especially if you...
- appreciate historical fiction
- value a new perspective
- are a teacher looking for a class novel that will enliven and enrich class discussions

Suggested Book Pairing:
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice. This nonfiction text is phenomenal, and Ms. Colvin gets a shout-out in Mare's story!

Book Love Celebrates Black History Month!

2012-02-01T06:29:00.001-06:00

Oh February, you have arrived. The month for red lacy hearts, slushy snow... and National Black History Month! I know many people feel a certain way about the fact that BHM even exists. It does inherently express the idea that Black history isn't studied or celebrated in the other 11 months, so we better make sure we do it in February. And really, should there even be such a thing as "Black history?" Shouldn't there just be "history?" Unfortunately, it seems that, in many districts, Black history truly is not studied for most of the other 11 months of the year. And that got me thinking... what about books written by and about people of color?

I was shocked and dismayed to read the following statistic: out of approximately 30,000 YA and MG releases in 2011, only around 60 were written by a Black author. Really?? That's only 0.2%! Of course, those facts were put together by a group of bloggers so there is certainly a margin for error. But even then... Shocking.

Reflecting back on my own reading habits, I realized that I personally read very few titles written by or about people of color. Is that partly a reflection of what's available? Sure, but that's no excuse. So I came up with a personal challenge:

For the month of February, I will ONLY read and review YA and MG novels written by and/or about people of color.

Just to clarify, although it's BHM, I'm not only focusing on African Americans. I am super excited to dive into this reading adventure. I found book lists here and here that are helping to supplement my library list. Come back tomorrow for my first review!

And now I ask you book lovers, what are your thoughts on Black History Month? Do you have any must-reads for me this month? And are there any of you who would like to join me in this challenge?

image from here

Guest Post: Don't Miss This One

2012-01-31T08:13:00.000-06:00

Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption by Katie Davis, Howard Books, 2011, 288 pp, ISBN: 1451612060

I am delighted today to feature a guest post from my sister, Sarah. Sarah is truly a one-in-a-million kind of woman - one of the most joyful, optimistic, adventure-seeking, fun-loving people I know. Several years ago she introduced me to my all time favorite author of non-fiction: Shauna Niequist. This past winter break, she was completely and utterly absorbed in another book: Kisses from Katie. To be honest, I initially thought the title was a little ridiculous for an adult book. Actually, I still do. Had it not been for Sarah's boundless enthusiasm for the story, I never would have picked it up. Thank goodness that girl knows how to book talk!

Because Sarah was the one who introduced me to Katie Davis and her children, I wanted her to introduce you all as well. Nope, this is not a YA book per se - although the author, along with pretty much everyone in it, is a young adult. And it is largely a book about faith, and I know that will deter many, but please do not let that deter you. If you are still reading, Bravo! You will not be disappointed.

Two days ago as I wandering the aisles of Barnes and Noble, I spotted this book on a shelf. I recognized it from the blog Kisses From Katie that a friend had shown me months ago. I picked it up and couldn't put it down. I had to get it. Two days later I've finished reading the story of Katie and her girls.

At the age of 16 Katie felt that God was calling her to do something big with her life. She first visited Uganda as a Senior for three weeks and then returned after graduation. With only a few visits back to the States, Uganda has become her permanent home.

God has taken care of her and opened doors for her life as she went from teaching kindergarten to over 100 children, to starting a non-profit organization Amazima that sponsors children's school fees and feeds them daily, to moving her into a large house that she didn't know what to do with until God filled it with people; children and adults that come to her for medicine and food, hundreds of the kids that are sponsored through Amazima that come to eat and worship together, and her fourteen adopted daughters.

Yes. She is 21 years old and a mother to 14 girls. From different families and tribes they were chosen by Christ to become part of Katie's family.

I know. This sounds insane. But you've got to read this book. I love that this story is real. What Christ is doing for these people in villages and slums in Uganda is real. Katie doing all of this and saying "yes" to Christ because she knows that his unfailing love and grace and truth is real. You won't be able to put this book down. It will change your heart and the way you think about serving Christ where you are.

"July 20, 2010 I am twenty years old and have fourteen children and four hundred more who all depend on me for their care. Who are all learning to love Jesus and be responsible adults and looking up to me. The reality of it all can be a bit overwhelming at times. However, it is always pure joy. There is a common misconception that I am courageous. I will be the first to tell you that this is actually not true. Most of the time, I am not brave. I just believe in a God who will use me even though I am not. Most mornings, before I even get out of bed, I am overwhelmed with His goodness, with His plan for my life; I stand in awe of the fact that he could entrust me with so much...

I don't always know where this life is going. I can't see the end of the road, but here is the great part. Courage is not about knowing the path. It is about taking the first step. It is about Peter getting out of the boat, stepping out onto the water with complete faith that Jesus will not let him drown." -Katie Davis

This is a book that you need to read.

The Future of Us

2012-01-29T20:21:00.000-06:00

The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler, Razorbill, 2011, 356 pp, ISBN: 1595144919

Recap:
Discmans, disposable cameras, beepers, and YM magazine... Yup, the year is 1996. Emma's dad just sent her a new laptop, and she's eager to try it out. Thankfully, her neighbor - Josh - just brought over a CD so that she can download AOL. Score!

But when Emma and Josh start surfing the net, they quickly realize that they didn't just download AOL. They got Facebook. Which won't even be invented for another 8 years.

Facebook reveals what their lives will be like 15 years in the future: their marriages, careers, kids, and other friends. Not only that, they learn that by making little changes in the present, they can dramatically change the future. But will that much information be a blessing or a curse?

Review:
After the last few tear-jerkers I've read, The Future of Us was a welcome relief! Authors Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler make readers wonder just how much we would actually like to know about the future. I've often wished for the ability to know how things will turn out. Will I get that job? Will our house offer be accepted? I think that's just human nature. But since reading The Future of Us, I'm no longer sure that I would be quite so eager for that preemptive glimpse into the unknown.

Emma and Josh had been best friends for pretty much their entire lives, until Josh made an attempt to be more than friends, and then things just got awkward. Their shared Facebook secret seemingly brought them back together again, but the more that they learn about each others' futures, the more uncomfortable things become. And that's not even taking into account what they've seen in the future-lives of their friends and family members...

I thought the premise behind the book was unique and thought-provoking. Back when I was a teenager, I absolutely would have wanted to see where I went to college and who I ended up marrying. But Josh and Emma's story also reinforced the notion that the seemingly insignificant actions we take in the present, can have huge repercussions in the future. This could create all kinds of interesting discussions in a teen book club!

It also bears mentioning that topics like sex and underage drinking are well-handled. Like most real life teenagers, Josh, Emma and their friends are put in situations where they have to make tough decisions. Asher and Mackler have equipped their characters to make very smart choices, without any overt preachiness.

Although I loved the idea behind the book, it isn't destined to become one of my all-time favorites. For starters, Emma was just a little too short-sighted for my liking. She was constantly dissatisfied with her future, and no matter how many times she made dramatic changes (new husbands, new cities, new jobs), she never seemed to realize that she might be part of the problem. I thought she might end up having a big "aha!" moment when she acknowledged her own ability to influence her happiness, but that never really happened.

Next, while I loved the 90s references that reminded me so very much of my middle school years (YM, Wonderwall, and Wayne's World), I wonder if they might be lost on the teen crowd that this book was written for.

Finally, I had started reading in the hopes that I would be pulled into the same kind of all-consuming story coma that I got while reading Asher's 13 Reasons Why, but The Future of Us never really took me there. That might be an unfair criticism as the two books are wildly different. I was just very aware that I was reading the whole time.

Recommendation:
Ultimately, am I glad that I read this book? Absolutely! It was an entertaining read that I will be more than happy to recommend to teen readers.

Quotable Quote:

[looking at a status update where someone writes that they'll post photos on their blog] "What's a blog?" I ask.
"No idea." Emma says

Variant

2012-01-28T05:52:00.002-06:00

Variant by Robison Wells, HarperTeen, 2011, 384 pp, ISBN: 0062026089

Recap:
After years in the foster care system, Benson has decided to take his future into his own hands, and applied to Maxfield Academy. But upon his arrival, Benson quickly learns that Maxfield Academy is nothing like the school he had anticipated.

There are no teachers, no administrators, no cafeteria workers... no adults whatsoever. The school is run completely by students who have split themselves amongst three rival gangs: the Society, Havoc, and Variant.

Benson can't fathom why no one is trying to escape. They are being held prisoner, and few students seem to even care! But then he finds the graveyard. Some students were killed in the gang wars, and still others were rumored to have been killed in Detention. Maxfield Academy is a place more sinister than Benson could have ever imagined.

But even the graveyard pales in comparison when Benson discovers Maxfield's real secret.

Review:
Like Blink & Caution, I likely would never have picked up Variant had I not seen it on a "Best of 2011" book list. Again, I would have been missing out.

Variant is completely out of the ordinary: a boarding school story twisted up in a mystery and then gradually unveiled as science fiction. As I just finished reading Divergent, Maxfield Academy's three gangs initially reminded me of the factions. At Maxfield, the gangs were essentially created for survival. Without adults, the school's first waves of students struggled to govern themselves, and those struggles eventually led to war, which led to death. Once they organized into three groups, a fragile truce was wagered.

After the truce, I could actually understand why so many of the students were comfortable at Maxfield, even though they were prisoners. You see, they had all been alone in the "real world." Foster kids, homeless kids, orphans - at Maxfield they all had a place to belong, three delicious meals a day, friends, and frequent opportunities to work hard and play hard. Author Robison Wells created a world that many teachers strive to create in their own classrooms: the Academy's system of points and punishments kept everyone invested in making sure that tasks were carried out and that the rules were, more or less, followed, even without any adult presence. But of course, Benson is going to do everything he can to burst that comfortable bubble.

Wells' biggest twist comes a little more than halfway through the story. Without giving too much away, a boarding school mystery rapidly evolves into a science fiction thriller. Initially, I was shocked and confused because the twist comes completely out of left field. I read the rest of Variant a little more skeptically, wondering what other "surprises" might be in store. Do you ever feel like you can't fully trust the author? That's kind of how I felt after the big surprise. But, maybe that's my fault for not knowing more about the book before starting?

And now that I'm finished, well, I'm still pretty confused. I need to talk to someone else who has read Variant so that I can puzzle out what happened in the last two pages!

Recommendation:
Variant would be an easy "sell" to male readers, particularly those who have some interest in mysteries or science fiction. I think girls will find it just as enjoyable, but in my experience it's always helpful to have a few go-to "boy books." Variant is now officially on my Boy Book List!

C'mon Now: Do You Really Read Reviews?

2012-01-26T17:40:00.001-06:00

One of the central components of a book blog is book reviews. This is pretty obvious! But lately I've been wondering, how often do we actually read the reviews of other bloggers?

Personally, I tend to read reviews for 3 reasons:
1. If the book is written by an author I particularly love (Hello Patrick Ness, Jenny Han, and Chris Crutcher! Just to name a few...)
2. If the cover is popping up on every single blog and I want to see what all of the fuss is about (Hello Anna and the French Kiss!)
3. If I already know that the blogger and I have pretty similar taste and that they write solid, thoughtful reviews (Hello There's a Book, Devour Books, Milk and Cookies, and Call Me Crazy, again, just to name a few...)

On the flip side, I will actively avoid reading reviews of books that I currently have checked out to read. I just don't want another blogger's words sneaking around in my head while I compose my own review.

In general, what do I look for on other blogs? I LOVE finding posts on:
1. Html tips and tricks (Emily's Reading Room and Small Review are great sources for this)
2. Information and ideas for library programming (Super Librarian is my current go-to)
3. Funny or fascinating book-related comics, cartoons, and articles (Which I always find via Kate's Library and Lovely Little Shelf)

So what about you, book lovers? How often do you really read reviews? And what other types of content do you get excited to see?

image from here

Between Shades of Gray

2012-01-25T19:55:00.002-06:00

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys, Philomel, 2011, 344 pp, ISBN: 0399254129

Recap:
It is 1941. Joseph Stalin and the NKVD are purging the Baltic states. Lina and her mother and brother have been ripped from the home in the night, separated from her father. They are shoved into a train car with other Lithuanians who have somehow also managed to sin against the Soviets, including a woman who has just given birth and her newborn baby.

As their train hurtles across Lithuania and into China, Lina has no way of knowing where they will eventually stop, or if she will ever see her father again. She has no idea that it will be over a decade before she is allowed to go home again. She cannot yet know that, when that day comes, her home will no longer exist.

This is Lina's story.

Review:
Between Shades of Gray is the kind of book that has the power to transform lives. I literally cannot stop talking and thinking about it. I don't remember ever learning about the Baltic purges in school, and I hope that I was just not paying attention, because to not teach about this era in our world's history would be a travesty.

Ruta Sepetys' writing is absolutely stunning. She has taken one of the darkest eras in our history, and transformed it into a story that lives and breathes and begs to be read. Between Shades of Gray could easily have been written for adults - and indeed, it should be read by adults - but the main character, Lina, makes it wholly accessible for teens. Lina is an artist, a devotee of Munch, using her drawings as a means to try and contact her father. Lina is a warrior, vehement in her opinions, using her inner strength to stay alive. Lina is human, making mistakes, feeling every possible emotion, giving readers a character with whom they can connect.

All of Sepetys' characters were written with such detail, it felt like I was watching a movie, rather than reading words on a page. If I close my eyes, I can still easily see the bald man - one of my favorites, or Lina's mother - easily one of the strongest, most courageous women ever written into being. As I read, I could smell Andrius' cigarette, the stench of the garbage thrown at Lina and Jonas, and the icy crispness of the snow across the Siberian tundra. Reading Between Shades of Gray is an experience for all of the senses.

Reading this book will break your heart. But it will also make you think. What similar atrocities are happening in the world today? And what can we possibly do about them? And who will we tell Lina's story to? Because she may be fiction, but her story is based on truth, a truth that was hidden and kept secret for decades. A truth that the world needs to know about.

Recommendation:
I will enthusiastically recommend Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys to everyone. Seriously. Every single person in the world should read this book.

Quotable Quote:

"People I didn't know formed a circle around me, sheltering me from view. They escorted me back to our jurta, undetected. They didn't ask for anything. They were happy to help someone, to succeed at something, even if they weren't to benefit. We'd been trying to touch the sky from the bottom of the ocean. I realized that if we boosted one another, maybe we'd get a little closer."

A Monster Calls

2012-01-24T06:25:00.001-06:00

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, inspired by an idea from Siobhan Dowd, Candlewick, 2011, 224 pp, ISBN: 0763655597

Recap:
Conor has been visited nightly by a monster for months now, for over a year. Ever since his mother told him she had cancer, and maybe even before then, the monster has been showing up in his nightmares.

But now a new monster is visiting him when he is awake. And the monster is coming to tell him stories. And to hear Conor's own story. What in the world kind of monster does that?

But these aren't "just" stories. "Stories are wild creatures. When you let them loose, who knows what havoc they might wreak?"

Review:
Patrick Ness is a genius. Of that, I am certain. His Chaos Walking trilogy absolutely slayed me. And yet, as I cracked the spine of A Monster Calls and turned the first page, I was filled with some trepidation. What if the magic wasn't there anymore? What if I only felt it with Todd and Viola? Well, I needn't have worried. Even reading the opening author's note, relating the story of how he was asked to flesh out the idea from Siobhan Dowd following her untimely death, filled me with that special, shivery, Patrick Ness magic.

"And now it's time to hand the baton on to you. Stories don't end with the writers, however many started the race. Here's what Sioban and I came up with. So go. Run with it. Make trouble."

See what I mean? Love this man.

A Monster Calls is very, very different from the Chaos Walking books. Todd and Viola's story felt to me like fireworks or cannons blasting, fast paced and powerful. But this new story was quieter, "thicker" somehow, like a big, thick, warm blanket that curls around you while you read.

Conor. our main character, is grappling with the fact that his mother is dying of cancer. With his father in America with his new family; all of his classmates at a loss for words, and thus, either ignoring or bullying him; and all of the adults in his life looking at him with "oh, poor you" eyes, Conor is alone. His is strong for his mother, but his strength isn't enough to save her - a fact that Conor has not yet realized.

The monster is a yew tree from his yard, not a very scary monster at all, in comparison with the monster of Conor's nightmares.

"'It is most unusual, it said. Nothing I do seems to make you frightened of me.''You're just a tree,' Conor said...'And you have worse things to be frightened of,' said the monster. But not as a question."

To be honest, I didn't understand the purpose of the monster's stories until the very end. But once the puzzle was all pieced together for me, I looked back in awe at the mind who had created them. The monster symbolizes so many things: a companion, a wake-up call, Conor's own subconscious, the truth. And I don't know what to say about the final pages except that they left me in tears, hugging my own baby boy, feeling very, very thankful.

So much of this book's magic comes from the illustrations of artist Jim Kay. His black and white creations are moody, dark, and intense - a perfect match for Conor's story. I hope you get a chance to go to Kay's website and learn more about the process he went through to create these illustrations. His artwork truly makes this book a treasure.

Recommendation:
For those who appreciate a story that makes you think.
For those who enjoy reading books aloud.
For those who share great books with their families.
For those who need to be reminded to be grateful.
For those who value genuinely beautiful writing.
This book is for all of you.

Quotable Quotes:

"'You think I tell you stories to teach you lessons? the monster said. You think I have come walking out of time and earth itself to teach you a lesson in niceness?' It laughed louder and louder again, until the ground was shaking and it felt like the sky itself might tumble down."

"You do not write your life with words, the monster said. You write it with actions. What you think is not important. It is only important what you do."

ALA Youth Media Awards: WHAT?!

2012-01-23T09:20:00.000-06:00

Well, I sure didn't see that coming.

I'm more than a little heartbroken that Ruta Sepetys' absolutely STUNNING novel, Between Shades of Gray, didn't even get a Printz Honor. There were so many books I was certain would be honored today - Okay for Now, Wonderstruck (although it did win a Schneider Award), A Monster Calls... And how were there only 2 Newbery Honors??? What I wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall in the judges' rooms.

On the plus side, I'm celebrating Printz Honors and Odyssey Honors for Maggie Stiefvater's The Scorpio Races! And Newbery Honors for Thanhha Lai's Inside Out and Back Again!

And I'm excited to add to my must-read list:
- I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen (Geisel Honor)
- Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet (Sibert Winner)
- Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall (Pura Belpre Winner and Morris Honor)
- Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley (Printz Winner and Morris Winner)

What did y'all think of the 2012 ALA Youth Media Awards? Which awards had you standing and cheering? Which books do you think were overlooked? And which titles are you now excited to dive into?

Divergent

2012-01-22T08:56:00.000-06:00

Divergent by Veronica Roth, Katherine Tegen Books, 2011, 496 pp, ISBN: 0062024027

Recap:
Abnegation - Selflessness
Dauntless - Courage
Amity - Friendship and Peace
Candor - Honesty
Erudite - Knowledge

The year that you turn 16, you must choose your faction. And by choosing your faction, your future and way of life. And don't forget, "faction before family," so choose wisely. Once you've made your choice, there's no going back.

After making her own choice, Beatrice thought that the hardest part was behind her. But Beatrice is Divergent. Unique. Undefinable. For her, the hardest part is just beginning. Her faction's initiation will test her to her very core. If she can't pass the tests of initiation? She will be factionless.

And with the mounting tension and veiled threats swirling between the factions, the only thing worse than being in the wrong faction, is to not be in one at all.

Review:
Oh Book Lovers, considering the fact that I'm likely the last blogger on earth to read Divergent, what can I say that hasn't already been said? Probably not a whole lot, so I'll keep this brief!

1. Veronica Roth is a darn good writer. I don't think I stumbled across a single awkward phrase. Rather, I barely remembered I was reading a book, because Roth's writing made Tris's world feel so completely real. Aaaand, she's only 22-years-old. Wow.

2. The factions fascinated me. I can't decide which I would choose for myself. Sometimes I think I would choose Amity; who wouldn't love a life where everyone just works to make each other happy? Then again, I know I would love the excitement and adventure of Dauntless... decisions, decisions. Am I allowed to say that I would choose to be Divergent?

3. Tris and Four. No flirting for this pair. Nope, not when you throw knives at each other's heads. We all know fictional couples aren't allowed to stay happy for too long (just look at Chuck and Blair!), but I have high hopes for Tris and Four in books 2 and 3.

Recommendation:
Competition. Murder. Romance. Scheming. Death-defying stunts. An incredibly detailed dystopic world (where the bean still exists). I think the better question is, who wouldn't I recommend this book to? Divergent is a treat for all ages.

Quotable Quote:

"What do we get if we win?"
"Sounds like the kind of question someone not from Dauntless would ask," says Four, raising an eyebrow. "You get to win of course."

Custom Bookshelf Awesome-ness

2012-01-20T13:20:00.002-06:00

I'll take 2 please!

Image, and all of the glorious details on Lisa Finster's creations, from here.

Blink and Caution

2012-01-20T10:20:00.000-06:00

Blink and Caution by Tim Wynne-Jones, Candlewick Press, 2011, 352 pp, ISBN: 0763639834

Recap:
As the only witness to a non-crime that has mysteriously shown up in the media as a kidnapping, Blink is on the run.

At the same time, across the city, Caution has finally decided to leave her malicious, drug dealing boyfriend. Which could have been easy, but she smashed up his apartment and stole $8000 before leaving. So now Caution is on the run as well.

When the paths of Blink and Caution finally cross, it's hard to tell who is in deeper trouble. But one thing's for sure, no one is getting out of trouble on their own.

Review:
I would have never picked up Blink & Caution had I not seen it on a "Best of 2011" book list. I would have been seriously missing out.

Blink & Caution is a contemporary thriller that will appeal to a range of young adults. Blink and Caution are both runaways, escaping from the violence of their pasts. In Blink's case, an abusive stepfather. In the case of Caution, an accidental shooting that resulted in death.

With the two stories told in alternating chapters, Blink's narrative is initially difficult to get used to. Told in the second person, it is as if the narrator is giving us Blink's story, while speaking directly to him. Here's one example from the first chapter, right after Blink witnessed some suspicious events that will eventually be presented as a kidnapping:

"And you, Blink, in there with the ice machine, not breathing for fear of being sniffed out, snuffed out - are you ready? You cannot let go of that door now. So are you prepared for what comes next? Because you just stumbled into this thing and you will need a thicker skin than the Blessed Breakfast Uniform to get to the end of it."

Caution's narrative is told through the more traditional third person. Although she works hard to present herself as untouchable, tough-as-nails, "Caution: Corrosive," she is really just a little girl who has lived through something no one should ever have to experience. She is filled with such self-loathing, I wanted to give her a giant hug, and then go with her to a really good therapist.

Author Tim Wynne-Jones makes sure the reader knows that the two paths will cross eventually - once, before they meet, Caution almost hits Blink with her car - but first both characters are allowed to fully develop, independently from each other. And one might assume, as I did, that Blink and Caution will fall in love once they meet. I mean, this is a YA novel. Doesn't someone have to fall in love? Well in this case, no. Blink and Caution have a connection to be sure. And there might be some hope of romance in the future. But they both have more than a few issues to work through first.

Recommendation:
With a fake kidnapping, a trio of thugs, a vindictive boyfriend named Merlin who always has some evil "magic" up his sleeve, and a mysterious shooting, Blink & Caution will appeal to readers who appreciate a good crime novel, a mystery, or a coming of age story. Blink & Caution is all of those things rolled into one.

Are We Living in the Future?

2012-01-19T10:35:00.000-06:00

Apple just made several exciting announcements this morning regarding two educational initiatives:

1. Reinventing the textbook
2. Reinventing the curriculum

First, the new iBooks 2 app will offer fully interactive e-textbooks for the iPad! Apple has currently partnered with textbook giants Pearson, McGraw-Hill, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. The evolution to paperless classrooms seems inevitable, and if textbook vendors want to stay relevant, others will surely follow suit.

Coming from a district where many classrooms didn't have textbooks at all, and if they did the books were often out of date, e-textbooks seem like a huge boon for education! Affordable, interactive, and easy to update - what's not to love?

On top of that, Apple revealed the new iBooks Author. This app offers anyone the opportunity to turn their writing into a completely professional looking book, then submit their work to the iBookstore and become a published author. Best of all? iBooks Author is FREE in the Apps store.

So what was that about reinventing the curriculum? iTunes U is already being used in a number of different colleges and universities for audio/video lectures, but Apple wants more teachers and professors to use it to create full blown courses online. iTunes U was already completely free, and is now available for K-12 teachers to create courses of their own.

Wow. Does anyone else feel like we're living in the future? I'm imagining Lincoln in school 5 years from now... Will all of his classmates have their own iPads? Will his teachers offer online, interactive homework sessions each night? What do y'all think about these developments from Apple? Are any of you already using iTunes U? Are you interested in publishing your own book via iBooks Author? I want to hear all about it!

Legend

2012-01-18T13:16:00.000-06:00

Legend by Marie Lu, Putnam Juvenile, 2011, 336 pp, ISBN: 039925675X

Recap:
"My mother used to hope I would rise up from my humble roots. Become someone successful, or even famous.

I'm famous all right, but I don't think it's what she had in mind." - Day

Only 15-years-old, Day is the most dangerous, most elusive criminal the Republic has ever known.

"I nod, because that's what she wants me to do. But she's wrong. I don't just think I'm smart. I'm the only person in the entire Republic with a perfect 1500 score on her trial. I was assigned here, to the country's top university, at twelve, four years ahead of schedule. Then I skipped my sophomore year... And if I feel like my afternoon drills aren't teaching me enough about how to climb walls while carrying weapons, then... well, it wasn't my fault I had to scale the side of a nineteen-story building with an EX-621 gun strapped to my back. It was self-improvement, for the sake of my country." - June

Only 15-years-old, June is the Republic's prodigy, and the only one with any hope of catching Day.

Review:
This. Book. Is. Awesome. Set in a futuristic "Republic of America," I used clues from the book to try and figure out where the territories of "The Republic" and "The Colonies" would lie. This is my best guess:

The Republic seems to be the country that's in power, while the Colonies are filled with "rebels" who are trying to subvert the Republic's power. I wondered throughout the entire book how the split into two warring nations had transpired, but we are never actually told. In fact, many of the characters in the book aren't even sure that "the United States" had ever been a real thing. Maybe a little more back story will be given in book #2? Let's hope so.

Day, one of our two protagonists, is likeable from the get go. So what if our first glimpse into his life reveals that he's a wanted criminal? A little like Robin Hood, Day stealthily works for the good of the downtrodden, including his own family members - most of whom believe him to be dead. Plus he's just so darn good at being a criminal, it's hard not to admire him. Bonus: Day's chapters are written in gold ink. Fancy!

June, our second main character, is fiesty, quick on her feet, and ridiculously smart. So smart in fact, that she has been labeled a "prodigy." Her parents were killed years ago and **tiny spoiler** her older brother is killed in the first few chapters, leaving her an orphan. But because she's such a little prodigy, she is hired to take her brother's place in the army/police force. I know some readers have found her a little hard to like, but I thought June was pretty fantastic. I like a girl who can take care of herself! But... Side note: Did anyone else think it was strange that no one ever questioned a 15-year-old girl living alone?

Through a suspicious turn of events, June is given her first case: Day. She is determined to track him down, reveal his identity, and make an example of him to put a healthy dose of fear into the hearts of all of the rebels.

Now this is a YA novel, so the fact that there's a romance woven in should come as no surprise to anyone. Throughout the first half, there were a few different characters who I thought might get a little love (Tess? Thomas? And what was up with that one-page-mention of Anden?), but the ultimate pairing proved to be pretty predictable. Predictable wasn't necessarily a bad thing in this case, but there definitely wasn't a big surprise ending.

Speaking of endings, Legend is the first book in a trilogy, so we'll get to see lots more of Day and June! Good thing too because there are all kinds of pesky loose ends to tie up: Where is Eden? What the heck happened to Thomas? Is anyone going to do something about that Plague? And I have a feeling that Kaede will be getting a bigger role in book #2 as well.

Recommendation:
I am now a HUGE fan of Marie Lu's Legend and will be recommending it to, well, everyone. Particularly those who appreciate dystopic fiction, lots of action, and a good bit of lovey stuff.

US Map from here - Edited on Picnik

Book Love Tweets!

2012-01-17T16:47:00.003-06:00

Oh boy, Book Lovers. What have I gotten myself into? Book Love is now tweeting @yabooklove!

I've been curious about Twitter for a while now, and finally decided to take the plunge. I'm hoping it will be a fun and effective way to connect more with other bloggers and authors, and to learn more about the YA book world.

Do you have any tips for getting the most out of Twitter? Any "must-follows?" Please share!

Barnes and Noble is My Library

2012-01-16T08:39:00.000-06:00

Ok... no it's not. I actually love my real library. But the little guy and I visited our nearest B&N yesterday with the intention of picking out a few new board books, and I realized that it may actually be the library for some other mamas!

There was a small group of moms there, sipping their Starbucks while their kiddos played with the big train set and pulled books off the shelves (and occasionally read them). Every now and then, a mom would break off from the group and read a few books with her little one in her lap.

Now before you think I'm getting all judgey, I was doing the exact same thing. I think I read Linc 5 or 6 different books before we chose our favorite. And goodness knows, before I had a little babe I would read magazines there for ages.

So Book Lovers, is it OK to make your local bookstore your browsing library? Is it only OK if you buy something after reading? Do you generally prefer to browse in a book store or library? And while we're on the subject, why don't more libraries have a Starbucks inside? I usually just dash in the door to pick up my holds, but the promise of a latte inside might cause me to linger a little longer among the stacks...

Coffee image from here and then edited on Picnik.

Beauty Queens

2012-01-14T12:36:00.000-06:00

Beauty Queens by Libra Bray, Scholastic Press, 2011, 400 pp, ISBN: 0439895979

Recap:
A plane full of Miss Teen Dream pageant queens plummeted onto a deserted (or so they thought) island. After pretty much everyone on board was killed in the crash, the remaining Teen Dreamers have to learn how to survive with only their curling irons, hairspray, and canisters of Lady 'Stache Off to save them.

Review:
Reading Beauty Queens was a completely unique, and at times bizarre, experience. Let's start with what worked for me: First off, I LOVE the cover. I mean, her bandolier is made of lipsticks. That is awesome. I'm guessing that our cover model is actually Taylor Rene Krystal Hawkins. Or maybe Tiara. For those of you who have read Beauty Queens, who do you think?

Next, so much of the dialogue was just hilarious. I was laughing out loud through so much of the first half that I eventually had to go upstairs and read because I was driving Nick a little bit crazy. Here's just one example...

"So, Miss Michigan, can you tell us about about your platform? Please. I mean, if you're okay with that."
"Oh. Sure. My platform's called Don't Even Think About It. I go into schools and I say, 'Whatever bad thing it is you're thinking of doing, don't even think about it. 'Cause I can see into your soul, and I will hide in your closet and come for you in the night, and the last sound you ever hear will be my sharp teeth popping through the flesh of my gums, ready to eat you.' Their eyes get all big. It's awesome. I love little kids, man. They're the cutest."

On top of that, Beauty Queens' cast of characters is so far outside the realm of typical, it almost didn't even feel like YA. And I mean that in a good way. There are lesbian, bisexual, and transgender characters. There are African American and Indian characters who have plenty to say about the way people of color are typically treated in books and movies. The beauty queens have no-holds-barred conversations about gender, racism, feminism, sex, and societal expectations. No controversial topic is off limits in Beauty Queens.

Interspersed throughout the narrative are scripts from commercials for products and programming by "The Corporation." These brief vignettes offer a satirical commentary on today's media, and the unrealistic, oversexualized standards of beauty that are promoted. These one-pagers were often funny, but also prodded the reader to consider just how far off base they really were from the commercials we see on TV every day. Here's just one excerpt...

"...And our trained aestheticians can help you identify parts of yourself you didn't even know could be improved. Why wait? Schedule your appointment today... Because 'You're perfect just the way you are' is what your guidance counselor says."

So what didn't work for me? Well, some parts of Beauty Queens were just a little too bizarre for my taste. Like the entire story line with evil dictator MoMo B. ChaCha and his right-hand man, a taxidermied lemur named General Good Times. And at times I felt like the book was trying just a little too hard to be "edgy" or to spark controversy. I wish the entire text had felt more like the beginning: tongue-in-cheek, witty, just plain funny.

Recommendation:
I will eagerly recommend Beauty Queens to anyone who likes a good satire, and who doesn't shy away from sensitive subjects. And particularly to readers who appreciate Libba Bray's completely unique, often off the wall, sense of humor. One note of caution - I would recommend Beauty Queens to high school readers and older.

PS: I highly recommend this review by Forever Young Adult. The reason why I wanted to read this book in the first place, I think I ultimately enjoyed the review just as much as the book itself!

Inside Out and Back Again

2012-01-13T13:36:00.000-06:00

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai, HarperCollins, 2011, 272 pp, ISBN: 0061962783

Recap:
Ha is only 10-years-old when she escapes from Saigon to Alabama during the Vietnam war.

She must leave her father behind, not knowing if she will ever see him again, and travel on a boat to America.

Once her family has been taken in by a good-hearted Alabama "cowboy," Ha must begin the work of learning her new life: learning the rules of English, learning to make new friends, learning to come to terms with the fact that life will never be the same again.

Review:
Inside Out and Back Again is a completely lovely novel in verse. While it could easily be read in an uninterrupted afternoon, Thanhha Lai's story will linger for many days after the last page has been read.

The subject matter is weighty - war, immigration, death, assimilation - yet any reader, regardless of age, could pick this text up and find themselves consumed in Ha's journey. As Ha is only 10-years-old herself, Inside Out and Back Again would be completely accessible for an upper elementary or early middle school student. Students of all ages will easily relate to Ha's struggle to fit in, make friends, and do well in school.

At the same time, this book will be much more meaningful for readers who have some understanding of the Vietnam War and the culture that Ha found herself in during that period. For this reason, I would be excited to see Inside Out and Back Again used as a class novel in a History classroom. Great MG/YA literature isn't just for English teachers! Imagine just how much more a class would learn, how much richer the discussions could be, if this text was used as a companion alongside a textbook. Now that is a class I would want to be in.

It bears mentioning that this book is somewhat autobiographical. Author Thanhha Lai also moved from Saigon to Alabama at the end of the Vietnam War. Her father went missing as well. Many of her own school experiences are reflected in Ha's first days in school. Reading with the understanding that Ha's journey didn't just bubble up from an author's imagination made her story all the more powerful.

Recommendation:
For those who appreciate novels in verse,
for those who value stories that reflect real life,
for those creative, hard-working teachers who can take a book and bring it to life in the classroom,
Inside Out and Back Again is for all of you!

Quoteable Quotes:
To make it worse
the cowboy explains
horses here go
neigh, neigh, neigh
not hee, hee, hee.

No they don't.

Where am I?
*****

Sometimes
a y is used
instead of an e,
even if
it makes more sense
for moldy to be spelled molde.

Whoever invented English
should have learned
to spell.
*****

Cosmic

2012-01-11T01:00:00.000-06:00

Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce, Walden Pond Press, 2010, 320 pp, ISBN: 0061836834

Recap:
Liam doesn't quite fit in. He is twelve-years-old, but he looks... well... like a dad. A lot of the time, this works to his advantage. On the first day of middle school, his principal thought he was a teacher and introduced him in the school assembly. Once he went to a car dealership, and the salesman almost let him take a Porche out for a test drive.

When Liam finds out he has won a contest to be the first on a brand new thrill ride at an amusement park, he's ecstatic! So what if he has to pose as a dad? He's done that plenty of times. But then Liam finds out that...
- he has to bring his daughter
- the "amusement park" is in China
- the "thrill ride" is a rocket

Yikes.

Review:
I was completely and utterly charmed by Cosmic. How has this book not received more attention?

Liam is the kind of student I would love to teach - clever, independent, adventurous, and kind. He is constantly pushing the limit to see how how far his adult appearance can take him (test driving a Porche?), but it's clear to the reader that he isn't really trying to take advantage of people, he just likes to have big adventures.

Florida Kirby reminded me a little too much of, well, me. She may not know anything about gravity or outer space, but she knows every single celebrity, who they're married to, and how they became famous. Her primary goal in life is to become famous herself, and playing the role of Liam's daughter (yes, they're the same age!) just might get her there. Boyce did a masterful job of allowing Florida to evolve over the course of the story. She could have easily remained a shallow fame-seeker, but as the story progresses the reader gets to see more and more of Florida's heart and internal motivation. In case you couldn't tell, she's my favorite.

Cosmic gets a big gold star for the fact that it is so appealing to both children and adults (particularly parental-type adults). Much like a great Disney movie, the humor throughout exists on two levels: there are plenty of jokes to keep kids laughing, but there is another, more witty layer of humor that will get grown ups chuckling too.

And did I mention that author Frank Cottrell Boyce lives in England? I was smitten with the British vocabulary sprinkled throughout. In fact, I frequently found myself reading with a mental British accent, and a big smile on my face, because seriously... doesn't a British accent make everything just a little bit better?

Finally, Cosmic is a story with a heart. All of the main characters, but especially Liam and Florida, learn what "dadliness" is really all about. In a way, this book is like a laugh-out-loud love letter to dads.

Recommendation:
I highly recommend Cosmic for any and all middle school readers! Boys and girls will enjoy it equally. And if you're a dad, try Cosmic out as a read aloud. You and your kiddo(s) will not be disappointed.

The JOY of Books

2012-01-10T12:40:00.000-06:00

So freaking awesome.

Imagine the work that went into this! There's a little blurb about this video's creation when you click over to the YouTube version. Love, love, love...

Thank you to Tina from Tina Says for sharing this first!

Watch It! The Fault in Our Stars

2012-01-10T01:00:00.000-06:00

Oh, happy day. John Green's newest, The Fault in Our Stars, is being released today. I heard about his vlog of the first chapter from Crazy Katie, and watched it a few nights ago while making dinner. Y'all, this is going to be a standout.

To be perfectly honest, John Green is a little hit-or-miss for me: Paper Towns - ugh, Looking for Alaska - pretty darn good, Will Grayson, Will Grayson - Ecstatic Love. With only the first chapter to go on, The Fault in Our Stars seems destined for the Love column.

What do you think, Book Lovers?? Are you a John Green fan? Which of his is your favorite? Have any of you already been able to read The Fault in Our Stars?

The Scorpio Races

2012-01-07T17:43:00.000-06:00

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, Scholastic Press, 2011, 416 pp, ISBN: 054522490X

Recap:
Puck Connelly does not have a choice: she has to win the Scorpio Races.

Forget that she doesn't have her own capall uisce - the vicious sea horses that run the race. Forget that she is a girl, and no female has ever raced. Forget that her own parents were killed by capaill uisce, and that Puck is still secretly terrified of the wild creatures. She must win.

Sean Kendrick does not have a choice: he has to win the Scorpio Races.

So forget that Corr, his beloved capall uisce can never truly be his own. Forget that Mutt, his boss's malicious son, is out to make sure he fails. Forget that he has already won the Races for the past four years in a row, because all of that is in the past, and this year the stakes are greater than ever before. He must win.

Review:
Ay yi yi, that Maggie Stiefvater is something else. I was a fan of her Mercy Falls series, but with The Scorpio Races she truly outdid herself. The Scorpio Races is like a campfire you build yourself: it may take a little while to warm up, but once it's blazing it's nearly impossible to drag yourself away from the heat. Once I read past the first 120 pages or so, I was addicted. Thank goodness the little b had a long nap this afternoon, because I could not put this book down.

The island of Thisby is a magical place, with wild horses that swim up out of the sea. They would just as soon eat a man as allow him to ride, and can only be controlled with touches of iron, or bells, or the voice of a man like Sean Kendrick. When Sean was just a boy, he saw his own father die in the waves in the Scorpio Races. Now 19, Sean has no room in his life for anything but the sand, the sea, and Corr.

The relationship between Sean and Puck is not a romance. But it's also not not a romance. Still with me? Both of our main characters are obstinate and fiercely independent - absolutely not the type to fall in love at first sight. Their relationship starts out as mutual curiosity, and develops slooooowly, naturally, in a way that is wholly unlike anything else I've read in YA lit. I love Sean and Puck. Love, love, love.

As much as The Scorpio Races is a story about relationships, it's also an engrossing sports story. There is so much strategy and training involved in the races. Of course, we read that in the thoughts and conversations of Puck and Sean, but even secondary characters like Peg the butcher's wife and Dory Maud have plenty of racing wisdom to share. I was fascinated by the strategy, and completely torn about which horse to cheer for. I honestly still can't decide if I'm satisfied with the winner.

Finally, the secondary characters are a large part of what made this story so exceptional for me. George Holly - an American businessman and "horse lover" who always wears white sweaters, Dory Maud - one of three sister/shop owners and Puck's almost-auntie, and Finn - Puck's pastry loving, car fixing little brother were all so well written that I feel as if I know them in real life. While I sincerely love the main characters, the overall story would have been cold without the glowy warmth that was brought by the three I just mentioned, along with so many others in Thisby.

Recommendation:
Oh for goodness sakes, this book will be loved by so many! Read The Scorpio Races if you...
- cheer for the underdog
- appreciate small town life
- wanted to see War Horse over winter break
- are a sister with brothers... or vice versa
- love the kind of love story that doesn't happen at first sight

Quotable Quotes:
- "What I don't understand," [Dory Maud] says, "is why such a clever and useful girl as yourself, Puck, would waste so much time looking like an idiot or being dead?"

- Peg plucks a piece of straw out of Dove's mane. "It's easy to convince men to love you, Puck. All you have to do is be a mountain they have to climb or a poem they don't understand. Something that makes them feel strong or clever. It's why they love the ocean."

- I say, "I will not be your weakness, Sean Kendrick." Now he looks at me. He says very, very softly, "It's late for that, Puck."

Ashes

2012-01-05T19:52:00.001-06:00

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick, Egmont USA, 2011, 480 pp, ISBN: 1606841750

Recap:
Alex thought her biggest problem was the fact that she's dying of cancer.

But then a massive electromagnetic pulse rocked the world and changed the human race forever. Now most everyone middle-aged is dead. The very young and very old survived. And the teenagers? Well... they've changed. The "changed" are more or less zombies - attacking the living and eating their flesh.

Want to call for help? Too bad. Phones, TVs, cars, computers... none of that works any more.

And the strangest part? Alex is a teenager, but she didn't change. Well, not into a zombie anyway. Alex's changes are a little different. For starters, she can now use her sense of smell to distinguish between specific people and animals; sometimes she can even smell emotions. But a super-smell-sense probably isn't going to be enough to save Alex.

Review:
Ashes is hands down the best book I've read in months. Over Christmas break I was lamenting the fact that, with the exception of Jenny Han's last Summer book, I haven't read anything that I've truly loved in ages. My husband was reading Ashes on our way home, and he convinced me to catch up to him so that I could read aloud while he drove. Yikes! Thank goodness I did. Let me give you the short list of reasons why this book is fantastic:

1. Ashes is a first class adventure story. In the grand tradition of Hatchet and Island of the Blue Dolphins, I love an adventure story where the characters have to actually rely on themselves to survive. Luckily for her, Alex was already a camping-hiking-nature girl before the whole disaster started. Her (deceased) parents had instilled a whole bevy of wilderness skills that sure came in handy once the world started (maybe) coming to an end. Alex and Brian probably would have gotten along great, but Alex already had Tom. Which brings us to...

2. Ashes has, not one but, two swoony-worthy love interests. First, Tom, the soldier with secrets on leave from Afghanistan. Later, Chris, the stand-up guy with secrets who has just returned to his hometown. Both treat Alex with admiration and respect, both are steady in a crisis, both slowly-but-surely develop feelings for Alex, and did I mention that both have secrets? Which brings us to...

3. Ashes is the kind of book that always has more surprises in store. This book = the opposite of predictable. From the secret senses of the "Awakened" to the un-freaking-believable cliffhanger of an ending, the reader never knows what twist author Ilsa J. Bick will come up with next.

Ilsa, if you are reading this, I salute you. You are an absolutely phenomenal writer. I'm already halfway through my next read, but I can't stop thinking about Ashes. I might just start reading it again, and I never do that. Thank you.

And in case anyone was wondering, book #2 in the trilogy - Shadows - will be released September 11, 2012! Only 249 days to go...

Recommendation:
Read it. However old you are, whatever type of book you usually read, just trust me... read Ashes.

The House of the Scorpion

2012-01-04T20:51:00.000-06:00

The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer, Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books, 2002, 380 pp, ISBN: 0689852223

***Congratulations to Em from Love YA Lit and Miss K from Devour Books for correctly guessing my first read of 2012! The House of the Scorpion!

Recap:
Matt was born from the belly of a cow.

By the time he was six years old, he had only spoken to one human being. When he decided to break out of his house in an effort to find other human contact, he was captured and forced to spend months on end living like an animal in bug infested chicken litter.

Why? Because Matt is not a human being.

He is a clone - property of the Alacran estate, the same as any other piece of livestock.

This is his story.

Review:
The House of the Scorpion has been on my radar for a few years now. I mean, have you seen this book's resume? National Book Award Winner, Newbery Honor, Printz Honor... I bet it would have made the Cybils shortlist, but the Cybils hadn't even been invented yet when it was written.

I didn't know a thing about it, except that both my husband and my mom had started reading it a few years ago, and neither had actually finished. Maybe that's why I put off reading it for so long? But with all of the critical acclaim, I felt like it one that I needed to experience for myself.

Matteo Alacran's story is pretty darn unique. Matt is a clone of El Patron, the owner/dictator of the Alacran estate, who rules the poppy fields of Opium: a new country that exists in the future between the borders of Mexico and the United States.

El Patron has lived to be nearly 150 years old, because he uses the organs of clones as "spare parts" for his own rapidly declining body. While 99.9% of clones are brain-dead, and most likely less intelligent than the livestock they're constantly compared with, El Patron's clones keep their brains fully intact and are given the best education money can buy. However, Matt's intelligence has absolutely no impact on the people around him. His caretaker, Cecelia; his bodyguard, Tam Lin; his friend, Maria; and El Patron are the only people who treat Matt with any respect or affection.

To be honest, I almost quit reading this book several times over the course of the first half. It was just so depressing. Author Nancy Farmer almost brought me to tears several times over the way that Matt was treated. One thing is certain: this boy is resilient!

If the issue of cloning isn't controversial enough, a wholly new kind of civil rights issue is presented through the "eejits," slaves in the opium fields who have had computer chips implanted in their brains. The computer chips take away their free will; they cannot take a drink of water unless someone says "drink," or stop working for the day until someone says "stop."

**Spoiler Alert** For me, the story picked up immensely after El Patron's death. With his whole reason for existence gone, Matt is forced to finally take control of his life. The journey that follows is fresh, exciting, and completely satisfying.

Recommendation:
I love the idea of YA novels being used in other classrooms outside of English/Language Arts, and I can see The House of the Scorpion inspiring incredible lessons and discussions in the hands of a creative Science or Social Studies teacher.

If you're looking for an easy, breezy read, this is not the book for you. But if you enjoy a story that makes you question your own beliefs, and that gives you a possible projection for what the world could actually be like someday, then you need to read The House of the Scorpion.

First Book of 2012!

2012-01-03T18:10:00.001-06:00

Can you guess what my first completed read of 2012 was?
Here are a few hints...
- a futuristic focus on cloning
- a family tree so detailed it needs its own diagram
- a Printz Honor, Newbery Honor, and National Book Award winner

Leave your best guess! The review will be up and winners will be announced tomorrow.

2012: The Best is Yet to Come!

2012-01-01T17:35:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year Book Lovers!

For those of you who used to regularly read Book Love, you may have noticed that I haven't written for... oh... the last 6 months. Well, the last 6 months have been filled with some pretty dramatic changes.
- My husband and I moved from Baltimore, MD to a small farmhouse in western MI
- I left my job for the year
- We had the sweetest baby boy in the entire world!

Lincoln was born at the end of September, and has already infinitely changed our lives for the better. Not surprisingly, he already loves being read to - particularly if the reader makes funny animal noises or speaks in a British accent.

Not only did I take an extended vacation from the blogging world in the midst of moving, house hunting, baby delivering, and learning how to be a mommy, I also found myself reading a lot more baby and "adult" books over the last few months. While board books are sure to be a very permanent part of my day-to-day, I did just find a new library that I love with shelf after shelf of YA goodness.

I am also bound and determined to return to the blogging world! I've missed the excitement of learning about new books and authors, and sharing my own reading highs and lows. As this brand new year unrolls before us, I can't wait to pack it as fully as possible with lots of loved ones, new baby milestones, and lots of great books.

And that's where I need YOU, book lovers! Please let me know where Linc and I should start. What were your favorite YA books of the year? And what board books make your kiddos coo with delight? I can't wait to read your suggestions!

Funny How Things Change

2011-06-15T05:07:00.000-05:00

Funny How Things Change by Melissa Wyatt, Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2009, 208 pp, ISBN: 0374302332

Recap:
Remy Walker has grown up deep in the valleys of the Appalachian mountains. He never planned on leaving, but with only a few short months until his girlfriend Lisa leaves for college in Pennsylvania, he starts having second thoughts.

Some things are worth leaving home for, and isn't true love one of those things? One thing is for sure, by the end of this summer, Remy will have to make a decision that he won't be able to turn back from.

Review:
Funny How Things Change by Melissa Wyatt is my second-to-last on the list of 2010-2011 Black Eyed Susan books! Since the 2011-2012 list has already been released, I figured I'd better step up my reading game.

Honestly, after reading I was a little surprised that it had made the list. Don't get me wrong! It was certainly an enjoyable read, but seemed to have little in common with the other - often more well known - books on the list.

Remy's story is a slim little gem of a character study. Having grown up with his father on Walker Mountain, Remy is as comfortable walking the highways of West Virginia as he is under the hood of a car. With little concern for material possessions, Lisa is the first "thing" that Remy can't stand to lose - even if following her to Pennsylvania means giving up the only life he's ever known. But as the title suggests, Remy learns that nothing can stay the same forever, but sometimes it's funny how things change.

Every character in Wyatt's novel was real enough to step off of the page. I can see Duff in his garage, or Dana with her freckled legs dangling from the water tower, just as clearly as if I were looking at a photograph. At only 208 pages, there was no room for excess or unnecessary drama. Remy's summer unfolded naturally, with an easy pacing that held my attention for the course of one perfectly lazy afternoon.

Recommendation:
I would recommend Funny How Things Change to readers who appreciate carefully crafted characters, who wrestle with the pull between the familiar and the future, and to those who value a wholly realistic love story. High school and up!

Challah! Your Mouth Will Thank You.

2011-06-13T21:15:00.000-05:00

It had been a while since I'd read a book that I just couldn't stop talking about. Eishes Chayil's Hush was one of those books. An absolutely remarkable read. Have I piqued your curiosity? I hope so... go read Hush!

But first, take a moment (ok, many several moments) and treat yourself to the indescribable deliciousness that is Challah bread. Gittel's family makes Challah in Hush, and my own family made it fairly often while I was growing up. I can still vividly remember taking two golden loaves out of the oven, and gobbling it down right there. My mom, sister, and I all gathered around the counter, no longer thinking about dinner, because all we wanted was the bread (and lots of butter)! YUM.

Here's how you can bake your own:
- 2 tbsp yeast
- 1 1/4 cups hot water (to dissolve the yeast)
- 2 cups flour
- 1 1/4 cups oil
- 3 eggs
- Mix all of the above ingredients together, and then add 5-6 more cups of flour, 1 cup at a time
- Let the dough rise in the bowl for one hour, covered with a dish towel
- Punch the dough down, then divide into 2 separate parts
- From each part, create 3 long "ropes," then braid the ropes into a nice thick braid
- Put both braids onto a greased cookie sheet, then cover again with a towel and let them rise for another hour
- Bake in the oven at 325 for 25-35 minutes
- Throughout the baking time, brush an egg wash mixture over the top so that it has that "glossy" finish
- Now comes the best part... pop it out of the oven, coat with butter, take a bite, fall in love.

Image from here. Recipe from my mom :)

CHAOS WALKING PREQUEL!!!

2011-06-12T12:23:00.000-05:00

OH HAPPY DAY!! I may just be the last person in the world to know about this, but I just discovered that there is a prequel to the Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness - all around genius and master of words! And not only that... The New World is available for FREE on Amazon!

I have been reading a great variety of books lately, but I always find myself mentally lamenting the fact that there's just nothing and no one even comparable to Todd, Viola, Manchee, and the Mayor. Imagine my ABSOLUTE DELIGHT when I learned about The New World today. Thank you, thank you to Super Librarian for bringing it to my attention! And now if you'll excuse me, I need start reading...

Hush

2011-06-12T07:54:00.000-05:00

Hush by Eishes Chayil, Walker Books for Young Readers, 2010, 368 pp, ISBN: 0802720887

Recap:
Gittel saw her best friend Devory being raped when they were both only 9 years old. But because Gittel, a Chassidic Jew, had been raised in such a sheltered world, she truly could not understand what she was seeing. Devory tried everything she could to cry for help - just short of revealing the whole truth about the nightmare her life had become - but no one was willing to listen. When Devory simply could not take the abuse any longer, she used Gittel's purple jump rope to hang herself in the shower.

Bound by her ultra-Orthodox community's code of loyalty, Gittel was forced to stay silent about the truth behind Devory's suicide. Now, years later, Gittel is haunted by visions of her childhood best friend. Will she ever find the courage to try and make things right?

Review:
I honestly am not sure that I can do this book justice. Hush is an absolutely remarkable piece of literature. As I worked my way through Gittel and Devory's story, I found myself constantly thinking about the two girls and their way of life that was so drastically different from my own. Initially, I felt sure that the lifestyle Gittel described had to be pure fiction. In 2008 could there really be a whole community of New Yorkers who don't watch TV or touch electricity on Sundays? A community where arranged marriages are still the rule and no one is allowed to know about sex until they are engaged? A community where faith is so valued that all wives are full-time working mothers so that their husbands can be full-time scholars of the Torah? It all sounded so foreign, and yet that world is alive and thriving in America today.

It literally broke my heart to read about Devory's desperation. Yes, she is a fictional character, but in real life there are so many others like her - children who are sexually abused by family members and close friends, and who are unable to tell the truth about their situation. Through it all, I pitied Gittel. She could not be blamed for her naivety, and had spent her entire life being conditioned to value her community above all else. She knew that she should tell the truth, but in doing so she stood the risk of losing everything.

Because of Hush, I cannot stop thinking about some of my own students. How many children do you know whom adults describe as "crazy" or "out of control?" That was how Devory's parents and teachers referred to her. She was "wild," a "bad influence." Now the faces of those real-life students are on a permanent scroll in my mind. What is truly causing them to behave that way? Why are they trying so desperately to get our attention?

Lately there has been so much talk about the darkness in YA literature. Hush was a remarkably powerful reminder that when we are a witness to darkness, we must do everything we can to shed light. There is no excuse for silence or secrecy.

In the Authors Notes, author Eishes Chayil writes,

"We didn't need the outside world. We had our own. We published our own newspapers, wrote our own literature, and put on our own plays - separate for men and women of course. We attended Orthodox Chassidic schools, spoke Yiddish first and English second, covered ourselves with modest clothing, and never ever talked or played with anyone but our own kind. We built walls and built them high. The walls would keep the gentiles and their terrifying world far away. The walls would protect us and shelter us - and as we built them higher, thicker, wider, we forgot to look inside. We forgot that the greatest enemies always grow from within."

Eishes Chayil is a pen name that means "Woman of Valor" in Yiddish. I am thankful to Chayil for choosing to be a woman of valor who looks within, who speaks the truth, who sheds light. I know she will help others to do the same.

Recommendation:
Right now, I want to recommend Hush to everyone I see. I literally cannot stop talking about it. I believe that Hush will require a certain level of maturity from its readers, and based on some adult content, I would recommend it for high school age readers and up.

Quotable Quotes:
In spite of the serious content, there were actually quite a few humorous passages in Hush. Striking a perfect balance between levity and truth, Gittel was a thoroughly enjoyable narrator.

"Devory and I strongly disagreed about adults. She thought it was fun being a grown-up; I said it was exhausting. Adults had to smile all the time. From the moment they walked out of the kitchen, no self-respecting adult dared not to smile... When they wanted to cry, they smiled. When they wanted to be alone, they smiled... They all smiled and shook hands and asked each other how they were doing, and then walked away and cried, and frowned, and were angry... I always knew how lucky I was that Hashem made me a child."

"I grabbed the candy and stared at it. A candy from a priest. It could only be poison. In the stories, the evil priest always gave poison to the Jewish children who wouldn't convert. I held up the candy and peered into it suspiciously. It looked good."

"'How dare you go against the Rabbonim?' Surie screamed at me. 'How can you do this to them? That is not the way an Eishes Chayil acts. A Woman of Valor does things quietly - at least anonymously...' and she slammed down the phone.

Yankel comforted me. 'You are the Eishes Chayil,' he said. 'You are the real one. You are the only one protecting the children, and that is what a real mother does.'"

Tyger, Tyger

2011-06-11T13:48:00.002-05:00

Tyger, Tyger: A Goblin Wars Book by Kersten Hamilton, Clarion Books, 2010, 320 pp, ISBN: 0547330081

Recap:

Teagan is sure she's just a typical teenage girl; maybe a little more focused on her studies than most, but there's nothing wrong with that. Right? Teagan is especially close to her family: her music-minded little brother, her father who loves to tell the stories of their Irish heritage, and her artistic mother who makes a living painting illustrations of goblins.

Finn Mac Cumhaill is the first boy who has ever made Teagan question her no-relationship-rule. Of course, Finn is no ordinary boy. His introduction into Tea's life opens up a whole new world that she thought could exist only in fairy tales. It turns out, all of her father's stories are true, and the subjects of her mother's paintings all exist in real life.

Review:
I've wanted to read Kersten Hamilton's Tyger, Tyger ever since reading Amelia's review at Imagination in Focus. It even made her Top 3 of 2010! I've never been a huge fan of books with fairies and goblins, but after such rave reviews, I wanted to give it a shot.

Tyger, Tyger was unique in the fact that it was based largely on Celtic folklore. I liked the idea that so many stories of the past were being brought back to the present through YA literature. Can it be considered a less traditional type of fairy tale re-telling?

Perhaps it was because I had read Fat Cat so recently, but Teagan's work at the zoo reminded me of Cat and Matt's scientific pursuits. Ultimately, I wished that Teagan were a little more like Cat. Granted, Teagan's story was a fantasy and Cat's was realistic fiction, but looking at the two characters on their own, Cat just felt more well-rounded and real to me.

Romance was a huge part of this story. ***Mini-Spoiler*** Evidently, Tea and Finn were destined to be each other's true love. Well, ok. I actually do believe in destiny and love at first site. And I think this love story was supposed to be a part of the Irish folklore that all of the other fantastical characters sprang out of. But was I really convinced that this was a love for all eternity? Um, no... It just didn't seem to be based on anything but physical attraction and fact that it was "meant to be." But maybe the love story will grow on me in book #2?

Recommendation:
All things considered, I'm probably not the best Tyger, Tyger judge because this just isn't one of my favorite genres. If you're a reader who loves fairies and goblins and all of those other fantasy friends, you will probably love Tyger, Tyger. I would recommend it for middle school and up!

And I Thought I Wouldn't Use Math Again...

2011-06-06T05:29:00.000-05:00

With regard to the recent outcry over a certain WSJ article, here is a response that I think sums things up quite nicely:

Image from here!

Split

2011-06-04T11:54:00.000-05:00

Split by Swati Avasthi, Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2010, 288 pp, ISBN: 0375863400

Recap:

Jace knows all the rules of Fightology. Rules like, "#5: Anger comes in all forms... You think you've forgiven, and you've doused it with trust, but give it a sudden burst of oxygen and - backdraft."

Growing up with a father who beat his mother, and then his brother, and then him after his brother escaped, Jace has faced more than his fair share of backdrafts. But even once Jace finds a way to escape, he quickly learns that the fire from a fight can be almost impossible to put out - especially when it's inside you.

Review:

You need to read this book! I'm having a hard time remembering the last book that had me so completely engrossed from the very first page. Swati Avasthi's debut novel, Split, is a grippingly real story of domestic violence, and the extreme lengths people will go to in order to protect their families. Prior to writing Split, Avasthi spent time working in a domestic violence legal clinic. The experiences and insights she gained there clearly played a large role in the creation of this novel.

Each character was multi-faceted and distinct. Jace, the primary voice in this story, fights every day to beat down the many similarities he shares with his father. From their physical appearance to their violent tempers, Jace is his father's son whether he likes it or not. His older brother Christian has spent years building a new, completely separate life. When Jace shows up on his doorstep, at an address he thought no one knew, Christian can't help but be scared of his past catching up with him.

Split is a story about being rescued - two boys trying to rescue their abused mother, trying to rescue each other, trying to rescue themselves. The ending proves that real life is never the same as it is in fairy tales; not everyone can have a happy ending. In the end, all we can do is forgive ourselves and love the people around us just as much as they'll allow.

Recommendation:

I am recommending Split to everyone, starting in 8th grade and up. This book has something for every reader: drama and realism, regrets and heartache, romance and redemption. I just can't say enough good things about it!

Stolen

2011-05-30T19:23:00.000-05:00

Stolen by Lucy Christopher, The Chicken House, 2010, 304 pp, ISBN: 0545170932

Recap:
When Gemma met Ty at the airport coffee shop, she was immediately struck by his easy manner and good looks. He was the perfect distraction from the petty disagreement she just had with her parents while waiting for their flight.

But there was something that seemed a little "off" about Ty. For starters, he was definitely too old for her. And Gemma just couldn't shake the nagging feeling that she had met him before. But when she finally figured out why she recognized him, it was already too late...

Now Gemma is Ty's prisoner in the Australian outback. With no means of communication, no transportation, and no other human being around for miles, what hope does she have for escape?

Review:
Lucy Christopher's Stolen is unlike anything else I've ever read. The entire story is a letter from Gemma to Ty, recounting how they met and their days together in the desert. At different points throughout, I found myself surprised that their story was actually able to fill an entire book. I mean, there are zero other characters - unless you count the camel.

Many have indicated that Gemma must have been suffering from Stockholme Syndrome, as she eventually came to appreciate - and maybe even love - her captor. Along those same lines, it seems that many of Stolen's readers have come to feel the same way about Ty. It seems like every time I talk to someone who has read Stolen, they say something along the lines of, "Oh, I couldn't believe it but I ended up really sympathizing with the kidnapper. In the end I wanted them to be together!" Honestly, those reactions piqued my curiosity and were part of the reason why I picked this book up in the first place.

After reading the entire novel, my only response is, "Whaaaat?!" Ty was mentally ill. One could make the case that he never physically "hurt" Gemma, but he stalked her for six years, drugged her, kidnapped her, and held her prisoner in the middle of the desert. And people think Edward-and-Bella love is unrealistic? This is taking love stories to a whole new level of crazy. Ok, ok. I don't believe that this was actually intended to be a love story, but that end result is definitely a hinted-at possibility.

I can't say that I actually enjoyed this story, but it is one that I'll remember and reflect on for a long, long time.

Recommendation:
I would recommend Stolen to 8th grade readers and above - particularly to readers who are looking for something out of the ordinary. I have a feeling that Stolen could become an incredible literature circle discussion tool in the hands of the right ELA teacher!

All Unquiet Things

2011-05-30T18:56:00.000-05:00

All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab, Ember, 2011, 352 pp, ISBN: 0375855289

Recap:
Carly was murdered over a year ago. Everyone knows that her uncle, Audrey's father, was the one who killed her. Everyone except Audrey that is. She knows that all of the facts just don't add up.

When Audrey begins digging into the details of the case, she enlists the help of Carly's ex-boyfriend Neily - the one person whom everyone else suspected in Carly's murder.

Together, Audrey and Neily will unravel a web of secrets and lies far more twisted than either of them had ever anticipated. One thing is certain, Carly was in way over her head.

Review:
I have to admit, I hadn't been too interested in reading All Unquiet Things. The cover struck me as more adult than YA, and the image is really pretty creepy. But when it was selected as one of the 2011-2012 Black Eyed Susan books, I decided to give it a shot. I had no idea I was in for such a treat!

All Unquiet Things is truly fabulous murder-mystery. The characters are a little Gossip Girl-esque, but without the emphasis on fashion: rich, spoiled, and attending one of the state's best private schools. Of course, this atmosphere of entitlement leads to way too much freedom and way too little accountability for anyone's actions. The narration switches back and forth between Audrey and Neily, which was initially a little confusing, but once I got used to it I enjoyed the different perspectives.

The best thing about this book? I truly had NO IDEA who actually killed Carly until the final few pages. As the mystery unravels, the reader is given more and more possible choices for the killer, but I definitely did not put the clues together to get the correct suspect. If there's one thing I love, it's a story that surprises me, and from start to finish All Unquiet Things is full of surprises.

Recommendation:
Anna Jarzab's debut novel is definitely one I'd reserve for the high school and above crowd. That being said, I'm already eager to push it into the hands of any reader who loves a good mystery.

Fat Cat

2011-05-30T09:04:00.001-05:00

Fat Cat by Robin Brande, Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2009, 336 pp, ISBN: 037584449X

Recap:
Cat Locke has something to prove. A couple of things, in fact. First, she is just as good of a scientist as Matt McKinney. Second, she is just as good of a person as Matt McKinney. Third, she does not need a boy in her life to be happy - especially not Matt McKinney. Is anyone else sensing a theme here?

Cat has decided to make herself the focus of her year-long Science project. She will take on the lifestyle and eating habits of early humans: no processed foods, no motorized transportation, no cell phones or internet. While Cat is fully anticipating a winning grade on her project, it's also sure to come along with a few unexpected side effects...

Review:
I've wanted to read Fat Cat by Robin Brande ever since reading this review from Write Meg! over a year ago. When it made Meg's Top 5 of 2010, I was reminded all over again of why I wanted to read it in the first place. Now, several months later, I finally got my hands on a copy... and I was not disappointed!

Cat is extremely easy to relate to. She is competitive and quick-witted, insecure and imaginative. She struggles with her weight, and struggles to admit her true feelings for the people in her life - especially people like Matt McKinney. Her Science project forces her to re-examine her diet, her exercise habits, the way she spends her free time, and the way she interacts with her classmates.

At the same time, Cat's Science project made me re-examine those areas in my own life. She didn't quite convert me to vegetarianism, but she did convince me to widen the range of my diet and walk to the grocery store more often.

It was pretty easy to predict the effects that Cat's new lifestyle would have on her body. She never revealed the exact number of pounds that she lost, but it was obvious that her body changed pretty drastically. Not surprisingly, her new image had a dramatic impact on the boys Cat had grown up with. It was interesting to see how Cat dealt with that attention. If I can say one thing, her actions were always realistic - if not always graceful!

And you're probably wondering, what ever happened with Matt McKinney? Well, you're just going have to read Fat Cat for yourself to find out :)

Recommendation:
If you're looking for a laugh-out-loud read, with a truly relatable heroine, that just might give you a new perspective on your own life... Fat Cat is probably the book for you! I would recommend it for high school age and up.

Trash

2011-05-22T14:21:00.000-05:00

Trash by Andy Mulligan, David Fickling Books, 2010, 240 pp, ISBN: 0385752145

Recap:

Raphael and Gardo are dumpsite boys. They've spent their entire lives eking out a living by picking through the mountains of trash that blanket Behala. The "best trash" consists of things like white plastic and metal. The worst? Stupp. Human waste.

Then one day Raphael found something unexpected: a leather bag containing an id, a few photos, and a sum of money. He thought it was his lucky day... until the police showed up. The bag was only the tiniest piece of a puzzle - a far more complicated puzzle than Raphael, the police, or anyone else in Behala could have ever imagined.

Review:

I first learned about Andy Mulligan's Trash through the Battle of the Kids' Books - one of my all time favorite sources for recommendations. As it advanced through round after round, even beating out my beloved Will Grayson, Will Grayson, I knew I had to give it a shot!

I was not disappointed. Trash is set in an undisclosed place and time. For some reason I read it as if it were taking place in the future, although Raphael's story could just as easily happen in the past or the present. I did learn through the author's notes that the fictional city of Behala is loosely based on the city of Manila in the Philippines.

The poverty that these boys exist in is almost unthinkable. Homes are nothing more than crates piled one atop the other. From the time that they are old enough to wield their own "hook," small children are taken out of school and sent to scavenge through the trash. The government is greedy and corrupt, and it isn't at all unusual for members of the police to lock up (most likely) innocent children for years without hope of a trial. When Raphael finds the leather bag, it's no wonder that he chooses to keep his find a secret from the police.

But Raphael certainly wasn't in this story alone. Trash is told from many different points of view. In fact, pretty much everyone who was remotely involved in his story has their own chapter. This narrative collage of different characters adds depth and background to the overall mystery.

As Raphael, Gardo, and their friend Rat piece together the different clues, the reader is treated to a rare story of hope and redemption. Trash's slender size leads you to believe that it will be a light and easy read, but only a few pages in you will quickly learn that this book is so much more.

Recommendation:

I will eagerly recommend Trash to readers of all ages. There is a strong emphasis throughout the story on the satisfaction gained through helping others, and the necessity of loving the people who much of the world would rather ignore. Combined with the complex codes and clues, Trash is a book for everyone.

Please Ignore Vera Dietz

2011-05-21T11:38:00.000-05:00

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A. S. King, Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2011, 384 pp, ISBN: 0385738590

Recap:
Vera Dietz has always been the keeper of Charlie's secrets. Even after his death. Whether they were best friends, a potential love connection, or - more recently - bitter enemies, Vera could always be counted on to keep quiet. But as it turns out, sometimes keeping a best friend's secrets is the absolute worst thing you can do.

Review:
Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King is one of those books that I haven't heard a single negative word about. Every single review was absolutely glowing. And did I mention that it won a 2011 Printz Honor? When I found it on the "New Releases" shelf at the library, I snatched it right up.

My verdict? Please Ignore Vera Dietz is certainly a far cry from the dystopias, love triangles, and fantasy creatures that seem to fill the pages of most YA these days. Why was it so different? For one thing, one of the main characters spends the entire book... dead. For another, this book features a wide variety of narrators, including a pagoda. That's right, an inanimate object.

Much of the book was told in flashbacks, so that the reader could get a full picture of what Charlie and Vera's life together had been like, prior to Charlie's death. It was easy to see why Vera had loved Charlie for most of her life. He was strong and vulnerable at the same time, compassionate and adventurous while still managing to pull off that "rebel without a cause" vibe that girls always fall for.

But there was a darker side to Charlie. His family's history of domestic abuse and his own twisted money-making habits made him a figure who Vera wanted to protect, even after he betrayed her.

Even so... I spent most of Vera's story just feeling frustrated with her: with her denial of her family's history of alcoholism, with her mental belittling of her father, and with the exasperating way that she refused to tell the truth about Charlie's death. She had spent so much of her life trying to get the rest of the world to just ignore her, she couldn't see that it was finally time to step out and make herself heard.

Ultimately, the end of the book left me with hope for Vera's future, but I still can't see Vera Dietz climbing its way to the top of my favorites list. I just like to see a little more girl power in my female protagonists.

Recommendation:
I would recommend Please Ignore Vera Dietz to high school age (or older) readers who are looking for something a little different in their book bag. While it may not be one of my top picks, King's award winning novel is creative and thought provoking, one that a reader won't quickly forget.

While You're Waiting for the Real Thing...

2011-05-15T07:05:00.000-05:00

Satisfy your Katniss cravings with the Barbie Hunger Games!

I honestly cannot believe these people reenacted the entire Hunger Games with Barbie dolls. Yes, these videos are a little lengthy, but they are hilarious and super creative.

And here is Part 2...

Thank you to Madigan Reads for sharing them first!

"But That's Where We are in These Strange and Stupid Times."

2011-05-14T07:23:00.001-05:00

More than 80 Los Angeles school librarians are being interrogated in a downtown basement. Much like many districts all over the country, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is facing drastic budget cuts that will force at least 85 school librarians out of their media centers and back into the classroom. That is, if they get to keep their jobs at all.

The interrogations are meant to determine whether or not these librarians have actually "taught" a class within the last five years. If they haven't, then it seems that they can kiss their jobs goodbye.

Now for those of us who actually understand the inestimable value of a truly great librarian, this whole process seems asinine. School librarians teach all subjects, work with all students, and collaborate with all teachers. But during these interrogations many must "confess" that they are not "real" classes because they don't have to take attendance. Wow.

For more information, check out "The disgraceful interrogation of L.A. school librarians" in The Los Angeles Times.

Image from here.

It's Not Summer Without You

2011-05-14T07:02:00.000-05:00

It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, 2010, 288 pp, ISBN: 1416995552

Recap (**Warning! If you haven't read Book #1, this will contain spoilers!):

Belly has spent every summer of her life at the beach house in Cousins. But this is the first summer of her life without the beach house, without Susannah, without Conrad and Jeremiah. Bec is dead, and life will never ever be the same.

At the same time that Belly is trying to cope with Susannah's death, she is still trying to come to terms with losing Conrad, the only boy she's ever loved. At the end of last summer, it seemed like things were finally working out between them, and things only got better and better over the course of the school year. Until Prom that is...

And now Susannah's gone and Conrad's missing and everything in the world just feels wrong. The only way to make things right is to go back to where it all began.

Review:

I love, love, love Jenny Han. Nobody writes a great contemporary YA romance like Sarah Dessen, but gosh darn it if Jenny Han doesn't come close! I was absolutely wowed by The Summer I Turned Pretty. Belly is the quintessential "girl next door," pining after the boy she has always loved, even while plenty of other boys (including Conrad's brother Jeremiah!) would be only too happy to step in and try to win her heart. You know, there's something about Belly that reminds me a lot of Taylor Swift in the You Belong With Me video. Do you know what I mean?

But It's Not Summer Without You has so much more depth than your typical teen romance. This second book in the Summer trilogy deals with death and heart break, loss of friendships and loss of dreams. It just goes to show that the only thing one can truly count on is the love of your family - regardless of whether a person is family by blood or not.

I'm not sure how I feel about the end. The last pages of The Summer I Turned Pretty built into this huge crescendo that left me cheering, but this second ending left so many questions unanswered. That may be more like real life, but I need closure! I need We'll Always Have Summer!

I don't have a particular preference for who Belly ends up with: Jeremiah is clearly the safe choice, but there is just something about your first love. Either way, I just need to know what happens. But seriously, don't just tell me. I'm on a mission to track this book down for myself!

Recommendation:

I will enthusiastically recommend Jenny Han's entire Summer trilogy to any reader who enjoys a great contemporary romance. Fans of Sarah Dessen will quickly learn to love the wonderfulness that is Jenny Han!

PS: Don't you like this alternative cover?? I just found it through a Google image search and I love it!

Katniss vs the Common Core

2011-04-30T12:53:00.000-05:00

So earlier in the week I went to a city-wide Professional Development session on the Common Core standards. If you're not familiar, the Common Core are the new national educational standards that all of us teachers, librarians, etc. will be responsible for by 2014.

In a lot of ways, it's exciting to learn about these new standards. They're focused, extremely rigorous, and help to standardize what's happening in classrooms across the US. But that's not what we're here to talk about today...

As I was flipping through my paper copy, I stumbled across "English Language Arts Standards: Texts Illustrating the Complexity, Quality, and Range of Student Reading [for grades] 6-12." It was a chart of stories, plays, poetry, and informational texts that are recommended complements for the CC standards. And do you know when the vast majority of that recommended reading was published?

42% of the books were published before 1900
2% of the books were published after 2000 (2% = 1 book)

Now I don't doubt that this is a great collection of literature. And people should still be reading Shakespeare and Mark Twain and Emily Dickinson. But COME ON! Where is the appreciation for YA Lit??? How many students ever fell in love with literature because they read The Gettysburg Address or The Gift of the Magi (both on the list)? I'm guessing not that many. But how many students ever fell in love with literature because of The Hunger Games? or Lord of the Rings? or Harry Potter? I'm guess MILLIONS of young people! So when are titles like these going to earn their rightful place on academic lists? I don't think that time can come soon enough.

Now in the interest of full disclosure... there is a note at the bottom of the chart pointing out that the selected texts are only meant be "illustrative" of a "range of topics and genres," and that of course teachers can select their own texts. Sooooo... right. It's not like the chart means that no one should be teaching about Katniss or Junior or Delphine. I would just really like to see their names on the list.

The Dark and Hollow Places

2011-04-29T22:52:00.001-05:00

The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan, Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2011, 384 pp, ISBN: 0385738590

Mini-Recap and Review:
Gabry, Elias, and Catcher are all back in action for another wild ride with the Unconsecrated in Carrie Ryan's 3rd book in The Forest of Hands and Teeth trilogy.

The Dark and Hollow Places started out a little bit slowly for my liking; the new female protagonist was so sooooo self-pitying for the first 100 pages or so. Ugh, there's nothing I dislike more than a "woe is me" main character.

But! Once I was about a third of the way through, Ryan brought back the rapid pacing, unexpected twists, and Energizer ~~bunnies~~ zombies that I've come to love her for.

I have to say, I pretty much love the fact that all three books are so closely knit together, but that each new volume has a different female protagonist. And gaining a new protagonist doesn't mean that you've lost the original; the stories of all three women weave neatly together throughout the trilogy. Now I know I was complaining about the leading lady of The Dark and Hollow Places, but once Annah got her fighting spirit back, I became her biggest cheerleader. And all of that business with the balloon? Genius.

Now if you are considering starting this series, what are you doing here at a review of book #3?! Get yourself to the library and check out your own copy of The Forest of Hands and Teeth! And if you started out a fan of the series, but lost some enthusiasm after book #2, I'm here to tell you... The Dark and Hollow Places was the best of the bunch. For me, the final installment was the first of these books that I literally could not put down. In fact, I think I might go start all over again right now...

PS: WeHeartIt just gave me some helpful tips about how to survive the Zombie apocalypse, just in case I ever find myself in Annah's shoes. Are you prepared??

Click to enlarge!

One Crazy Summer

2011-04-26T20:30:00.001-05:00

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia, Amistad, 2010, 224 pp, ISBN: 0060760885

Recap:

When Delphine and her two younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern, are shipped all the way across the country to spend the summer with the mother who abandoned them, they have absolutely no idea what they're in for.

Some time in the past six years, their mother Cecile has changed her name to Nzila, and she wastes no time in letting the girls know that she doesn't want them anywhere near her home.

Because the only thing Nzila will feed them is air sandwiches - "Go on back to the room. Open your mouths, and catch one." - the girls go down to the People's Center every morning for breakfast, and end up staying for Black Panther summer camp.

Even though, according to Vonetta, "We didn't come for the revolution. We came for breakfast," the girls end up getting a powerful education regarding Huey Newton, Lil' Bobby, and what Power to the People really means.

It might be one crazy summer, but it's a summer these sisters will never forget. Surely is.

Review:
You know how some books just get so much hype that there's no way they could ever live up to it? One Crazy Summer is not that book. All of my expectations? Exceeded.

Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern are each completely their own person with very distinct personalities. At the same time, no three sisters were ever closer.

"When my sisters and I speak, one right after the other, it's like a song we sing, a game we play. We never need to pass signals. We just fire off rat-a-tat-tat-tat. Delphine. Vonetta. Fern."

Even Cecile quickly became one of my favorite characters - regardless of the fact that she seemed completely disinterested in her own daughters. With her crazy get-ups, strange penchant for shrimp lo mein, and stubborn refusal to call Fern anything but "little girl," I just couldn't get enough ~~Nzila~~ Cecile.

Rita Williams-Garcia has taken an incredibly turbulent, pivotal time in our nation's history, and made it accessible to a whole new generation of children. One Crazy Summer proves that this country's war over civil rights was not only waged by adults. As Williams-Garcia explained in her acknowledgments, "I wanted to write this story for those children who witnessed and were part of necessary change. Yes. There were children."

One Crazy Summer should not be missed.

Still More Quotable Quotes:

"'Sister Mukumbu, it's all dangerous. Just being here at the Center is dangerous... I have to look out for my sisters, you know.'Sister Mukumbu said, 'We look out for each other. The rally is one way of looking out for all of our sisters. All of our brothers. Unity, Sister Delphine. We have to stand united." - Delphine and Sister Mukumbu

"That's mainly what I do. Keep Vonetta and Fern in line. The last thing Pa and Big Ma wanted to hear was how we made a grand Negro spectacle of ourselves thirty thousand feet up in the air around all these white people." - Delphine

Delphine and Fern's whole back-and-forth about Lootie Belle, Tinker Bell, and the Itsy Bitsy Spider costume. It's too long to record here, but just too funny not to mention!

Beastly

2011-04-25T09:38:00.000-05:00

Beastly by Alex Flinn, HarperTeen, 2007, 320 pp, ISBN: 9780060874162

Recap:

Kyle Kingsbury knows what it takes to rule Tuttle, his Constance Billard/St. Jude style private school: money, power, and stand out good looks. Lucky for Kyle, he has all of those things in spades. As for those not so fortunate? They're lucky if they can just get by unnoticed. The last not-so-pretty face that Kyle decided to target ultimately transferred out of Tuttle and hasn't been heard from since.

But all of that changes when a new student in Kyle's class becomes the bullseye of one of his cruel pranks. She is actually a witch who casts a spell on Kyle, ensuring that his outside appearance matches the ugliness of his heart. In order to reverse the curse, he has only two years to fall in love with someone and make her love him back - a near impossible task for any 16-year-old, and doubly difficult for a hairy, fanged monster.

Yup, karma's a beast.

Review:
I thoroughly enjoyed this modern day re-telling of Beauty and the Beast! Each of the characters was well-developed and followed a believable arc over the course of the story. The message was crystal clear and perfect for middle and high school kiddos: Beauty actually is only skin deep. It's what's inside that counts. And when you hear that message through Alex Flinn's characters, it doesn't sound cliche at all!

I was consistently impressed by how well the story matched the original version I was familiar with. Elements like the withering rose petals, the magic mirror, and the overflowing library all kept me firmly rooted in the world of fairy tales, even though we were technically in the middle of New York City. Beastly even had the snowball fight scene from Disney's Beauty and the Beast! But at the same time, there was nothing childish or old-fashioned about this version. Flinn struck the perfect balance between new and old, contemporary and more traditional.

If you're at all familiar with Beauty and the Beast, the end of Beastly will come as no surprise, but the journey to get to that final kiss is well worth it!

Book of a Thousand Days

2011-04-24T06:40:00.000-05:00

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale, Bloomsbury USA Children's Books, 2007, 320 pp, ISBN: 9781599900513

Recap:

When Lady Salen is locked in a windowless tower for seven years after refusing to marry Lord Khasar, her mucker maid, Dashti, is required to join her in captivity.

Although the tower is filled with more food than Dashti has ever seen, their supply is quickly depleted by families of rats and Lady Salen's selfish appetites. Although danger is certainly lurking outside their walls, Dashti knows that death by starvation is even more certain if they remain in their tower prison.

Upon escaping, Dashti is certain that they have overcome their greatest challenge, but she has no way of knowing that the outside world has changed forever, and the struggles that lie ahead will test her courage, her patience, and even her heart.

Review:

Shannon Hale is one of those authors who readers are just wild about! After reading Princess Academy last year, I could see why. The story was clever and inventive, charming but still completely unpredictable. I loved it!

Diving into Book of a Thousand Days, I could quickly see many similarities between the two. The language was still poetically simple - equally suited for racing through pages or sitting and savoring. The echoes and themes of older fairy tales were strong: good vs. evil, forbidden love, the rise and fall of creatively named kingdoms.

At the same time, I simply was not as captivated this time around. I think much of that has to do with the fact that I knew the ending within the first quarter of the story. I wasn't quite sure how we would get there, but there was really no other way for the "happily ever after" to happen. And I just hate not being surprised.

While Dashti was a thoroughly likable narrator, I was plagued by a persistant irritation with Lady Salen. She was the whiniest, most worthless character I've read in ages and - lady or not - I couldn't understand why Dashti put up with her for years. Is it really possible for anyone to be that patient?

But that's enough of the negative! Let's focus on the positives because truly, there was plenty to appreciate!

My copy of the book has the cover to the right, so I was a good way through before Dashti's lovely ink and brush drawings tipped me off that the characters were Asian. To be more specific, the story is set in Hale's version of medieval Mongolia. Reading about her inspiration for the setting was fascinating; I had no idea how many of the unique story elements were actually taken from historic Mongolian culture.

I loved Dashti's ability to heal through Mucker songs. In fact, her lovely nonsense words that seemed to speak to the hurting one's inner spirit reminded me quite a lot of Miri's quarry speak in The Princess Academy. I really think Dashti and Miri would have been good friends.

And did I mention that one of the characters is actually a werewolf? This fact made me laugh a little to myself when I noticed that the author recommendation quote on the front cover is from Stephanie Meyer. But don't get too excited... Hale's wolf is definitely no Jacob.

If you are a Shannon Hale fan, I have no doubt that you will find much to enjoy in Book of a Thousand Days. And if you're looking for a special something extra, check out the book's website! With all of the "behind the scenes" information, I think I enjoyed the site page just as much as the book itself :)

So here is my question for you, Book Lovers: which of Shannon Hale's fairy tales should I read next? Please recommend your favorites!

How I Live Now

2011-04-23T06:12:00.000-05:00

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff, Wendy Lamb Books, 2006, 194 pp, ISBN: 0553376055

Recap:

While some might bemoan the fact that their father has shipped them off to England to live with a whole passle of strange cousins, Daisy is actually finding the whole situation rather brilliant.

Not only will she get to miss the birth of her stepmother's demon child, as it turns out, her cousins are nothing short of wonderful. Their life together on the farm is full of magic and love and adventure and yes, there might be a war coming on, but surely it will never reach them all the way out in the country. Right?

...Right?

Wrong.

Review:

How I Live Now is one of those books where you're reading and reading and reading (because of course you can't put it down) and the entire time you know in the back of your mind, "I'm holding a little piece of magic in my own two hands!"

Daisy's voice as the narrator was the first sign that this book was something extraordinary. With her run-on sentences and Generous Use of Capitalized Letters and tongue in cheek observations and unabashedly honest confessions, Daisy sounds just exactly as every 15-year-old should, but is somehow wiser, funnier, and more lovable. Can she please come alive and become my best friend?

A couple of my favorite Daisy quotes:

"In New York, nine-year-olds usually don't do this kind of thing, but wait for some grown-up to do it for them, so I was impressed by her intrepid attitude but also kind of wondering if good old Aunt Penn had died and no one could figure out a good way to tell me."

"I was trying to revamp my reputation. This time around I thought I'd be the sane one."

Over and over again (and please do note this as the highest praise!), the first half of the book reminded me of Jellicoe Road: a small community of immensely endearing, rather quirky children who create their own adventures and more or less live by their own rules and occasionally fall in love with each other. Really, isn't that the life that all of us dreamt of living while we were growing up? It sounds absolutely idyllic.

But of course, How I Live Now is also a book about war. Initially I, like Daisy, saw the war as merely a backstory. But once the first people close to home started being killed right in front of them, the war took center stage. The reader never knows who exactly is on each side, and it doesn't particularly seem to matter. The overall message is true regardless of the enemy: war is ugly and evil and leaves no one untouched.

"If you haven't been in a war and are wondering how long it takes to get used to losing everything you think you need or love, I can tell you the answer is No time at all."

**Spoiler Alert** If you haven't read the book, you probably want to just skip this paragraph.
Author Meg Rosoff did such a brilliant job of making the reader's teeth clench and heart ache for Daisy and Piper as they fought to find their way home, so I honestly could NOT believe it when I finally figured out that Daisy had up and left Piper there all by herself. Yes, she explained that her father had had her shipped out and as a 15-year-old girl, what could she really do? But SERIOUSLY? She left Piper???? That was my only problem with the entire story. After all they had been through together, I just didn't believe it.

**Ditto for this paragraph**
And it bears mentioning... Daisy and Edmond... cousins?! Ultimately, this fact didn't bother me nearly as much as I thought it might. Even though it should maybe seem to be exactly the opposite, there was just something so innocent and lovely about their love. But still... cousins?!

In the end, everything is just as tragic and messy and hopeful as it should be. How I Live Now is a gorgeous gem of a book. One I'm thankful to have read.

PS: A big THANK YOU goes out to Sally from Dogwood Lane for sending this book to me through April's Random Acts of Kindness! Thank you, Sally!!!!

Friday Blog Hop

2011-04-22T07:12:00.000-05:00

Check out all of the details on this weekly "BOOK PARTY" at Crazy for Books! Here is this week's question: "If you find a book you love, do you hunt down other books by the same author?"

The very specific answer to that question is... yes and no! There are a couple of authors for whom I make a point to read absolutely everything they've written (Jodi Picoult, Sarah Dessen, and SARK: I love you!). And then there are a few authors who I have on my must-read list, but I'm in no particular hurry to read all of their books immediately (hello Chris Crutcher, Shannon Hale, and Sonya Sones!). Other than that, if I happen to read multiple books by the same author - that aren't part of a series - it's probably just a happy coincidence! What about you??

If you are new to Book Love, welcome! I love meeting new Book Lovers. Have a look around and enjoy this beautiful spring weekend!

Just Can't Wait!!

2011-04-21T08:40:00.001-05:00

One of the most powerful books I've read in years.
And the movie already looks AMAZING!

Just can't wait to be reunited with Skeeter, Aibileen, and Minny...

Out of My Mind

2011-04-21T06:51:00.000-05:00

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper, Atheneum, 2010, 304 pp, ISBN: 141697170X

Recap:

Melody is almost eleven. She has a photographic memory. She sees vivid colors when music plays. She can remember every word her parents have ever spoken to her, and her favorite song is "Elvira."

But Melody has never spoken a single word.

Melody has cerebral palsy. Because of her inability to speak or control her own movements, most people dismiss her as "retarded." They couldn't be more wrong.

Review:

Speechless.

That was me after reading this book.

To be perfectly honest, I didn't particularly want to read it. There's no good way to put this, but I just had a feeling that reading it would make me feel depressed or guilty or both. However... the Reading Countess has recommended it several times and when it comes to judging books, I trust her explicitly. Of course, she had been right all along.

Melody is one of the most striking characters I've ever come across. She may not be able to dress or feed herself, but she only has to hear a phrase once and it's inscribed in her permanent memory. She has a quick sense of humor and a penchant for sparkly, embellished jeans. She has spent 80% of her elementary years in the same classroom, re-learning the ABCs year after year, but she already knows the capitol of all 50 states. In every possible way, Melody is not the person whom she initially appears to be.

If the #1 lesson I learned from this book is "Don't Judge," then the #2 lesson would have to be "Thank a Caregiver." Melody herself emphasizes the incredible amount of work her caregivers take on, and how completely under appreciated they are. Her neighbor, Ms. V, is hugely responsible for teaching Melody to role over, pull herself up, and even to read - all things that doctors had said were impossible. Catherine, her school companion, makes sure that "inclusion" is a reality for Melody, and not just a buzz word for teachers to toss around.

Following Melody's journey into her 5th grade year, and first year in inclusion classes, brought home lesson #3: "Teach Empathy." It was glaringly obvious that many of Melody's classmates, and even many of her teachers, had never been taught how to interact with someone who was different from them. A few were pitying, most were ignorant, and some were downright cruel. I was convicted over and over again of the need to teach my own students how to act with empathy. I think that reading this book with them would be a fantastic start.

If you're looking for a book that will make you think, will probably make you cry, and will absolutely forever change the way you look at the world, pick up Out of My Mind by the incomparable Sharon Draper.

Countdown

2011-04-20T07:13:00.000-05:00

Countdown by Deborah Wiles, Scholastic Press, 2010, 400 pp, ISBN: 0545106052

Recap:

The year is 1962 and Franny is having a difficult time deciding which she should be more worried about: her Uncle Otts' steady mental decline, her former-best-friend Margie who may be trying to steal Chris Cavas from her, or the ever present threat of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Life is hard when you're 11.

Review:

Told in equal parts through Franny's narrative; excerpts of songs, speeches, and commercials from the early 1960s; and dozens of striking full-page images, Countdown is a text unlike any other I've encountered!

Regardless of how well a story is told, I know that historical fiction can be a difficult genre for children and young adults to truly latch on to. Yet after flipping through just a few pages of Countdown, I dare any young reader to not be fully immersed in the drama of 1962! Of course the many, many pages of non-fiction text and images focused on the Cuban Missile Crisis, but there were also dozens of pages featuring athletes, pop culture icons, and famous faces from the civil rights movement of the 60s. This book could be an invaluable tool in a Social Studies classroom!

Although I'd heard positive things about Countdown in the past, I had resisted actually picking it up. The cover just didn't (and still doesn't) do anything for me, and I rarely read historical fiction unless it fits into my district's middle school curriculum. But then I read this review by Laura Amy Schlitz on SLJ's Battle of the Kids Books. As I read her review I couldn't help but think, "YES! This is what book reviewers are supposed to do!" In a few short paragraphs, Ms. Schlitz had me absolutely, 100% convinced that Countdown had to be one of my next reads.

And I was not disappointed.

Eleven-year-old Franny starts out as a wholly typical, often annoying, little girl. Her father is in the military, her older sister Jo Ellen is everything that Franny wants to become (even if she might actually be a Russian spy), and her little brother - the next John Glenn - carries "Your Friend, the Atom" as his constant companion. Franny's Uncle Otts, a war hero, is trying to build a bunker in their front yard, and her mother is just trying to hold it together.

As the story progresses, the reader finds herself completely immersed in what life was like in the 1960s. Although I was not immediately a fan of Franny's, her character grew on me and by the end of the book I was literally cheering her on in the gravel pit. (You'll know what I mean when you get there!)

If you're looking for a phenomenal YA read that is a far cry from the ordinary, do yourself a big favor and pick up Deborah Wiles' Countdown. You will be so happy you did.

Enclave

2011-04-19T07:24:00.001-05:00

Enclave by Ann Aguirre, Feiwel and Friends, 2011, 272 pp, ISBN: 0312650086

Recap:

Deuce is the newest Huntress in the Enclave. Having just received her name, and the prestigious marks of a Huntress, she knows that her fifteenth year will be her best yet.

Yet when Deuce and her mysterious partner, Fade, return from a hunting trip in the tunnels with a blind brat that they found hiding in a subway car, life in the Enclave suddenly veers wildly off of the course that Deuce has learned to count on.

After an unexpected betrayal and a murder painted as a suicide, Deuce knows that the only thing she can count on is herself. And once she is exiled from the Enclave, even that might not be enough...

Review:

Where is the hype for this book?? Enclave is an absolutely FANTASTIC read!

In my best impersonation of a book on tape, I started reading Enclave aloud to my family on a long-ish car trip. Everyone was immediately hooked and each time that we got back in the car someone would request, "More Enclave, please!" Deuce and Fade's battle to survive, first in the Enclave and later in the world Topside, was completely engrossing from start to finish. Their enemies were easy to hate, their allies were unexpected, and the relationships that they formed seemed wholly realistic.

Much like The Unidentified, Enclave had me thinking, "This could actually happen some day..." Author Ann Aguirre did her homework and spent several pages at the end of the novel explaining how she constructed the world of the Enclave. Based partially on communities of people who already live beneath the streets of New York City, partially on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and partially on well-researched predictions regarding the types of food and supplies that could survive an Apocalypse - Deuce's world is not all that far-fetched.

Deuce is a heroine to admire: courageous, centered, and fiercely independent. Of course this could hardly be called a YA novel without some shades of a love triangle, but Deuce was almost Katniss-like in her unwillingness to be fully drawn in. Gotta love a girl who has more on her mind than boys!

Speaking of Katniss, the front cover proclaims "For fans of The Hunger Games," but I actually found far more similarities between Enclave and some of my other YA dystopian favs. For example, the creepalicious "Freaks" seemed like more evolved cousins of the Unconsecrated from The Forest of Hands and Teeth. In addition, the underground tunnels and potentially radioactive world "Topside" called to mind the opening chapters of The Scorch Trials.

All things considered, Enclave is one of my favorite books that I've read so far in 2011! Fast-paced and wildly imaginative, I'm having a hard time thinking of a student who wouldn't get hooked on this book.

Life is Good

2011-04-18T08:14:00.000-05:00

Yikes! Life has been busy lately. Immediately after wrapping up our SoMIRAC presentation, I started working on a Children's Literature Workshop for Baltimore City teachers and librarians. I was super excited and flattered to be asked to be a facilitator. I had been to just a couple of workshops in the past, and they were absolutely fabulous: full of terrific (free!) children's books and overflowing with different ways to use them with kiddos in the classroom.

At the same time... that's a little bit intimidating! My wonderful partner and I had been given a fantastic collection of books to work with, and we wanted to make sure that our workshop measured up to the high standard set by our predecessors. Ultimately, I think things turned out pretty well :) Our participants laughed, asked questions, and had their fair share of "ooooooh" and "aaaaaaah" moments over the gorgeous texts and illustrations. Here is a peek at a few of the books we shared...

This one made my first grade readers laugh out loud. My favorite part? The airport security style gum detector.

I love, love, love this true story about a librarian in Iraq. Books truly are a national treasure!

Such an incredible (true!) story to use in a History or Math classroom! I'm telling you what, children's lit is the best thing to happen to content-area curriculum in a long time.

When I read all of the books aloud to my 6th graders, Library Lil was their favorite!

I LOVE this book. Hands down, my favorite of the bunch. Written in a gorgeous, lilting Appalachian dialect, That Book Woman is the story of an Appalachian pack librarian who changes a boy's life forever. SO, SO GOOD.

And now that the workshop is over... guess where I am.

YES! SPRING BREAK!!! I have a feeling that my school system might be the very last in the country to go out for spring break, but hallelujah it has arrived! My husband and I trekked back to the midwest to spend some much needed time with our families, I've already knocked 2 (fabulous!) books off of my TBR pile, and I'm currently enjoying a vanilla latte at my favorite coffee shop in the entire universe.

Life is good.

A Dangerous New Hallucinogen

2011-04-03T06:20:00.001-05:00

Who doesn't love a Sunday morning cartoon?

To make it bigger, just click the comic.
"Legalize Reading" has been brought to you by Toothpaste for Dinner!
PS: Have you seen Lovely Little Shelf or Wildly Read? These two blogs are my typical go-to spots for reading-related comics and cartoons!

Random Acts of Kindness!

2011-04-02T15:03:00.000-05:00

Now this is the sweetest idea I've heard in a long time. Isalys and Vanessa from Book Soulmates came up with the whole concept: each month, bloggers can create and post wish lists for books that they would love to add to their own collections. At they same time, they can view the wish lists of other bloggers and secretly grant their book-wishes as a Random Act of Kindness! I love it.

For more details, visit Book Soulmates' April RAK post. My RAK wish list is right here!

An Afternoon of YAngelism

2011-04-02T09:47:00.002-05:00

Last Friday I got to do something a little bit scary, but really exciting! I was a presenter at Maryland's annual SoMIRAC conference. My YA Lit professor, Kelly Bull*, had asked another student and I to present with her at the conference. I was so honored just to be asked, and being a part of the event was truly a thrill.

Our presentation focused on three different areas: Lurita gave a hilarious introduction to digital storytelling, while Kelly focused on how to use YA lit in content area classrooms. Wouldn't you love to read books like Ship Breaker in Science or The First Part Last in Health? Finally, my part focused on the benefits of joining the blogging world.

I had originally been anxious about speaking as some sort of an authority on blogging; after all, I'm still a beginner myself! However, I got some great advice from Sara** and as soon as I started talking, I started having FUN. One of the things I love most in the world is reading and discussing fabulous YA books, and blogging has become a favorite way to do that. I have a feeling that my enthusiasm for the subject came through pretty clearly! I even had the opportunity to answer a variety of follow-up questions when the session was over. All things considered, it was a fantastic afternoon of YAngelism.***

* Thank you to Kelly Bull for inviting me to be a part of the event!
** Thank you to Sara for the peer-blogger encouragement!
*** Thank you to FYA for adding vocabulary words like YAngelism to my vernacular!

Matched

2011-03-28T17:14:00.000-05:00

Matched by Ally Condie, Dutton Juvenile, 2010, 384 pp, ISBN: 0525423648

Recap:

Cassia is a member of the Society - a community where there is no need for stress or anxiety; all of your decisions, from your spouse to your career, are carefully planned and decided for you. Cassie just celebrated her 16th birthday, and as a key part of the celebration, she attended her Match Banquet and learned the identity of the boy whom she would eventually marry.

The only catch is, once Cassie got home got home and checked her Match's microchip (the Society's facebook?!), a different boy's face appeared on her screen.

Now Cassia is questioning everything about the world that once made her feel so safe. The only tricky thing about questions is... you may not always like the answers you find.

Review:

I have been dying to read Matched for months. I swear, a week does not go by where I don't see another Matched review pop up on my blog roll. This book is everywhere! I started Cassia's story in a book store over Christmas break and got hooked, but was determined to wait for a copy to come in at the library. In the luckiest twist of fate ever, I met with my favorite YA lit professor a week ago and she so very graciously gave me her ARC copy!!!! It was like Christmas and my birthday rolled into one :)

Now that I've finished this long awaited read, I feel somewhat underwhelmed... Did I enjoy Cassia's story? Absolutely! Am I already pumped up to read Crossed? You bet. I thought Cassia was a protagonist to admire. I wish more of my female students had her unique blend of intelligence, thoughtfulness, courage, and sense of family honor.

I actually love the ideas behind the Society. We do have such an overabundance of technology in our world today, and many of those modes of technology serve as just another source of pressure or unnecessary drama. On top of that, we have the constant stress of career, relationships, and even personal appearances. The Society has found a way to deal with all of that - to make all citizens feel peaceful and safe. For at least the first half of the book, I found myself half wishing that I could trade places with Cassia!

The "100" lists were fascinating. I am truly all for simplicity, but I cannot imagine doing away with all of our literature and music. How could a person possibly choose just 100 of the world's best stories? Or poems? Or songs? Beyonce better have made that list...

So why was I left feeling so underwhelmed? I was honestly just disappointed when I realized a quarter of the way through that I already knew how the book would end. There is nothing I love more in a book than being surprised by new twists in the plot, and although I was intrigued by the world of the Society, there weren't any real surprises. On top of that, I'm pretty sure Cassia picked the wrong guy. I mean, I don't need to get in a big debate about this, but what did she really see in him? A mystery, but what happens when the mystery is solved? Someone to take care of, but those type of relationships rarely end well. Really, I just wasn't buying it.

Of course, many thousands of people are obsessed with Matched, so don't let the last bit of this review make you think it's not worth reading. It was wholly enjoyable book that I can't wait to recommend to kiddos as The Giver meets Romeo and Juliet!

PS: I spent a long time playing this Matched game from the book's website. All of my results were waaay far off base (Is there any way I can get Matched with my husband?!), but it didn't stop me from playing over and over!

The Book Thief

2011-03-26T12:52:00.001-05:00

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2006, 560 pp, ISBN: 9780375831003

Recap:
A book thief
A boy with hair like flame
A world divided
A hidden Jew
A papa and mama
Lots of German cursing
Too much death

"If you feel like it, come with me. I will tell you a story.I'll show you something." - Death

Review:
When was the last time that you read something and thought, "My gosh. This is what greatness looks like?" The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is nothing short of extraordinary. The scope of the author's imagination, the beating heart of each character, and the exquisite language, all come together to shine light on the life that existed during one of our world's most tragic periods of death.

Liesel, the book thief, came to Himmel Street in Molching, Germany as a foster child after witnessing the death of her brother. Placed with Hans and Rosa Hubermann, Liesel is granted the opportunity to heal, to grow, and to learn that there can be many different definitions for the word "family." Hans, Liesel's papa, teaches her to read - a skill that will transform the rest of her life.

The cast of characters in Liesel's story is one of the most memorable I've had the privilege of reading about. Max, the fist-fighting Jew who hides in the Hubermann's basement, is so completely endearing that I've been sitting here for 10 minutes thinking about him, and still can't find words to describe his impact. His character is filled with sadness, yes, even heart break, but at the same time he brings so much joy to the story. Through his stories, illustrations, and moment of sky-stealing, he makes Liesel all the more aware of how precious this life is.

Rudy Steiner is my new true-literary love. He is fierce and brave and has the biggest heart and my gosh Liesel, why won't you kiss him already?? In many ways, Rudy made this book for me. I couldn't read through one of his scenes without a smile on my face. A favorite Rudy scene...

"After learning the basics, each student was to write two letters, one to a friend and one to somebody in another class. Liesel's letter from Rudy went like this:

Dear Saumensch,Are you still as useless at soccer as you were the last time we played? I hope so. That means I can run past you again just like Jesse Owens at the Olympics...

When Sister Maria found it, she asked him a question, very amiably.

***Sister Maria's Offer***
Do you feel like visiting the corridor, Mr. Steiner?
Needless to say, Rudy answered in the negative... [His] second attempt was to someone named Liesel and inquired as to what her hobbies might be."

And the scene with Rudy and Liesel's book in the river?? Priceless. I can still picture his dripping, freezing, shining face and again I must say... My gosh Liesel, why won't you kiss him already?

One of the most brilliant characters is that of the narrator. His name is death. The quote on the cover of my book reads "Brilliant and hugely ambitious..." and that is exactly the truth. To write in the voice of death... how shockingly, boldly ambitious. And to write so convincingly that I now feel quite sure that I intimately know the habits and emotions of death? Pure genius.

The entire text is so skillfully crafted, peppered with private asides, revealing chapter titles, and passages of hand-drawn stories and illustrations. Each new page is a treasure to be savored.

Please tell me, Book Lovers. Have you experienced the magic of The Book Thief? And if not, what are you waiting for?

Favorite quotes from The Book Thief:

"Arthur had moved on to Rudy. 'And you're the Jesse Owens one, aren't you?' Rudy nodded. 'Clearly,' said Arthur, 'you're an idiot - but you're our kind of idiot. Come on.'

They were in."

"'How about a kiss, Saumensch?'

He stood waist-deep in the water for a few moments longer before climbing out and handing her the book. His pants clung to him, and he did not stop walking. In truth, I think he was afraid. Rudy Steiner was scared of the book thief's kiss. He must have longed for it so much. He must have loved her so incredibly hard."

"'Hair the color of lemons,' Rudy read. His fingers touched the words. 'You told him about me?'

At first, Liesel could not talk. Perhaps it was the sudden bumpiness of love she felt for him. Or had she always loved him? It's likely.

...'Of course I told him about you,' Liesel said.

She was saying goodbye and she didn't even know it."

"I have hated the words

and I have loved them

and I hope I have made them right."