Sara's Holds Shelf

2009-01-26T10:14:00.001-05:00

The winner of the 2008 Michael L. Printz Award!!!!!!!

(real blog post coming later today, but I was so excited, I had to post this)

My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger

2008-12-15T20:00:00.001-05:00

My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger

Somehow I completely missed this title when it was published, but the cover of the paperback (pictured below) caught my attention in a Spring 2009 catalog, and I'm very glad it did.

My Most Excellent Year is the story of three high school freshmen, Augie, T.C., and Alejandra. T.C. and Augie have been best friends since they were six years old (soon after T.C.'s mother died), and are such good friends that they call each other brothers and have become permanent fixtures in each other's households. Alejandra, the daughter of a Mexican diplomat, is the new girl in town and the object of T.C.'s affections. Augie is coming to terms with his sexuality and his new crush on his friend Andy.

This may sound a bit complicated, and it is (and more), but that's really what makes this novel great. Kluger seems to be making the point that life is complicated, and that family is more than just the people you happen to be related to by blood. The novel is written primarily in journal entries with IM conversations, e-mails, and other random methods of correspondence interspersed here and there, and this style works perfectly for portraying the intricacies of the relationships between the characters. I would definitely recommend this novel to teens (and adults), even if they're not particularly interested in baseball!

Readers may also enjoy...

Other epistolary novels like Jaclyn Moriarty's Feeling Sorry for Celia, The Year of Secret Assignments , and The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie , and Mark Dunn's Ella Minnow Pea (which is a bit more absurd, but still one of my favorite novels)
Other novels about sports, like Dairy Queen and The Off-Season by Catherine Gilbert Murdock (and here's hoping for a third one soon!)
And other novels about teens and politics (the Kennedy Family plays a rather large role in this one), Wide Awake by David Levithan, Born to Rock by Gordon Korman, and First Daughter: Extreme American Makeover by Mitali Perkins.

Around the blogs:
Reviewer X, The YA YA YAs, Librarilly Blonde, Emily Reads, Bookshelves of Doom, Jen Robinson, Book Dweeb, A Hundred Visions and Revisions, Midwestern Lodestar, Park Ridge Library Children's Staff, Through a Glass, Darkly, worducopia, Snarky Title Not Included, WSU reading now, Erin Reads.

Paper Towns by John Green

2008-12-14T09:36:00.002-05:00

Paper Towns by John Green

John Green is brilliant. End of story.

Seriously, I don't know how he does it, but each one of his novels is humorous, fun, and profound. Paper Towns was no exception (obviously).

Quentin Jacobson has been in love with his next-door neighbor Margo Roth Speigelman since childhood, but by high school they are barely even friends, and definitely not in the same social circle. But one night, about a month before their high school graduation, she takes him on a midnight adventure and then disappears the next day. Quentin believes she has left him a clue to her whereabouts, and he and his friends begin to unravel the mystery of her disappearance.

Like Looking for Alaska and An Abundance of Katherines, Paper Towns is populated with a host of quirky characters (such as Q's friend Radar who spends his time obsessively updating the omnictionary) whose interactions with each other are complex and often quite amusing to the reader. The novel, while dark, contains just the right amount of comic relief -- along with the exact right amount of self-exploration and literary analysis (a Walt Whitman poem becomes an important part of the plot).

Very, very highly recommended, especially to those who enjoyed Green's first two novels.

Readers might also enjoy:
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini
My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger (just finished yesterday, review coming soon!)

Other bloggers' reviews (can you tell this one's popular?):
Avenging Sybil, And another book read..., Emily Reads, Just Listen, The Book Muncher, The Miss Rumphius Effect, Reading Keeps You Sane, a. fortis, Bookends, Bookshelves of Doom, Em's Bookshelf, Confessions of a Bibliovore, Guys Lit Wire, Liv's Book Reviews, Reader Rabbit, Plenty of Paper, Jen Robinson, Once Upon a Bookshelf, Frenetic Reader, The Compulsive Reader, YA books and more, Kids Lit, Reviewer X, Reading Rants

And for more evidence of John Green's brilliance, read his recent speech from the ALAN conference which he kindly posted on his blog.

Kendra by Coe Booth

2008-12-13T12:07:00.001-05:00

Kendra by Coe Booth

I've had this review in my drafts folder for over a month (and read the novel longer ago than that), but this past month has been pretty busy at with scary budget news at work, lots of renovation planning*, the usual crazy-making customers,** and the three final projects due for school. But my semester has now ended (and only one more to go!!!), so I finally have time to give this blog the attention it deserves.

After reading Coe Booth's debut novel Tyrell, I was eagerly anticipating Kendra. I took it along on my last trip to New York to read on the plane, and ended up finishing it while we were still on the runway (I really need a Kindle).

At 14, Kendra is now the same age that her mother was when she was born, and has been raised by her grandmother while her mother was completing her education. Her mother, now 28, has just finished her PhD, and Kendra is excited for her to move back home.

At the same time, however, Kendra is starting high school, navigating the new world of teenage relationships, while her grandmother is intent on preventing her from making the same mistakes as her mother.

In Kendra, Coe Booth presents an interesting perspective on teen pregnancy, and a much needed one. So many novels on this subject end with the birth of the child, or quickly wrap everything up in a epilogue, but Booth instead focuses on the difficulties that face the child of such a young mother, and does so in a compelling narrative.

While I definitely would recommend this novel for teens, I should point out that there is one rather explicit sex scene, but Booth handles it brillantly, and I think it's absolutely necessary for character development in the novel.

And, as a side note for those who enjoyed Tyrell, he does make a small cameo near the end of the novel.

Around the blogs:
YALSA, My Life in..., Westchester Library System,

*Not sure if I mentioned this before, but the branch where I work is getting ready to close for about 9 months for renovations. We're closing Dec. 17th, and there are still so many things up in the air, so it's a bit stressful.

**How many times do I have to explain that e-mail addresses do not have spaces? To the same customer?

How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier

2008-11-12T15:26:00.001-05:00

How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier

When I was in high school (back in the dark ages known as the late 90s), there were two special programs for gifted high-school students here in Virginia Beach (yay IB!). By the time I graduated from college and moved back here, almost every high school had some specialty; legal studies, fine arts, marine science, global studies... Personally, I thought it was a bit over the top -- I mean, should 13 and 14 year-olds really have to specialize?... but I digress.

In Justine Larbalestier's fictional world of New Avalon, the high schools are even more specialized, and 14-year-old Charlie attends the sports high school, taking classes in subjects like public relations, sports accounting, and, of course, a variety of sports including cricket and basketball (Charlie's favorites).

There are a few other things that are a bit weird about the citizens of New Avalon -- such as the way they worship their celebrities, the way they never even think about what might go on in other cities (a nod to insularity of the US, perhaps?), and, most importantly, the fact that many people have fairies.

Charlie's fairy, for instance, is a parking fairy, which helps her to get the best parking space (not very useful, since she can't even drive). Her best friend Rochelle, on the other hand, has a shopping fairy that helps her get the best deals. Charlie, being driven crazy by her fairy, decides to do whatever it takes to get rid of it.

While the story is a bit predictable at times, How to Ditch Your Fairy is light and fun, and was a wonderful distraction on my flight to New York last month. The world that Larbalestier has created is recognizable, but just different enough to make the reader want to go exploring (sequels perhaps? about students at some of the other high schools?). And the Shakespearean-ish slang is genius (e.g. a hot guy is referred to as "pulchry" -- short for pulchritudinous).

Definitely recommended, for middle school and older (I wish this book had been around when I was in middle school!).

Readers may also enjoy other titles about unusual high schools:
I'd Tell You I Love You but then I'd Have to Kill You and Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter (a spy school)
Fly on the Wall by E. Lockhart (an arts high school)
I know there are others, but none are coming to mind. Feel free to add any in the comments?

Around the blogs:
Emily Reads, The Compulsive Reader, Reviewer X, YA New York, Bildungsroman, The Ravenous Reader, Bookshelves of Doom, Reading Rants!, The Book Muncher, Kits Lit, Librarilly Blonde

Dreams from the Endz by Faïza Guène

2008-11-10T18:41:00.001-05:00

Dreams from the Endz by Faïza Guène (translated from the French by Sarah Ardizzone)

Note: Not published in the US! (but totally worth the postage for inter-library loan)

Ahleme lives with her father and younger brother in the suburbs of Paris. Her mother died when she was 10, and she and her younger brother (then just an infant), moved from their village in Algeria to live with the father they never knew. Years later, their father has had an accident, leaving him brain damaged, and Ahleme, at 24, is responsible for caring for both him and her now-teenage brother. She struggles with finding (and keeping a job), dealing with her friends and their romances, and her regular visits to the immigration office.

Written in first person and filled with urban slang, Guène's narrative is easily accessible and gives readers an otherwise unknown glimpse into the life of immigrants in France. At the same time, Ahleme's struggle to figure out her identity and her place in society is a universal one.

I will make one note about the slang however -- if you can read in French (and I definitely cannot!), do read it in French. The original text contains verlan -- a type of slang that involves reversing the letters or syllables in words. There is no true equivalent to this in English, so translator Ardizzone uses urban Brittish slang in its place. And of course, for an American reader, even the Brittish slang is hard to understand at times.

While not published as a teen novel and with a slightly older protagonist, Dreams from the Endz will still appeal to older teens, and I would recommend for high school and college students -- especially those interested in learning about other cultures.

Readers may also enjoy:
Guène's first novel, Kiffe Kiffe Tomorrow (published as Just Like Tomorrow in the UK)
Does my head look big in this? by Randa-Abdel Fattah
Ask Me No Questions by Marina Budhos

Around the blogs:
Bookwitch, Les lectures de Liyah (en français), Doble Pirueta (en español), Wrath (en français),Lectures de Turquoise (en français)

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

2008-11-07T14:46:00.001-05:00

Graceling by Kristin Cashore
I'm always a little wary of reading novels that have been getting a lot of buzz, afraid that they might not live up to my expectations, but like The Hunger Games, Graceling certainly lived up to the hype.

In the world of the Seven Kingdoms, some children are born with special gifts, or graces. These children can be easily recognized by the fact that they have two differently colored eyes (Katsa, for example has one green and one blue, while Po has one gold and one silver). Katsa's grace is one for killing, and her uncle, King Randa, has used her gift to intimidate his adversaries. Katsa has found her own rebellion, however, and using her powers to help those in need. As the novel opens, she meets Po, a young man with a grace for fighting, and they form a rather unusual friendship.

I loved it. I loved the way Cashore depicted the relationship of Katsa and Po and the worries of Katsa that an intimate relationship would, in some way, mean giving up her independence, the idea that marriage is not necessarily the only option for a happy relationship.* For me, the adventure and action in the novel, as exciting as it is, takes second place to the exploration of Katsa and Po's relationship.

And I'm completely torn between the US and UK covers. And about whether this should be a teen book or an adult one (Cashore actually discusses this issue on her own blog ). The main characters ages are never mentioned (that I can recall, correct me if I'm wrong!) -- though I was imagining Katsa as being in her late teens or early twenties. There are some intimate scenes in the novel, that while very tasteful, might be seen by some as not appropriate for teens, but are not as graphic as what may be found in adult novels. This novel may in fact be part of a trend towards more older YA novels (as described by Jonathan Hunt in Hornbook) Either way, I'd recommend the novel to both teens and adults, and I've already pawned it off onto several of my co-workers.

There have been obvious comparisons made by other reviewers to Tamora Pierce and Shannon Hale...but besides those, readers might also enjoy The Princess and the Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison and Summers at Castle Auburn and the Safe Keeper's Series, both by Sharon Shinn. Any other titles that you think Graceling readers might enjoy? Leave a comment!

Other Blog Reviews:
Shelf Elf (and author interview), Fantasy Book Critic, Abby (the) Librarian, Kids Lit, Sandstorm Reviews, Bookshelves of Doom, AmoxCalli, Avid Teen Reader, The Magic of Ink, Omnivoracious (author interview)

*I could make a snide comment here about another fantasy novel, but I'll refrain.

2008-11-04T14:40:00.000-05:00

I may have to stand in line for hours to vote after work today... but at least I have a good book to read in line:

Ten Things I Hate About Me by Randa Abdel-Fattah

2008-10-23T20:05:00.002-04:00

Ten Things I Hate About Me by Randa Abdel-Fattah

Now, I don't know that much about international publishing, but this just doesn't make sense.

Ten Things I Hate About Me was published by Pan Macmillan in Australia in 2006. The audio was then published by Bolinda Audio (also an Australian company) in 2007.   The US edition will finally be released by Orchard Books (an imprint of Scholastic) in January 2009.

That all makes sense.   What I don't understand is why US libraries seem to be able to buy audio books from Bolinda (through Baker and Taylor), but not books from Pan Macmillan. Anyone out there with insider knowledge?

Long story short, while I'd been waiting for the book to be published here, the book on CD had been sitting on the shelf at one of our other branches.

Like Does My Head Look Big in This?, Ten Things I Hate About Me is the story of a teenage girl of Muslim descent growing up in Australia and dealing with issues of cultural and individual identity.

Jamilah dies her hair blond and goes by Jamie at school to avoid the ridicule that other Muslim students face. Even her closest friends (who obviously aren't that close) have no idea about her Lebanese background.   Only her e-mail friend, John, knows the truth about her family heritage.

Outside of school, however, Jamilah/Jamie attends Madrassa (Arabic school) and plays in a Lebanese band. When her band is asked to play at her school's spring formal... things start to spiral out of control.

Sometimes it seems like I'm saying this about every book that I enjoy, but the characters were well-developed (including the other family members, and friends).   One of the things I liked best was that Jamilah was aware that by dyeing her hair and changing her name she was hiding her identity. (I've seen other novels where characters did something similar in order to fit in, but never saw their own actions as being representative of deeper issues).   I also love the fact that both of Fattah's novels show a wide range of Muslim characters, even within the same family.

While it won't be availible here in print until January 2009, I definitely recommend Ten Things I Hate About Me to those who are interested in learning more about the culture of Lebanese Muslims in Australia -- or those who just enjoy a good teen romance.

Edited to add: In my haste to post, I completely forgot to add a few "read-alikes" and other blog reveiws, so...

If you enjoy the e-correspondence between Jamilah and John, try:
The Year of Secret Assignments by Jaclyn Moriarty
From e to you by Chris D'Lacey and Linda Newbery

If you're interested in reading more about Muslim or Islamic culture, try:
Does My Head Look Big in This? also by Randa Abdel Fattah

Persepolis by Marjane Strapani
Kiffe Kiffe Tomorrow by Faiza Guene
Ask me no questions by Marina Budhos (I'm hesitant to recommend this one, since I haven't read it yet, but there are so few books on Muslim teens that I wanted to include it anyway)

Other blog reviews:
kissthebook, Lowly's Book Blog

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist -- The Movie

2008-10-21T14:38:00.001-04:00

While I was in New York City last weekend, I dragged Matt to go see Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. Obviously, it's one of my favorite books, so I was really looking forward to the movie.

The movie was everything it needed to be. It was enjoyable, humorous, and cute (there was one moment when the entire theater full of teenage girls actually squealed). It was true to the spirit of the book, even if the plot went off in some weird directions, but still completely entertaining to those who hadn't read it.

The cast was wonderful -- Kat Dennings really became Norah (at least as I had imagined her), and while Michael Cera seems to play the same character in every movie, that character was still convincing as Nick. The secondary characters were especially well-developed, although some of their backstories were never revealed (i.e. the relationship between Tris and Norah).

And yes, the plot deviated a bit, especially with the whole driving around looking for Caroline bit. I think that because so much of the novel takes place in the characters' thoughts, a bit more action had to be added. There was also one scene that I thought should have been included (Howard Johnson!).

So, if you enjoyed the book -- I definitely recommend seeing the movie!

p.s. What was up with the gum? So not in the book.

If you love Nick and Norah, you might also like...

2008-10-04T14:25:00.005-04:00

As I'm sure most of you already know, the movie version of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist was
released last night. I'm waiting until next weekend to see it (while visiting Matt in New York), but in honor of this exciting occasion, I wanted to post some recommendations for other books you might like if you enjoyed Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist.

The obvious first recommendations would be Rachel Cohn and David Levithan's other novels. They have collaborated on one other novel, Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List, and each has written several novels individually:

David Levithan	Rachel Cohn
Boy Meets Boy	Gingerbread
The Realm of Possibility	Shrimp
Are We There Yet?	Cupcake
Wide Awake	You Know Where to Find Me
Marly's Ghost	Pop Princess
How They Met and Other Stories	and The Steps and Two Steps Forward (for tweens)

But, some of you may have already read all of those, so I have a few other recommendations:

If you like the way the novel takes you on a virtual tour of New York City...

Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson (midtown, around Fifth Ave.)
Fly on the Wall by E. Lockhart (at a fictional High School for the arts in Manhattan)
Things Hoped For by Andrew Clements (Upper West Side/Morningside Heights)
Tyrell by Coe Booth (Brooklyn and the Bronx)
It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini (Brooklyn)
and there's always Gossip Girl (Upper East Side)

If you like the complex relationships between the characters (and not just the romantic relationship, but the friendships with secondary characters as well)...

Looking for Alaska by John Green
Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga
I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
and again, Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson

If you like the fact that Nick is in a band...

Born to Rock by Gordon Korman
King Dork by Frank Portman (Tom might never actually form a band... but he comes up with great band names and song lyrics)
The Last Days by Scott Westerfeld (a band and some vampires... lots of fun)

And last... since you all love them so much... a few more of my favorite quotes from the novel (first post of quotes can be found here):

"Things are going so well. We're volleying words back and forth. Everything she says, I have something I can say back. We're sparking, and part of me just wants to sit back and watch. We're clicking. Not because a part of me is fitting into a part of her. But because our words are clicking to form sentences and our sentences are clicking into each other to form dialogue and our dialogue is clicking together to form this scene from this ongoing movie that's as comfortable as it is unrehearsed" (Nick 75).

"Maybe that's it... With what you were talking about before. The world being broken. maybe it isn't that we're supposed to find the pieces and put them back together. Maybe we're the pieces" (Nick 145).

September

2008-10-02T20:27:00.002-04:00

And everything else I've read and enjoyed this month:

Though sometimes I wonder why I even bother to write reviews, since the keyword analysis on my statcounter looks like this:

74	25.78%	nick and norah's infinite playlist quotes
20	6.97%	nick and norah's infinite playlist book quotes
19	6.62%	nick and norah quotes
18	6.27%	quotes from nick and norah's infinite playlist
13	4.53%	nick and nora's infinite playlist quotes
8	2.79%	nick and norah's quotes
7	2.44%	the approximate cost of loving caroline
6	2.09%	quotes from nick and nora's infinite playlist
5	1.74%	quotes from the book nick and norah's infinite playlist
4	1.39%	quotes from nick and norah
4	1.39%	memorable quotes from nick and norah's infinite playlist book
3	1.05%	nick norah quotes
3	1.05%	nick and norah's infinite playlist quotes

(By the way, if you're interested in said quotes, I've posted some here and here)

2008-10-02T20:09:00.001-04:00

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Last Tuesday after work, I pulled into the driveway, planning to hurry inside, turn on my computer and "go" to class. Instead, I found a tree lying across the path to the front door -- the power line under it, and all of the electrical wiring ripped off of the side of the house. No power. No internet.

So, I skipped class, got out my little battery powered reading light and curled up in bed with Jellicoe Road.

I'm going to skip my usual plot summary here (see Worldcat if you're curious), because the plot is just too complicated to describe without accidentally revealing spoilers, but it's typical Marchetta -- realistically complex teen characters in complicted relationships (with each other and with the adults around them).

And of course, I loved it. I'll admit that I found it a little harder to get into than Saving Francesca -- though I kept getting distracted by my book light, so that may have been part of the problem -- but once I got into it, I was completely hooked. Marchetta has a gift for characterization; her heroines are strong but unique, and I always find myself falling a little bit in love with her heroes.

Highly recommended -- especially if you enjoyed Saving Francesca and Looking for Alibrandi. I'd also recommend Marchetta's books to teens (and adults) who enjoy Sarah Dessen's novels.

Other reviews: A Reading Odyssey, Never Jam Today, Random Thoughts by a Random Teen, Book Divas, Chicklish

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

2008-09-26T16:11:00.002-04:00

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The book world has been buzzing about The Hunger Games since early June, and more impressively, the reviewers have been giving it the highest of praise:

"The hype surrounding this book is well deserved."
"I picked up her book and did not put it down unless forced."
"Highly recommended, this is a contender for the best science fiction for teens this year."
"It stands equal to Westerfeld's Uglies series"
"a completely scintillating book and wholly promising start to what's sure to be a spectacular trilogy."
... and many, many more (I have yet to see a single negative review!!!)

So, obviously, I was a little bit excited when my copy finally arrived at the library, and now, having devoured it in one sitting, I have to agree completely.

As the novel begins, we meet 16 year old Katniss on the morning of the Reaping. The Reaping is the first stage in a nationwide, televised reality competition -- The Hunger Games-- where 24 teens (one male and one female from each district of Panem) will literally fight to their death. And I'm sorry, but that's all I'm going to tell you plotwise.

Katniss, our protagonist, has her flaws, but is strong and intelligent and thinks for herself (which is more than can be said for certain recent YA heroines *cough*Bella*cough*). The pacing is perfect -- no long flowery descriptions, not a single dull moment. Collins seems to have a knack for introducing completely unexpected plot twists exactly when they're needed (wasp attacks, teens turned wolves, etc). The novel ends, nail-bittingly, on a cliff-hanger, and I, for one, am now anxiously awaiting Sept. 2009.

Just read it. Now. Get to the nearest library (or if you absolutely must, one of those bookstore places), and read it. Immediately.

Readers might also enjoy:
The Uglies trilogy by Scott Westerfeld
Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden

The Disappeared by Gloria Whelan

2008-09-22T19:32:00.001-04:00

The Disappeared by Gloria Whelan

As I may have mentioned before, my undergrad degree is in Hispanic Studies.* One of my first upper-level Spanish classes was Cultures of Dictatorship, where we studied the totalitarian regimes in Argentina (1976-1986) and Chile (1973-1990), and the cultural production (film, novels, poetry, etc) that came out of both countries during this time.   It was a difficult but interesting class, and I finished the semester even more interested in this period of history -- which is why I was excited to hear about The Disappeared.

But first, a brief history lesson (I'm assuming here that your high school history classes, like mine, probably never got past the Second World War):

You've seen Evita, right? Well, after Eva Peron died in 1952, her husband, Juan Peron stayed in power in Argentina for a few more years -- then there was a coup, the military took control of the government, Peron was exiled, and he remarried while in exile. He came back into power in 1973, then promptly died, leaving Isabel, his wife/vice president, in charge. In 1976, there was another coup, and another military junta took control of the government.

And thus began the Guerra sucia (Dirty War), in which the government, scared of another uprising, began systematically kidnapping any citizens expected of being subversivos or revolutionaries. Those kidnapped were taken to secret prisons, tortured, and sometimes killed. The government refused to give their families any information on their whereabouts, and thus, they came to be known as los desaparecidos or The Disappeared.

This horrible period in history is the backdrop for Gloria Whelan's The Disappeared. The novel alternates between two narrators, brother and sister, Eduardo and Sylvia.   A university student, Eduardo begins participating in protests, and is arrested for his activities. Sylvia, his younger sister, meets a boy whose father is a high-ranking general, and she decides to seduce him in hopes that he might be able to free her brother.

Whelan's writing is lyrical and poetic, and the novel moves along quickly, but for some reason I never really felt involved in the story. I felt as if I was watching the story play out on the screen, rather than experiencing it.   I don't think this is the fault of the author, however. I simply had expectations for the novel that it couldn't match.   I wanted more insight, more of a personal look into a period of history that I'm already pretty familiar with on academic terms -- I wanted to be able to connect with the characters so that I vicariously experience life during the dictatorship -- and The Disappeared did not fulfill those expectations.

However, I would still recommend the novel for teens -- this period of history will most likely be completely unknown to them, and this novel is a good introduction for those who are completely unfamiliar with it.   It is important, I think, that teens realize that that such horrors have happened in the recent past -- and that our government was at least an implicit supporter of these military regimes.**

More information on the Dirty War and los desaparecidos:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirty_war
http://www.yendor.com/vanished/

These two films are also very interesting:
La Historial Oficial (The Official Story)
Missing

*essentially -- cultural studies... in Spanish

**Don't even get me started on Kissinger

Newes from the Dead by Mary Hooper

2008-09-21T14:30:00.001-04:00

Newes from the Dead by Mary Hooper

I don't know if its the cooler weather, the start of school, or the fact that I bought a memory-foam mattress pad that makes my bed unbelievably comfortable... But whatever the reason, I think my reading slump might finally be over. I picked up Newes from the Dead a couple nights ago (like Suite Scarlett it had been sitting in my library basket for way too long), and finished it in one night.

The premise of the novel would be unbelievable -- if you didn't know that it was based on a true story. Anne Green has been hanged in punishment for an unnamed crime (which is explained later). She has been declared dead, and her body is being prepared for a dissection. Robert, a young medical student, is anticipating his first dissection, when he sees her twitch...

Anne is still alive.

Told in alternating chapters, from the perspectives of Anne (as she regains consciousness) and Robert, the novel completely captured my attention. The voices of both narrators were easily distinguishable, and the story moves at a quick pace (partly because the reader just has to keep turning the pages!)

I would definitely recommend Newes from the Dead to fans of historical fiction -- but I think the appeal of this novel may be broader than that, and could be a good pick for students who normally prefer thrillers (but have to read historical fiction for a book report!)

Readers might also enjoy:

Witch Child by Celia Rees
At the Sign of the Star and A True and Faithful Narrative by Katherine Sturtevant
The Minister's Daughter by Julie Hearn

Other Reviews:
Kids Lit, InteractiveReader's interview with the author, Sarah Miller, InteractiveReader, The Reading Zone, Book Obsession

Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson

2008-09-17T15:23:00.001-04:00

Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson

I've been reading Maureen Johnson's blog for ages (especially enjoyed this post on the importance of sex education), and had read one of her books (Devilish ) which I enjoyed but didn't especially love, and I was beginning to worry that I might actually like her blog better than her books (gasp!).

But, I checked out Suite Scarlett... and then it sat in my basket of books for months, waiting to be read. I was this close to returning it unread, but figured I should be a good sport and give it the first fifty pages. I read the first chapter, and I was immediately drawn into Scarlett's world.

Scarlett, age 16, lives in a hotel, owned and run by her family, in New York City. This may sound glamorous, but as is immediately evident, it is not. At all. The hotel's financial troubles are so bad that the only staff left is the family: Scarlett, perfect older sister Lola, actor-wannabe older brother Spencer, and cancer-survivor younger sister Marlene.

When each sibling turns sixteen, they are given a particular suite in the hotel to care for -- and Scarlett's suite comes with an unusual guest -- Mrs. Amberson, a former actress, with a few tricks up her sleeve.

And then, there's Eric -- Spencer's new friend and fellow actor, who just happens to be very interested in Scarlett...

Johnson demonstrates a gift for bringing characters to life, and I found myself just as interested in the stories of the secondary characters as I was in Scarlett's*. There were so many moments where the novel could have become predictable or cliche, but then something completely unexpected would happen instead. Suite Scarlett is engrossing and original and highly recommended.

And, as if I needed one more reason to love the book, there was even a mention of Joe's Shanghai and their famous soup dumplings !**

Readers might also enjoy:
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks by E. Lockhart    (another strong female character and an unpredictable plot)
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List, both by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan    (life in New York City)
The Joys of Love by Madeleine L'Engle    (also centered around the theater)

Also, completely unrelated, but I just realized this morning (thanks Josie!) that I forgot to restart the e-mail subscription, so those of you who read this via e-mail may have missed a few posts! So sorry!!!

*If I might make a request -- maybe a sequel about Lola? or Marlene? (maybe about when Marlene gets her suite at sixteen? Pretty please?)

** These dumplings are the real reason I go to New York City -- even if I tell Matt otherwise ;)

Airhead by Meg Cabot

2008-09-09T11:08:00.001-04:00

Airhead by Meg Cabot

Now you all know I love Meg Cabot (wait, seriously? I've only reviewed one of her books? This is a travesty that I must remedy posthaste!) But I do.

I just don't know how she does it. I read once that she can write a first draft in two weeks, which is absolutely incredible. But what makes it even more incredible is that despite that grueling pace, the writing just doesn't show that at all (unlike *cough*James Patterson*cough*)

I started listening to Airhead a couple weeks ago on the way to work, but found that I kept wanting to listen to music in the car, and so ended up checking out the book and finishing it by the light of the window while our power was out on Saturday (thanks to Tropical Storm Hanna)

And I can't tell you much about the plot, since half the fun is figuring out what one earth is going on. But, 17-year-old Em Watts is totally not interested in fashion or celebrities. She spends most of her time playing Journeyquest (an online role-playing game) with her best friend Christopher (who she might have a tiny bit of a crush on). While accompanying her sister to the grand opening of a huge department store, she is the victim of a freak plasma-screen tv accident, and when she wakes up in the hospital a month later, she finds that her life has been strangely intertwined with that of supermodel Nikki Howard.

Like all of Cabot's novels, Airhead is funny and fluffy, but it is also somehow a bit darker. The situation that Em finds herself in is a bit more complicated than, say, finding out that you're the heir to the throne of a small European principality. The stakes in this case are just a little bit higher, and readers may find themselves thinking about profound questions about the meaning of life (and then, a few pages later, laughing out loud at the antics of Lulu Collinsworth -- Nikki's best friend)

One warning... the ending is definitely a cliff-hanger, so do yourself a favor and wait until the sequel comes out!

Readers may also enjoy:
Anything else by Meg Cabot (obviously)
Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements
Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin

Around the blogs: Librarilly Blonde, And Another Book Read, YA New York, The Ravenous Reader, The Book Muncher, The Compulsive Reader, Em's Bookshelf, The YA YA YAs, The Book Vault, Reader Rabbit, Liv's Book Reviews,

2008-09-08T20:41:00.000-04:00

Since I haven't posted in over a month, and I have no hope of ever getting caught up, I'm declaring blog bankruptcy (and totally stealing this idea from John Green's post on e-mail bankruptcy ). Below are the cover images of all of the books I've read and enjoyed so far this year. And I wanted to review them all. Really, I did, but life (i.e. work/school) has completely gotten in the way, and I just keep feeling guilty. This way, I hope to make a fresh start and start posting actual reviews again (tomorrow? maybe?)

So, if you have questions about any of these titles, feel free to comment (unless the question is "Should I read them?" in which case the answer is an unequivocal yes) and I will reply.

AND, if you've reviewed any of them on your blogs, leave a link in the comments so my lovely readers can find your lovely reviews!

2008-07-31T17:15:00.000-04:00

This poor little blogger is drowning in schoolwork... will return next week!

2008-07-24T18:45:00.000-04:00

Round Up # 4 Graphic

Since I'm still so behind in posting reviews... I'm going to skip my Tech Thursday posts for the rest of the month (you might have noticed it was missing last week), and focus on getting caught up on this ridiculous six month back-up.

The Professor's Daughter by Joann Sfar (warning: his site is in French!) and Emmanuel Guibert

2007 Cybils Award Winner for Best Graphic Novel for Teens

The daughter of a professor (who would have guessed) falls in love with a mummy.

Around the blogs:
Oz and Ends, Tadmack (ReadingYA), A. Fortis (Reading YA), bookshelves of doom, The Boston Bibliophile, Forbidden Planet

Sorcerers and Secretaries vol. 1 and 2 by Amy Kim Ganter

An adorable romance (with gorgeous illustrations) featuring a secretary by day/graphic artist by night.
Around the blogs:
Dear Author, Dear Author (different reviewer), A. Fortis (ReadingYA), William and Mary Comics (really? my alma mater? interesting!), needcoffeedotcom

kimmie66 by Aaron Alexovich

In the 23rd century, teens spend most of their time in virtual worlds, and when Telly's best friend (kimmie66) goes missing, she goes on a a virtual quest to find her.

Around the blogs:
Comics Worth Reading, Graphic Fiction, Avid Book Reader

Good as Lily by Derek Kirk Kim & Jesse Hamm

After an unusual incident on her 18th birthday, Lily is confronted by 3 versions of herself, at ages 6, 29, and 70, and these "other selves" seem intent on wreaking havoc with her life.

Around the Blogs: A. Fortis, The YA YA YAs, Comics Worth Reading, BoingBoing (Cory Doctorow)

Re-gifters by Mike Carey, Sonny Liew, and Marc Hempel

My favorite of the bunch, Re-gifters is the story of Dixie, a Korean-American, martial-arts loving teen growing up in LA, with a little bit of a crush...

Around the blogs: Graphic Novel Challenge, Prose and Cons, Oz and Ends, Loren Javier

The Courageous Princess by Rod Espinosa

Rather than waiting for a prince, Princess Mabelrose decides to rescue herself from a dragon.

Around the blogs: Cybils (finalist)

Confessions of a Blabbermouth by Mike Carey, Louise Carey, and Aaron Alexovich

Tasha, an avid blogger, suddenly acquires a stepfather an stepsister, and then discovers a secret about the pair.
Around the blogs: RHB Fictions, Fantasy Book Reviewer (interview with Mike Carey)

2008-07-10T19:55:00.000-04:00

Tech Thursday #2 -- The Joys of Firefox

Some of you may have heard about how Firefox was attempting to set a world record... or perhaps you were watching when Firefox received the Colbert Bump, and you're wondering what all the hype is about? Or maybe you've been using that internet browser that came pre-installed on your computer, and you're not sure why you would want to use anything else?

I made the switch a couple years ago after getting completely fed up with Internet Explorer (which will henceforth be referred to as IE), because it kept shutting itself down every time I used the scroll wheel. At the time, I was simply looking for something that worked, but since then, I've been impressed with Firefox's upgrades and new features. Some of the best include:

Tabbed browsing -- yes, I know IE does this too, now, but Firefox was first, and does it better too.
Spell-Check -- this is pretty self-explanatory
the "awesome bar" -- like an address bar, only better!
Search bar -- one click searches from google, wikipedia, worldcat, imdb, etc. (very, very, very useful on the reference desk).

But the best thing about Firefox, for me, is the ability to install extensions that add functionality, or simply make my online life a little bit easier. My favorites include:

Foxmarks -- syncs bookmarks between Portable Firefox (stored on my flash drive and used at work), my laptop, and my desktop
Split Browser -- as shown below, I can have two (or more) websites open side-by-side, so I can be working on a blog post and searching for images and links without having to switch tabs

The other reason that I love firefox, however, is that it can be installed on a thumb/flash/jump drive, and I can take my bookmarks and browsing history with me wherever I go (most days at work, I end up working at 3 or 4 different computers, so this is essential).

p.s. I'm sorry the book posts have been so sporadic lately -- let's just say that it's been a very long week.

2008-07-10T14:35:00.000-04:00

More things that make me happy:

A seventh-grader just came in with a school reading list that contained both Uglies and Does My Head Look Big in This?

2008-07-08T17:30:00.000-04:00

This totally made my week...

Look what's coming out in September!

p.s. your regularly scheduled blog postings will return tomorrow

Tech Thursday #1 Google Notebook

2008-07-03T19:47:00.001-04:00

*note: this may go without saying, but all of these tools are free and easily available online.

*note 2: I need to figure out a better way to do screen-shots, but for now, you can click on the images to see them full-size.

As I mentioned last week, I've been wanting to start a series of posts about Web 2.0 tools, and how they might be used by bloggers/librarians/teens. Today, for the first in the series, I'm going to tell you a bit about Google Notebook, one of my new favorites.

My mother (who I don't think reads this blog), is the most organized person I know. She cuts out pictures from magazines and glues them into blank books... organized by color.* I, in an effort to do something similar, would tear out pages from magazines them in folders, meaning to organize them someday (and that someday, of course, hasn't come). Which is why, for me, Google Notebook is a wonderful tool.

Google Notebook is, as the name describes, an online notebook where you can save pictures and bits of text, and organize them into multiple notebooks. To use it, you do have to install, either a Firefox extension or a small tool for Internet Explorer. I'm running Firefox (from a flash drive, more on that in a future post), so things may look slightly different in IE.

So, for example, I'm reading through my RSS feeds on Google Reader and see a review of a book that I think I might like to read, I right-click, and select "Note This"

The note automatically goes to my notebook, which opens in the right hand corner of the screen, and the note is saved to which ever notebook I had open last (in this case, "Crafts").

I then click on the down arrow in the corner of the note, select Move, and then choose a new location for the note.

You can also open the notebook in a full browser window (click the open in full-page link at the top), where you can tag your notes, share them with others, export and print.

Personally, I now have notebooks full of books I want to read, crafts I want to make someday, recipes I want to try, and decorating ideas for my dream house.

I used Google Notebook to collect information before my last trip to New York, which I was able to access from my cell phone while I was there (there's a mobile version of Notebook too). I also shared this notebook with Matt, so he could see which museums (and libraries) I was planning to drag him to.

I have a notebook for collecting ideas for storytimes and library programs. (We're working on a Twilight Party at the moment)

I also create notebooks for my classes each semester, where I have the syllabus and assignment instructions (without having to log into the dreaded Blackboard), and where I can collect research for any papers I'm working on.

As you can see, the possibilities are almost limitless, and Google Notebook can be used for hobbies, study, or simply bookmarking sites to return to later.

Well, that's it for our first Tech Thursday. Feel free to leave any questions, suggestions, ideas, etc, in the comments.

*though I still haven't quite forgiven her for the time she put all of my books in rainbow order, and I couldn't find any of them!