Intertwined within the film are the perspectives of the doctors and nurses at Parkland Hospital, where Kennedy was rushed after the shooting; the Secret Service agent in charge of the Dallas district; the amateur cameraman who caught some of the most sought-after and scrutinized footage ever made; the FBI agents who had interrogated Lee Harvey Oswald and then released him; the president’s security team; and more. The action unfolds with heart-pounding immediacy, as the featured characters react to the crisis with shock, outrage, fortitude, and heroism. Zac Efron, Marcia Gay Harden, Billy Bob Thornton, Jacki Weaver, and Paul Giamatti headline the talented ensemble cast. The film is based on Vincent Bugliosi’s book, Four Days in November (2007), which has been re-issued with a movie tie-in cover and re-titled Parkland (2013, both W.W. Norton).

Gripping Nonfiction Reads

Commemorate the semicentennial of this momentous event with stellar nonfiction titles for teens that will inform film viewers curious to know more, captivate history buffs, and provide insights for classroom exploration and research projects.

Beginning with succinct chapters about Kennedy and his administration, the bulk of James L. Swanson’s “The President Has Been Shot!” (Scholastic, 2013; Gr 6 Up) zooms in on the assassination and its aftermath. The well-written narrative balances in-depth research and illuminating details with the suspenseful pacing and dramatic urgency of a crime thriller. Delving into the shadowy background and murky motives of Oswald, Swanson paints a portrait of “a malcontent with a chip on his shoulder,” a self-styled intellectual who dreamed big but “failed at everything he had ever attempted.” The moment-by-moment account switches back and forth between the perspectives of the assassin and the individuals riding in the motorcade as the happenings unfold before readers’ eyes. Throughout, Swanson identifies “staggering” coincidences, fateful decisions, and unfortunate missteps that contribute to the tragic chain of events. The detailed coverage also includes the swearing in of Lyndon B. Johnson, the capture and on-camera shooting of Oswald, and the president’s funeral, carefully orchestrated by a distraught Jackie Kennedy. An epilogue treats the Warren Report and touches upon Kennedy’s legacy. Numerous archival black-and-white photos, many taken on that ill-fated day, add resonance and detail to the text, and a section of diagrams and illustrations provide additional information. Thoughtful and thorough, Swanson’s account deftly draws teens into the particulars and emotions of the moment, resulting in a look at history that is both revealing and riveting. Also available in audio version.

Bill O’Reilly’s Kennedy’s Last Days: The Assassination That Defined a Generation (Holt, 2013; Gr 5 Up) pairs staccato chapters with a striking selection of archival photographs. The author provides a fast-reading introduction to Kennedy, his rise to the presidency, and the highlights of his administration, including the Bay of Pigs invasion, Cuban Missile Crisis, civil rights conflicts, and the 1963 March on Washington. Interspersed are concurrent glimpses at the life of Lee Harvey Oswald as he defects to and returns from the Soviet Union, drifts from job to job, is left by his Russian wife, and takes a menial post at the Texas School Book Depository. The book culminates with the events of November 22, 1963, as their paths collide with devastating results. Well-chosen black-and-white photos grace almost every page, and a full-color unset features photos off the first family. The side-by-side depictions of the doings of these two very different men—one an intelligent and accomplished world leader and the other a longtime loser with delusions of grandeur—makes for a mesmerizing and informative read. The book is also available in audio version (Macmillan Audio), and a teacher’s guide can be downloaded at the publisher’s website.

Soon to be re-issued in paperback, Ilene Cooper’s Jack: The Early Years of John F. Kennedy (Dutton, 2003; Gr 7 Up) focuses on JFK’s childhood and adolescence. Readers meet a spirited, though often sickly youngster with a winning personality who always seemed destined to play second fiddle to his much-accomplished older brother. Though the Kennedy offspring lived a life of privilege, they were expected to follow strict household rules and meet the high expectations of their demanding father, Joseph (“We want winners in this house, not losers”). Handily setting events in the historical and social context of the times, Cooper provides a vivid look at the family relationships, boyhood challenges, and notable experiences that would help define Kennedy’s character. Quotes and anecdotes from family members and close associates are sprinkled throughout, along with numerous black-and-white photos and reproductions of letters. Jack, with his passion for reading, “happy-go-lucky veneer,” and proclivity for getting into trouble, comes across as a likable young man, and teens will enjoy making his acquaintance.

Go Back to 1963…

Set in the early 1960s, these captivating novels transport readers to days of bouffant hairdos and bellbottom jeans, bomb shelters and air-raid drills, civil rights clashes and Cold War anxiety.

It’s the fall of 1962, and Franny has been bombarded with dilemmas—her best friend has suddenly turned spiteful, her college-age sister has a mysterious secret, her elderly uncle’s behavior is becoming increasingly outlandish (and mortifying), and a cute boy has just moved back to her suburban Maryland town. Meanwhile, everyone is keeping an eye cocked for falling bombs and duck-and-cover drills are part of a typical school day. Doomsday seems even more imminent when President Kennedy informs the American public that Russia is sending nuclear missiles to Cuba. How will Franny find hope for the future? In Countdown (Scholastic, 2010; Gr 5-8), Deborah Wiles balances her protagonist’s personal crises with a compelling depiction of the era. Scattered throughout this “documentary novel’s” first-person narrative are an abundance of archival photographs, newspaper clippings, speech excerpts, safety pamphlets, song lyrics, profiles of famous people, and more. Image-heavy and aptly chosen, these primary source materials add punch to the text and plunge readers into Franny’s world.

Fiona is of Irish descent and Yolanda is African American. Having met at their Bronx, NY, public school, the two eighth graders forged a bond, despite their different backgrounds and the fact that many people—including family members and peers—believe that friendship should not cross the racial divide. The daughter of a violently abusive, alcoholic father, Fiona’s family life is a disaster, while Yolanda constantly deals with prejudice; both girls feel like outsiders and value the understanding and acceptance their camaraderie brings. However, when the popular white girls take an interest in Fiona, her relationship with Yolanda is put to the test. Set against an emotionally charged mural of social issues, family struggles, and coming-of-age concerns, Mary Ann McGuigan’s Morning in a Different Place (Front Street, 2009; Gr 7-9) comes to a climax on the day of Kennedy’s assassination. Inspired by the never-back-down Yolanda, Fiona finally realizes that she must find the strength to take a stand and bring about change…in her own family and in society at large.

Not only does sixth-grader Ellie reside on Witch Tree Lane—a cul-de-sac populated by families considered social outcasts by the conservative residents of small-town Spectacle, NY—but she also lives in a state of constant embarrassment brought on by the antics of her flamboyant mother (the self-dubbed Doris Day Dingman), a would-be starlet whose brazen tackiness is equaled only by her flippant neglectfulness. Ellie is the one who takes on household chores and looks after her siblings. Viciously bullied at school along with her best friend Holly, Ellie is also disturbed by the hate crimes that have been occurring on her street. When President Kennedy is shot, the family is devastated, and Doris, realizing that time is fleeting, departs for the razzle-dazzle of New York City to launch her career. It’s heart-wrenching to be abandoned, but Ellie finds comfort and strength in family and friends. Ultimately, she emerges from the over-inflated shadow of her mother to discover that her life is not empty but delightfully full. Poignant and uplifting, Ann M. Martin’s Here Today (Scholastic, 2004; Gr 6-8) features a likable protagonist and a compelling portrayal of the era.

Grounded for his alleged misdeeds, 12-year-old Jack is spending the summer of 1962 under house arrest, excavating for the family bomb shelter and trying to lay low. Of course he jumps at the opportunity to help his elderly neighbor, whose crippling arthritis has made her job as town coroner, obituary writer, and historian difficult. Under the tutelage of the feisty Miss Volker, Jack soon learns that Norvelt, PA—a community of cooperative homesteads launched during the Great Depression under the auspices of Eleanor Roosevelt—has a fascinating past…and a far-from-boring present marked by hostile visits from the Hells Angels, oddball adventures involving dead bodies (frequently triggering Jack’s stress-induced nosebleeds), and even a murder mystery. Filled with delightfully quirky characters, slice-of-life details, and madcap laugh-out-loud antics, Jack Gantos’s Dead End in Norvelt (FSG, 2011; Gr 5-9) also emphasizes coming-of-age themes, encourages contemplation of political principles (Jack’s mother believes in Norvelt’s extend-a-helping-hand ideals while his father calls it a “Commie town” and can’t wait to fly the coop), and underscores the importance of knowing about—and learning from—history, a message particularly pertinent in this year of anniversaries. An audio version is available from Macmillan Audio, and educators can download a teacher’s guide. Jack’s escapades continue in From Norvelt to Nowhere (2013, both FSG).

Publication Information

SWANSON, James L. “The President Has Been Shot!”: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy. Scholastic. Sept. 2013. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-545-49007-8; Audio Library Ed. $39.99. ISBN 978-0-545-60276-1.

O’REILLY, Bill. Kennedy’s Last Days: The Assassination That Defined a Generation. Holt. 2013. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-9802-0. ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-9974-4; Audio CD. $19.99. ISBN 9781427235169. (Macmillan Audio).

COOPER, Ilene. Jack: The Early Years of John F. Kennedy. Puffin/Penguin. Oct. 2013. pap. $12.99. ISBN 9780147510310.

WILES, Deborah. Countdown. Scholastic. 2010. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-10605-4; pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-0-545-10606-1.

MCGUIGAN, Mary Ann. Morning in a Different Place. Front Street. 2009. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-59078-551-5.

MARTIN, Ann M. Here Today. Scholastic. 2004. pap. $7.99. ISBN 9780439579452.

GANTOS, Jack. Dead End in Norvelt. FSG. 2011. Tr $15.99. ISBN 9780374379933; pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-1-250-01023-0 (Square Fish); Audio version. $29.99. ISBN 9781427213563 (Macmillan Audio).

Blockbuster books = blockbuster movies

Saoirse Ronan in How I Live Now. Photo by Magnolia Pictures.

Meg Rosoff’s acclaimed How I Live Now (Random, 2004) is about a NYC girl who spends an idyllic summer with her cousins in England right before an unnamed aggressor invades the UK and threatens the world’s existence. Academy Award-winning director Kevin Macdonald is at the helm and Saoirse Ronan and George MacKay star. The film debuts this fall.

The movie adaptation of 2006 bestseller The Book Thief (Random) by Markus Zusak is already building Oscar buzz and will be in theaters on November 15. This World War II drama is directed by Brian Percival, and stars Sophie Nelisse as the titular heroine Liesel, and Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson as her adoptive parents.

Seventh Son is based on the first installment in Joseph Delaney’s “The Last Apprentice” series (HarperCollins). In this dark fantasy, 14-year-old Tom Ward, a seventh son of a seventh son, goes on adventures as the Spook’s apprentice. Sergei Bodrov directs and Ben Barnes, Jeff Bridges, and Julianne Moore star. It features music composed by Tuomas Kantelinen. Originally scheduled to release on October 18, 2013, it will be out in theaters in 3-D and IMAX 3D on January 17, 2014.

Richelle Mead’s NYT-bestselling Vampire Academy (Penguin, 2007) is getting the film treatment in time for Valentine’s Day, 2014. Written by Daniel Waters of Heathers fame, and directed by his brother Mark Waters of Mean Girls fame, the story of best friends Rose, half-human/half-vampire, and Lissa, a mortal vampire princess who wreak havoc and fall in love at St. Vladimir’s Academy, is in capable hands. Starring Zoey Deutch, Lucy Fry, and Danila Kozlovsky, the movie is due out on February 14, 2014.

Positioned to be the next “Hunger Games” franchise, the movie adaptation of Veronica Roth’s Divergent (HarperCollins, 2011), featuring Hollywood’s latest sweetheart, Shailene Woodley, will be in theaters on March 21, 2014.

John Green’s chair on the set of In the Fault of Our Stars

One of the most celebrated YA novels of 2012, John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars (Dutton), also starring Shailene Woodley (Hazel), began filming last week in Pittsburgh, and the acclaimed author has been excitedly tweeting and Tumbling from the set with updates. He will be making a cameo appearance in the book-to-film about two teen cancer patients who fall in love. Ansel Elgort plays the male lead, Auggie, Nat Wolff is cast as Isaac, his best friend, and it was recently revealed that Laura Dern will play Hazel’s mother. No film release date yet.

Fans of Gayle Forman’s If I Stay (Dutton, 2009) can breathe a sigh of relief. The film, starring Chloë Moretz, was dropped by Summit earlier this year, but it has since been picked up by MGM. The tearjerker—about a girl who has an out-of-body experience following a car accident that puts her in a coma and kills the rest of her family—will be produced by Denise DiNovi and Alison Greenspan of DiNovi Pictures. No release date yet.

And while Samantha Shannon’s The Bone Season, just published this month, the first in a projected seven-book fantasy series by 21-year-old recent college graduate, is already building buzz for adult and teen audiences. It was recently chosen as the first Today Show book club selection, and the film rights have been acquired by Andy Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish, founders of The Imaginarium production company.

Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

Sequels and more sequels
There’s been lots of casting news for Lionsgate’s final “Hunger Games” installments, based on Suzanne Collins’s books (Scholastic). The studio is currently eyeing Julianne Moore to play President Coin in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay. Natalie Dormer has been cast in the role of Cressida, while Evan Ross is set to play Messalla, Cressida’s cameraman, and Stef Dawson will step in as Finnick Odair’s love interest, Annie Cresta. In the meantime, fans still have Catching Fire to look forward to, in theaters on November 22, 2013.

The Mortal Instruments: City of Ashes is slated to begin production in the fall with Harald Zwart returning to direct, along with stars Lily Collins and Jamie Campbell. A taste of the sequel was to premiere in Cannes, but general consensus on The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones is still pending.

Already banking on Divergent’s future success as a film, Brian Duffield been commissioned to begin working on the sequel, Insurgent (HarperCollins, 2012).

A dystopian horizon

Directed by Wes Ball, the movie version of James Dashner’s NYT-bestselling The Maze Runner (Delacorte, 2009), about a group of teens trying to survive in an enclosed environment called “The Glade,” is set to premiere in theaters on February 14, 2014. Patricia Clarkson has joined Dylan O’Brien (Thomas) and Kaya Scodelario (Teresa) in the cast as Chancellor Ava Paige.

A film based on Andy Mulligan’s Trash (Random, 2010), seems to be on its way to theaters soon. Rooney Mara (NGO worker named Olivia), Martin Sheen (Father Julliard), and Wagner Moura are now on board. Three street kids—Raphael (Rickson Tevez), Gardo (Eduardo Luis), and Rat (Gabriel Weinstein) live in an unnamed third-world country picking trash, and discover a mysterious bag that triggers a life-changing chain of events. Stephen Daldry is attached as director and Richard Curtis will write the script. Production starts in Rio de Janeiro and it’s already slated for a May 2014 release from Universal.

Many kidlit fans can attest that Lois Lowry’s Newbery-winning The Giver (Houghton, 1993) is the precursor to many of today’s dystopian YAs. Finally, the wheels for a film adaption have been set in motion. Brenton Thwaites will play an aged-up Jonas (the Receiver of memories) and Jeff Bridges is cast as the title character. Meryl Streep is in talks to play the society’s Chief Elder, tasked with assigning roles to the young denizens of a seemingly perfect world. Philip Noyce is attached as director and no release date has been yet announced.

Another pre-Hunger Games may be coming to a theater near you. Scott Westerfeld’s “Uglies” series (S & S) is possibly in the pipeline again. The Australian author revealed via Twitter in July that Davis Entertainment and Lola VFX are in talks to team up and produce his NYT-best-selling trilogy, which chronicles the adventures of Tally Youngblood, a teen who unravels her “pretty” world’s ugly secrets.

SLJ Best Adult Book for Teens The Age of Miracles (Random, 2012) by Karen Thompson Walker, finally has a director lined up for its highly anticipated movie adaptation: Catherine Hardwicke, of Twilight-fame. River Road Entertainment’s Bill Pohlad will produce and Seth Lochhead is writing the screenplay based on the novel about a teen’s coming of age while the Earth’s rotation has begun to slow down.

Rick Yancey’s The 5^th Wave (Putnam, 2013) is inching closer to the big screen. Tobey Maguire’s production company has acquired the rights, and Oscar-nominated Susannah Grant is adapting the dark novel about Cassie’s struggle to survive on an Earth that is slowly being destroyed by aliens.

Paramount Pictures has acquired rights to Joelle Charbonneau’s The Testing (Houghton Harcourt 2013), a YA novel in which a teen is selected for a United Commonwealth program that selects the best and brightest to become possible leaders of the slowly revitalizing post-war civilization. Very few survive The Testing.

Classic kidlit on screen

Photo by Disney.

Maleficent, the Robert Stromberg-directed Disney film that stars Angelina Jolie as the title character, Elle Fanning as Princess Aurora, and Brenton Thwaites as the prince, will tell the story of Sleeping Beauty from the Queen’s point of view. It is set to release on July 2, 2014.

Jennifer Garner, Steve Carell, Ed Oxenbould, and Bella Thorne have been filming Disney’s Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, based on the award-winning picture book by Judith Viorst that follows young Alexander through the trials of one very bad day. Coming to theaters on October 10, 2014, the live-action movie is directed Miguel Arteta, and was adapted by Rob Lieber.

The Cinderella fairy tale is also getting another treatment in a film directed by Kenneth Branagh. The star-studded cast includes Lily James as the title character, Richard Madden as Prince Charming, Cate Blanchett as the evil stepmother Lady Tremaine, Helena Bonham Carter as Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother, Hayley Atwell as Cinderella’s biological mother, and Stellan Skarsgard as the Grand Duke. It’s due in theaters on March 13, 2015.

The classic French novella The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery will get a star-studded cast for its future film animated adaptation.  Marion Cotillard, James Franco, Rachel McAdams, Jeff Bridges, Benicio Del Toro, Mackenzie Foy and Paul Giamatti are already on board to voice characters in sweet story about a pilot who crash-lands in the desert and meets a boy who claims to have fallen to Earth from his home on an asteroid. Bridges will voice the pilot and Cotillard is in talks to take on the part of a rose. Mark Osborne is attached to direct.

Warner Bros. is making a movie based on the Archie comics series. The long-running comic about a teen and his friends set in the fictional Riverdale will be adapted by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and directed by Jason Moore. It will feature the comics’ first openly gay character, Kevin Keller, and rivals for Archie’s heart, Betty and Veronica, among other Riverdale residents.

Warner Bros. is also in final negotiations to pick up the movie rights to the iconic “Encyclopedia Brown” (Penguin) children’s book series for an adaptation to be produced by Roy Lee and Howard David Deutsch. Donald J. Sobol wrote 28 books, from 1963 until his death in 2012, about the intrepid young detective and his friends.

For middle grade moviegoers

Laika Entertainment has scheduled a release date for The Boxtrolls on September 26, 2014, a stop-motion animated film based on Alan Snow’s graphic novel series “The Ratbridge Chronicles” (S & S). Graham Annable and Anthony Stacchi have teamed up to direct this project about a boy who allies himself with boxtrolls, cabbageheads, pirates, rats, a retired lawyer, and other silly characters to save the town of Ratbridge from villainous kidnappers. The cast of voice actors includes Elle Fanning, Simon Pegg, Ben Kingsley, Toni Collette, Nick Frost, and Jared Harris.

Disney has teamed up with the Weinstein Co. to develop a book-to-film adaptation of Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl (Disney, 2001). The movie will be based on the first two books in the “Artemis Fowl” series, which chronicles the adventures of a 12-year-old criminal millionaire mastermind. Screenwriter Michael Goldenberg will handle the script for the live-action film, while Robert DeNiro and Jane Rosenthal will producer alongside Weinstein.

In development

Addison Timlin and Jeremy Irvine are set to star in Fallen, an adaptation of Lauren Kate’s best-selling YA series about fallen angels. Produced by Lotus Entertainment and Mayhem Pictures, the film will be directed by Scott Hicks and has been adapted by Kathryn Price, Nicole Millard, and Michael Ross.

Film rights to Emmy Laybourne’s Monument 14 (Feiwel & Friends, 2012) have been acquired by Strange Weather Films. The YA novel focuses on a group of 14 kids who survive an apocalyptic event, and must continue to battle the elements from the shelter of a superstore. Director/Screenwriter Brad Peyton is attached.

Universal Pictures has landed the film rights to Lauren Oliver’s next young adult novel, Panic (2014). Marc Platt will produce the project. The realistic novel is described as Oliver’s return to the grittiness of her first book, Before I Fall (2010, both HarperCollins), which was optioned by Fox 2000.

Ally Carter has two series optioned for film. The rights for “Gallagher Girls” have been acquired by Tonik Productions. These best-selling books share the stories of a group of sexy high-school-aged spies. The “Heist Society” series (both published by Disney/Hyperion) is now with Lionsgate with Max Handelman and Elizabeth Banks attached as producers. This series follows a reformed teen thief as she tries to make good and get out of the family con business.

Bryce Clyde Jenkins (from left), Skai Jackson, Anika Noni Rose, Wood Harris and Harrison Knight star as the Watson family in the Hallmark Channel movie The Watsons Go to Birmingham. (Photo courtesy of Crown Media)

On the small screen
Christopher Paul Curtis’s 1995 historical fiction novel, The Watsons Go To Birmingham, has been adapted for the Hallmark Channel by Tonya Lewis Lee. Directed by Kenny Leo, the film centers on an African American family living in the town of Flint, Michigan, who visit their grandmother’s home in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963, a turbulent time during the civil rights movement. The cast includes: Anika Noni Rose, David Alan Grier, Skai Jackson, LaTanya Richardson, Wood Harris, Bryce Jenkins, Pauletta Washington and Harrison Knight. It will have its world premiere on Friday, September 20 (8pm ET).

Kass Morgan’s The 100 (Little, Brown, 2013), a postapocalyptic YA novel, will premiere as a television series on The CW in its 2013–14 midseason.

Roald Dahl’s 1990 illustrated children’s book, Esio Trot, about elderly lovebirds and tortoises, will be adapted into a movie for the BBC, starring Dustin Hoffman and Dame Judi Dench as the couple. Dearbhla Walsh will direct the project, which starts filming in England next month.

 See also:

Page to Screen: Summer Reading Blockbusters, Dystopian Teen Lit, and Childhood Classics

Page to Screen: Upcoming Kids’ Books Set for Film Adaptations

Lily Collins stars as Clary Fray, an ostensibly ordinary teenager living in modern-day New York City, where suddenly, strange things begin to happen. When her mother (Lena Headey) disappears, Clary falls in with a group of young Shadowhunters, weapon-wielding, rune-wearing warriors led by the magnetic Jace Wayland (Jamie Campbell Bower). Half-angel and half-human, Shadowhunters possess the strength and abilities necessary to protect humans in an age-old war against evil. Suddenly, Clary’s eyes are opened not only to an alternate world filled with demons, warlocks, vampires, werewolves, and more, but also to her own family legacy: she is descended from an ancient line of Shadowhunters. To save her mother, Clary must quickly learn the ropes of this deadly new reality, tap into her inner fortitude and untried talents, and confront startling truths about her past.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers takes on the role of charismatic antagonist, Valentine Morgenstern; Robert Sheehan plays Simon Lewis, Clary’s “mundie” (ordinary human) best friend and would-be love interest; and her demon-slaying posse includes Jemima West and Kevin Zegers as Isabelle and Alec Lightwood. Teens can visit the movie’s official website for a video trailer, character (and species) profiles, quizzes, and more.

Movie Tie-ins

Movie viewers will clamor to read or revisit the original work, and perhaps explore the rest of the “Mortal Instruments” sequence and its spin-offs (the “Shadowhunters” website has the scoop on Clare’s deftly imagined world and various book series). City of Bones has been reissued with a movie-inspired cover: a realistic New York City skyline mirrored by a watery gothic-gray reflection subtly overlaid with Shadowhunter symbols. Written in a lively conversational tone, Mimi O’Connor’s The Official Illustrated Movie Companion provides a look at the project, from the novel’s inspiration and enthusiastic reception, to casting, locations and props, costumes and makeup, and filming. Longtime book aficionados will appreciate commentary from Clare, who was very much involved in the filmmaking process. Interviews with cast and crew, interesting insider tidbits, and fun details (the creation of durable rubber claws for fight scenes…no vampire wants to lose a fingernail) are presented along with copious full-color photos (on-set candid shots, movie stills, and sizzling portraits). Also packed with slick movie images and tantalizing character quotes, Shadowhunter’s Guide (all S & S/McElderry, 2013; Gr 8 Up) provides a brief plot summary, personnel profiles, and quick glimpses at important locales. A helpful guide to the runes with which the warriors adorn their bodies clarifies each symbol’s purpose (e.g., strength or agility), and cool close-ups of weapons are also included.

Demon Destroyers, Monster Mashers, and More

Whether the protagonists are hunting hellhounds or felling fiends, the following books feature unforgettable characters, electrifying action, and a touch of romance. Modern-day settings, plenty of teen angst, and relevant coming-of-age themes make the stories compelling and prove that navigating the complexities of high school hallways, relationships, and growing up can be just as daunting as facing off against the most ghastly supernatural creatures.

Like Clary, 16-year-old Kali D’Angelo, is a hands-on heroine…at least she is Every Other Day (Egmont USA, 2012; Gr 7 Up), when she somehow transforms from normal teenager to something…“Other”—an invincible huntress with a thirst for slaying basilisks, zombies, and all manner of monsters (in Kali’s alternate world, 37 species of preternatural fauna have been identified since Charles Darwin first unearthed the Galápagos hydra). It’s not surprising that she feels alienated from the high school crowd. When she notices a mark on the back of a popular girl at school, she knows that Bethany has been infected by a chupacabra and will be dead within hours. Though it’s Kali’s “off” day (and though she doesn’t particularly like the stuck-up cheerleader), she resolves to lure the critter into her own body, but will she survive long enough to transform and self-heal? So begins an intricately plotted adventure that soon has longtime loner Kali forging unlikely friendships, crushing on a mysterious boy with whom she can suddenly communicate telepathically, and unraveling deeply buried secrets about her family and her own past…all while taking on the occasional man-eating dragon. Narrated with delightful nonchalance and entertaining sarcasm by the no-nonsense protagonist, Jennifer Lynn Barnes’s multifaceted novel is fast-reading and fun.

Descended from a centuries-old line of monster-hunting Bannicks, 15-year-old Izzy’s career choice is a no-brainer, if only she can get used to working alone (her sister has mysteriously vanished) and convince her mother to give her some independence. A haunting at a high school in small town Mississippi seems the perfect opportunity to prove herself, and Izzy goes undercover as a new student (though the prospect of trying to fit in seems downright scary to a girl who has been homeschooled on the fly, has a basic black warrior’s wardrobe, and is innocent to the ways of teens). Soldiering on, she begins to gather intel about the ghost, but soon finds herself focusing more on friendships and a twinkle-eyed boy than on getting the job done. Before long, she is in over her head, both emotionally and professionally, and as the ghost grows more violent, she must make some tough choices, or the results will be deadly. Peopled with likable and refreshingly unique characters (including an advice- and quip-dispensing warlock who has been trapped in a mirror for over 400 years, and a love interest who has asthma and a penchant for pin-striped pants), Rachel Hawkins’s School Spirits (Hyperion, 2013; Gr 7-10) strikes the perfect balance of humor, relationship woes, and eerie action. The thrilling—and unexpected—climax will leave readers wanting more.

In Amanda Ashby’s Demonosity (Speak, 2013; Gr 7-10), quirky, kindhearted, and incredibly indecisive Cassidy is dumbfounded to discover that she has been appointed protectress of the Black Rose—an ancient force that affords immortality and unlimited power to whomsoever can harness it—now hidden away inside virginal human vessel (Cass’s vapid schoolmate). Harangued by the spirit of a 14^th-century knight, the taciturn and hunky Thomas de la Croix, Cassidy’s days are suddenly consumed by early morning sword-fighting training, slaying nasty demons at parties and the mall, and trying to guard-dog Celeste without anyone noticing. How will she find time for the new swoon-worthy guy at school with whom she has been exchanging smoldering eye-locks? As mysteries unfold and secrets are revealed, Cassidy realizes that she must determine the fate of the Black Rose, an awesome decision that will not only affect her personally (her father has fallen gravely ill), but may also impact the balance of good and evil. Ashby’s frothy romp percolates with lighthearted humor and droll dialogue, while an involving plot and themes exploring friendship and self-reliance add satisfying substance.

Rather than wielding swords or magical powers, the heroes in Kat Beyer’s novel take on their otherworldly enemies with books, silver bells, and candles. All hope seems lost when 16-year-old Mia is possessed by a formidable demon, until two long-lost cousins arrive from Italy—stolid Giuliano Della Torre and his gorgeous grandson Emilio—and perform a successful exorcism. Afterward, The Demon Catchers of Milan (Egmont USA, 2012; Gr 8 Up) insist on taking Mia home with them to better protect her. In Milan, she finds herself steeped in local history and culture, a parade of delectable foods, and the stifling good intentions of a large extended family. As she learns more about the Della Torre’s demon-hunting legacy, she becomes determined to follow in their footsteps, no matter the danger. Featuring a lushly described setting, multi-dimensional characters, and touches of romance, this beautifully written book is as much an exploration of Mia’s personal growth and burgeoning self-confidence as a supernatural adventure.

In Diana Peterfreund’s Rampant (2009; Gr 9 Up), unicorns are blood-thirsty killers that can only be slain by virgins descended from Alexander the Great and trained in the ways of the warrior. More interested in science than sword-swinging, Astrid Llewelyn, 16, reluctantly travels to Rome, Italy, to master these ancient arts and embrace her heritage as unicorn hunter. However, ferocious beasts lurk everywhere, and doubts about her vocation—and distractingly cute guys—may derail her efforts. The breathless action, philosophical quandaries, and well-wrought character development continue in Ascendant (2010, both HarperTeen).

Tera Lynn Childs’s Sweet Venom (2011; Gr 7 Up) is set across the ocean, in a San Francisco teeming with mythological creatures invisible to humans but nonetheless deadly. Luckily, the teenage descendants of a much-maligned Medusa—not a monster herself but the original monster huntress—possess the ability to dispatch these horrific hellions with one bite from their drop-down venom-dispensing fangs. Separated at birth and recently reunited, the triplets—tough-as-nails Gretchen, insecure and eco-conscious Grace, and popular and privileged Greer—must band together and embrace their destinies to save humankind from an onslaught of beasties. Filled with surprises, self-discoveries, and hot crushes, this tale ends with a cliff-hanger, so have the sequel, Sweet Shadows (2012, both HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Bks.), available for readers.

Publication Information

CLARE, Cassandra. The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. Movie ed. pap. $12.99. ISBN 9781442485389.

O’CONNOR, Mimi. The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion. pap. $18.99. ISBN 9781442493988.

O’CONNOR, Mimi. The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones: Shadowhunter’s Guide. pap. $8.99. ISBN 9781442493995.

Each vol: S & S/McElderry. 2013.

BARNES, Jennifer Lynn. Every Other Day. Egmont USA. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-60684-169-3; pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-60684-415-1; ebook $9.99. ISBN 9781606842676.

HAWKINS, Rachel. School Spirits. Hyperion/Disney. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781423148494.

ASHBY, Amanda. Demonosity. Penguin/Speak. Aug. 2013. pap. $8.99. ISBN 9780142423974.

BEYER, Kat. The Demon Catchers of Milan. Egmont USA. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781606843147; ebook $16.99. ISBN 9781606843154.

PETERFREUND, Diana. Rampant. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. 2009. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-0-06-149004-0; ebook $5.99. ISBN 9780061861475.

CHILD, Tera Lynn. Sweet Venom. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Bks. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-200181-8; pap. $9.99. ISBN 9780062001825; ebook $8.99. ISBN 978-0-06-209345-5.

Based on a 1982 comic-book miniseries created by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller, the action is set after the events of X-Men: The Last Stand (2006). Wolverine (aka Logan) travels to modern-day Japan, where he is reunited with a mysterious individual from his past. As events unfold, the tough-as-nails warrior finds himself able to experience true vulnerability for the first time ever. Driven to the edge both physically and emotionally, Logan clashes with deadly enemies, while also wrestling with his feelings about his own immortality. The cast also includes Hiroyuki Sanada as Japanese crime-lord Shingen Yashida; Tao Okamoto as his daughter, Mariko, a beautiful woman torn between her feelings for Logan and familial duty; Will Yun Lee as the katana-wielding Silver Samurai (and Shingen’s illegitimate son); Rila Fukushima as Yukio, skilled Shingen clan assassin; and Svetlana Khodchenkova as Viper, Wolverine’s toxic (and toxin-using) adversary. Teens can visit the official website for a video preview, photo gallery, and an assortment of downloads.

Graphic Novels

Movie fans will be clamoring to read more about the man who put the “SKINT!” into hand-to-hand combat. Consider enhancing your graphic novel collection about this plain-talking, hard-scrapping hero.

Marvel has re-published Claremont and Miller’s movie-plot-inspiring series in a single handsome volume. The cover sets the tone, with a portrait of a brash Wolverine (Marvel, 2013; Gr 8 Up), one hand raised with three razor-sharp claws extended and the other beckoning with a characteristically cocky “bring it” gesture. On hiatus from the X-Men, Wolverine’s story begins in the Canadian Rockies, a wilderness he calls as “stark an’ elemental as my soul,” where he scuffles with a giant grizzly gone berserk. Letters returned unopened take him to Japan, where he discovers that his beloved Mariko, honor-bound to follow the command of her crime boss father, has been married to a cruel man. When Lord Shingen humiliates a weakened Wolverine in front of Mariko during one-to-one clash—calling him “an animal cast in a semblance of human form”—the heartbroken hero sinks into despair…and into the arms of Yukio, a fearless assassin. Danger, betrayal, and self-doubt abound, as Logan fights to save the woman he loves, and to prove to himself that he is more man than beast. Unembellished and softly lilting, Wolverine’s first-person narrative spins the action while revealing frank emotions. The bright-colored artwork keeps pace with a combination of sinuous skirmish scenes and expressive close-ups. Teens will enjoy comparing the themes and characterizations in this gripping graphic novel with those found in the movie.

Wolverine: First Cuts (Marvel, 2013; Gr 8 Up) presents a roundup of comic-book tales featuring the film’s most important personages. An excerpt from the Claremont and Miller mini-series is featured here, along with Chris Yost and Mark Texeira’s 2009 origin tale (an electrifying illustrated look at Wolverine’s roots including the experiment that bonded Adamantium to his bones and recruitment into the X-Men), a 1963 story arc from The Uncanny X-Men that takes the mutant warriors to a besieged Japan where they tussle with villains (and Wolverine first meets Mariko), a 1983 selection starring Spider-Man that recounts the first alliance between movie villains Viper and Silver Samurai, and more. The tidbits are framed with brief introductions that provide context and refer readers to the appropriate volumes to continue reading. The back matter includes profiles of the major characters (detailed bios along with stats and power-rating charts) and a chronology of Wolverine epics. Teens can sample this eye-catching collection to find out more about the movie headliners and perhaps identify titles/series for further Wolverine reading.

Crisply told and adorned with bold, contemporary-looking artwork, Ben Acker and Ben Blacker’s Wolverine: Season One (Marvel, 2013; Gr 7 Up) provides a riveting origin tale that will appeal to readers meeting the hero for the first time in graphic novel format as well as comic-book devotees. While hiking in the wilderness, Canadian scientists Heather and James Hudson encounter a wild-eyed loin-cloth-wearing man who saves them from the lethal claws of the giant-size Wendigo. They take the injured stranger back to their cabin and watch amazed as his body begins to heal itself; when he awakens, he has no memories of his past or his identity. Recruited for the Canadian government’s mysterious Department H by the Hudsons, he is codenamed Wolverine and trained as an operative. However, the facility’s search for a Canadian super soldier has been characterized by unscrupulous experiments and dark secrets, some of which may hit close to home. Meanwhile, a Wolverine plagued by memory flashes struggles to determine if he is more man or beast, and to find a place to fit in. The script interweaves fast-paced action and hand-to-claw conflict with moments of introspection and well-delivered touches of humor. As subtle as a character’s eye-roll or as broadly stroked as a dynamic double-page mêlée, Salva Espin’s illustrations expand the story’s plot and emotional nuances with well-wrought details and fluid motion. A satisfying and suspenseful look at Wolverine’s pre-X-Men days.

Libraries that pride themselves on hosting the ultimate graphic novel collection might want to consider the pricey but spectacular coffee-table-size Wolverine: The Adamantium Collection (Marvel, 2013; Gr 8 Up). Included here are Claremont and Miller’s mini-series; Paul Jenkins and Andy Kubert’s precisely plotted Wolverine: Origin (originally published in 2001-02); Barry Windsor-Smith’s Weapon X (1991), a superbly illustrated, dramatically paced, and harrowing look at Logan’s Adamantium upgrade; and much, much more. Exploded out to fit the hefty volume’s 11.5″ x 15.5” trim size, the artwork is gorgeous and utterly riveting. The book ends with an “Evolution of a Character” portrait section and a gallery of variant covers along with artist profiles. A real stunner, this offering could be a centerpiece display item or a reference tome.

For Younger Teens

Marvel Universe Wolverine (Marvel, 2013, Gr 4-8), part of the “All Ages” series, showcases four adventures that represent an appealing array of storytelling and illustrative styles. In “Kingdom of No,” Canadian operative Logan is sent to a small fishing village to investigate a technological threat and proves that his arsenal of weapons includes smart thinking, while another tale places the hero in amidst a battle between the “emerald man-brute” Hulk and Canadian “woods-beast” Wendigo. An excerpt from Wolverine: First Class presents Logan in his role as professor to X-Men in training, as the persistent Kitty Pryde tries to cajole him into introducing her to her latest crush—Thor. In the final tale, Spider-Man is tasked with shadowing Wolverine for a day to verify his good-guy worthiness as a hair gel spokesperson, but unexpected surprises are in store for both of them. The stand-alone tales are fast-paced, easy-to-follow, and sprinkled with kid-friendly humor. Varying in tone and color palette, each entry’s artwork is appealing. While claws are deployed and bad guys are thwarted, the action remains on the tamer side. A great sampler for kids new to comics and those looking to read further in the Wolverine body of work.

YA author Barry Lyga’s delightful Wolverine: Worst Day Ever, originally published in 2009, has been reissued in a paperback edition (Marvel, 2013; Gr 5-8) with a new cover. Written in a blog format, the book is narrated by 13-year-old Eric Mattias, newcomer to Xavier’s School for Gifted Students. Surrounded by mutants and soon-to-be super heroes with all manner of amazing abilities, Eric’s special gift is, well, under-whelming: people just don’t notice him, even when he is screaming loudly, being tripped over, or sat upon (particularly unpleasant in a bathroom scene involving Colossus). Though this power is admittedly “lame,” it does allow him to move around unseen, and to follow Wolverine on an adventure that reveals much about this loner of a hero and also teaches Eric a few lessons about himself. The teen’s candidly expressed and relatable feelings of alienation are balanced with wry humor and succinctly described action. Comic-book panels “drawn” by Eric and posted on his blog add color and flavor. Fun to booktalk, this makes an appealing choice for reluctant readers, kids who usually seek their reading material on comic book shelves, and Wolverine fans.

Publication Information

CLAREMONT, Chris. Wolverine by Claremont & Miller. illus. by Frank Miller & Paul Smith. Marvel. 2013. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9780785183839.

YOST, Chris & Chris Claremont. Wolverine: First Cuts. illus. by Mark Texeira, John Byrne, Frank Miller, & Sal Buscema. Marvel. 2013. pap. $19.99. ISBN 9780785184270.

ACKER, Ben & Ben Blacker. Wolverine: Season One. illus. by Salva Espin. Marvel. 2013. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9780785166726.

MARVEL UNIVERSE WOLVERINE. Marvel. 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 9780785167952.

Wolverine: The Adamantium Collection. Marvel. 2013. Tr $200. ISBN 9780785167891.

LYGA, Barry. Wolverine. “Young Readers Novel.” Marvel. 2013. pap. $7.99. ISBN 9780785167952.

Warner Bros. Pictures reboots the character—and the film series—with Man of Steel (PG-13), slated to premiere June 14 in conventional, 3D, and IMAX theaters. Directed by Zack Snyder (Watchmen) and produced by Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight Trilogy), the movie presents a fresh take on Superman’s beginnings. Learning as a young boy that he possesses amazing powers and is different from everyone else, Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) wrestles with questions about where he came from and  what he was sent to Earth to accomplish. However, when the planet and all of mankind are threatened with total destruction, the role he is destined to play soon becomes crystal clear. The cast also includes Diane Lane and Kevin Costner as Clark’s adoptive parents, Amy Adams as Daily Planet journalist Lois Lane, Laurence Fishburne as editor-in-chief Perry White, and Russell Crowe as Superman’s Kryptonian father. Played by Michael Shannon, the nefarious General Zod, another surviving Kryptonian and Superman’s equal in abilities, serves as antagonist. Send teens to the official movie website for video trailers, photos, downloads, and more, and suggest a stop at DC Comics “Superman Mini-Site” for a bio and links to comics and movies.

Look! On the Library Shelves! It’s Art! It’s Epic! It’s a Superman Graphic Novel!

Man of Steel will have teens flocking to libraries faster than a speeding bullet for comic book classics about this tried-and-true hero. Stock up on and display some of these Superman standards, guaranteed to grab the eye of YA moviegoers and graphic novel fans.

Part of a DC Comics series designed to re-launch legendary characters with a 21^st-century flair, Superman Earth One (2010; Gr 7 Up) offers a riveting and refreshingly contemporary take on the familiar origin tale. As the story opens, a 20-something Clark Kent arrives in Metropolis to seek his fortune and sets his sights on becoming a reporter for the Daily Planet. Tired of being an outsider, he wants a shot at fitting in and is determined to keep his powers carefully concealed. However, when a powerful conqueror arrives from outer space and threatens Earth with destruction unless the alien he believes to be hidden there reveals himself, Clark must make a difficult choice. J. Michael Straczynski’s script pays homage to the source material with traditional elements and punch-packing action while stirring the pot with unexpected twists, deftly explored coming-of-age themes, smart—often delightfully bantering—dialogue, and powerful characterizations. Sepia-hued flashbacks to scenes of Clark interacting with his adoptive parents and “downloads” revealing the last days on Krypton provide insight into the protagonist’s motivations and struggles to define his identity. Shane Davis’s finely detailed artwork balances gritty modern-day settings and volatile battle scenes with down-to-earth emotion. The adventures—and personal challenges—continue in Volume 2 (2012, both DC Comics).

Mark Waid and Leinil Francis Yu’s Superman Birthright (2004; Gr 7 Up) opens with the fiery final moments of a distant planet, as a desperate Lara and Jor-El place their beloved infant aboard a small starcraft. Twenty-five years later, the last son of Krypton has left his adopted home of Smallville, Kansas, to travel abroad, launch a journalism career, and figure out how he fits in. Filled with a sense of destiny and longing to use his abilities without causing fear among those around him, he decides to make his powers known, while hiding in plain sight behind the facade—and horned rim glasses— of a purposefully mousy Clark Kent. Superman strips off his button down shirt and makes his debut when unmanned military copters go rogue and endanger Metropolis. Not only is evil genius Lex Luthor pulling the strings behind the attack, but he’s also pushing the public into an anti-Superman hysteria. Sparkling with humor and heartfelt emotion, this origin tale flashes back to a teenage relationship between Clark and Lex, tackles themes of isolation and alienation, and headlines a wonderfully bossy, ballsy, and bright Lois Lane. Featuring a square-jawed Superman, the artwork blends stunning colors with strong lines and bold angles to deliver mythic-scale, kapow-worthy action. The otherworldly protagonist has an innocence and cornball candor that makes him endearingly human.

In Geoff Johns and Richard Donner’s gripping graphic novel, Superman: Last Son of Krypton (DC Comics, 2013; Gr 7 Up), treads new territory when a mysterious rocket crashes to Earth with a single passenger—a young boy identified as Kryptonian—and he steps into the role of parent. Things look dire when General Zod arrives, claiming the boy as his own and intending to transform a conquered Earth into New Krypton, but the child ultimately proves himself a pint-size hero. In a second adventure, Superman tangles with the terrifying Braniac, an artificial intelligence/cyborg bent on “collecting” specimens of species across the galaxy, miniaturizing entire cities, and destroying civilizations (and Earth is the latest target). Action-packed and vibrantly told, this volume includes appearances by Lex Luthor and Supergirl, and a visit to the extra-dimensional (and eerily illustrated) Phantom Zone. The dynamic artwork varies between large-size portraits and rapid-paced panels that illustrate events and add to characterizations.

Bounding from witty to jubilant and movingly tragic, Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s All-Star Superman (DC Comics, 2011; Gr 7 Up) offers an imaginative, thoughtful, and satisfying take on the “Man of Steel” mythos. Exposed to a lethal dose of solar radiation during a rescue mission, the seemingly invincible Superman faces death. Resolved to use his remaining time wisely, he reveals his secret identity to his ladylove Lois Lane (she doesn’t believe him), gifts her with a potion that allows her temporary superhero status, writes his last will and testament, and saves the day (several times). Meanwhile, Lex Luthor, who is on death row, still manages to sit pretty and engineer evil plots galore. Perfectly paced, the 12 episodes describe individual storylines, with all of the elements and themes interconnecting in clever ways. Moments of introspection and candid emotion are balanced with high-flying antics and humor. The precisely detailed artwork is aglow with luminous hues that augment both action and emotion.

Part of DC Comics’ recently rebooted “New 52” lineup, Morrison’s Action Comics: Superman and the Men of Steel (DC Comics, 2012; Gr 7 Up) features a T-shirt (yes, it’s blue and the symbol is still there), worn jeans, and work-boot-wearing novice who eagerly takes on gangsters and performs valiant rescues. Meanwhile, the loathsome Lex Luthor advises an uneasy military on ways to control what he deems a “powerful and parasitic alien organism.”  However, the real battle is on when Braniac arrives and Earth is in the cross-hairs. Flashbacks and imaginative strokes complete the origin tale of this just-getting-his feet-wet hero, as he tests his abilities, wins the heart of Metropolis, and defines his future role. A fresh and contemporary re-envisioning, illustrated with explosive and muscle-bound artwork.

Superman’s World

Daniel Wallace’s Superman: The Ultimate Guide to the Man of Steel (DK, 2013; Gr 7 Up) provides a comprehensive overview of the character and his ever-evolving comic-book oeuvre. Illustrated throughout with vibrant and crisply reproduced comic book artwork, two-page entries treat Superman’s 1938 origins, costume, powers and weaknesses, home world and Earth locales, allies and enemies, and much more. Perspective is provided on changes and themes associated with different comics eras (from Golden Age to the New 52) with reference to historical events and cultural trends. Key issues are highlighted throughout with backgrounds and plot summaries. Dazzling artwork and lively writing make this a fun-to-browse treat and go-to reference for graphic-novel fans and movie viewers who want to know more.

Publication Information

STRACZYNSKI, J. Michael. Superman Earth One. Vol. 1. illus. by Shane Davis. DC Comics. 2010. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781401224684; pap. $12.99. ISBN 9781401224691.

_____. Superman Earth One. Vol. 2. DC Comics. 2012. Tr $22.99. ISBN 9781401231965.

WAID, Mark. Superman Birthright. illus. by Leinil Francis Yu. DC Comics. 2004. pap. $19.99. ISBN 9781401202521.

JOHNS, Geoff & Richard Donner. Superman: Last Son of Krypton. illus. by Adam Kubert, Gary Frank, & Jon Sibal. DC Comics. 2013. pap. $19.99. ISBN 9781401237790.

MORRISON, Grant. All-Star Superman. illus. by Frank Quitely. DC Comics. 2011. pap. $29.99. ISBN 9781401232054.

_____. Action Comics: Superman and the Men of Steel. illus. by Rags Morales & Andy Kubert. DC Comics. 2012. pap. $16.99. ISBN 9781401235475.

WALLACE, Daniel. Superman: The Ultimate Guide to the Man of Steel. DK. 2013. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9781465408754.

In this latest installment of our roundup of new book-based releases, you’ll find updates on already touted future movies as well as news of recent titles that have been optioned for future projects.

Coming Soon

The following adaptations, in order of release date, will be debuting in movie theaters in the coming weeks and months.

Following the success of the Academy Award-winning animated short The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, William Joyce’s picture book, The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs (HarperCollins, 1996), will make its way to the big screen as a longer animated film entitled Epic (PG). Directed by Chris Wedge, and featuring the voices of Josh Hutcherson (Nod), Amanda Seyfried (Mary Katherine), Colin Farrell (Ronin), Jason Sudeikis (Bomba), and Beyoncé Knowles (Queen Tara), it’s coming to theaters on May 24.

Queen of teen lit Judy Blume’s 1981 young adult classic Tiger Eyes is finally getting a  theatrical debut; the big screen and video-on-demand releases are set for June 7. Directed by Blume’s son Lawrence, the film was given the green light for a film adaptation after more than 30 years in print. It chronicles the story of Davey (played by Willa Holland) a young girl attempting to cope with the sudden death of her father. Amy Jo Johnson (Gwen Wexler) and Tatanka Means (Wolf – Martin Ortiz) also lead the cast.

Based on Tim Tharp’s 2008 National Book Award YA finalist (Knopf, 2007), The Spectacular Now is making the rounds a several independent film circuits, including the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. Directed by Alexandre Aja and showcasing the rising teen stars Miles Teller (Sutter) and Shailene Woodley (Amy), it will have a limited release this summer starting August 2.

Logan Lerman returns to his demigod roots on August 7 in Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, the sequel to Percy Jackson: Lightning Thief, both based on Rick Riordan’s bestselling series. Much of the cast has returned, including Brandon T. Jackson (Grover Underwood) and Alexandra Daddario  (Annabeth Chase). Some new characters to watch for are Douglas Smith as Tyson, Percy’s half-brother, and Leven Rambin as Clarisse La Rue, the daughter of Ares.

Forget about vampires and werewolves—on August 23, the Nephilim (or super-powered half-angels) will take over in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, the adaptation of Cassandra Clare’s bestselling series (S & S). Lily Collins portrays Clary Fray, a New York City teen who is thrown in the middle of a secret world of demons when her mother (Lena Headey) is attacked by one. Then she meets Jace (Jamie Campbell Bower), who is the key to understanding who (or what) she really is.

No list would be complete without including the next chapter of the “Hunger Games” phenomenon. Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss), Josh Hutcherson (Peeta), and (Liam Hemsworth) Gale reprise their roles in the action-packed Catching Fire on November 22. Joining the love triangle is a new cast of characters and the talented actors that will portray them, including Jena Malone (Johanna Mason), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Plutarch Heavensbee), and Amanda Plummer (Wiress).

In the Pipeline

Below are several book-to-movie adaptations scheduled to hit theaters next year, for which fans are already anxiously waiting.

The Maze Runner (Delacorte, 2009) by James Dashner is set for a February 14, 2014, release date; the film will be directed by Wes Bell from a screenplay by Noah Oppenheim (redrafted by Grant Myers and T.S. Nowlin), for 20th Century Fox. Leading the cast will be Dylan O’Brien; with Will Poulter (Gally) and Kaya Scodelario (Teresa) also on board to star.

Divergent (HarperCollins, 2011) by Veronica Roth will be released on March 21, 2014, directed by Neil Burger from a screenplay by Evan Daugherty. The star-studded cast began filming April 8 in Chicago, where the futuristic story is set. Getting a “Hunger Games” treatment, the up-and-coming Shailene Woodley (Tris Prior) plays the lead, and she will be surrounded by industry veterans, including Kate Winslet (Jeanine Matthews), Theo James (Four), Jai Courtney (Eric), Ashley Judd (Natalie Prior), Tony Goldwyn (Andrew Prior), Mekhi Phifer (Max), Maggie Q (Tori),  and Zoë Kravitz (Christina).

Classics, At Last

Below are a few book-to-movie adaptations that fans have been awaiting for a long, long time.

Disney’s live-action movie based on Judith Viorst’s 1972 well-known picture book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (S & S) is making tiny steps closer to the screen. Miguel Arteta is set to direct, and Lisa Cholodenko and Rob Lieber are writing the screenplay. Steve Carrell and Jennifer Garner are set to take on the roles of Alexander’s parents.

Madeleine L’Engle’s beloved A Wrinkle in Time (Farrar, 1962) is to finally be made into a feature film with a script written by Jeff Stockwell, who penned the screen adaptation of A Bridge to Terabithia for Disney in 2007. Disney currently has the rights to the book and is working on the new version with Bedrock, which had negotiated rights to the property from the L’Engle estate.

And while Jane Austen’s first published novel has been remade again and again, a new iteration might be making it to the big screen that is quite different than its predecessors. Panorama will produce, finance, and rep foreign sales for a film adaptation of the bestselling mash-up novel Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (Quirk, 2009) by Seth Grahame-Smith. David O. Russell has written the screenplay but is not officially attached yet as director. Several producers and directors have been linked to the project in the past few years, with Natalie Portman reportedly cast in the lead. However, many of principals have left the project, and Lily Collins announced recently that she will be starring.

Building Buzz

Several more adaptations have been announced in recenty, although firm details about those projects are continuing to unfold.

John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars (Dutton, 2012) will be produced by Fox 2000 and directed by Josh Boone from a screenplay by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber. It will star Shailene Woodley (Hazel), yet the role of Augustus “Gus” Waters has not yet been cast. Currently it’s one of the most sought after roles in Hollywood, with many young male actors vying and testing for the part. Some of those actors in the running are Brenton Thwaites, Nat Wolff, Nick Robinson, Noah Silver, and Ansel Elgort. Rumored to be in the running: Logan Lerman and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Stay tuned!

Made official only yesterday, Lionsgate has hired Jack Thorne to adapt R.J. Palacio’s bestselling and award-winning Wonder (Knopf, 2012). David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman are producing for Mandeville Films.

Stephanie Sanditz is writing the screenplay for a film adaptation of Cassandra Clare’s “The Infernal Devices” (S & S)  for Constantin Film.

Piers Ashworth is writing the screenplay based on Kristin Cashore’s Graceling (Harcourt, 2008) for Reliance Entertainment & Kintop Pictures. The film version will be produced by Deepak Nayar, Tabrez Noorani and Leigh Ann Burton.

Director Mikael Håfström has signed on to direct an adaptation of Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams’s Tunnels (Scholastic/Chicken House, 2007) for Relativity Media. The screenplay is being written by Andrew Lobel, Joel Bergvall, and Simon Sandquist.

Producer David Heyman is eyeing an adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone (Holt, 2012).

CBS Films is pursuing film versions of Marie Lu’s Legend and Prodigy (Putnam), with Jonathan Levine attached as director.

Stuart Beattie is writing a screenplay of Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Little, Brown, 2011) for producers Joe Roth and Palek Patel at Universal Pictures.

Michael Scott is writing the screenplay to adapt his own book The Alchemyst (Random, 2008) for producers Mario Andreacchio, Konstantin Thoeren, Stefan Brunner, and Scott and Barry Krost at AMPCO Films. Eric Bress was previously attached as director, but has reportedly dropped out of the project.

Annie Sage’s Septimus Heap: Magyk (HarperCollins, 2004) is getting a screenplay written by Peter Craig for producers Karen Rosenfelt and Angie Sage at Warner Bros. David Frankel is set to direct.

Director Rob Letterman has signed on for an adaptation of R. L. Stine’s Goosebumps (Scholastic) from producer Neal H. Moritz, for Sony Pictures and Scholastic Entertainment.

Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman will take on Patrick Ness’s Chaos Walking: The Knife of Never Letting Go (Candlewick, 2008) for Doug Davison at Lionsgate.

Catherine Fisher’s Incarceron (Dial, 2010) has been newly optioned by AMBER Entertainments, replacing its previous agreement with Fox that had Taylor Lautner attached to star.

Producers Tobey Maguire and Graham King are looking to bring Rick Yancey’s The 5th Wave (Putnam, 2013) to the screen through GK Films.

Producers David Katzenberg and Seth Grahame-Smith are bringing Maggie Stiefvater’s The Scorpio Races (Scholastic, 2011) to the big screen with Warner Bros.

Director Tim Burton will be adapting Ransom Riggs’s Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (Quirk, 2011) from a screenplay by Jane Goldman.

Warner Brothers, Heyday Films, and Benderspink will be collaborating on Dan Krokos’s The Planet Thieves (Tor, 2013). Producers Pouya Shahbazian and David Heyman are reportedly attached.

Meanwhile, on the Small Screen

Film producers aren’t the only ones mining the bookshelf for great ideas. Production is already underway for such popular series as Lauren Oliver’s Delirium (HarperCollins) and The Selection (HarperCollins, 2012) by Kiera Cass. The re-vamped pilot of Cass’s work is cross between The Bachelorette and the “Hunger Games” series; the now older cast stars Yael Grobglas (America Singer), Michael Malarkey (Prince Maxon), Celia Massingham (Celeste), and Lucien Laviscount (Aspen Leger). The CW drama is being written by Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain, and directed by Alex Graves.

Shonda Rhimes, creator of ABC television shows Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, and Scandal, is producing a version of Debra Driza’s sci-fi thriller MILA 2.0 (HarperCollins, 2013). Dave DiGilio will write the drama project, with Betsy Beers also producing.

FilmColony has acquired Lizabeth Zindel’s Girl of the Moment (Viking, 2007), hoping to adapt the YA novel as a half-hour comedy series. Development executive Melanie Donkers will produce, with Richard N. Gladstein and Zindel signed on as writers.

As-Yet Unpublished

Several film adaptations are reportedly in the works for as-yet unpublished works.

Acquired in a major literary auction, Cristin Terrill’s debut novel All Our Yesterdays, set to be published by Disney-Hyperion this September, has already been optioned by Global Produce and Gold Circle Entertainment. Brian Miller has been tapped to adapt Terrill’s novel for film. The book is “set in the near-future when a young woman must travel back in time to kill her first love before he destroys her present-day world,” according to the publisher.

Columbia Pictures has preemptively acquired the rights to Arwen Elys Dayton’s YA novel Seeker (Delacorte, 2015), with the Mark Gordon Company attached to produce the film adaptation. Producers include Hannah Minghella and Michele Wolkoff, with Rachel O’Connor and Eric Fineman. The futuristic trilogy will focus on Quin Kincaid “who has been put through years of brutal training for what she thinks is the noble purpose of becoming a revered ‘Seeker.’ Only when it’s too late does she discover she will be using her new found knowledge and training to become an assassin,” according to the publisher.

Slated for publication in 2014 by Penguin, the first title in Sally Green’s new series of books will be adapted for the screen by producer Karen Rosenfelt for Fox. Half Bad launches the series about two factions of witches that are locked in an eternal battle between evil and good.

Shane Black takes over duties as director from Jon Favreau, who helmed the first two Iron Man offerings, who serves here as executive producer, and continues his recurring role as steadfast bodyguard and chauffeur, Happy Hogan. Also returning are Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, Stark Industries CEO and Tony’s one true love, and Don Cheadle as Col. James “Rhodey” Rhodes, Stark’s trusted friend, liaison to the U.S. Air Force, and pilot of the War Machine armor suit (newly upgraded and emblazoned in red, white, and blue).

Still reeling from events depicted in The Avengers and struggling to define his identity as Iron Man, Stark comes face to face with a new foe. Not only does this malevolent leader of an extremist terrorist organization threaten the nation, but the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) also strikes at those Tony holds dearest. Meanwhile, the mysteries surrounding the Extremis virus, a serum that imparts incredible strength and healing abilities to human subjects, grow deeper. With his world in tatters, Tony must rely on his innate talents and inventiveness to regroup and rebuild, search for those responsible, and seek out retribution. The cast also includes Guy Pearce as Aldrich Killian, head of a private organization tasked with developing Extremis, and Rebecca Hall as Dr. Maya Hansen, one of the virus’s creators.

Send teens to the official movie website to check out video trailers and featurettes, browse a gallery of photos, and access character bios and downloads. Those looking for a more in-depth preview of the action can download a “Production Notes” PDF (in the “About” section) for behind-the-scenes insights from the filmmakers and actors. Fans can also jet over to the Marvel website for the latest Iron Man 3 news, including a look at Stark’s stash of sleek new armor suits, a series of revealing interviews with movie producer Kevin Feige, and Q&As with cast members.

Books

Beef up your selection of tales about the Golden Avenger with offerings sure to appeal to teen movie—and comics—fans.

Movie Tie-in Graphic Novel

Displaying colorful film photos on both front and back covers (with more movie images inside), Iron Man 3: Prelude (Marvel, 2013; Gr 7 Up) will get readers geared up for the latest installment. The book opens with a graphic novel adaptation of Iron Man 2, which recounts the movie’s plot particulars. As the fast-moving events unfold, Tony is pressured by the U.S. government to turn over his technology, makes contact with Nick Fury and the folks at S.H.I.E.L.D, and repeatedly encounters a brawny and brilliant enemy from his family’s past. It all comes down to a dramatic showdown, made worse when Rhodey’s weapons-laden battle suit prototype (War Machine) is co-opted by the bad guys.

Next up is “Prelude,” an original story that serves as precursor to the new film. Tony presents Rhodey with an improved War Machine suit and tasks him with holding down the hero fort while he completes work on Stark Tower. Kept busy fighting terrorists (who are eventually revealed to be minions of the Mandarin), Rhodey is on the other side of the globe just as Iron Man and his super-powered allies deal with “a situation” in New York City (i.e., the climactic scene in The Avengers movie). Focusing mostly on Rhodey’s escapades, the story establishes War Machine as a courageous, quick-thinking, front-and-center hero, and foreshadows several of the movie’s plot elements. In both stories, clear scripting, bright-hued artwork, and a whirlwind of explosive exploits keep pages turning quickly. The book ends with an excerpt from Iron Man Extremis (see below).

An Extremis Makeover

While the Mandarin is based on a comic book super villain who has taunted Iron Man for decades, other elements of the new movie’s plot find their inspiration in a more recent graphic novel. First published in a six-issue story arc in 2005 and now reissued in a single volume, Warren Ellis and Adi Granov’s Iron Man Extremis (Marvel, 2013; Gr 8 Up) offers an innovative revamping of the armored hero. Struggling with guilt and regret, Stark tries to move beyond the consequences of a past spent designing and selling arms to and define a different sort of future. Meanwhile, a small-time terrorist gets his hands on Extremis, a “super-soldier” solution that hacks into the brain to rewrite—and rev up—the subject’s DNA. Now possessing incredible strength, impenetrable skin, and a knack for breathing fire, Mallen goes on a killing rampage.

When Maya Hansen, the serum’s creator, calls on her old friend Tony for help, Iron Man finds himself woefully outgunned. Gravely injured, Tony is brought back to Maya’s lab and risks taking the only remaining dose of Extremis. He emerges totally healed, fully upgraded (with the ability to store his armor’s undersheath in the hollows of his bones, control it with his thoughts, and access electronic systems worldwide), and ready to rumble. Flashbacks recount Iron Man’s origins and other pieces of the past. Done in graphite grays and deep jewel tones, the detailed artwork has a photorealistic feel that adds nuance to the characters, depicts the fiery (often bloody) action, and suits the story’s ambiance[SD1] . Themes such as taking responsibility for one’s actions, the relevancy and role of the man behind the armor, and the function of technology in the future are deftly incorporated into the breathless battle action.

Marie Javins has written a prose adaptation of Ellis’s graphic novel. Graced with an eye-grabbing cover, Iron Man Extremis (Marvel, 2013; Gr 7 Up) follows the plot basics of the original, while also mixing in bits and pieces of Downey’s signature portrayal of the character and elements from the movie universe. Basic incidents and dialogue are more fleshed out, and the author adds numerous scenes and interactions, including glimpses at Tony’s relationship with Pepper (who does not appear in the graphic novel and remains offstage here) and several escapades that highlight the view from within the suit. Touches of often irreverent humor are sprinkled throughout the narrative, which explores many of the same themes as Ellis’s work. The book’s climax is a bit more spun out, with an emphasis placed on the importance of striving to bring about positive change and the value of second chances. This novel offers a change of pace for comics devotees and an inviting read for movie fans.

Written by Kieron Gillen with art by Greg Land, Iron Man: Believe (Marvel, 2013; Gr 8 Up) kicks into gear when Tony receives an urgent message. Kidnapped and forced to reconstruct Extremis for sale on the black market, Maya Hansen manages to contact him before she is killed. Well aware of the potential danger, Iron Man is determined to track down—and shut down—each of the Extremis enhanciles (the doses contains a hidden and traceable power signature).

Storyline flashbacks and present-day action combine, as the hero’s quest leads him to a malignantly misguided modern-day King Arthur cult. The adventure continues in the home of a Colombian drug kingpin who has a surprisingly compassionate plan for utilizing the virus, then goes under Paris and into the Catacombs for a creepy encounter with hideous homemade demons. Iron Man reaches new heights in a vessel orbiting around Earth where an old friend plans to use Extremis to adapt the human body for deep-space travel. While bad guys abound, so do themes about dreaming big, envisioning the future, and taking on new challenges. The script is sharp and filled with intelligent dialogue as well as one-line zingers, and the slick artwork depicts a self-confident, suave, and square-jawed Stark along with an arsenal of spectacular armor suits, each with its own amazing capabilities

More Ironclad Epics

Set in Marvel’s Ultimate Universe, Nathan Edmondson and Matteo Buffagni’s Ultimate Comics: Iron Man (Marvel, 2013; Gr 8 Up) blasts into vibrant action right from page one, as the hero stops a weapons heist by halting a speeding train. The pace never slows as Tony tangles with the Mandarin (in this alternate realitya shrouded-in-mystery industrial group) and control of dangerous Stark defense satellites hangs in the balance. Flashbacks reveal details of Tony’s relationship with his father, gradually teasing out deep-buried secrets. Reckless and brazen, Tony drops witty remarks as he battles both foes and inner demons. The artwork’s dazzling colors and clean lines keep in step with the non-stop action. Film fans will enjoy a visit to this universe, where iconic characters are re-imagined.

In Iron Man: Season One (Marvel, 2013; Gr 10 Up), Howard Chaykin and Gerald Parel provide an updated version of the hero’s origin tale. Rather than the Cold War backdrop that defined the character’s 1963 comic book debut, or the deserts of the Middle East depicted in the movie franchise, this re-envisioning sets the cataclysmic events in the late 20^th century in a war-torn nation somewhere on the Asian subcontinent. Injured during an on-site visit to Chardistan, the defense industry mogul is kidnapped by terrorists (lead by Maouad Khouri, an old college friend) and forced to work with Professor Yin Sen to build a weapon. Of course, they come up with the Iron Man suit and an audacious plan for escape instead, one that leaves the encampment in ruins and, tragically, results in Yin Sen’s death.

As Tony slowly makes his way home, Stark Industries is besieged by corruption from within, placing the ever-honest Pepper in danger, and Khouri comes back from death’s door, missing several limbs but boosted up with his own armored suit and an insatiable hunger for vengeance. Chaykin strips away more romanticized versions of the protagonist to reveal a troubled, hard-drinking Stark, who gradually begins to feel guilt and remorse over the deadly consequences of his actions, develops a true sense of accountability, and experiences a moment of stunning clarity that sets his course for the future. Like the story, the artwork tends toward darker tones, with sepia hues and soft edges that mix gritty realism with brightly lit epiphanies. Compelling, contemporary, and multifaceted, Season One presents fresh insights into the character while reiterating the timeless qualities that have made Iron Man a decades-enduring hero.

For Younger Teens

Part of Marvel’s “All Ages” lineup, Iron Man (ABDO 2013; Gr 4-8) collects together five tales of the Golden Guardian’s capers told with a lighter touch. Spanning from Fred Van Lente’s “Heart of Steel” (an origin story telling how Iron Man is forged when Tony is captured by the terrorist group A.I.M.) to an adventure that pits the hero and other Avengers against the Mandarin and his incredible rings of power (and an immortal giant-size ant), the brisk-reading offerings are fueled by a satisfying blend of suspense and humor. Zippy dialogue abounds, as do comic beats. The skirmishes are vibrantly depicted in the clean-looking artwork, with plenty of fist-flinging, laser-lobbing, building-decimating action (but no blood). If you’re looking to fill out your graphic novel collection, “Heart of Steel” and a selection of other Iron Man tales in the “Marvel Age” series are available in durable, single-volume library editions from ABDO/Spotlight. Great choices for kids who like their comics heavy on humor, action, and imagination.

Publication Information

GAGE, Christos, et al. Iron Man 3: Prelude. illus. by Ramon Rosanas et al. Marvel. 2013. pap. $14.99. ISBN 978-0-7851-6551-4.

ELLIS, Warren. Iron Man Extremis. illus. by Adi Granov. Marvel. 2013. pap. $14.99. ISBN 978-0-7851-8378-5.

JAVINS, Marie. Iron Man Extremis. Marvel. 2013. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-0-7851-6518-7.

GILLEN, Kieron. Iron Man, Vol. 1: Believe. illus. by Greg Land. Marvel. 2013. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-0-7851-6833-1.

EDMONDSON, Nathan. Ultimate Comics: Iron Man. illus. by Matteo Buffagni. Marvel. 2013. pap. $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7851-6617-7.

CHAYKIN, Howard. Iron Man: Season One. illus. by Gerald Parel. Marvel. 2013. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-0-7851-6670-2.

VAN LENTE, Fred, Jeff Parker, Paul Tobin, et al. Iron Man. illus. by Scott Koblish, James Cordeiro, et al. Marvel. 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-7851-6794-5.

Chadwick Boseman plays Robinson, who is signed to the Brooklyn Dodgers by the team’s forward- thinking general manager, Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford). Both men face a maelstrom of criticism, as Robinson encounters hostility from the public, the press, and even other ballplayers. Wanting to fight back but aware of the stakes, Robinson is determined to rely on his athletic abilities to win over fans, sway his teammates, and change the course of the future.

Kids can visit the movie’s website for a preview. It’s a captivating, inspiring, and important story, and young moviegoers will want to know more about Robinson’s groundbreaking accomplishments as well as his life and times. Recommend these books to readers to shine light on a watershed piece of American history, illustrate the role that individuals can play to bring about change, and encourage the next generation of ballplayers to dream big.

42: The Official Movie Novel.  Aaron Rosenberg, adapt. Scholastic. 2013. pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-0-545-53753-7. Gr 3–6.

Film fans can relive the movie’s events and emotions through this fast-paced novelization, filled with crisp dialogue and game action. The difficult challenges Robinson faces on and off the field—racist taunts, day-to-day effects of segregation, threats of violence—are depicted, underscoring the intensity of the situation and emphasizing the depth of his commitment to his cause. Eight pages of full-color movie photos are included along with two archival images of Robinson.

Henry Aaron’s Dream. By Matt Tavares. illus. by author. Candlewick. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-3224-3; pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5820-5. Gr 3–5.

Growing up in segregated Alabama in the 1940s, Henry’s dream of entering the big leagues seemed way out of reach, until Jackie Robinson played his first game for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Inspired and encouraged, the young athlete followed Robinson’s career closely, while slowly making his way to the majors and a spot on the Milwaukee Braves. Tavares’s lyrical narrative culminates in 1954 when the Braves played an exhibition game against the Dodgers, and Henry shared the field with his hero. Large, lush-hued watercolors illustrate this picture book biography, depicting the personalities and adding game-time thrills.

Jackie Robinson: American Hero. By Sharon Robinson. Scholastic. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-56915-6; pap. $4.99. ISBN 978-0-545-54006-3.Gr 2–4.

The author’s accessible overview of her father’s life combines lively writing with an appealing assortment of ballpark and family snapshots. Brief chapters cover topics chronologically and conclude with a look at Robinson’s legacy as an athlete, family man, and equal- rights advocate. Explanations about the particulars of the time period, such as Jim Crow laws, are smoothly integrated into the easy-to-follow narrative, and unfamiliar terms are bolded in the text and defined in a glossary. The book’s large font and open layout will hit home with newly confident readers.

The Story of the Negro Leagues. By Bo Smolka. ISBN 978-1- 61783-510-0; ISBN 978-1-61480-125-2. The Negro Leagues’ Integration Era. _________. ISBN 978 -1-61783-509-4; ISBN 978-1-1480-124-5.
Great Hitters of the Negro Leagues. By Paul Hoblin. ISBN 978-1-61783-507-0; ISBN 978-1-61480-122-1.
Great Pitchers of the Negro Leagues. _________. ISBN 978-1-61783-508-7; ISBN 978-1-61480-123-8. ea vol: (The Negro Baseball Leagues Series). ABDO. 2013. PLB $22.95; ebook $22.95. Gr 4–8.

This series incorporates clearly written narratives, primary quotes, and a handsome layout packed with archival photos. Smolka recounts The Story of the Negro Leagues from their birth in the 1920s through their crowd-pleasing heyday to their decline after the color line was broken, while Integration Era focuses more closely on Robinson and other individuals who followed his difficult path. Both titles make sound connections to historical and social issues while also highlighting the talents, personalities, and fast-paced playing styles of the athletes. Kids who want to know more about the league’s legendary players such as slugger Josh Gibson and hurler Satchel Paige will enjoy dipping into Hoblin’s Great Hitters and Great Pitchers. Biographical profiles mix amazing on-the-field accomplishments with entertaining anecdotes, all with an eye to the issues of the times. Solid choices for baseball buffs, these books will also support a variety of curriculum subjects.

Promises to Keep: How Jackie Robinson Changed America. By Sharon Robinson. Scholastic. 2004. pap. $6.99. ISBN 9780439678759. Gr 4–8.

Robinson chronicles the life of her father, describing not only his younger years and boundary-breaking experiences, but also his post-baseball career as a corporate businessman, work as a civil rights activist, and role as community leader. Though the book remains endearingly personal in tone, incorporating family anecdotes and insights, the author also presents lucid background about historical issues and events. The numerous illustrations include family snapshots, ballpark images, reproductions from magazines and newspapers, and love letters written by Robinson to his wife. An intimate and inviting tribute.

Play Ball, Jackie! By Stephen Krensky. illus. by Joe Morse. Millbrook. 2011. RTE $16.95. ISBN 978-0-822-59030-9. Gr 2–5.

Robinson’s historic Major League debut is described from the perspective of a young Dodgers devotee who watches from the grandstands with his father. Though some fans greet the rookie with heckling and hostility, his perseverance, skill, and all-out effort soon win over Matty, who leaves the stadium proudly wearing an “I’m for Jackie” button. The chiseled, sepia-hued illustrations explode with kinetic game-time action, powerful emotion, and details that colorfully establish the setting. This rousing fictional tale concludes with a historical note and photos.

Teammates. By Peter Golenbock. illus. by Paul Bacon. Houghton Harcourt. 1990. Tr $17. ISBN 9780152006037; pap. $6.99. ISBN 9780152842864; ebook $6.99. ISBN 9780547545592. K–Gr 6.

After providing a succinct overview of segregated society in the 1940s, the vast differences between life in the Negro Leagues and the Majors, and Jackie Robinson’s valiant first steps toward integration, Golenbock zooms in on a game played in 1947 against the Reds in Cincinnati. When local fans began to yell “terrible, hateful things” at Robinson, Dodgers shortstop Pee Wee Reese decided to “take a stand.” He walked over to his teammate and put his arm around his shoulder, a simple gesture that spoke volumes. Airy watercolors are interspersed with black-and-white historical photos, adding depth and detail to a pivotal moment.

Testing the Ice: A True Story about Jackie Robinson. By Sharon Robinson. illus. by Kadir Nelson. Scholastic. 2009. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-05251-1. Gr 1–4.

Robinson’s charming childhood memoir paints a portrait of a loving father whose life was defined by courage and caring for others. After the family moved to a wooded property in Connecticut in 1955, Jackie often fielded questions from the wide-eyed neighborhood children about his entry into Major League Baseball. However, for young Sharon, her father’s bravery was truly brought home by a much more personal moment: when the Robinson offspring and their friends wanted to go ice skating on the frozen lake in their backyard, Dad readily stepped onto the surface to test the ice and ensure its safety—even though he couldn’t swim. Nelson’s rich-hued oil paintings command the eye to convey dramatic scenes of Robinson’s career and cozy interludes shared with loved ones.

We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. By Kadir Nelson. illus. by author. Hyperion. 2008. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-7868-0832-8. Gr 3–Up.

“We are the ship; all else is the sea.” In this book titled after a quote from Rube Foster, founder of the Negro National League, Nelson takes on the voice of an elderly player from the past. Comfortable as a worn-in baseball shoe, flavored with nostalgia, the text unwinds like an oral history, providing lots of fervor but never stinting on the facts. Well-organized chapters cover all of the bases, introducing the athletes and their audacious style of play while also touching upon challenges faced in a segregated society. Showcased on single pages and full spreads, the stunning paintings match the sparkle of the narrative, providing realistic images of these unsung heroes that glow with blazing courage and cool self- confidence. An excellent and engaging overview.

When Jackie and Hank Met. By Cathy Goldberg Fishman. illus. by Mark Elliott. Marshall Cavendish. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-7614-6140-1. Gr 1–4.

This picture book presents side-by-side profiles of Robinson and Hank Greenberg, one of the first Jewish players in the Major League, both of whom possessed a love of the game, encountered prejudice on the field and off, and were determined to prove that baseball was “about talent, not about color or religion.” The geographical distance separating the two men is emphasized throughout the story (they were born 1000 miles apart, served on different continents during WW II, etc.), making all the more compelling the moment when they finally met (Jackie slid hard into Hank at first base during a 1947 Dodgers vs. Pirates game, resulting not in a fistfight, but a friendship). Stately paintings illustrate the text, which ends with biographical notes, chronologies, and resources.

BRENNAN, Herbie. The Secret Prophecy. Balzer and Bray. 2012. 9780062071804. JLG Level: MM : Mystery/Adventure Middle & HS (Grades 7–11).

Just when he seems to be recovering, Em is shocked when his father dies. His ordinary life goes out of control when strangers with guns attend the funeral. His father’s office is ransacked, but a search reveals that nothing of value is missing. Em overhears his mother say his father was murdered, but who would murder a university professor? And why? In Paris, a narrow escape with his friend Charlotte builds his suspicions. After his mom is surprisingly institutionalized, she confirms that his life is in danger. Was his dad really murdered for a discovered secret prophecy? If Em doesn’t know anything about it, why is his own life in danger?

Not since Snape pushed Dumbledore out of the tower has an adventure taken so many surprising turns. Readers won’t want to miss this tale of international intrigue that reads like a James Bond film.

LANE, Andrew. Black Ice: Sherlock Holmes, The Legend Begins. Farrar. 2013. 9780374387693. JLG Level: MM : Mystery/Adventure Middle & HS (Grades 7–11).

Visiting his brother in London was supposed to be a bit of a holiday―especially after surviving a harrowing adventure in America. Stumbling right into a mystery, Holmes must find a way to prove his brother, Mycroft, is not the murderer that the evidence seems to indicate. Feral children, underground London, and an attack falcon keep the pace moving, but the motive is unrevealed. Fearing that Holmes could be taken hostage, Mycroft takes his brother (and Crane, Holmes’s tutor) in disguise to Russia. Along the way, the future detective learns to use theatrical disguises, continues to draw inferences on observations, and take steps toward becoming a world famous crime solver. What is Mycroft hiding? Can his brother save him from hanging?

Lane’s work is the first teen series endorsed by the Arthur Conan Doyle Estate. Black Ice is Book Three of Holmes’s journey from teenager to adult.

LAWRENCE, Caroline. P. K. Pinkerton and the Petrified Man. Putnam. 2013. 9780399256349. JLG Level: C+ : Advanced Readers (Grades 6–9).

Finally realizing his dream, 12-year-old Pinkerton opens a detective agency in the silver mining town of Virginia City, NV. Told in flashbacks (as P. K. is in jail for murder), the young detective’s naïve voice keeps the drama and roughness of the Old West from seeming too harsh. He finally gets his first real case when former slave Martha’s boss is murdered. The frightened girl fears for her life, as she witnessed the crime. But P. K. has no time to waste, since his own life is in danger as he and his card shark pal try to read faces and actions to solve the mystery. Run-ins with journalist Samuel Clemens (who actually worked in Virginia City) and other slivers of history blend with the action for an irrestible Wild West adventure.

Cliffhanging chapters and a touch of humor move the plot along. Volume two in the series, readers will want to backtrack and find out how the crime fighter got enough cash to start his business.

SHEINKIN, Steve. Lincoln’s Grave Robbers. Scholastic. 2012. 9780545405720. JLG Level: NM : Nonfiction Middle & HS (Grades 5-8).

In the days after Lincoln was president, counterfeiting was a huge problem. Who were the men who investigated and captured the criminals? The Secret Service. It took the assassination of three presidents before the Secret Service’s responsibilities became the safety of the highest governmental official. In 1876, master counterfeiter Benjamin Boyd is in prison, which has caused a rippling effect in the “coney,” or fake money, business. An extraordinary plan is hatched: kidnap President Lincoln for ransom and the release of their leader. The problem? They’ll have to steal his corpse from the cemetery and hide it without being caught.

Sheinkin’s (Bomb, 2012) latest nonfiction narrative is written like a true crime thriller.  Readers get an historical view of a crime that was doomed from its inception and the less-than-perfect attempt by the Secret Service to prevent it.

For these and other fabulous books for teens, search Junior Library Guild.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

Nearing the end of a five-year-mission, Jack spends his time on the surface doing his job, exploring the relics of a bygone era, and avoiding the deadly threat of alien ambush. However, when he rescues a beautiful woman from a crash-landed spacecraft, Jack unexpectedly finds himself thrust into circumstances that place him in grave danger, causing him to question everything he knows about the past and his society—as well as himself, which may very well impact the future of mankind. The cast also includes Olga Kurylenko, Andrea Riseborough, Melissa Leo, and Morgan Freeman. Teens can access video previews, a photo gallery, and the latest news at the official website.

The Future of Earth: Great Reads for Movie Fans

Update your collections with a selection of novels that prophesize an often earth-shattering (sometimes literally), tantalizingly thought-provoking, and always page-turning future for our planet and humankind. Ranging from no-holds-barred dystopian epics to environmental disaster sagas to classic sci-fi with a modern twist, these selections are revved up with romance, suspense, and fast-paced adventure. In addition to trying these titles out on movie viewers, consider recommending them to satisfy Hunger Games fans, launching a discussion group about the role and dysfunctions of society, or assembling a display of cautionary tales for Earth Day.

It’s Tomorrow—Time for a New Pair of Genes

The year is 2051, and due to the devastating effects of global warming the majority of Americans now live in two massive government-controlled States. Though encouraged to emigrate, a handful of misfits choose to eke out an existence in the mostly deserted wasteland between. The few teenagers who remain have been gathered in a mostly deserted school, relying on their handheld Tablets to access classroom lectures transmitted from the States. Surrounded by derelict buildings and a growing sense of unease, Faith Daniels feels as though she is being watched, but focuses on her relationships with old-pal Liz, a geeky and brilliant 13-year-old named Hawk, and the hunky but dangerous Wade. The suspense builds until another classmate, the quietly cute Dylan, reveals to her that she has a Pulse (HarperCollins, 2013; Gr 9 Up), a mutation-caused ability to move objects with her mind, and helps her learn to control her power. Though she can now fly through the air unaided, a series of heart-wrenching events and revelations soon leave her reeling, and she finds herself not only in danger, but also embroiled in a war that will pit Faith and her new allies against the forces of evil (see the next volume in this new trilogy). Patrick Carman bundles X-Men-esque elements, intriguing dystopian details, burgeoning romance and lustful vengeance, and boulder-flinging battles into this absorbing thriller.

Also set on a similarly afflicted Earth where the remaining population scrapes out a living as radiation and ocean levels continue to rise, Kevin Emerson’s Lost Code (2012; Gr 8 Up) begins in a summer camp, of all places. Teenager and ordinary guy Owen Parker, a poor wastelander from the Yellowstone Hub, has won a drawing for a spot at Camp Eden, a manmade paradise nestled within one of the five biodomes that serve as home to the rich and privileged. On his second day there, Owen almost drowns, somehow surviving underwater unscathed for an astounding 10 minutes. As his body begins to change in unexpected ways (he develops gills) and he endures typical summer camp challenges (bullies and bug juice), Owen falls in with a group of also extraordinary allies (including hot lifeguard Lilly), learns that the adult staff is involved in biological experimentation, and finds out just how dire is the balance of life on Earth. And if that’s not enough, he also discovers that he is the descendant of a highly advanced ancient race, and must unlock the code in his own genes to set right long-ago wrongs and save all of humanity. Ambitious, adventure-packed, and exceedingly readable, the first book in the “Altanteans” series keeps readers rapt with well-drawn characterizations, a deftly imagined plot that reveals mystery after mystery like ripples from a skimming stone, and a likable protagonist who grows in confidence as he sticks a toe—timidly at first—into the depths of heroism and first love. Book Two, The Dark Shore (all HarperCollins) is scheduled for release in May.

In Malinda Lo’s near-future sci-fi thriller Adaptation (Little, Brown, 2012; Gr 8 Up), 17-year-old Reese and her debate-team partner, David, are on their way home from a competition when a series of plane crashes—oddly and inexplicably caused by birds—bring travel to a halt. Opting to rent a car, the two are involved in a serious accident near a covert government facility in the Nevada desert and receive top-secret medical treatment that leaves them physically recovered…but different. Reese returns home but is plagued by strange dreams, possesses a new ability to heal almost instantly and a heightened sense of perception, and is perhaps being followed by men in black suits. Meanwhile, the emotionally uptight teen, who has zero experience with dating, meets—and falls hard for—a magnetic skater-girl named Amber, while still feeling a strong attachment to David. As events unfold at a rapid pace, Lo weaves a tale that blends elements of conspiracy theory, alien encounters, and genetic experimentation with whirlwind romance, pulse-pounding action, and reader-dazzling writing. The ending is both satisfying and surprising, leaving plenty of room for a planned sequel.

Alien Nation

Brian Falkner’s The Assault (Random House, 2012; Gr 7 Up) blasts into action as Recon Team Angel—consisting of six teenage soldiers—launches from a high-altitude F-35 stealth bomber and soars to the Australian Outback below. The year is 2030, and most of Earth has been conquered by the alien Bzadian, with only the Americas still remaining free. Physically modified to look like “Pukes,” Lieutenant Chisnall and his international squad have been inserted deep behind enemy lines to gather intel on a secret alien project. Danger-fraught and difficult from the get go, their mission becomes even more harrowing when Chisnall discovers that one of them is a traitor. Streamlined storytelling, rapid-fire dialogue, high-octane action, and seamlessly deployed military tech and protocol fuel this engrossing sci-fi adventure.

It’s eight years since Earth was conquered by a race known as the Assembly, most adults are either dead or have succumbed to the Tone (a telepathic signal broadcast across the planet the effects individuals once they reach their twenties and turns them into obedient zombies), and everyone else is just trying to survive in a world plagued by powerful gangs and roving alien patrols. A resolute loner and one of the few who are immune to the Tone, 20-year-old Holt Hawkins is a bounty hunter who also has a price on his own head. To clear his debts, he is determined to capture Mira, a Freebooter skilled in alchemying artifacts from the Strange Lands into magic-like machines, but when their paths cross—and he finds himself impressed by and attracted to her—his resolve begins to waver. He gets further tied down when he rescues eight-year-old Zoe from a crashed Assembly ship, a girl who can’t remember her past but possesses uncanny knowledge about the aliens. As they make their way to Midnight City (Thomas Dunne, 2012; Gr 8 Up) with their enemies in hot pursuit, it soon becomes clear that Zoe just might be the key to saving the human race. The first in a series, J. Barton Mitchell’s novel provides lots of meaty world building along with complex and likable characters, reader-grabbing action, and delightful touches of humor and romance. Also available in audio format from Blackstone Audio.

Up Above and Down Below

Born on the Moon, Jamey Barlowe suffers from Lunar Birth Deficiency Syndrome, a condition that leaves him crippled on Earth and dependent on his mobility unit. The teen finds himself making an unexpected return to his birthplace, when his father awakens him on the night of his 16^th birthday and sends he and his sister off in a shuttle for their own safety. The President has died, and Vice President Shapar has been sworn into office and is using her power to hunt down and imprison political opponents, including Dr. Barlowe, part of the International Space Consortium that runs the lunar colony and oversees the mining of vital resources. Worried and wanting to help, Jamey discovers that given the Moon’s low gravity, he has no physical disability, and enthusiastically jumps into training as a member of the Lunar Search and Rescue squad. When Shapar’s political pressure turns to military threat, Jamey and his fellow Rangers will become vital to the survival of the colony. In Apollo’s Outcasts (Pyr, 2012; Gr 7 Up), political intrigue, a believably wrought futuristic society, and outer-space adventures are perfectly balanced with teen angst and girl woes (the President’s courageous and attractive daughter is among the refugees). Allen Steele packs the narrative with fascinating science-based details—everything from the specifics of going to the bathroom at zero gravity, to the solar reflectors used to power the outpost, to a talking moonsuit with an interface programmed to emulate Arthur C. Clarke.

Located deep beneath the ruins of New York, a city ravaged by sickness and war, the Enclave (2011; Gr 8 Up) is the only home that 15-year-old Deuce has ever known. Years of hard work and training have paid off, and she has left her “brat”-hood behind to assume the role of Huntress, a warrior who ventures out into the midnight tunnels to bring back meat and stave off the violent and cannibalistic Freaks that threaten her people. Paired with Fade, a mysterious boy from the outside who has never been truly accepted, she begins to see that the ways of her strictly controlled society—ruled by coldhearted elders—might not only be wrong, but may also be placing the entire community in danger. Infused with gritty realism and no-nonsense attitude, Deuce’s first-person narration completely embroils readers in the confines of her world, making the unforeseen dangers and amazing revelations that she discovers when she ventures above ground all the more astounding. Dark yet brimming with hope, gripping and thought-provoking, and painted with a rich emotional palette, Ann Aguirre’s novel is riveting; have the sequel, Outpost (2012, both Feiwel and Friends), ready to go. Also available in audio format.

Love and Armageddon

Aria has lived her entire life nestled within the domed city of Reverie, adventuring only in a virtual world and living in fear of the outer wastelands and the deadly Aether storms that flash across the skies. Living on the outside, Peregrine and his tribe have learned to survive harsh environmental conditions, leading a hand-to-mouth existence and showing the signs of genetic mutation with unusually heightened senses. Raised in startlingly different worlds and taught to hate one another, “Dweller” and “Savage” are thrown together when Aria is cast out of the dome and Perry’s nephew is seized by its inhabitants. As they form an uneasy alliance to survive the hazards and horrors of the surface, they gradually forge a bond of friendship that evolves into something more. A well-plotted and skillfully crafted dystopic adventure, Veronica Rossi’s Under the Never Sky (2012; Gr 7 Up) is also imbued with lovely and lyrical writing, unforgettable characters, and a life-affirming message about the power of love. The story continues in Through the Ever Night (2013, both HarperCollins).

Marie Lu’s Legend (2011; Gr 8 Up) features another pair of equally star-crossed lovers. The United States has split into two warring nations and in the Republic, day-to-day life differs greatly for the privileged elite and the government-oppressed poor. Wealthy, accomplished, and dutiful, 15-year-old June is the top student at her university and headed for a high-ranking position. Day, also 15, born in the slums of Los Angeles, is the country’s most-wanted criminal and has become a hero of the people for his acts of disobedience and ability evade capture. Believing that he is responsible for the murder of her brother, June is sent out to apprehend Day, going under cover to root him out, while Day is determined to use any means possible to get his hands on the medicine that will save his family from the plague. As events unfold and secrets are revealed—and distrust and hatred transform into admiration and affection—the two eventually learn that they are not in fact enemies, and band together to face a greater foe. Told in alternating voices, this impossible-to-put-down book is packed with genuine emotion, gripping suspense, and breathless adventure. Teens will fly through the pages, and then return to the library to demand the sequel, Prodigy (2013, both Putnam).

Publication Information

CARMAN, Patrick. Pulse. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Bks. 2013. Tr $17.99. 9780062085764; ebook $10.99. ISBN 9780062085788.

EMERSON, Kevin. Lost Code. “Atlantians” Series: Bk. 1. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Bks. 2012. Tr $17.99. 9780062062796; pap. $9.99. 9780062062802 (available Apr. 2013); ebook $10.99. 9780062062819.

LO, Malinda. Adaptation. Little, Brown. 2012. Tr $17.99. 9780316197960; ebook $9.99. 9780316214469.

FALKNER, Brian. The Assault. Random House. 2012. Tr $17.99. 978037586946-4; PLB $20.99. 9780375969461; ebook $10.99. 9780375983511.

MITCHELL, J. Barton. Midnight City. “Conquered Earth” series. Thomas Dunne/St. Martin’s Griffin. 2012. Tr $17.99. 9781250009074.

STEELE, Allen. Apollo’s Outcasts. Pyr/Prometheus Bks. 2012. Tr $16.95. 9781616146863.

AGUIRRE, Ann. Outpost. Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan. 2011. Tr $16.99. 9780312650087; pap. $9.99. 9780312551377; ebook. $9.99. 9781429950367; Unabridged CD. $29.99. 9781427211200.

ROSSI, Veronica. Under the Never Sky. HarperCollins. 2012. Tr $17.99. 9780062072030; pap. $9.99. 9780062072047; ebook $2.99. 9780062072054.

LU, Marie. Legend. Putnam. 2011. Tr $17.99. 9780399256752; ebook $10.99. 9781101545959; Unabridged CD. $25.95. 9781611760088; pap. $9.99. (Apr. 2012). 9780142422076.

Survivor by Paul Langan is a new title in the “Bluford” series. Bluford’s definitely “Go.” Featuring a great cover with solidly African-American characters, there’s a lot of action packed into this small book. The story centers around Tarah, who’s vexed that her former abuser and uncle is coming to visit. She’s flashing and takes her stress out on those around her, until she finds a believable and empowering solution. We get to hear her boyfriend’s anxieties too, which keeps it real for both boys and girls. My 15- to 18-year-olds grab the new Bluford titles as soon as I set them on the shelves.

Robinson’s Hood by Jeff Gottesfeld is overall Koo but occasionally slips a few notches. It has action, and the cover is one of the best I’ve seen in a long time—featuring a boy with a hoodie, graffiti in the background, and a cool, almost 3-D typeface for the title. But it’s not consistently real. Robin is faced with numerous troubles: gangs, drugs, and extortion, to name a few.  Believable. But then…. Let me give you an example. The community center is about to close down because of a city inspection (real). When the director finds $25K in an envelope (delivered anonymously), he whoops it up, throwing the bills into the air. Everyone at the community center is laughing, crying, and shouting with happiness. Not a one is grabbing any for themselves. That is wack. So not real.  There are a few more places that ring false, which might shatter my kids’ suspension of disbelief, sending the story into the wack category, and there are some easy plot devices that my kids think are bootsy.

My girls brought Pretty Girl 13 by Liz Coley to my attention, having grabbed the galleys off the shelves the moment I put the books out (good cover, good title).  They recited every detail of the story—practically page by page—which means for them it had lots of intrigue and action! The last thing that Angie remembers is that she was 13 and on a Girl Scout camping trip. But when she shows up back home, she’s 16. Angie has no recollection of the last three years. It turns out they were pretty grimy, and she developed multiple personalities to cope with them. This is definitely five-star material for my girls, and a great read-alike for those kids that enjoyed Room (Little, Brown, 2012), Living Dead Girl (Simon Pulse, 2009), or A Stolen Life (S & S, 2012). While this is a simplistic version of the story,  it’s a good read,  and there’s not that much out there about multiple personalities.

There’s just one book that almost created a riot in my library. The kids were sitting there, patiently listening to my library intro. When I was done, all 16 of them rushed the shelf where Sister Souljah’s new (at the time) book Midnight (Pocket, 2010) was. The guards were freaked. Luckily, I had enough copies to go around. Souljah’s newest book, A Deeper Love Inside, creates similar excitement, but it’s totally wack once you get into it. I’ve found several languishing on the shelves in the units.  While most of my teens and I agree on the definition of action,  the real part gets a little tricky. That’s because in their world, designer clothing, driving Benz’s, having stacks of money, and being famous is “real.” In my world, it’s urban fantasy.  In the case of this book, I think even my kids might agree with my definition of unreal, and the action sure is slow. What young girl on the street remains a virgin, avoids detection from authorities, buys roses for $89 a dozen, and ends up in Europe, getting $100K a weekend night for dancing with her clothes on?

Sharon Draper’s Panic starts out with a lot of action. Justin, a young male dancer, is walking down the street when bullies call him a faggot. He doesn’t react until they start dishing his momma, and then he easily lays them out. First chapter: action, breaking stereotypes, realistic. Love it. The rest of the book is real—Diamond is attracted to the allure of fame which lands her with a sexual predator, and Layla is dealing with an abusive boyfriend—but it’s not gritty enough for my teens and is fairly slow in terms of action. Not one of them has even picked it up, much less read it. It’s branded bootsy. Is it because of the cover? A blue butterfly with pins in it? That cover doesn’t go. In contrast, I bet the book will do well with other teens and might even get a starred review.

I had two kids fighting over Sharon McKay’s War Brothers: The Graphic Novel. This book is clean. Clean means it’s tight. Maybe even deep. Almost everyone who has read Ishmael Beah’s A Long Way Gone wants to read more on the topic. Kids kidnapped into Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army and forced to kill is real—teens living in urban war zones with gang recruitment and compulsory involvement can relate. The book starts out with black-bordered pages of a scene of a boy being told to kill a mother. When the time and place change, it’s signified with white-bordered pages, and we are back before this nightmare began, or on our way out of it.  This makes it super-easy to keep track of the story. There’s also a thread about a grandfather who’s looking for his son who was stolen. His story has haunted me for weeks.

Every once in a while I get a rating sheet back that’s filled with outrage. Ezekiel Jones (not his real name) crossed out the rating system and wrote, “Use better terminology! This is ‘pose to be rehabilitation—build these young men’s minds! I beg of you!” and then rated Dave Eggers’s What Is the What as “intellectually stimulating!” Former gangbanger Luis J. Rodriguez’s book, Rushing Waters, Rising Dreams: How the Arts Are Transforming a Community, also fits that description. With beautiful images and stories told through many voices, including those of teens, this book is clean. Librarians and others have a lot to learn about how Rodriquez created a cultural center for the arts in a devastated community.

A book can lack action and still go—that’s because it’s clean, and in this case, clean supersedes go. Juvenile in Justice by Richard Ross “goes hard.” I love that it won an Alex Award and a top 10 ranking from Quick Picks—the committees agree with my teens. Wow! May this happen more and more as libraries continue to respond to the underserved. The stunning photos, stark statistics, and words of the youth (along with the foreword and afterword) truly bring together the “language, plot, style, setting, dialog, characterization, and design” of the Alex Award’s charge. As Ross, quoting Booker T. Washington, in 1896, writes, “The study of art that does not result in making the strong less willing to oppress the weak means little.”

Definitely clean.

COLEY, Liz. Pretty Girl 13. Harper Collins. March, 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062127372.

DRAPER, Sharon M. Panic. Antheneum Books/S & S. April, 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781442408968.

GOTTESFELD, Jeff. Robinson’s Hood. Saddleback, 2013. pap. $8.95. ISNB 9781622500000.

LANGAN, Paul. Survivor. Townsend Press, 2013. pap. $5.95. ISBN 9781591943944.

MCKAY, Sharon E. War Brothers: The Graphic Novel. Illus. by Daniel Lafance.  Annick Press, 2013. Tr $18.95. ISBN 9781554514885.

RODRIGUEZ, Luis J. and Denise M. Sandoval, editor. Rushing Waters, Rising Dreams: How the Arts Are Transforming a Community. Tia Chucha Press. 2012. Tr $24.95. ISBN 9781882688432.

ROSS, Richard. Juvenile in Justice. Richard Ross Photography, 2012. Tr $60.00. ISBN 9780985510602.

SOULJAH, Sister. A Deeper Love Inside: The Porsche Santiaga Story. Emily Bestler/Atria, 2013. Tr. $26.99. ISBN 9781439165317.

Tarry a While in Oz

Grant Curtis’s The Art of Oz the Great and Powerful (Disney Editions, 2013; Gr 6 Up) sets the scene by introducing the life and work of Baum in a chapter sprinkled with quotes from the Oz series, archival photos, and W. W. Denslow’s original illustrations. Lengthy sections replete with commentary from the film’s creators delve into the details of the production design, costumes and characters, makeup, visual effects, and casting. The author makes clear how these various elements interrelate and contribute to the overall storytelling, creating a production that strives to remain true to the source material while fashioning a unique and fresh interpretation and ultimately answering screenwriter Mitchell Kapner’s burning question: “How did the Wizard become the Wizard?” The behind-the-scenes tidbits are fascinating and the pages are packed with stunning large-size images including photos (film stills, candid close-ups, and on-set shots), concept designs, and production paintings (many stretching across double spreads). A fun-to-browse volume for film fans and Oz lovers.

Movie viewers may want to read or re-visit the original work that inspired this prequel film and perhaps continue on with the series. If you need to spiff up your holdings, consider new reissues of Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and The Marvelous Land of Oz (both Disney, 2013). These handsome volumes feature cloth spines, elegant gold leafing, and cover images from the original illustrators, Denslow for the first title and John R. Neill for the second, both colorfully repainted. Introductions by the film’s Oz, James Franco, and screenwriter Mitchell Kapner appear respectively, and a full-color movie concept painting graces each back cover.

Provide your readers with a fresh take on Baum’s beloved realm by recommending an enchanting series of graphic novel adaptations penned by Eisner Award-winner Eric Shanower and illustrated by Skottie Young. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (2009), The Marvelous Land of Oz (2009), Ozma of Oz (2011), and Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz (2013, all Marvel; Gr 5-9) are currently available, with more entries to come. Brimming with madcap charm, these fast-reading retellings pair well-written scripts with exuberant, bright-hued artwork to capture the whimsy and adventure of the original tales. Baum’s magical places and quirky characters explode off the pages.

Step Through a Portal to Another World

Like Oscar Diggs, these books feature protagonists who are transported from our own familiar world to another realm, where they encounter exhilarating adventures and come face to face with conundrums that challenge their perceptions and abilities, uncover hidden aptitudes, and help them learn about themselves.

Travel to Fantastical Lands

Bored with her ho-hum life in WWII-era Omaha, 12-year-old September readily accepts an invitation from the Green Wind to visit Fairyland, and climbs out of the kitchen window and onto the back of a flying leopard. Her expectations for a grand adventure are soundly met, as she makes new friends (including an amiable Wyverary—offspring of a dragon and a library); takes on the evil Marquess (a fickle foot-stamping girl who rules over everyone with tyrannical cruelty); and ultimately discovers the courage and can-do attitude needed to set things right. Catherynne M. Valente’s The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (2011; Gr 5-9) mixes once-upon-a-time magic with droll wisdom, and Ana Juan’s playful sketches depict the nonstop action with fairytale flair. The book’s vibrant storytelling, densely layered wonders, and astute epiphanies will appeal to a broad age range. Look for the sequel, The Girl Who Fell beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There (2012, both Feiwel & Friends).

Like September, Candy Quackenbush abandons an unhappy existence in Chickentown, MN, when she passes through a derelict lighthouse and leaps into the Abarat (HarperCollins, 2002; Gr 7 Up), a mystical archipelago consisting of 25 islands, one for each hour of the day, plus the mysterious Twenty-Fifth Hour. Suddenly, Candy finds herself caught in a power struggle between the frightening magic-using Lord of Midnight and the callus technology-obsessed leader of Commexo City. Navigating one tumultuous adventure after another, Candy is gradually and convincingly transformed from insecure school girl to resourceful heroin ready to embrace her destiny. Clive Barker’s lyrical writing and atmospheric full-color paintings introduce a spectacularly detailed and gloriously imagined realm peopled with an assortment of breathtakingly bizarre creatures—villains and allies alike. Coming-of-age themes as well as thought-provoking reflections on the real world are interwoven with intricate plot twists, political intrigue, and a cavalcade of close scrapes. The first in a series, this tale will appeal to readers who enjoy digging into epic-scale fantasy.

Dubbed a “late bloomer” by his mother, Perry Eckert is sent off to summer camp to interact with other kids and discourage his obsession with the role-playing game, Creatures and Caverns. However, when the 15-year-old follows what looks to be a real-life character from the game into the woods, fantasy suddenly becomes reality. Following the instructions of the mysterious Mortin Enaw (a red man with a tail), the teen travels (rather creatively, by simultaneously touching a car battery and a mushroom) to the world of The Other Normals (Balzer & Bray, 2012; Gr 7-10), a place inhabited by humanoids and fantastical hybrid creatures. Here, he discovers that the resident princess has been captured by “a horrific mutant beast… with a hundred ten eyes and poison fangs” and can only be saved by Perry’s ability to obtain his first kiss. Many entertaining plot twists and humorous moments later, Perry, buoyed up by the attention of a smart and attractive local girl named Ada, begins to realize that in this world, he’s more Galahad than geek, and that his newfound heroism just might be transferrable. Revved up with RPG terminology and a spot-on dweeb perspective (and lots of adolescent testosterone), Ned Vizzini’s lively first-person narration is antic-filled and laugh-out-loud funny.

Go Down the Rabbit Hole with Alice

A. G. Howard’s Splintered (Amulet, 2013; Gr 9 Up) shakes up the traditional Lewis Carroll tale with a contemporary skater-girl heroine, loads of eerie imagery and nightmarish happenings, and a fervent dose of romance. Alyssa, 16, the great-great-great-granddaughter of the famous Alice Liddell, has the perplexing ability to hear the thoughts of plants and insects. Her family has long been plagued by mental illness, and she fears that she will end up institutionalized like her mother. However, things change when she’s visited by Morpheus, the dangerously magnetic and darkly handsome netherling who has long haunted her dreams. He invites her to step through a mirror into Wonderland, set right the wrongs that were perpetuated long ago by Alice, and end the family curse of madness. Filled with much more menacing versions of Carroll’s well-known characters, this realm is frightening and volatile, and Alyssa can’t figure out whom to trust. Though she has inadvertently brought along her overprotective best friend Jeb (hottie extraordinaire and her secret crush), she soon discovers that she must rely upon her own abilities and take charge of her fate. Set against a backdrop that’s at once familiar and startlingly original, Alyssa’s transformation is mesmerizing and empowering. Satisfyingly sensual, delightfully dark, and absolutely riveting.

In QuinRose’s Alice in the Country of Hearts (Yen Pr., 2012; Gr 9 Up), a manga based on a Japanese video game and illustrated by Soumei Hoshino, the dozing protagonist is abducted from her garden by a handsome young man with rabbit ears. Arriving in Wonderland, the somewhat-dazed but gutsy-as-ever Alice soon discovers that she has landed in the middle of a bewildering “game” with undisclosed rules. Meanwhile, hunky humanoid versions of the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, and other Wonderland denizens vie for her affections. Simultaneously intriguing and inscrutable, alluring and alarming, they tote firearms, which they use with ruthless abandon, and are engaged in a violent mafia-style turf war. It’s a rollercoaster ride of events and emotions as Alice tries to sort through the many mysteries of Wonderland and find her way home. The costumes and settings have a funky tea-party-chic meets steampunk aura, and the script is wryly funny, seductively sinister, and a tad risqué. This manga series is presented in three omnibus editions, and spinoffs are also available.

Cruise the Multiverse

Everett’s world is thrown off kilter when his physicist father, Tejendra Singh, is kidnapped right before his eyes from a London street. The 14-year-old soon receives an email from his dad containing a sophisticated computer program, dubbed the Infundibulum, and employs his own math genius to unlock its secrets and create a map of an infinite number of parallel earths. It’s all been kept hush hush, but Everett finds a way to locate the Heisenberg Gate that Tejendra helped to build and follow his father’s trail to an alternate earth—a steampunk-style England that runs on electricity. However, intimidating bad guys from a plentitude of universes are hot on his heels and looking to grab the Infundibulum for themselves. Everett’s luck changes when he finds an ally in the street-savvy Sen Sixsmyth, an Airish girl and adopted daughter of the captain of the magnificent dirigible Everness. Smart and infinitely readable, Ian McDonald’s Planesrunner (2011; Gr 7 Up) is set in an elaborately imagined universe and stars a cast of compelling and unique characters. Cutting-edge scientific concepts are blithely blended with the heart-pumping action. Embellished with tech-speak, the exotic flavors of Punjabi cuisine, and bantering dialogue in a secret Airish language (glossary appended), the narrative unfurls with both humor and honest emotion. The world-spanning adventures continue with Be My Enemy (2012, both Pyr).

After purchasing a mysterious black jade ring from an outdoor vendor, a Chinese-American high school student walks through the St. Louis Arch and is astounded to discover that she has passed through a Gateway (Viking, 2009; Gr 7-10) to another “iteration” of her world. In this alternate universe, the majority of people in the area as well as members of the ruling class are Han (Chinese), with other races making up the poor lower classes. Confused and frightened, Daiyu is greeted by a handsome young man, a cangbai (Causasian) named Kalen, and taken to safety. She learns that she has been brought to this world to accomplish an important mission: she must send the Prime Minister—a dimension-spanning traveler who has wormed his way into power and is determined to release havoc on Jia—back to his own iteration. However, Chenglei is disconcertingly charismatic, and Diayu is unsure if what she’s been told is true. And the prospect of her return trip home becomes more complicated when she finds herself falling for Kalen. Sharon Shinn’s fast-reading fantasy is propelled by political intrigue and heart-soaring romance.

In Emily Hainsworth’s Through to You (Balzer & Bray, 2012; Gr 9 Up), 17-year-old Camden Pike is devastated by the death of his girlfriend, Viv, in a recent car wreck, and feels as though it should have been him. Emotionally unstable, he can’t believe his eyes when he meets a shadowy apparition during a visit to Viv’s memorial. Nina, in fact, isn’t a ghost, but a girl who has traveled through a gateway at the site of the accident from a parallel world, one in which Cam is dead and Viv is still alive. Just how far will Cam go to be reunited with his beloved? However, things are not quite the same in Nina’s realm, and as dark secrets are revealed, he must make a heartrending choice before the door is closed forever. Cam’s first-person narrative believably portrays his emotional melt-down and poignant revelations (and is strewn with strong language and mature situations). Featuring an inter-dimensional love triangle and lots of heady romance, this thriller will keep readers swiftly turning pages.

Publication Information

CURTIS, Grant. The Art of Oz the Great and Powerful. photos. by Merie Wallace. Disney Editions. pap. $40. ISBN 978-142317091-4.

BAUM, L. Frank. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. ISBN 978-142317126-3.

_____. The Marvelous Land of Oz. ISBN 978-142317127-0.

Ea vol: Disney. 2013. Tr $16.99.

SHANOWER, Eric. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. 2009. Tr ISBN 978-07851-2921-9; pap. ISBN 978-07851-4590-5.

_____. The Marvelous Land of Oz. 2010.  Tr ISBN 978-07851-4028-3; pap. ISBN  978-07851-4087-0.

_____. Ozma of Oz. 2011. Tr ISBN 978-0785142478; pap. ISBN  978-

07851-4248-5.

_____. Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz. 2013. pap. ISBN 978-0-7851-5555-3.

Ea vol: illus. by Skottie Young. Marvel. Tr $29.99; pap. $19.99.

VALENTE, Catherynne M. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making. illus. by Ana Juan. 2011. Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-312-64961-6; pap. $6.99. ISBN 9781250010193; ebook $6.99. ISBN 9781429923132.

BARKER, Clive. Abarat. illus. by author. HarperCollins. 2002. pap. $8.99. ISBN 9780060596378; ebook $8.99. ISBN 9780062044013.

VIZZINI, Ned. The Other Normals. Balzer & Bray/HarperCollins. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-207990-9; ebook $11.99. ISBN 978-0-06-207992-3.

HOWARD, A. G. Splintered. Amulet/Abrams. 2013. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-4197-0428-4.

QUINROSE. Alice in the Country of Hearts. Vol. 1. ISBN 978-0-316-21269-4.

_____. Alice in the Country of Hearts. Vol. 2. ISBN 978-0-316-21272-4.

_____. Alice in the Country of Hearts. Vol. 3. ISBN 978-0-316-21268-7.

Ea vol: illus. by Soumei Hoshino. Yen Pr. 2012. pap. $18.99.

MCDONALD, Ian. Planesrunner. Pyr/Prometheus. 2011. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-61614-541-5.

SHINN, Sharon. Gateway. Viking. 2009. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-670-01178-0; ebook $14.99. ISBN 9781101148839.

HAINSWORTH, Emily. Through to You. Balzer & Bray/HarperCollins. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-209419-3; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-209421-6.

In fact, 2013 already promises a packed calendar of book-related film projects based on popular kid and young adult titles. Check out this roundup of releases that will have your students and patrons heading to the theater—and, hopefully, to bookshelves as well.

Coming Soon

The following adaptations, in order of release date, will be debuting in movie theaters in the coming weeks and months.

Oz the Great and Powerful (PG), starring James Franco, Michelle Williams, and Mila Kunis, opens in theaters everywhere on March 8. Directed by Spiderman trilogy master Sam Raimi, it’s inspired by Frank L. Baum’s classic, The Wizard of Oz.

Hoping to replicate the Twilight saga’s runaway success, the film version (PG-13) of Stephenie Meyer’s The Host (Little, Brown, 2008), which chronicles the tale of Melanie Stryder’s (Saoirse Ronan) struggle against a parasitic alien that wants to use her to destroy humanity, premieres March 29.

The Roaring Twenties come to life in Baz Lurhmann’s dizzying adaptation (PG) of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. On May 10, moviegoers will watch a star-studded cast, including Leonardo DiCaprio (Jay Gatsby), Carey Mulligan (Daisy Buchanan), and Tobey Maguire (Nick Carraway). Though not a children’s book, it’s certainly a high school curriculum favorite.

Logan Lerman, fresh off his leading role in Perks of Being a Wallflower, steps back into demigod shoes on August 16 in Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, the sequel to Percy Jackson: Lightning Thief, both based on Rick Riordan’s bestselling series.

The first title in Cassandra Clare’s “The Mortal Instruments” series, City of Bones (S & S, 2007), will be making its way to the big screen on August 23. Lily Collins portrays Clary Fray, a teen from New York City who discovers the secret world of Shadowhunters (super-powered half-angels) when her mother (Lena Headey) is kidnapped by a demon.

The Seventh Son will be coming to theaters on October 18. This dark fantasy is based on the first installment of Joseph Delaney’s “Wardstone Chronicles” (HarperCollins), The Spook’s Apprentice. Ben Barnes plays the title character, and Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore also star.

Sci-fi classic Ender’s Game (St. Martin’s Pr., 1985) by Orson Scott Card will finally be getting the film treatment in this November 1 release. Asa Butterfield, the movie’s star who has been in several book adaptations (Hugo Cabret, Boy in the Striped Pajamas), portrays a military child genius who must save the world from evil aliens. Gavin Hood is both the director and screenwriter. The cast also includes Abigail Breslin (Valentine Wiggin0, Hailee Steinfeld (Petra Arkanian), Harrison Ford (Colonel Hyrum Graff), and Sir Ben Kingsley (Mazer Rackham). Not originally published as a YA novel, it has an avid teen following.

In the Pipeline

Below are several book-to-movie adaptations, scheduled to hit theaters next year, for which fans are already anxiously waiting.

The Maze Runner (Delacorte, 2009) by James Dashner is set for a February 14, 2014, release date; the film will be directed by Wes Bell.

Vampire Academy (Penguin/Razorbill, 2007) by Richelle Meade is also set for a February 14, 2014 release; the film adaptation, called Blood Sisters, will be directed by Mark Waters from a screen play by Daniel Waters. It will star Zooey Deutch (Rose Hathaway), Lucy Fry (Princess Lissa), and Danila Kozlovsky (Dimitri).

Divergent (HarperCollins, 2011) by Veronica Roth will be released on March 21, 2014, directed by Neil Burger from a screenplay by Evan Daugherty. It reportedly will star Shailene Woodley (Tris) and Kate Winslet.

Building Buzz

Several more adaptations have just been announced in recent weeks, although firm details about those projects are continuing to unfold.

John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars (Dutton, 2012) will be produced by Fox 2000 and directed by Josh Boone from a screenplay by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber. It reportedly will star either Shailene Woodley or Hailee Steinfeld.

Gayle Forman’s If I Stay (Dutton, 2009) will be produced by Summit Entertainment and directed by RJ Cutler. It will star Chloë Moretz (Mia).

Marcus Zusak’s The Book Thief (Knopf, 2006) will be produced by Karen Rosenfelt at Fox 2000 and directed by Brian Percival. It will star Sophie Nélisse (Liesel), Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson (foster parents), Ben Schnetzer (Max), and Nico Liersch.

A live-action adaptation of John Rocco’s Blackout (Hyperion/Disney, 2011) will be produced by John Rocco and Ivana Schecter-Garcia at Fox 2000. Will Davies is writing the screenplay. A director has not yet been named.

A new version of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden will be produced by Guillermo del Toro and Mark Johnson from a screenplay by Lucy Alibar. It will be reportedly set in the American Southwest. A director has not yet been named.

Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book (HarperCollins, 2008) will be produced by Disney and directed by Ron Howard.

Lois Lowry’s The Giver (Houghton Mifflin, 1992) will be produced by Nikki Silver and reportedly directed by Phillip Noyce. It is set to star Jeff Bridges (The Giver).

Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed in Blood (Tor Teen, 2011) will be produced by Stephenie Meyer for Fickle Fish.

Not Yet Published

Several film adaptations are reportedly in the works for as-yet unpublished works.

An adaptation of Margaret Stohl’s Icons (Little, Brown, 2013) will be produced by Alcon Entertainment from a screenplay by Massy Tadjedin. A director has not yet been named.

The film version of Josin L. McQuein’s Arclight (HarperCollins/Greenwillow, 2013) will be produced by Universal Pictures/Imagine Entertainment from a screenplay by Matthew Sand. A director has not yet been named.

Meanwhile, on the Small Screen

Film producers aren’t the only ones mining the bookshelf for great ideas. Television network Nick Jr. has already premiered its new CG-animated series The Tales of Peter Rabbit on February 19; it follows the adventures of Peter Rabbit and many other of Beatrix Potter’s beloved animal characters. Other small-screen adaptions include:

Kiera Cass’s The Selection (HarperCollins, 2012) is set to premiere on the CW network. It will be directed by Mark Piznarski, written by Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain, and will star Yael Grobglas (America Singer), Peta Sergeant (Commander Gaia Woods), and Sean Patrick Thomas (Sylvan Santos).

Lauren Oliver’s Delirum (HarperCollins, 2011) will debut on Fox. It will be written by Karyn Usher and produced by Karyn Usher, Peter Chernin, Katherine Pope, Paul Mazur, and Mitchell Kaplan at 20th Television. It wills tar Emma Roberts (Lena), Daren Kagasoff (Alex), and Billy Campbell (Thomas Fineman).

Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian’s Burn for Burn (S & S, 2012) will be produced by Barry Josephson Entertainment. A network has not yet been named.

Lucy Maud Montgomery’s beloved classic Anne of Green Gables will get yet a modern-day, contemporary update with this adaptation produced by Joan Lambur at Breakthrough Entertainment. A network has not yet been named.

Take the opportunity to booktalk or display a selection of splendid retellings of folk and fairy tales written for teens. The genre’s integral themes of transformation, self-realization, burgeoning independence, and first love are ready-made for a young adult audience, and these titles utilize a variety of writing styles, settings, and storytelling tones to explore timeless motifs in imaginative and appealingly contemporary ways. These reader-pleasing books are jam-packed with personal challenges, thrilling adventures, magical happenings, and heady romance. With their balance of the old and the new, the familiar and the fresh, these novels are also great choices for teen book discussion groups, or they can be used in the classroom to examine how modern works of fiction draw on themes, characters, and plotlines from traditional tales (Common Core State Standards RL. 8.9).

Fabulously Futuristic

What if Cinderella was a cyborg? Marissa Meyer introduces 16-year-old Cinder (2012; Gr 7 Up), a human girl with surgically implanted robot components who lives on a futuristic Earth that’s beleaguered by a deadly plague and the threat of invasion from Lunars (mind-controlling moon dwellers). Hated by her stepmother and spurned by a society that views cyborgs with distain, she earns her keep by toiling away as a mechanic in New Beijing’s marketplace. When word of her skill brings Prince Kai—a kind young man with a “heart-stopping smile”—to her booth with a request to repair his household android before an upcoming ball, Cinder is launched into an amazing adventure fueled by political intrigue, heart-pounding danger, secrets about her past, and a touch of against-the-odds romance. Meyer transmogrifies traditional Cinderella tropes and plot rudiments into a rocket-paced read set in an intricately imagined dystopian world. The first of four planned novels in the “Lunar Chronicles” series, Cinder’s story continues in and interconnects with that of the just-released Scarlet (2013, both Feiwel and Friends)—think Little Red Riding Hood. Cinder is also available in an unabridged audio edition from Macmillan Audio.

Rosalinda “Rose” Fitzroy, long-lost heir to a multiplanetary corporation, has been locked away in a chemically induced slumber for 62 years. Awakened from A Long Long Sleep (Candlewick, 2011; Gr 8 Up) by the kiss of a boy named Bren, who discovers her stasis tube abandoned in the subbasement of their condo, the astounded 16-year-old learns that she has slept through the plague-infested Dark Times and the death of her parents and boyfriend. Feeling lonely and weak from “stass fatigue,” Rose views herself as a freak—a girl “out-of-date, out of touch, out of time.” Her adjustment to her new reality is made more harrowing by the power struggles among the “nobility” of UniCorp who perceive her as a threat, her growing crush on Bren, and revelations about her own family’s appalling secrets. Meanwhile, a relentless killing machine programmed to assassinate her is determined to fulfill its mission. Contemplating the question of what would happen after Sleeping Beauty woke up, Anna Sheehan has created a captivating and thought-provoking tale that explores themes as diverse as the abuse of technology, learning to take control of one’s life, alienation, and the power and pain of true love.

Compellingly Contemporary

In Fathomless (2012; 9 Up), Jackson Pearce provides a dark-as-the-ocean-deeps take on Hans Christian Andersen’s “Little Mermaid” that will make readers forget all about Ariel and Sebastian the singing crab. Like her beautiful and outgoing triplet sisters, shy Celia has an usual ability—with a simple touch, Anne can see a person’s future, Jane can see the present, and Celia can see the past. She thinks of her talent as pretty much useless, until she and a mysterious girl work together to rescue a boy named Jude from drowning. Amazingly, Lo reveals that she lives in the ocean and has no memory of her past, but with Celia’s help, she begins to recall details of her long-ago life. The more Lo remembers, the more she longs to return to this existence, but knows that the only way she can regain her human soul is by seducing and killing Jude, who has become Celia’s boyfriend. Alternating first-person chapters describe Lo’s shadowy underwater world and conflicted emotions and Celia’s attempts to establish independence from her sisters and navigate her first romance. Readers will enjoy trawling the depths of a tale that mixes spine-tingling suspense with heartfelt sacrifice and terrifying paranormal occurrences with fairytale-style salvation. Point readers toward the author’s Sisters Red (2010, both Little, Brown) and other works to further explore her searingly re-imagined fairytale world.

A week before her sweet 16, Mirabelle runs away from home and her two loving but overbearing godmothers and boards a bus to the one place they have forbidden her to go—Beau Rivage, the city where she was born and her parents are buried. Despite the town’s seaside resort trappings, strange secrets lurk beneath the surface, and Mira soon discovers that the residents have been cursed and are doomed to play out ancient fairytale scenarios again and again. Mira’s birthmark (or “märchen mark”) reveals her to be a “Somnolent,” fated to prick her finger and fall into an enchanted sleep à la Snow White. Many of the other young adults she encounters, including the intoxicatingly charismatic Felix and his prickly but equally attractive younger brother Blue, each have secrets and storied destinies of their own. Will Mira be able to break the magical cycle, save herself and her true love, and determine her own future? In Sarah Cross’s Kill Me Softly (Egmont, 2012; Gr 9 Up), fairytale characters and touchstones have been re-envisioned with a sharp-honed modern-day edge, a realistic setting that believably spins off into fantasy, and a plot powered by mystery and a palpable sense of peril. Mira is a strong protagonist who grapples not only with frightening villains, but with issues of self-realization, free-will versus fate, and figuring out the ways of the heart. It’s also available in an unabridged audio edition.

Riveting and Romantic

Jane Nickerson adroitly weaves the threads of the “Bluebeard” story into Strands of Bronze and Gold (Knopf, 2013; Gr 8 Up) to create a spellbinding tapestry of mystery, romance, and suspense. It’s 1855, and after her father dies, 17-year-old Sophie leaves behind her modest Boston home and journeys south to take up residence with her wealthy godfather at his sumptuous Mississippi estate. Monsieur Bernard is unexpectedly handsome and charismatic, and Sophie finds herself beguiled by his magnetic personality and luxurious life style. However, horrible truths are buried at Wyndriven Abbey, and Sophie slowly begins to piece together shadowy stories about her godfather’s ill-fated wives… all of whom had fiery tresses similar to her own. Her doubts build as Monsieur Bernard turns from generous guardian to chillingly insistent suitor, and it seems as though a noose is slowly closing around her neck. A grippingly gothic tale, with a lavishly described and lushly atmospheric setting and likable heroine. Also available in an audio edition.

Like the rhyme says, Sunday Woodcutter, the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter, is supposed to be “blithe and bonny and good and gay,” but in fact, she feels lonely and overshadowed by her talented older siblings, and finds solace only in writing stories (which have the annoying tendency of coming true). Meeting an enchanted frog in the woods, she shares her tales, and the two strike up a friendship that gradually changes into something deeper. Unbeknownst to Sunday, a kiss they share restores the frog to his human form, that of Crown Prince Rumbold, a man wholeheartedly despised by the Woodcutter family. Longing to see Sunday again, the prince organizes a trio of balls, but decides to keep his identity a secret due to the feud between their families. The twists and turns of their up-and-down love affair are made more arduous by a dark force that threatens Rumbold and the entire kingdom. This page-turner is packed with everything from warring fairy godmothers to a pirate queen to a menacing made-from-magic giant. Althea Kontis blithely blends fairy tale fundamentals with original elements to create a world that is not only Enchanted (Harcourt, 2012; Gr 7-9), but absolutely enchanting.

Jessica Day George’s account of the filled-with-magic adventures—and romances—of 12 royal siblings began in Princess of the Midnight Ball (2009), a retelling of the “Twelve Dancing Princesses” that focuses on the eldest of the cursed-to-dance, named-for-flowers sisters, Rose. In the latest installment, Princess of the Silver Woods (2012, both Bloomsbury; Gr 5-9), the youngest girl takes center stage. Clothed in her new red cloak, 16-year-old Princess Petunia is traveling to visit an elderly family friend when her carriage is besieged by a band of thieves wearing wolf masks. When she’s accidentally kidnapped by their leader, who’s rather good-looking and isn’t much older than herself, Petunia learns that Oliver is actually a noble who has been forced into a life of crime by injustices perpetuated upon his family. As he tries to set things right, Oliver notices that the princess is being hounded by evil shadows, and soon finds himself in the midst of the sisters’ battle to stay out of the clutches of the fearsome King Under Stone. Breezy, with just enough danger and with fun-to-notice parallels to “Little Red Riding Hood,” this novel will please series fans and perhaps win over new readers.

Told with Glitter and Grit

The characters from the graphic novel Rapunzel’s Revenge (2008) return in another rip-roaring adventure. This time, the action focuses on Calamity Jack (2010; both Bloomsbury; Gr 5-9), a well-meaning but none-too wise city boy who tries to help his hardworking mother by earning funds from a variety of ill-conceived schemes (including a failed magic bean fiasco). After meeting Rapunzel out West (see the first volume), the two return to Shyport, and Jack discovers that Momma—and the entire town—is under the extra-large thumb of a cruel and corrupt giant. It will take all of Jack’s courage and can-do spirit, along with the help of Rapunzel and her lasso-like braids and a young journalist named Freddie Sparksmith, to bring Blunderboar down (literally). Shannon and Dean Hale’s rollicking script skillfully intertwines fast-moving events with awe-shucks romance, and Nathan Hale’s crisp artwork vibrantly defines the characters and creates a backdrop of grimy streets and hidden alleyways. Jack’s transformation from knave to knight-in-shining armor is captivatingly witty and wonder-filled.

Robert Paul Weston sets his fractured fairy tale on the mean streets of Dust City (Razorbill, 2010; Gr 8 Up), a mob-infested metropolis peopled by both animalia (intelligent, human-size animals) and hominids (elves, dwarves, humans, etc.). Everyone wants to get their hands—or paws—on dust. Manufactured locally and sold on the black-market, this mind-altering substance is a poor substitute for the real thing, fairydust, which has been impossible to obtain since the fairies mysteriously disappeared. Henry Whelp has lived at the St. Remus Home for Wayward Youth since his father was imprisoned for the double homicide of a little old lady and her granddaughter, a crime apparently committed after taking dust. Escaping from the Home, Henry follows up on suspicions that his father may have been framed, and goes undercover to infiltrate the operation of a mobster named Skinner. Despite the help of a human friend, Jack, and an attractive she-wolf named Fiona, Henry soon finds himself deep in danger and way over his head. It’s noir meets happily ever after as Weston plunges his protagonist into the depths of a deftly delineated and superbly seedy underworld, filled with down-on-their luck reprobates and cruel-hearted bad guys (err, dwarves and water nixies), and the surprisingly successful incongruity makes Henry’s heroic actions and ultimate redemption all the more satisfying.

Publication Information

MEYER, Marissa. Cinder. Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780312641894; pap. $9.99. ISBN 9781250007209; eBook $9.99. ISBN 9781466800113; Compact Disc (Macmillan Audio). $39.99. ISBN 9781427215000.

SHEEHAN, Anna. A Long Long Sleep. Candlewick. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-76365-260-9; pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6346-9; eBook. $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5605-8.

PEARCE, Jackson. Fathomless. Little, Brown. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-316-20778-2; eBook. $9.99. ISBN 9780316207799.

CROSS, Sarah. Kill Me Softly. Egmont. 2012. Tr. $17.99. ISBN 978-1-60684-323-9; eBook $17.99. ISBN 978-1-60684-324-6; Unabridged Compact Disc. $44. ISBN 978-0-449-01038-9.

NICKERSON, Jane. Strands of Bronze and Gold. Knopf. March 2013. PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-375-97118-1; Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97598-0; eBook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97606-2; Unabridged Compact Disc. $55. ISBN 978-0-385-36123-1.

KONTIS, Althea. Enchanted. Harcourt. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-64570-4; eBook. $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-82235-8.

GEORGE, Jessica Day. Princess of the Silver Woods. Bloomsbury. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59990-646-1.

HALE, Shannon & Dean. Calamity Jack. illus. by Nathan Hale. Bloomsbury. 2010. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-59990076-6; pap. $15.99. ISBN 978-1-59990373-6.

WESTON, Robert Paul. Dust City. Razorbill/Penguin. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59514-296-2; pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-1-59514-425-6; eBook $8.99. ISBN 9781101462386.

Beautiful Books

Mark Cotta Vaz’s Beautiful Creatures: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion (Little, Brown, 2013; Gr 7 Up) provides an in-depth look at the making of the film. Beginning with a description of the book’s origins (the authors scribbled out their story ideas on paper napkins at a restaurant during lunch and were egged on to complete the project by a bet made with one of their daughters), the well-written text goes behind the scenes to delve into the screenwriting process, casting, costume and hair design, location and sets, special effects, and more. Thorough explanations and quotes from the creative staff and actors paint a portrait of a production that strove to make the story’s fantasy elements seem real. Readers discover the nitty-gritty details behind the movie magic from the construction of a ruined plantation’s crumbling columns and walls out of foam, to a meticulously crafted high-tech dining room set that could actually spin and move around (design schematic included), to the challenges of re-creating Civil War battle scenes. Numerous full-color photos, both candid shots and film stills, appear throughout and are handsomely integrated into to volume’s inviting layout. Eye-catching and informative, this fun-to-browse offering will reel in book and film fans.

Help moviegoers make a connection to the source material by displaying Little, Brown’s new media-tie-in edition of Garcia and Stohl’s novel (2012; Gr 7 Up), which features an eye-catching cover showcasing the cast. Told in a riveting first-person narrative by Ethan, this page-turning story is driven by unique and strongly delineated characters, a skillfully created world in which small-town realism coexists with supernatural secrets, and an against-the-odds romance that reveals the power of true love. This edition is also available as an audio book with CD. Make sure you have copies of the rest of the series for readers who get hooked: Beautiful Darkness (2010), Beautiful Chaos (2011), and Beautiful Redemption (2012, all Little, Brown).

A graphic novel version of Beautiful Creatures (Yen, 2013; Gr 7 Up), adapted and illustrated by Cassandra Jean, will be released in early February. The elegant cover, a profile image of Lena in luminous violets with silver lettering, welcomes readers. Though the plot has been streamlined, the succinct script and crisp manga-style illustrations effectively convey the major story points and work in harmony to establish characterizations, build suspense, and create a distinctive and dramatic mood. Shading is used to distinguish between spoken dialogue and Ethan and Lena’s ability to communicate silently. Bold cross-hatching underscores moments of great magic, while softer lines and and smaller-size panels evoke the protagonists’ indomitable affection. Well-paced and logically delineated, each chapter ends on a high note, building toward a satisfying climax. This graphic novel grabber provides an inviting and fresh way for series fans to revisit the story or for the uninitiated to take their first steps into the Caster world.

A Potpourri of Paranormal Romances

Tempt teens who just can’t get enough of these Beautiful Creatures to keep reading by booktalking or displaying a selection of page-turning tales forged with mystical wonder and touched by true love. Encompassing copious coming-of-age themes and a variety of writing styles, these titles also make excellent choices for book discussion groups.

For as long as she can remember, 16-year-old Blue Sargent has been told by the members of her clairvoyant family that she’s destined to kill her true love with a kiss. Though she has no psychic ability of her own, Blue’s presence amplifies the talents of others, and she knows from experience to put trust in these predictions and resolves to never fall in love. When she meets The Raven Boys (Scholastic, 2012; Gr Up), a group of students from a nearby posh private boy’s school, she finds herself swept up in their quest to locate a local ley line—an invisible pathway of spiritual power. Led by the handsome Gansey, they hope to discover the resting place of a legendary “sleeping” Welsh king. Things get complicated when her feelings for Gansey—who is as exasperating as he is charismatic—begin to deepen, and prophesy seems destined to lead to danger. Unfolding at a pace that manages to be both suspenseful and stately, Maggie Stiefvater’s masterfully written novel features unique and deftly drawn characters, a plot as pleasingly complex as a well-played chess game, and the heart-pounding excitement of a murder mystery. The surprises keep on coming, right up until the very last sentence, and readers will clamor for the next installment in a planned quartet.

Rosemary Clement-Moore’s Texas Gothic (Delacorte, 2011; Gr 8 Up) blends laugh-out loud humor, hair-raisingly eerie ghost tale elements, and delectable romantic tension. Priding herself on her steely rationality, Amy Goodnight has long played the role of protector of her oddball family of practicing witches, “psychics and potions makers and ghost whisperers” who have zero interest in appearing normal. She’s looking forward to a quiet pre-college summer spent with her sister ranch-sitting for their aunt in rural Texas. However, when a construction project exposes long-buried human remains and stirs up the local specter—a spirit who seems to want something from her—Amy must tap into her own talents. Add to this a neighboring cowboy whose blue eyes and biceps make it worth overlooking his obnoxious demeanor, a crew of university students tasked with excavating the grave site, spine-tingling supernatural occurrences, and a mystery that involves menacing bad guys who are very much alive. A fast and fun read, narrated by a likable protagonist, peopled with quirky characters, and propelled with rip-roaring action.

A true Misfit (Amulet/Abrams, 2011; Gr 9 Up), Jael is aware of her half-human and half-demon heritage, but knows almost nothing about her past…or her potential. When her strict and ever-cautious father, a former priest, gives her a necklace for her 16th birthday that once belonged to her mother along with an admonition not to wear it, she just can’t resist. Suddenly, she finds herself in possession of amazing powers and begins having visions of the past: the fiery romance between her father and the ancient goddess/demoness Astarte; their amazing adventures smiting and exorcising evil-minded demons; and her mother’s choice to sacrifice herself to protect baby Jael. Needless to say, all of this makes the teen’s day-to-day life as a Catholic high school student a bit of a challenge, as does the fact that Belial, fearsome Grand Duke of Hell, is determined to hunt her down. Empowered by the affection of a cute skater dude and and her own blossoming abilities, Jael resolves to stand and fight. Steeped in mythology, religion, and dazzling imagination, supernatural elements fuse neatly with the book’s realistic Seattle setting. Jon Skovron blends demon-slashing action with philosophical quandaries and touches of wry humor as this delightfully strong heroine wrestles with believable coming-of-age issues.

The Golden Lily (Razorbill, 2012; Gr 8 Up), the second volume in Richelle Mead’s “Bloodlines” series, is set at Amberwood Academy, a California boarding school that serves as secret hiding place for Jill Dragomir, princess of the Moroi, a vampire sect more peaceable than their fierce Strigoi counterparts. Alchemist Sydney, part of a covert organization of humans dedicated to keeping the existence of vampires a secret, has been tasked with keeping Jill and her cohorts safe. Dangerous foes and mysteries intrigues lurk everywhere, and Sydney must balance schoolwork with duties that include serving as boyfriend advisor, bodyguard, and scientific researcher. And though she’s supposed to remain detached, she finds herself thinking of her vampire acquaintances almost as family, bringing her true allegiances into question. When she meets a boy who seems to be the perfect match, the overly analytical and socially inept Sydney struggles with the ins and outs of date expectations and first-kiss etiquette, while a much more heartfelt—and forbidden—passion brews between her and a troubled Moroi. Both funny and sincere, the first-person narration remains consistently in character, defining an individual who is intelligent, courageous, caring, and charmingly clueless about how others perceive her. A spin-off of the “Vampire Academy” series (Penguin), this spellbinding series will thrill fans and win new readers over to the author’s enticing world.

Truly Gothic in its haunting early-20th-century Swampsea setting and grandiose in its storytelling panache, Franny Billingsley’s Chime (Dial, 2011; Gr 7 Up) is told from the perspective of a 17-year-old character who believes that she should hang for her witchy crimes. Gifted with the second sight, Briony has the ability to see the spirits that linger in the marshes surrounding her town and thinks that she caused the incident that resulted in her stepmother’s death as well as the long-ago accident that left her twin sister Rose mentally fragile. Only when a handsome visitor arrives, a young man with leonine good looks and flashing eyes, does Briony begin to gaze through her guilt and self-hatred to see her own spirit—and dark secrets long hidden away—with clear eyes. Flavored with primordial magic and touches of wit, this novel is lyrically written, breathtakingly romantic, and beguiling from beginning to end. Also available in audiobook format from Random House Listening Library.

Publication Information

VAZ, Mark Cotta. Beautiful Creatures: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion. Little, Brown. 2013. pap. $18.99. ISBN 978-0-316-24519-7.

GARCIA, Kami & Margaret Stohl. Beautiful Creatures. Media tie-in ed. Little, Brown. 2012. Tr pap. $10.99. ISBN 9780316231671; pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-0316231657; AudioBook. $19.98. ISBN 9781619698437.

_____. Beautiful Creatures. illus. by Cassandra Jean. Yen Pr. Feb. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780316182713.

STIEFVATER, Maggie. The Raven Boys. Scholastic. 2012. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780545424929; ebook $17.99. ISBN 9780545469791; AudioBook. $39.99. ISBN 9780545465939.

CLEMENT-MOORE, Rosemary. Texas Gothic. Delacorte. 2011. PLB. $20.99. ISBN 9780385906364; Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780385736930; pap. $9.99. ISBN 9780385736947; eBook. $9.99. ISBN 9780375898105.

SKOVRON, Jon. Misfit. Amulet/Abrams. 2011. Tr $16.95. ISBN 9781419700217; pap. $8.95. ISBN 9781419704109.

MEAD, Richelle. The Golden Lily. “Bloodlines” series. Razorbill/Penguin. 2012. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781595143181; pap. $9.99. ISBN 9781595146021; eBook. $10.99. ISBN 9781101565889.

BILLINGSLEY, Franny. Chime. Dial/Penguin. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780803735521; pap. $8.99. ISBN 9780142420928; eBook. $8.99. ISBN 9781101476048.

Assassin’s Creed III

Taking place in a variety of time periods and locales, Ubisoft’s historical action-adventure video game series spotlights the members of an age-old secret sect of lethal warriors. Recently released, the hot-selling fifth installment harks back to Revolutionary War-era America for inspiration. Like the other entries in the franchise, the game includes a modern-day interface featuring protagonist Desmond Miles, the descendant of several Assassins, who uses a machine called the Animus to re-live the genetic memories of his ancestors and search for powerful artifacts and important secrets that will help him to stave off disaster in the present day. Set in the American colonies between 1753 and 1783, the newest iteration introduces Connor Kenway, son of a Mohawk mother and British father, an Assassin who has sworn to use his fine-honed abilities—and an arsenal of 18th-century weapons—to fight for liberty for both his people and his fledgling nation.

Oliver Bowden’s Assassin’s Creed: Forsaken (Ace, 2012; Gr 10 Up), the fifth in a series of original game-based novels, focuses on the life of Haytham Kenway (Connor’s father). Written in journal format, the book begins in 1735 London as the 10-year-old Haytham describes an attack on his family home, the murder of his father, and the kidnapping of his sister. Taken under the wing of a tutor, a member of the Knights Templar, Haytham is raised to accept that order’s philosophy while also honing his lethal skills. However, when he discovers that his father was an Assassin, longtime enemies of the Templars, everything he believes is thrown into question. Haytham’s quest for revenge and his philosophical struggles unfold over the course of many years and numerous globe-spanning adventures, climaxing with his return to the American colonies and his encounter with the son he did not know that he had, a son who stands on the other side of the ideological—and often violent—divide  between Templars and Assassins. Both compelling character study and page-turning adventure tale, this novel deftly incorporates numerous elements of the Assassin’s Creed universe and expands upon the newest game.

The Art of Assassin’s Creed III (Titan, 2012; Gr 9 Up) provides a behind-the-scenes look into this universe with stunning large-size reproductions of concept artwork and concise commentary from game writers and artists. Chapters focus on creating the present-day setting; character development (finding the right look for Conner and a cast of true-life individuals and fictional personages); historical settings (pristine wilderness, faithfully re-created colonial cities, and famous forts and battlegrounds); and epic-scale naval battles. Throughout, the text emphasizes the attention paid to historical detail (e.g., Boston is based on an actual 18th-century city plan) and awareness of the game-play experience (the heights of buildings have been adjusted to “facilitate climbing,” always important for an Assassin on the job). An amalgamation of sketches, handsome portraits, painterly landscapes, and thrilling battle scenes, the illustrations are sure to captivate Assassin’s-Creed–loving browsers and expand their playing experience.

A trio of Assassin’s Creed graphic novels (Titan, 2012; Gr 9 Up)—Desmond (vol. 1), Aquilus (vol. 2), and Accipiter (vol. 3)—grabs teens with dramatic color-splashed covers, each showing a close-up image of a mysterious hooded warrior (split down the middle by the spine, the books feature the titular historical personage on the front cover and modern-day counterpart on the back, opening out to reveal one visage that seems to span across centuries). Translated from the French, these crisply illustrated volumes blend game plot essentials with original story twists and characters. Desmond’s present-day adventures segue neatly into those of his Assassin ancestors, with action-packed mêlées, heroic deeds, unforeseen betrayals, and a mysterious artifact of great power making appearances in both timeframes. The story arc is driven by well-scripted dialogue and artwork that neatly contrasts lush outdoor landscapes with sinister scenes shrouded in shadows. A gripping read for gamers.

Star Wars: The Old Republic

Released in 2011, BioWare’s massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) is set thousands of years before the rise of Darth Vader, when the galaxy is divided by war between the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire. Players choose their avatar and define their own experience as they forge allegiances, engage in battles, and explore this expansive virtual world. The ultimate “Holocron” of information, Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia (DK, 2012; Gr 8 Up) provides a gloriously illustrated and in-depth guide to the settings, history, and lore of this intricately imagined universe. Beginning with a helpful timeline, the book is arranged by factions, and gamers can find each of the eight avatar classes contained within these sections. Lengthy chapters cover “The Republic” (Republic Trooper), “The Jedi Order” (Jedi Knight and Consular), “The Sith Empire” (Imperial Agent), and “The Sith” (Sith Warrior and Inquisitor), while “Mandalorians,” “The Underworld” (Bounty Hunter and Smuggler), and “The Hutt Cartel” get briefer treatment. For each sect, detailed text and colorful artwork introduce important events, culture and philosophy, government organization, military forces and fleets, weapons and armor, major characters, and much, much more. Chapters zooming in on the galaxy’s diverse species and planets finish up this impressively comprehensive work. Dynamic and well-written, the text provides clear explanations and summations that make it easy for readers to dip into particular sections or use the index to follow points of interest. Illustrations include diagram-style close-ups of characters, equipment, and settings as well as magnificent depictions of light-saber duels, starship battles, and other moments of high drama. In addition to the game, this era also serves as setting for novels and comics, making this volume a must-have for Star Wars collections.

Dragon Age

Launched in 2009 with Dragon Age: Origins (Electronic Arts), BioWare’s dark fantasy role-playing series includes a sequel released in 2011 and an assortment of downloadable content add-ons (Dragon Age III is in development for 2013). The action is set in the fictional kingdom of Ferelden, a realm besieged by civil unrest and threatened by invasion form an ancient foe. Choosing their race (human, elf, or dwarf) and role (warrior, mage, or rogue), players are tasked with the quest of uniting disparate forces and vanquishing the forces of evil.

Originally released in digital format, Dragon Age: The Silent Grove (Dark Horse, 2012; Gr 9 Up), a graphic novel penned by franchise-lead-writer David Gaider, has recently been published as a hardcover by Dark Horse (2012; Gr 9 Up). This page-turning tale recounts the adventures of Alistair, King of Ferelden, and his two roguish companions, Isabela, a cunning and courageous pirate captain, and a merchant-turned-mercenary dwarf named Varric. Together, the comrades travel deep into a city of assassins, break into a well-guarded prison, and trek into a treacherous swamp—encountering villains, a dragon, and a magic-wielding Witch of the Wild along the way—as Alistair embarks on a quest to unearth secrets about the fate of his father, Maric. Unfolding at a satisfying pace, the script combines contemporary beats with flamboyantly descriptive language, moments of humor with scenes of sword-clashing fury. The detailed artwork defines the setting and conveys events with bright hues, vividly drawn details, and a lively sense of motion. The adventures continue in Those Who Speak (Dark Horse), scheduled for release in January 3013.

If your gamers prefer narrative fiction, Tor has re-issued Gaider’s 2009 Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne (2012; Gr 9 Up), a prequel set prior to the action of Dragon Age: Origins. Providing backstory about important individuals and detail about their realm, the novel focuses on the actions and relationships of three young adult characters: Maric, a newly made and somewhat self-doubting king determined to free Ferelden from foreign invaders; Loghain, a brazen outlaw who reluctantly becomes an ally; and Rowan, warrior maiden and Maric’s intended bride. As they attempt to recapture the stolen throne, the three soon discover that not only does danger lurk everywhere, but that romantic passions can lead to turmoil. Well-written descriptions and dialogue, sound characterizations, and a twist-turning plot keep readers glued to the pages.

Halo 4

First introduced by Microsoft Studios in 2001, this first-person-shooter sci-fi standby celebrates 10 years with the November 2012 release of the latest installment. Players once again step into the high-tech boots of the Master Chief, a bioengineered super soldier, to take on deadly aliens and save humanity. Teens who would like to find about more about the process behind designing the game will delight in browsing Awakening: The Art of Halo 4 (Titan, 2012; Gr 8 Up), an attractive volume packed with full-color concept artwork. Accompanied by insightful commentary from the artists involved, the book explores the game’s environments, characters, weaponry, and vehicles. The text identifies the inspirations behind the visual design, which incorporates and acknowledges previous incarnations of the game while also providing a fresh perspective. Varying from comic-book-style images of armor-wearing warriors and toothy aliens, to amazingly realistic depictions of battle rifles and spacecraft, to dynamic paintings of breathtaking aerial fight scenes, the illustrations provide much to admire and explore.

Publication Information

BOWDEN, Oliver. Assassin’s Creed: Forsaken. Ace. Dec. 2012. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-425-26151-4; eBook $9.99. ISBN 9781101613412.

MCVITTIE, Andy. The Art of Assassin’s Creed III. Titan. 2012. Tr $29.95. ISBN 9781781164259.

CORBEYRAN, Eric. Assassin’s Creed: Desmond (vol. 1). ISBN 9781781163405.

_____. Assassin’s Creed: Aquilus (vol. 2). ISBN 9781781163412.

_____. Assassin’s Creed:Accipiter (vol. 3). ISBN 9781781163429.

Ea vol: illus. by Djillali Defali. Titan. 2012. Tr $9.99.

RYAN, Ian, et al. Star Wars: The Old Republic: Encyclopedia. DK. 2012. Tr $40. ISBN 978-0-7566-9839-3.

GAIDER, David & Alexander Freed. , Dragon Age: The Silent Grove. illus. by Chad Hardin. Dark Horse, dist. by Diamond Book Distributors. 2012. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-1-59582-916-0.

GAIDER, David. Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne. Tor. 2012 reissue. pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-0-7653-6371-8.

DAVIES, Paul. Awakening: The Art of Halo 4. Titan. 2012. Tr $34.95. ISBN 9781781163245.

Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Game Changer. 2012, Simon & Schuster. Tr. $16.99. ISBN 9780689873805.

Gr 6-9—Driven to succeed in girls softball, KT Sutton lives and breathes the sport. Only in eighth grade, she is already getting attention from college recruiters. During the biggest game of her life, she pitches, blacks out, and wakes up with her world turned upside down. Here, sports are not important, and academic subjects are after-school activities. Those gifted academically attract the attention of college recruiters for scholarships in the same way that sports would in KT’s world. The personal journey she must take to return to her world will ring true with some, and the fast pace of the novel will be appealing to many.

Jeschoneck, Robert T. My Favorite Band Does Not Exist. 2012, Graphia. pap. $8.99. ISBN 9780547721903.

Gr 6 Up—What if you ceased to exist? Idea Deity is convinced he lives in a novel, and only until his death in Chapter 64 does he realize the truth. In the real world, he has created a fictional band, Youforia, complete with websites, tour dates, and playlists. Meanwhile, Reacher Miracle, the actual leader of the band Youforia, can’t fathom how someone is posting all of his information, down to tour dates and playlists. Tying them together is the Swords and Sorcery novel. Which one is real? Do either of them exist? Jeschonek successfully pulls all the story lines together, resulting in a tale fans of Jasper Fforde and Libba Bray will not want to miss.

For more parallel stories and universes, check out some of these titles:

Beddor, Frank. Looking Glass Wars. 2007, Speak. pap. $8.99. ISBN 9780385737647. Gr 9 Up.

Donnelly, Jennifer. Revolution. 2011, Ember. pap. $9.99. ISBN 9780385737647. Gr 8 Up.

Hainsworth, Emily. Through to You. 2012, Baltzer and Bray. Tr. $17.99. ISBN 9780062094193. Gr 7 Up.

Levithan, David. Every Day. 2012, Knopf. Tr. $17.99. ISBN 9780307931887. Gr 6 Up.

Myers, E. C. Fair Coin. 2012, Pyr. Tr. $17.95. ISBN 9781616146092. Gr 6 Up.

Oliver, Lauren. Before I Fall. 2011, HarperCollins. pap. $9.99. ISBN 9780061726811. Gr 9 Up.

Pike, Christopher. Witch World. 2012, Simon Pulse. Tr. $17.99. ISBN 978-442430280. Gr 9 Up.

Scott, Elizabeth. As I Wake. 2012, Speak. Reprint pap. $9.99. ISBN 9780142422465. Gr 9 Up.

Vizzini, Ned. Other Normals. 2012, Baltzer + Bray. Tr. $17.99. ISBN 9780062079909. Gr 7 Up.

Rise of the Guardians

The film was inspired by William Joyce’s “Guardians of Childhood” (S &S/Atheneum) book series, and both endeavors were developed simultaneously. In fact, Joyce, whose many media credits include the TV series Rolie Polie Olie and George Shrinks, the big screen’s Meet the Robinsons (2007), and the Academy Award-winning animated short The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (2011), has been involved from the get-go and serves as executive producer.

The Guardians, a group of immortals, have been protecting the dreams, wishes, and imaginations of children across the globe for years. When an evil spirit known as Pitch (voiced by Jude Law) launches a nightmare of a plot to take over the world, these legendary personages must band together to save the day. Led by North (Alec Baldwin), a jolly Santa souped-up with warrior skills, the assemblage includes Bunnymund (Hugh Jackman), a boomerang-bearing, ready-for-action Aussie; Tooth (Isla Fisher), a shimmering half-hummingbird, half-human fairy; and Sandman, silent but powerful safe-keeper of dreams. However, everything just might depend on their latest recruit, eternal teenager and mischief-maker Jack Frost (Chris Pine), a loner plagued by the mysteries of his past who would rather use his weather-controlling staff for pranks than for heroics. Will Jack find his footing in time to help the Guardians defeat Pitch before it’s too late and children stop believing?

Kids can visit the film’s colorfully designed website to watch a trailer, meet the players, and access downloads of movie posters and other images. Online games include an “Elf-Ding-A-Long” (users can echo familiar tunes on various instruments or compose and record their own compositions), a pinball challenge, and a memory game. Also available are activity sheets (connect-the-dots, coloring pages, mazes, etc.) and 3-D sculptures of the main characters that can be printed out, cut, folded, and glued.

Movie Tie-ins

A line-up of books featuring handsome film-image covers is available from Simon Spotlight. In The Story of Jack Frost, the protagonist recounts events in a chatty first-person narrative, describing his remarkable ability to instantly create ice and snow with his magical staff, his struggle to understand his own identity, and his role as the newest Guardian. Combining double-page spreads with smaller-size illustrations, the artwork depicts the movie characters and their actions with soft-edges and muted colors. Another picture book, Made in the North Pole (both S & S, 2012; PreS-Gr 2) describes North’s magical domain where furry Yetis construct toys and red-hat-wearing elves wreak havoc. Movie images are neatly arranged against crisp blue snowflake-filled backdrops to illustrate the clearly written text.

Focusing on one of the film’s human characters, Jamie to the Rescue (S & S, 2012; K-Gr 2), a “Ready-to-Read” (Level Two) easy reader, recaps the events from the young boy’s point of view. The book traces Jamie’s interactions with the magical bunch, describing how despite the Guardians’ best efforts, in the end, it’s up to the youngster and his friends to keep the faith and continue to believe. Children familiar with the movie plot will easily follow the storyline and enthusiastically decode the text. Simple sentences, basic vocabulary, and illustrations filled with motion and visual clues encourage and support the efforts of new readers.

With a bright-hued movie-poster cover showing the action-ready Guardians posed superhero-style, the Movie Novelization (S & S, 2012; Gr 3-5) will draw in independent readers as well as a younger read-aloud crowd. Sprinkled with lively dialogue and lighthearted humor, the fast-reading text combines short sentences, clearly described events, and touches of suspense to retell the plot. Each chapter begins with a black-and-white sketch of one of the immortal characters, and eight pages of captioned full-color movie photos encourage youngsters to revisit the highpoints. An unabridged audio-book version is also available.

“Guardians of Childhood” Book Series

Film fans will be delighted to discover Joyce’s book series, while bibliophiles will make a beeline to the library to check out and re-read each installment. Set 200 years before the events depicted in Rise of the Guardians, the titles enhance and expand upon the film’s fantastical universe by introducing the characters and establishing the mythology of their world.

Picture Books

A lushly illustrated offering tells the story of The Man in the Moon (2011) aka MiM, the very first Guardian of Childhood who started life as a baby sailing throughout the heavens with his loving parents on their intergalactic vessel, the Moon Clipper. When the evil Pitch attempts to capture him, a battle ensues, and MiM is left orphaned on his ship, which has been transformed into a moon. He grows into adulthood, cared for by Moonbots, Moonmice, and giant Glowworms, all the while observing and listening to the children of planet Earth far below. Determined to ease their fears, he illuminates the moon to provide comfort and assembles the now-legendary Guardians, who vow to keep the youngsters safe and “guard…their hopes and dreams.”

Sanderson Mansnoozie, more popularly known as The Sandman (2012, both Atheneum; K-Gr 4), makes his debut in a second picture book. The one-time pilot of a shooting star harpooned by the dastardly Pitch, Sandy falls to Earth and lands upon an island made from the remnants of his vessel. Nestled comfortably among golden dunes, he is content to dream away the years, until MiM calls upon him to help keep the children safe at night when the moon’s not full or bright and darkness prevails. What better way to chase nightmares away than by sending lovely dreams via Dreamsand? Both tales are told with a compelling mix of concrete details and a buoyant sense of wonder. The delightful multi-media illustrations combine the precise lines and shading of an antique map with rich gem-stone colors, fantastical settings, and whimsical details. Children will enjoy comparing these images to the movie’s animation, identifying similarities and differences, and allowing their imaginations to soar.

Novels

Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King (2011) stars a younger version of North, a dashing bandit and much-feared warrior who cannot deny his hidden-away heart of gold. Drawn to Santoff Claussen by a dream, North discovers a town under siege by Pitch, recently released from imprisonment, and joins forces with a powerful wizard named Ombric and a stouthearted story-loving girl named Katherine to defeat the Nightmare King and his Fearling Army. The epic good-versus-evil conflict continues in E. Aster Bunnymund and the Warrior Eggs at the Earth’s Core! (2012; both Gr 3-6) as a giant-size, super-intelligent Rabbit Man with a knack for making chocolate treats and fighting bad guys joins the fray.

Filled with magical wonders, once-upon-a-time lore, and richly imagined characters, the novels blend intricately woven plot elements with thrilling action. Elegantly depicting the individuals and the events, Joyce’s mixed-media illustrations emphasize the magic and underscore the emotion. In addition to captivating independent readers, the books make great choices for sharing aloud with younger children. The adventure continues with the recently released Toothiana, Queen of the Tooth Fairy Armies (2012; all Atheneum). The first three volumes are available as a boxed set, and more novel and picture book installments are to come in the planned 13-book series.

Readers can visit the series website to find out more about the books and the characters and view a selection of entertaining videos (including one starring Joyce, who takes off on a book tour—literally—by donning a jetpack heading for  the moon).

Publication Information

MCDOOGLE, Farrah, adapt. Rise of the Guardians: The Story of Jack Frost. illus. by Larry Navarro. pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5305-0; ebook $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5306-7.

SHAW, Natalie, adapt. Rise of the Guardians: Made in the North Pole. pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5290-9; ebook $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5449-1.

GALLO, Tina, adapt. Rise of the Guardians: Jamie to the Rescue. illus. by Zack Franzen & Charles Grosvener. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5260-2; pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5259-6; ebook $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5262-6.

DEUTSCH, Stacia, adapt. Rise of the Guardians: Movie Novelization. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3075-4; ebook $5.99. ISBN 9781442452541; Audio Bk (2 Compact Disks) $9.99. ISBN 9781442359505

ea vol: S&S. 2012.

JOYCE, William. The Man in the Moon. illus. by author. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3041-9; ebook $12.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3551-3.

_____. The Sandman. illus. by author. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3042-6; ebook $12.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5448-4.

JOYCE, William & Laura Geringer. Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King. Bk. 1. illus. by William Joyce. 2011. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3048-8; ebook $12.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3575-9.

JOYCE, William. E. Aster Bunnymund and the Warrior Eggs at the Earth’s Core! Bk. 2. 2012. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3050-1; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4991-6.

_____. Toothiana, Queen of the Tooth Fairy Armies. Bk. 3. 2012. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3052-5; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5461-3.

_____. The Guardians. Boxed set (Bks. 1-3). Tr $44.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-7425-3.

ea vol: illus. by William Joyce. (The Guardians Series). S & S/Athenuem.

Directed by Sam Mendes and released by MGM and Columbia Pictures, Skyfall is the first film in the franchise to be presented in IMAX format. The cast also includes Javier Bardem as the villainous Raoul Silva; Ralph Fiennes as security committee chairman Gareth Mallory; Ben Whishaw as the new, very fresh-faced tech guru, Q; Bérénice Marlohe as femme fatale Sévérine; and Naomie Harris as the capable and charismatic field agent, Eve. Teens can get a taste of the action by visiting the official website for previews, clips, and behind-the-scenes videoblogs narrated by cast and crew. Experienced Bond viewers can also test their knowledge by accessing an interactive trailer in the “Extras” section, clicking on the “007” icon, and answering multiple choice questions covering 50 years of trivia.

Live and Let Read

Take advantage of the Bond bonanza and display or booktalk a selection of recently published young adult spy thrillers. Impossible to put down, these titles feature an array of unforgettable protagonists, a mix of time periods and settings, and a teen-tantalizing variety of narrative styles.

One Day High School, the Next Day Espionage

High school senior Perry Stormaire is just an average guy, obsessing over college applications, caving into his controlling father’s decrees, and daydreaming about his band, Inchworm, one day making it big. That is until his mother forces him to take their quiet and drab Lithuanian foreign exchange student to the prom, and his life is changed forever. Shedding her frumpy peasant dress and bottle-thick glasses to reveal a sleek and sexy, highly trained, and resolutely determined assassin, Gobi is dead set on completing her mission to off five targets before daybreak. Forced at gunpoint to chauffeur her around Manhattan in his father’s purloined Jaguar, the petrified Perry has no choice but to acquiesce, and soon finds himself dodging flying bullets and dead bodies (as well as his frantic father’s calls). However, once Perry learns the reason for Gobi’s lethal spree—and is dazzled by an intoxicating lipstick-and-gunpowder-flavored kiss—he gathers his courage and willingly transforms from captive to compatriot. Joe Schreiber’s Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick (2011; Gr 8 Up) dazzles readers with drolly delivered humor, rapid-fire action, and a surprisingly believable romance. The adventures continue in Perry’s Killer Playlist (Nov. 2012, both Houghton).

Farrah Higgins, aka A Girl Named Digit (Houghton Mifflin, 2012; Gr 9 Up), has resolved to keep her status as math genius under wraps and cruise through senior year as part of the popular crowd. However, her true number-crunching geekiness is outed when she manages to crack a complex code used by a group of eco-terrorists and begins to investigate it on her own. Targeted by the bad guys, she is whisked into hiding by the FBI and placed under the care of John Bennett, a 21-year-old agent who is as sexy as he is smart. Even better, John finds her amazing math mojo attractive, and before long, the two are working side-by-side to track down the criminals and root out a double agent, while also falling in love. Annabel Monaghan’s fast-paced novel percolates with brain-teasing ciphers and puzzles, whirlwind action, and cloak-and-dagger danger. Digit’s first-person narrative is quirky and laugh-out-loud funny, and her growing self-acceptance—as she finally begins to feel comfortable in her own skin and fully embraces her abilities and long-hated nickname—is empowering.

A World War II Epic

Identifying herself only by her Code Name Verity (Hyperion, 2012; Gr 9 Up), Julia Beaufort-Stuart, a secret agent captured by the Gestapo in 1943, pens her confession to stave off the awful fate promised by her Nazi interrogator. A self-admitted coward who has bargained away bits of information for small comforts, she describes the harrowing brutality of her imprisonment while relating the events leading up to her arrest in France. Her friendship with Maddie Brodatt, a British Civilian pilot, is the focus of her tale. She describes how they met, trained together, and eventually formed a deep bond that would cross cultural boundaries (Julia is a Scottish noblewoman and Maddie is the granddaughter of a bike-shop owner) and stand firm despite grave danger. Enduring torture and endless suffering, Julia remains defiant to the end, when orders come through for her execution. Maddie takes up the story for the last third of the novel, and her account chronicles her efforts to rescue her friend, while also shedding light on the truth about what actually happened after they crash-landed in France together and revealing the heartbreaking depths of Julia’s fortitude and courage. Rich in historical detail, artfully nuanced in the telling, filled with unexpected twists, and peopled with complex characters, Elizabeth Wein’s novel is not only an addictive page-turner and emotionally riveting, it also provides readers with much to contemplate and discuss.

Tales with a Sci-Fi Twist

The son of an out-of-luck gambler, 14-year-old Tom Raines wants more from life than hopping from casino to casino. So when his natural skill as a virtual reality gamer earns him the notice of a U.S. Air Force general—and a position at the Pentagonal Spire—he jumps at the chance. At this elite military academy, he will train to be a Combatant, one of a group of teen warriors selected to remotely pilot the unmanned aircraft that are currently fighting World War III in space. Agreeing to have a neural processor implanted in his brain to enhance both his physical and mental abilities, Tom dives wholeheartedly into the program, where he makes friends, dabbles in an illicit online romance with a recruit from the opposite side, and discovers that he has the unheard-of capability to actually interface with machinery. When it becomes clear that a spy is among them, and Tom is mistakenly charged with treason, he must make tough choices to survive. Set in a world where multinational corporations control politicians, soldiers are viewed as reality-media stars, and humans are grafted to technological devices, Insignia (HarperCollins, 2012; Gr 7 Up) blends a richly imagined reality with gripping suspense and high-octane action. S. J. Kincaid has a knack for creating believable teen dialogue, camaraderie, and emotion, along with a likable protagonist who struggles with flaws yet soars to new heights.

Like Tom, 19-year-old Jackson Miller has an unusual ability—he can make brief jumps back through time. When his girlfriend is fatally shot after a violent struggle, the shock causes him to accidentally jolt back two years. Stuck in 2007, desperately trying to figure out how to return to his own time, he meets and falls in love with Holly all over again. He also begins to uncover the truth about his own identity and that of his father, who is actually a spy, as well as the existence of a secret organization of time-travelers, the Enemies of Time, who will use any means necessary to recruit him to their side. Unsure of whom to trust, Jackson must unravel numerous mysteries, test his own abilities, and ultimately make gut-wrenching choices to save the woman he loves, and possibly the world. A veritable Tempest (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2012; Gr 9 Up) of mind-stretching time-travel conundrums, heart-pounding action, and non-stop surprises, Julie Cross’s novel keeps the story grounded with an enthralling plot, well-developed characters, and interpersonal relationships that ring true. Readers will breathlessly await the next installment in the trilogy.

For more great spy reads featured in SLJTeen, click here.

Publication Information   

SCHREIBER, Joe. Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780547577388; eBook $10.99. ISBN 9780547677637.

_____. Perry’s Killer Playlist. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780547601175; eBook $16.99. ISBN 978054792776-3.

Ea vol: Houghton Mifflin.

MONAGHAN, Annabel. A Girl Named Digit. Houghton Mifflin. 2012.Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780547668529; eBook $16.99. ISBN 9780547668949.

WEIN, Elizabeth. Code Name Verity. Hyperion. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781423152194.

KINCAID, S. J. Insignia. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Bks. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062092991; eBook. $9.99. ISBN 9780062093011.

CROSS, Julie. Tempest. St. Martin’s Griffin/Thomas Dunne. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780312568894; eBook $9.99. ISBN 9781429990592.

With his hulking body and sledge-hammer-shaped fists, Ralph (voiced by John C. Reilly) has been the villain in a kid-favorite arcade video game for 30 years, smashing buildings and causing mayhem throughout Niceland, damage adeptly repaired by the ever-cheerful Fix-It Felix (Jack McBrayer). Fed up with being another 8-bit baddie, Ralph is ready to take a shot at being the good guy and decides to prove his mettle by earning a medal.

His quest takes him—via power cord—to “Hero’s Duty,” a modern, first-person shooter game starring the stalwart Sergeant Calhoun (Glee’s Jane Lynch) and a mass of evil alien cy-bugs. Next, he crash-lands in the candy-themed kart-racing game, “Sugar Rush,” where he meets spunky Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman), a feisty and outspoken youngster who is determined to earn a place in the starting lineup despite her propensity for glitching. The two form an alliance, and Ralph believes he has finally made a friend, until events that he has inadvertently set in action—and a carefully camouflaged villain—cause everything to crash down around them. Will Ralph be able to set things right before it’s too late?

Designed to look and sound like an old-school arcade game, the movie’s official website provides a trailer, a selection of behind-the-scenes videos, and a gallery of movie images. A characters option introduces each of the major players with a bright illustration, a bar chart of personality-specific statistics (e.g., “Fist Power” for Ralph or “Heart” for Vanellope), a brief bio, and downloads. Showcased here are some familiar videogame villains featured in the film, including the orange-colored ghost from “Pac-Man” and Dr. Eggman from “Sonic the Hedgehog.” Kids can also try their hand at online versions of the movie’s three arcade games, providing a fun interactive extension to the viewing experience. Each offering’s graphic style, music, and milieu are cleverly suited to its particular era (a classic 1980’s pixilated veneer for “Fix-it Felix, Jr.,” a super-cute Nintendo-esque ‘90s look for “Sugar Rush,” and a hyper-realistic setting for “Hero’s Duty”).

Book Tie-ins: Picture Books

A selection of Wreck-It Ralph books geared to a variety of reading levels will win over movie fans. A “Little Golden Book” version (PreS-K) of the tale recaps the action in a straightforward narrative, briefly touching upon the story’s highpoints. The colorful cartoon illustrations provide just enough detail to delineate events, while emphasizing Ralph’s super-size fists and Vanellope’s perky nature. Illustrated throughout with glossy large-size images, the “Big Golden Book” retelling (PreS-Gr 4; both Random House) incorporates more elements from the plot, providing dialogue along with a bit more character development. In both the narrative and artwork, transitions between scenes set in the different game worlds and in the arcade are clean and easy to follow.

The illustrations evoke the movie animation, and shifting perspectives and close-ups effectively underscore the unfolding action and the characters’ emotions. The text’s clear writing style and basic vocabulary make the book appropriate for sharing aloud or for independent readers. Some of the same images are presented in Wreck-It Ralph: Read-Along Storybook and CD (Disney, 2012; PreS-Gr 4), a staple-bound paperback that presents a more streamlined retelling. Narrated with plenty of expression, the audio CD also includes lines of dialogue performed by the movie actors, lively sound effects, and background music.

A staple-bound picture book zooms in on Ralph’s adventures in Sugar Rush (Random House, 2012; PreS-Gr 2) as he and Vanellope work together to mix, bake, and decorate a kart confection for the race, and their reluctant alliance gradually blossoms into friendship. Fast-reading text and soft-edged candy-colored illustrations convey the events along with the characters’ growing affection. One Sweet Race (Disney, 2012; PreS-Gr 1), an original picture book set in the world of Sugar Rush, stars Rancis Fluggerbutter, a blonde-haired boy with a jauntily angled chocolate-bonbon cap. When he trades his belongings to purchase a souped-up candy racing kart, it proves impossible to control, and he ends up in a wreck with “bubble gum airbag” deployed. Never fear! Vanellope helps him to piece together a homemade vehicle with a “fudge-bucket seat,” “shock-olate absorbers,” and “taffy bear-rakes,” allowing him to triumph and learn a lesson about friendship. Created by one of the movie’s visual design artists, the artwork depicts the sugar-sweet characters, confection-filled backdrops, and racing action.

Easy Reader/Chapter Books

Game On! (PreS-Gr 1; Random House, 2012), a “Step 2” easy reader, recounts the movie’s plot in a concise narrative that utilizes short sentences and basic, often-repeated vocabulary words. Employing clean lines and muted colors, the illustrations add interest and support the text with visual clues. Beginning readers will enjoy re-living the familiar events, as Ralph discovers that “He does not need a medal to be a Good Guy.”

Standing at 9-feet tall, weighing 643 pounds, and continually yelling, I’m Gonna Wreck It! (Random House; Gr 1-4), the film’s hero recounts his story in a lively first-person narrative. Written in an accessible style, this easy chapter book combines simple vocabulary, short and snappy sentences, and humorous black-and-white cartoons to tell “a pretty crazy story about some Good Guys, some Bad Guys, a cute kid, and lots of gooey taffy.” The text clearly conveys the events, while remaining in character with a warmly informal tone and exclamations like, “Mother Hubbard!” The Kapow! cover (Ralph fisting his way through a brick wall), invitingly open format, and protagonist’s perspective will draw readers into the tale.

Clear and descriptive writing, humorous dialogue, and fast-paced plot make the The Junior Novelization (Random House; Gr 3-6) appropriate for both independent readers and sharing aloud with younger movie fans. The prologue sets the scene by introducing Litwak’s Family Fun Center, with its “ringing bells and electronic beeps,” kids racing from console to console, and the fact that the real action takes place when the arcade closes at night. Told in suspenseful chapters, the tale touches upon themes of finding friendship, discovering untapped talents, and helping others. A colorful cover showing the vivacious Vanellope perched on Ralph’s shoulder, the two smiling affectionately at each other, welcomes movie viewers. Eight pages of captioned full-color artwork are nestled within, along with black-and-white images of a pixilated Ralph.

Go Behind the Scenes

Movie devotees as well as readers with an interest in visual design and animation will enjoy perusing the profusely illustrated pages of Jennifer Lee and Maggie Malone’s The Art of Wreck-It Ralph (Chronicle, 2012; Gr 5 Up). Stating that the movie is a bit of  a departure for Disney Animation, the authors point to the involvement of Moore, who brought with him “an edgy animation aesthetic and a bold, risky sense of humor” along with a commitment to creating a film with a modern sensibility. Well-written chapters delve into each of the very different video-game worlds, describing the design process, settings, and character development (at various times, Ralph was envisioned as a troll, caveman, Sasquatch, and gorilla, as shown in the concept artwork).

Other sections introduce “Game Central” (a train-station-like hub through which the characters travel from one game console to another), scenes set in the human world of the arcade, and characters that were cut before production. Commentary from the creative staff is woven into the narrative, along with pull-out quotes, providing an interesting look at how the film’s look and storyline evolved side by side. The handsome pages are filled with concept art, character sketches, story boards, and models (including an amazing built-from-candy rendition of the Sugar Rush town square).

Publication Information

SAXON, Victoria, adapt. Wreck-It Ralph. illus. by Lorelay Bove. “A Little Golden Bk.” Random. 2012. Tr $3.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2972-6.

BAZALDUA, Barbara, adapt. Wreck-It Ralph. illus. by the Disney Studio Artists. “A Big Golden Bk.” Random. 2012. Tr $9.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2954-2.

GLASS, Calliope, adapt. Wreck-It Ralph: Read-Along Storybook and CD. illus. by the Disney Storybook Artists. Disney Pr. 2012. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-142316061-8. w/CD.

O’HARA, Ellen. Wreck-It Ralph: Sugar Rush. illus. by Cory Loftis. Random. 2012. pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2959-7.

RISCO, Elle D. Wreck-It Ralph: One Sweet Race. illus. by Brittney Lee. Disney. 2012. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-142316628-3.

AMERIKANER, Susan. Wreck-It Ralph: Game On! illus. by the Disney Storybook Artists. Random House. 2012. PLB $12.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-8116-8; pap.  $3.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2889-7.

BAZALDUA, Barbara, adapt. Wreck-It Ralph: I’m Gonna Wreck It! illus. by David Gilson. Random House. 2012. pap. $4.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2958-0.

TRIMBLE, Irene, adapt. Wreck-It Ralph: The Junior Novelization. Random House. 2012. pap.  $4.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2960-3.

LEE, Jennifer & Maggie Malone. The Art of Wreck-It Ralph. Chronicle. 2012. Tr $40. ISBN 978-1-4521-1101-8.