The world's largest reviewer of books, multimedia, and technology for children and teens
Thermodynamics leading to the creation of a rock album? That’s what our reviewer says led to Muse’s The 2nd Law! Green Day is showing some maturity with Uno, putting their “bratty” roots behind them. And it’s not football season without a new release of Madden NFL, the thirteenth edition—it sounds almost classy!
Though our reviewer recommends Steven Arntson’s The Wrap-up List to teenage girls, I can vouch that it will also appeal to adults—especially with its references to classic reaper stories. If you’re looking for something with zombies or aliens, or just a sharp contemporary read, Bookmarked has some recommendations here as well. Read on.
Perfectly pitched to fans of TV’s Glee and reality competition shows such as American Idol, The Voice, and X Factor, this musical comedy from Universal Studios opens nationally on October 5. Set in the fascinating—and surprisingly bodacious—world of collegiate a cappella singing, Pitch Perfect (PG-13) harmonizes crowd-pleasing acoustic production numbers with plenty of sassy and brassy girl-power attitude and ribald humor (hence the tagline—“Get Pitch Slapped”). The film is inspired by Mickey Rapkin’s nonfiction title, Pitch Perfect (Gotham, 2008; Gr 10 Up), which has been re-issued with an eye-catching movie-poster cover.
Two new titles from masters of YA lit are featured in this issue’s teen review column, and both get rave reviews. David Levithan’s Every Day is already available. Sorry you all have to wait so long for Cory Doctorow’s Homeland (Feb. 2013)—though if you want to hear him speak about his thoughts on technology, digital rights management and the internet, you can register now for The Digital Shift: Libraries, Ebooks and Beyond, a full day virtual event happening on October 17. The closing keynote, What We Talk About When We Talk About Copyright: The Internet is not a glorified cable TV system, to be delivered by Doctorow, is sure to have attendees cheering in the virtual aisles!
Shannon Hale’s follow-up to Princess Academy, Palace of Stone picks up the story of Miri, a girl whose smarts and sense of fairness have just brought a new age of prosperity to Mount Eskel, a remote area of Danland. She’s also destined to serve the princess-in-waiting and her dear friend, Britta, who has recently sent for her to come to the royal city of Asland. I’m delighted that Shannon Hale will be visiting with her fans via a free live-stream event on October 1, sponsored by Bloomsbury Children’s Books (register here!), and that she took time to answer a few questions about her latest book.
If you’re wondering why we’re a little short on reviews this issue, blame it on Hurricane Isaac. Bookmarked’s leader, Elizabeth Kahn, emailed me these two reviews on August 28, from Jefferson Parish, LA, adding, “The lights are flashing, so I don’t think that I will have Internet access much longer. Let me go.” That’s dedication. Let’s all send a little positive karma to our friends, family, and colleagues in the Gulf this week, OK?
Fiction
BRUNT, Carol Rifka. Tell the Wolves I’m Home. 368p. Dial. 2012. Tr $26. ISBN 978-0-679-64419-4. LC 2011027932.
Adult/High School–June Elbus, 14, begins her story in late December 1986, as her mother drives her and her older sister, Greta, to their Uncle Finn’s Manhattan apartment so he can continue painting their portrait. Finn is a famous artist dying of AIDS, and June is in love with him. She treasures their every moment together, especially their trips to The Cloisters. He even [...]
Football season is upon us from all sectors—high school, college, and pro—and just in case you’re between games, our video game reviewer reports that NCAA Football 13 will keep you from jonesin’ for the real thing. Looking for something more chill? Teens can settle back with the new Sparkle soundtrack, and play a little Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes. Fun, but not too intense; good action, decent listening, enough to pass a few hours in disco/superhero bliss.
Fiction
ANGELELLA, J. R. Zombie. 352p. Soho. 2012. pap. $15. ISBN 978-1-61695-088-0. LC 2012003803.
Adult/High School–High school freshman Jeremy Barker lives his life according to the rules of survival he’s learned thanks to his obsession with zombie movies: avoid eye contact; keep quiet; forget the past; lock and load; and, most important, fight to survive. Whether dealing with the casual violence inflicted by bullies at his Catholic school, his father’s nightly disappearances, or his estranged mother’s addiction to painkillers, he always [...]
In her first novel, Carol Rifka Brunt tells a story of love and loss, sibling rivalry, secrets, and jealousy. June Elbus is 14 when she finds out that her uncle Finn, the one person in the world who seems to understand her, is dying of AIDS. June is devastated when he dies, and wary when she’s approached by Finn’s longtime partner, Toby.
I like the twist of an Amish girl doing rumspringa in Nancy Grossman’s A World Away. In Blind Spot, author Laura Ellen surprises readers with a teen character who suffers from macular degeneration, a condition usually regarded as an “old people’s” disease. And our reviewer reports that it was definitely worth waiting eight years for Lois Lowry’s Son, the conclusion of her Giver Quartet.
Who will make the cut? The hit reality TV series that provides aspiring fashion designers with a chance to strut their stuff—and compete for the opportunity to show their own collection at New York Fashion Week—has just launched its 10th season, airing Thursday evenings on Lifetime. Hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum, Project Runway dares competitors to design and sew their most wow-inspiring garments while working under strict limitations and tough time constraints. Capitalize on fashion-fever with this collection of titles.
We may not be able to predict how the end of the world will come—zombie domination, the rapture, falling asteroids, or anything else you can imagine—but the following books will help you get ready. Some are old standbys, such as Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet, which offers a guide to wilderness survival, while others have the potential to become future classics. Make sure you’re ready for all the potential doom and gloom. Be prepared!
This time around, our featured music reviews are bicoastal—The Gaslight Anthem hails from New Jersey, and has just released its first album with a major label, while California-based Linkin Park can claim Living Things as their fifth studio album. And after reading the game reviews, I was envisioning a mash-up of The Amazing Spider-Man and Just Dance Greatest Hits—players would swing from building to building, incorporating dance moves!
WEIN, Elizabeth. Code Name Verity. 344p. bibliog. CIP. Hyperion/Disney. 2012. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-5219-4; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-5325-2. LC 2011024857.
Gr 9 Up—What is truth? The significance of Julia Beaufort-Stuart’s alias, “Code Name Verity,” takes on double meaning in this taut, riveting, thriller. When the story begins, Julia is an unnamed prisoner, formerly a wireless operator for the British, held captive in France by a seemingly sadistic Nazi interrogator. She has supposedly “sold her soul” in exchange for small bits of [...]
I had the pleasure of meeting Elizabeth Kahn, librarian and book review wrangler at Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Academy, in person during the recent 2012 ALA Annual Conference. Her energy and enthusiasm for her profession and her kids was absolutely infectious, and it made me wish that every school had a school librarian like Elizabeth. She knows that her readers in Bookmarked are writers and thinkers, developing skills that will continue to carry them on to great things [...]
This summer, SLJ is presenting SummerTeen, a daylong, online celebration of young adult books, and “Rockin’ Women of YA” is one of the many programs you’ll get to choose from. You can sign in from the comfort of your very own home or office and listen to great authors such as Maggie Stiefvater, A. S. King, Julie Kagawa, and more. The best part is that you can go back and watch the archived event later on or show it to your students or teen advisory group. Check out the following list of titles from a few of our scheduled presenters—there are too many authors to include in just one list!
Is your spider-sense tingling? The Amazing Spider-Man (PG-13) blasts back onto the big screen on July 3, in a new 3D adventure from Marvel Entertainment and Columbia Pictures. This latest release isn’t a continuation of Sam Raimi’s blockbuster trilogy starring Tobey Maguire, but a reboot of the film franchise that presents a new installment in the Spider-Man cinematic opus. Andrew Garfield assumes the red-and-blue, be-webbed mantel in the new motion picture, which is directed by Marc Webb with a screenplay based on Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s classic Marvel comic book.
Just take a look at the covers of the featured books in this week’s column, and you’ll understand why so much time is spent on crafting and creating them. Like a still-life work of art, the image needs to tell viewers about the story while inviting them into the book to discover more. Leah’s hair does fly forward in an open cockpit, Myron does turn into animals, and Tony does have to choose between his crappy life in a trailer [...]
War, terminal illness, grief, depression—the teen protagonists in these recent young adult titles face dire circumstances and difficult personal dilemmas with honest candor and courage, choosing to live with hope, seeing possibilities in the midst of despair. Never sentimental or maudlin, ever inventive and realistic, their stories reference historic touchstones and human vulnerability in strikingly voiced narratives sure to capture readers’ hearts and minds. They offer myriad themes to explore and writing opportunities in classrooms across the curriculum.
