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March 1, 2011

In this Article

Fiction

Nonfiction

Fiction

ALBAN, Andrea. Anya’s War. 208p. Feiwel & Friends. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-312-37093-0. LC number unavailable.
Gr 7-10–It’s 1937, and Anya Rosen is struggling to adjust to her new home in Shanghai after her family flees secret police and religious persecution in Odessa, Ukraine. Trying to adapt to the unfamiliar and hectic city, she has typical 14-year-old worries about boys and pleasing her parents, but she also carries the weight of events of the times. Will Japan attack Shanghai? Will her idol, Amelia Earhart, ever be found? The story centers on Anya’s discovery of an infant girl left abandoned on the streets and her determination to save her life and find her mother. By the book’s end, Anya has grown from a sheltered girl into a solid character who questions the inequalities of the world around her and makes connections between the Nazis’ persecution of Jews and the treatment of women in Chinese society. The story is filled with vivid and beautifully detailed descriptions of the city, yet some of the action-filled scenes feel muddled. The smattering of Yiddish, Italian, Hebrew, and Chinese terms gives the story added authenticity, but will be a challenge to most readers. Based on the author’s own family history, the story explores a relatively unknown aspect of the Jewish diaspora in the years before World War II.–Rachael Myers, Horace Mann School, Bronx, NY

ATWATER-RHODES, Amelia. All Just Glass. 247p. (Den of Shadows Series). Delacorte. 2011. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73752-4; PLB $18.99. ISBN 978-0-385-90671-5; ebook $15.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89807-5. LC number unavailable.
Gr 9 Up–This novel picks up where Shattered Mirror (Delacorte, 2001) left off, and it will be difficult to follow the story without having read that book. Sarah Vida has done the unthinkable. Descending from a long line of vampire-hunting witches, she has been raised to destroy the undead. Now she is the thing she once hunted–a vampire. Turned by Kristopher, whom she loves, she is convinced that the witch clans are not 100 percent correct in their assessment of vampires. Vampires can choose to coexist among humans and do not have to become the evil, soulless beings that Sarah was taught to believe. Unfortunately, the Vida family matriarch invokes the Rights of Kin, an ancient law calling for Sarah’s destruction. Now her family members must hunt her down and eliminate her at any cost. Atwater-Rhodes weaves a fast-paced, action-packed story full of suspense and intrigue, with some clever plot twists and turns. Points of view alternate among the characters, giving them dimension. The strong ending does not tie up all the loose ends, leaving room for a possible sequel.–Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School , NY

BAUER, Joan. Close to Famous. 256p. Viking. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-670-01282-4. LC number unavailable.
Gr 5-8–Sixth-grader Foster McFee is a supremely talented baker and dreams of being a famous television chef like Sonny Kroll, star of her favorite show on the Food Network, but she has already had to face some major challenges in her life. After her father’s death in combat in Iraq, she and her mother, a talented singer, have had a hard time financially, and ultimately they are forced to leave Memphis in order to escape her mother’s abusive Elvis-impersonator boyfriend. Worst of all, Foster is unable to read because of a learning disability. When she and her mother accidentally end up in Culpepper, WV, Foster finds some unlikely supporters among the tiny town’s eccentric residents, including a boy with no camera who dreams of being a documentary filmmaker and a famous retired actress who lives in seclusion on the outskirts of the community. Thanks to them and to her own perseverance, Foster is able to work toward her dream of making the world a better place, one cupcake at a time. The story is fast paced, and readers will be rooting for likable and gutsy Foster, who expresses her views on life in baking metaphors. The quirky residents of Culpepper are equally believable and appealing. Youngsters will find this story tastier than a batch of Foster’s triple chocolate cupcakes.–Kathleen E. Gruver, Burlington County Library, Westampton, NJ

BILLINGSLEY, Franny. Chime. 358p. Dial. Mar. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-8037-3552-1. LC number unavailable.
Gr 7 Up–Born precisely at midnight, that eldritch hour between one day and the next, Briony has always been a bit fey. But it isn’t until her twin sister, Rose, is hurt while they are swinging together and her stepmother is tragically crippled in a freak accident that Briony comes to believe that she is a witch, doomed to end her life dangling from the hangman’s noose. She only begins to hope that she might not be quite as wicked and damned as she had thought when she is befriended by a newcomer to the village, a beautiful boy with leonine grace and electric eyes. The magnificently dark romantic setting and lovely, lyrical language and imagery enhance a novel that is both lushly sensual and shivery. Billingsley’s YA debut is a memorable one.–Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK

BLUNDELL, Judy. Strings Attached. 320p. Scholastic. Mar. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-22126-9. LC number unavailable.
Gr 7 Up–November 1950 in New York City: a time and place in which everything changes for Kit Corrigan. After dropping out of high school in Providence to pursue dancing and acting, a breakup with Billy Benedict, a college boy and the son of a powerful mob lawyer, propels her to the Big Apple. A fraternal triplet whose mother died in childbirth, Kit has been raised by a working-class father with the sometime help of his sister, Delia. Her brother, Jamie, and Billy have enlisted in the Korean War. In New York, Kit’s talent and gorgeous red hair help land her in the chorus of a quick-to-close Broadway show. Her money is disappearing when Mr. Benedict shows up to dangle a carrot she can’t ignore: a cozy apartment and an audition to be a Lido Doll. Is it so much just to tell him when she hears from Billy, help with the occasional package, and chat with certain men who frequent the Lido? Goings-on at the club get increasingly sinister, Kit’s neighbors are being persecuted as Reds, and somehow Aunt Delia’s disappearance is linked to the teen’s current New York life. Evoking the glamour, grit, and gusto of the era, Blundell has produced a compelling narrative with well-crafted characters who bring different ambitions, fears, and memories toward tragic collisions. Circling back and forth through the years of Kit’s life, readers dip into her Great Depression childhood, her family’s bootlegging past, and the stark revelations of the adult world.–Suzanne Gordon, Lanier High School, Sugar Hill, GA

BOLES, Philana Marie. Glitz. 272p. Viking. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-670-01204-6. LC number unavailable.
Gr 7-10–High school juniors Ann Michelle and Raquel love hip-hop and dream of becoming famous. They both have a crush on a rising artist, and when he performs in Toledo, OH, the girls sneak into the concert and meet him and his crew backstage. Piper invites them to his recording studio and then to go on the road with him, believing that they are older than they are. Ann Michelle has reservations but tags along, while Raq is willing to do anything to become a star. When things start to spiral out of control, Ann Michelle isn’t sure she knows what to do. Throughout the novel, she struggles for independence, torn between her friend and her grandmother, who thoroughly disapproves of Raquel. Raq, who has been in and out of “juvie” several times, is outspoken, carefree, and irresistible. Ann Michelle begins to doubt Raq after running off with her. The female characters leave more of an impression than the males because their pasts are fleshed out. Piper and his crew barely speak. Although at times the novel seems like a cautionary tale, it is an easy title to recommend to those who like books with drama. –Lori A. Guenthner, Baltimore County Public Library, Randallstown, MD

BUNTING, Eve. The Pirate Captain’s Daughter. 208p. CIP. Sleeping Bear. Mar. 2011. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-1-58536-526-5. LC 2010032409.
Gr 6-8–When 15-year-old Catherine’s mother dies, she cajoles her father, a pirate ship’s captain, to take her along on his impending three-month voyage. In exchange, she promises to live as a boy and never reveal her true gender (bad luck on a pirate ship). She immediately feels threatened by the roguish crew, especially when she learns that two of the shadier characters are after a treasure her father has hidden in their home. The 15-year-old cabin boy, Will, who learns her secret, tries in vain to protect her from the bullying and threats of the most menacing pirates. But bad weather, bad luck, treachery, and tragedy arrive together and create a life-and-death dilemma for Catherine and Will. After they are marooned on an island, their growing love keeps them hopeful for a chance at life together if they are lucky enough to be rescued. Bunting’s pirates have every known stereotype including a peg leg, an eye patch, and a pet parrot (there is even an Arrgh! thrown in), and the vernacular in the dialogue is straight from a Popeye cartoon. But the pacing and the coming-of-age angst keep the story skipping along to a satisfying, if predictable ending. Chapter titles featuring the Jolly Roger hovering over Blackadder script are a nice touch.–Karen Elliott, Grafton High School, WI

CALKHOVEN, Laurie. Will at the Battle of Gettysburg, 1863. Bk. 2. 227p. (Boys of Wartime Series). map. chron. further reading. glossary. Dutton. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-525-42145-0. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-7–Twelve-year-old Will dreams of the heroic exploits he will undertake once he convinces his parents that he is old enough to be a drummer in the Union Army. However, when war comes, he finds that combat isn’t nearly as glorious as he had imagined. At the end of June and into July, the 2400 residents of his town are thrust into the middle of one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. Will finds himself actively participating–more reluctantly than in his earlier daydreams, but determined nonetheless. He challenges a Confederate soldier who is rounding up free Negroes to sell as slaves, helps a Union colonel get an urgent message to General Meade, and endangers himself to save the life of a Confederate friend. Will sees firsthand the chaotic and horrific realities of war and death. His level of involvement could come across as contrived, but Calkhoven’s notes make clear how townspeople of all ages were pressed into action. Will is a more contemplative protagonist than Rodman Philbrick’s protagonist in The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg (Scholastic, 2009), and while his internal struggles may seem a little moralistic for his age and time, his confusion about how he can count a Confederate drummer among his friends rings true. With back matter that includes an extensive time line, a list of historical figures who make an appearance in the story, and a detailed author’s note, this solid piece of fiction will appeal to history buffs and reluctant readers alike.–Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA

CHAMBERS, Aidan. The Kissing Game: Short Stories. 224p. Abrams/Amulet. Mar. 2011. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8109-9716-5. LC 2010032947.
Gr 9 Up–These 16 stories focus mostly on dangerous or awkward difficulties that can underpin a burgeoning relationship. Half of the selections are “flash fiction”–a punch to readers, delivered in less than 1000 words. (The author points out these are ideal for reading on small screens such as e-readers and smart phones.) Five are short plays that could be useful exercises for theater classes. Witty dialogue and ordinary situations gone awry abound. Impetus for reading through the collection as a whole comes from recognizing the pattern; there will be a twist, and readers may have to look again for the true “ah-hah!” As individual tales, three stand out: “Cindy’s Day Out” gives a modern, self-aware Cinderella her due; “The Kissing Game” lets its isolated characters ride a current of all-too-real emotional pain to a horror-story climax; and “Sanctuary” draws readers into the sordid world of immigrant sex slavery. A few stories are very funny in a dry, British way; but most are simply intended to make readers think–about trust, religion, moral duty, and most of all about the give-and-take between people that we call “relationships.” The selections are perfectly readable by middle schoolers, but more meaningful discussion and deeper understanding will only come from teens with more life experience, and there’s real potential for possible use in high school English classes.–Rhona Campbell, formerly at Washington, DC Public Library

CONLY, Jane Leslie. Murder Afloat. 164p. Hyperion/Disney. 2010. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-0416-2. LC number unavailable.
Gr 5-8–While on an errand for his mother, 14-year-old Benjamin is kidnapped along with a group of immigrants from the streets of Baltimore in 1868. When he wakes, he finds he is aboard an oyster ship, Ella Dawn, where he is expected to perform hard labor with little food. He comes from a fairly wealthy family, and has had an easy life. The captain is cruel, and Ben sees many men killed or thrown overboard. While he misses his family, he soon grows accustomed to the life and finds himself contemplating a future on the high seas. In order for that to happen, he has to find a way to make it off the ship alive. Conly does a decent job of pacing the novel with a mixture of danger and adventure. The story follows Ben in his effort to survive as his character grows and changes over the course of the novel. While a couple of slow spots exist, Murder Afloat has enough plot twists to keep readers involved.–Rebecca Webster, Warren County Middle School, Front Royal, VA

COOK, Kristi. Haven. 401p. S & S/Pulse. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-0760-2. LC number unavailable.
Gr 9 Up–When Violet’s stepmother leaves for a new city and a new job, the teen chooses to go to a boarding school. Her roommate, Cece, and her new schoolmates explain that Winterhaven is a school for people with psychic gifts. Violet has tried to hide her gift of precognition and hated it because she saw bad things happen to the people she loved. She starts to have visions about a boy to whom she is inexplicably drawn. Aiden is pale, gorgeous, aloof, can read minds, and has other “gifts.” Sound familiar? Yes, he is a vampire. He is using the chemistry lab to find a cure for vampirism. While at a school dance with Violet, his research is destroyed. Someone is trying to stop him. Violet’s visions show Aiden covered in blood, and she fears that she might be his killer. Should she risk her life and soul to save him? Cook uses well-known vampire lore and twists it a little to create her own vampire/psychic world. She also uses Violet’s visions to foreshadow the plot and keep the pace of the novel. Violet is an average teen with special “gifts,” but development of her personality and powers are lost to her immediate and overwhelming obsession with a boy she barely knows. Average paranormal fare that is aimed at Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” series (Little, Brown) fans.–Samantha Larsen Hastings, Riverton Library, UT

COOPER, Ilene. Angel in My Pocket. 278p. Feiwel & Friends. Mar. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-312-37014-5. LC number unavailable.
Gr 5-8–Bette is still grieving over the death of her mother two years earlier and is struggling with other changes in her life when she finds a coin with an angel engraved on it. Her life begins to improve when a mysterious woman moves into her building, helping her work through her feelings. The coin then falls into the hands of three other classmates, and they find their lives changing for the better while meeting ethereal and enigmatic characters. The children all go to a performing-arts school and are preparing for a major production. Bette hasn’t sung since her mother died, but finds the courage to sing again. After troubled and angry Joe gets his hands on the coin, he meets Mike, who encourages him to help build the sets for the play. Twins Vivi and Minkus also experience growth and somewhat miraculous occurrences after possessing the coin–Vivi’s asthma improves enough for her to return to school, and Minkus develops the confidence to stand up to Joe’s bullying. The children form an unlikely foursome, and each one develops as a character and a friend, though perhaps the resolutions to their issues are too simplistic. Vivi’s segment seems a bit didactic, and the chapters about Joe are somewhat repetitive. Also, the angel theme is perhaps too subtle, which may cause all but the most astute readers to miss the connection. While Cooper’s foray into middle-grade fiction could be enjoyed by readers wanting a story about angels or friendship, those seeking more substance may want to keep looking.–Michele Shaw, Quail Run Elementary School, San Ramon, CA

COOPER, Rose. Gossip from the Girls’ Room. illus. by author. 200p. (A Blogtastic! Novel). CIP. Delacorte. 2011. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73947-4; PLB $15.99. ISBN 978-0-385-90791-0; ebook $12.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89765-8. LC 2009053658.
Gr 4-6–This “Pre-Blogging Notebook” recounts the events that take place over a period of one month and chronicles the gossip-gathering of Sophia Becker, a sixth grader with a mission to increase her popularity or decrease Mia St. Claire’s. Sophia draws cartoonish illustrations of herself, her best friend, her nemesis, her crush, and various classmates and family members, and comments bluntly about their flaws and shortcomings. She eavesdrops every chance she gets, including multiple trips per day to the girls’ bathroom, where she hides in a stall. Given the amount of time she seems to spend there, it’s amazing that she can keep up with her schoolwork. After she gathers enough gossip, she posts her findings on the school’s blog, where she names the victims along with her gossip. The premise strains credulity. Even though the advisor cautions Sophia that gossip can be hurtful and advises her not to divulge names, what teacher in his or her right mind would allow such a post to be published at all? Sophia is self-centered and unkind and does not seem to grow or show much empathy even after being exposed. The book ends with her wondering about what goes on in the boys’ room, promising a sequel. Jeff Kinney’s “Wimpy Kid” (Abrams), Rachel Renée Russell’s “Dork Diaries” (S & S), and Amy Ignatow’s “The Popularity Papers” (Abrams) are much better choices.–Brenda Kahn, Tenakill Middle School, Closter, NJ

COTLER, Steve. Cheesie Mack Is Not a Genius or Anything. illus. by Adam McCauley. 213p. (A Cheesie Adventure). CIP. Random. Mar. 2011. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86437-7; PLB $18.99. ISBN 978-0-375-96437-4; ebook $15.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89570-8. LC 2009033329.
Gr 3-6–Ronald Mack–better known as “Cheesie”–is an almost-11-year-old with a knack for silliness and trouble. Sneaking white mice into school, maintaining a complex point-keeping system to track sibling rivalry, inventing new words, and making conjectures about the town’s spooky old house are all in a day’s work. Cheesie’s best friend, Georgie, is with him every step of the way. When the boys find a mysterious envelope, they’re in for the adventure of a lifetime, resulting in several big surprises and a solution to their biggest problem. Ever the good-natured narrator, Cheesie manages to include many facts along with the high jinks; readers will pick up tidbits about coin collecting, vocabulary, pill bugs, and more. While a few too many Mayberry-esque details and a definite overload of pleas to visit Cheesie’s website may annoy some kids, most will enjoy this rollicking read.–Amanda Moss Struckmeyer, Middleton Public Library, WI

DAVIS, Rebecca Fjelland. Chasing Alliecat. 288p. Flux. 2011. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-0-7387-2130-9. LC number unavailable.
Gr 9 Up–Stuck for the summer in small-town Minnesota with her uncle’s family while her parents are in Egypt, 16-year-old Sadie gets a job and reluctantly helps out, but her main pleasure is riding her mountain bike with mysterious and elusive Allie, who is a tough competitor and pushes her to go farther, faster, and get stronger. The big race is the Fourth of July with many levels of competition. Allie’s in the top bracket and convinces Sadie to give it a whirl. Then her aunt’s nephew Joe moves in, supposedly to recover from the death of his twin brother, and a light romance begins to develop along with the intense biking. The three discover a badly beaten priest in the woods as they are riding, and Allie recognizes him and then disappears once she knows help is on the way. Allie has never shared much information about her personal life, but Sadie and Joe don’t realize how little they know until she goes into hiding. The bike racing and riding scenes are well written and capture the excitement of the sport, but the mystery at the heart of the story meanders uncertainly, requiring that Allie share details about her paroled father’s sexual abuse to bring all the threads together. Other plot elements are unbelievable, and Allie’s coming out at the end seems tacked on. While the plot is unsatisfying, the characters are engaging, the romance light, and the small-town atmosphere generally realistic. Save this one for rabid mountain bike racers or those who love vicarious sports thrills and leave it off the mystery list.–Carol A. Edwards, Denver Public Library, CO

DITMARS, Maribeth R. The Bald-Headed Princess: Cancer, Chemo, and Courage. 96p. Web sites. CIP. Magination. 2010. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-4338-0737-4; pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-4338-0738-1. LC 2009053263.
Gr 4-6–Stricken with leukemia at 11, Izzie is devastated. Will she have to give up playing soccer? What will her friends think/do? How will she be able to keep up at school? While her inner thoughts turn over these questions, Izzie’s outward self is nonstop irony. The story is fast moving and easy to read; however, this is not the voice of an 11-year-old. While the child’s cancer is soon in remission, the narrative does not make light of the seriousness of the treatments, from the minor surgery for the medication port to the aftereffects of chemotherapy, described in just enough detail to be realistic without being too graphic. The reality of death is also addressed through a younger patient whom Izzie meets at the hospital. Ditmars makes it clear that her purpose was to write a story for children diagnosed with cancer. While the novel is too centered on the illness to be widely used, it does achieve the stated goal.–Wendy Smith-D’Arezzo, Loyola College, Baltimore, MD

DOWELL, Frances O’Roark. Ten Miles Past Normal. 224p. S & S/Atheneum. Mar. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9585-2; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9587-6. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6-10??When Janie was nine she persuaded her parents to move to a small farm. Now that she is 14, that life has lost some of its charm. She is rarely noticed at school, except for things like manure-scented shoes. Still, Janie is hopeful about high school, and she and her friend Sarah try branching out–joining Jam Band, making new friends, and working on an intriguing local-history project. There is a love interest (or two), and parental embarrassment, and Sarah’s cool older sister to look up to. But none of these standard YA novel tropes is handled in a standard way. Dowell brings a completely refreshing take on the coming-of-age novel. Janie is not suffering through anything harsher than trying to find her place in high school. That can be difficult enough, as the author seems to know. Janie is realistic, smart, crabby, emotional, loving to her family, not overly dramatic. Dowell’s writing is smart, lithe, and cheerful. The plot covers only a few weeks’ time, and the story flies along. It’s about making friends, keeping friends, trying to broaden horizons, meeting boys, seeing idols from a different perspective, and staying true to oneself without feeling lost in a big school. Throw in an interesting subplot about civil-rights history and you’ve got a rich book that will resonate with young teens who may not see themselves in other, darker, YA literature.–Geri Diorio, The Ridgefield Library, CT

DUNAGAN, Ted M. Secret of the Satilfa. span class="ProductPublisher">unpaged. map. NewSouth/Tr $21.95. ISBN 978-1-58838-249-8. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-7–Ted and Poudlum, who live in Alabama in 1948, find themselves at the mercy of two bank robbers while on a fishing trip. The friends have endured tough situations before, and they overcome them again in this sequel to A Yellow Watermelon (NewSouth, 2007). Lots of adventures ensue, including being tied to the underside of a bridge, having a run-in with a rattlesnake, outsmarting the thieves, searching for the stolen money, and witnessing a courtroom drama. Dunagan maintains the novel’s momentum at the end when Ted attends Poudlum’s church, a place where black angels sing and the preacher gives a rousing sermon. The author delineates the theme of friendship well, and the boys’ relationship rings true. Most of the other characters, aside from Ted’s Uncle Curvin and brother Fred, are one-dimensional, and Uncle Curvin’s multiple comments about civic responsibility come across as didactic. Negative aspects of the South, including racial epithets and incorrect grammar, are in keeping with the time and place. Readers unfamiliar with the first book might wonder how the boys’ interracial friendship began, but they’re sure to become absorbed in Ted and Poudlum’s current circumstances. This novel has plenty of action and suspense to engage reluctant readers.–Hilary Writt, Sullivan University, Lexington, KY

ENGLE, Margarita. Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck. 145p. bibliog. Holt. Mar. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-9240-0. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6-10–It’s been said that history is written by the conquerors and, indeed, there are countless one-sided accounts of brave European explorers boldly “discovering” the New World. Here’s a welcome antidote to all that biased mythology. Written in unrhymed verse and from alternating characters’ perspectives, Hurricane Dancers provides a much more nuanced, personal, and thought-provoking imagining of what really happened when diverse cultures began colliding in the Caribbean in the late 15th and early 16th century. The story centers around a young slave dubbed el quebrado, “The Broken One,” whose half-Spanish, half-Taíno Indian ancestry makes him critically valuable as a translator for the sailors, who exploit his skills to intimidate and enslave the Natives they encounter. He is a captive on a stolen pirate ship commanded by Bernadino de Talavera as the tale begins, but the tables turn when a hurricane dashes the vessel off a Caribbean Island. Quebrado, Bernadino de Talavera, and his brutal conquistador hostage Alonso de Ojeda all survive, but when the former commander once again tries to employ Quebrado’s skills to dominate the Natives, the young man realizes that he not only has the power to refuse and reinvent himself, but also finds that he controls the fate of his former captor and his injured, unstable hostage. Unique and inventive, this is highly readable historical fiction that provides plenty of fodder for discussion.–Jeffrey Hastings, Highlander Way Middle School, Howell, MI

FITZPATRICK, Becca. Crescendo. 427p. CIP. S & S. 2010. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-8943-1; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-0962-0. LC 2010017984.
Gr 9 Up–In this sequel to Hush, Hush (S & S, 2009), 16-year-old Nora Grey (still leggy, naïve, and constantly home alone in her farmhouse, but inexplicably no longer anemic) starts summer school in Coldwater, ME. It’s been a few months since her sleazy lab partner, Patch, turned out to be a fallen angel bent on killing her to acquire a human body, then saved her from his murderous Nephil (half-human/ half-fallen angel) vassal and became her guardian angel. Now they’re dating, but Nora starts to doubt his love and her safety when she realizes that he’s holding back information about a secret Nephilim blood society; its mysterious leader, “the Black Hand”; Nora’s mean-girl nemesis, Marcie; and Nora’s father’s murder. Fitzpatrick jumbles together a large cast of inconsistent, stereotyped characters and familiar teen horror/thriller scenarios as a foolish Nora wrestles with her tortured passion for Patch and gets drugged, shot at, chased, and seduced sleuthing for answers amid teen parties, seedy pool halls, a creepy amusement park, and cryptic dreams. Pseudo-biblical supernatural elements are confusing and underdeveloped, as is the cluttered, illogical plot. Nora’s narrative and the story’s pacing suffer from awkward phrasing, clichéd dialogue, and persistent use of the passive voice. An unsatisfying ending, mid-scene, anticipates a third book, but readers may be unwilling to put in the effort.–Riva Pollard, Prospect Sierra Middle School, El Cerrito, CA

FORMAN, Gayle. Where She Went. 272p. CIP. Dutton. Apr. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-525-42294-5. LC 2010013474.
Gr 9 Up–Three years after the tragic accident that killed the family of his former girlfriend, Mia Hall, the now-famous rock star Adam Wilde finds himself at New York City’s Carnegie Hall for Mia’s breakout cello concert. Convinced that merely hearing her play will be enough to satisfy his curiosity, Adam hides in the audience but is stunned when she asks him to come backstage after the show. Their awkward reunion sparks a night of painful reminiscing, heartbreaking closure, and hopeful discoveries. Using the voice of Adam, Forman continues the gripping narrative started in If I Stay (Dutton, 2009). After months of rehab from the car accident, Mia leaves Oregon for the east coast to attend the prestigious Juilliard School. Adam remains on the west coast to pursue his own rising musical career as the lead in his band. Mysteriously Mia cuts off all contact with him. Simultaneously freed and abandoned, Adam plunges into a depression, which also fuels the writing that launches his band to stardom. This novel is best suited to readers familiar with the first book. However, Forman convincingly establishes the relationship with flashbacks and Adam’s current angst. Though not as poignant as its predecessor, this book has compelling characters and a romance so deliciously fated that readers will be willing to suspend believability and embrace the growing mood of a fairy tale. Fans of the exceptional first novel won’t be able to put this one down.–Lynn Rashid, Marriotts Ridge High School, Marriottsville, MD

GOURLAY, Candy. Tall Story. 304p. Random/David Fickling Bks. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-385-75217-6; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-385-75218-3; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89847-1. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6-9–Separated for years by immigration restrictions, Bernardo, a Philippine teen, finally gets legal permission to join his mother, a nurse, in England. His younger half sister, Andi, can’t wait to meet her eight-foot-tall brother and share with him her love of basketball. Bernardo’s desire to join his family is tempered by his loyalty to his village where he is compared to a legendary giant revered as a protector from earthquakes. After arriving in England, Bernardo gets medical help for a pituitary tumor and seizures; inadvertently propels his sister into realizing her dream of playing basketball; and reconciles his fears about leaving his village. Bernardo and Andi tell their compelling, heartwarming reunion story in alternating chapters. Bernardo grapples with adjusting to life in England, physical pain and superstition, and guilt when an earthquake destroys his Philippine village. Meanwhile, Andi struggles to fit into a new school and cope with added family responsibilities. Contemporary Tagalong and British vernacular enhance the brother/sister narration and enliven the depiction of cultures. In her first young adult novel, Gourlay offers an appealing blend of diverse characters, emotional conflicts, well-paced action, and an upbeat finale. The challenges facing separated, immigrant families and the universal teen desire for acceptance and respect ring true. –Gerry Larson, Durham School of the Arts, NC

GUIBORD, Maurissa. Warped. 352p. Delacorte. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73891-0; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-385-90758-3; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89646-0. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8 Up–The Norn have gone by other names throughout history. Some call the three sisters the Fates; whatever their names, they “eternally spin and weave and cut the threads of human life.” This story is woven as cleverly as the tapestry of the Norn, and its threads come together with just as much precision. Tessa Brody’s father owns a used bookshop in a quiet little town in Maine, but when he purchases a lot at an auction that includes an ancient text and a small tapestry, the teen’s life become entangled in a twisted tale of witchcraft, legend, past lives, and lies. Tessa is a spunky and strong heroine with a sassy best friend, Opal, who adds spice and humor in just the right doses. Just as Tessa begins to realize that there’s something special about the tapestry, a handsome young man who was turned into a unicorn 500 years ago and trapped in it falls out of the weaving and onto her bedroom floor. William de Chaucy’s introduction to modern marvels is written with such wonder and humor that readers will look on the world and its conveniences with new eyes. This absorbing and mesmerizing read has it all–fantasy, romance, witchcraft, life-threatening situations, detective work, chase scenes, and a smattering of violence. Imaginative and compelling, it’s impossible to put down.–Genevieve Gallagher, Charlottesville High School, VA

GUTMAN, Dan. Mission Unstoppable. Bk. 1. 294p. (Genius Files Series). CIP. HarperCollins. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-182764-8; PLB $17.89. ISBN 978-0-06-182765-5. LC 2010009390.
Gr 5-8–On an ordinary day, Coke, 12, and his twin sister, Pepsi, are chased along a cliff path by a man wearing a bowler hat and driving a golf cart. This is only the first of a series of events in which people, including their health teacher, try to kill them. Eventually they learn that after 9/11, a man who survived the attack at the Pentagon developed a plan, outlined in what came to be called The Genius Files project, to identify children who will solve the world’s problems. Based on their standardized test scores, Coke and Pepsi are chosen to be in the first Young American Geniuses group. But before the two can begin to fully grasp this fact, they are whisked away on a cross-country road trip with their parents, stopping off at many wacky tourist traps. Along the way they find ciphers giving them clues to potential attempts on America that they need to try to stop. While this is a fun and mostly funny adventure, it has many plot holes and suffers from poor character development. The Genius Files is only marginally explained and the ending peters out with an attempt at a cliff-hanger. Gutman sprinkles the book with interesting photos and instructions for following the children on their journey, making it a great road-trip novel about offbeat side excursions, but the mystery aspect doesn’t quite fit.–Necia Blundy, Marlborough Public Library, MA

HARRINGTON, Kim. Clarity. 256p. Scholastic/Point. Mar. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-23050-6. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8 Up–Clarity “Clare” Fern, 16, has a gift, or maybe it’s a curse. She sees visions of people’s pasts just by touching an object belonging to them. When a teen is murdered, Clare’s ex-boyfriend asks her to use her talent to help solve the crime. Initially reluctant because of a not-so-pleasant past with him, Clare agrees once she meets Gabriel, the hot son of the new detective working the case. Unfortunately, Gabriel thinks her “gift” is a hoax, and her brother suddenly becomes the prime suspect. When two more bodies surface, Clare has to resort to lying and using people to keep her family safe. Reminiscent of Mary Higgins Clark’s novels but with teen elements, Clarity is a good mystery with a love triangle thrown in. Numerous characters are introduced, each of whom has a possible motive for committing the crime, and throughout the book, readers will be searching for clues to solve the crime before the end. The suspense begins on the first page as someone is about to kill Clare. Great for kids who love all things paranormal or who just appreciate a good whodunit. –Gina Bowling, South Gibson County High School, Medina, TN

HART, Christine. Stalked. 143p. (SideStreets Series). CIP. Lorimer. 2011. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-55277-534-9; pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-55277-533-2. LC C2010-904462-2.
Gr 6-11–Amy and Elise, best friends, get great summer jobs at the Oasis resort on a remote Vancouver Island. Amy has a lot riding on her job as she’s looking for an excellent reference to help her get into fashion-design school. She also has the hots for her boss, Derek, and when he approaches her she is flattered, but knows that something isn’t right. Derek does not groom Amy well at all, so her sense of wrong intensifies as his sleazy motives become crystal clear. The ho-hum writing, combined with a story that has too many unimportant details, makes this one to skip. Lurlene McDaniel’s Prey (Delacorte, 2008) has more action, intensity, complexity, and plot. Reluctant teen readers may find Stalked a bit dull in comparison.–Amy Cheney, Alameda County Library, Oakland, CA

HEASLEY, Gwendolyn. Where I Belong. 304p. HarperTeen. 2011. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-0-06-197884-5. LC number unavailable.
Gr 9 Up–It must be a bad dream. Corrine Corcoran finds herself living in a rural town in Texas with her brother and grandparents. Instead of riding her own horse and sharing a room with her best friend at an elite prep school, she is sharing a bedroom with her mother and working as a stable hand. Her family is the victim of a Madoff-like investment scam and her father was laid off from his job, forcing her parents to give up their posh Manhattan lifestyle. Despite her efforts to remain removed from the town’s disappointing social scene, Corrine manages to attract a new friend, the attention of the local football star, and a responsible role in the upcoming rodeo event. As her friend from Manhattan plans a visit to Broken Spoke, the teen worries that Waverly will learn the truth about her unglamorous existence as a “recessionista.” In the end, Corrine learns that the town has changed her in ways she did not anticipate. Corrine’s voice is witty and appropriately bratty in the spoiled-rich-girl tone. The plot is predictable but moves along at a satisfying pace. While realistic for some, underage drinking is accepted by the adults in both Manhattan and Texas, and the recession is too obviously superimposed on the plot. However, readers looking for the comfortingly familiar riches-to-rags story will not be disappointed.–Lynn Rashid, Marriotts Ridge High School, Marriottsville, MD

HOMZIE, Hillary. The Hot List. 246p. S & S/Aladdin Mix. Mar. 2011. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-0657-5. LC 2010934261.
Gr 5-8–Sophie and Maddie have been best friends for years, but recently Maddie has been hanging out with Nia, the most popular girl in seventh grade. Desperate for Maddie to remain solely her friend, Sophie comes up with the idea to create a Hot List of the cutest boys and girls at school and to post it on a bathroom stall so they will have a major secret to share that cements their friendship. Predictably, the Hot List takes on a life of its own as a new one appears each month, although Sophie and Maddie have nothing to do with them. Unfortunately for Sophie, Maddie still wants to be friends with Nia and even lets it slip that she and Sophie were responsible for the original Hot List. Feeling betrayed, Sophie stops speaking to Maddie and makes a bet with Nia that she can get the biggest loser in school onto the list in a month’s time. Readers may relate to Sophie’s desire to keep the status quo, but the book lacks sufficient exploration of her reasons, including the possible connection to her father dating Nia’s mother. Additionally, further examination of the negative consequences of the Hot List is needed.–Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL

JASPER, Rick. Skin. ISBN 978-0-7613-6143-5; ISBN 978-0-7613-6158-9; ISBN 978-0-7613-6546-4. LC 2010002351.
––––.Thaw. ISBN 978-0-7613-6145-9; ISBN 978-0-7613-6161-9; ISBN 978-0-7613-6548-8. LC 2010003323.
KARLSSON, Val. The Protectors. ISBN 978-0-7613-6144-2; ISBN 978-0-7613-6159-6; ISBN 978-0-7613-6547-1. LC 2010003317.
ea vol: 106p. (Night Fall Series). CIP. Darby Creek, dist. by Lerner. 2010. PLB $27.93; pap. $7.95; ebook $15.71.

Gr 7 Up–A high-interest, modern-day horror series. Each story features unusual teen problems that occur in a small New England town. In Skin, Nick Barry’s face starts to break out in a rash while his bones feel like living ice. An extreme anger starts to pulsate within him. With the help of friends, he slowly discovers an ancient evil possessor hiding within him. In Thaw, strange and awful things start to happen as the teens start to lose their grip on reality. After Dani’s best friend, Jake, is kidnapped by an infamous thawed-out cult leader, they both enter an alternate, yet dangerous reality that might cost them their lives. In The Protectors, Luke’s angry stepfather works as a mortician, while his mother conducts séances. Living in a funeral home that has its own secrets starts to take its toll on Luke when his mother dies in a car accident. Sounds of screams and rattling chains plague his dreams. Is his mother really dead? He soon discovers a secret as terrifying as he once imagined. Each short book delivers an entertaining horrific tale, leaving appreciative readers gasping for breath.–Krista Welz, North Bergen Public Library, NJ

JAY, Stacey. The Locket. 283p. Penguin/Razorbill. 2011. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-59514-335-8. LC number unavailable.

Gr 9 Up–On her 17th birthday, while dressing to go out with her boyfriend, Katie finds a locket in a pile of her grandmother’s jewelry. Inscribed on it are the words: “Some mistakes weren’t meant to last.” Inside are pictures of her grandparents when they were young. Their love had lasted, and Katie is sure that her relationship with Isaac is destined to do the same–as long as he doesn’t find out about her one rum- and anger-fueled indiscretion with Mitch. She puts on the necklace, but knows something is wrong when Isaac arrives late. In the car, he tells her that she and Mitch were seen kissing and drives away, leaving her stranded in the middle of a heavy thunderstorm. As she wishes she could go back in time and neither drink nor kiss Mitch, the locket grows hot enough to burn her skin and her shirt where it touches. As suddenly as they began, both the pain and rain stop, and Katie finds herself back at the party two weeks earlier. She is thrilled at the chance to undo her mistake, but as the two weeks repeat, she realizes that everything is not exactly as it was before, and that she has to live and grow with those consequences. Although The Locket could stand as an example of the perils of underage drinking, the paranormal aspects will keep even the most reluctant reader devouring the book to its satisfying, if a bit too convenient, conclusion.–Suanne Roush, Osceola High School, Seminole, FL

JONES, Carrie. Entice. 264p. Bloomsbury. 2010. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-59990-553-2. LC number unavailable.

Gr 7 Up–Newly turned pixie queen Zara faces a dilemma. She changed from a human in order to rescue her boyfriend from Valhalla, where mythical warriors such as Nick are taken at death to prepare for the upcoming war among the faerie races. However, in order to change to a pixie, Zara bound herself to the pixie king. Astley’s moral behavior leads her to question everything she’s learned about pixies–are they really all evil? She feels warmly toward him, but cannot allow herself to forget Nick. Meanwhile, she must also face disapproval and hostility from her friends and family, particularly her mother, who was seduced and betrayed by Zara’s pixie father. Tensions between rival groups of pixies in the area are mounting, and Zara and her supporters cannot find the route to Valhalla. Two costly failures make it plain that someone is acting in opposition to the group and will stop at nothing to keep them from achieving their goal. This book, a strong successor to Need (2008) and Captivate (2010, both Bloomsbury), is as full of action and romance as those earlier volumes, and readers will want to start with them in order to understand what has already happened to these characters. Zara is a strong and believable heroine, and though the touches of Norse mythology seem superficially imposed on the plot, this series will still hold a great deal of appeal for fans of urban fantasy and paranormal romance.–Misti Tidman, formerly at Boyd County Public Library, Ashland, KY

KITTREDGE, Caitlin. The Iron Thorn. Bk. 1. 512p. (Iron Codex Trilogy). Delacorte. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73829-3; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-385-90720-0; ebook $17.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89598-2. LC number unavailable.

Gr 7 Up–Aoife Grayson is terrified that she will go mad when she turns 16. She believes that she carries a latent form of a necrovirus that has already affected her brother, who has disappeared, and her mother, who is locked up in a madhouse. The setting is an alternate version of New England, where Boston is known as Lovecraft, a town powered by a mysterious underground engine and ruled by Proctors who enforce a rationalistic worldview that denies the existence of magic, blames madness on a necrovirus outbreak, and keeps the populace safe from the apocryphal night creatures who are said to feed on human flesh. Aoife, who is studying at Lovecraft’s School of Engines, receives a mysterious letter from her missing brother that leads her to escape the city with her friend Cal. The pair recruits Dean Harrison as a guide as they hitch a ride on an airship to Aoife’s ancestral mansion, which has long been abandoned except for the young maid, Bethina. At Graystone, Aoife discovers her father’s journals that help her to understand her family’s secrets and her own destiny. The journals also lead her into a fairy realm, the Land of Thorn, where she meets Tremaine, one of the “Kindly Folk” who may or may not be telling her the truth. Kittredge has fashioned a unique, action-filled, and compelling combination of steampunk, H. P. Lovecraft-inspired horror, and straight fantasy that should enchant fans of all three genres.–Tim Wadham, St. Louis County Library, MO

LAI, Thanhha. Inside Out & Back Again.HarperCollins. Mar. 2011. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-06-196278-3. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-6–A story based on the author’s childhood experiences. H à is 10 when Saigon falls and her family flees Vietnam. First on a ship, then in two refugee camps, and then finally in Alabama, she and her family struggle to fit in and make a home. As H à deals with leaving behind all that is familiar, she tries to contain her temper, especially in the face of school bullies and the inconsistencies of the English language. She misses her papaya tree, and her family worries about friends and family remaining in Vietnam, especially her father, who was captured by Communist forces several years earlier. Told in verse, each passage is given a date so readers can easily follow the progression of time. Sensory language describing the rich smells and tastes of Vietnam draws readers in and contrasts with H à’s perceptions of bland American food, and the immediacy of the narrative will appeal to those who do not usually enjoy historical fiction. Even through her frustration with her new life and the annoyances of her three older brothers, her voice is full of humor and hope. –Jennifer Rothschild, Prince George’s County Memorial Library System, Oxon Hill, MD

LAKE, Nick. The Revenge of Lord Oda. Bk. 2. 400p. (Blood Ninja Series). CIP. S & S. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-8629-4. LC 2010010110.
Gr 8 Up–What’s better than ninjas or vampires? How about vampire ninjas? The two genres collide in this installment in the series. Taro, made a vampire by his ninja master in Blood Ninja (S & S, 2009), thinks he killed Lord Oda, a dangerous warlord who wants to see him dead. With his friend Hiro and Lord Oda’s daughter, whom he loves, Taro goes in search of his mother. A clue leads them away from the safety of the ninja mountain and into a world of hungry ghosts, warrior monks, and the servants of Lord Oda who still hunt them. Add a former friend who is now also seeking the protagonist’s death, and Taro has enough on his plate without thinking about the prophecy that he will become shogun, or the mystical object, the Buddha ball, that he is supposed to retrieve, and that could make him an unstoppable warrior. The abilities of vampires are woven seamlessly into the already-supernatural talents of ninjas, and the questions of spiritual consequences for these abilities give Taro some interesting moments of introspection. Japanese folklore and history blend well with the fantasy world that Lake has created, and the Zen-styled lessons that Taro learns over the course of the novel give depth to the fast-paced adventure. Graduates of Masashi Kishimoto’s “Naruto” (Viz Media) series who are looking for a reading challenge will find much to enjoy here.–Alana Joli Abbott, formerly at James Blackstone Memorial Library, Branford, CT

LARKIN, Jillian. Vixen. Bk. 1. 421p. (The Flappers Series). Delacorte. 2010. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-385-74034-0; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-385-90835-1; ebook $17.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89908-9. LC number unavailable.
Gr 9 Up–Seventeen-year-old Chicago socialite Gloria Carmody knows that there must be something more for her than her engagement to most-eligible-bachelor Sebastian Grey. She finds that something in the city’s hottest speakeasy, and particularly in the company of the jazz band’s black piano player. Meanwhile, her cousin Clara is playing the part of the innocent country girl while escaping her own tawdry flapper past, and Gloria’s best friend, Lorraine, wants nothing more than to win their mutual friend Marcus’s affections, but he only has eyes for another. All three girls have their secret desires, and fulfilling them means being prepared to sacrifice everything. The Prohibition era is an uncommon setting for historical fiction, and Larkin paints a glamorous (if shallow) picture of underground speakeasies and society parties of the 1920s. Clothing, room decor, and music are all richly described, but neither the culture nor the characters ever fully come to life and the historical details seem sketchy at best. However, the sultry flapper striking a pose on the cover will draw in fans of Anna Godbersen’s “Luxe” series (HarperCollins), and the high drama will leave those readers eager for future installments in this series. –Brandy Danner, Wilmington Memorial Library, MA

LAYNE, Steven L. Paradise Lost. 310p. Pelican. 2011. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-5898-0590-3. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8 Up–In this continuation of This Side of Paradise (North Star, 2001), Jack Barrett is finally accepting what happened to him and his family last year: his father’s villainous alter ego, Adam Eden, seemingly killed his mother while his brother Troy’s clone destroyed himself to save the real Troy. Now, on the first day of school, awkward Chase Maxfield has turned into what appears to be a male supermodel, arousing Jack’s suspicions that something is amiss. These feelings are confirmed when Troy and Jori, Jack’s girlfriend, both alarmingly report sightings of Mr. Eden. Suddenly Jack finds his life on a downward spiral; his girlfriend breaks up with him, his brother disappears, and his grandmother is poisoned. It seems that Adam Eden is back and out to destroy Jack no matter the cost. The villain is reminiscent of Mr. Hyde, but with too few glimpses of Dr. Jekyll. The other characters are one-dimensional, and the situations they find themselves in often feel contrived. Younger teens may enjoy the action-packed story line that keeps them guessing, but the plot and dialogue as a whole seem to walk a very fine line between credible and campy.–Kimberly Castle, Medina County District Library, OH

LEAVITT, Lindsey. Sean Griswold’s Head. 288p. CIP. Bloomsbury. Mar. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59990-498-6. LC 2010006949.
Gr 6-9–When 15-year-old Payton Gritas gives her family the silent treatment for withholding her father’s MS diagnosis for six months, her parents request the aid of their daughter’s guidance counselor, who assigns a focus object exercise. Payton chooses Sean Griswold’s head because she and Sean have been linked by last name proximity since the third grade. Soon, with the help of her boy-crazy friend Jac, Payton gets to know Sean Griswold the person and the head. Interpersonal conflicts abound as the teen chooses to focus on avoidance rather than confronting the fear she is experiencing. In a balanced proportion of comedy and gravity, she comes to terms with her father’s illness, deals with conflicts she has created with Jac, and eventually opens up her heart to a little romance. While the path that Leavitt paves for her protagonist is somewhat predictable, the likable characters will have girls gravitating toward the novel. Though the book takes a light look at a teenager coming to grips with a parent’s serious illness, it is refreshing and realistic without being overwrought with angst.–Adrienne L. Strock, Maricopa County Library District, AZ

LEE, Ingrid. Thief Girl. 152p. (SideStreets Series). Lorimer. 2011. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-55277-539-4; pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-55277-538-7. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6 Up–Avvy Go lives and works in Chinatown, Toronto, where the immigrant community struggles, but she goes to school in a beautiful, wealthy neighborhood that features large houses and entitled peers. When she finds a bank gift card loaded with money, the dualities of her life really begin to pile up. Avvy becomes the keeper of many secrets but she longs to tell them. She wants friends but also wants to go through school unnoticed. She wants to do the right thing and help her family but cannot find a way that does not involve stealing. Lee’s tale provides all the angst of young adult fiction with a reading level appropriate for struggling readers, which is laudable. However, the story and characters are developed in a facile manner. The narrator tells readers that Avvy is conflicted but this confliction is never demonstrated. Ultimately, the story feels too light and cannot carry the necessary weight needed to propel the characters.–Naphtali L. Faris, Youth Services Consultant, Missouri State Library, Jefferson City, MO

LIVINGSTON, Lesley. Tempestuous. Bk. 3. 368p. CIP. HarperTeen. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-174006-0. LC 2010015902.
Gr 7 Up–In this conclusion to the trilogy, aspiring actress and faerie princess Kelley Winslow faces nearly insurmountable difficulties. She’s discovered that her boyfriend, Sonny, possesses terrible powers that even he does not know of; her father, Auberon, is dying of a mysterious ailment; rogue members of the Janus guard are attacking Lost Fey; and her beloved theater company is struggling to recover from the devastating loss of the Avalon Grande. Kelley must carefully balance conflicting priorities as she attempts to discover who is masterminding the unrest. As the action builds to a final conflict, Kelley must decide whom to trust, because she cannot save the world without at least a little help. With so much going on in the Faerie realms, Shakespearean theater takes a backseat in this novel, though the author ties in themes from The Tempest as Kelley and Sonny face storms both real and metaphorical. Livingston brings this trilogy to a strong and satisfying conclusion, and readers will enjoy every minute, while wishing it did not have to end.–Misti Tidman, formerly at Boyd County Public Library, Ashland, KY

LOUGHEAD, Deb. The Snowball Effect. 116p. (Orca Currents Series). Orca. 2010. PLB $16.95. ISBN 978-1-55469-371-9; pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-55469-370-2. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6 Up–A tightly packed tale about the effects of peer pressure. Dylan likes hanging out with the guys, but he isn’t always comfortable with Garrett’s ideas. When Garrett suggests that they throw snowballs at passing cars, he reluctantly goes along. Then his friend decides to up the ante and packs rocks in the snowballs. Dylan chickens out but Garrett’s snowball cracks the windshield of a passing car, causing an accident. When the rest of the guys run off, Dylan is torn between fleeing the scene and checking on the driver. He fabricates a story that allows him to be at the crash site but not involved in the accident. One lie escalates to another as he is hailed as a hero for aiding the crash victim. But Garrett’s threats to tell the truth, along with Dylan’s own guilt, make him feel sick. He eventually comes clean to a reporter who prints the corrected story, and the community backlash only makes the teen feel worse. It’s not until he takes ownership of his responsibility in the accident, makes amends with the victim, and confronts Garrett that Dylan reverses “the snowball effect.” Loughead creates a very realistic teen dilemma. Though the dialogue feels artificial at times, reluctant readers will keep plowing through simply to see if Dylan can undo all the damage he has caused.–H. H. Henderson, Heritage Middle School, Deltona, FL

MCDONALD, Megan. Cloudy with a Chance of Boys. Bk. 3. 272p. (Sisters Club Series). Candlewick. Mar. 2011. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-4615-8. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-7–In this story about the Reel sisters, Stevie, 12, gives her perspective on the changing nature of boy-girl relationships at school, while Alex, 14, contributes screenplay story lines chronicling her quiet admiration for fellow thespian Scott Howell. Joey, 10, adds lists and doodles to illustrate her disgust for her sisters’ new attitudes toward kissing a boy. Cloudy uses weather, frogs, and Romeo and Juliet as the backdrop to a story focused on the sweeter side of sisterhood. Dialogue and situations will ring true for both new readers and fans.–Colleen S. Banick, Tomlinson Middle School, Fairfield, CT

MCKISSACK, Patricia C., Fredrick L. McKissack, & John McKissack. Cyborg. Bk. 2. 144p. (Clone Codes Series). CIP. Scholastic. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-439-92985-1. LC 2010016075.
Gr 4-7–It is the year 2171, and scientists have learned to clone human beings and replace body parts, but at a price. Houston Ye is on a boat with his mother when he has an accident. Doctors are able to save his life, but they have to replace his eye, arm, leg, and heart with biofe parts. He is now a cyborg in a world where cyborgs are discriminated against and treated as second-class citizens. He and his friends Leanna (the clone from the first novel) and Carlos stand up to the cyborg community, which is trying to use violent protests against the passing of the Wholer Act. They use examples of Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to convince the cyborgs to use nonviolent protests to change the laws. This sci-fi adventure is mixed with historical comparisons with Ernest Shackleton’s crew and the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. It’s a fast-paced book, sometimes too much so. There is little character development, and the plot takes sudden jumps that makes it difficult to follow. The novel includes background information on the laws dealing with clones and cyborgs, a brief history of the events that led up to this time, as well as a “yesterday and tomorrow” section that compares the events in the story to historical events. Additional.–Erik Carlson, White Plains Public Library, NY

MARCHETTA, Melina. The Piper’s Son. 336p. Candlewick. Mar. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-4758-2. LC number unavailable.
Gr 9 Up–Fans of Marchetta’s Saving Francesca (Knopf, 2004) will enjoy revisiting the book’s characters, now five years older. This time the focus is on Thomas Mackee, whose entire family is torn apart by grief when his uncle Joe is killed, the result of a terrorist bombing in a London subway. Tom’s parents separate, he drops out of university, and hits rock bottom with booze, drugs, and one-night stands. His flatmates bail on him and he finds himself living with his unmarried, pregnant aunt, Georgie. Eventually they’re joined by Tom’s alcoholic, grieving dad. There’s a plethora of family angst, including Grandpa’s remains now returned from the Vietnam War and Georgie’s boyfriend getting another woman pregnant. At times, the story plods and Tom is quite unlikable, but Marchetta uses smart dialogue, email messages, and a bit of humor to slowly draw readers into the complicated social dynamics. It’s a joy to watch Tom reconnect with his friends, his music, his family, and Tara, the girl whose heart he broke.–Patricia N. McClune, Conestoga Valley High School, Lancaster, PA

MULL, Brandon. A World Without Heroes. Bk. 1. 464p. (Beyonders Series). S & S/Aladdin. Mar. 2011. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9792-4; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9798-6. LC number unavailable.
Gr 5-8–Jason Walker is a typical 13-year-old, doing his best to fit in with friends in Vista, CO. His internship at a local zoo puts him in close contact with wild animals. Unbeknownst to him, the zoo contains a portal in the hippopotamus tank. One day, the portal, exuding whimsical music, lures him in, and Jason is immediately transported to a new world called Lyrian. In this epic tale that’s filled with adventure on every page turn, Jason initially tries desperately to discover a way to get home to his parents and his previous life, but as his journey continues, he finds himself drawn into the political unrest of an empire ruled by a powerful and sinister wizard. Tortured and neglected members of society hope Jason will be their hero and save them from Maldor. The teen befriends the desperate citizens of Lyrian and commits to taking down the evil emperor. Jason’s journey will require readers to think hard about life’s unpredictable nature and the difficult decisions that must be made. It also touches on finding trust in others and the importance of asking for help. While there are a few places where readers need a little more detail between one scene and the next, this book is highly recommended for those fantasy-hungry readers who frequent the stacks.–Kathryn Kennedy, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA

MYERS, Anna. The Grave Robber’s Secret. 196p. Walker. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8027-2183-9. LC number unavailable.
Gr 5-9–It is the 1800s in Philadelphia, the home of the nation’s first hospital. Doctors use bodies robbed from graves to conduct medical research. Robby Hare’s father forces him to help dig up the corpses and then sell them to the medical college to help make ends meet. Despite his reluctance, the boy is intrigued by the discoveries that doctors may make from the cadavers. He sees firsthand what they are doing behind the scenes when he is offered a job to help clean at the school. Still, Robby wishes his Da would stop grave robbing. When mysterious William Burke and his daughter come to live in the Hares’ boardinghouse, Robby is able to avoid the graveyard by this distraction, but suspects that Burke is involving his father in some possible murders. He must expose their plans before more lives are taken. Myers based this book on the true story of Burke and Hare, who actually murdered people in the 1820s and sold their bodies in Edinburgh, Scotland. She switched the city and took some liberties with the plot; nevertheless, this is a well-written and fascinating look back in time.–Shannon Seglin, Patrick Henry Library, Vienna, VA

O’BRIEN, Johnny. Day of Deliverance. Bk. 2. 183p. (A Jack Christie Adventure). maps. reprods. CIP. Candlewick/Templar. 2010. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5075-9. LC 2010010710.
Gr 6-9–Jack and Angus are members of the VIGIL society, dedicated to protecting the secret of time travel from the Revisionist party, who want to change the future by altering the past. VIGIL learns that Revisionist chief Dr. Pendelshape is in Elizabethan England. The enemy scientist is seeking to secure the success of the Spanish Armada, making Spain rather than England the dominant influence in modern Western history. Jack and Angus are sent back to stop the plot, but something goes wrong in the transference. Separated from their team, the teens are lost in 16th-century England. They fall in with a group of players on the way to a command performance before Queen Elizabeth I, but one of the actors has a more sinister plan in mind. With assassins from the Spanish Inquisition on one hand and Revisionist goons on the other, can Jack and Angus survive until they can get back to the 21st century? Real personages such Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare fit smoothly into the plot. Actual historical events are portrayed accurately within the confines of the fictional plot, and black-and-white reproductions of maps, prints, and portraits add to the period feel. Plotlines and characters carry over from Day of the Assassins (Candlewick, 2009), but sufficient background is provided to allow this book to stand on its own. A challenging and exciting read for those who appreciate a blend of history and science fiction.–Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL

OSTLERE, Cathy. Karma. 521p. Penguin/Razorbill. Mar. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-59514-338-9. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8 Up–This epic tale unfolds through the pages of alternating diaries from October 28th through December 16th, 1984. Yet countless layers peel off with the turn of each page, leading readers deeper into the rich and sometimes tortured history beneath the tale’s present. Fifteen-year-old Maya, half Hindu/half Sikh, has lived her entire life in rural Canada. Her family’s religion and ethnicity set them apart from their community, but also from one another. Maya’s name itself signifies the tension between her parents, lovers who forsook their families for each other, but who have lived in different states of mourning and regret since. Her given name is Jiva or “life,” yet her mother blasphemously calls her Maya or “illusion,” an insult to her Sikh father. Thus, when life and loss lead Maya and Bapu back to India at the time of Indira Gandhi’s assassination, they are plunged deep into a nation in bloody turmoil. Maya’s sense of otherness escalates dramatically as she is forced to consider it on a personal and near-universal scale. The middle diary belongs to that of Sandeep, with whom Maya experiences love, tragedy, ancestry, and loyalty at an intimate (yet physically innocent) level. The novel’s pace and tension will compel readers to read at a gallop, but then stop again and again to turn a finely crafted phrase, whether to appreciate the richness of the language and imagery or to reconsider the layers beneath a thought. This is a book in which readers will consider the roots and realities of destiny and chance. Karma is a spectacular, sophisticated tale that will stick with readers long after they’re done considering its last lines.–Jill Heritage Maza, Greenwich High School, CT

PARRY, Rosanne. Second Fiddle. 240p. CIP. Random. Mar. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86196-3; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-375-96196-0; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89350-6. LC 2009033324.
Gr 5-8–Growing up in military families in the 1990s has its unique challenges and expectations for Jody, Giselle, and Vivian. These girls must deal with living out of the country, moving frequently, changing schools, and forging new peer relationships. At the same time, high-ranking parent figures provide a level of pressure to perform well and succeed. Based in Germany during the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reuniting of the East and West, the girls become best friends through their classical strings music lessons with maestro. After a much-anticipated music competition in Paris, the girls’ families will leave for new assignments. The week before the trip, Herr Müller becomes ill and cannot attend, leaving the girls disappointed yet determined to go. Simultaneously their discovery and secret rescue of a Russian soldier beaten and left for dead has the girls devising a plan to smuggle him to Paris on their unsupervised weekend trip. Suspense, intrigue, and a series of fortuitous circumstances conveniently blend to bring amateurish espionage and adventure to the girls’ escapades. Working around their gullibility and innocence, these eighth graders attempt to solve numerous problems from the theft of their passports and money, to working for their meals and way home, to interfering in a possible international incident. Parry introduces some colorful, artsy characters as second fiddles to her three main protagonists led by Jody’s first-person narrative. Fast paced and appealing, with a tidy conclusion.–Rita Soltan, Youth Services Consultant, West Bloomfield, MI

PARTRIDGE, Elizabeth. Dogtag Summer. 240p. Bloomsbury. Mar. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59990-183-1. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6-8–Vague memories haunt Tracy the summer of 1980, at the end of sixth grade. Her home for five years has been with her adoptive American parents in a California coastal town, but recurrent flashbacks of her early life in war-torn Vietnam make her feel like part of herself is missing. Her father, Bob, was a GI in the Vietnam War, but came back “different” and will not speak about his tour of duty. As Tracy and her friend Stargazer search his garage for tools for a building project, they discover an ammunition box containing a soldier’s dogtag. Seeing the children tussling over it, Stargazer’s staunchly antiwar father calls Bob a “baby killer,” and Stargazer erroneously informs Tracy that her biological mother was a prostitute. Yearning to piece together the truth, Tracy questions Bob, and he finally breaks the silence and secrecy to relate a devastating war experience that killed Tracy’s biological father, owner of the dogtag. The use of flashbacks deepens understanding of Tracy’s situation as a con-lai child who eventually gains the confidence to use her real name, Tuyet. Partridge also succeeds in incorporating solid historical research into a moving story, using the dogtag, symbol of a most unpopular war, as an instrument of catharsis, bringing truth to light and allowing healing and human connection for Tuyet and her adoptive father. –Susan W. Hunter, Riverside Middle School, Springfield, VT

PIERCE, Tamora. Tortall and Other Lands: A Collection of Tales. 400p. Random. 2011. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86676-0; PLB $21.99. ISBN 978-0-375-96676-7; ebook $18.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89689-7. LC number unavailable.
Gr 7 Up–In this collection, Pierce limns the challenges and triumphs in the lives of several characters, many of them new to her readers. They meet a young woman who teaches herself to fight by observing the ostriches and zebras around her and a man transformed from an apple tree. Kitten, the young dragon ward of Daine and Numair, stars in one story while Nawat, the crow warrior and lover from the author’s “Trickster” books, takes center stage in another. Pierce often chooses to feature a strong girl or young woman who must contend with the strictures of the society around her, whether it be a culture guided by a paternalistic religion or a competitive urban prep school. Quite a few of these stories occur in Tortall, where many of her novels take place, while other settings range from unspecified fantastic lands to present-day New York City. The final piece is semiautobiographical, which should delight Pierce’s following. The author’s legions of fans should enjoy this chance to return to Tortall as well as the opportunity to go to other realms. Those unfamiliar with her works will find these tales to be a splendid introduction. Any fantasy reader is sure to find something to delight among these engaging characters and lands of magic. –Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids, WI

PINKNEY, Andrea Davis. Bird in a Box. 245p. photos. bibliog. Little, Brown. Apr. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-316-07403-2. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-7–It is 1936, and the country is struggling in the midst of the Great Depression. As Joe Louis inches closer to becoming the American heavyweight boxing champion, his victories spark hope in a nation starved for good news. Against this backdrop, Pinkney introduces three narrators whose lives are about to intersect. Hibernia chafes at her father’s overprotectiveness: since her mother left them with dreams of singing at the Savoy, the reverend limits Hibernia’s singing to the church choir. Otis misses his parents terribly: the three of them never had much, but they had laughter, which came to an end in a fiery car crash. Willie tries to ignore his alcoholic father until the night that the abusive man disfigures Willie’s hands and his mother convinces him to flee for safety. The two boys meet at the Mercy Home for Negro Orphans and slowly learn to trust one another. When Hibernia’s youth choir performs a Christmas concert there, Otis is smitten. With the help of a caring orphanage worker, the three youngsters are able to navigate the complex waters of adolescence, learning that using one’s wits can be more powerful than beating against the walls of a box. Pinkney weaves quite a bit of 1930s history into her story and succeeds admirably in showing how Louis came to represent so much more than his sport. Her detailed notes make this an accessible and inspiring piece of historical fiction that belongs in most collections.–Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA

PLATT, Chris. Astra. 147p. Web sites. CIP. Peachtree. 2010. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-1-56145-541-6. LC 2010001654.
Gr 5-8–Thirteen-year-old Lily O’Neil recently lost her mother to a riding accident while the woman was training for an endurance race. Since then, her grieving father has forbidden her to ride, although she is allowed help to take care of the horses at her neighbor’s stables. Her favorite is Astra, the animal that her mother had been riding when she fell. It seems almost too much to bear when Astra falls ill and is at the point of death. As a kindness, the horse’s owner signs her over to Lily and keeps his word after the Arabian steed makes a miraculous recovery. Astra is ready to compete again, but will Lily be allowed to race her? Filled with information about endurance racing as well as a cast of interesting supporting characters, including the dishy new boy in town, this novel is a quick and enjoyable read.–Kathleen Meulen Ellison, Sakai Intermediate School, Bainbridge Island, WA

POLACCO, Patricia. Just in Time, Abraham Lincoln. illus. by author. unpaged. Putnam. 2011. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25471-0. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-6–Is it a game, or is it real? Michael and Derek casually take a lighthearted step through a Harper’s Ferry museum door into the year 1862 and experience the horrors of war at the battlefield of Antietam only days after the fighting. Dressed as Union soldiers and equipped with only a pocket watch to remind them of their obligation to return to the present, the two boys are called to assist Matthew Brady’s photographer, Alexander Gardner, in the field. As they gradually become convinced of their actual insertion into history, a carriage ride with President Lincoln takes them to a pasture of broken stalks and scenes of death expanding page by page to greater destruction at a battleground later called “The Cornfield.” Polacco’s third visit to the Civil War era provides a full-page visual encapsulation of the battlefield and its physical and emotional devastation through a somber palette in her pencil/marker drawings and the changing expressions on faces of the boys. The book also provides an opportunity to see the perspective of Lincoln from the battlefield only a short time before he issues the Emancipation Proclamation; time is telescoped in the book as the boys are perfectly placed to offer assurances of America’s future greatness to the despairing leader and see firsthand the tragedy and effects of the battle. A thoughtful tribute and addition to picture-book historical fiction for older children.–Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX

RILEY, James. Half Upon a Time. 388p. CIP. S & S/Aladdin. 2010. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9593-7; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9595-1. LC 2010012714.
Gr 5-9–In his twisted fairy-tale world, hapless young Jack fails his princess-rescuing test, but fate gives him another chance when a circle of blue fire deposits May, wearing a T-shirt that reads “Punk Princess,” into his cottage. Jack recognizes her as a true princess and they set off on a quest to find her grandmother, Snow White. Joined by super-smooth Prince Phillip, and staying just ahead of the giant green Huntsman, they journey to the Black Forest, ride the wicked wolf’s back, release a genie when they break Red Hood’s magic mirror, and spend time in the dungeon of a fairy queen before finding Snow White and seven dwarfs in the Palace of the Snow Queen. Jack is perennially clumsy, and May has a quick, sharp tongue until she trades her sarcasm to save Jack’s life. Snappy dialogue, fast-paced action, unexpected twists, and the inevitable conflicts of a threesome made up of two teenage boys and a pretty girl make this an enjoyable read. A whirlwind ending upsets everything, setting the stage for a sequel.–Kathleen Isaacs, Children’s Literature Specialist, Pasadena, MD

ROBINSON, A. M. Vampire Crush. 404p. HarperTeen. 2011. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-0-06-198971-1. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8 Up–Unlike her popular and beautiful stepsister Caroline, Sophie McGee enjoys being on the sidelines. She is a watcher, not a player, and her greatest dream is to become the editor in chief of the school newspaper at Thomas Jefferson High. Her first assignment is to interview some new students, but as Sophie begins to question them, her investigative senses immediately go on full alert. They are unwilling to talk, extremely evasive, and mysterious, and, most disturbing, they all know one another. Then James, Sophie’s former neighbor whom she had a love/hate relationship with, is secretly back and is connected to the new arrivals, too. Danger follows Sophie as she discovers that these students are actually vampires on a quest to find the key to an ancient forgotten prophecy. As things intensify, her life hangs in the balance. Robinson’s debut novel is full of action, adventure, and suspense, with some romance as well. Sophie is a great character and has a witty style with which readers can easily identify. The fast-moving plot deals with issues like teen angst, facing your fears, and being true to yourself all rolled up with evil vampires and some serious fight scenes. An entertaining and satisfying read.–Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School , NY

ROY, Jennifer. Mindblind. 251p. CIP. Marshall Cavendish. 2010. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7614-5716-9. LC 2010006966.
Gr 6-10–Imagine you have a photographic memory but can’t read everyday social cues; you can understand quantum physics, but cannot understand a mother’s need to give you a hug. Imagine your happiest moments are spent in your room with your computer, but your mother and your therapist make you venture out into society on a daily basis. Nathaniel, a 14-year-old with Asperger’s syndrome, faces these dilemmas and more. Mindblind is told in his voice, making use of memory flashbacks that he has coded much like files on a computer. He is homeschooled and has finished college, but has yet to learn how to handle tough social situations such as drinking at parties, negotiating boyfriend/girlfriend relationships, taking responsibility for friendships, and working through pitfalls in his interactions with his parents. Nathaniel is honest and funny, poignant and detached, driven to achieve his best, and is puzzled by the behaviors of others. Roy writes with a strong voice and the authenticity of one who knows children with Asperger’s, yet Nathaniel’s problems and concerns can and should reach a wider audience. The book is comparable in scope and effectiveness to Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime (Doubleday, 2003), yet contains its own unique character and story.–Wendy Smith-D’Arezzo, Loyola College, Baltimore, MD

SEPETYS, Ruta. Between Shades of Gray. 352p. maps. CIP. Philomel. Mar. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25412-3. LC 2009050092.
Gr 8 Up–This novel is based on extensive research and inspired by the author’s family background. Told by 15-year-old Lina, a Lithuanian teen with penetrating insight and vast artistic ability, it is a gruesome tale of the deportation of Lithuanians to Siberia starting in 1939. During her 12 years there, Lina, a strong, determined character, chronicles her experiences through writings and drawings. She willingly takes chances to communicate with her imprisoned father and to improve her family’s existence in inhuman conditions. Desperation, fear, and the survival instinct motivate many of the characters to make difficult compromises. Andrius, who becomes Lina’s love interest, watches as his mother prostitutes herself with the officers in order to gain food for her son and others. To ward off starvation, many sign untrue confessions of guilt as traitors, thereby accepting 25-year sentences. Those who refuse, like Lina, her younger brother, and their mother, live on meager bread rations given only for the physical work they are able to perform. This is a grim tale of suffering and death, but one that needs telling. Mention is made of some Lithuanians’ collaboration with the Nazis, but for the most part the deportees were simply caught in a political web. Unrelenting sadness permeates this novel, but there are uplifting moments when the resilience of the human spirit and the capacity for compassion take over. This is a gripping story that gives young people a window into a shameful, but likely unfamiliar history.–Renee Steinberg, formerly at Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ

SHERRARD, Brent R. Final Takedown. 124p. (SideStreets Series). Lorimer. 2011. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-55277-525-7; pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-55277-523-3. LC 20109026217.
Gr 6-10–Elias and Jordan are in trouble as usual, only this time Elias is rethinking his life. While he continues to smoke joints, get in fights, and try to manage his alcoholic mom, he also gets a job, goes out on a few dates with a cute upper-class girl, and starts to paint and clean up the house. The dating doesn’t work out as Amber is more interested in sociology (dating the poor boy) than in getting to know Elias, and by this time he is wondering if he is more than the stoner kid, and if he really wants to do the last takedown that Jordan has planned. The epilogue neatly ties up the story as Elias realizes that everyone makes choices and that Jordan isn’t the friend he thought he was: he didn’t even make a 911 call as Elias was bleeding and incapacitated from a gunshot. The book has a lot of issues and not a lot of action, but the cover of a teen with a chain-link fence in front of his face will appeal to reluctant readers. –Amy Cheney, Alameda County Library, Oakland, CA

SHERRARD, Valerie. Tumbleweed Skies. 153p. CIP. Fitzhenry & Whiteside. 2010. pap. $11.95. ISBN 978-1-55455-113-2. LC number unavailable.
Gr 3-6–“I could tell right away that this wasn’t a house that wanted me.” Thus, readers are introduced to nine-year-old Ellie. It’s the 1950s in Saskatchewan, and Ellie’s father is down on his luck and has had to take a job as a traveling salesman. He has no choice but to leave his daughter with his dead wife’s mother–an embittered woman made vitriolic by her resentment and anger. She hadn’t consented to the marriage and blames her son-in-law for her daughter’s death when Ellie was an infant. Unmarried Uncle Roger, who runs the farm, has had his struggles in life too, but unlike his mother, his disappointments have honed kindness in him. Ellie does her best to please Grandmother Acklebee and to hide her feelings when her efforts go unrewarded. However, she does forge a tender relationship with her uncle. Over time, Grandmother Acklebee begins to soften (almost imperceptibly), and Ellie starts to accept that the woman’s response to her is out of hurt, not indifference. Sherrard has created a tender and complex story around these very different characters. Ellie shows growth throughout the novel in a way that is believable and appropriate for a child her age. Her grandmother’s change is very subtle, which is also appropriate, given the circumstances. Readers are not left with a sugary sweet ending, but with a conclusion that offers some hope. Sherrard writes with compassion and understanding about some tough issues, and her characters show remarkable depth. A realistic, moving story of how a broken family copes with loneliness and anger as they search for healing in their lives.–Corrina Austin, Locke’s Public School, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada

SNIEGOSKI, Tom. Quest for the Spark. Bk. 1. illus. by Jeff Smith. 218p. (Bone Series). CIP. Scholastic/ Graphix. 2011. Tr $22.99. ISBN 978-0-545-14101-7; pap. $10.99. ISBN 978-0-545-14102-4. LC 2010017002.
Gr 4-8–A full-text adventure set in the world of Smith’s iconic “Bone” graphic novels (Scholastic). Young Tom, a Valley turnip farmer, receives a vision that the peaceful otherworld of the Dreaming is under attack. The evil Nacht, a renegade Dragon, seeks to control the dreamland, and through it, the Waking World as well. A mysterious forest woman tells Tom that he has been chosen to lead a quest to find the scattered pieces of the Spark–the light of creation that can drive back the dark power. When his family falls under the Nacht’s corrupted sleep spell, Tom realizes that he has no choice and sets out with his best friend, a talking raccoon. Along the way, they are joined by three Bones–inventor Percival and his squabbling niece and nephew; a disillusioned Veni Yan warrior priest; and two Rat Creatures. Tom must mold this oddly assorted crew into a cohesive group if they have any chance of success. As the first of a projected trilogy, the book devotes considerable space to background exposition and character definition. Much of the action involves a series of seeming coincidences and accidents that bring the companions together, but there are chuckles and chills aplenty along the way. Smith’s familiar illustrations help link this to the original series. Bone aficionados will appreciate the many references to events and characters from the saga, but enough detail is provided that newbies will feel at home. An exciting new direction for one of the best-known and best-written graphic series available.–Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL

SOUP, Cuthbert. Another Whole Nother Story. illus. by Jeffrey Stewart Timmins. 290p. CIP. Bloomsbury. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59990-436-8. LC 2010025634.

Gr 4-7–In this rip-roaring follow-up to A Whole Nother Story (Bloomsbury, 2010), Ethan Cheeseman, his three children, a sock puppet, and a dog named Pinky head back in time to 1668. Their goal? To break a centuries-old family curse by returning the White Gold Chalice to its owner, and to save the children’s mother from a violent end. Unfortunately, landing in 1668 damages their egg-shaped time machine, and the family members must go in search of a blacksmith to find materials for its repair. Meeting a lively, but mostly underdeveloped cast of characters along the way, including Big, a Pocahontas look-alike, and the Mailman (so named because his many piercings resemble chain mail), the Cheesemans and company wreak havoc wherever they go. To complicate matters, Olivia’s murderer, Mr. 5, is right on their tails. The story is narrated by the self-described “incomparable” Dr. Cuthbert Soup and punctuated by his mini-chapters, which usually have only loose connections to the story, but are hilarious on their own. It’s over-the-top with a sometimes annoyingly frantic pace. However, the laugh-out-loud moments are many, and the puns are clever and sarcastic. This book should appeal to fans of Lemony Snicket’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events” (HarperCollins), Pseudonymous Bosch’s The Name of This Book Is Secret (Little, Brown, 2007), and other stories that capitalize on the absurd.–Mandy Lawrence, Fowler Middle School, Frisco, TX

STEIN, Tammar. Kindred. 272p. Knopf. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-85871-0; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-375-95871-7; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89625-5. LC number unavailable.
Gr 10 Up–College freshman Miriam is stuck at school during spring break when she receives a terrifying visit from the archangel Raphael. Although her father and mother both teach theology and are, respectively, a rabbi and a former nun, Miriam chooses not to seek their help but rather turns to the library for research. She saves the life of another student as instructed by Raphael but Tabitha is left permanently injured, causing Miriam to feel that she has failed. Then her twin brother, Mo, comes to town and tells her that he, too, has had a supernatural contact but with an entity from the other camp. Her health begins to suffer and she is constantly distracted by her visitation so she decides to drop out. She accepts an internship at a newspaper in a small Tennessee town where she meets Emmett, an intriguing tattoo artist, and receives her next mission. She attributes her worsening health to angelic retribution but her doctor tells her she has Crohn’s disease. The lack of resolution of several plot strands or promise of a sequel makes this an unsatisfying read. Miriam and Mo don’t end up as enemies as the cover suggests. Miriam never recovers her health nor are we sure why she has been chosen and whether she will continue to be given tasks by divine messengers. Supernatural fiction seems to be on the rise so this may appeal to some teens, but it isn’t strong enough to earn a general recommendation.–Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids, WI

TERRELL, Heather. Fallen Angel. Bk. 1. 310p. CIP. HarperTeen. 2011. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-0-06-196570-8. LC 2010013688.
Gr 9 Up–Ellie Faneuil, 16, has intense psychic flashes and vivid flying dreams, but no memory of meeting the irresistible Michael Chase in Guatemala three years earlier. This memory lapse was caused by her parents, fallen angels dedicated to the good, who sought to delay Ellie’s destined meeting with him in an effort to postpone the “end days.” Newly met Ellie and Michael cannot resist one another and begin to explore the powers that Michael embraces and Ellie denies. Possibly too-obvious clues indicate that she is “the Elect,” the half-angel, half-human leader who will emerge when the fallen angels, evil and good, will battle for supremacy. Ezekiel, who is determined to bring Ellie to the dark side, confronts Michael and Ellie in Boston’s Quincy Market and engages him in mortal combat. Much of the action in this apocryphal Bible-based fantasy takes place in and around a Maine high school, complete with Queen Bees and Carrie-like prom plans (using social media, not pig’s blood). The relationship between Ellie and Michael is fated, passionate, and related to the exchange of blood, a detail that encourages Michael’s early belief that he and Ellie are vampires. Terrell controls the pace of Ellie’s first-person narrative, and her characterization is less vapid than that of many other heroines of contemporary YA supernatural romances. The plot is overconstructed, however, and the writing includes some amateurish conventions, including telling about characters’ personalities rather than showing them through their actions. Still, the prose is clean, the action is fast, and the sexual heat between Ellie and Michael is intense but not explicit. All in all, teens should find this a reasonably satisfying beginning to a new series.–Janice M. Del Negro, GSLIS Dominican University, River Forest, IL

THOMPSON, Holly. Orchards: A Novel. illus. by Grady McFerrin. 336p. Delacorte. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73977-1; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-385-90806-1; ebook $17.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89834-1. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8 Up–After a classmate commits suicide, Kana, a half-Japanese, half-Jewish American eighth grader, is sent to her maternal grandmother’s farm in rural Japan for personal reflection. Kana tells her story in poignantly straightforward verse directed at the deceased classmate as she struggles with blame and regret, wondering if she and her friends are responsible because they took part in ostracizing the girl. She struggles, too, with her biracial, bicultural identity, feeling isolated in her new surroundings. Tentative at first, Kana reacquaints herself with her extended family and gains a sense of purpose and belonging from toiling in their mikan orange groves. Her journey toward self-discovery is deftly balanced with an undercurrent of tension as she gradually reveals the events that drove her bullied classmate to hang herself in an orchard back home. When another tragedy strikes, Kana realizes that although the past can’t be mended, she can take an active role in shaping the future, and the story concludes on a beautiful note of hope. The narrative is rich in authentic cultural detail and is complemented by attractive woodcut illustrations of Japanese imagery to evoke the story’s setting. Thompson has crafted an exquisite, thought-provoking story of grief and healing that will resonate with teen readers and give them much to discuss.–Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA

TOWNLEY, Roderick. The Door in the Forest. Bk. 1. 256p. Knopf. Mar. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-85601-3; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-375-95601-0; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89700-9. LC number unavailable.
Gr 5-7–Life in his rural town has always been boring for 14-year-old Daniel, but this summer is different. The Uncertainties that have plagued nearby cities with unrest and violence bring first refugees and then soldiers to Everwood. One of the refugees is 13-year-old Emily, granddaughter of the town witch, who is as fascinated by the nearby mysterious and inaccessible island as Daniel is. When sinister Captain Sloper becomes interested in the island as well, Daniel and Emily know they must go on a dangerous and almost deadly mission to save it. It is 1923, but an alternate 1923 with those Uncertainties. Otherwise the setting is one that will feel familiar to readers of Ingrid Law’s Scumble (Dial, 2010) and N.D. Wilson’s 100 Cupboards (Random, 2007)–rural America laced with subtle magic. Daniel cannot tell a lie (literally), and Emily is heir to the magic that permeates the island, but they are also regular kids facing a scary outside force in the form of violent, unpredictable soldiers. The island and its protectors and inhabitants are a lively blend of whimsy and unsettling mystery, a tone that permeates the book. Readers will still have questions at the end (about the Uncertainties, about the island), but the narration allows enough room to ponder and imagine possible answers. A suspenseful, thought-provoking fantasy.–Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library

TRACY, Kristen. The Reinvention of Bessica Lefter. 320p. Delacorte. 2011. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73688-6; PLB $18.99. ISBN 978-0-385-90634-0; ebook $15.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89738-2. LC number unavailable.
Gr 5-6–Poor Bessica doesn’t think things can get any worse. On the same day, she learns that her best friend, Sylvie, is going to a different school and that her grandma is going on a six-week trip, leaving her to navigate her upcoming entry into middle school on her own. How will she know how to avoid the dweebs, the psycho-bullies, and the alts? How will she know which clubs to join and which table to sit at in the lunchroom? And will she ever get her locker open? Bessica takes everything very seriously, but many of the situations in which she finds herself are humorous. She is an “everytween” with the typical myopia of the age, and as such many readers will relate to her struggle to find a place to belong and applaud her hard-won position in the middle-school hierarchy.–Laurie Slagenwhite Walters, Baldwin Public Library, Birmingham, MI

TRAFTON, Jennifer. The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic. illus. by Brett Helquist. 344p. glossary. CIP. Dial. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8037-3375-6. LC 2009051659.
Gr 4-7–Ten-year-old Persimmony Smudge has a bad day and loses her hat. She finds herself lost as well, survives an encounter with a poison-tongued jumping tortoise, and overhears a conversation between two underground-dwelling Leafeaters, who have total distain for humans. Persimmony travels to tell the king what she’s learned and is sent on a mission to discover if the mountain at the center of her island homeland is really a sleeping giant. Once she confirms his existence, she finds herself on an even more urgent mission, this one even more dangerous, to save her homeland by preventing the giant from being awakened by the Leafeaters, who are digging for gold and are about to reach his feet. Trafton creates a unique setting with unusual and detailed characters, including the playful Rumblebumps, the polite but dangerous Leafeaters, and the selfish 13-year-old king who has no regard for his subjects. Persimmony’s sense of adventure and determination make her an entertaining heroine. Trafton’s message about courage and responsibility is conveyed through her, the exaggerated King Lucas the Loftier, and assorted other characters, but it never overshadows the story. Frequent full-page black-and-white illustrations add to the humor and nonstop action.–Beth L. Meister, Milwaukee Jewish Day School, WI

TURNER, Ann. Father of Lies. 256p. further reading. Web sites. HarperTeen. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-137085-4. LC number unavailable.
Gr 7-10–In Salem Village in the late 1600s, just as historical townsfolk including Goody Nurse, Tituba, and John Hathorne are finding themselves on one side or the other of accusations of witchcraft, Lidda Johnson is in a tricky situation. The 14-year-old child in a family that ranges from a nursing infant to a bearded, pipe-smoking older brother, she has lately been hearing voices and now begins to see an apparition. He introduces himself as Lucian and gently (and sometimes not so gently) mocks the schoolmates and neighbors who fling about accusations of devilry. Lidda’s older sister doesn’t have much patience with the protagonist’s oddities, though her younger sister senses that something is wrong. Unlike the adults in Salem and Boston, Lidda sees through the attention-seeking antics of those she comes to think of as “the murder girls.” Her efforts to force the truth to light eventually render her mute. The issue of loss of control is central to the story, whether it is Lidda refusing to control her body with stays or trying to control her thoughts when she hears Lucian’s voice in her head. Turner’s writing smoothly portrays the cold New England countryside and the isolation Lidda feels as she attempts to keep her hallucinations a secret. While the story covers the same ground as Stephanie Hemphill’s Wicked Girls (HarperCollins, 2010) and Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, Lidda’s perspective as a doubting observer gives it a different twist. Endnotes about bipolar disorder direct readers toward that explanation for Lidda’s sensory experiences, and historical notes are included.–Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX

UPDALE, Eleanor. Johnny Swanson. 384p. Random/David Fickling Bks. Mar. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-385-75198-8; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-385-75199-5; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89688-0. LC number unavailable.

Gr 5-7–The year is 1929, and Johnny Swanson, 11, is up against hard times. TB is ravaging the English countryside, his only same-age friend is taken to a sanitorium, and Johnny and his widowed mother are struggling financially. Burned once himself, the boy schemes to swindle others by placing fraudulent ads in the newspaper. The plot then twists as the local doctor turns up dead and Johnny’s mom is arrested as the prime suspect. With the help of a sympathetic postmaster, Johnny solves the murder and vindicates his mother. Johnny Swanson is an excellent introduction to the formulaic mystery novel. Although perhaps overly nostalgic, the story is tightly woven, with excellent red herrings and fantastic villains.–Leah Krippner, Harlem High School, Machesney Park, IL

VIGILANTE, Danette. The Trouble with Half a Moon. 192p. CIP. Putnam. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25159-7. LC 2010007377.
Gr 6-9–Dellie’s life exists between the locked door of her family’s small apartment in a government housing project and her inner-city classroom. Since the death of her younger brother, her mom doesn’t allow her outside except when her father follows her to school, and the 13-year-old wonders if she could have prevented the accident that took Louis’s life. Like any young teen, Dellie just wants to be with her friends and get to know the cute boy in her math class a little better. When a new family moves in downstairs, the night becomes a time of gunshots and loud fighting and people keep their doors locked and bolted. But Corey, a small boy caught in an abusive situation, gets Dellie to open her door and her heart and in time provides the catalyst for the family to heal itself. It’s a neighbor’s explanation of a large mural of a half moon on her wall that leads Dellie to understand that sometimes you have to believe in things you cannot fully see that will become more illuminated over time. Dellie’s story will speak to young people who’ve needed a little faith to get them through tough times. Interesting scenarios, like the cloaked Jamaican woman who moves in next door, provide interest to an already well-developed story.–Cheryl Ashton, Amherst Public Library, OH

WHELAN, Gloria. Small Acts of Amazing Courage. 224p. glossary. CIP. S & S/Paula Wiseman Bks. Apr. 2011. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-0931-6. LC 2010013164.
Gr 6-10–Rosalind is the 15-year-old willful daughter of a British major and his wife who are stationed in India. When her father arrives home from World War I, he discovers that his delicate wife has not ruled the household or their daughter as strictly as he would like and sets out to correct that. Rosalind becomes intrigued with Gandhi’s movement to win India’s freedom from British rule, which infuriates her father. After disobeying him once too often, she is shipped off to England to live with two aunts and attend boarding school. Her determination to do as she pleases brings about misadventures during a cholera outbreak on the voyage and with her aunts. When notified of her misdeeds, her horrified parents demand that she return to India immediately. She happily complies, taking her timid aunt, who through Rosalind has found her own freedom, with her. Whelan paints a detailed picture of the lives of the English and the Indians during British rule, especially those of the women and children in both cultures, without detracting from the story. The dominant theme of the book, the value of freedom by nations and individuals, is cleverly woven into the plot. The characters are fully fleshed out and illustrate the differences and similarities between the two cultures during a period that doesn’t receive much treatment in young adult literature. The ending is a little too pat, but readers won’t care. This is a beautifully written, fascinating, and informative story.–Nancy P. Reeder, Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, Columbia, SC

WHITLEY, David. The Children of the Lost. Bk. 2. 357p. (The Agora Trilogy). Roaring Brook. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-614-5. LC number unavailable.
Gr 7-10–As this sequel to The Midnight Charter (Roaring Brook, 2009) begins, Mark and Lily have just escaped from Agora after nearly being murdered. They’re a threat because the Charter prophesied that their Judgment would lead to Agora (where life is just a commodity) changing forever. They find refuge in an isolated village where harmony and equality are enforced through prescribed daily rituals presided over by a Speaker and a monk from the Order of the Lost. Any villager who strays from the routine suffers horrible nightmares that must be forcefully purged from the individual. Lily and Mark discover that the nightmares really happen when people try to suppress their individual desires. She forces the villagers to see the truth and, in a rage, they attack her and kill the Speaker. Banished from the village, Mark and Lily are befriended by a witch who helps them conquer the confusion that the Nightmare causes. Only by overcoming it and examining the powerful emotions from their pasts can Lily find her vanished parents and Mark get back to Agora. This leads Lily to the cathedral of the Order of the Lost where surprising revelations lead to the next book in the series. The world-building in this ambitious and intricately plotted fantasy is complex and rich. Readers who have not read the first book will find this one confusing so the books should be read in order to be fully appreciated.–Sharon Rawlins, New Jersey State Library, Trenton

WHITNEY, Daisy. The Mockingbirds. 339p. Web sites. CIP. Little, Brown. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-316-09053-7. LC 2009051257.
Gr 9 Up–Alex wakes up in a strange bed, naked, and with a terrible headache, lying next to a boy whose name she doesn’t know. A junior at an elite boarding school, she is used to a controlled and nearly perfect life. Among all the talented and special students at Themis Academy, Alex is a standout as a classical musician. How could she have been so stupid as to have sex–for the very first time–with this stranger? It takes several days, and the support of her roommates and friends, for her to piece together the events that led up to that horrible morning. The portrayal of the aftermath of alcohol-fueled sexual assault is particularly well drawn. Alex is confused, disoriented, and deeply shamed, but her friends help her understand that, no matter how drunk she was, sex without consent is rape. There is no help from the school authorities, who have failed to protect students from one another in the past, so Alex turns to the Mockingbirds. This semisecret society is an ingenious student-initiated justice system that holds individuals responsible for their actions. Just like in the world outside, the wheels of justice turn slowly, but ultimately Alex has the satisfaction of holding her assailant to account. Particularly poignant is Alex’s growing relationship with a kind and caring boy who helps her regain her equilibrium and look to the future. Written with a deep awareness of post-trauma experience and a keen ear for high school dialogue, this novel makes an impassioned case for youth taking responsibility for the actions of their peers.–Carolyn Lehman, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA

WHITTEMORE, Jo. Odd Girl In. 234p. S & S/Aladdin Mix. Mar. 2011. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-1284-2; ebook $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-1285-9. LC 2010933797.
Gr 5-7–Alex (don’t call her Alexis) prides herself on being a wild child and one of three “Evil Evins.” Ever since her researcher mother left the family, the 12-year-old and her older twin brothers have run amok with their pranks and high jinks. Their father, a professor of philosophy who believes in free will, has done little to rein them in. When a “Flaming #2” prank goes awry, setting an elderly neighbor’s sofa on fire with nearly disastrous results, Professor Evins has had enough. He enrolls his children in a “life-skills course” called Champs! If they do not all pass the course, a private school looms. Champs! is run by a loud self-promoter who has strict rules and high expectations. Unfortunately, Alex’s nemeses, Goody Two-shoes Emily Gold and ultra-competitive athlete Chloe, are also at Champs! Alex prides herself on being tough. She’s a loner, and doesn’t do the friendship-with-girls thing. The reasons why unfold slowly as readers follow her through her Champs! experience. Secondary characters have surprising depth. There’s plenty of humor along the way to redemption and healing as Alex and her brothers learn to work as a team and as a family.–Brenda Kahn, Tenakill Middle School, Closter, NJ

WILKINSON, Lili. Pink. 320p. HarperTeen. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-192653-2. LC number unavailable.
Gr 9 Up–Ava, an Australian teen, has begged her parents to let her transfer from her underachieving high school to an exclusive and rigorous private school. Her parents, open-minded progressives who threw a party to celebrate her coming out, reluctantly agree. Her girlfriend, Chloe, sophisticated, intellectual, and highly possessive, is also not pleased. Ava is immediately befriended by Alexis, petite, perky, popular, and intelligent, who encourages Ava to audition for the school musical. Humiliated by a disastrous audition, she joins the stage crew, made up of the school’s outcasts and oddballs. Ava doesn’t tell anyone about her sexual identity and withdraws from Chloe. She becomes closer to her stage-crew friends, while her more popular friends disdain her involvement with them. Failed attempts at matchmaking, a final argument with Chloe, and the revelation that she is not sure of her sexual orientation create a roller-coaster of emotions. While Ava is a sympathetic character who feels that she has disappointed a lot of people and doesn’t know how to make amends, Chloe becomes increasingly insufferable. Wilkinson authentically captures the social awkwardness of high school life and love. Passionate confessions made by several key characters are a bit over-the-top but don’t distract from the story. Some characters are rather quick to forgive past wrongs, but this is an entertaining story about teen angst, sexual identity, and high school relationships from a promising debut author.–Jennifer Schultz, Fauquier County Public Library, Warrenton, VA

WOOD, Maryrose. The Hidden Gallery. Bk. 2. illus. by Jon Klassen. 320p. (The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place Series). HarperCollins/Balzer & Bray. 2011. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-06-179112-3. LC number unavailable.
Gr 3-6–The Incorrigibles, three feral children discovered and adopted by the ridiculously rich Lord Ashton, are back in another series of uproarious escapades. While Ashton Place is being repaired after the disastrous Christmas party at the conclusion of The Mysterious Howling (HarperCollins, 2010), Cassiopeia, Beowulf, and Alexander head for London, under the care of their unflappable 15-year-old governess, Miss Penelope Lumley. Mysterious happenings thwart Miss Lumley’s plans for a proper and edifying tour of the city, including a fortune-teller who issues a strange warning to the children, a guidebook that leads them to a hidden gallery in the British Museum, and Lord Ashton’s twitching behavior during a full moon. There is genuine humor in Penelope’s unruffled attempts to educate and tame her charges, and fun in the wordplay and the use of delicious sounding archaic words. The characterization and plotting are true to an over-the-top parody of a Victorian melodrama as one outlandish adventure after another climaxes in a riotous spoof of a Gilbert & Sullivan Operetta gone bad. The narrator occasionally addresses readers directly with asides and explanations on topics such as holiday fatigue and the Heimlich maneuver, which seems oddly discordant in the distinctly Victorian-style narrative. And while a few new twists are introduced here, the fact that so little is resolved will leave readers wishing for just a bit more. Still, the endearing Incorrigibles and their indefatigable governess are engaging characters, and fans of the first book will be happy to go along for the madcap ride.–Caroline Ward, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT

ZAHLER, Diane. A True Princess. 192p. HarperCollins. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-182501-9. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-6–This reinterpretation of “The Princess and the Pea” begins with Lilia running away from the only home she has ever known when she overhears her foster mother planning to send her away to work as a servant. Joined by Karina and Kai, her foster mother’s stepchildren, Lilia decides to travel north to see if she can discover her true identity. The three hear stories of the Elf-King and are warned to stay on the road as they travel through the forest, but are forced to flee from bandits and stumble onto the elves’ Midsummer celebration. Kai is immediately enthralled by the Elf-King’s daughter and forced to stay with her unless Lilia can retrieve a jeweled clasp from the local king’s castle. Lilia and Karina start work as maids at the palace and begin their search. The only room they cannot enter is reserved for the young women who arrive at the palace to try the “true princess” test, which no one has yet to win. Eventually they find a way into the room, which has only a bed inside. Karina falls asleep, Lilia doesn’t, and this leads to the discovery of her past. It also leads to the discovery of the clasp, Kai’s eventual freedom, and the betrothal of Karina and the prince. Readers who enjoyed Gail Carson Levine’s Ella Enchanted (HarperCollins, 1997), Zahler’s The Thirteenth Princess (HarperCollins, 2010) or E.D. Baker’s “Tales of the Frog Princess” series (Bloomsbury) will also relish this tale. –Terrie Dorio, Santa Monica Public Library, CA

ZUCKER, Naomi. Write On, Callie Jones. 188p. Egmont USA. 2010. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-60684-028-3; PLB $18.99. ISBN 978-1-60684-112-9. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-6–In this sequel to Callie’s Rules (Egmont USA, 2009), Callie’s desire to be popular has been replaced by her need to be part of a group, to have something to belong to. She loves to write and feels as though she has found her calling in her school’s first-ever newspaper. As she tries to balance journalistic reporting, staying out of trouble, seeing friends getting bullied, and having a crush on the newspaper adviser, she discovers that not everyone wants to know the truth. Should she be honest, even if it means angering others, including the principal, who wants to make sure that this paper shows only the school’s best side? When she is called into his office and is threatened by him and a bullying police chief, she gets great support from her lawyer father and the newspaper’s advisor. Playful, entertaining writing peppers this novel. However, readers unfamiliar with Callie never really get to know the girl behind the pen. Other characters are slightly one-dimensional and at times conversations feel forced or scripted, and the story line is sometimes hard to follow. There’s too much telling and not enough showing. Some scenes fly by with hardly any support and kids will wonder if they’ve missed something important. A quick, easy read for fans of the first book.–Mariela Siegert, Westfield Middle School, Bloomingdale, IL

Nonfiction

ATWOOD, Kathyrn J. Women Heroes of World War II: 26 Stories of Espionage, Sabotage, Resistance, and Rescue. 268p. maps. photos. bibliog. further reading. glossary. index. notes. Web sites. Chicago Review. Mar. 2011. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-55652-961-0. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6 Up–After a brief introduction about the war in Europe, this book is divided into eight chapters, each focusing on a specific country, including Germany, Poland, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Great Britain, and the United States. Women from each of these countries played important roles in the war effort working in the resistance movement, as spies, as couriers, or as correspondents. A few of the individuals are well known, such as the entertainer Josephine Baker, who collected information for the Allies, and actress Marlene Dietrich, who entertained the troops, but most were ordinary citizens who saw a need and stepped up to join the fight against the Nazis. Each profile reports on the woman’s war activities and rounds out the story by telling about her life after the war. Sidebars and photographs are scattered throughout and documented quotations and excerpts from notes and letters are utilized. –Patricia Ann Owens, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges

BREZINA, Corona. How Deflation Works. reprods. ISBN 978-1-4358-9465-5; ISBN 978-1-4488-0824-3. LC 2009045292.
–––– . How Stimulus Plans Work. ISBN 978-1-4358-9464-8; ISBN 978-1-4488-0823-6. LC 2009045557.
CASIL, Amy Sterling. Why Banks Fail. ISBN 978-1-4358-9462-4; ISBN 978-1-4488-0821-2. LC 2009041635.
FURGANG, Kathy. How the Stock Market Works. ISBN 978-1-4358-9466-2; ISBN 978-1-4488-0825-0. LC 2009045687.
LA BELLA, Laura. How Taxation Works. reprods. ISBN 978-1-4358-9463-1; ISBN 978-1-4488-0822-9. LC 2009047165.
ea vol: 80p. (Real World Economics Series). photos. bibliog. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Rosen. 2010. PLB $30.60; ebook $30.60.
Gr 7 Up–These books explore financial topics not usually addressed for students. Deflation discusses the possible correlations between a recession and deflation, expanding at length about why deflation is ultimately unhealthy for the economy. Stimulus Plans gives a simple yet comprehensive summary of a complex and expansive topic. It makes the point that all economies are cyclical and that recessions may be caused by different events. It covers deficits and Roosevelt’s New Deal and Obama’s stimulus plan at length, as well as the Marshall Plan and Japan’s response to its recession of the 1990s. Stock Market includes a history of Wall Street and discusses the ups and downs of the stock market and its impact on people’s everyday lives in a general and accessible manner for students. There is about a third of content overlap among these three books. Why Banks Fail is fascinating, well written, and accessible. The primary focus is our recent sub-prime mortgage debacle and how these mortgages alone caused the massive bank failures around the world of the last decade. This text is lucid and keeps such concepts as “contagious” bank runs and “cascading” bank failures easy for students to understand. How Taxation Works is straightforward and perfunctory. The further reading recommendations are focused for teens. –Meredith Toumayan, The Governor’s Academy, Byfield, MA

BROWNELL, Richard. American Counterculture of the 1960s. 96p. (World History Series). photos. chron. further reading. index. notes. Web sites. CIP. Gale/Lucent. 2010. PLB $33.45. ISBN 978-1-4205-0263-3. LC 2010010503.
Gr 8-10–While the Vietnam War was raging in Southeast Asia, a war of sorts was raging in the U.S. The 1960s, as Brownell informs readers, was a time of turmoil and change in this country. This dense, text-heavy book discusses the antiwar and Civil Rights movements, hippies, arts and music, student protests, and more, relating how they reshaped American society. Although the book covers a number of important topics, it skims the surface of most of them. The layout, with two columns of text on each page and few pictures, is likely to intimidate our very visual generation of students.–Esther Keller, I.S. 278, Marine Park, NY

BURLEIGH, Robert. The Adventures of Mark Twain by Huckleberry Finn. illus. by Barry Blitt. unpaged. chron. CIP. S & S/Atheneum. 2010. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-0-689-83041-9. LC 2010006512.
Gr 4-8–What would Huck Finn have to say about his creator? Burleigh and Blitt take an unusual perspective in this picture-book biography. In Huck’s colloquial voice, a portrait of Twain emerges that is engaging, accessible, and highly original. From his boyhood on the Mississippi, through his riverboat days, his writing and public speaking careers, and his adult family life, the main points of the writer’s life are covered. Blitt’s humorous illustrations are a perfect match for the tall-tale-inspired text. Rendered in pen, ink, and watercolor, the caricature style suits both Huck’s voice and Twain’s life. The muted blues and browns of the palette have an old-fashioned quality that amplifies the 19th-century setting. The cover illustration, of Huck on a book “raft” paddling with a fountain pen, cleverly demonstrates the book’s premise. Although children will be entertained by the account, the most enthusiastic audience may be students familiar with Twain’s work. One does not need to know Huck’s story to understand Twain’s, but doing so will increase appreciation for the ingenious nature of this collaboration.–Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher’s School, Richmond, VA

CHIANG, Mona, Cody Crane, Karina Hamalainen, & Lynda Jones. Oil Spill: Disaster. 32p. charts. diags. maps. photos. glossary. Scholastic. 2010. pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-0-545-31776-4. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-8–The Deepwater Horizon Spill that occurred on April 20, 2010, is the largest offshore oil spill in U. S. history and is still impacting the environment and marine life in the Gulf of Mexico. This book examines the global oil situation, the disaster, and the responses to it. On each page, paragraphs of text are superimposed on full-page art, diagrams, or colored backgrounds. Interviews with those involved, such as animal-rescue experts, cleanup experts, and oil-spill experts, are presented in a question-and-answer format. The book ends with a “Think About It” section with information about alternative, renewable energy resources. The shortcomings are the lack of discussion about the impact on people’s livelihoods and about BP’s corporate responsibilities. Despite these omissions, the book addresses an important manmade catastrophe.–Caroline Geck, Newark Public Schools, NJ

DOUGHERTY, Terri. Freedom of Expression and the Internet. 112p. (Hot Topics Series). charts. map. photos. further reading. index. notes. Web sites. CIP. Gale/Lucent. 2010. PLB $33.45. ISBN 978-1-4205-0227-5. LC 2010001547.
Gr 7 Up–This book explores the parameters of freedom of speech and the responsibility that accompanies it, explaining as well the difference between the presentation of fact and opinion. The remainder of the volume is devoted to child-protection policies, concerns about anonymity, copyright issues, trademark violations, “School Speech and Cyberbullies,” and “International Free Speech.” The text is well organized and clearly written, outlining the issues in such a way as to be understandable to teens. Color photos, sidebars, discussion questions, and a list of organization contacts are included. This is a good source for report writers.–Carol Jones Collins, Hanover Park High School, East Hanover, NJ

DOWNER, Ann. Elephant Talk: The Surprising Science of Elephant Communication. 112p. diags. maps. photos. bibliog. chron. further reading. glossary. index. notes. Web sites. CIP. 21st Century Bks. Mar. 2011. PLB $33.26. ISBN 978-0-7613-5766-7; ebook $24.95. ISBN 978-0-7613-7285-1. LC 2010024880.
Gr 4-6–The complex behavior of wild elephants is introduced in a flowing narrative accompanied by full-color photographs, diagrams, and maps. Downer provides an overview of elephant evolution, places the creatures in their African and Asian contexts, and describes the lives of these intelligent social animals. Her narrative then focuses on the elephants’ intricate verbal and nonverbal communication techniques, the physiology that enables them, and the studies and experiments scientists have conducted to learn more. The illustrations and clearly labeled diagrams and maps are well placed to amplify the text. A chapter on the elephant-human relationship contains interesting historical facts and important current information about the efforts of people to ensure the survival of elephants. Throughout this highly readable, informative title are profiles of individuals–an elephant keeper, a scout, researchers, and others–who work with these animals. The “Elephant Dictionary” will help future scientists understand an elephant’s chirp, grunt, rev, rumble, and snort!–Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA

DRIVER, Stephanie Schwartz. Understanding the Declaration of Independence. ISBN 978-1-4488-1669-9. LC 2010010371.
KIRK, Andrew. Understanding Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience.” ISBN 978-1-4488-1671-2. LC 2010010221.
MACGILLIVRAY, Alex. Understanding Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring . ISBN 978-1-4488-1670-5. LC 2010009260.
ea vol: 128p. (Words That Changed the World Series). photos. reprods. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Rosen. 2010. PLB $31.95.
Gr 7 Up–Each of these books surveys a seminal document. All follow a template that successfully considers each document’s “Context and Creator,” “Immediate Impact,” “Legacy,” and “Aftermath.” Whether exploring the colonial crisis leading to America’s formal separation from the British Empire, the historical context of transcendentalism and resistance to big government, or the ecological impact of a canonical green manifesto, each author provides a balance of deep context, expressive writing, and pertinent information. Scattered throughout the texts are a good number of well-captioned, color illustrations and photos. These books are valuable resources for teachers and students doing research projects across the curriculum.–Brian Odom, Pelham Public Library, AL

EVANS, Kirsti. Something Different About Dad: How to Live with Your Asperger’s Parent. illus. by John Swogger. 139p. glossary. Jessica Kingsley. 2011. pap. $18.9. ISBN 978-1-84905-114-9. LC number unavailable.
Gr 3-6–This British import reads like an illustrated family-therapy session. Preteen daughter Sophie introduces her family and confesses that though she loves her father, she has become increasingly more uncomfortable with his responses to various social situations. Her recollections of incidents when he was rude, distracted, or dismissive make up a bare-bones plot in which both author and illustrator get written/drawn into the narrative to discuss the events. Evans and Swogger’s talking points include defining the syndrome, addressing why people with AS react the way they do, coping mechanisms, stress management, etc. While the simple black-and-white artwork (characters have pupil-less, Little Orphan Annie eyes) lacks emotion, the book effectively conveys the information, albeit with a decidedly British sensibility in setting and statistics. Those who can look past these drawbacks and have need of this specific material will find this a helpful guidebook.–Joanna K. Fabicon, Los Angeles Public Library

FAKHRID-DEEN, Tina. Let’s Get This Straight: The Ultimate Handbook for Youth with LGBTQ Parents. with COLAGE. 174p. further reading. glossary. notes. Web sites. CIP. Seal. 2010. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-1-58005-333-4. LC 2010001775.
Gr 5-10–An active-learning approach separates this handbook from an assortment of other books about children with LGBTQ parents. Its seven chapters cover familiar topics such as families’ coming out, acceptance, bullying, and religion. Fakhrid-Deen provides sound information interspersed with interviews, poetry, questionnaires, and pages for journaling. In addition, the fact that 44 people ages 8-36 were interviewed for the book, and that 57 percent “identified as biracial, multiracial, or persons of color,” also sets it apart from others on the subject, such as Abigail Garner’s Families Like Mine (HarperCollins, 2004) and Judith E. Snow’s How It Feels to Have a Lesbian or Gay Parent: A Book by Kids for Kids of All Ages (Harrington Park, 2004). The book includes a glossary of terms in the introduction as well as a good list of resources in the final chapter on activism. While the invitation to write in the book may not be ideal for a library setting, resourceful librarians and teachers will find a way to maximize the book’s potential.–Betty S. Evans, Missouri State University, Springfield

FLEMING, Candace. Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart. 128p. maps. photos. bibliog. index. notes. Web sites. CIP. Random/Schwartz & Wade Bks. Mar. 2011. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-375-84198-9; PLB $21.99. ISBN 978-0-375-94598-4. LC 2010005279.
Gr 4-7–Ho-hum history? Not in Fleming’s apt hands. What could be a dry recitation of facts and dates is instead a gripping and suspenseful thriller. Even though readers likely know the end of the story, Fleming makes this book difficult to put down by moving between several accounts of Earhart’s disappearance and her chronological life story. Quotes from primary sources are woven so seamlessly throughout that it seems as though the individuals involved are telling the story. The Art Deco-inspired book design and excellent black-and-white photographs help to transport readers back in time. Fleming has made a phenomenal woman accessible to a new generation of readers; she unapologetically shows Earhart as a real person and dispels the mythology surrounding her. Exploring more than just her famous flights, she introduces Earhart’s other pursuits. Being a pilot in the early 20th century was prohibitively expensive and Earhart had to be a savvy businesswoman willing to try anything and everything to earn enough money to stay in the sky. With G.P. Putnam, a proficient publicist behind her, she not only influenced the future of popular culture, but also forged a path of opportunity for women to follow. Fame is a business, and Earhart and Putnam worked steadily to achieve it; the legend of Amelia Earhart is a testament to their hard work. This book is splendid. Hand it to everyone.–Heather Acerro, Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, IN

GANN, Marjorie & Janet Willen. Five Thousand Years of Slavery. 168p. maps. photos. reprods. bibliog. chron. index. Web sites. CIP. Tundra. 2011. Tr $27.95. ISBN 978-0-88776-914-6. LC 2009938446.
Gr 6-9–This well-researched global survey introduces readers to slavery practices, customs, suffering, uprisings, and revolts as well as antislavery efforts from ancient Greece and Rome to today’s world. Organized into 12 chapters, the narrative presents the historical, economic, and cultural contexts of slavery in different regions of the world. Personal accounts are woven into the text. Greatest emphasis is placed on the transatlantic slave trade, which brought almost 12 million Africans to the Americas, eventually sparking British and American abolitionist protests, the American Civil War, and the Civil Rights Movement. The authors promote global awareness and issue a call to action. Descriptions of Chinese mui-tsai , the legal sale of daughters into slavery, and the activist martyrdom in 1995 of 12-year-old Iqbal Masih, a Pakistani child laborer, are heartrending. To eradicate slavery today, the authors recommend proactive strategies like buying labeled “slave-free products,” advocating for enforcement of antislavery laws, and learning more from antislavery organizations and websites. Informative documentary photos and factually rich sidebars enhance the text. A timeline lists pivotal moments from the rise of Sumerian cities to the 2001 Cocoa Protocol denouncing child labor on African cocoa plantations. This groundbreaking title brings the disturbing subject into historical and contemporary focus. –Gerry Larson, Durham School of the Arts, NC

GITLIN, Martin. Sonia Sotomayor: Supreme Court Justice. ISBN 978-1-61613-518-8. LC 2010000499.
PETERSON-HILLEQUE, V ictoria. J. K. Rowling: Extraordinary Author. reprods. ISBN 978-1-61613-517-1. LC 2010000503.
ea vol: 112p. (Essential Lives Series). photos. bibliog. chron. further reading. glossary. index. notes. Web sites. CIP. ABDO. 2010. PLB $32.79.
Gr 5-8–These biographies will help give depth to those collections that perhaps have an older title on Rowling, such as Colleen Sexton’s (21st Century, 2005), or are just starting to collect books on Sotomayor. Each volume toggles between the subject’s personal and professional life; Sotomayor offers sidebar explanations of legal issues and Rowling, definitions of particular characters or events in the “Harry Potter” series. The writing is accessible, the format is open, and full-color photos appear throughout. Good choices for readers who are simply curious about these women and their accomplishments, or for those who are looking for report sources.–Carol Fazioli, Gwynedd-Mercy College, Gwynedd Valley, PA

GROSSBERG, Blythe. Applying to College for Students with ADD or LD: A Guide to Keep You (and Your Parents) Sane, Satisfied, and Organized Through the Admission Process. 144p. charts. further reading. Web sites. CIP. Magination. 2010. pap. $14.95. ISBN 978-1-4338-0892-0. LC 2010023130.
Gr 9 Up–While this book was written for, and specifically addresses, high school students with ADD or LD, it is sure to be useful for teens who are not sure what to expect when applying to college. The text is written at about a ninth-grade level, which is perfect for those students whose strength may not be in reading. It is easy to follow and organized in a logical fashion. There are plenty of charts to help readers stay organized, and most of them come with clear examples so there should be no confusion. This book will be particularly helpful to first-generation college students who may need a little extra information about the whole process.–Wendy Smith-D??Arezzo, Loyola College, Baltimore, MD

GUDGEON, Chris. Ghost Trackers: The Unreal World of Ghosts, Ghost-Hunting, and the Paranormal. 76p. illus. photos. index. Web sites. CIP. Tundra. 2010. pap. $16.99. ISBN 978-0-88776-950-4. LC 2009938451.
Gr 4-7–While this book ties in with the Ghost Trackers TV series, even readers who are not familiar with the show will find it interesting. Starting off by asking his audience if they believe in ghosts (he’s a former skeptic), Gudgeon thoroughly discusses all things ghostly. Chapters take on the history of sightings, scientists and paranormal research, haunted places around the world, and ghost tracking. The meatiest one is “A Guide to Spirits, and Other Apparitions.” Side boxes offer other assorted information, and photographs and illustrations, some quite eerie, are sprinkled throughout. The writing is clear and the subject is presented in an evenhanded manner. Gail Stewart’s Ghosts (ReferencePoint, 2008) is also a strong contender for the ghost-loving crowd. Gudgeon’s title is a solid consideration, fine for research and pleasure reading.–Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI

HAERENS, Margaret, ed. International Adoptions. 232p. (Opposing Viewpoints Series). charts. reprods. bibliog. index. Web sites. CIP. Greenhaven. 2010. PLB $39.70. ISBN 978-0-7377-4970-0; pap. $27.50. ISBN 978-0-7377-4971-7. LC 2010011351.
Gr 9 Up–This volume contains an impressive compilation of statistics and opinions by reputable journalists, social workers, as well as adult adoptees. It offers detailed discussions about whether international adoptions should be encouraged, if celebrity adoptions hurt or help, the consequences for the adoptees, and what changes should be made in the process. The preface and bibliography for each chapter are invaluable, as are the guiding questions at the beginning of each essay. What makes this book so valuable is that it presents an array of forceful opinions. Generally, the writing is articulate and arguments are clear and understandable. The statistical charts and graphs are very readable. Other essays discuss fraud and corruption, and many lament that the fees to adopt foreign children rarely help the sending countries develop the economic strength needed to retain them. Another question addressed is how to balance assimilation in the adoptive culture while maintaining birth culture identity. The prospective audience for this title could go beyond student researchers and debaters to include adoptive parents, social workers, psychologists, and educators.–Deborah Vose, East Middle School and South Middle School, Braintree, MA

HENNINGFELD, Diane Andrews, ed. Hurricane Katrina. 146p. (At Issue Series). bibliog. index. Web sites. CIP. Gale/Greenhaven. 2010. PLB $31.80. ISBN 978-0-7377-4882-6; pap. $22.50. ISBN 978-0-7377-4883-3. LC 2010003359.
Gr 9 Up–This title looks at myriad topics related to the catastrophe and its aftermath. It follows the series format of offering reprinted articles that present positive and negative views. Researchers will be interested in some of the discussions, such as the effects of global warming on future storms, the need to restore wetlands, and the response of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) to help victims. Students may be less interested in the mental-health services that failed the populations, the need for improved school reform, and the lack of media attention to the Mississippi coast. The lessons learned from this hurricane are expected to be models for how to better handle disasters in the future; several pieces take issue with the local, state, and national degrees of preparedness. –Peggy Fleming, formerly at Churchville-Chili High School, Churchville, NY

HILLSTROM, Kevin. Workers Unite!: The American Labor Movement. 236p. (Defining Moments Series). photos. reprods. bibliog. chron. further reading. glossary. index. notes. Web sites. CIP. Omnigraphics. 2010. PLB $55. ISBN 978-0-7808-1130-0. LC 2010026548.
Gr 9 Up–A well-written and concise history of the country’s labor movement. Beginning with colonial America, Hillstrom traces labor history through indentured servitude, slavery, and apprenticeships. After the Civil War, America’s industrialism gave rise to huge factories and the growth of labor unions such as the Knights of Labor, the American Federation of Labor, and the Industrial Workers of the World. The Progressive Era and the presidencies of two Roosevelts gave new hope to unions and their goals of eight-hour days, safe working conditions, and better wages. The final chapters trace the current decline in union membership and the ever-changing American economy and political leadership. Biographies of eight labor leaders, including Eugene V. Debs, Jimmy Hoffa, and “Mother” Jones, comprise the middle section of the book. The volume concludes with 14 primary sources, including speeches and reminiscences from a textile mill worker in the mid-19th century, labor leaders, and President Reagan’s comments on the Air Traffic Controller Strike in 1981. Suggested research topics, sidebars, and numerous black-and-white illustrations enhance the book’s usefulness for research.–Patricia Ann Owens, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges

HILLSTROM, Kevin & Laurie Collier Hillstrom. American Indian Removal and the Trail to Wounded Knee. 250p. (Defining Moments Series). maps. photos. reprods. bibliog. chron. further reading. glossary. index. notes. Web sites. CIP. Omnigraphics. 2010. PLB $55. ISBN 978-0-7808-1129-4. LC 2010004676.
Gr 8 Up–This well-written volume effectively explores a topic of intense historical debate. Fascinating sidebars add significantly to the text by highlighting various episodes, actors, and opinions from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s condemnation of Indian removal to L. Frank Baum’s call for the extermination of the Indians. The volume closes with a number of biographies of important figures, such as Sitting Bull, Red Cloud, and Andrew Jackson, as well as various documents that add elements of insight. Primary sources include Tecumseh’s call for Native unity, an excerpt from Andrew Jackson’s 1830 State of the Union address in which he praised the merits of Indian removal, and a late-19th-century account of life at an Indian boarding school. The well-selected sources add a prospective that provides readers with valuable information about the evolution of United States-Native American relations over the years.–Brian Odom, Pelham Public Library, AL

HOLZER, Harold. Father Abraham: Lincoln and His Sons. 232p. photos. reprods. bibliog. index. notes. Calkins Creek. 2011. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-59078-303-0. LC 2010929520.
Gr 5 Up–Holzer offers a captivating peek into the lives of Lincoln and his sons: Robert, Eddie, Willie, and Tad. Lincoln’s career in law and politics, his election as the 16th president, and his years in the White House during the Civil War form the basis of this book, but it is his family life that is its nucleus. Lincoln and his wife, Mary, adored their four boys and indulged their spirited ways, often to the chagrin of neighbors and Lincoln’s law clients. It is a story of tragedy. Eddie died at age four and Willie died while the family lived in the White House. Tad died as a teenager, after his father’s death. Robert, the only child to live to adulthood, attended Harvard College, served on Grant’s staff at the end of the Civil War, was a successful lawyer in Chicago, and served in various government positions including minister to Great Britain. It was during this posting that Robert’s son, Abraham Lincoln II, died. There are no living Lincoln descendants today. The captioned black-and-white illustrations and reproductions that are lavishly spread throughout the book are excellent. A lengthy bibliography and meticulous notes round out this marvelous volume. A unique book, this is a must-have for all libraries.–Patricia Ann Owens, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges

HULL, Robert. The Aztec Empire. ISBN 978-1-4339-4161-0. LC 2010014428.
SAYER, Chloë. The Incan Empire. ISBN 978-1-4339-4187-0. LC 2010014429.
SHEEHAN, Sean. Ancient African Kingdoms. ISBN 978-1-4339-4157-3. LC 2010014424.
ea vol: 64p. (Exploring the Ancient World Series). maps. photos. chron. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Gareth Stevens. 2010. PLB $34.60.
Gr 6-8–The Aztec and Incan kingdoms are surveyed, from the civilizations that influenced them to their demise at the hands of Spanish conquistadors. The ambitious Ancient African Kingdoms attempts to cover nine kingdoms, 2500 years, and a whole continent in 60 pages. It all becomes a little confusing and, in some cases, contradictory. Although these name- and date-laden texts lay their content out with nearly mechanical organization and language, they don’t (as some books do) sap all of the mystery and marvel from their subjects. Despite a design that sacrifices white space for typeface size, with narrow margins and gutters and tight line spacing that hampers readability, the decent maps and good photos of artifacts and sites may prompt further exploration. Short lists of sources will not be of much help in this regard, and other niceties are disregarded also–there is no pronunciation help, and glossary words are not bolded in the text. The authors are up front about the less savory aspects of each culture–Aztec mass human sacrifice and bloodletting, the Inca habit of giving girls as gifts, and the participation of later African kingdoms in the slave trade–but occasionally, judgmental language slips in (a turquoise mosaic mask is described as being “horrific,” the Aztec religion as “gruesome”). The Aztec Empire and The Incan Empire would make good companions for the “National Geographic Investigates” books on the same subjects, but Victoria Sherrow’s Ancient Africa: Archaeology Unlocks the Secrets of Africa’s Past (2007) in that series is much superior to Ancient African Kingdoms.–Paula Willey, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MD

IGUS, Toyomi. I See the Rhythm of Gospel. illus. by Michele Wood. 40p. w/CD. chron. discography. CIP. Zonderkidz. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-310-71819-2. LC 2010008987.
Gr 5-8–In this follow-up to I See the Rhythm (Children’s Press, 1998), Igus and Wood take readers on a musical journey tracing the evolution of the African-American spiritual, “born out of the brutality of slavery,” into the gospel music of today. Rhyming text and striking, colorful folk art come together in information-packed spreads. The text, opposite full-page paintings, varies in size and color. Running across the top, side, or bottom is a time line of significant events and people in African-American history, beginning with 1485 and the Portuguese slave trade until 2008 and the election of Barack Obama. Descriptive captions accompany the vivid paintings, and the subtle inclusion of the “spirit of the artist” as a child in each illustration is a nice touch. Text and images follow the development of gospel music within the context of the overall African-American experience: “I see the rhythm of Africa,/the mother of humanity”; “I see the rhythm of a New World,/strange beliefs,/a life of despair,/a life of grief”; “I see the rhythm of our hope….of jubilee day….of Bronzeville….gospel quartets….of our lament….Motown and funk…,” and more. A concluding section, the “Word on Gospel,” has brief comments by several well-known gospel singers. The CD features five gospel songs representing different eras.–Mary N. Oluonye, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH

KALLEN, Stuart A. iPod and MP3 Players. 104p. (Technology 360 Series). charts. diags. photos. chron. further reading. glossary. index. notes. Web sites. CIP. Gale/Lucent. 2010. PLB $33.45. ISBN 978-1-4205-0166-7. LC 2010016850.
Gr 6-8–The main problem with this book is the speed with which the information provided will become obsolete. With technology advancing daily, books on such a topic seem like a waste of money. Online research would yield current information for students. However, if readers are looking for a history that follows the evolution of such devices, the history of music downloading, etc., or as a way to understand the effects they have had on our culture and our society, the book proves to be both useful and interesting. The author’s explanation of podcasts, vodcasts, RSS feeds, etc. are helpful. Interspersed within the text are full-color photos, anecdotes, time lines, charts, graphs, and facts that help to liven up the subject matter. –Sarah K. Allen, Elko Middle School, Sandston, VA

KESSLER, Colleen. A Project Guide to the Solar System. charts. reprods. ISBN 978-1-58415-867-7. LC 2010030946.
KJELLE, Marylou Morano. A Project Guide to Wind, Weather, and the Atmosphere. maps. reprods. ISBN 978-1-58415-869-1. LC 2010030899.
O’NEAL, Claire. A Project Guide to Earthquakes. maps. ISBN 978-1-58415-870-7. LC 2010030945.
–––– . A Project Guide to Volcanoes. reprods. ISBN 978-1-58415-868-4. LC 2010035357.
ea vol: 48p. (Earth Science Projects for Kids Series). diags. photos. bibliog. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Mitchell Lane. 2011. PLB $29.95.
Gr 4-6–These books give readers hands-on experience with select scientific principles and phenomena. Each one includes a short introduction to the topic along with 14 varied projects and concluding lists of additional resources for background reading, supplies, and Internet sites. The projects include both original and recycled ideas and vary from building models to simulations to data collection and drawing inferences. The skill levels range from simple exercises such as producing static electricity (Wind) to far-more-involved projects like discovering the characteristics of an earthquake-resistant building (Earthquakes). Adult support is indicated throughout for safety concerns, but it will also be essential for deciphering directions and clarifying results since many projects end abruptly without discussion or extensions. The experiments’ dense, numbered steps include an occasional snapshot-quality photo that often fails to clarify the directions. Other than in The Solar System, many diagrams and charts appear squeezed in and lack captions. These titles may provide ideas for science instruction, but their shelf appeal is limited.–Carol S. Surges, McKinley Elementary School, Wauwatosa, WI

KRULL, Kathleen. Charles Darwin. illus. by Boris Kulikov. 144p. (Giants of Science Series). further reading. index. Web sites. CIP. Viking. 2010. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-670-06335-2. LC 2010007315.
Gr 5-8–Krull does a fabulous job of making Darwin real, from boyhood to adulthood. The information is obviously well researched and it is presented in a reader-friendly manner. In addition, Kulikov’s black-and-white illustrations give depth and character to the story. Darwin’s ideas are presented as well as those of his opponents and fellow scientists. This is a fine addition to the series and a viable selection for anyone who didn’t stock up on books on the scientist during his bicentennial year. –Carol Hirsche, Provo City Library, UT

LAIDLAW, Rob. On Parade: The Hidden World of Animals in Entertainment. 55p. photos. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Fitzhenry & Whiteside. 2010. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-55455-143-9. LC C2010-900230-X.
Gr 4-6–Laidlaw’s goal in this heart-wrenching title is to inspire his audience to try to make the world a better place for animals. His description of the hard life of Jumbo, an unfortunate elephant, is cringe-worthy. Captured in Africa as a baby after his mother was killed, Jumbo was forced into performing for audiences in Europe and North America, before being killed in a train accident in Canada. Photographs of chained, caged, and tethered animals are disheartening. A leashed bear is shown performing on a bicycle. Dogfights, bullfighting, horse racing, etc., are detailed, and reprehensible breeding practices are mentioned. It would be a rare individual who would not come away from this book horrified by the suffering of these creatures. The title ends with suggested ways to help entertainment animals and a list of helpful organizations to contact. The cover, showing a circus elephant performing a stunt, seems adorable at first. After reading the book, it seems cruel. This is a difficult, important topic, and Laidlaw does a worthy job of bringing the suffering of these animals to light.–Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI

LARSON, Jeanette & Adrienne Yorinks. Hummingbirds: Facts and Folklore from the Americas. illus. by Adrienne Yorinks. 64p. bibliog. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Charlesbridge. 2011. RTE $16.95. ISBN 978-1-58089-332-9; pap. $8.95. ISBN 978-1-58089-333-6; ebook $6.99. ISBN 978-1-60734-272-4. LC 2010007578.
Gr 4-6–In a narrative that flows easily between fact and lore, hummingbird behavior is thoroughly described and interwoven with the folktales it generated among Native American peoples. These birds must consume one-and-a-half times their body weight each day in nectar and insects. The pourquoi tale from the Hitchiti people of the Southeast United States explains that Hummingbird lost a race to Heron (and its right to eat fish) by constantly stopping to sip nectar from the flowers. All the stories show how ancient people answered the “how and why” questions of the behaviors they observed, and these stories beautifully echo modern-day scientific observations. The full-color photos of quilts and embroidery by Yorinks invite readers to stop and savor each one. This colorful combination of fact and folklore is amplified by a glossary with nicely detailed definitions, a list of hummingbird sanctuaries, and sources of the folktales. –Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA

LASKY, Kathryn. Silk & Venom: Searching for a Dangerous Spider. photos by Christopher G. Knight. 64p. maps. bibliog. glossary. index. Web sites. Candlewick. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-4222-8. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-8–Greta Binford is a zoologist and spider specialist with a particular passion for the Loxosceles branch of the spider family, which is more commonly known as the brown recluse. Readers travel with her to the Dominican Republic as she and her associates search for these elusive, venomous spiders under open market stalls and around abandoned buildings. She is attempting to use the DNA of these creatures to trace their early origins. Lasky also describes Binford’s research lab where she milks spiders for their venom and shares quite a bit of information about a wide variety of fascinating spiders. Lasky does an excellent job of drawing readers into the spider world, balancing fact with action and intrigue. Excellent-quality full-color photographs of all kinds of spiders, their webs, and habitats appear on nearly every spread. The combination of beauty and deadliness is both compelling and vaguely repellent, which makes for a winning recipe for young readers. A photo glossary of all the spiders mentioned is enormously helpful, as is a source list of books and websites. Display or booktalk this with Sy Montgomery’s The Tarantula Scientist (Houghton, 2004), Nic Bishop’s Spiders (Scholastic, 2007), and Seymour Simon’s Spiders (HarperCollins, 2003) for a creepy, crawly extravaganza.–Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA

LUEBERING, J. E., ed. English Literature from the Old English Period Through the Renaissance. 265p. map. ISBN 978-1-61530-110-2; ISBN 978-1-61530-230-7. LC 2009047904.
–––– . English Literature from the Restoration Through the Romantic Period. 240p. ISBN 978-1-61530-115-7; ISBN 978-1-61530-231-4. LC 2009053647.
ea vol: (Britannica Guide to World Literature Series). reprods. bibliog. glossary. index. CIP. Britannica Educational. 2010. PLB $45; ebook $45.
Gr 10 Up–Both of these volumes include the backgrounds, impact, and legacy of the writers and how their craft developed as the demands of the reading public and literacy abilities changed. Labeled illustrations of authors and sometimes a depiction of their work appear along with a general chronological overview of literature throughout each period. Contributions of other cultures, politics, and religions and how they influenced the evolution of English as a vernacular language are documented throughout the surveys. Both books have sidebars or highlights taken from the New Encyclopedia Britannica that provide explanations of terms such as “epistolary novel,” “patent theater,” and “comedy of manners.” The books are inclusive in scope and the length of a selection is in proportion to the subject’s importance and influence; e.g., Caedmon is given one page, in contrast to the 50 pages devoted to Shakespeare, 30 to Milton, and 14 to Chaucer. As one would expect, the second title covers Keats, Shelley, and Byron; however, lesser-known writers like Charles Lamb, Thomas De Quincy, and Charlotte Smith are discussed as well. Each stage of the development of language, form, and writing is explained within its historical context or demonstrated with a particular piece of literature. Puritanism, Cromwell, religious upheaval, and the French Revolution are some of the topics considered. These are valuable additions to libraries looking for broad but clear overviews.–Joanne K. Cecere, Monroe-Woodbury High School, Central Valley, NY

MCMAHON, Peter. Ultimate Trains. illus. by Andy Mora. 40p. (Machines of the Future Series). diags. photos. glossary. index. CIP. Kids Can. 2010. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-55453-366-4. LC C2010-900441-8.
Gr 4-7–Beginning with a short history of steam and diesel engines, this presentation speeds ahead to discuss current and future train technologies, including magnetically powered “maglevs.” McMahon’s skillful writing carefully explains complex concepts such as electromagnetic and electrodynamic levitation. Mora’s painterly representations of different trains and comprehendible diagrams add visual clarity. Excerpts from interviews with railroading experts are set apart from the text in boxes containing accompanying small photos. What makes this book stand out from the many other works on railroading is the emphasis on future technology and the inclusion of five projects. They involve constructing “a steam engine in a salad bowl,” train tracks, an electromagnet, a maglev test track, and a maglev model. Some supplies will need to be purchased from an electronics or science supplier. Safety precautions are noted. Each project is integrated within the main body of the text; a list of supplies, understandable step-by-step directions, and plenty of helpful diagrams are included. Railroad enthusiasts interested in a hands-on approach to learning will find this volume a useful resource. Schools and libraries seeking do-it-yourself project books should consider it for their railroading collections.–Lynn Vanca, Freelance Librarian, Akron, OH

MOONEY, Carla. Junk Food Junkies. 104p. (Nutrition and Health Series). diags. photos. further reading. glossary. index. notes. Web sites. CIP. Gale/Lucent. 2010. PLB $30.85. ISBN 978-1-4205-0271-8. LC 2010016858.
Gr 6-8–A solid, detailed overview of the negative effects of a poor diet on health. Mooney livens up the dry subject matter with interesting nutrition facts, photographs, charts, tables, and anecdotes. She discusses health risks such as obesity and diabetes. The last chapter is particularly useful because it offers healthy alternatives for snacks and meals. It also explains how to read a nutrition label and tells readers what to avoid in terms of amounts of fat and calories. This book is useful for research and reports and as a teaching aid.–Sarah K. Allen, Elko Middle School, Sandston, VA

OLLHOFF, Jim. Beginning Genealogy: Expert Tips to Help You Trace Your Own Ancestors. diags. ISBN 978-1-61613-460-0. LC 2009050812.
–––– . Collecting Primary Records: How to Find the Most Reliable Facts About Your Ancestors. ISBN 978-1-61613-461-7. LC 2009050811.
–––– . DNA: Window to the Past: How Science Can Help Untangle Your Family Roots. diags. maps. ISBN 978-1-61613-462-4. LC 2009050808.
–––– . Exploring Immigration: Discovering the Rich Heritage of America’s Immigrants. ISBN 978-1-61613-463-1. LC 2009050807.
–––– . Filling the Family Tree: Interviewing Relatives to Discover Facts and Stories. diags. ISBN 978-1-61613-464-8. LC 2009050806.
–––– . Using Your Research: How to Check Your Facts and Use Your Information. ISBN 978-1-61613-465-5. LC 2009050805.
ea vol: 32p. (Your Family Tree Series). photos. reprods. glossary. index. CIP. ABDO & Daughters. 2010. PLB $18.95.
Gr 4-7–A great series for kids interested in genealogy. The books cover everything from immigration and creating a family tree to genetic genealogy and “Family Trees and Adoption.” They do a wonderful job of presenting the fundamentals of genealogical research in a clear and exciting manner, debunking myths associated with the topic along the way. Understanding and properly using primary documents is stressed throughout. But, above all, the series is about enjoying research through real-life application. Attractive, spacious layouts; full-color, sharp images; clearly labeled diagrams; and scattered maps add information and appeal. A volume-specific glossary and index conclude each title. While the individual topics are related, each slim book deals with one aspect of research and could be considered for separate purchase. Great for hobbyists, these books are also an excellent resource for teachers looking to introduce research skills or to use with a unit on immigration.–Kerry Roeder, The Brearley School, New York City

RIGSBY, Mike. Doable Renewables: 16 Alternative Energy Projects for Young Scientists. 195p. diags. photos. CIP. Chicago Review. 2010. pap. $16.95. ISBN 978-1-56976-343-8. LC 2010019520.
Gr 6-9–The projects in this book require a well-equipped workshop, a generous pocketbook, and access to an Internet connection for acquiring necessary parts. (From $50 for a four pack of nitinol springs to $550 for a human-powered generator, most components and tools are pricey.) The majority of the projects deal with the creation of energy with renewable resources such as sunlight, wave power, or capturing heat, although one has to do with the differences in efficiency among light bulbs. That experiment is very simple, but most require careful attention to detail when assembling and adult supervision with the power tools necessary for preparation. One project isn’t so much an experiment as ideas on how to play around with a Stirling engine (model MM-7 costs $429) and an explanation of why they are not commonly used. Gray-toned photos are included. This is a useful book for larger collections or for classrooms where the more expensive tools can be reused from year to year.–Caroline Tesauro, Radford Public Library, VA

RUBALCABA, Jill & Eric H. Cline. Digging for Troy: From Homer to Hisarlik. illus. by Sarah S. Brannen. 80p. maps. photos. reprods. bibliog. chron. index. notes. CIP. Charlesbridge. 2011. RTE $17.95. ISBN 978-1-58089-326-8; pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-58089-327-5. LC 2010007586.
Gr 6-9–Rubalcaba teams up with a noted archaeologist to make sense of the complicated, controversial, contradictory history and remains of the Turkish site called Hisarlik, better known as Troy. It has been intermittently occupied for almost 3500 years, from 2900 BCE to 550 CE, and is often thought to be the Troy written about by Homer in The Iliad. The book begins with a brief but exciting retelling of the Trojan War, giving readers a firsthand appreciation of why generations have been fascinated by this tale, and goes on to profile Heinrich Schliemann, the German businessman who spent a fortune ham-handedly digging up the site in the 19th century. After Schliemann, generations of archaeologists have excavated Hisarlik: along with the history of the excavations, readers are given an overview of technological developments in the field, from comparative dating using potsherds to noninvasive imaging. Competing theories and conclusions are objectively presented, with supporting diagrams, maps, and models. Source notes and an impressive bibliography attest to meticulous research and guide readers to journal articles, books, and online museum exhibits. Elegant illustrations mimicking Greek red-figure pottery are lovely and appropriate. Extraordinarily readable, gracefully laid out, and speckled with lines from The Iliad, this book will inspire young people interested in solving the mysteries of the past.–Paula Willey, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MD

RUBIN, Susan Goldman. Music Was It: Young Leonard Bernstein. 178p. photos. reprods. bibliog. chron. index. discography. CIP. Charlesbridge. 2011. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-58089-344-2. LC 2010007584.
Gr 5-10–Rubin’s sparkling biography looks at one of the most influential and acclaimed composers/conductors in recent history and brings his story to vibrant, colorful life. Starting at age two and ending with his exalted New York Philharmonic conducting debut at age 25, the fascinating events of Bernstein’s life are neatly organized into well-paced chapters. Rubin provides an unbiased, thoughtful, and well-researched account of how the virtuoso grew to become a musical icon, discussing his family life, musical education, and the trials and triumphs he encountered along the way. Photographs and primary documents such as sheet music, concert programs, and telegrams punctuate the presentation and enhance the lively narrative. Rubin’s writing is clear and accessible enough for readers unfamiliar with Bernstein, but has enough information and anecdotes to satisfy the curiosities of even his most dedicated fans. There are few comparable biographies currently available for children or young adults. Jim Whiting’s The Life and Times of Leonard Bernstein (Mitchell Lane, 2005) offers concise content, while Rubin’s depiction has more heart and scope. Music Was It is an engrossing, warm, and comprehensive read, and should be considered an essential purchase for most libraries. All readers will appreciate Bernstein’s story of proficiency, perseverance, and passion.–Rita Meade, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

SCANLAN, Lawrence. The Big Red Horse: The Story of Secretariat and the Loyal Groom Who Loved Him. photos by Raymond Woolfe. 170p. CIP. HarperTrophy. 2010. pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-0-00-639352-8. LC 2007-902237-5.
Gr 4-8–This biography of the legendary racehorse provides many intimate details about his daily life and incredible prowess. His bloodlines were excellent and his owner, groom, trainer, and jockey all recognized that he was something special from the beginning. He did not disappoint them as his good looks and tremendous athletic ability enabled him to win the Triple Crown at a record-breaking pace and the hearts of the American people. Scanlan focuses on the special relationship between Secretariat and his groom, Eddie Sweat, who was with him throughout his racing career, ensuring that the horse performed at his best. Sweat chose to move on when Secretariat retired and, in later years, regretted leaving the great stallion even as Secretariat continued to live a good life at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky. Black-and-white photos are scattered throughout, and the author includes background information on the varied roles that humans play in the racehorse industry. This solid book will have special appeal for horse lovers.–Carol Schene, formerly at Taunton Public Schools, MA

SCOTT, Elaine. Space, Stars, and the Beginning of Time: What the Hubble Telescope Saw. 66p. diags. illus. photos. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Clarion. 2011. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-0-547-24189-0. LC 2010008040.
Gr 5-8–Having played a leading role in helping us to shape our current understanding of the universe, the Hubble Space Telescope has far exceeded its original mission parameters and is currently running strictly on borrowed time. As a fitting memento, Scott offers an array of the instrument’s breathtaking deep-space photos, paired with a description of the telescope’s components, an account of space shuttle Atlantis’s final scheduled repair/maintenance mission in mid-2009, and overviews of the history of astronomy, the Big Bang, black holes, dark matter and dark energy, stellar life cycles, and planetary formation. Though the author’s fact-checking could have been better–Kepler correctly described planetary orbits as elliptical before, not after, Galileo published a claim that they were circular–her prose is, as always, clear, cogent, and imbued with a sense of wonder proper to the awesome scale and beauty of the phenomena she describes. Closing with a probably optimistic hope that the Hubble will continue to function for another decade and a reference to its most prominent successor, the James Webb Space Telescope, scheduled for launch in 2014, Scott’s tribute tribute will leave readers with both stars in their eyes and a real appreciation for one of the most significant technological wonders of the past century.–John Peters, formerly at New York Public Library

SHAW, Daniel. Eco-Tracking: On the Trail of Habitat Change. photos by Melanie Keithley, Jon Livingston, & author. 85p. (Worlds of Wonder Series). glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. University of New Mexico. 2010. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-0-8263-4531-8. LC 2010010319.
Gr 6-9–This unique title explains how ordinary kids, with ordinary tools, can become eco-scientists in their neighborhoods. In clear prose, Shaw explains the concepts of scientific observation, data collection, and analysis. Each chapter includes explanations of basic ecology terms, the effects of different environmental forces, and how they can be observed. He uses vignettes of students to show ecological science in action. The writing, while not especially lively, moves briskly and does not get too technical. Key terms appear in bold type and the glossary gives succinct definitions. The color photos are sharp and capture different kids as they work in the field. Students will find this book a super resource for starting their own habitat observations. There are web addresses for organizations that would be extremely helpful to budding scientists if they want to link into existing “citizen scientist” organizations and use their data to expand habitat monitoring around the U.S. A fine book for ecology students and teachers.–Denise Schmidt, San Francisco Public Library

SMITH, Karen Lynn. Popular Dance from Ballroom to Hip-Hop. 166p. (World of Dance Series). photos. reprods. bibliog. chron. further reading. glossary. index. notes. Web sites. CIP. Chelsea House. 2010. PLB $35. ISBN 978-1-60413-484-1; ebook $35. ISBN 978-1-4381-3476-5. LC 2009053491.
Gr 6 Up–Popular dance has captured a large following recently, and students who want a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the origins and present status of various styles will find this volume useful. It takes readers from the saltarello and galliard of the Renaissance to present-day hip-hop and zumba. This is not a how-to manual; it has an encyclopedic approach as it identifies and defines the dances and touches on their cultural influences. Many of these dances, such as the turkey trot and tango and even the Renaissance’s volta, scandalized society. Highlighted passages provide more detailed information on a particular topic, such as the Victorian Rules of Etiquette, one of which was that “couples never touch hands without wearing gloves.” Certain personalities who were considered excellent dancers, such as Arthur Murray, Louis XIV, and George Washington, are featured. With its color photos and a bibliography that includes websites and videos, this volume would be a valuable resource for research and casual browsing.–Carol Schene, formerly at Taunton Public Schools, MA

SUZUKI, David & Kathy Vanderlinden. You Are the Earth: Know Your World So You Can Make It Better. rev. ed. illus. by Wallace Edwards. diags. by Talent Pun. 160p. diags. glossary. index. CIP. Greystone. 2011. pap. $16.95. ISBN 978-1-55365-476-6. LC C2009-907541-5.
Gr 4-8–A handsomely illustrated, revised, and updated volume (2000) that examines the interconnectedness of life on Earth and the planet’s resources. Seeking to instill conservation ethics in children, the authors of Eco-Fun (Greystone, 2001) discuss clean air, water, soil, the sun’s energy, and plant and animal life. A highlight of this clearly written book is the inclusion in each chapter of a pertinent myth, tale, or legend from peoples across the globe. Each chapter ends with a “Things to Do” section that suggests three related experiments with easy-to-follow directions and follow-up questions. The final chapter, “It’s Your World Now,” encourages readers to take action to save the world’s resources and includes many suggestions that young people can implement. Full-page and spot art and diagrams (all new to this edition) are found throughout the book. It concludes with a question-and-answer section to review the book’s contents. Overall, this is an outstanding title that can be utilized by teachers in science, health, and environmental studies classes or as a fun, inspiring read.–Patricia Ann Owens, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges

THOMAS, Keltie. How Football Works. illus. by Stephen MacEachern. 64p. (How Sports Work Series). charts. diags. photos. chron. glossary. index. CIP. OwlKids/Maple Tree, dist. by PGW. 2010. Tr $22.95. ISBN 978-1-897349-87-8; pap. $10.95. ISBN 978-1-897349-88-5. LC 2010920481.
Gr 3-7–One would be hard-pressed to think of an aspect of the game not addressed in these jam-packed pages. The bright, inviting layout is immensely appealing with a mix of colorful cartoon drawings and photos. The lively text is often humorous. Talking about the ball itself, “The official NFL ball sports a brown leather jacket. It’s a funny shape. Talk about a total oddball!” The book has lots of “inside” information, e.g., Super Bowl balls are marked with a synthetic DNA that glows under laser light. The chapter titles give specific glimpses into contents and organization, such as “The Complete Athlete” (training, injuries, mental preparation), “Preparing for Battle” (equipment, practice), “The Science of Explosive Moves” (kicking, tackling, passing), and “Game Time” (action, formations, rules, regulations, terms). Each chapter includes a “Legends of the Game” segment that highlights players and specific games, such as the 1967 Ice Bowl, Drew Brees and the Saints helping to revitalize New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, how passing changed the game, etc. Not your average “How to Play the Game” book, this title really lives up to its blurb claim–“How Football Works covers football from every exciting angle.” A super addition to most library collections.–Kate Kohlbeck, Randall School, Waukesha, WI

THOMSON, Ruth. Terezín: Voices from the Holocaust. 64p. maps. photos. reprods. bibliog. chron. glossary. index. Candlewick. 2011. RTE $18.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-4963-0. LC number unavailable.
Gr 5-8–The grim and desperate reality of Terezín is brought to life by the images and words of those who experienced it. As the war progressed, the Nazis held German, Dutch, and Danish Jews in the ghetto, as well as using it as a transport stop for some on their way to concentration camps such as Auschwitz. A large number of Jewish artists, writers, and performers were imprisoned at Terezín, many forced to use their talents for Nazi propaganda or official Nazi documents. Secretly, these artists also created images of what they observed, from the overcrowding to the deplorable, unsanitary living conditions to the plight of the elderly and infirm. In this book, excerpts from hidden diaries and letters, as well as drawings and paintings, make for a poignant overview of life inside the ghetto. The voices of adults and children are a moving reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust and a powerful way to make history real to students. The modern photographs of Terezín are juxtaposed against images and photographs created in the 1940s, making for an interesting contrast. This is a strong addition to the many books about the Holocaust, and to any history collection.–Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA

VALENTINO, Serena. How to Be a Werewolf: The Claws-On Guide for the Modern Lycanthrope. 144p. illus. photos. glossary. index. Candlewick. 2011. RTE $14.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5387-3. LC number unavailable.
Gr 7 Up–This handbook is divided into three distinct segments: “Unleashing Your Wild Side,” “The Stylish Lycanthrope,” and “Moonlight Mystery.” Each chapter quizzes readers or is full of helpful tips to advise them on their path toward lycanthropy. The guide sheds light on understanding your werewolf self, hunting strategies and lunar charts, living quarters, party recipes, and music to howl by. The volume has a great nonfiction component, which includes research on werewolf legends and lore as well as movies, TV shows, comics, games, books, and further study. An entertaining read full of color photos and illustrations that add to the book’s charm.–Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School , NY

WATKINS, Heidi, ed. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. 133p. (Issues That Concern You Series). charts. maps. photos. bibliog. index. Web sites. CIP. Gale/Greenhaven. 2010. PLB $35.75. ISBN 978-0-7377-4950-2. LC 2010013958.
Gr 9 Up–Following a brief introduction, this volume contains 14 short articles on ADHD, current treatments, and controversies. While most of the articles are based on research studies, a few opinion pieces are featured as well. Some of the chapters are aimed directly at adolescents who have been diagnosed with ADHD, offering suggestions on how to succeed in school and at home with this disorder. Others are aimed at a larger audience and could be used for research projects. The selections are by a multitude of authors, and there is no attempt to dumb down the sophisticated writing of the world of scientific journalism. The book has an open format, and the text is interspersed with photographs, charts, and multicolored text. Some attempt is made to represent multiple ethnic backgrounds in the photographs, but most show white males, with a lesser number of white females. A useful resource for students with ADHD and their parents and teachers is appended.–Wendy Smith-D’Arezzo, Loyola College, Baltimore, MD

WOREK, Michael. The Nobel Prize: The Story of Alfred Nobel and the Most Famous Prize in the World. 80p. charts. photos. index. CIP. Firefly. 2010. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-55407-711-3. LC C2010-901868-0.
Gr 6-8–Starting with a biography of Alfred Nobel, this current (to 2009) title is thorough, well-written, and interesting. The text is broken down by discipline–science, literature, peace, and economics. The works of each Nobel laureate (they are not referred to as winners) are explained. Photographs pepper the book, and time lines of awards and an extensive index complete the text. This is a fine effort, especially useful for reports.–Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI

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