SÁENZ , Benjamin Alire. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. S & S. 2012. ISBN 9781442408920. JLG Level: YM : Mature Young Adults (Grades 11 & up).

Winner of three Youth Media Awards (a Printz Honor, a Stonewall, and a Pura Belpré), Saenz’s coming-of-age novel is about two very different 15-year-old boys with contrasting lives―Aristotle, who seems angry at the world, and Dante, who takes life for what it is. Aristotle talks to his mother, but his father, who’s a Vietnam War veteran, rarely has anything to say. On the other hand, Dante’s family talks about everything. When the two become friends at the community pool, their worlds collide, causing both the boys and their families to change. A car accident that injures Aristotle draws Dante even closer to him, but only causes Ari to feel more anger. A sudden move to Chicago allows Dante to write about his romantic feelings for his friend. Ari, like his father, closes off his emotions, even refusing to write back. In the dramatic end, a gay-bashing attack puts Dante in the hospital and forces Ari to realize his true feelings. Slow-paced and poignant, the story addresses issues of homosexuality, identity, war, family responsibility, and friendship. This multifaceted award-winner is sure to withstand the test of time.

BLUMENTHAL, Karen. Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different. Feiwel & Friends. 2012. ISBN 9781250015570. JLG Level: C : Advanced Readers (Grades 6-9).

Against all the odds, a man who was given away at birth, dropped out of college, and fired from the company that he created became the man who transformed the computer, music, and movie industries. In 2005, Steve Jobs delivered a commencement speech at Stanford University. It would be a tale told in three parts. Blumenthal uses that thread to weave her story for teen readers. “The journey is the reward,” says Jobs. Adopted as an infant, Jobs’s new parents had to sign an agreement that they would send him to college. Frequently in trouble at school, Jobs dropped out of college after one year. He was reclusive, picky about eating, and had poor hygiene habits. In spite of that, he and his friend, Steve Wosniak, created the first Apple computer in his parents’ garage. The Cinderella story builds from there―and includes fascinating information about Jobs’s involvement with Pixar, Macintosh, and iProducts. In spite of (or maybe because of) Jobs’s tantrums, lack of social graces, and empathy for others, his products made millions and continue to do so. Informative sidebars, copious footnotes, and black-and-white photographs support this unauthorized biography. Finalist for the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults.

HOPKINSON, Deborah. Titanic: Voices from the Disaster. Scholastic. 2012. ISBN 9780545116749. JLG Level: NE : Nonfiction Elementary (Grades 2-6).

Though interest in the Titanic disaster never seems to fade, its 100th anniversary has brought several new amazing titles to our shelves. Hopkinson examines primary source documents and presents surviving characters from each social class on the ship, as well as the crew. From the construction of the ship to the harrowing rescue of its passengers, readers will find fascinating new details in their never-ceasing hunger for information about the tragedy. Complete with photographs, artwork, and maps, this oft-told story will have teens riveted to the pages. Sibert Honor and Finalist for the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults.

LEVINSON, Cynthia. We’ve Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children’s March. Peachtree. 2012. ISBN 9781561456277. JLG Level: NM : Nonfiction Middle & HS (Grades 7-11).

Based on interviews with children who marched in Birmingham, AL, in 1963, Levinson delivers a narrative that chronicles a momentous event in the history of civil rights. Told through the eyes of four young people, history comes to life in a painful and sobering retelling of children willing to stand up to adults for their freedom. Nine-year-old Audrey Hendricks saw an elderly black couple walking in the park. When a police officer allowed a dog to attack them, she decided she had to do more than just attend meetings. Afraid he would fight back, James Stewart chose to march instead of sit. Washington Booker III thought the marches were crazy; he spent his time playing with friends. Arnetta Streeter joined the Peace Ponies and signed a pledge of nonviolence. These four young people were among the thousands who participated in the Birmingham’s Children’s March. Meticulously footnoted with bibliographical information and index, this volume will certainly meet research needs. Finalist for the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults.

TURNAGE, Shelia. Three Times Lucky. Dial. 2012. ISBN 9780803736702. JLG Level: C : Advanced Readers (Grades 6-9).

“Trouble cruised into Tupelo Landing at exactly seven minutes past noon on Wednesday, the third of June, flashing a gold badge and driving a Chevy Impala the color of dirt. Almost before the dust had settled, Mr. Jesse turned up dead and life in Tupelo Landing turned upside down.” Full of quick wit and humor, mystery and mayhem, this novel for young teens will have readers turning pages. Plenty of trouble awaits Mo(ses) and Dale (Earnhardt Johnson III) and there are lots of red herrings to steer them astray. Mo is an orphan who washed up in a storm 11 years ago and was found by “The Colonel,” who has lost his memory. When Mr. Jesse is found dead, Mo and Dale decide to solve the murder themselves. After Dale becomes a suspect and The Colonel goes missing, things just get complicated. Mo will steal your heart and give you a laugh along the way. Newbery Honor Winner.

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

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

This year’s theme is LEAP: Leadership, Education, Achievement, Progress. Preconferences begin on April 12, and conference programs run through April 15. Exhibits are also available on April 13 and 14. Online registration is open until March 22.

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

Fabulously Futuristic

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

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

Compellingly Contemporary

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

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

Riveting and Romantic

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

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

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

Told with Glitter and Grit

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

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

Publication Information

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FORMAN, Gayle. Just One Day. Dutton. January 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780525425915.

Gr 9 Up—Allyson has been a simple, goody-two-shoes her whole life; being adventurous has always been the job of her best friend, Melanie, or Mel 2.0, as she likes to be called. By chance, Allyson receives a flyer for a performance of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. It takes one performance, one coin flipped her way by a boy going where the wind blows, and suddenly she’s blown in too many ways too quickly. Allyson suddenly becomes Lulu and is wrapped in a world of fluidity in a small span of time, only to have it suddenly ripped away. Having it ripped away, though, just seems to make her want it back even more.

Already a huge fan of If I Stay and its companion, Where She Went, I had extremely high expectations for Just One Day. It definitely didn’t disappoint me! I was immediately wrapped in a world of senses, feelings, and people. Just One Day is a story of love, friendship, independence, and discovery of oneself and the world. I loved falling in love with every word and feeling that Allyson felt, and I can only hope there will be more to her story.—Destiny B., age 15

Skilton, Sarah. Bruised. Amulet. March 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 9781419703874.

Gr 7-12—In Bruised, Imogen witnesses an armed robbery. Because she has a black belt in Taekwondo, Imogen feels that she should have done something to stop the robbery, instead of just hiding under a table. Throughout the book, she begins to get closer to Ricky, who was also hiding under a table.  In the end, she realizes that there was nothing she could have done.

I liked this book because it shows that while a person may say they would do something in a particular situation, no one truly knows how they would react beforehand. This story also shows us that no matter how strong you are, no one is invincible and in the end, there are some things that are completely out of one’s control.—Alexandra M., age 15

MORIARITY, Jaclyn. A Corner of White. Scholastic. April 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780545397360.

Gr 6-10—Madeleine is a girl of science, a girl of bright colors. But walking through the streets of Cambridge, England, she finds her corner of white wedged in a parking meter—a connection between our world and a Kingdom where seasons change in the course of a single day and her precious Colors can kidnap and even kill people. In this Kingdom (an unbelievable figment of imagination to Madeleine), young, handsome Elliot Baranski seeks his lost father. But there’s disorder in his land, much like the bleak life that Madeleine leads in her world. Together, they save each other from reality and imagination, loss and love, darkness and light.

I’ve always been captivated by the mysteries of color and light, just like Madeleine. Her interest in Isaac Newton’s discoveries and the way in which those observations are incorporated into helping Elliot survive the Color attacks are perfectly executed. It’s an excellent and consistent theme throughout the novel; even when the plot slowed down, the colors kept me reading. I also greatly appreciated the psychological connections between Madeleine and Elliot toward the end of the story, especially regarding the dangers of imagination. It had never crossed my mind that living in an imagined world, as Madeleine often did with Lord Byron and her father, could be detrimental to one’s sanity. Congratulations to the author—this is a very unique and much appreciated book.—Abrania M., age 16

Another take:

SEPETYS, Ruta. Out of the Easy. Philomel. February 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780399256929.

Gr 9 Up—Seventeen-year-old Josie desperately wants to leave New Orleans and the hustler lifestyle that it seems to have in store for her. But with a prostitute mother who cares only about herself, Josie must depend on herself to find the money to go to college. She faces many obstacles along the way—mostly because of her mother—including owing the local Mafia boss thousands of dollars. With only two small jobs, Josie’s hopes of escaping her debt and getting the money for college seem impossible.

This book combined many great storytelling aspects. Josie is a very relatable character; she loves reading, and she’s insecure about her identity. Both her social status and the fact that she doesn’t know her father cause significant problems. The unexpected twists are well intertwined, creating the complicated atmosphere that surrounds Josie’s life. Set in the French Quarter in the mid-1900s, Out of the Easy overflows with the customs and aura of New Orleans. It’s an interesting and enjoyable read.— Paris E., age 16

Paper Mario: Sticker Star (Nintendo)

The annual Mushroom Kingdom holiday of Sticker Fest is taking place at the festival grounds in Decalburg. But Mario’s old nemesis, the evil Bowser, disrupts the event, scattering the kingdom’s sticker collection far and wide and kidnapping Princess Peach. It’s up to Mario and the spirited royal sticker caretaker, Kersti, to set things right. With Kersti’s help, Mario can paperize any environment, taking three-dimensional objects and flattening them into an ever-folding paper world. Mario’s trusty hammer and stiff boot are his main weapons, but he also uses a variety of stickers to enhance his power. Most battles are enjoyable and follow the classic running, swinging, and jumping associated with Mario games. Mario is such a happy and charming character that players can’t help but laugh alongside this mustached hero. Throughout the game, you collect specific items to turn into stickers, which are needed to solve puzzles and mazes. Some of the best and most rewarding parts of the game are in finding the solutions to move to the next stage. There’s lots of Mario-style fun here that will provide hours of adventure, making you smile over and over again. Rating: E for Everyone. Platform: Nintendo 3DS.—Ryan A., grade 9, Floral Park (NY) Memorial High School

Burning Lights, Chris Tomlin (Sparrow Records)

Music has always been an important part of my life, as is being a person of faith. That’s why it’s really cool to have an opportunity to listen to Christian themes in modern music. Worship leader, musician, and songwriter Chris Tomlin does just that on Burning Lights, his seventh studio album. Tomlin’s trademark songs express Biblical themes combined with personal reflection, and they’re truly meaningful and inspirational to the listener. The appeal of many of the 12 tracks is in Tomlin’s emotional call to his audience. He recognizes the difficulty and challenges we face on a daily basis, and that in tough times, we need to seek comfort from God. He does this by mixing Christian lyrics with electronic beats, strings, and rap vocals in a traditional Brit-rock style. For example, on the opening track, “Awake My Soul,” featuring Lecrae, he recites a passage from the Book of Ezekiel, which adds a whole new dimension to the power of the song. The same goes for “Crown Him,” in which Tomlin reconstructs the timeless hymm “Crown Him with Many Crowns,” with the help of Karl Jobe’s vocals. Other notable tracks include “Whom Shall I Fear,” “Lay Me Down,” and Thank You God for Saving Me.” Although this album is definitely not for everyone, it’s worth taking a listen to.—Latyese M., grade 11, Floral Park (NY) Memorial High School

Contrast, Conor Maynard (Capital)

This 20-year-old YouTube sensation has hit it big and may just be a continuation of the British invasion that began with One Direction and Adele. With his debut album, Contrast, Maynard has already conquered the U.K. pop chart and is now bringing his success to the States.  Lucky for him, he has all the ingredients for a recipe for fame—good looks, sex appeal, a great voice, self-esteem, and the backing of powerful people in the music industry. On the track “Pictures,” written by Frank Ocean, Maynard’s voice comes across with such depth and maturity it literally shines. On “Lift Off,” the fast-paced beat and pumped-up pop sound produced by the Neptunes’ Pharrell Williams works perfectly with Maynard’s voice. One of the best tracks is “Better Than You,” where he’s paired up with the feisty Rita Ora. Listeners will definitely feel the great chemistry between these two performers. Other tracks to check out are “Turn Around,” with Ne-Yo, “Animal,” and “Vegas Girl.”  It will be interesting to see what comes next from this new heartthrob of the music industry.—Maureen L., grade 12, Floral Park (NY) Memorial High School

As you probably know, John Green is the author of Looking for Alaska (Dutton, 2005), An Abundance of Katherines (Dutton, 2006), Paper Towns (Dutton, 2008), and this year’s Odyssey award winner, The Fault in Our Stars (Dutton, 2012), four titles sure to appeal to even your most reluctant readers. Dedicate 18 minutes of your life to watching his TED Talk entitled The Paper Town Academy. In this talk, he delivers the best response I’ve ever heard to the question, “Will this be on the test?” It’s worth printing out and putting on the walls of classrooms everywhere:

“Yeah, about the test… The test will measure whether you are an informed, engaged, and productive citizen of the world, and it will take place in schools and bars and hospitals and dorm rooms and in places of worship.You will be tested on first dates, in job interviews, while watching football, and while scrolling through your Twitter feed.The test will judge your ability to think about things other than celebrity marriages, whether you’ll be easily persuaded by empty political rhetoric, and whether you’ll be able to place your life and your community in a broader context.The test will last your entire life, and it will be comprised of the millions of decisions that, when taken together, will make your life yours.And everything, everything, will be on it…. I know, right?”

Hank Green co-founded DFTBA Records, a distribution network to help talented musicians find audiences. His own musical talents are evident in the song “This is Not Harry Potter.” The lyrics, all by themselves, are positively brilliant:

“And in the darkest hours, of my darkest nights

I found myself curled up with twilight

And I couldn’t help but wonder as I ravenously read

Can you avada kedavra the undead

’cause Edward Cullen totally has it comin’

and if he saw Voldemort he’d better start runnin’

Cause there’s not much that the dark lord and I

could agree on but I think that we would both hate that guy.”

I am eternally grateful to Hank for producing The Lizzie Bennett Diaries, a modern twist on Jane Austen’s story. My husband has tried reading Pride and Prejudice, really he has, and has valiantly stayed awake for portions of various movie adaptations of the book, but it wasn’t until Hank’s vlog version that the characters and plot became interesting to him.

Individually, the brothers are talented and creatively prolific. Taken together, they are forces for good on our planet. For the last year, Hank and John have been teaching classes via YouTube. Hank Green earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Eckerd College and a master’s degree in environmental studies from the University of Montana. John Green graduated from Kenyon College in 2000 with a double major in English and religious studies. They both have the educational credentials for their YouTube tutorials in which Hank teaches biology and ecology, and John teaches world history and literature. The buzz phrase in education right now is “student engagement,” and you’ll certainly feel that when you view these incredible videos (CrashCourse and SciShow), which are gateways to engagement: funny, entertaining, and informative.

The brothers Green clearly love learning, reading, and exploring the world we all share.They proudly embrace the word “nerd” and they make learning cool, and all of our students will be stronger, wiser, and kinder having made their acquaintance.

For more on the Green brothers, see SLJ’s coverage of An Evening of Awesome, featuring Hank and John at Carnegie Hall.

Photo credit: D. Feingold

In addition to best-selling mysteries and thrillers for adults, James Patterson also writes for young readers, and he’s extremely proud of his “Middle School” series. The latest entry, I Funny, is told from the point of view of a middle schooler who uses humor to help him cope with a physical handicap and the loss of his family. In this case, laughter really is the best medicine for Jamie Grimm, the narrator of I Funny.

Your series for young adults, like “Maximum Ride” and “Daniel X,” have been checked out so many times from my library that they’re falling apart. What makes them so popular with teens?

Well, when my 14-year-old son, Jack, was younger, I told him that I expected him to read every day during his summer break. Jack was never a huge reader, but his mother and I told him that we would make sure he had really cool books to read. Cool books are ones that he wouldn’t put down and when he got done he would ask for another one. When kids are younger, we want them to read, read, read, and they will only do that if they like what they read. Kids in middle school need books with stories that move along, stories that they love, and pages that practically turn themselves so kids won’t pick up a  book and say that they don’t like it and they don’t like reading. I think that books need a lot of meat in them. For example, Maximum Ride is really about a couple of things beyond the story line like dealing with being different. It is really about kids taking responsibility for their own lives. My most popular books are the Middle School books.

Why did you create the website Read Kiddo Read? Has it made a difference in kids’ lives?

Absolutely! Part of my interest in creating the website was watching Jack grow up and watching his attitude toward books.  Even with his friends who are very bright, it has always been a struggle to get them to read at least on their own time. That is a big stimulus for me. As individuals we cannot do much to help the health care crisis, budget situation, or global warming. Unfortunately, we spend a lot of time just talking about these things, which doesn’t help anything, and I am big on doing stuff. As individuals, we can most times get the kids in our houses reading or our grandchildren reading, or we can even help our local school get more books. So doing something to get kids reading is a big deal for me. I have been trying other things too, like working with independent bookstores to hold essay contests, where kids write about a book that most affected them. I have set up over a 100 scholarships at different colleges across the U.S., and they are all for teachers.  We plan to double this number in the coming year. We have even set up a program at Vanderbilt University to bring in kids every Saturday to help improve their reading skills. I am testing an after-school program in four middle schools in Palm Beach County to get kids help with their reading, and we pumped 700 to 1,000 books in all these schools. If we can get a cadre of kids reading, the teachers will notice when their reading improves and more kids will start reading and over time this will improve the neighborhoods. I do all of this because I can. We must help kids build good habits and break down bad ones. Getting kids to read will not happen overnight. We must keep at it and get the right books into the right hands.

Why does the “Middle School” series focus on humor?

Humor is one of the ways to get to kids. Combining the prose and illustrations makes the book more like a movie, and that’s a cool thing. All the Middle School books are good stories. I think that I Funny is my best.

I like I Funny‘s  main character, Jamie Grimm. Could the story have played out the same way if he wasn’t in a wheelchair? Are you worried that some people might be offended because he makes fun of his handicap?

I like the idea of a kid having a terrible break in life, rising above it with comedy, but yes the story would still be valid if Jamie didn’t have a handicap. Nobody should be offended by this book.  I am not big on political and social correctness, because I think it is more important to be a good human being.

Which gets us to the contest for the Funniest Kid in America. What kind of response are you hoping for? How does the contest relate to your literacy work?

Some kids are going to be brave enough to submit videos, but we are going to put a lot of videos up on the website for kids to watch and that should be fun. I recorded a bunch of short pieces with Zach Gordon, who was in the Wimpy Kid movies, to introduce the idea of the contest. We want to get kids attention and hopefully this will help them start building the habit of reading.

Elizabeth Kahn is the librarian at Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Academy in Jefferson, LA. She writes reviews for School Library Journal and Library Media Connection as well as a blog to chronicle the happenings in her school library at Tales from a Loud Librarian.

Kagawa is the author of two previous series—the best-selling “Iron Fey” and “Blood of Eden” series, which are in development for release as a film. The “Iron Fey” series has been published in more than 20 countries, and in 2011, it was a Teens Top Ten selection. The Immortal Rules is the first title in the dystopian “Blood of Eden” series and will be followed by the release of The Eternity Cure in May 2013. Movie rights to the “Blood of Eden” series have been optioned by Joni Sighvatsson of Palomar Pictures. Harlequin Teen plans to publish the first book in Kagawa’s new series in 2015.

See more on Kagawa in her SummerTeen 2012 interview at SLJ.com.

BRIAN, Kate. Shadowlands. Hyperion. January 2013. Tr. $17.99. ISBN 9781423164838.

Gr 9 Up—Rory Miller is the target of serial killer Steven Nell. After his attempt to kill her fails, the FBI sends Rory and her family to a safe home on Juniper Island,Vermont. Being hundreds of miles away from Massachusetts at a location supposedly unknown to Nell, Rory tries to feel safe again. She and her sister begin hanging out with a group of local teens, going to parties, and surfing on the beach. Still, unusual things are happening: people are found missing, the locals are acting strange, and Rory suspects that Nell has discovered her whereabouts. There’s a fine line between nightmares and reality in this captivating start to a new trilogy.

This book starts off making readers wonder if Rory will be able to successfully escape Nell—and that’s what drew me in. Nell’s lurking skills, Rory’s paranoia, and the behavior of Juniper Landing locals had me on edge the entire book. Questions constantly arose that had me thirsting for answers. Shadowlands isn’t a book you’ll want to put down, and its unexpected ending will have you wanting more.—Paris E. age 16

SULLIVAN, Laura L. Delusion. Harcourt. January 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780547688367.

Gr 7-12—Set in England during World War II, Delusion follows two flamboyant sisters as they leave behind their world of exciting (but fake) magic and travel to the safety of the boring, out-of-touch, rural town of Bittersweet. Phil, the more adventurous of the two, longs to help out the war effort in any way that she can, while Fee, the romantic, hopes to meet a charming, handsome young man who will sweep her off her feet. When Phil tries to create a Home Guard for Bittersweet, she stumbles upon the concealed Stour, which houses a college for male magicians. This thrusts the sisters into the world of actual magic as Phil continues to support the war effort and Fee finds the man of her dreams. However, they soon find out that the magicians have their own war to fight, one that will determine the fate of all people.

After reading the back cover of Delusion, I was very intrigued; the plot and the setting seemed really interesting. However, the novel didn’t live up to my expectations. At first, I found the characters to be annoying and unlikeable, although some of them did grow on me in time. The plot was all over the place, with too many conflicts, most of which were not fully developed. I did like the book despite its flaws, but I will not be remembering or recommending it.—Kayla T., 16

MEYER, Marissa. Scarlet. Feiwel & Friends. February 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN: 9780312642969.

Gr 7 Up—Scarlet is the sequel to Cinder in the “Lunar Chronicles” series. The book follows the point of view of a 17-year-old girl, Scarlet, who works on a farm with her grandmother. When she discovers that her grandmother has been kidnapped, Scarlet is desperate for any leads that might help her find her. While searching for her grandmother, Scarlet meets an appealing yet untrustworthy street fighter named Wolf, who agrees to help her. In a way, the story serves to present the reader with a dystopian version of the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood. Eventually, Scarlet’s story ties in with the story of the main protagonist, Cinder, and many questions are answered. However, just as the reader’s questions are answered, many new conflicts arise and the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, ready for the third book.

When I learned that there was a sequel to Cinder, I was excited to find out what would happen next in the series. You don’t have to read the first book to enjoy Scarlet, but some of the action that occurs in it might be confusing if you haven’t read the first volume of the trilogy. What I liked most about the book was Scarlet’s blossoming romance with the mysterious Wolf. Scarlet ended like Cinder, with a total cliff-hanger, which compels me to read the next book. It was interesting to see how the revelation of a certain secret had forever changed Cinder’s life and further developed the conflict concerning the fate of the Earth. I would recommend this to other young readers who enjoy a good dystopian novel with some fairy tale elements.—Courtney B., age 18

CREWE, Megan. The Lives We Lost. Hyperion. February 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781423146179.

Gr 7-12—A disastrous virus has befallen the world and 17-year-old Kaelyn has a vaccine that could restore civilization. As she and her friends make their way through Canada’s deserted, snowy provinces in search of a doctor that can replicate the vaccine, they encounter people who will stop at nothing to take the vaccine for themselves. After treading hundreds of miles, Kaelyn wonders if the risk she took dragging her friends through such awful circumstances was worth it.

The Lives We Lost will have you on the edge of your seat. Every person the group encounters is one that can either make them sick or burglarize and kill them. They hope that there are people who haven’t lost the kindness they may have possessed before the epidemic. Their highest anticipation is finding a doctor or scientist who is working on the cure, but with a thin line between who’s a friend and who’s a foe, their chances grow slim. This compelling novel is detailed enough to read without having read the first book of the trilogy, and it leaves out just enough to have you ready for last book in the series.—Paris E., age 16

I have (much more successfully) done this at every other juncture in my life, including the (final) family move to Maryland, three colleges, and a dozen jobs. I took what I liked about myself and refined the details. As for the not-so-likable elements, I trashed them. I knew there was a better me just waiting to be born. With our new library opening in less than two months and my transfer to the new building coming next week, once again I’m in a time of transition and I’m redefining who I am as a teen librarian, a peer, a supervisor, an advocate, and a friend.

Many of the responsibilities I have at my current library are following me to the Gum Spring Library. My biggest responsibility is that of page supervisor. I took over that role in December 2011, when the person who’d been supervising the four pages had to take an emergency leave. My own supervisor helped me ajust to my new role, though many of the job’s nuances I learned as time progressed. To help out my successor, I’ve created a document that describes the duties (official and unofficial) of a page supervisor. I also used this opportunity to reflect upon what I’ve learned. In effect, I gave myself a performance assessment. I’ve already begun working on a new document on the training and supervision of the pages who will arrive in February.

Much of what I’ve learned while supervising pages transfers neatly into my role as a teen volunteer coordinator. My goal is to teach our young volunteers about the library, encourage them to work and play there, and give them a solid opportunity that builds both their character and their resume. I know I let some of our teen volunteers fall through the cracks in my old branch’s very busy volunteer program. Instead of giving each of them the personalized attention they deserved, I let a few simply sign in, do their tasks, and then leave. Even if that was the kind of experience they’d expected, it wasn’t what they deserved. Teen volunteers should be nurtured to view the library as a “third place”: a place to keep organized, fun, and safe, and mostly importantly, to be proud of. As I train my replacement and the new Gum Spring teen volunteers, I’ll be sure to keep the number of volunteers at a manageable level. That way, my peers and I in the Teen Center can create meaningful relationships with them, and instill a sense of responsibility and of place in them.

As I sit at my desk, contemplating which documents, folders, and ARCs to get rid of and which to take to my new library, I’m doing the same thing with my role as a teen librarian. We are rarely given an opportunity to reinvent ourselves, but when we are, we owe it to ourselves and to those we work with to take a moment to reflect on ways that we can improve.

Gum Spring opening day collection

Fresh Paint charts the development of teen services at a new public library in an underserved community. Gum Spring Library will be Loudoun County’s (VA) eighth branch and will serve more than 100,000 residents. It’s one of the county’s largest public-private partnerships.

Nationally, there are more than 700,000 teens in custody each night—teens who have been abused and neglected, teens who are entrepreneurs, teens who have experienced many major losses, teens with adult experiences and low reading levels. Due to the fact that minorities are disproportionately confined, too many of these teens are African American and Latino. Being underground, they’re the canaries in a coal mine, exposing what’s poisonous in the environment. There are many opportunities to reach these young adults both in and out of custody. My hope is that this column can bring to light new finds for these “urban” readers.

According to a December 2012 Anna E. Casey Foundation report, nearly 4.3 million young adults (ages 20 to 24) are unemployed and truant. That 4.3 million translates to a national 74 percent teen unemployment rate. With those statistics, it’s an understandable and even somewhat logical choice to turn to an underground economy. Kenny Johnson’s memoir, The Last Hustle, is unique in providing insight into the normality and reasoning that led to his choice of a life that was devoted to crime. The consequences? He spent over 20 years in city, state, county, and federal prisons. Booker T Huffman’s From Prison to Promise tells a more familiar story of a neglected child who turns to the successful role models he sees growing up: gangsters and drug dealers.

Most of my teens were initially victims, with their victimization not adequately addressed. Meg Medina’s fantastic Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass (slight quibble: the title should be Is Going to, not Wants to) deals with bullying and the way that teens facing difficult and challenging circumstances hold their fear and vulnerability underground. Check this out along with these other featured titles.

*The names of kids have been changed.

Takoudes, Greg. When We Wuz Famous. Henry Holt, March 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780805094527.

Gr 8 Up—The jury (my kids as well as myself) is still out on this title. It reminds me of Matt De La Pena’s pacing style—slow to start, yet ultimately an engaging read. In one of the first chapters, Francisco’s girlfriend, Reignbow (yeah, really), is talking openly to the police. From my experience, this is completely unrealistic and I’m not sure my kids will make it past this point. But by page 61, I was rapidly turning the pages as Francisco struggles with attending the white prep school on a basketball scholarship and feels torn by his loyalty to Reignbow and his messed-up foster kid brother who’s on the streets. Takoudes made a movie with teens from Spanish Harlem and the book is based on the film.

Huffman, Booker T with Andrew William Wright. Booker T: From Prison to Promise. Medallion Press. 2012. Tr $14.99. ISBN 9781605424682.

Gr 8 Up—Booker T was one of eight children. His hardworking father died of a stroke when he was 10 months old, and his equally hardworking mother died of surgical complications when he was 13. Without her, the family fell into chaos, leaving Booker T and his youngest sister to fend for themselves. His mother’s house gradually decays around them as the electricity, water, garbage and other services are cut off, while his older siblings are living their lives to various dysfunctional degrees. Booker T then turns to the successful role models he sees around him: gangsters and drug dealers. In junior high, he becomes a father but doesn’t have the wherewithal to deal with it and blames his girlfriend and abandons his son, just as he was abandoned. Ending up in prison with a job in the laundry, he talks his way onto the weight-lifting team. Upon his release, he recognizes his responsibilities, gets his son out of foster care, and is on his way to becoming the six-time world wrestling champion and public figure he is today. It’s not action-packed, but rather a straight-forward, no-frills commentary.  Reluctant readers will find the trim size appealing and subject matter of interest, and other teens will pick it up for a quick read.

Johnson, Kenny with Shanti Einolander.The Last Hustle. Non-Duality Press. 2011. pap. $16.45. ISBN 9780956643285.

Gr 8 Up—Street lore says that a life of crime leads to only one of three places: death, prison, or going crazy in prison. There’s a fourth option that isn’t talked about much but experienced by some—a deep spiritual awakening leading to complete and total transformation. This isn’t a religious conversion, but an awakening to the true nature of life so that abiding peace is found even in the most challenging of circumstances. The latter was Kenny Johnson’s experience. He writes, “Prison was where I discovered my soul and so much more.” Throughout his life, he desired freedom. Ironically, prison offered him the challenges of confinement and pain as well as the time to read, study, and take classes. Teens who are looking for titles like Jarvis Masters’s Finding Freedom: Writings from Death Row (Padma Publishing, 1977) will enjoy this book.

Medina, Meg. Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass. Candlewick. March 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780763658595.

Gr 9 Up—There’s a lot packed into this vibrant small book which will make it a favorite for teens. When the stair to their tenement collapse, Piddy’s mom, an immigrant from Cuba, insists on moving.That means a new school.The trouble begins right away when Yaqui Delgado targets 16-year-old Piddy with threats. Piddy doesn’t even know who Yaqui is, much less what she has done to instigate these threats. Living in fear, her grades suffer, and she finally figures out that to avoid trouble, it’s easier to skip school. Piddy is tough, and knows the rules of the streets, but she doesn’t want to fight. But that doesn’t work—Yaqui tracks her down and inflicts a brutal beating that’s posted on the Internet. Subplots include a boy with an abusive father, Piddy’s desire to work with animals—elephants, to be exact—a wonderful hair salon/aunt/neighbor contingent, and Piddy’s longing for information about her father whom she’s never met. Lots of action with a realistic setting, dialogue, relationships, problems, and solutions make this book a winner. The cover—a blue locker with graffiti for the title—will attract reluctant readers. The content will keep them reading to the end and wanting more, especially to hear Yaqui’s story.

Unorthodox Jukebox, Bruno Mars (Atlantic)

Unorthodox Jukebox is a great album even though it only has 10 tracks. Mars’s contemporary pop style is more infectious on Unorthodox as he mixes strong vocals with R&B, reggae, ’80s new wave, doo-wop, and funk sounds. Mars has a boyish charm, but he’s able to bring sincerity to everything he produces. This album shows us a more confident and mature Mars with a rawer, almost sleazier side, then lets us see some of his vulnerability. Definitely check out the new wave ’80s sound on “Locked Out of Heaven,” the breezy listening on “Treasure,” the Michael Jackson influence on “Moonshine,” the reggae steel drum jam on “Show Me,” and the beautiful piano ballad on “When I Was Your Man.” Bruno Mars shines on Unorthodox Jukebox and makes a strong statement to the music world.—Latyese M., grade 11, Floral Park (NY) Memorial High School

Forza Horizon (Microsoft)

If you love the open road, Forza Horizon is the auto-racing game for you. Set in the gorgeous Colorado countryside, the story is based on the Horizon Festival. Races fall into themed categories, and you gradually build your skills by moving from one tier to the next, which heightens the sense of excitement. With the expansive terrain, great new features are the mixed-surfaces events and point-to-point races.  Players need to vary their driving styles to handle the constantly shifting non-asphalt roads, which is both refreshing and challenging.  The name of the game here is competition—and it’s embedded in the game play. Your speed is captured and posted on the leader board, as well as on Xbox Live for the whole world to see.  Horizon’s multiplayer is very intense and action-packed, but the cooperative free-roam system also has a lot to offer and is probably underutilized.  Overall Forza Horizon is a terrific racing game that provides hours of entertaining fun and features the thrill of exploring the Wild West. Rated: T for Teen Platform: Xbox 360.—James M., grade 10, Floral Park (NY) Memorial High School

Beautiful Books

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

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

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

A Potpourri of Paranormal Romances

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

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

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

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

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

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

Publication Information

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Haven’t registered for ASCD (formerly the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development) yet? There’s still time—visit the conference home page for details and more information on the 400-plus sessions that will be offered.

At the center is the Can*TEEN Trivia Wheel Library Interactive game, a new spin on the classic gaming style of multiple choice trivia questions, developed by the Carnegie Science Center. AASL, working with the Carnegie Science Center, and with support from the Motorola Foundation, will distribute Can*TEEN Trivia Wheel Library Interactive toolkits to more than 2,500 school librarians serving children ages 10 to 14.

Participating school librarians will receive a free kit for their library and will be asked to complete a follow-up survey at the end of the school year. The survey will evaluate how frequently the toolkit was checked out and how it was used in the school. More information and an opt-in form can be found on AASL’s website, and you can review clips from recent play tests, featuring two of the women who helped make the Can*TEEN Interactive, at www.canteengirl.org.

What else is new? Allison van Diepen’s latest book—in the genre we like—now has a title and a pub date: Takedown, September 2013. Mark your calendars. Some of her earlier works, Street Pharm and Snitch, will also be released again at that time—and kids from facilities in Texas, California, and New York contributed their favorite pop culture references. For those of you who aren’t allowed to have hardcovers at your facilities, there’s good news: Takedown is coming out simultaneously in hardcover and in paperback.  Now on to my list…

COCHRANE, Mick. Fitz. Knopf, 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780375856839. A boy kidnaps, at gunpoint, the father he’s never met. (SLJ Review)

GRIFFIN, Paul. Stay with Me. Speak, 2012. pap. $8.99. ISBN 9780142421727. A girl, a boy with a criminal record, a pit bull, and alcoholic parents are featured in a fast moving plot. (SLJ Review)

HALLS, Kelly Milner.  Alien Investigation: Searching for the Truth About UFOs and Aliens.  Millbrook, 2012. Tr $20.95. ISBN 9780761362043. Are UFOs and aliens the next vampires? I can’t keep this book on the shelf. (SLJ Review)

JIANG-STEIN, Deborah. Even Tough Girls Wear Tutus: Inside the World of a Woman Born in Prison. Cell 7  Media, 2011. pap. $14.95. When Stein was 12, she discovered a secret—she was born in prison addicted to heroin. (SLJ Review)

JOHNSON, Kenny with Shanti  Einolander. The Last Hustle. Non Duality, 2011. pap. $16.45. ISBN 9780956643285. For 31 years, Kenny avidly chose criminality, until he found the ultimate freedom. Look for a review in SLJTeen’s new column, YA Underground, coming January 16.

LEAVITT, Martine. My Book of Life by Angel. Farrar, 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780374351236. Life on the streets, with all the struggle, soul, and poetry.  (SLJ Review)

MAIA, Love.  DJ Rising. Little, Brown, 2012. pap. $8.99. ISBN 9780316121897. This books sits on the shelf for some reason—is the cover too dark? I have to talk my kids into reading this book, but once they dip in, they’re hooked. (SLJ Review)

McCORMICK, Patricia.  Never Fall Down.  Balzer and Bray, 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780061730931. What book do I give my kids after they’ve read Ishmael Beah’s A Long Way Gone? This one. (SLJ Review)

McGARRY, Katie.  Pushing the Limits. Harlequin Teen, 2012. pap. $9.99. ISBN 9780373210862. Anything that has romance, grit, and alternating boy/girl chapters like Elkeles’s “Perfect Chemistry” series is a hot sell. (SLJ Review)

MCGILL, Jerry. Dear Marcus: A Letter to the Man Who Shot Me. Spiegel and Grau, 2012. Tr $14.00. ISBN 9780812983166. My kids have been talking and writing about McGill’s visit and book for weeks. When something bad happens, it doesn’t mean it’s the end—it becomes something to overcome, a chance to learn something new. One of my students told McGill, “I learned the best thing from you, forgiveness.” This made it on to SLJ’s Best Adult Books for Teens list! (SLJ Review)

PEREZ, Ashley Hope. The Knife and the Butterfly. CarolRhoda, 2012. Tr $17.95. ISBN 9780761361565.  The reality of gangs and prison with a supernatural element is a winning combination. (SLJ Review)

PHELPS, Carissa, with Larkin Warren. Runaway Girl: Escaping Life on the Streets, One Helping Hand at a Time. Viking, 2012. Tr $26.95. ISBN 9780670023721. Real. Gritty. Transformational. (SLJ Review)

ROSS, Richard. Juvenile in Justice. Richard Ross, 2012. Tr $29.95. ISBN 9780985510602. If I could only select one best book of the year, it would be this one. Groundbreaking journalism and a heartbreaking read. Plus, it’s another title that made the Best Adult Books for Teens list. (SLJ Review)

And one final special mention:

LANKFORD, Susan Madden. Born, Not Raised: Voices from Juvenile Hall. Humane Exposures, 2012. pap. $24.95. ISBN 9780979236631. This is not a book for teens; it’s way too research- and policy-driven for my kids, at least. But it’s a must read for anyone who works in the juvenile corrections field or wants to understand what’s going on with incarcerated teens and those who work with them. (LJ Review)

Applications for the 2013 Innovations in Reading Prize must be postmarked or emailed by February 20, 2013. All U.S. citizens and American companies are eligible, including nonprofit groups, technology companies, or those in the military. In addition to the prize money, winners will receive an all-expense-paid trip to New York City to attend a luncheon in their honor and invitations to NBA events, such as the National Book Awards dinner and ceremony.