American Born Chinese

American Born Chinese

Bibliographic Information:

Yang, G. (2006). American Born Chinese. New York: First Second. ISBN: 9781596431522.

Excerpt:

Plot Summary:

A graphic novel that weaves the stories of 3 indviduals: Jin Wang, Danny, and a monkey king. All to tell one very beautiful story about cultural identity and fitting in.

Critical Analysis:

As mentioned in the plot summary, this narrative is told in 3 sects. Jin Wang, an American born Chinese boy that is transferred to what appears to be a small town where Asian stereotypes are all the student body knows about the culture, Danny who appears to be a popular, blond jock, but who has a cousin named Chin-Kee that fits an Asian stereotype, and then The Monkey King, the name is self explanatory.

Both The Monkey King and Jin Wang are pressured by conventional social norms to try and and conform to Anglo, or in the Monkey King's case, human pressures, and they both feel shame in who they are and where they come from. The third character Danny, who is white with an Asian cousin is really Jin Wang denying his heritage and trying to mainstream as white, with the annoying cousin Chin-Kee representing what he is trying to oppress. I don't think I gave anything away there and, the foreshadowing to that fact is littered throughout the graphic novel.

The author Gene Yang makes references to Asian folklore and traditions which leads one early on to believe that Danny is going to be Jin Wang in denial. Anyhow, the culmination of Asian folklore and myth as if it is common knowledge to the reader is really fascinating as well as adds a unique way of telling this age old story in modern terms.

The book also makes use of humor by exposing and over exaggerating Asian stereotypes and generalizations. The humor is over the top and ridiculous, which is the only way to approach the issue. For example, Chin-Kee brings "clispy flied cat gizzards wiff noodles", and wants to find an American girl with a nice bosom so that he can bind her feet and make little Chin-Kee's, etc.

I really loved this graphic novel and would recommend it to everyone, regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity. Especially at a younger age (6-26), I have seen friends and partners from ethnically diverse backgrounds try to blend in or hide their heritage. So, I see this graphic novel as one that is addressing a very real issue that everyone has come in contact with at one point in their lives.


Reviews:
This beautifully produced graphic novel contains three storylines which come together in a well-constructed final chapter. The first storyline concerns the classic Chinese tale of the Monkey King (Sun Wukong) and his egotistical quest to become a god above all others. The second storyline is a about a Taiwanese-American kid raised in San Francisco's Chinatown who moves with his family to the suburbs. There he tries to fit in at his new elementary school, and goes through the usual loneliness of the outsider, endures bullying, makes friends with the other two Asian kids, and falls in love with a pretty white girl. The third storyline is delivered as a tasteless sitcom about an all-American high-school boy whose life gets turned upside down when his bucktoothed stereotype of a Chinese cousin comes to visit. Although the tone is very different in each storyline, they all have something to say about being different and coming to terms with one's identity, and the way they morph into a single climax at the end is quite clever and effective. It's a nice book to give any kid who's struggling with trying to find their place in the nasty world. The artwork is very clean and simple, with traditional lettering, crisp colors, and very simple paneling (which is nicely framed by generous white space above and below). The printing is beautiful and the paper and binding is top-notch. -A. Ross (Reader's Review)

As alienated kids go, Jin Wang is fairly run-of-the-mill: he eats lunch by himself in a corner of the schoolyard, gets picked on by bullies and jocks and develops a sweat-inducing crush on a pretty classmate. And, oh, yes, his parents are from Taiwan. This much-anticipated, affecting story about growing up different is more than just the story of a Chinese-American childhood; it's a fable for every kid born into a body and a life they wished they could escape. The fable is filtered through some very specific cultural icons: the much-beloved Monkey King, a figure familiar to Chinese kids the world over, and a buck-toothed amalgamation of racist stereotypes named Chin-Kee. Jin's hopes and humiliations might be mirrored in Chin-Kee's destructive glee or the Monkey King's struggle to come to terms with himself, but each character's expressions and actions are always perfectly familiar. True to its origin as a Web comic, this story's clear, concise lines and expert coloring are deceptively simple yet expressive. Even when Yang slips in an occasional Chinese ideogram or myth, the sentiments he's depicting need no translation. Yang accomplishes the remarkable feat of practicing what he preaches with this book: accept who you are and you'll already have reached out to others. -Publishers Weekly

The Rose That Grew From Concrete

The Rose That Grew From Concrete

Bibliographic Information:

Shakur, T. (2006). The Rose That Grew From Concrete. New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN: 9780671028459.

Excerpt:

For Mrs. Hawkins -- In Memory of Yusef Hawkins

This poem is addressed 2 Mrs. Hawkins
Who lost her son 2 a racist society
I'm not out 2 offend the positive souls
Only the racist dogs who lied to me
An American culture plagued with nights
like the night Yusef was killed
if it were reversed it would be the work
of a savage but this white killer was just strong-willed
But Mrs. Hawkins as sure as I'm a Panther
with the blood of Malcolm in my veins
America will never rest
if Yusef dies in vain!
-page 107

In The Event Of My Demise

In the event of my demise
when my heart can beat no more
I hope I die for a principle
Or a belief that I had lived 4
I will die before my time
Because I feel the shadow's depth
So much I wanted to accomplish
Before I reached my death
I have come to grips with the possibility
And wiped the last tears from my eyes
I loved all who were positive
In the event of my demise.

You don't see any senior take-offs of his art. No garden parties with grandma bopping up to Something 2 Die 4. So, they found a name, Gangsta Rap, to somehow distinguish it from what? Polite, nice, highly compromised rap? They tried to isolate that beautiful boy who was trying to bring on the truth so that they could flood us with lies and excuses. -Nikki Giovani XV

Plot Summary:

A collection of poetry written by rapper Tupac Shakur between 1989 and 1991.

Critical Analysis:

The Rose That Grew From Concrete is a collection of four series of poems that rapper Tupac Shakur wrote from 1989 and 1991. He wrote them during a creative writing experience that he had with a UC Berkeley professor, Leila Steinburg, who would then go on to become his manager. The book of poetry also comes complete with several forwards from his manager, mother Afeni Shakur who was also a poet and activist, and the female, African-American poet, Nikki Giovanni. Reading those three forewards prior to enjoying this book of poetry several times is pivotal.

I included an excerpt of Giovanni's foreward as an example. As the forewards and poetry suggest, and after little web crawling will prove, Tupac was an incredibly interested and motivated intellect with a passion for all forms of culture and the arts. He was also a black man growing up in a single parent household, and grew up in poverty in Harlem, NY. But, as the poetry suggests, his circumstances did not break his spirit. Anyhow, much like the forewards and media evidence suggests Tupac was marginalized and then commercialized as being a violent, malevolent gangster. But, that is hardly the case. Though, he was a black man that considered himself a member of the Black Panther Organization which is an easy, and marketable target.

Anyhow, there are three series of poetry: The Rose That Grew From Concrete, Nothing Can Come Between Us, Just A Breath Of Freedom, and Liberty Needs A Glass. The first collection touches on issues of family, growing up in poverty, love, and friendship. Those poems are the most novice and a great example of an outsider poet. The thing is that Tupac does not try to impress the reader with flowery cliches or trite alliterations, but instead is very simple and honest in his word choices. I think the first series is a great example of Tupac blossoming as an aspiring poet.

The second collection, Nothing Can Come Between Us, is mostly made up of love poems to assumed partners, friends, and a miscarried child. Note, Tupac was 18 when these were written. This series contains the most ideographs which mostly consist of hearts and eyes. Once more, he was 18! I would hate for my corny 18 year old love poetry to ever be read less alone released. I could not help but take that in to consideration.

The last two series Just A Breath Of Freedom and Liberty Needs A Glass are absolutely beautiful and awe inspiring. Here, Tupac has a better grasp on poetic language and you can tell that he is more confident and going outside of his previously safer comfort levels. These collections are also a lot grittier touching on issues such as hate/race crimes, being a Black Panther, poverty, and then later on, the ominous prediction of an early death potentially due to the issues just mentioned. Tupac also hopes that he does not die in vain which is eloquently put in his last poem, In the Event of My Demise, Dedicated 2 Those Curious.

I strongly urge all to read this book whether they happen to be a poetry aficionado or not. Tupac shares a very unique and though sad at times, he is hopeful for the future. This book is an example of a beautiful and compassionate mind that can hopefully be appreciated by everyone regardless of demograph, socioeconomic class, age, or gender.


Reviews:
This is officially one of my favorite things to read. Its filled with so much reality, passion, breath taking. I have always been a fan of 2pac and it really does have you thinking alot about the struggles people face even if you have been in similar situations. You guys need to purchase this book. You wont be disappointed. Inspiring and breath taking. -Outthere22, A Reader's Review

A collection of poetry written by the rapper between 1989 and 1991, before he became famous. The poems are passionate, sometimes angry, and often compelling. Selections are reproduced from the originals in Shakur's handwriting, personalized by distinctive spelling and the use of ideographs (a drawing of an eye for I, etc.), and complete with scratch outs and corrections. With the exception of "In the Event of My Demise," all of the pieces are accompanied by typed text, which leaves his spelling intact. Some poems are also accompanied by his drawings. A few black-and-white photographs appear throughout. A preface by Shakur's mother, a foreword by Nikki Giovanni, and an introduction by his manager, Leila Steinburg, in whose writing group the poems were written, complete this unique volume. -School Library Journal

A Wreath For Emmett Till

The Wreath For Emmett Till

Bibliographic Information:

Nelson, M. (2006). A Wreath For Emmett Till. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN: 9780618397525.

Excerpt:

Rosemary for remembrance, Shakespeare wrote.
If I could forget, believe me, I would.
Pierced by the screams of a shortened childhood.

Emmett Till's name still catches in my throat.
Mamie's one child, a boy thrown to bloat,
Mutilated boy martyr. If I could
Erase the memory of Emmett's victimhood,
The memory of monsters...That bleak thought
Tears through the patchwork drapery of dreams.

Let me gather spring flowers for a wreath:

Trillium, apple blossoms, Queen Anne's lace,
Indian pipe, bloodrot, white as moonbeams,
Like the full moon, which smiled calmly on his death,
Like his gouged eye, which watched boots kick his face.

Plot Summary:

A collection of interweaving sonnets to remember the death of Emmett Till and his martyrdom that sparked the Civil Rights Movement.

Critical Analysis:

A Wreath for Emmett Till is a collection of sonnets in which the last line of a sonnet becomes the first line of the following. The style and rhyme scheme is called Patrarchan, being named after the poet Petrarch who invented the style in the 14th century.

Though the style the sonnets were written in is old, the poem is very modern in his topic and references. This poem is about the death of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old boy who was brutally slained and mutilated for potentially whistling or being flirtatious towards a white woman in 1955.

The poem serves as a remembrance of Emmett Till, takes in to consideration the perspective of a scared boy, a mother's loss, how Emmett's mother used the incident to incite the Civil Rights Movement, how Emmett's death served as a martyrdom for the movement, then remembers other faceless victims that have suffered due to civic injustice, then aspires to inspire hope.

The poem makes a lot of references to Shakespeare, his characters such as Ophelia and wreath building traditions, Billie Holiday's song and Lewis Allen's poem Strange Fruit, 9-11 and the World Trade Center, folklore, and of course a lot of biblical references.

There is no way I could dislike this poem because the story resonates with me so deeply. I think that Nelson did a good job in not reliving the tragedy but, instead taking on past and present perspectives. I feel that with the mention of 9-11 and wreaths made of various flowers towards the end was a bit distracting for me personally. I think I understand what she was getting at; Hatred, fear, injustice, etc. are still as prevalent today as they were in 1955 and we need to continue to advocate for peace and civil rights. I just personally would not compare the victims of the 9-11 attacks to Emmett Tills death. That is all.

This is a good book to be enjoyed by all but, especially for juveniles with an interest in civil rights, or as a teaching tool when introducing the civil rights movement and Emmett Till to youth.

Reviews:
This memorial to the lynched teen is in the Homeric tradition of poet-as-historian. It is a heroic crown of sonnets in Petrarchan rhyme scheme and, as such, is quite formal not only in form but in language. There are 15 poems in the cycle, the last line of one being the first line of the next, and each of the first lines makes up the entirety of the 15th. This chosen formality brings distance and reflection to readers, but also calls attention to the horrifically ugly events. The language is highly figurative in one sonnet, cruelly graphic in the next. The illustrations echo the representative nature of the poetry, using images from nature and taking advantage of the emotional quality of color. There is an introduction by the author, a page about Emmett Till, and literary and poetical footnotes to the sonnets. The artist also gives detailed reasoning behind his choices. This underpinning information makes this a full experience, eminently teachable from several aspects, including historical and literary -School Library Journal

Although written for children, I had to read the book twice to "feel" the horrible images that this book so beautifully captures. References to flower, plants, and trees are symbolic and make up the "wreath" for Emmett. Please read this book and share the experience with your children. The incident is described as the motivating force of the Civil Rights Movement. It is also a wake-up call to all those who continue to live a life of apathy and denial when it comes to standing up for the legacy of the African American struggle. -Linda Jo Smith, A Reader's Review

Fire From the Rock

Fire From the Rock

Bibliographic Information:

Draper, S. (2006). Fire From the Rock. New York: Dutton Children's Books. ISBN: 9780525477204.

Excerpt:

"Dad, listen. When they make a list of Negro kids who get to go to Central High, I want to be on it," he announced. Their father almost choked on his bacon. "Why would you want to do a fool thing like that?" he asked. He looked at Gary as if he had grown a second skull. "Because I deserve to go to a big, modern school, and have new books and desks and the best education in Arkansas," Gary retorted. "It was good enough for me when I was your age,' his father said, his voice tight. "We had strong Negro teachers who taught us pride in our heritage, our history, and our culture. No white school will ever do that for you." -page 20

"Does your mother like teaching the colored children at Stephens Elementary?" the bald-headed man asked. "Yes, sir. I'm sure she does. Very much." I wonder what Mam's job has to do with this. "We hear she pretty good at teaching, at least for a Negro." "Thank you." Sylvia tensed. "Do you think your mama is willing to risk that job? Some members of our community are opposed to integration". -page 128

Plot Summary:

Sylvia Patterson is a 15-year-old black girl growing up in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957. She is about to enter high school and just wants to be a normal teen and fit in. The problem with that is that she is going to be one of the first black students to attend an all white high school.

Critical Analysis:

Fire From the Rock is a historical fiction novel that takes place in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957. Sharon Draper does an excellent job of interweaving the fictional life of Sylvia Patterson with the historical truth of the events surrounding the "Little Rock Nine". This book is told from Sylvia's perspective and in a loose journal entry like form of narration.

Something I really liked about this book is the black perspective that is provided. In this book it is not only whites that are against integration, but also blacks. Sylvia and her family know what is "right", and they know integration is an injustice. But, that doesn't mean they necessarily want to put themselves, their community, or their children in direct harms way.

Sylvia, the main protagonist of this narrative is chosen as one of the first few to integrate the high school. A lot of the book is her deciding what she wants, and if that decision is right for her family and community as well. On the other side of Sylvia deciding if she wants to participate in integration is her brother Gary, who wants to be one of the first and has aligned himself with the NAACP and has been labeled a troublemaker throughout the white community that opposes black and white integration.

Besides for having a black and white perspective, Sylvia's has a friend that is Jewish and considered "unworthy" of mingling with white students. She has to deal with her own kind of racist intolerance.

The actions and perspectives in this book can be shocking and uncomfortable. But, it is the reality of the Civil Rights Movement, the progress made, and the progress to come. Sharon Draper does not shy away from including disturbing truths and stories of violence that happened fictionally, and non fictionally during the Civil Rights movement. For example, Draper included vivid detail of the Emmett Till tragedy, and Sylvia's brother Gary is a victim of a race crime and dropped off badly beaten on their doorstep as a warning.

Something else that proves insightful and helpful is Sharon Draper's inclusion of a list of websites on the subject found in the back of the book for further research.

I think this is an educational and eye opening book for anyone, though I would especially recommend it for older juvenile readers and young adults.

Reviews:
An honor student, Sylvia Patterson is thrilled when she is chosen as one of the first black students to integrate all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957. But the racism in her town is terrifying, and she is not sure she can go through with it. Unlike her older brother, she does not want to be a hero and change the world. Besides, many in her black community are against integration; why not stay with her friends, concentrate on academics, and get to college? With stirring complexity, Draper personalizes the civil rights struggle beyond slogans and politics. There is sometimes too much historical background purposively woven into Sylvia's narrative, including her diary entries. But the surprising turnaround in the plot, as well as the shocking facts, will grab readers and raise the elemental issue: what would I have done? A final note fills in history and provides a list of Web sites.
-Booklist

Sharon Draper marvelously weaves fiction and history with so many twists and catches the only thing you can easily predict is that something will happen you didn't expect. This is a perfect book to help teenagers and tweens to understand not only the social climate that surrounded school integration, but the importance of the struggle for integration. This book should be on the required reading lists of every middle school and junior high across the country.
-Hugh Fletcher, A Reader's Review

Hole in My Life

Hole in My Life

Bibliographic Information:

Gantos, J. (2002). Hole in My Life. Canada: Douglas & McIntyre Ltd. ISBN: 0374399883.

Excerpt:

"Reading On the Road, I felt more like Sal Paradise than Dean Moriarty. Sal was in love with everything and everybody. His eyes were as wide and open as his heart. But, Dean confused me. He just wanted to consume everything. He had to keep moving like a shark, and in the end he was a tragic ghost of a person instead of a stream of milky way jazz under open highways. I wanted to move like Dean, but I wanted Sal's heart and soul." page 41

"It seemed to me that no amount of forgiveness would ever wash away his need to be forgiven every day. He reminded me of the Flannery O'Connor story I loved, "A Good Man Is Hard to Find," where the Misfits shoots the hugely annoying grandmother to death and then says she would be a good woman, if somebody had been there to shoot her every minute of her life." -page30

Plot Summary:

Jack Gantos is an aspiring writer that doesn't have a high enough GPA or the money to go to a college he wants to in order to pursue creative writing. In order to raise that money he is offered a deal where if he assists in smuggling and selling hashish he will get 10,000 dollars and can pursue his dream of being a creative writer, and have some interesting material to write about. Unfortunately, he gets caught smuggling hashish and must go to jail and serve six years in a federal prison.

Critical Analysis:

This short book is the memoir of Jack Gantos. It does not concentrate as much on his time in prison, but on his drug smuggling adventure and explores his aspirations to be a writer. There are a lot of reference to modern literature that the author is able to relate to. For instance, there are a few references to Jack Kerouac's On the Road, which is a pivotal piece of beatnik, outsider literature. This memoir is very interesting because it reveals insecurities and desires that I feel most "artsy, creative writer" types would be able to enjoy.

The memoir is told through self reflection and journal entries that Jack made while smuggling hashish. There is nothing hard or flawed about this character, instead he is reflective and sensitive. Also, this book does not demonize young people who experiment with drug use and drinking alcohol. Instead it provides a very humanist perspective that those activities do take place amongst young adults and it does not necessarily mean that one is an addict or doomed.

Jack is reckless at times, but ultimately wants to live an adventurous life and develop creative material for his writing. I think this book would be a good read for both young men and women. As someone in their late 20's I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to friends my age. I remember thinking that Jack's story did remind me of Kerouac's On the Road, but Jack Ganto's is a loving character that is full of life and not just consuming carnal pleasures (which I found to be the case when reading On the Road years ago). Also, Gantos's thoughts are well organized and poetic at times, whereas I found On the Road to read more like a poetic prose written by a kid with severe ADD. So, I somewhat consider this book to be a more modern and relatable On the Road for today's young adults, and I think reading this memoir would introduce them to other classic outsider authors that Gantos name drops throughout the book.

A good read, and highly recommended to everyone. :)

Reviews:
After penning a number of novels for preteens, including the Joey Pigza books and the Jack series, Gantos makes a smooth transition as he addresses an older audience. He uses the same bold honesty found in his fiction to offer a riveting autobiographical account of his teen years and the events may well penetrate the comfort zone of even the most complacent young adults. The memoir begins with the dramatic image of the author as a young convict ("When I look at my face in the photo I see nothing but the pocked mask I was hiding behind"). The book then goes on to provide an in-depth examination of the sensitive and intelligent boy residing behind a tough facade. Inspired by the words and lives of some of his favorite American authors, Gantos sought adventure after leaving high school. He eagerly agreed to help smuggle a shipment of hashish from Florida to New York without giving thought of the possible consequences. Knowing that the narrator is destined to land in jail keeps suspense at a high pitch, but this book's remarkable achievement is the multiple points of view that emerge, as experiences force a fledgling writer to continually revise his perspective of himself and the world around him. The book requires a commitment, as it rambles a bit at times, but it provides much food for thought and fuel for debate. It will leave readers emotionally exhausted and a little wiser.
-Publishers Weekly

I am a children's librarian who read this book and could hardly put it down. I read my (non children's librarian) husband a couple of paragraphs, and he grabbed it the second I was done. He inhaled it and gave it to his best friend, who does not read children's books. The best friend loved it and cannot understand why it is called a young adult novel. He thinks it is great reading for everyone! A wonderful read by an intriguing, and obviously stubborn and incredibly gifted human being.
-Amazon Reader's Review

The Demonata Series: Slawter

The Demonata Series: Slawter

Bibliographic Information:

Shan, D. (2006). The Demonata Series: Slawter. New York. Hachette Book Group USA. ISBN: 9780316013871.

Excerpt:

"Juni kicks one of the demon's legs--no response. She kicks a mouth stalk. It wobbles from side to side, but only from the force of her blow. Slowly, carefully, she pries its main mouth open and peers down its throat. I tense. If the demon's faking, this is the perfect moment to strike. I see the teeth start to come together and I prepare a ball of energy to hurl..." -page 132

Plot Summary:

Dervish, Grubbs, and Bill-E are trying to live a normal life without demons. Dervish is approached by a horror producer who wants to use him as a demon expert on her upcoming film. The film will take place in a town called Slawter. While filming paranormal demonic happenings disrupt the set which leads Grubbs to believe that it is not only actors on the set portraying demons.

Critical Analysis:

Slawter does a great job of mixing the real with the supernatural. The novel takes place in real time and dashes between memory flash backs of demon possession to the present day. I love this literary approach. The reader does not know if it is reality or paranoia and fear that are driving assumptions and accusation.

This book is frightening at times, as well as choked full of off the cuff quirky, sometimes self deprecating humor. Though the characters take on cliche "spooky" stereotypes it only adds to the suspense and drama. For example, Davida the movie producer, when she is described throughout the book she has the likeness of an aged flower child Elvira. She is described as, "Fiftyish, black hair streaked with gray, purple rimmed glasses. Like a giggling granny horror movie meister".

Something about this book that might capture others off guard is how there are a lot of references to the previous two books in the series published. It is assumed that if one reads this book they are familiar with the first which is not always the case. That aspect left me struggling at moments as I tried to put together references to Lordy Loss in the previous novel. If you have not read them you will have a hard time sorting out what previously happened to what characters and demonology truisms that have been established in the series.

Though I think this book could be enjoyable to both a male and female audience, it is definitely catered more towards males. On a positive note, this book does read a lot like a more mature Goosebumps novel, and it is appropriate for juvenile fiction, as well as young adult readers. Though, much like Shan's Cirque Du Freak series, this book would be of more interest to males than females.

Also, this book was very formulaic and the implication that this is only the beginning of a series is apparent early on. So, if you are looking for resolution in your reading, this is not the book for you. I, am one for resolution, and found it frustrating that not much was resolved as I would have liked. Also, it is revealed that the demons talked about and battled are "overgrown ghoulish ants, or monsters with five legs, etc..". When the demons were described in detail they seemed a bit corny and I would imagine incapable of really frightening someone. But, that might be an aspect of what makes this a good read for boys interested in juvenile fiction.

Reviews:

First of all, you have to read the first two books: Lord Loss and Demon Thief. The third book is so action packed and scary. This book is full of foreshadowing and you won't even see it coming you want to read it to the end. Its amazing. These are one of my favorite books, it sucks you into reading other scary books, and i love it. Darren Shan writes with a touch of Stephen King, which makes it a unique way of writing. I am almost finished with "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon" and it is scary and awesome. I got sucked into this book because of the Demonata series. READ THIS SERIES AND YOUR PERSPECTIVE OF READING WILL CHANGE IN A GOOD WAY! this reading is for all ages.
-Sally Kelly (Reader's Review)

When I got this book I thought it was going to be like the last two. I was wrong; this book is more entertaining and exciting then the last two.

Grubbs Grady is trying to get his life on track after saving his brother from turning into a werewolf. His uncle Dervish is almost back to normal after fighting lord loss. In this book Dervish is called to do a movie with a famous horror director. It turns out it is a trap set by lord loss. I can't believe that Dervish and Grubbs escaped from the grasps of lord loss for the second time in a row but in return many civilians were slaughtered.

This book is a great book for young adults, but I am not sure about children because there is a lot of graphic violence. I can't wait until Darren Shaw comes out with the fourth book Bec.
-Amazon Kid's Review

The Dead & The Gone

The Dead & The Gone

Bibliographic Information:

Pfeffer, S. (2005). The Dead & The Gone. New York. Harcourt, Inc. ISBN: 9780152063115.

Excerpt:

"..."Things must be all right if there's so much food," Bri said, putting the groceries away in the cabinets, making them look full and normal again. "Oh, Alex. Powdered eggs! They're almost as good as real eggs." "Did you have real eggs on the far?" he asked. The temperature in the apartment was about fifty degrees, which was where he'd set the oil burner thermostat, but Bri made things feel warm and sunny again."

Plot Summary:

Alex Morales was looking forward to college and enjoying regular teenage life until his parents disappear after/during a series natural disaster. Now, Alex is thrust in to the position of caregiver of his two sisters, one of which is ill with severe asthma and he must fight for his families survival.

Critical Analysis:

The Dead & The Gone is the follow up to Susan Beth Pfeffer's Life As We Know It novel. The difference is that this novel takes place in the apocalyptic, dystopian future of New York City. Alex is the main protagonist who is thrust to the position of caretaker for his family after his parents assumed death in a tidal wave or other natural disaster which is caused by a meteor hitting the moon and bringing it drastically down closer to Earth which sparks a series of natural disasters.

In this novel catastrophic, life threatening events are a norm of everyday life. Also, issues such as starvation, hysteria, and people losing all moral compass are a lot of the challenges that Alex is faced with. What separates this novel from other dystopian YA fiction is that all though situations seem bleak, the themes of loyalty, family, and morality are reinforced instead of abandoned or only realized towards the end of the novel.

Alex and his sister are Catholic and of Puerto Rican descent. As one that also grew up more culturally than traditionally Catholic I found the characters to be relatable and an accurate depiction of cultural Catholicism. Also, the novel is written through journal entries which makes the story seem reflective and does an excellent job of reinforcing the narratives themes. A lot of dystopian narratives are cutthroat, whereas The Dead & The Gone is reflective and compassionate, and there are a lot of "good" characters with redeeming qualities, which separates itself from other books of the same genre.

I would recommend this book to both a male and female audience, though I think it is more catered towards young women. The only problem I have with this novel is that I think it is a bit longer than necessary and the lack of much change in settings was distracting and did not keep me fully engaged.

Reviews:
The characters in this book are vastly different than the first, which some reviewers don't seem to like. But to me it makes sense - the author is exploring how a worldwide event is affecting people from all walks of life. The "Life as We Knew It" characters aren't especially religious, but Pfeffer chose to sketch a Puerto Rican family that takes faith very seriously in "The Dead and the Gone." Obviously, the world is made up of people from all sorts of backgrounds - so why shouldn't the author take on different types of characters? It might have been interesting if she had chosen to write about characters in another country, instead of basing her two books in the United States. But my overall point is, I think Pfeffer made a great decision in exploring how the same event would affect people with a different worldview.

If you're looking for a happy ending, these are not the books you want to read. They're more character studies in a short period of time, but there is no real conclusion. There's hope at the end, but the story's not really "finished" - kind of like real life.
-Amazon Reader's Review

I love this series of books. The premise isn't scientifically valid - but it is a reasonable representation of where we might be headed if global climate change continues. This is a young adult novel, but I wouldn't recommend it for pre-teens as it has violent and disturbing aspects. The whole series is a story of hope and perseverance regardless of the horrors that happen. It talks about extreme bravery, love and loyalty despite adversity. I also like it because you never know what will happen next.
-H.M.S. (A Reader's Review)

Elsewhere

Elsewhere

Bibliographic Information:

Zevin, G. (2005). Elsewhere. New York: Holtzbrinck Publishers. ISBN: 9780312367466.

Excerpt:

"I'm sure you'll find that whatever quarrel you and Owen have had will quickly mend itself," Aldous says. "I doubt that," Liz says. "Owen's wife has arrived from Earth." "My that is a bump," says Aldous, momentarily fazed by Liz's revelation. -page 208

Plot Summary:

15-year-old Liz is your average teen. She has a boyfriend, a best friend who is about to attend prom, and is in the process of getting her drivers license. Life is looking good for her, until she dies suddenly in a hit and run car accident. That is where Liz's new life begins, an after life in a place called Elsewhere.

Critical Analysis:

Elsewhere is a fantasy novel that takes place in what some would term heaven. In Elsewhere one grows younger instead of old, and once one is in a newborn state they are transported back to Earth to start a new traditional life cycle. The problem is that Liz was just beginning her traditional life as a teen. She was considering college and is unhappy with her fate.

The novel pretty much starts off with the death of Liz, a promising student who wants a serious relationship, and a future outside of your family life; the last thing she could ever want is death or a regression to a younger self.

This book is so much better than I would have initially thought. Themes such as loss, love, family, and friendship are explored, but not in a traditional sense, which makes this book enjoyable. There are also a lot of strong characters throughout the novel. Liz is reunited with her grandmother Betty in Elsewhere, and does end up falling in love with a man that would have been twice her age in Earth terms but, is simply a year apart in Elsewhere. His name is Owen, and he was previously married on Earth to a woman named Emily. As Liz and Owen are falling in love Emily dies, is transported to Elsewhere, and it seems as if their relationship is doomed since Owen's loyalties lie with his wife. But, there is a twist.

Emily is by far my favorite character in this novel. When she comes to Elsewhere she is in her 30's, where as Owen is stunted at 17. She plays a strong female character with depth who ends her relationship with Owen because they are no longer who they used to be. What I love about that scenario is that it is a realistic and grounded adult conclusion. Emily is not villianized for her actions and it is in the long run the best decision for everyone.

Rarely do I find that type of depth or insight in YA fiction, especially from a female perspective. I feel that this book does a good job of explaining loss and redemption, but in fantasy terms which makes hard hitting subject matter such as the ones mentioned more palatable.

The only problem I have with Elsewhere is that I feel there are a few unanswered scenarios and questions. Such as what happened to Liz's grandfather and why is he not with Betty, Liz's grandmother in Elsewhere. But, I feel that is a constant problem in fantasy, so many rules are made up about the environment that it is hard to address everything.

I would recommend this book especially to young women. Though the initial idea of love in an afterlife seems to me like a plot that could be easily exhausted and corny, Zevin does a good job of keeping the reader engaged and not applying a pedestrian approach to the characters or their scenarios.

Reviews:
What happens when you die? Where do you go? What do you do? Zevin provides answers to these questions in this intriguing novel, centering on the death of Liz Hall, almost 16 years old and looking forward to all that lies ahead: learning to drive, helping her best friend prepare for the prom, going to college, falling in love. Killed in a hit-and-run accident, Liz struggles to understand what has happened to her, grief-stricken at all she has lost, and incapable of seeing the benefits of the Elsewhere in which she finds herself. Refusing to participate in this new life, Liz spends her time looking longingly down at the family and friends back on Earth who go on without her. But the new environment pulls her into its own rhythms. Liz meets the grandmother she never knew, makes friends, takes a job, and falls in love as she and the other inhabitants of Elsewhere age backward one year for each year that they are there. Zevin's third-person narrative calmly, but surely guides readers through the bumpy landscape of strongly delineated characters dealing with the most difficult issue that faces all of us. A quiet book that provides much to think about and discuss
-School Library Journal

Zevin has left no stone unturned. Her tale covers: what happens to
animals, how you progress to the ' afterlife,' how you make contact with
life on earth, and how you become reborn, amongst many other questions
people have about ' what happens when you die ?'. The story is in no way
contrived but highly plausible. I found myself crying consistently on
and off throughout the story, not because it was sad, but because it was
so buoyant and made so much sense about dealing with what is almost
always a disagreeable topic.

Elsewhere is a book that good readers of 13 and above would enjoy. It
poses so many philosophical questions and ideas that would be excellent
for use in a " Gifted and Talented " class. The idea of getting younger
as opposed to getting older would be an excellent starting point for
some creative writing. Students often want to get older quickly before
they've had chance to experience being young, so the possibility of
becoming younger and debating what happens at the point of birth could
open up some amazing philosophical discussion.

In short this book is brilliant. If you read nothing else for the rest
of the year, read this.
-Amazon Reader's Review

Ironman

IRONMAN

Bibliographic Information:

Crutcher, C. (1995). Ironman. New York: Greenwillow Books. ISBN: 068813503X.

Excerpt:

"I sat in a dark room upstairs in my house and decided not to end my own life like I done my children's. I think not many people understand the nature of mercy, because it gets misnamed a lot-hooked up with organized religions when there ain't no call for that-but I see it as the only medicine available for our anger, it is the only medicine for our hurt, it is the only medicine for our desperation." -page 179"

Plot Summary:

Bo Brewster is an aspiring triathlete with issues; anger management issues, problems at home, bullies at school, etc. Due to an outburst Bo is placed in an anger management class with what he considers to be a collection of likely future serial killers. He is initially reluctant about the anger management experience but, needs to complete the class in order to not get kicked out of high school. While completing the course and training for an upcoming triathlon Bo finds he has more in common with the potential serial killers and learns a lot about himself, family, and life along the way.

Critical Analysis:

This realistic fiction sports drama takes place in somewhat present time; I say that due to the Bruce Springsteen and Rod Stewart references. In this book Bo, the main character is not the only one with issues, but everyone, which is refreshing. My favorite thing about this novel is that it uses humor to explore very serious and real issues which are present in a young adults life. Issues such as rejection, anger management, family dysfunctional, to the more serious issues of death, alcoholism, and sexual and physical abuse.

There is no safe portrayal of an unflawed character in this novel, with the exception of letters/journal entries which Bo writes to Larry King, his voice of reason. The story is broken up between scenes taking place at anger management, dialogue between family members, letter/journal entries, and dialogue taking place between other characters not including Bo. So, though the story is told through Bo's perspective, the narrator is in the third-person omniscient style.

Shelley, Bo's girlfriend who he meets at anger management class is an aspiring gladiator who Bo's father refers to as "beefy" at one point in time in the novel. The characters are so well thought out that they do not reinforce conventional cliches of what young adults sound like, look like, or do. The only problem I personally had with the novel was the triathlete/athletic heavy dialog which I had a hard time fanning an interest in a lot of the time. But, that is due to me being a girl with a short attention span when it comes to any sports activity with the exception of basketball.

All in all, I think this is an excellent book and one that would especially interest male readers.

Reviews:
Chris Crutcher uses humor and straight talk to present a variety of issues facing kids today, love, divorce, child abuse, managing anger, even finding out someone you care about is homosexual. I find I am able to discuss these issues with my students using the book as a springboard. One of my students said, "This is the best book I have ever read. The kids in the book talk like us and feel like us." Another student said she laughed out loud when reading it at home. The other reviews presented the plot, I just wanted you to know what my teens thought of the book. -Reader's Review, Judy C. Harvey

Crutcher reassembles some of the character types he used to riveting effect in his stellar Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes: a teenage misfit narrator enduring grueling athletic training; a tough heroine with a tragic past; a right-wing authoritarian heavy; enlightened teachers; and a sadistic father. At its best, the narrative crackles along in the author's inimitable style. Beauregard Brewster, a would-be Ironman triathlete, chronicles the events that ensue after he insults an oppressive teacher and is forced to take an anger-management class with other troubled students. But Crutcher's message sometimes overwhelms the cast and the story line. Beau's stern father, who has to be right at all costs-even if it means stacking the deck against his son-is one of the few fully fleshed-out characters. Many are either saintly multiculturalists (Beau's gay swimming coach, earlier met in Stotan; "Mr. Nak" the Japanese cowboy anger-management teacher; the black female high school principal) or, in the case of the offensive teacher, outright villains. In spite of these flaws, Crutcher achieves many memorable moments-exchanges between the students in the anger-management class, for example, are idealized but often deeply moving. Ages 12-up. -Publisher's Weekly

The Killer's Cousin

The Killer's Cousin

Bibliographic Information:

Werlin, N. (2007). The Killer's Cousin. New York: Penguin Group. ISBN: 9780803733701.

Excerpt:

"...I had not meant even to hurt her. But I had, and now I lived forever with the abyss that separated me from people who didn't know what it was like, to have killed. To be a killer. Acquittal had nothing to do with it. I was a killer. And I know in my gut when I met another of my kind." -page 175

Plot Summary:

David Yaffe is a high school senior, for the second time. During his first year as senior he was being charged for brutally murdering his girlfriend. But, he got off, possibly due to family connections. He is now giving high school another try in hopes of clearing his reputation in another town and having another chance at getting in to college. But, this isn't a story about David, but his eleven year old cousin Lily. Lily is an odd, vindictive little girl who used to have an older sister named Kathy. But, Kathy tragically committed suicide. Do David and Lily both have a similar secret that they are hiding?

Critical Analysis:

The Killer's Cousin is a young adult thriller that takes place in modern time. The narrative is made up of quick, usually simple sentences that contributes to it's readability. Though this book reads more like a juvenile fiction novel, it is considered YA based on some strong language and sexual content.

Mysteries unfold and character suspicions flip flop. For example, there are two deaths in this narrative. One being Emily, David's ex girlfriend, and the other being Kathy, Lily's older sister who she was notably jealous of. This story is psychological and for the majority of the novel we do not know if David is being rational, or projecting his feelings concerning the death of the ex girlfriend on to Lily.

Something that I love about this book is the instability of the characters, which added to the edge of your seat suspense. For example, the younger cousin Lily goes from innocent/insecure, to annoying, to a conniving and evil figure within seconds. I don't have much to say for the character development in this book, but I don't think that was ever particularly the intent of the author. I also can't guarantee any heartfelt or moving themes or realizations. This book is a short, suspenseful read that would be suitable for all young adult reading levels.


Reviews:
Many secrets bubble just beneath the surface of this skillful thriller narrated by a high-school senior who has been accused?and acquitted?of murdering his girlfriend. David Yaffe moves from Baltimore to Cambridge to avoid publicity, but instead of finding refuge with Uncle Vic, Aunt Julia and cousin Lily, he is shown to their attic apartment and expected to fend for himself. His relatives appear to be conducting a cold war. Still blaming each other for their daughter Kathy's suicide four years ago, Julia and Vic have stopped speaking to each other. The one who suffers the most from their silence is 11-year-old Lily, who shows signs of being emotionally disturbed. Suspense rises to a feverish pitch as pieces of a complex puzzle fall into place, involving Kathy's death and Julia and Vic's estrangement from each other and from David's parents. Even Kathy's ghost seems to make an appearance, imploring David to "help Lily." Meanwhile, Lily is doing everything she can to turn her parents against him. David's attempts to pull the family together fail miserably until, in the aftermath of a chilling climax, he confronts his own demons as he attempts to help Lily dispel hers. The novel's gothic flavor, compelling minor characters (David's skinhead friend, Frank, and Raina, a college student and artist) and subtle exploration of guilt and complicity add texture to this tense psychological drama -Publishers Weekly

This is one of my favorite books in the world (though I haven't seen it in about four months cause I lent it to a so-called "friend" who promises to return it "any day now", argh). The thing I like best is the characters. David was so real to me, afraid of himself, lonely, guilty. Frank was probably my favorite character in the book. He reminds me of certain friends of mine. At first I really disliked Lily -- she seemed like a demon-child -- but after I realized what had happened I felt sorry for her. The only part of the book that I didn't like was Kathy's ghost. I didn't think that belonged in an otherwise realistic story, though it was through Kathy that David realized what Lily had done. All in all, a great book which I'd recommend to anyone who likes suspense novels. -Reader's Review, Meaghan Good

Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventure of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy

Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventure of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy

Bibliographic Information:

Meyer, L.A. (2007). Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventure of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy. New York. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. ISBN: 9781593160944.

Excerpt:

"Even with a fleet of well armed boats the Fervor is foolish to take on a kings ship. These smaller ships swarm about us pepperin' us with bullets and cannon balls. The master has been hit with chain shot and taken below, most of him. -Chapter 18"

Plot Summary:

Bloody Jack is the story of an orphan girl named Jacky. After her street gang of beggars die she is forced to find a new means of survival and disguises herself as a 10 year old boy so that she she can join the English Navy.

Critical Analysis:

Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy is the first in a series of historical fiction novels about Mary "Jacky" Faber, or Bloody Jack as she is so aptly named after killing a pirate. This book might remind some of Oliver Twist or The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, but more modern and grittier.

For example, the story starts off with Mary begging with her friend and mentor Charlie until he is killed. There are several other killings throughout the story by Mary's own hands once she becomes a ship boy such as the killing of a pirate, and a man on the ship that tries to sodomize Mary not knowing that she is not a he. Other more modern issues that might have been considered taboo during the times of the two previous books mentioned are those of female menstruation and sexual activity from a female perspective.

It should be noted that L.A. Meyers is male, but tells the story from Bloody Jack's female perspective, and I think he does a good job. Mary blossoms from a girl that easily resembles a boy to a girl going through puberty, and then a girl who finds herself developing feelings for her fellow shipmate, Jaimy.

Though this is historical fiction, it is fantastic and light, yet enjoyable. The story is told in a whimsical cockney accent which takes a bit of getting used to, but eventually does happen. Also, Mary "Bloody Jack" Faber can be pretty self deprecating at times, for instance I remember her describing herself as thin lipped and leather at one point in time. I related her early 19th century insecurities to ones a 12-13 year old girl would have today.

I would definitely recommend this book to young adults, and especially girls. As far as character development is concerned L.A. Meyer does a great job of making Jacky a likeable character with her quick wit, insights, filthy mouth by those times standards, and self depreciation. I would definitely consider her a character, and I look forward to reading other books in the series.


Reviews:Bloody Jack is a a rollicking good time, a colorful yarn with a lively protagonist and a boatload of action. Once begun, the book is difficult to put down; once completed, it's hard not to leap immediately into the next in the series.
-Tom Knapp, A Reader's Review

Meyer evokes life in the 18th-century Royal Navy with Dickensian flair. He seamlessly weaves into Jacky's first-person account a wealth of historical and nautical detail at a time when pirates terrorized the oceans. Interspersed are humorous asides about her ongoing struggle to maintain "The Deception" (she fashions herself a codpiece and emulates the "shake-and-wiggle action" of the other boys when pretending to use the head, for instance), she earns her titular nickname in a clash with pirates and survives a brief stretch as a castaway before her true identity is discovered (the book ends as she's about to be shipped off to a school for young ladies in Boston). The narrative's dialect occasionally falters, but this detracts only slightly from the descriptive prose ("He's got muscles like a horse and looks to have a brain to match") and not at all from the engine driving this sprawling yarn: the spirited heroine's wholly engaging voice. Her budding sexuality (which leads to a somewhat flawed plotline involving a secret shipboard romance) and a near-rape by a seaman mark this one for older readers, who will find the salty tale a rattling good read. Ages 12-up.
-Publishers Weekly

Grade 6-8-With the plague running rampant in London in 1797, Mary's parents and sister are soon counted among the dead. Left alone and penniless, the eight-year-old is taken in by a gang of orphans and learns survival skills. However, when their leader is killed, Mary decides to try her luck elsewhere. She strips the dead body, cuts her hair, renames herself Jack Faber, and is soon employed as a ship's boy on the HMS Dolphin. When the vessel sees its first skirmish with a pirate ship, her bravery saves her friend Jaimy and earns her the nickname "Bloody Jack." Told by Mary/Jack in an uneven dialect that sometimes doesn't ring true, the story weaves details of life aboard the Dolphin. Readers see how she changes her disguise based on her own physical changes and handles the "call of nature," her first experiences with maturation, and the dangers to boys from unscrupulous crew members. The protagonist's vocabulary, her appearance and demeanor, and her desire to be one of the boys and do everything they do without complaint complete the deception. This story also shows a welcome slant to this genre with an honorable, albeit strict Captain, and ship's mates who are willing and able teachers. If readers are looking for a rousing, swashbuckling tale of pirates and adventures on the high seas, this title falls short. However, it is a good story of a brave ship's "boy" with natural leadership abilities and a sense of fair play and humanity.
-School Library Journal

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl

Bibliographic Information:

Lyga, B. (2006). The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl. Boston: Random House. ISBN: 0618723927.

Excerpt:
"He's a gross little perv. He stands in the main lobby every morning when we all come in and you can see him staring at the girls." She looks over at me, and I guess something shows on my face because she indulges me with that magic grin. "Hey, it's cool for you to stare at the girls, You're not, like, a hundred and ten years old and married. But, I was just sick of him and his shit, so i told him that if he bothered me again, I was going to tell the police that he molested me." "You should have seen the look on his face!" She rears back laughing, smoke purling from her nostrils like a dragon. "Oh shit, man, it was hilarious. I mean, I think he has molested one of the girls before. And after all that crap, man, he looked guilty. I knew I had him. So, I got up and left, but before I left I untucked my shirt and I undid a couple of buttons and I sniffled a little bit when I walked past the secretary's desk. Just to make an impression, you know?
. -page 139

Plot Summary:

Donnie, or better known as Fanboy, is a 15-year-old high school student. He is also an avid graphic novel aficionado, accelerated student, and unfortunately a walking target for a group of individuals at his high school he has christened "The Jock Jerks". The Jock Jerks terrorize him during lunch, and target him during Phys Ed during dodge ball. One day a girl photographs a picture of Fanboy being targeted during gym class, and that is where the adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl take form.

Critical Analysis:

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl is a novel which takes place in modern day; accurately labeled by critics as the "post Columbine" era. This novel tells a story of typical, real time, teen angst from the perspective of Donnie, or Fanboy. Fanboy is a shy, intelligent high school student that has yet to learn much about life or women at this point in his development. He has one friend in high school named Cal, who is one of the token black students at Fanboy's high school, an athlete that provides a segue between Donnie and the Jock Jerks. Cal is also an avid graphic novel reader and collector. Then, there is Kyra, or better known as Goth Girl. Kyra is portrayed as a goth-centric teen with suicidal tendencies, as well as a passion for graphic novels and stealing cars. She somewhat adopts Fanboy and teaches him to stand up for himself, not be so afraid, and yes, life goes on, and that one's tragic teen life, really isn't that tragic. Though, that adage doesn't have to just apply to teen life.

While reading this book one watches Fanboy emerge as a more outspoken and self confident individual. We also see Fanboy putting aside typical social mores such as what is the standard of beauty, and what is normal in the realms of love and friend and family dynamics. We all have issues, and we are not one or even two dimensional beings. There seems to be a dated trend in YA lit, and possibly all outlets of culture and media that it is the jocks vs. the geeks, beauty queens vs. the outsider, etc., but that is rarely the case, and Lyga does an excellent job of applying humanity and scope to the majority of the characters which he portrays in this novel.

I would recommend this book to pretty much everyone I know that can somewhat relate to or has an interest in geek/outsider culture.

Reviews:Age range: Grade 9 and Up
Barry Lyga's novel (Houghton, 2006) about a smart, geeky, artistic 15-year-old boy with a passion for graphic novels comes to life with Scott Brick's narration. On bad days, Fanboy is bullied and tormented by his peers; on good days, they ignore him. Fanboy meets Kyra, a Goth Girl with requisite attitude who is also an outsider, and she teaches him to stand up for himself. Brick provides fitting voices for the teen and adult characters-including real-life comic artist Brian Michael Bendis-that give the audio an almost cinematic quality.
-School Library Journal
"I'm a computer geek, a comic book geek, a study geek. Even in the Fast-Track classes, I'm apart." Fifteen-year-old Fanboy is miserable at school, where he is bullied, and at home, with his pregnant mother and her husband, the "step-fascist." His only relief is the late hours spent creating his own comic book. Then he receives an instant message from Kyra, an enigmatic Goth who seems to be the only witness to the violence he endures, and the two form a cagey, charged friendship. Unlike Daniel Ehrenhaft's Drawing a Blank (2006), in which a young comics fan embarks on a wild, fantastical adventure, Lyga's debut novel is a darkly comic, realistic, contemporary story of bullying and a teen's private escape in artistic pursuits. Fanboy entertains plenty of violent thoughts. He carries a bullet, keeps a tally of his abusers ("The List"), and lashes out with sometimes-cruel remarks, which feel sharply authentic. The insider comics details will slow some readers, and the open-ended questions about Kyra's personal story will frustrate others. Yet Fanboy's whip-smart, often hilariously sarcastic voice skillfully captures a teenager's growing self-awareness, and adds a fresh, urgent perspective to age-old questions about how young people cope with bullying and their own feelings of helplessness, rage, and being misunderstood as they try to discover themselves.
-Booklist
"...Fanboy's whip-smart, often hilariously sarcastic voice...adds fresh, urgent perspective to age-old questions about how young people cope with...being misunderstood as they try to discover themselves." (Booklist, ALA, Boxed Review )

A Brief Chapter in my Impossible Life

A Brief Chapter in my Impossible Life

Bibliographic Information:

Reinhardt, D. (2006). A Brief Chapter in my Impossible Life. New York: Random House. ISBN: 0385746989.

Excerpt:

This is starting to sound like Romeo and Juliet but with lots of hair and heavy dark clothing. It strikes me as totally absurd when I conjure up a picture of two ad-ass Orthodox kids breaking all the rules. -page 106

Plot Summary:

Simone is a 16 year old girl growing up in a staunchly liberal, atheistic household. Simone shares her families religious and political agendas, but there is one difference between them, that being that she is olive complexioned and they are blond hair, blue eyed, Caucasians. So, Simone is adopted. Here birth mother Rivka, contacts her and this gives Simone the oppertunity to settle a lot of unanswered questions. But she is also curious to why the contact is being initiated now? Simone does meet her birth mother, and finds out she is a Hasidic Jew who had Simone when she was her age, 16. The story unfolds further as Simone puts the pieces of her past together and builds a relationship with her birth mother.

Critical Analysis:
A Brief Chapter in my Impossible Life is a realistic/romantic fiction novel geared towards young women. There are two plots that interject: One, the reconnection of a young adoptee with her Hasidic Jew birth mother that is terminally ill, and two, the main character Simone's first romantic relationship. The story is told in modern time from Simone, a high school Junior's perspective. Initially the story starts out with open dialogue between Simone and the reader but, that style of dialogue is quickly dropped within the first few chapters and the narrative continues from Simone's point of view. Something else to note about Simone, is that her family are what some would consider idealistic, yuppie extremists. Not that I have a problem with that, but with Simone's mother being a lawyer for the ACLU, the family being fervent Athiests, over half of the narrative takes place at a local co-op, along with countless other liberal yuppie cliches, the story and ideologies come off too forceful to take seriously.

Also, there isn't much character build-up which didn't allow me to develop a relationship with any of the characters.

The characters motives and actions were so predictable that I had a difficult time enjoying much of this book. You would think that potentially the romantic fling that takes place between Simone and Gary, her barista crush at the co-op and fellow writer for the school newspaper, would spark more interest and appeal, but it does not. Simone fawns over Gary, he secretly has a "huge crush" on her ever since she showed up to get coffee one morning before an Athiest Alliance rally, and one day Gary calls Simone to ask her out on a date somewhat out of the blue. Their romance blossoms and Gary is more interested in being a supportive boyfriend to Simone and explaining Jewish culture than making-out, amongst other things.

This novel would be good light reading for a young woman but, does not promise to deliver any thought provoking questions, solve any real life issues, or deliver an insightful morale.


Reviews:
Gr. 9-12. Olive skinned and dark eyed, Simone looks nothing like her fair-haired family. She is, nonetheless, the beloved daughter of her adoptive parents and enjoys a close and supportive relationship with her younger brother. It therefore comes as a terrible intrusion in Simone's comfortable life when, after 16 years, her birth mother asks to meet her. After some resistance, Simone makes contact with Rivka, a 33-year-old self-exiled Hasidic Jew who is dying of ovarian cancer. Despite a fairly transparent setup, once Simone and Rivka are brought together, their shared story is developed with skill, attention to detail, and poignancy. Both Simone and Rivka are strong, complicated characters who benefit greatly from each other: Simone is gifted with her heritage and history and thus a richer identity, and Rivka is able to leave the world having known her daughter. Some sexual content and strong language in Simone's friendships and school life may make this an inappropriate selection for younger teens, and with a poorly representative cover, the book may require hand selling.
-Booklist

If read solely as adolescent fiction, this book is harmless fun. A young girl comes of age and finds her identity, albeit through a slightly less usual route (i.e. meeting with the woman who gave her up for adoption). In the process, she comes to terms with her own sexuality, ideas of family, and ethnic heritage as the daughter of a Jew.

The prose is neither bad nor extremely good, and I don't have enough knowledge of the Jewish heritage to comment intelligently about that portrayal. However, the portrayal of an adoptee is so insensitive and rooted in ignorance that it can be harmful to people using this book to understand an adoptee's experience.

Simone's parents are an odd mixture of extreme idealization (accepting Rivka without any anxiety on their own part or mixed feelings letting Simone get close to a woman who will soon die and possibly pose a competing interest) and insensitivity. While it's refreshing to see adoptive parents who are supportive of their adopted child's original family, it takes a great deal of skill and emotional maturity to navigate conflicting interests.

Given that they are portrayed so idealistically, however, it is odd how insensitive they are to Simone's initial anger and reluctance to meet Rivka. They don't bring up the topic gently, give her any hint why they are placing pressure on her, or give her space to express her fears and worries.

Finally, it strikes me as very selfish that Rivka has come back into Simone's life only to receive care and companionship for herself. Rivka does give some information about Simone's backstory, but the main part of their relationship is Simone caring for Rivka. The story is unbalanced in only presenting Rivka's needs rather than presenting Simone's equally legitimate needs.

In short, this entire story rang false. Read entirely as fiction without any grounding in truth it is a passable diversion, but as regards a portrayal of adoption it is potentially misleading and harmful for those involved in adoption.
-M. Kim (A reader's review)

The Chocolate War

The Chocolate War

Bibliographic Information:

Cormier, R. (2005). The chocolate war. New York: Knopf Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 0440944597.

Excerpt:

"My God," Brother Eugene cried as he entered the classroom and beheld the bedlam. The destruction of Room Nineteen took exactly thirty-seven seconds. Archie timed it from the doorway. A sweetness gathered in his breast as he saw the room being turned into a shambles, a sweet moment of triumph that compensated for all the other lousy things... -page 71

Plot Summary:

Jerry Renault is a freshman at Trinity High School. At Trinity a secret society of upper classmen that go by the name "The Vigil" exert control over the student body through intimidation techniques and cruel "assignments". Jerry Renault refuses to follow The Vigil's order to sell chocolates for the school fundraiser which not only threatens the schools authority, but also The Vigil's.

Critical Analysis:

The Chocolate War is a realistic fiction novel that takes place in modern time. The story mostly belongs to Jerry Renault, a freshman whose mother has recently died. Jerry is simply trying to get through the drudge of day to day life and make it on the high school football team. It is also a story about Archie, a manipulative smooth taker who is in the secret society known as The Vigil. Also, there is Jerry's friend Goob (short for Goober), who learns fairly quickly to conform in order to be spared the cruelty of his peers.

Children can be cruel, and so can adults. The Chocolate War shows a darker side to humanity where the majority of the characters are self obsessed, power hungry(as well as drunk), seemingly conscienceless individuals, and "animalistic" as the story suggests. Cormier's greatest achievements with this novel would have to be his well paced suspense, gritty character portrayal, as well as his obvious devotion and respect to his audience. The issues and scenes in this book are blatant and at times jarring to the reader, which is what made it such a confrontational piece of literature when initially released. I have no complaints as far as weaknesses are concerned with this book. I think this piece of literature serves as the perfect example of a segway piece which is just as enjoyable to the young adult audience as it is to an adult audience.

Reviews:

The Chocolate War is masterfully structured and rich in theme; the action is well crafted, well timed, suspenseful; complex ideas develop and unfold with clarity."-The New York Times Book Review

Recorded Books (Recorded Books, LLC.)
The Chocolate War is a brilliant, unflinching portrait of vicious mob cruelty and conformity in an exclusive prep school. A gripping story from one of the most provocative writers in modern young adult literature, it will hold you spellbound until the final, anguished fight on the football fields of Trinity School.

Copper Sun

Bibliographic Information:

Draper, H. M. (2008). Copper sun. New York: Atheneum. ISBN: 0689821816.

Excerpt:

"Cato say go south, "Amari insisted. "And he also said the streets were paved with gold. Cato's story is just an old slave's tale about a place that doesn't even exist!" "This place he called Fort Mose is just a pretend place he's heard of--like the Promised Land--a place you go when you die. And I don't want to die--not yet!" -page 208

Plot Summary:

Amari, a 15-year-old girl is captured from her tribe in Africa and sold in to slavery to become the birthday present of a 16-year-old plantation owner's son. This is a story of hope and survival as Amari tries to escape slavery by running away to a potentially mythical place in Florida where "slavery does not exist and the streets are paved with gold".

Critical Analysis:

Copper Sun is a historical fiction novel that tells the story of Amari, a captured African that is sold in to slavery. The character descriptions are rich and well developed, and the story is riveting as Amari goes from one horrific landscape customary of the American slave trade to another. Draper paints a gritty and realistic portrait of what would be customary of a captured slave girl from Africa. The atrocities which take place are shocking, but very much a reality of our American history.

Draper's biggest strength in this novel is her integrity of character and reference to historically accurate places and practices of the time; The only weakness would be the predictable ending and some contrived characters and scenario's found throughout the novel. Copper Sun would be a good starter book for young adults and teens that are just becoming familiar with the history of America and the African Slave Trade.

Reviews:

Gillian Engberg (Booklist, Feb. 1, 2006 (Vol. 102, No. 11))
Best known for her contemporary African American characters, Draper's latest novel is a searing work of historical fiction that imagines a 15-year-old African girl's journey through American slavery. In brutal specifics, Draper shows the inhumanity: Amari is systematically raped on the slave ship and on the plantation and a slave child is used as alligator bait by white teenagers. And she adds to the complex history in alternating chapters that flip between Amari and Polly, an indentured white servant on Amari's plantation. A few plot elements, such as Amari's chance meeting with Besa, are contrived. But Draper builds the explosive tension to the last chapter, and the sheer power of the story, balanced between the overwhelmingly brutal facts of slavery and Amari's ferocious survivor's spirit, will leave readers breathless, even as they consider the story's larger questions about the infinite costs of slavery and how to reconcile history. A moving author's note discusses the real places and events on which the story is based. Give this to teens who have read Julius Lester's Day of Tears (2005). Category: Books for Older Readers--Fiction. 2006, Simon & Schuster/Atheneum, $16.95. Gr. 9-12. Starred Review

Teens Read Too Review--2007
This is not just another book about slavery. This is a book about something real and tangible. Ms. Draper's writing is so vivid that you can smell the rank odors beneath ship. You can feel the pain of being lashed with a whip. Your throat will constrict at the heart-wrenching pain of a mother and child being forced apart. You will also celebrate the strength and spirit of Amari and those she inspires.


School Library Journal and Booklist both starred reviewed this novel.