Archive for High School

Face Your Fears

May 20, 2013 · Filed under Fiction, Graphic Novel, High School, Intermediate (3-5), Middle School (6-8), Novels, Realistic · Tagged , , , , , ,

As I was choosing titles for our Spring 2013 webcast, I noticed a theme running through several of the books that ended up on my final list.  Perhaps it is my taste in books showing through my choices or maybe it’s a larger trend in children’s publishing this season. Either way, I highly recommend these books for exploring the idea of facing your fears and moving on.

sleepwalkersSleepwalkers by Viviane Schwarz. May 2013. 9780763662301. Gr. 2-6

If you’re ever afraid to go to sleep, all you need to do is leave a letter under your pillow for the Sleepwalkers.  They will save you from your nightmares.  The Sleepwalkers take on the monsters and scary situations that disturb our sleep by giving the dreamer what they need to face their fears. But the three heroes have been rescuing children from their nightmares for a long time, and they are ready to train their replacements.  This is the story of the new Sleepwalkers as they learn to conquer their own fears right in the dreams of the children they are rescuing.  Viviane Schwartz creates a fantastic world with unusual heroes that just may  have young readers looking at their dreams and fears with new perspective.

aftereliAfter Eli by Rebecca Rupp. August 2012. 9780763658106. Gr. 6-8

It’s been three years since Daniel’s brother Eli died in Iraq.  Though that time has passed, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the pain has lessened.  Daniel still adds names to the Book of Death notebook where he lists the names of people who have died particularly senseless or cruel deaths.  His parents aren’t really present for him anymore, and Daniel is focused on keeping the memory of his brother alive on his own.  When he meets some unconventional new friends, he finds that he is slowly drawn in to their lives, which is what he needs to be able to process his grief and move on.

willandwhitWill & Whit by Laura Lee Gulledge. May 2013. 9781419705465. Gr. 7-10

Wilhelmina Huckstep has an old fashioned soul—she likes old things and a simple life—but she is haunted by shadows, and she has been ever since her parents died. She would love to eschew modern life to spend time with her friends without technology getting in the way, but she’s embarrassed to admit that she’s afraid of the dark.  It turns out that Hurricane Whitney forces the issue when it knocks out the power, and makes Will and everyone else in town to do without for a few days.  Artistically inclined readers may relate to the way Will uses art to face her grief from her parents’ death.  Will is a likable heroine, and her story will have readers alternately cheering for her and tearing up.

There’s a lot more in the webcast on this theme and beyond.  I thought I’d pick just a few of them to share on the blog perhaps to entice those of you who haven’t watched the webcast yet to check it out.  You’ll hear my voice in the sections devoted to realistic teen fiction, graphic novels, and secondary science.  :)

MindyBlogger:  Mindy R.

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Book Review: Fitz

May 9, 2013 · Filed under Fiction, High School, Novels, Realistic · Tagged ,

fitzFitz by Mick Cochrane.  November 2012. 9780375956836. Gr. 9-12

Fitz by Mick Cochrane was one of many teen fiction ARCs stacked on my desk at the end of 2012 that I was wading through, and I might have passed it by if I hadn’t opened the book to the first sentence.  It said, “On a cool morning in late May, Fitz is standing in the alley behind his father’s apartment in St. Paul.”  Most readers probably wonder about Fitz’s relationship to his father when they read that, but my attention was drawn to the mention of St. Paul.  A quick scan down the page revealed—with mention of “Summit  Hill District” and “F. Scott Fitzgerald”–that it was, in fact, St. Paul, Minnesota, and I had to read the book.  After all, I lived in St. Paul for several years, and I love the Summit Hill District.  Though I had to laugh at Fitz’s opinion of the neighborhood: “It’s full of yuppies.”  I don’t know if I agree with that, but I can imagine a 15 year-old boy thinking that.

For those without a personal connection to the setting, it doesn’t take long before the big reveal that will have you on the edge of your seat for the duration of the novel. Fitz is waiting outside his father’s apartment with a gun.  “. . . he’s carrying a Smith & Wesson .38 revolver in the waistband of his jeans and a gutful of confusion, a lifetime’s resentment in his heart.  A gnawing hunger for a father he’s never known.”  This is in the first five pages of the book.  In the next hundred and seventy pages, we follow Fitz and his father all around the city as they spend a day getting to know each other with a gun between them.

It’s a fast moving story that will likely have appeal to some of your more reluctant readers. It is also a thoughtful look at a boy desperate enough for his father’s attention that he is willing to threaten him with a gun.  As Fitz’s father tells his story, we see that there are no easy answers.  This short novel is both suspenseful and poignant.  Highly recommended for a complex look at divorce and father-son relationships.

 

MindyBlogger: Mindy R.

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Great Contemporary Books for Horse Lovers

May 6, 2013 · Filed under High School, Intermediate (3-5), Middle School (6-8), Primary (K-2), Uncategorized · Tagged , , ,

Many of us avid readers have other passions as well–knitting, soccer, camping, or cars, for example–and mine is horses. While I don’t know much about car stories, I do know there are lots of great stories about horses, caring for horses, and riding horses. Think of the classics: the Marguerite Henry books (Misty of Chincoteague), the Anna Sewell books (Black Beauty), the Walter Farley books (The Black Stallion)…The great thing for horse lovers is an ever-expanding collection of books to embrace. Whether you’re 5 or 50, there are plenty of stories about horses and their people to keep you interested, including some exciting recent and upcoming titles.

MacadooAs with stories that revolve around other popular pastimes, the best horse books–the ones that horse lovers cherish–are written by authors who know the subject matter. The best stories are accurate and reflect knowledge, humor and sadness, and real experiences and relationships, no matter if they’re written for young children, teens, or adults. Luckily, there are many great books featuring horses. Here are some titles fresh off the presses for horsey-minded readers to enjoy.

Told from the point of view of a large Belgian draft horse, Macadoo of the Maury River is the tale of a colt, born at a large breeding establishment in Alberta and sold at auction to a kindhearted person who saves him from the kill buyer. Macadoo grows from a brave colt into a gentle soul of a horse satisfied with his place in the world. Named after the man who bought him at the auction–because the man’s name is on the halter the colt is given–Macadoo is moved from place to place as the situations of his humans change. He is always treated properly, but his story reveals his sorrow at being torn from his mother’s side and later at losing the boy he has developed a bond with. Macadoo finds himself at a riding stable for children, where he finally comes to terms with his role helping young people gain confidence. This book, to be released in August, is the second installment in Gigi Amateau‘s Horses of the Maury River series. (ISBN 9780763637668. Gr 4-7.)Mystery

Mystery at Black Horse Farm by Jenny Hughes is a high-action whodunit with a little harmless romance thrown in for good measure. Tweens and teens at a summer horse camp practice their jumping, venture out on trails, and even swim in the ocean with their horses. Meanwhile, the protagonists try to figure out who is trying to steal a necklace belonging to the girl whose family owns the property.The mystery thickens to reveal dangerous thieves, a hidden treasure, and a heroine on horseback. Other books in this 2013 series include Fantasy Horse and Model Horse. (ISBN 9781621240037. Gr 4-6.)

In Samphire Song by Jill Hucklesby, fourteen-year-old Jodie finds solace working at a horse stable after her father is Samphirekilled in an airplane accident. When her mother’s financial situation suddenly improves, Jodie finally is able to search for her dream horse. She chooses Samphire, a part-Arabian stallion with some emotional baggage of his own, but the two bond and develop a strong relationship, allowing Jodie to heal and make friends with the other girls at the stable. When Jodie’s younger brother suddenly needs a new kidney, the health costs lead to losing Samphire. Distraught but resigned to abide by her family’s needs, Jodie moves on after his sale, but is determined to one day get him back. A perilous evening in a horse yard with dangerous thugs features Jodie fleeing on her faithful steed, and a satisfying ending leaves the reader cheering for girl and horse. (ISBN 9780807572245. Gr 5-7.)

Jessie Haas‘s Bramble and Maggie books are super for young horse lovers, but they will be eagerly read by other young readers as well. In the first book, Bramble and Maggie: Horse Meets Girl, Bramble is revealed to be an opinionated pony no longer interested in giving lessons at the riding school. Maggie is looking for her first mount and the two find themselves to be a good match. Realistic in characterization and description, as well as in the charming illustrations, the book is a great introduction to how a girl and her first pony get to know one another. In Bramble and Maggie: Give and Take, Maggie learns that in order to get Bramble to cooperate, she must also understand and respond to her pony’s preferences. Little girls who pore over horse care encyclopedias and dream of their own ponies will love these books! (ISBN 9780763662516, 9780763650216. Gr 1-3.)Bramble 2   Bramble 1

For a full list of contemporary books for horse lovers, click here. For even more horse books, click here. Giddyup!

Blogger: Lori C. Lori

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I, Witness by Norah McClintock (writer) and Mike Deas (artist)

April 29, 2013 · Filed under Graphic Novel, High School, Reviews · Tagged , ,

3055656When his best friend Robbie stumbles across a murder, Boone warns him not to tell anyone.  It is only days later that Robbie is gunned down in front of Boone.  Stuck in the same dilemma as his dead friend, Boone struggles with his own advice to honor the street code of staying silent.

This heavy black and white graphic novel uses negative space masterfully. The story itself can be relatable to those who live by street rules, only sometimes doing the right thing is the hardest and scariest decision.  This is definitely a page turner.

Recommended for high school (mild language and graphic violence).

Tuan's_PictureBlogger : Tuan N.

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Book Review: Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets

April 22, 2013 · Filed under Fiction, High School, Novels, Realistic, Reviews · Tagged , , , ,

Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets by Evan Roskos. March 2013. 9780547928531. Gr. 9-12.

I loved this book.

The review that follows can really be boiled down to those four words, but that short distillation is what I keep coming back to, and is what I have been telling everyone about Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets, an outstanding debut novel by Evan Roskos.

The book is filled with quirkiness and lots of dark, self-deprecating humor, as well as healthy doses of heartbreaking sadness and equal measures of hopefulness.  Some may read the book’s synopsis that says, in part (regarding the protagonist), “James recites Walt Whitman, hugs trees, and talks to an imaginary bird therapist” and think that it is just too strange to pick up and read, but there is a sweetness to James that pulled me in; he is a character that you feel for and hope that things turn out well for him.

James is troubled.  He doesn’t feel that he fits in anywhere, and really only has one friend to help him navigate the difficult time of his life that is high school.  He struggles with depression and crippling anxiety, which is compounded by the fact that his parents aren’t willing to get him help.  He calls his father and mother, “The Brute” and “The Banshee”, respectively, and they are uncaring and abusive to James and his sister, Jorie.  Jorie has been thrown out of the house, leaving James even more isolated.  Typical adolescent issues also plague James, as he struggles with girl issues and being a good friend.

James’ mental illness provides the backbone of the book, and Roskos has drawn on his own mental illness issues to lend authenticity.  James resists becoming one of the multitude of the medicated, yet has difficulty getting out of bed due to his depression, goes through periods where he doesn’t even have the energy to eat, and even contemplates suicide.  At a particularly low point, he wonders if he and his sister are “poisoned with sadness in our blood”.  But with all of the gloominess in the book, there is always a hopeful air to James and his situation.  He uses poetry and photography to provide self-help, and “talks” with his imaginary bird therapist.  He does get professional help as well, so throughout the book the reader hopes things are turning in the right direction for James.

Teenhelp.com says that 20% of teens will experience depression before they reach adulthood.  Depression is isolating by its nature, so perhaps reading this book and knowing that others deal with similar issues may provide some teens with comfort and understanding about their situation.

Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets is a funny, sad, entertaining read that illuminates the often-dark topic of mental illness.

(Note: The book contains instances of sexual talk, mostly between James and his best friend Derek.  This is done in a responsible way by Roskos, and in my opinion, reflects how many teens talk about sex.  But, I would encourage you to get a copy in your hands and decide for yourself the age-appropriateness as it pertains to the teens in your life.)

Ryan H.

Blogger: Ryan H.

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Crossover Picks for Teens

April 15, 2013 · Filed under Dystopia, Fiction, High School, Historical, Novels, Realistic · Tagged , , , , , ,

The number of adult books I read last year was embarrassingly low.  I suppose that is fairly typical among those working in the children’s literature field, but I do try to make it a point to pick up some books that I can discuss with my friends.  It’s a bonus if they are good choices for teens as well.  Here are a few titles from 2012 that you can recommend to teens and discuss with your adult friends.

littlecenturyLittle Century by Anna Keesey. June 2012. 9780374192044. Gr. 11-Adult

This historical novel follows 18-year-old Esther Chambers as she heads west at the beginning of the 20th century.  After her mother dies, she is in search of direction in a world that seems full of possibilities.  Esther gets in contact with a distant cousin in a little frontier town in Oregon and travels from her home in Chicago to stay with him until she figures out what she wants to do next.  Once there, Esther finds herself talked into homesteading and caught up in the politics of ranching in a climate where land and water are very valuable.  This is all new to Esther.  She is a city girl, who hadn’t even ridden a horse before, much less experienced the harsh realities of homesteading.  There are definite comparisons to Hattie Big Sky here, and it’s a good choice for fans of historical fiction.

yearofthegadflyYear of the Gadfly by Jennifer Miller. May 2012. 9780547548593. Gr. 11-Adult

All the politics, secrets, and scandals that are typical of high schools everywhere are amped up at Mariana Academy.  The school has seen its share of issues over the years, and now there is an elaborate Code of Conduct to prevent bullying that a secret vigilante group enforces with blackmail.  Iris Dupont is looking for a fresh start at Mariana, but she can’t resist a good mystery.  Iris is determined to use her journalistic instincts to break into the secret society and expose them.  The twists and turns will keep readers guessing in this complex novel.

purePure by Julianna Baggott. February 2012. 9781455503063. Gr. 11-Adult

In the post-apocalyptic world in this novel, most people are disfigured in some way after surviving the Detonations.  The Pures are the ones who live inside the dome that protected them.  Pressia lives a survivor’s life outside the dome, where  she has it relatively good.  Her disfigurement is comparatively minor, and she barely remembers what life was like before.  Partridge lives inside the dome.  He is safe there, but he feels unhappy with the strict rules and his distant father. Partridge is certain that his mother survived the Detonations outside the dome, and he is determined to find her.  Together, Partirdge and Pressia discover secrets that affect both of their lives.  The next book in the trilogy, Fuse, came out in February

Ryan blogged about Pure and other crossover titles in his post about the recently announced Alex Awards.  Check it out!

MindyBlogger: Mindy R.

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Book Review: The Twelve-Fingered Boy

April 8, 2013 · Filed under Fantasy, Fiction, High School, Mystery, Novels, Paranormal, Reviews · Tagged ,

The Twelve-Fingered Boy by John Hornor Jacobs.  February 2013. 9780761390077.  Gr. 9-12.

I love books with characters that are odd and unique.  I have posted here before about how I believe people judge books by their cover (I know I do!).  I loved this cover and the title, so, everything upon first impression about The Twelve-Fingered Boy grabbed me (groan-inducing pun intended).

Shreveport Justice Cannon, or Shreve for short, is a resident of Pulaski Juvenile Detention Center.  He has lived a rough life, having never met his father and being required to deal with his difficult,  alcoholic mother.  He has had to fend for himself, and also worry about his younger, vulnerable brother, Vig.  Shreve has made a “living” at the detention center by dealing contraband.  Fellow inmates make sure Shreve stays in their good graces, as he supplies the Heath bars, lollipops, and other sweets that they all desire.

Soon, Shreve gets a new roommate.  Jack is a smaller, shy boy who does whatever he can to be inconspicuous, which is difficult when one has twelve fingers.  Jack reminds Shreve of his brother, and Shreve becomes protective of Jack; a friendship is born.  Shreve soon sees that Jack’s hands aren’t the only things that make him unique.  When Jack gets angry, the air ripples around him, and he produces a powerful and destructive shockwave. Jack’s ability has attracted the attention of the dark and mysterious Quincrux, who apparently seeks out those with powers, to use for his own purposes.

Shreve and Jack decide that they can’t stay at the detention center while Quincrux is seeking them, as Quincrux is able to mentally manipulate people, making it easy for him to get past the detention center’s administration and get to Jack.  Shreve learns that he, too, has a special mental ability that was awoken by Quincrux, and this comes in handy while he and Jack are on the run.

We get a lot of “good versus evil” battles, and I must say that Quincrux is as menacing and scary a villain as there can be.  His intentions are not clear, and aside from some ambiguity at the end, it seems certain that he is the embodiment of evil.  A healthy dose of mystery is introduced to be tackled in the next book in this new series, and I am excited to see what is in store for Shreve and The Twelve-Fingered Boy.

Check out the delightfully ominous book trailer here, then get this in the hands (polydactyl or otherwise) of everyone you can!

Ryan

Blogger: Ryan H.

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Book Review: The White Bicycle

April 4, 2013 · Filed under Fiction, High School, Novels, Realistic · Tagged , , ,

whitebicycleThe White Bicycle by Beverley Brenna.  October 2012. 9780889954830.  Gr. 9-12.

The White Bicycle opens with a dream.  Taylor is walking through the woods.  Her mother is calling after her, but Taylor continues walking with her bicycle on the difficult path without looking back.  It is just a dream, but Taylor notes,

“In life it is your dreams that take you forward, and your dreams that make you human.”

Taylor dreams of being independent. She is nineteen years old, and she feels like it is time for her to stop relying on her mother so much.  She was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome when she was eleven, which helped her to understand why some things were difficult for her, but author Beverley Brenna draws on her experience working with people who have Asperger’s to create an intimate story that shares her view that Asperger’s means “seeing the world in a different way, not in a defective way.”  She writes more about Asperger’s and her novels in an interview at the end of the book.  The result is an introspective, occasionally philosophical, coming-of-age novel about an unusual protagonist that will resonate with a wide variety of readers, whether they are familiar with Asperger’s or not.

Taylor’s first person narration takes readers back to her earliest memories, through her parents divorce, and off to the French countryside for a summer job.  Her story began in Wild Orchid, which SLJ compared to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and turned into a trilogy that followed Taylor’s push to move past her fears in new ways as she grows up.  The White Bicycle stands alone as the conclusion of the trilogy, and readers who discover her story will be richly rewarded.

For more books that explore Asperger’s or Autism, see my post about Autism Awareness Month from 2011.

MindyBlogger : Mindy R.

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Book Review: How to Lead a Life of Crime

March 25, 2013 · Filed under Fiction, High School, Novels, Reviews · Tagged ,

How to Lead a Life of Crime by Kirsten Miller. February 2013. 9781595145185. Gr. 9-12.

I am not a criminal. Far from it.  Sure, I have a couple of speeding tickets on my record, and once was cited for having a dirty license plate (can you believe that? I did appeal that one, and it was dismissed. Thanks, State of Minnesota! Keep your license plates clean, people).  But, for the most part, I walk the straight and narrow.  The great thing about books is that you get to be exposed to experiences outside of your normal life.  This is why a book like How to Lead a Life of Crime appeals to me; it is a gritty, dark, and sometimes gruesome story that is wholly unlike my life.  Do you want to experience the seedy underbelly of society without running the risk of incarceration?  This book is for you.

Flick comes from a rich and privileged family, but is living on the mean streets as a thief, stealing what he needs to get by.  Ties to his family were severed when his abusive, alcoholic father beat Flick’s brother to death and Flick’s mom committed suicide.  You quickly see that life has been grim for Flick, and he understandably holds his father in great contempt.  Flick wants nothing more than to avenge his brother’s death by getting back at his father.  Flick’s remaining bit of humanity is preserved by Joi, who he visits regularly at her shelter, which welcomes kids from across the city that have had difficulties of their own.  Joi is a kind-hearted person who Flick is obviously attracted to, but wary of letting get too close.

Flick is soon propositioned by a mysterious man who wants him to steal some documents from a house.  When the man is satisfied that Flick is skilled enough, he offers him to study at the prestigious Mandel Academy.  Flick soon finds out that the mysterious man is Lucian Mandel, who runs the academy, and who also holds the key to exacting revenge against Flick’s father.  So, Flick agrees to become a student at the school.  It turns out that the academy’s reputation for academic excellence is a front for something far less traditionally academic—students are taught how to get ahead by using criminal tactics.  At the Mandel Academy, courses such as “Partnering with Corrupt Regimes” and “Hand to Hand Combat” are on the schedule, and students battle for positioning in the school’s hierarchy, where there are great rewards at the top, and great consequences at the bottom.

Flick excels in the Academy, but is shaken and surprised when a new recruit shows up, and makes his “education” much more personal.  He has trouble focusing on his ultimate goal of getting revenge on his father, and begins focusing on taking down the corrupt school, all the while being guided by the spirit of his dead younger brother.

Kirsten Miller has come up with a great concept here; at one point, Flick describes the Mandel Academy as “Hogwarts for Hustlers” and this combines with a Hunger Games-like survival theme to make a unique read.  I loved the concept of the students battling for criminal supremacy.  Despite its darkness, there are some surprising moral themes that can be gleaned from the story.  One theme I particularly liked was how a character showed that progress could only be made to overthrow the evil school by banding together, and that starts by getting to know the strengths of all students, not just the ones that are high achievers.

How to Lead a Life of Crime is literary escapism at its finest.  You can go anywhere with a book, even the darkest corners of society.

Ryan H.

Blogger: Ryan H.

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Book Review : Mary Roach and Science Nonfiction for High School

March 18, 2013 · Filed under High School, Nonfiction, Reviews, Science · Tagged , , , ,

Reading nonfiction is a favorite of mine, and I usually read about social studies and science (or grammar).  I am glad that the Common Core standards include a stronger focus on reading nonfiction.

One of my favorite nonfiction authors is Mary Roach.  Like those of many librarians, my interests can be weird odd quirky, and Mary Roach takes quirky to a whole new level.  She asks questions that most people would not have thought of—but if they did, they wouldn’t dare to ask.  And not only does she dare to ask, but she finds the right people to ask and actually gets them to answer her. Her writing is accessible to upper high school students and her books would be great choices for Common Core lists.

StiffI was browsing in a bookstore when I found her first book, Stiff : The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, and everything about the book drew me in.  The cover showing a couple of bare feet with a morgue tag attached to a toe.  The great title (though nowadays a book with “lives” and “cadavers” in the title would probably be about zombies).  And of course the subject matter:  the history of the uses to which cadavers have been put.  We’ve heard about grave robbing and midnight autopsies by candlelight, but that’s just the beginning.   And though it might sound gruesome and morbid, Roach treated her subjects with respect…and lots of humor.  I have recommended this book to more people than any other nonfiction book, and most of those who dared to read the book have become Mary Roach fans.

Roach has also written books on how science has dealt with the afterlife, sex, and space exploration (see my earlier post on Packing for Mars).

Gulp : Adventures on the Alimentary CanalHer latest, coming out on April 1st, is called Gulp : Adventures on the Alimentary Canal.  Roach chronicles how early doctors and scientists studied the gastrointestinal system of animals and people and what sort of research today’s scientists are doing.  Then she describes how everything works, beginning with the role of the nose in tasting the food we put in our mouths and following the path of food to its inevitable conclusion.  So yes, there is one chapter devoted to gas and another devoted to the final product.  But we also find out things like: why don’t the digestive acids in our stomach digest the stomach itself; what flavors do dogs and cats like the most; can you really eat so much that your stomach bursts; and just what exactly is a fecal transplant and why would you ever want one. As I read, my vocal responses were equally divided between “YUCK!” and guffaws.  Though I probably wouldn’t recommend it to the squeamish, most teens and adults interested in biology and zoology would enjoy Gulp.

Bibliography:

Bonk : The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex. Recommended for adults.

Gulp : Adventures on the Alimentary Canal by Mary Roach. 9780393081572. April 2013. Gr 11-Adult.

Packing for Mars : The Curious Science of Life in the Void. 9780393068474. 2010. Gr 11-Adult.

Spook : Science Tackles the Afterlife. 9780393329124. 2006. Gr 11-Adult.

Stiff : The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach. 9780393050936. 2003. Gr 11-Adult.

TraceyBlogger : Tracey L.

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