White Teeth by Zadie Smith

Nine months. That’s how long it took me to read this book. In part, it took that long because I am a slow reader and this is simply a long book, and in part, it took that long because I had to keep putting it down to read new YA books gaining some notoriety. But the truth is, this book isn’t ~that~ long (448 pages of teeny-tiny type), it’s just ***dense***. This isn’t so much a novel as it is an epic – an epic that spans two decades (with meanderings back to WWII and the Jamaican earthquake of 1907) and three families. There is Archie, a stereotypical lower-class Englishman, a virtual Babbitt of his unremarkable world. There is Clara, his second wife, a Jamaican. There is Samad, Archie’s best friend, a thoroughly British Bengali with a crippled hand, and his wife Alsana. Then there are the Chalfens, a family that manages to make the worst liberal stereotypes look tame. Archie is a paper-folder, Samad a waiter. Both are pretty much miserable, and their children, starved of any level of emotional support from their parents, end up miserable as well. The book does have humor – in an arch, sarcastic, dark way. If you found “Running With Scissors” to be a laugh riot, you will enjoy the dysfunctional family fun here. And it is extremely well-written – with the kind of literary merit that turns books into classics. A sample: “She wore her sexuality with an older woman’s ease, and not (as with most of the girls Archie had run with in the past) like an awkward purse, never knowing how to hold it, where to hang it, or when to just put it down.” Nothing is left without history – every room, every passerby, is given a detailed, Dickensonian history. All of this made it very rich, very deep reading. Aside from the extreme “British-isms” and the vernacular speech patterns (written phonetically) for many of the characters, I think many would find this to be an extremely strong debut novel. But did I like it? It wasn’t engrossing in the traditional sense. Some of the paragraphs go on longer than a page (or even two) and the pacing is more of an observatory style than one of a driving plot. Instead of wanting to turn the page and see “what happens next” I found myself slowing down to digest what I had just read. The characters are deeply flawed, at times morally questionable, and have little growth over this twenty year snapshot. Aside from the build-up to a rather inevitable event, there is little difference between the beginning of the book and the end. The author has much to say – I’m just not sure what all of it is. The ending, which I read three times to understand, seemed to indicate that life is essentially cyclical – the past drives us in the same paths over and over. And yet Ms. Smith seems to resent a focus on the past, often having the character of Irie (Archie’s daughter and the seeming author mouthpiece) wax on about the suffocating nature of living inside memory. There are also many cultural issues raised. What it means to be British, what it means to be an ethnic or religious British minority, what it means to be a British citizen whose family comes from a land conquered by the British. Only the questions, not the answers, are provided. (It is easy to see why this book is so popular with book clubs…) Zadie Smith’s characters are at once both archetypes and individuals. They aren’t truly the anti-heroes that seem to populate every aspect of our culture these days, but they aren’t good people, either. Ms. Smith does deserve congratulations on keeping her characters true to their nature, and, for the most part, refusing to make comment on their choices. In the end, I have to say (in the style of the book), that I really don’t know how I felt about this book. I appreciated its value without falling in love. It made me think, but left a lot of questions. If you have some time to devote, you may want to dive in – but it is not the kind of book you can dip your toe into, so be prepared.

Ignoring Binky: The Life and Times of Victor Evertor by Beverly Red and Mitch Hall

In doing a unit on graphic novels, I set this one out after skimming it. Although it has its fair share of PG-13 content (“S” words are said, while the “F words” are blanked out), the “relations between adults” are shown with underwear rather than full-on nakedness. The opening birthing scene, however, left the kids in a fit of giggling so it was put aside for use by some of our older readers. In reading through it I felt torn. Clearly, this is a left-wing publication that triumphs the voice of the IMF protestors, anarchists and the like. They have some valid points: We have damaged our world, and ourselves, perhaps beyond repair, by focusing on power and greed. The lead character, Victor Evertor, is raised by parents who judge and hate and he follows the predictable path of using an ROTC uniform to hide his bullying tendencies. He is a womanizer who loves neither his wife nor his children, but is willing to sacrifice all – even his own life – to be at the top of his perceived “mountain of success”. Binky is the social consciousness of the piece, and follows Victor from birth to “brink of death” with chidings to be a better man. The artwork succeeds in conveying complex emotions (anger, in particular) and the simple line drawings are good accompaniment to the extensive text (this actually took some time to read). My only problem with the images is that the character of Victor is sometimes hard to discern in the groupings of businessmen, as his visage changes with age and mood throughout the book. My bigger issue with the story is that it is almost too leftist … which is saying a lot, coming from me. Do I believe in the total overthrow of all corporations? No. Do I think that all companies are essentially evil at heart? No. It is in the broad characterizations and stereotypes that this story fails. While I do know someone like Victor, someone who seemingly has no love for humanity, I find it hard to believe he is real. Victor, his meek then emancipated wife, his resentful kids, his Vietnam war soldier brother who goes from addict to granola-munching kayaker – it’s all just a little too flat. We live in a complex world, and solving the problems we face (media manipulation, the power of big brother, consumerism without understanding of consequences) requires complex and layered thinking. An attempt to understand the forces that create monolithic industries, and a visionary effort to move us into a myriad of possible “better” futures requires thinkers and doers, not simply condemnation. This book may spark some strong reactions, and that’s good, but the next step is to begin work on answers.

“Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village” by Laura Amy Schlitz

Finally! The two-month wait to get the Newbery title has been rewarded. It arrived yesterday and I was able to read it in a single afternoon. Chalking this one up to another esoteric pick by the arcane Newbery committee, I was pleasantly surprised by this off-beat and unusual award-winner. The book is a series of 21 monologues, meant to be performed by 23 young actors. The intertwined stories are those of villagers in the Middle Ages, and are accompanied by a number of brief informational sections describing historical roles and events. The monologues themselves include a number of notes and there is an extensive glossary as well. Although the work is meant for performance, it was enjoyable to read – and had quite a number of interesting facts that I was completely unaware of (although I fancy myself a decent historian when it comes to this period in time). The book works best when the author’s humor and cleverness comes out (including some arch comments about the crusades) but is a bit of a mystery in terms of who might pick it up. The detailed and well-matched illustrations by Robert Byrd are a perfect accompaniment to the text, but the book presents as a picture book. High schoolers will not pick it up for this reason, yet the text was a challenge for ~me~, so I hardly think younger children would “get” it. Many of the monologues are in verse, which I did find a bit challenging, as they don’t adhere strictly to any one form – sometimes rhyming, sometimes not, sometimes very metered but breaking the meter as needed. That was a minor distraction in reading text that seemed very legitimate in terms of language of the period. The book was entertaining, engrossing and enlightening, so try to find an hour or two to peruse it. I guarantee you will learn something you didn’t know before!

The Lost Years of Merlin, by T.A. Barron

The following review was written by NW, from the 6th grade reading class:

If you read this book, you will find that it will be worth you time. It describes the journeys and adventures of a young boy who goes on a quest do discover his place in the world. Throughout the book Merlin makes friends and enemies alike, with detailed interactions between the characters in every encounter. After a long journey, Merlin discovers his past, and his future- to become one of the greatest wizards of all time and pass on his knowledge to a famous king in the future.

Though the start was slow and laborious, when I got into the exciting parts I started reading at a rate of about 10 pages per second. When the book was over I went right to the library to get the next one. I very much recommend this book to anyone who can appreciate a book that unravels a magical but lifelike tale from the first page to the last.

Interesting Times, by Terry Pratchett

The following review was written by DK, from the 6th grade reading class:

This is an amazing book that takes place on a planet called Discworld, it is a flat disk on top of four elephants which stand on top a huge turtle called the Great Atu'in. This book is about Rincewind a funny and forgetful wizard. The wizards guild send him to another continent because of an evil tyrant that they need to stop. They were also in need of a "great" wizard. There he meets up with Cohen the Barbarian who is 95 years old and his silver horde (5 very old people) who try to take over a kingdom, and battles against an army of 100,000. Rincewind also meets with his old friend Twoflower! I recommend this book for 6-8 graders. I would really recommend this book it's awesome and really funny. It has action and suspense through the entire book, it'll have sitting at the edge of your sitting laughing.

The Five Ancestors: Book 3, the Snake, by Jeff Stone

The following review was written by KL, from the 6th grade reading class:

This is the third book in a series about the five ancestors. This particular book is about a Kung fu monk named Seh (snake) and the temple in Canghzen. The temple was destroyed by his brother, Ying (eagle). This meant that Seh and the monks had to reteach the people animal style Kung Fu. Ying was trying to kill his brother and keep the monks from reteaching the monks Kung Fu.

The book has fighting, action, fighting techniques, and awesome descriptions of battles. I like how the author really trains in Kung Fu at Canghzen, China, and he passes his knowledge of fighting techniques to the reader.

It is a great book for people in the fourth grade or older. I think that anyone who reads this book is going to think it is cool that the monks can turn into different animals even when they fight.
My favorite part in this book is when Tsung confronts Ying and almost kills him. I really like this part because Jeff Stone really gives good information about the battles of the monks.
Reading these books in order is very important. Each book adds a little more information to the story. All the books in this series are a fast reads with over 180 pages.

American Born Chinese, by Gene Yuan

The following review was written by SS, from the 6th grade reading class (see another review of "American Born Chinese" in the Previous Posts section):

"American Born Chinese" is a book with many stories in it, 3 stories to be exact. It seems at the start that it makes no sense, but all the stories get interlinked and make perfect sense. Gene Luen yang has a great imagination with all his characters, so you really get into the book and enjoy it. At the start you get into the first story, but then say, “Oh, well, let’s see what this story is going to be like.” After a while you start to get the tempo and feel of how the book is going. The main character, Jin Wang and his family keep moving un till they settle after moving 3 times, Jin Wang was pretty young at the time. When he started his new school he made a good friend pretty quick. As Jin Wang gets older he struggles with new problems and has to make serious choices. To find out what choices Jin Wang needs to make, what he will choose, and what the out come will be, read American Born Chinese. This funny book is a great quick read for anyone over 8 years old because anyone under that age might not get the full affect.

Holes, by Louis Sachar

The following review was written by AC, from the 6th grade reading class:

"Holes" is a book full of trust and discovering new beginnings. Stanley Yelnats, accused of stealing a pair of famous shoes without knowing it was a crime. Was sent to Camp Green Lake along with 6 other delinquent boys. Stanley has to dig holes everyday as he tries to fit in with the other boys. He notices that all the boys have nicknames and gains himself the name of Cave Man along with X-ray, Zig-Zag, Armpit, Squid, Magnet and Zero.

An impressive storyline packed with adventure. A little slow paced but that’s what makes the book interesting and make you want to read on. If I were to rate this book on a scale from 1-10 I’d give it a nine. Holes is a good read for almost any age and I recommend reading it.

More TAB Reviews!

TAB Reviews

MJ writes:
“A Friend at Midnight” by Caroline Cooney. It is a book for everybody. It has a little bit of romance and some adventures, but it’s also realistic fiction. This book really shows what one family went through.

CM writes:
“Tasting the Sky” by Ibtisam Barakat. “Tasting the Sky” was a *huge* eye opener to me. It is a diary of a Palestinian girl’s childhood and all the violence and war and poverty she saw. It was a sad book but I really liked it and could not put it down. It makes me realize how lucky I am, and I think everyone should read it.

CK writes:
“The Off-Season” by Catherine Gilbert Murdock. The book deserves to be a TAB pick because it was a good story with a good plot, but at times it just dragged on and on and some parts were worded weirdly. The first book (Dairy Queen) was better than the sequel.
“Harmless” by Dana Reinhardt. I really liked this book. I liked how the story is told through three different points of view. I could relate to the girl's problem but never have told a lie this big.

IH writes:
“Millions” by Frank Cottrell-Boyce. “Millions” is one of the most touching books I have ever read. The plot is fairly simple, but the first person narrative by Damian is so innocent and hilarious. This book is great for all ages.

And the winner is…

Tis the season of award-winners. Since things have been a tad slow, I’ve been able to work my way through a few of the books that have won awards for illustration. As always, it’s a complex and delightful grouping of books. So let’s hear it for picture books … they ain’t just for little kids any more!

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Winner of the Caldecott Medal for Best Picture Book for Children

One look at this unusual book makes it clear – this is not for young children. At 525 pages, it might even challenge a teen reader. About half image and half words, the book almost defies description. It is not truly a picture book nor graphic novel, but uses pictures in the way one might imagine a film unfolding, with layered dialogue and image, conveying story and emotional context. The film concept is intentional, and this European-styled story of an orphaned boy living in a train station is engaging, if not rather unusual. Based on historical events and characters, the story of Hugo is one of small mysteries -- a time when the mechanical and the magical blended in the minds of people -- before the great wars and technology changed everything. The book was enjoyable on many levels and will be interesting to a wide variety of readers if they can get past its size to pick it up. Make sure to read the acknowledgements and go to the website where you can see a real automaton at work.

Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Mo Willems

Caldecott Honor Book.

Have I mentioned how much I love Knuffle Bunny? These are some of the best laugh-out-loud picture books out there. Trixie and her best friend, Knuffle Bunny, are drawn in light pastels, and with a broad simplicity that is bound to entertain young children, but the “reality” of the childlike dialog and the subtle looks of exasperation on the faces of the adult characters make these books hysterical to adults. That, and the background, created with real photos from New York city, make the Knuffle Bunny books far more layered than one would expect. These are truly picture books that can be enjoyed by all … and don’t miss the “epilogue” in Knuffle Bunny Too – it left me on the floor!

The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sis

Winner of the Sibert Medal for Best Informational Book and a Caldecott Honor.

Peter Sis authored one of my favorite books of all time, “Tibet Through the Red Box” and this book, mostly autobiographical, was just as stunning. Again, not for little kids, Mr. Sis once again fills his pages with detailed text and imagery, layers of meaning to be found in both. The irony, sadness and occasional humor to be found here is obvious from skimming the pages, but the work by this author/illustrator demands that you take time to absorb the story. In fact, re-readings are recommended, as it is entirely possible to gain new understandings with each review. Very easy to see how it picked up two awards – and Bravo to this talented man.

Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine and Kadir Nelson

Caldecott Honor Book.

A true picture book, these images and simple text would be accessible to almost any age – but the nature of this true story, that of an escaping slave, is deeply painful and could be uncomfortable for some younger readers. Henry “Box” Brown was a slave who faced one tragedy after another. Unable to stand it, he eventually planned an escape that involved sealing himself inside of a box and mailing himself to an abolitionist in Philadelphia. The rich images, painted by Kadir Nelson (who has had his share of well-earned awards) bring a strong emotional tone to this brief tale, and makes it rather indelible in your memory once the story is over. A rare note in history and a positive message, but very sad nonetheless. Ironically, some of our 6th graders were doing research on slavery recently – this would make a great companion book for kids who need to see an individual’s face to truly understand this awful part of our past.

Los Gatos Black on Halloween by Marisa Montes and Yuyi Morales

Winner of the Pura Belpré Award for Best Illustration of the Latino Experience, and an Honor Award in the Pura Belpré Author category.

On one hand, this is a simple picture book, with an equally simple poem illustrated throughout. On the other hand, many of the English nouns are replaced with Spanish words and phrases, and the Tim Burton inspired artwork – rich and dark, would scare some of the youngest readers, methinks. Placed in a “slightly older” range, this fun little ode to Halloween works on several levels. There is the humor, when human trick-or-treaters disrupt the ghouls from their party, and there are the soft-palette pictures which engage but disturb you all at the same time. The glossary, translating Spanish words used in the book, makes this a great choice for one of those kids in an immersion program. As for those of us who love Halloween – it’s delightfully creepy.

Houdini: The Handcuff King by Jason Lutes and Nick Bertozzi

This one is getting mixed reviews. Touted as a biography of Houdini in graphic novel form, it is really more of a snapshot. The introduction, written by Glen David Gold, is intriguing. Written in “plain speak” it comes to the point about who Houdini was, and wasn’t, and encourages the reader to really think about the impact of a life lived large. The panel discussions at the end are similarly interesting, providing some neat (and unknown) facts about the time period and various events portrayed. It is the “graphic novel” section itself that I struggled with. While the artwork is quite good – clean line drawings do a great job of creating a likeness of Houdini – the story is far too short and the dialog is campy. The entire “story” told here is that of five hours, and one escape, by this master of the art. And, while Houdini’s temper and his wife’s dedication were well-documented, they are depicted here with two-dimensional portrayals. Houdini is egotistical and mean, his wife never stops smiling and telling him how wonderful he is. It reminded me of those cartoons in the Sunday paper which show very “cleaned up” history. While some graphic novels are able to convey complexity and depth within their slim volumes, this isn’t one of them. I say, read the text at the beginning and end, then look for one of the other Houdini biographies to have come out lately (such as “The Secret Life of Houdini” by William Kalush and Larry Sloman). This book might make for an intriguing tease about the life of Harry Houdini, but it really only wets the appetite for something more substantial.

The Arrival by Shaun Tan

This wordless book is absolutely stunning. I’ve read it twice through and it still takes my breath away. Don’t be fooled by the “wordless” description. This is not a picture book for little kids (although some of the more sophisticated ones might enjoy it). The story, of a man immigrating to a new land, is told both clearly and symbolically. The artwork, a kind of sepia-toned print, is rich and powerful, and heavily influenced by one of my favorite artists, Hieronymus Bosch. Everyday actions, such as the man leaving his home and family, are combined with fantastical elements, such as the shadow of a dragon tail weaving itself through a town poised for destruction. The new world is full of unintelligible signs, strange creatures and bizarre machines … all of which makes this “stranger in a strange land” feel that much more isolated. The passage of time is beautifully depicted, by endless panels of clouds during his boat trip across a sea, and by plants blooming in the spring only to be covered in snow as winter progresses. The great thing about wordless books is their universality and their ability to be interpreted on deep and complex levels. Our lead character encounters many people along the way, none seem to be “from” this country, but all have stories about the struggles that drove them to seek a new home. As the American grandchild of immigrants, I saw this as a uniquely American experience, complete with Ellis Island. Imagine my surprise to discover that the author is Australian! Some of the images he used were from the Ellis Island archives, but much of this story comes from the immigration stories of Australians. As proof of the web of human experience, the book ends with a story much like those throughout its pages. An immigrant girl who has acclimated assists another “fresh off the boat” arrival. Each time I look at this image, I feel it drives its way further into my heart. This book is a joy. Take time to delve into it.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

HYSTERICAL. This “novel in cartoons” is a very guy-centered depiction of young Greg as he begins middle school. Greg is not a wimp, nor is he a bad kid, but he is very much a “boy” and his attempts to do good while creating the most gain for himself had me laughing out loud. This fast read could be appreciated by younger readers as well as older ones. The font is large, made to look like hand printing on school ruled paper, and the cartoons are plentiful. The book borders on a graphic novel given the extensive images and the strong connection between picture and text. The drawings add emotional undertone to the words and the words convey subtleties in the cartoons (I love the Orphan Annie eyes on mom). As an older reader, I also enjoyed the book. The humor is obvious, but also arch and sardonic. If you have a free hour (our computers crashed and I got a chance to read for a change) then I highly recommend this book as an amusing diversion. (Side note: the author was local! He grew up in DC).

“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie

Wow. This one packs a punch – literally and figuratively. Sherman Alexie, a colorful, controversial and critically acclaimed author has penned a fiction book about a young man, “Junior” trying to escape the hardships of his life in a Spokane Indian Reservation. The book reads as a memoir – it should. According to recent interviews Alexie was writing a memoir when his publisher reviewed the drafts and felt it would make a good YA fiction novel. The story is not depressing, the author’s wry sense of humor and keen observations of the world around him (shown in delightful cartoon drawings) keep things more sardonic than sad, but it is a difficult tale. For those of us who grew up in the 70s, we remember the many calls to address the plight of our American Indian population. Despite these sporadic attempts, little has changed. American Indians still represent the bottom of our economic ladder, still suffer inordinate amounts of alcoholism on the reservations, still see low “healthy baby” birth rates and still feel very much isolated within our “white world”. Alexie’s voice, clear in the body of his 14 year-old protagonist, speaks directly to the challenges of having to leave his culture to become successful. It is a book of hope but one with anger and loss wrapped across every page. Which is not to say it’s dark! I laughed out loud through the majority of the story, but like all good literature, this one sucks you in with commonplace amusements just to turn on a dime and make you cry near the end. It has justifiably won the 2007 National Book Award for Young Adults, but is already receiving the kind of controversy experienced by last year’s Newbery winner, “The Higher Power of Lucky”. Alexie’s teenage boy is real, perhaps too real for some. "Junior" curses, masturbates and faces racism by hitting back. Does this make it inappropriate for young readers? IMHO, no. This is a good book. It is well-written, has emotional impact and a moral or two that is worth taking in. I would not deny any child the chance to understand the complex and strangely beautiful world Alexie explores in this powerful little novel. Let’s hear it for those who would tell us the stories we may not wish to know.

The Good Fairies of New York by Martin Millar

Another in the urban fantasy sub-genre, “Good Fairies of New York” is better (IMHO) than “Tithe”, but I can honestly say I don’t like the style. Urban fantasy blends stories of “the fey” with gritty realism. The thing is, I don’t really want my fairy stories blended with gritty realism. In this tale, Morag and Heather, two pseudo-lesbian Scottish fairies who have a penchant for getting in trouble, land in the apartment of a ne’er-do-well New Yorker named Dinnie after a binge of alcohol and magic mushrooms. They crash through Dinnie’s window, throw up, fight and pass out. Dinnie is an overweight, unemployed squatter who likes porn and has an unrequited crush on the girl across the street, a bohemian named Kerry who is seriously ill with Crohn’s Disease. The story zig-zags across New York and overseas, adding in fairy groups of all kinds as a kind of a “war” builds up, although in the end that becomes very secondary to the other plotlines. Where it works: The introduction by Neil Gaiman compares Millar to Vonnegut and there are similarities. Dark humor is well blended with stark social satire (homeless people die in doorways each day and no one seems to notice, much less care). The “good fairies” are anything but. These anti-hero protagonists are so self-absorbed that every good deed ends up deepening their troubles and causing grief for others. The best line in the book came on page 205, “They are just under the thrall of an evil King. Much like the United States.” Where it doesn’t work: The wild swings from one scene to the next with little or no natural flow was present in “Tithe” as it is here, and I don’t know if it is a hallmark of this type of literature, but it makes reading the jagged text very challenging. Random use of sexuality seems designed for no other purpose than to titillate (and makes it completely inappropriate for younger readers) and the copy I read was in great need of an editor, as it had blatant typos. Although this novel was stronger than my first attempt, I can’t say this most recent urban fantasy has made me like the genre any better. I’m told Charles de Lint is the master here, so I may try one of his books before giving it up entirely. Maybe. If it’s really short.

TAB Reviews!

Welcome to the new TAB year. Bookclub members review the following…

MJ writes:
“The Dark is Rising” by Susan Cooper. The best thing about this book is that it’s so full of adventure and it is almost like a puzzle.

CM writes:
“Pirate Emperor” by Kai Meyer. I really like his writing style. I love the characters (especially Jolly). It’s an interesting book. There aren’t really any others like it. Be warned it is a cliff hanger!
“Blaze of Silver” by K.M. Grant. It was action packed, plus it wasn’t the type of book where you can guess every sentence before you read it. It didn’t have a cliff hanger ending, and I really liked the way all the characters turned out.
“Titan’s Curse” by Rick Riordan. I love this book! I really liked the plot and the new characters introduced.
“Charlie Bone and the Beast” by Jenny Nimmo. I liked it as a continuation of the series with the same characters but it was a huge cliff hanger.

SB writes:
“Epic” by Conor Kostick. I think it deserves to be a TAB book because it is an interesting “epic” story full of action and adventure. I liked the author’s style and the development of the characters. This book is especially interesting because the topic is very distinct and unique.

CK writes:
“Twisted” by Laurie Halse Anderson. It was a great book about a guy who’s having a very “twisted” life and I like how he learns to “untwist” it and make peace with his family. Some parts I think could have been taken out, but overall it was a good book.
“Harlem Summer” by Walter Dean Myers. It gave me a look at how some people felt during the Harlem Renaissance and how not everyone wanted to be really famous. I also liked how there were historical facts in the book and that most of the characters were real people.
“Diary of a Wimpy Kid” by Jeff Kinney. I chose yes (for this as a TAB book) because it was funny and I liked how it wasn’t a “Dear Diary” type of book. So it was a nice change from the standard diary.

DK writes:
“The Titan’s Curse” by Rick Riordan. It’s heartstopping, just as good as the first two.

KS writes:
“The White Darkness” by Geraldine McCaughrean. This is the story of a girl in love with an Antarctic explorer who’s been dead for 90 years. Her “uncle” then grants her favorite wish – to go to Antarctica. I can’t say much more, because that would give away the plot – which is AMAZING. Everything in this story is unexpected, it doesn’t feel like a copy cat. The descriptions are wonderful, and the characters seem like they could exist. Not too pretty or perfect.
“The Invisible” by Mats Wahl. This book is about a boy who becomes invisible. No one can hear him, he can’t lift anything, he can hardly move. The writing is better than most, but the ending is very predictable. I could put it down whenever, and the plot wasn’t great.
“Getting Air” by Dan Gutman. This story tells of the hijacking by terrorists of a like … forty minute flight. One of the many reasons it sucked. Who hijacks a plane 3 hours from anything important, on only 45 minutes fuel? (***SPOILER ALERT***) Then it crashes, after three 13 year olds kill terrorists along with 30 knitting granny ladies. It moves too quickly, with hardly any description, only dialogue and 1st grader descriptions of actions. It’s a rip-off of Hatchet and Lost, and the plot is predictable.

Ask Me No Questions by Marina Budhos

It’s rare that a “message” novel packs the kind of punch of this short contemporary novel, but then, we live in interesting times, yes? Nadira is a painfully average ninth grade girl in a Brooklyn high school. There’s only one problem. Her family is living in the county illegally. As Muslims on expired visas, in NY, after 9/11, the choices are not pleasant. On advice of counsel, the family tries to enter Canada but things go badly. After that, they are caught up in the web of bureaucracy and federal policy that so many have begun to question of late. This story may be fiction, but the tale it tells rings very very true. What helps this succinct novel along is the reality of Nadira and her sister Aisha – and the members of their families and community. As sisters, Nadira and Aisha fight, are envious, but love one another. As an important secondary note to the political themes, this story is also a personal journey for Nadira. Through these experiences she learns to accept herself and how to live in a world that is not always kind. Some decide to return to their country, some become a true part of the American melting pot, and some, the strongest perhaps, demand that we see them for who they are. I cannot think of a novel I have read of late that is more timely and carries this kind of emotional hit. Brava to Ms. Budhos.

Girl Stories by Lauren R. Weinstein

Even for graphic novels, this one is a little off-beat. But then again, with graphic novels pushing the bounds of literature these days, expect that anything and everything will emerge! “Girl Stories” is a 237 page collection of short stories, pretty much biographical, of the author’s teen years. The stories are a tad random, but that doesn’t matter too much as there does seem to be an over-arching structure holding them in place. The illustrations are very bright and busy – interesting to the eye but not good for those inclined to ADD, methinks. The character of Lauren is fun, and the author is able to reflect on her life with a healthy dose of humor and perspective. I really enjoyed the middle school tales, which seemed right on point. I also liked the belly-piercing story, which had just the perfect level of “gross”. I enjoyed the book but didn’t feel it will “stick with me”, just didn’t get deep enough. The only criticism is one that the author freely admits to from the beginning…she wrote the strips over seven years, using different styles and drawing techniques. That makes it a bit difficult, from section to section, to keep track of who is who (since the character of Lauren looks quite different in each of the stories). It isn’t a major concern, the book was enjoyable and has some nice girl empowerment messages. Worth a read.

The Witch’s Boy by Michael Gruber

In many ways, this is a very strong book. Rich text with deep threads make it mature and interesting. One day, a witch finds a boy in the forest and raises him, although she isn’t quite sure what she’s doing. Along the way there are colorful characters, well-thought out magic, some delightfully fractured fairytales and more than a few SAT vocabulary words. For me, what the story lacked was a “connection”. It was clever, it had fresh ideas, but the omniscient narrative voice was distancing and the story, which was essentially simple, took far too many twists to get to the point. Let’s start with narrative voice. In Kate DiCamillo’s “Tales of Despereaux” the narrator manages to connect to the reader through a kind of arch humor and sly asides. In this book, I’m not even sure the narrator ~likes~ any of the characters. Who is the protagonist here? I started out being a bit intrigued by the witch, but she is kept at emotional arms length for the duration of the tale (and disappears entirely at points) so I could never fully warm up to her. Then there’s the witch’s boy, “Lump”. The author intimates again and again how the boy is headed for trouble, and he, of course, progresses through the majority of the book as a kind of anti-hero, hurting everyone around him. The only characters I really identified with and enjoyed were the supporting characters – which is rarely compelling enough to push you through 377 pages of text. Then, there’s the storyline. It doesn’t so much move as it meanders. That which should have been prologue (the witch finding the boy and figuring out how to raise him) runs some 67 pages. Lastly, for all of the details given, I had difficulty placing the setting. I mean, I know this is fantasy, but at times it reads as 14th Century Germany, and at other times, 17th Century France. No matter how fantastical the setting, there should be some consistency. This tale throws out consistency for that which is convenient. I know I sound like I hated this book. I didn’t. As I said, it has a lot going for it, I just found it lacking in a key area or two. My copy of the book had extensive notes by the author at the end. In these notes, Mr. Gruber explained that the witch is essentially his own mother, an intriguing but (surprise) distant woman, and that Lump is essentially his early life, with much of the book being a kind of mea culpa for not being a better person. Clearly, Michael Gruber is a gifted writer. Wouldn’t it be ironic if he could distance himself more from his work and, as a result, create characters that one could better connect with?

American Born Chinese by Gene Luan Yang

This complex graphic novel won the Printz Award for Young Adult literature last year, a first for a graphic novel. I have to say, it is extremely well done. The graphics are clear and engaging, the dialog strong, and the themes powerful. I don’t think this is a graphic novel for the younger set, however. As much as I enjoyed the book, I can’t honestly say I fully understood it. Some of it was a lack of full understanding of Chinese cultural traditions, and some was simply that the book is a tad abstract. There are three storylines, separate at first but clearly intertwined by the end. First, there is the monkey-king legend (one of my favorites from Asian mythology). Interspersed with that are the stories of Jin, an American-born Chinese kid trying to assimilate into a culture which still views him as alien; and the story of Danny, an all-American kid trying to come to terms with a 1940s film-style stereotypical Chinese cousin. Without giving too much away, I will caution readers that none of the stories take place within the same timeframe, and close attention should be paid to monkey-king’s abilities as they might be reflected in the other stories. In the end, this isn’t so much a story of cultural assimilation as it is about learning to accept your inner nature as you grow up. I liked the book and would strongly recommend it to teens who are able to take in the messages of disparate visual images, but for older folk, you may want to stick with more linear graphic novels, such as “Pedro and Me” by Judd Winick.

Double Helix by Nancy Werlin

***Spoiler Alert***
I try very hard to not to give critical plot points away in reviews, but in this case, the big stumbling block of the book ~is~ the major plot point. Before I give it all away, however, let’s talk about the book in general. The copy I received had several award stickers on it. In addition to the “Edgar Award”, given to mystery books, this one also made the TAB top ten list. These tell me that the book is considered to be well-written, as well as well-liked. I can’t disagree. Nancy Werlin’s writing style is engaging and her characters feel like people you know. My struggle was that this book was made into a mystery. Nearly two thirds of it is actually a “coming of age” novel. Had that been it, I would have been fine. Eli Samuels is a super-smart high school grad with an intelligent and understanding girlfriend, but he is drifting in life. Didn’t apply to college, can’t deal with his mother’s losing battle with Huntington’s Disease, and fighting constantly with a critical, distant father. Such stuff is the gristmill for teen lit, and, when it is written this well, makes for a good read. Sadly, the author didn’t stop there. Ms. Werlin adds in a storyline about “big scary science”. Eli is just too smart, too good at everything he does. At a genetics lab, he discovers a secret…was he “made”???!!!! If the plot sounds familiar, it should. Genetic alterations have made for some great Sci-fi of late, but sadly, this book isn’t one of them. The grand climax fell deeply flat, mostly because the advances in genetics in the few years since the book was published make Eli’s secret sad, but not Frankenstein-like. Today, I think we know that the age of manipulating genes isn’t “on the horizon”. It’s here. Instead of (gasp), discovering that genetic alterations are happening, authors need to explore what the moral role should be as we learn to alter the nature of humanity. As for books, the best example of this, IMHO, is Nancy Farmer’s “House of the Scorpion”, which brings the moral, ethical and human issues to a deeply disturbing and provocative point. In “Double Helix”, my general reaction was “so what?” It’s the ~answer~ to “so what?” that is far more interesting to me than the realization that our technology might be advancing faster than our common sense. Been there, done that. It’s the 21st Century. Time to look past the possibilities and focus on impact. And yes, I’m also a Sci-fi TV buff. For almost identical storylines to this book (done better) check out “The Pretender”, “Dark Angel” and “Kyle XY”.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Okay, just kidding. I’m not really going to review this book in detail because a) I have no interest in putting spoilers out there and b) there are plenty of folks who will be sharing their opinions. Actually, now that the series is “complete” I just thought it would be interesting to talk about it as a whole. A synopsis seems hardly necessary, but here goes: The series is about a young boy who discovers he has magical powers and (of course) a great enemy. The books have adventure, humor, drama, even sports, and do a delightful job of following young Harry as he “comes of age” and discovers the deeper mysteries of life along with his growing magic powers. Although it is pure fantasy, the strength here is that non-fantasy readers have enjoyed the books as much as the hard-core Fantasy buffs. The characters, the friendships, the school setting and the growing pains are all very real and very identifiable. IMHO, Ms. Rowling succeeded exceptionally as she portrayed the emotional life of Harry during each of his teenage years. One would think she spends a lot of time around teenagers(!) That said, the Harry Potter series isn’t just a fad, but downright phenomena. Three hundred and twenty-five million copies of the books in this series have sold thus far, and a record-shattering 12 million copies were printed for the *first* run of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”. The collected series have the highest print runs of any book in American history, and compete with “The Bible” and “Shakespeare’s Collected Works” in terms of world publishing history. And yet, they are not literary masterpieces (yes, I said it, feel free to throw stones…). They are simply good. Very good, and they have something unusual for any book, much less ones aimed at teens – they have a universality about them. In our culture, we tend to equate universality with blandness. An example of this would be to compare a really good ethnic restaurant with a fast food franchise. The fast food places are far more palatable to the masses, but are widely seen as having inferior food as everything is boiled down to a kind of acceptable homogeny. In this case, I think that such assumptions do not apply. The Harry Potter books may not please teachers who worship at the feet of authors like D.H. Lawrence or Somerset Maugham, but to dismiss them is to seriously underestimate their quality, and, I believe, their staying power. Ms. Rowling freely admits her Dickensonian influences in writing these books, and the comparison is apt. Charles Dickens wrote “penny dreadfuls” and was considered the fun but volume/trash writer of his time. Think of him as the 19th century Jacqueline Susann. As far as I can tell, Dickens has fared pretty well a hundred or so years later. I’ve come to believe that some books get the crown of literary merit not only for good prose, but simply for sticking around long enough. And then there is something to be said about literary masterpieces being well-written, but not necessary being, well, enjoyed. Most people recognize the brilliance of “Moby Dick” but few put it on their favorites list. The Harry Potter books, in contrast, are favorites of children, teens, adults and seniors worldwide. They are books that can be reread and treasured for generations to come. It is this factor that will keep them around, and perhaps with time, appreciated for their full value.

Shattering Glass by Gail Giles

This was the last of the many Gail Giles books I read for the upcoming “Books for the Beast” conference. Sadly, I would have to say it was my least favorite. Ms. Giles has a tendency to put unexpected twists into her stories, meaning that you know something bad is coming, but don’t really know what. Unfortunately, in this overdone novel, I knew exactly what was going to happen. It was a suspense novel that had no suspense. Added to that is one of the most boilerplate plotlines one could come up with. See if any of this sounds familiar: A popular group of kids adopts a nerdy geek with the intention of making him/her popular. There is the jock, the handsome guy, the rich kid with brains, and the popular guy who has a mean streak. Add in parents who are distant, cold and demanding and you have any given teen show on the CW network. Each chapter begins with an “interview” of sorts (the meaning of which becomes clear very quickly). These let the reader know who was involved and what happened after the fact. While these interviews take the air out of any sense of anticipation, I actually liked them more than the story itself. Somehow these voices seemed more “real” to me. This book might appeal to any kid trapped in the social nightmare of school stereotypes, but other than that, I would read one of the other Gail Giles books if you want a good creepy scare.

What Happened to Cass McBride? by Gail Giles

I call this a 50-50 book. On one hand, the psychological underpinnings really work and the style helps drive the story forward in a rather breakneck pace. The book is told through three perspectives: Cass McBride, a popular girl who has been kidnapped; Kyle, her kidnapper; and Ben, the lead detective trying to find her. The story is strongest in the voice of Cass, trying to understand and gain the upper hand in her fate. The title of the book says much. It’s not just what happens to Cass in this event, but what ~has~ happened to her, and those around her, that brings her to this place. Kyle’s story is disjointed and sad, but works well to create dramatic tension with Cass. The negative part of this book comes with the police search and the ending. Ben’s story is necessary to move the plot forward, but seems to only be there as that device. The characters are so flat in his narrations that they become interchangeable. The dialog is so “bad TV cop show” that it is actually laughable. The editing needs work, too. “Party Hardy” is spelled “Hearty” and there are hanging quote marks throughout the book. What really bugged me about the story, however, was the ending. I strongly felt that Ms. Giles betrayed the “truth” of one of her characters to force her rather trademark creepy/twisting end. Given the voice that she had created for some 200 pages, I just didn’t believe where it ended up going. Like I said, this one rated five on a scale of ten for me.

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar

I have to admit it. I am an absolutely huge David Lubar fanatic. IMHO he is to YA books what Joss Whedon is to television, what Shakespeare is to theatre, what Britney is to bad girls…(LOL). His writing is smart, funny, unexpected, layered, engaging and so much more. This book was no exception. Scott, a clever but underdeveloped young man, suffers through his freshman year with “Job”-like issues…but his “put one foot in front of the other” attitude and sardonic view of the world around him make this book a laugh-out-loud delight … with a few of those spin on a dime moments that will totally make you catch your breath. Added to this, you have a really strong book that is extremely guy focused. How rare is that? David Lubar is a welcome addition to the modern landscape of teen novels. Take time to enjoy the fun.

Dead Girls Don’t Write Letters by Gail Giles

Two thumbs up for an eye-catching title. In this succinct, fast-to-read novel, Gail Giles continues her noted style of getting to the point. Reading almost like a short story (I read it in one sitting, unusual for me) this book takes place mostly over one afternoon. Creepy but less dark than some of her works, “Dead Girls Don’t Write Letters” is about Sunny, the seemingly unperfect daughter amidst a family so dysfunctional they make the “Married…With Children” folks look healthy. Sunny’s older sister, the “golden child” has died. Father drinks, mother is a basketcase. But, as in all good mysteries, nothing is quite as it seems. The page-turning quotient here is high and the end is most certainly open to debate. Not a bad way to spend 90 minutes. A good choice for those who like a lot of mystery in compact form.

A Brief Chapter In My Impossible Life by Dana Reinhardt

When you have an “out loud” laugh by page three, you know you are in for a treat. When the book is a first novel, you have to be that much more impressed. This book had a good deal of support in the TAB bookclub last year and I’m happy to say that it has been my favorite book this summer (barring Harry Potter, of course). The folks in this book aren’t just real – they remind me so strongly of the students I work with that you have to remember it is fiction. There is not one moment of “dramatic plot device” here. While one of the major plotlines is predictable, it never takes that Lifetime TV twist I expected. Things progress naturally, very much as they would do in real life. It is a funny book, a thoughtful book, a sad book, but does not have any of the darkness in it which is so prevalent in YA novels these days. It was a complete joy to read, and the first page-turner I had picked up in months. Kudos to Ms. Reinhardt for something fresh and delightful. I look forward to her next work.

Black Juice by Margo Lanagan

Australian authors are all the rage these days. Newcomer Margo Lanagan adds to the pack with her unique short story collection, “Black Juice”. Loosely categorized as fantasy, this collection of rich but oddball tales defies true description, but does, in fact, border on horror. Threads of the supernatural and the dark recesses of human souls run through this dense and richly woven text. The first story, told in the tale similar to Appalachian myth, tells of a family “singing down” a daughter as she drowns in the tar pits. Following this are stories of murderous clowns, devil-like angels, cults, and a dry, mechanical, bleak future. While I recognized the brilliance in the writing, I can’t say that I enjoyed this collection. Some stories felt like drafts of longer works, while others, with their Australian slang, left me confused as to what, exactly, was going on. Ms. Lanagan clearly has skill as a writer. It will be interesting to see if she develops this ability for American audiences in future works.

Playing in Traffic by Gail Giles

This story is about Matt, one of those good kids who blends into the background of his school, and Skye, a troubled “Goth-girl” who pursues Matt. It isn’t so much a love story as a train wreck, but it isn’t hugely depressing. In part, the reason it isn’t a downer is because of the speed of events. This fast-read book has short chapters which whisk by as the almost inevitable impending doom approaches. There is a lot of “normal” here, and some insightful moments. I understood Matt’s observation that his family lived together, but separate, and I laughed out loud when he noted that if it “wasn’t on the computer then the research was not worth doing”. Matt is fairly grounded for a 17 year-old, a sense, perhaps, of the author’s voice coming through. It is that grounded nature, however, that makes the tale somewhat unbelievable. He spirals from decent guy to party animal so fast that it is hard to see where his reasonableness loses out to self-destructed behavior. The reason given is the pull of a girl coming on to him, but I still feel it is a tad far-fetched. A subtle morality book, there are many kids as troubled as Skye out there. The best advice, sadly ignored, is when Matt’s younger sister tells him that he needs to be talking to an adult. If teens reading this book could pick up on that simple idea, a number of their struggles could be better resolved. But that wouldn’t make for good YA fiction, would it? And so we have a short little book with a mature content and a troubling, sudden end. Read it, and share your views.

So Hard to Say by Alex Sanchez

With a book by Alex Sanchez, you have to know there will be both gay and Hispanic themes. There are in this book, and they are treated with the utmost respect and delicacy. Frederick is a newly arrived “gringo” to a well-to-do Hispanic neighborhood in L.A. Xio is a fun and outgoing girl in the 8th grade at her local middle school. The two become friends, and I grew to really like both as the narrative smoothly slips from one character to the other through timely chapter breaks. Is Frederick gay? It is something he dreads, like many young people who want to fit in. It is also something he would do anything to avoid. Xio likes him, and she is determined to make this cute young man her first “real” boyfriend. Read the book to discover Frederick and Xio’s delightful personalities and the discoveries they make along the way. Proof positive that reality doesn’t have to be depressing.

Jason & Kyra by Dana Davidson

An overly long romance book, this one has mature content and will please many a reader of those “heartache-but I’ll love you forever” kind of novels. It wasn’t to my taste, but then, I’m not a fan of romance. Sickenly unrealistic, Jason & Kyra go to a really good high school in Detroit and live in relative splendor. He’s the super-jock that doesn’t indulge in chemicals and she’s the shy smart girl who surprisingly gets his attention. Girl gets boy, girl loses boy, you know the drill. The only thing that struck me as fairly compelling in this wordy tome were the scenes between the two of them. Their dialog in those sections seemed natural, and their feelings relatable. The book is sorely in need of an editor, bulging at over 300 pages. There is also a switched “narrative voice” (a modern trend) but it is deeply inconsistent. One chapter is Jason’s. The next starts as Kyra, then goes back to Jason. Along the way, there are paragraphs and sentences where the point of view swings wildly to other students and even, on one occasion, a passerby. It’s too much. The constant emphasis on Kyra’s love of R&B music doesn’t seem to have a point other than to make sure we understand she doesn’t listen to Rap. Okay, after the first time, I got it. R&B sets the mood – but five mentions later of the same thing put me in a coma. That’s not the only thing in this book that seems unmotivated. Jason’s father starts out as hardworking, distant and stern. It is later revealed that he is a physically abusive drunk. It doesn’t fit with how he is presented, it doesn’t fit with his successful career or the girlfriend we never meet, it just seems to be a device to push the lovebirds together. It was one of many things I could have done without. This was a first novel by Ms. Davidson. Hopefully her next will be more polished.

Boy Proof by Cecil Castellucci

It’s not deep, it’s not 100% realistic, but I really enjoyed this book. Yet another tale of L.A. (I guess all those “heartland America” books are over). Victoria, aka “Egg”, is a child of Hollywood, but she lives in a simple setting. Her divorced parents represent different parts of the business, and of her personality. Her father, a well-respected make-up artist is quiet, sometimes warm, and sometimes temperamental. Her mother, a fading actress looking for a new break is trying to reach out but doesn’t really know how. Victoria will appeal to many a teenage reader. Angry, lost, confused, funny, smart, strong, she discovers much about herself along the way and I really enjoyed her journey. The ends aren’t tied up all neatly, and adults may not love some of the choices Victoria eventually makes, but there is something to be said for a young woman who finds her passion and pursues it. Brava to “Egg”. I hope others enjoy reading this as much as I did.

Who Am I Without Him? Short Stories About Girls and Boys in Their Lives by Sharon Flake

I really love Sharon Flake’s work, but this was not one of my favorites. Not because it was poorly written, it wasn’t. The characters stand true and speak in voices so clarion it is difficult not to hear their cry. I found the short story format, one I like, to be difficult in this instance. In most cases, the stories were too short to really grab me. There was no thread between them other than the stated title. I would have preferred to see something along the lines of Ortiz’s “An Island Like You” or the works of E.R. Frank where there are ties between the characters, however distant or occasional. There is also the darkness in these stories. The opening one, however real, made me deeply sad. Most of the others, including a heart-wrenching letter from a father to a daughter at the end, did little to lift my mood. The one story that stood out for me was that of “Mookie”. Mookie is a young man who knows how to treat a woman because of a group of very controlling female relatives. He uses this knowledge to become a “playah”, but then falls in love…real love. It was the only story in the book that utterly delighted me. Would students be attracted to this book? I think so. There is no question that what is written here is very much about life. The only question is how glossed over we like our reality.

Sammy & Juliana in Hollywood by Benjamin Alire Saenz

I don’t want to say this was a weak book. It wasn’t. It has emotional impact. It makes you think, particularly about the “necessary lies” of life. But I didn’t love it. In part, it just isn’t my thing. With a title and cover that makes you think “romance” it is, in actuality, a kind of fictionalized memoir. The author grew up in a barrio of Las Cruces, NM named “Hollywood”. He grew up poor, Hispanic and in a time when everything was changing – the sixties. The character of Sammy really seems to be the author, a good student with a sharp mind and dreams of getting out. Sammy struggles with the pull between the nature of his community and the shattering of normalcy as societal expectations change overnight. It is a sad book. A lot of people are “lost” along the way and a sense of hopelessness and expected doom reign throughout. In some ways, it reminded me of Irish culture in the tendency towards the morose. There are strong characterizations here, and the people are very real…so real that they speak Spanish throughout. While this lent a kind of naturalness to the dialog, I found it somewhat distancing as I could not figure out what the phrases meant. I also strongly felt the book was in need of an editor. Without any given through-line, it just meanders along. At one point, Sammy has struggles during Lent…unfortunately, that episode lands squarely in the middle of summer. It was disconcerting. Had the book been streamlined, I think it would have a beauty to it. At nearly 300 pages however, it was just one too many references to fistfights and the “Aztec chin”. Mr. Saenz has a lyricism to his text. I look forward to seeing what he comes up with next.

The Squire’s Tale by Gerald Morris

I had been looking forward to reading this series for some time. A fan of fantasy and alternative treatments of Arthurian Legend, I had heard a good deal about this series by Gerald Morris. Unfortunately, I felt quite disappointed. In many ways, Morris is faithful to the original telling of the Arthur tales – this first book in the series is fairly segmented. Within each chapter, there is a mini-adventure, and the story doesn’t move forward as much as it simply moves. The knights seemed somewhat interchangeable to me…they save maidens and hack off heads, and only occasionally have any emotional reactions. Nothing is dwelt on very much. It struck me like a computer game: Step one, cut off evil head; step two, escort lady to castle; step three, get reward from king; step four, start again. There isn’t even emotional connection to the main character, Terence, an elvish boy, as he observes the actions of his master. There are secrets about Terence, but by the time I learned some of them, I just didn’t care. Lastly, I gotta say that as an ardent feminist who adores Marion Zimmer Bradley’s “Mists of Avalon”, I can say I was heartily disappointed with the depiction of females throughout this “tale”. The rescued maidens are two-dimensional, self-obsessed bores, or harping and bitter. There isn’t a decent woman among the lot. As for the rest of the series, I think I’ll pass.

Survey says...

Okay all you Harry Potter fanatics out there. It's survey time. J.K. Rowling says "two major characters will die" in the seventh book. I say it's Harry and Snape. What do you say???

More TAB reviews!

MS writes:
-- "Bridge to Terabithia" by Katherine Paterson. This book was good and sad. Leslie gave me the great feelings! I thought Jess was okay. He didn't have much of an imagination!
-- "The BFG" by Roald Dahl. This book was a heartwarming story. I LOVE the BFG! He is so cool!
-- "Notes From a Liar and Her Dog" by Gennifer Choldenko. This is a wonderful book. I love having a book that has the main character a liar. It sparks up the book.

The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron

Utterly delightful. Downright charming. A beautiful little book marred by stupid controversy. “The Higher Power of Lucky” came out of nowhere this year to win the most coveted award in children’s literature, the Newbery. A slim volume and tremendously fast read at 133 pages, it is a simple tale richly told. Lucky is a 10½ year old girl living on the edge of the Mojave Desert. Two years earlier, her mother was killed in a freak accident. Lucky, a girl whose innocence and curiosity rings very true, spends the story trying to understand that which is fairly difficult even for adults to comprehend – the nature of life, love and loss. We begin as Lucky listens in on an AA meeting, understanding only that a “Higher Power” is something deeply desirable. She hears much that she doesn’t understand, including the word “scrotum”. And herein lies the controversy. Condemned by school librarians across the country (according to a New York Times article) the book is already being widely banned in a number of school districts. The language is deemed “inappropriate” for young children and “unnecessary to the plot”, some saying that it was placed in the book only for titillation. I couldn’t disagree more. Susan Patron, in the same NY Times article, said the word “scrotum” was “delicious”. As a cursory reading of the opening passages will indicate, the prose here is stunning. To say so much with such economy is a gift among writers, and a book of this quality, IMHO, has not been seen among the Newbery winners in quite a number of years. The “word” ***is*** important, because it shows Lucky’s childlike view of the world. She sees and hears much around her, but hasn’t quite figured out what all the pieces mean. Lucky does what many bright young children do, she attempts to make the unknown fit into her own private reasoning. What doesn’t fit, she creatively makes up stories about. From an adult perspective, there is a sweet nostalgia to her world view. A fond remembrance of the time when our “newness” in the world brought a kind of clarity. Perhaps, under their hysterical harping, this is what all the censors are really concerned about. The protagonist is a child, the book is short, there are even pictures … but it is not a child’s book. The humor is subtle, sly, and at times employs a gentle irony. Would a ten year old “get it” on that level? Probably not. But how many kids would understand and connect to Lucky’s sense of a life that is out of her control? How many kids would know exactly why she takes “a survival bag” with her everywhere so that she will always be safe? As a Newbery Medal winner, this book will be read, and if my gut has anything to say about it, this one is going to be a sentimental favorite for years to come. Take that, you book banners, you. Scrotum, scrotum, scrotum.

Tithe by Holly Black

This was my first brush with the newer genre of “Urban Fantasy”. A more contemporary and reality-grounded style hallmarked by authors such as Charles de Lint and Neil Gaiman, I have to say I wasn’t wowed. In the first four chapters, our heroine gets drunk, smokes, is nearly raped, is assaulted by a second man and uses more four letter words than you might hear in the locker rooms of your average sporting event. It takes a full third of the book to get to the fantasy part of this conflicted tale, and that is colored by Dante-like images and Nietzschian philosophy. This novel is dark. Really really dark. Which I wouldn’t mind so much, but there doesn’t seem to be a point. The prose is well written, but the prose doesn’t flow. The copious description that should enhance the reader’s image instead bogs down the storyline, and the storyline itself meanders all over the place until you just want it to be over. A self-described fantasy fan but generally slow reader, I have been known to blaze through novels of this length in a week or less. This one took more than three months, and I can only think that the lengthy read was my resistance to picking it up each time I renewed efforts to finish it. Despite all appearances – a moody fairy gracing the cover, chapter headings with intriguing quotes – I have to believe there is something fundamentally wrong with any book that makes me pick “doing laundry” over “finding out what happens next”. There is obviously a sequel, but I don’t think I’ll be in any rush to read it.

TAB Reviews

LA writes:
-- "The Blue Djinn of Babylon" by P.B. Kerr. This is definitely a worthy sequel to the “Akhenaten Adventure”, explaining the many adventures of two young djinn, John and Philippa. This time, Philippa is kidnapped, and John and his Uncle Nimrod must attempt to find her. But this is not easy – she turns out to be in the palace of the Blue Djinn of Babylon, a famously indifferent djinn who sees Good and Evil as dangerously close to the same thing – and wants Philippa to be her successor! Once again, each of the twins travel across the globe, searching and solving puzzles. This series really makes you think – which I love.
-- "Gregor and the Marks of Secret" by Suzanne Collins. I liked this series a lot at first – particularly the character of Boots, who I find absolutely adorable – but as the series has gotten darker so has my attitude toward it. This particular book is undoubtedly meant to be a World War Two parallel, what with the mice in the gas chambers and the Bone (the rat that Gregor saved in a previous book) sweet-talking them into doing these horrible things. Having read this book at a time when I was in fact studying World War Two in school, this sounded cheesy and clichéd to me immediately. Maybe Suzanne Collins found this “deep” material, but I thought it was sick, disgusting, and just plain dumb. I think that Collins should go back to what she is best at – writing fresh, *original* pieces.
-- "The Wall and the Wing" by Laura Ruby. This book chronicles the story of a girl named, rather obviously, Gurl. She lives in a world where most people – called “Wings” are able to fly, most a few inches above the ground. Gurl can’t – she eventually learns that she is a Wall – she can become invisible. Later, she becomes friends with a boy called Bug, due to his odd facial expression. Gurl finds a kitten – rare for this world – on one of her excursions. But later, the head of the orphanage captures it so that Gurl will steal for her, invisible. Gurl and Bug concoct several plans to change this, and learn several awful truths along the way. Untrustworthy monkeys, an evil, conniving father, a long lost family, a pen with magical properties, and a professor with hair of grass all make an appearance. "The Wall and the Wing" is definitely one of the most original stories I have read in an extremely long time, not to mention full of wonderful writing. This is a fantastic book that anyone could read and enjoy.
-- "Fly by Night" by Frances Hardinge. "Fly by Night" is a terrific book that tells about the venturer of Mosca Mye, a poor girl who changes her life by becoming a servant to the conman Eponymous Clent. In Mosca’s world, people are utterly fearful of an unknown guild of people called the “Birdcatchers” and try to calm themselves by praying to one of their many gods that corresponds with their names. Mosca’s means “the housefly” – therefore she prays to Goodman Palpitattle, a recurring icon in the book. However, Moscda is a suspicious person – throughout the book she spies, watches, and examines countless people and situations. This book is extremely unpredictable, so it keeps the reader curious throughout its entirety. I absolutely loved this book.
-- "Pure Dead Batty" by Debi Gliori. I loved the first two books in the “Pure Dead” series, but by the time “Pure Dead Brilliant” came around, this series had started going downhill. This book chronicles Titus, Pandora, and Damp going on a desperate search for their nanny, Flora MacLachlan. In the previous book, she had gone missing – I was too bored to remember why. Thre are still the usual beasts in this book – and Nestor is enjoyable, as usual, -- but there just isn’t enough material to keep me interested. I hope that someday Debi Gliori writes a better addition to the series – something that *explains* the connections we’ve been seeing in the past three!
-- "Charlie Bone and the Hidden King" by Jenny Nimmo. An absolutely thrilling conclusion to the widespread “Children of the Red King” series, this book’s only fault is the loose ends that weren’t tied up. (However, this does not matter so much to me, because a recent search on Amazon.com shows me a new book about Charlie’s world coming out in a few months!) This being so, the story tells about what happens this time when Charlie Bone returns to Bloor’s Academy for another term. It is discovered that a suspicious tree is really the red kind, disguised, and Charlie need to find a way to release him, because the notorious “Yewbean Aunts” are plotting something … and Charlie needs to know what. Characters are, as always, memorable, and Charlie, as always, succeeds. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book – even if it’s clichéd, even if it’s borderline plagiarism (which I doubt) … this series is wonderful.
-- "Caddy Ever After" by Hilary McKay. I *LOVED* this book sooooo much – this series is completely amazing – unlike anything I have ever read and fantastically BRITISH. In "Caddy Ever After", the story is told from the point of view of each of the four main characters, where their part fits in. In previous books, everything was told from the third person. I think I enjoy Rose’s part the best, because of the original way she thinks and acts – but I also love reading about Saffy – I don’t sympathize with her as much any more, but I still love it – and of course Indigo and Caddy. In this tale, Caddy is getting married, Saffy is cheering up sick best friend Sarah, Indigo is in love, and Rose is just … Rose. Obviously Eve and Bill are there to make everything more complicated, and then there are the matters of Tom and Michael – I can’t explain everyting here – READ THE BOOK!
-- "The Pinhoe Egg" by Diana Wynne Jones. A new installment in Diana Wynne Jones’ excellent “Chrestomanci” series, the Pinhole Egg describes the happenings of Marianne Pinhoe and Cat Chant (a recurring character). Marianne’s grandmother has gone insane, and her family’s spells – all illegal! -- are flying around absolutely everywhere. Marianne gives Cat a large, golden egg and that’s when things start to happen … I love this book, because obviously it’s part of a great series, but also because of the amazing detail involved in it. Diana Wynne Jones allows me to really *see* everything that is going on in the book. When it is over you really feel that you *know* the characters. And of course, it is sad to leave them.

TS writes:
-- "Curse of the Bane" by Joseph Delaney. The second book in the Las Apprentice series. Tom Ward continues his apprenticeship with Gregory the Spook. This time he travels to Priestown where there are, you guessed it, a lot of priests. In Priestown they confront the Bane. Another tale of magic & evil demons, Joseph Delaney give readers a truly spooky book. However, I personally wouldn’t subject this to the faint hearted readers, it is truly frightening.

CK writes:
-- "Rash" by Pete Hautman. Even though this book takes place in the Future (which is cool), Pete Hautman makes the book seem very boring. I didn’t even want to finish the book because it was that boring. 2 thumbs down.
-- "Chasing the Jaguar" by Michele Dominguez Greene. This is an extremely exciting book that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It’s a great mystery book. I also like how the author includes Spanish words which really helped me practice my Spanish and learn new words.

CM writes:
-- "The Wall and the Wing" by Laura Ruby. I thought the plot moved along, and I could relate to the characters.

JV writes:
-- "My Almost Epic Summer" by Adele Griffin. Really funny! Irene has big dreams for starting her own hair salon, but she is always messing up at her mother’s hair salon. When she goes to babysit 2 kids for the summer she meets an extremely pretty girl and a dude from her elementary school. This is a really exciting book that you won’t be able to put down.
-- "The Wright 3" by Blue Balliet. A really good mystery book. Really suspenseful. I advice to read "Chasing Vermeer", the first in the series first.
-- "The Fall of the Amazing Zalindas" by Tracy Mack. This was a very suspenseful mystery book. It was very exciting and a lot easier to understand than the regular Sherlock Holmes books.
-- "You Know You Love Me" by Cecily von Ziegesar. I have read the other ones in the Gossip Girl series and I think that this one was the best. It was kind of suspenseful and really funny.

Here's a bunch of reviews from TAB member, LY!

The Palace of Laughter- Jon Berekeley
This book is well written and fast paced, for those of you who hate to read slow moving books. It is about a young boy who tries to enter a circus that seems to pop up overnight. There he meets all kinds of wonders and things that shouldn't exist. When he meets a little girl named Little, he learns that there is something wrong with the circus and what it is. Such as a little man calling himself the Great Cortado *my nickname for him just happens to be Ego-stroker* planning world domination and an assortment of other things.

Fairest-Gail Carson Levine.
This book is kind of like the sequel to Ella Enchanted. It has the same setting and it's in the same time period. One of the characters is also in Ella Enchanted. The only difference is that this girl, unlike Ella, is the supposed daughter of an innkeeper. But her singing voice and the blanket she was found in, proves different. She discovers that she can do all kinds of things with her voice. And eventually someone really important asks for her help. ( Mainly because of her cat)

Changeling- Delia Sherman
A changeling is a human that was switched at birth with a fairy child. This changeling, known as Neef, now lives in the New York Between, where everything magical comes to life. Animals talk, and there are beasts that will hunt you down if you're not careful. Neef, excited about the upcoming Solstice dance, breaks her treaty with the Green Lady of Central Park. In order to regain every right and protection that she had under the treaty back, she must go on a quest for 3 impossible items.

Fire Star- Chris D'Lacey
The third book in the series, another book full of dragons, talking animals, and, of course, one of the best story lines ever. This time, he's got a polar bear on his tail, one trying to steal the gem he holds. He has no idea how to defend himself, but then, think about it. Would you if you were freezing your butt off?

More TAB reviews!

JV writes:

-- "The Door to Time" by Ulysses Moore. This book was a very exciting thriller. When Jason and Julia move to a big old mansion on a beach from London they go on a twisting mystery starting with a locked door and four animal like keys and ending with a wonderful viking ship. I would give this book a 10 out of 10.
-- "Maximum Ride: School's Out Forever" by James Patterson. THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING!!! This is the 2nd book in the series. I read this book before the first one but WOW! It is a very good story about kids that were experimented on at the "school," (which is a lab) and given wings. The doctors try to find the kids after they escape so that they can do more experiments on them. The kids find out that they were kidnapped away from their parents when they were born, so they go on a long search for their parents but can only find one childs. To find out more Read The Book.
-- "Chasing the Jaguar" by Michele A. Greene. Wow! There was Spanish in the book at some points of the story, but luckily there was a glossary at the end of the book which really helped! The mystery was not as good as the Nancy Drew Books but pretty close.

CM writes:
-- "The Palace of Laughter" by Jon Berkeley. It was neat how the angels came down and that Miles and Little bond. I also think it fits that Miles is an orphan, and I love the tiger!
-- "Gideon, the Cut-Purse" by Linda Buckley-Archer. It has a good story line, and you can see a guy bond with someone from the future whose dad is never there. It's a bit confusing going from past to present, but you understand it as the book goes on.

AW writes:
-- "The Dream-Maker's Magic" by Sharon Shinn. This book is very well written. It talks about this as if you were an adult. Not some little kid that doesn't get anything. There are some hardships that this person had to endure. It's like real life. Not make-believe.

MS writes:
-- "Jumping the Scratch" by Sarah Weeks. This book was fun to read and very good. At the end it didn't leave you hanging. I really enjoyed the main character and I enjoyed the plot.

TAB Reviews

The following reviews were written by TAB members.

CK writes:
-- "Amazing Grace" by Megan Shull. It's a wonderful love story that I wouldn't mind reading over and over again.
-- "Being Bindy" by Alyssa Brugman. This book is a wonderful story about how a young girl goes through many hardships and problems and solves them. This book has a great ending.
-- "Dairy Queen: A Novel" by Catherine Gilbert Murdock. This is a wonderful book. I really enjoyed it because at times I can relate to how D.J. feels and some of the characters remind me of people I know.

CM writes:
-- "Specials" by Scott Westerfeld. It had a good ending! It wasn't a cliffhanger like the other books in the series. ***Spoiler alert*** Tally got back together with David! Yeah! She didn't become normal, but it fit the ending so I was happy. :)
-- "Welcome to Wahoo" by Dennis Carr. The writing style was very different and the book kept you guessing. It was an enjoyable book.
-- "Peter and the Shadowthieves" by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. The shadow thief was an unexpected turn in the story from the last book. It made you think that evil could win. It was well written, and I enjoyed the story.
-- "The End" by Lemony Snicket. I had been waiting to read this book since the 12th book came out! It revealed something from the Baudelaire's past, but it was a cliff hanger, which I didn't like, but I expected that.
-- "Pretties" by Scott Westerfeld. It was suspenseful, and was eventful, but I didn't like how Tally reacts when she met David. It's ending makes you want to learn more, which I like.

JV writes:
-- "Amazing Grace" by Megan Shull. I liked her style of writing. ***Spoiler alert*** The book was really good and I liked how she sent the money to Fisher.
-- "Peter and the Shadowthieves" by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. ***Spoiler alert*** I liked how Peter saves Molly's father.