"The Accidental Genuis of Weasel High" by Rick Detorie

In the same vein as the Wimpy Kid books or Sherman Alexie's "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" this novel chronicles Rick Detorie's 9th grade year in prose and cartoons. His English teacher has given the class an assignment -- keep a journal. They can write anything they want, but they need to write. The student with the most interesting journal gets an "A." Guess who won? What follows is Mr. Detorie's take on his first year of high school. Like so many books for teens, we discover that 14 is a difficult age, but the plethora of observances made by the young Rick lightens the tone by being both touching and laugh-out-loud funny. Failed attempts at getting girlfriends, an evil older sister, wanting a camcorder he can't afford and making connections at his first job are just some of the great stories you'll find here. The style is engaging and the writing very very real. Rick reminds me of kids I know, and like. He's just a regular teen trying to figure it all out, and he makes some fascinating discoveries along the way. A fast read with broad appeal, this one is a definite keeper.

"Ten Miles Past Normal" by Frances Dowell

Albeit the typical teen drama (9th grade girl tries to adapt to the social mores of high school with impressive failure) this nice little novel manages to be fun and sweet. The lead character, Janie, has a clean, real voice and is clearly living with some frustration but doesn't come off as whiny. The characters around her are fleshed-out and layered. Everyone from parents to friends have different sides, which helps to weave a story that is sometimes unexpected. The plot elements of an English report and joining a club are secondary to Janie's internal quest to find a role for herself as friends drift apart and her farm background separates her socially from her suburbanite peers. Nothing is overly stressed. The cute guy who might not be what he appears is dealt with in under two chapters, the latest adventure of mom becomes a quick anecdote. In many ways, this book reminded me of Stephanie Tolan's "Surviving the Applewhites," another book that is an enjoyable read with few major events to drive the plot. It also has the gentle style of Dana Reinhardt's "A Brief Chapter of My Impossible Life." As you might expect, Janie craves to be a "normal" teen, but has a difficult time determining what that is, exactly, and ends up creating her own definition of what is important. It's a solid book that should have broad appeal. Once again, my only complaint is cover art, which gives away a major plot point that should have been revealed in the story rather than on the cover. It's an engaging photo, though, and likely to get some kids to pick it up who might not otherwise.

"The False Princess" by Eilis O'Neal

Once again, I was deceived by a cover and a preconception that I knew what this book was about. Expecting something fluffy, like Gail Carson Levine's "Ella Enchanted" or the unending Princess books by Meg Cabot, I instead found a rich fantasy novel more in the style of Kristin Cashore's "Graceling." It is a novel more dense than it appears. In the book, Princess Nalia discovers a truth she doesn't expect then travels through a series of trials, and lives, to figure out who she is and where she belongs. There is, of course, the big bad, but very little true evil. No character is simple -- each brings subtle layers of humanity to this complex tale. There is magic, but the story also has a fairly specific medieval setting. Despite the imaginary nations there is, at one point, a specific year listed (1176?) Even with the extremely minor mistake of referring to the King and Queen as "highness" (it should have been "Majesty") this could be a historical novel if you took out the fantastical elements. It was a rich read and a tremendously satisfying (if not slightly predictable) ending. Much to my delight, it does seem to be a stand-alone. Not that I don't love a good series, but it seems everything these days is in multiple parts. It was nice to commit to a single book and not worry about having the time to read all the books that follow. No question, this type of novel, which allows you to escape into another world and travel along with the adventures, is my most favorite.

"Airborne" by Kenneth Oppel

I recently saw Kenneth Oppel speak. I had just finished “Half-Brother” but was eager to read “Airborn,” his big-hit award winner, which was a fantasy. After reading a good deal of historical and realistic fiction, it was long past time to enjoy my favorite genre. I could not have been more pleased. This rollicking adventure set in a steam-punk style alternative Earth is hugely engaging due to “Matt Cruse” – his 15 year-old protagonist, a ship’s boy so real, with dreams so large, that you can’t help but feel a connection. Matt is a cabin boy on the Aurora, one of thousands of airships which cross the world in place of airplanes. We meet him in his favorite spot – the crow’s nest of his mighty vessel, staring into the dark of a wide sky. The adventures build quickly and may seem eventually seem improbable, but Matt’s pure heart and his newfound attraction for the plucky Miss Kate deVries make this a fun tale. It’s sentimental without the sap, solid literary writing that is accessible. There are shipwrecks and pirates and the discovery of … well, something quite special. There’s even a loss I didn’t expect, but one that makes Matt’s quest for a better life all that more poignant. Nothing is black and white here, more sepia-toned with shades upon shades. The book is long, but the pacing good. I had no problems careening through to see “what would happen next.” In all, it was one of the most satisfying books I have read in a while. Perfect to curl up on the couch with over a cold, rainy weekend. People often talk about books being like food – this one was like a seven course meal. It truly took me out of myself and into a rich world of the author’s design.