Sunday, February 28, 2010

A Swift Pure Cry by Siobhan Dowd

Coolbar, a tiny town in Ireland, is home to a lot of secrets. Some are well-known secrets, others are kept hidden. Shell has been raising her siblings since the death of her mother; her father, in his grief, has provided little support. When she becomes pregnant, she decides to hide her pregnancy from everyone; the baby is born dead. Then, a little while later, a baby's body is discovered in a nearby cave - it had been left in the wilderness to die. Shell finds herself under suspicion of murder, and people are wondering who the baby's father was: a local boy? the new, young priest? Or did her father, in his grief, do something unthinkable? Slowly, the secrets will unravel and the truths will have to come out.

Shell is in equal parts weary and naive; she knows little about the mechanics of human biology, and even less about how to protect herself. The 'mystery' part of the book was abundantly clearly to me when reading it, but the real drama came from watching the characters interact together, not from trying to puzzle anything out. It's a tough read with a lot of sad passages, but still a very interesting book.


Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
The Little Girl Who Was Too Fond of Matches by Gaetan Soucy
After by Amy Efaw
Inexcusable by Chris Lynch
The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd
What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Standing for Socks by Elissa Brent Weissman

Fara Ross is known around school as The Sock Girl: she wears mismatched socks as a show of her own individuality. That's why she started wearing them, at least. Now she's thinking that mismatched socks have become her new normal. Also, no one seems interested in listening to her; all they want to do is talk about her socks. She's sick of socks! If she could be 6th Grade Class President, she'd finally have a platform where she could talk about all of her other ideas. But to get to be president, she'll have to get some attention - will the socks help or hurt her?

Fara is an engaging character. She's innovative, creative, passionate about helping the environment, and committed to making a difference. She's not a perfect person, though; she makes several mistakes as she goes along and jeopardizes her relationships with several friends. She's mature in some ways and naive in others. A fun read, and one that I think would be enjoyed by kids who have their own ideas about how they can make a difference.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern
Dodger for President by Jordan Sonnenblick
Frindle by Andrew Clements
The Homeschool Liberation League by Lucy Frank

Friday, February 26, 2010

Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern

Jessie's always been close with her two best friends, but lately it seems like they're only coming over to her house they can hang out with her older brother and his friends. When they decide to transform themselves into punks, Jessie feels left out - and a bit disgusted at how she's been treated. It gets worse - one of her friends goes after her long-time crush, and Jessie feels angry and betrayed. She starts spending more time with other people at school, and finds out that people she had previously written off as dorks or nerds might be more interesting than she had thought. If only she can get past her high school clique/popularity hang-ups, she might have found some people that she actually wants to be friends with.

Jessie is an interesting, complex character that I loved reading about. It was refreshing to read about a girl who was ready to break off friendships when they were treating her like a doormat. I loved the relationship between Jessie and her older brother. The novel felt like it was ending about three times before it actually did end, and I got a bit tired of Jessie's hand-wringing about whether or not she was okay with people thinking that she might be less than cool, but this is a very sweet novel that presents high school as being a system of Venn Diagrams rather than a hierarchy. It's got some elements of Freaks and Geeks in it, as well as a bit of My So-Called Life, and a dash of Project Runway. I didn't put all of the elements of the cover together until after I read the book, but I'm happy that I did read this Cybils-finalist novel.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks by Ethan Gilsdorf
Superstud by Paul Feig
Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

Thursday, February 25, 2010

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

A Monstrumologist is kind of an 1800s version of an agent on The X-Files; Dr. Warthrop is a Monstrumologist. His young apprentice is Will Henry, the orphaned son of his former assistant. When Dr. Warthrop learns of an outbreak of anthropophagi activity, he and Will Henry start down a dark path that will change their lives and their understanding of each other.

Much attention has been paid to this book's cover, and it's just as striking in person. It's a bit disgusting, a bit creepy, a bit confusing, but I couldn't look away. That's sort of how I felt about the rest of the book, too - I didn't always understand what was going on, especially with the anthropophagi, but I just wanted to find out more. Additionally, the characters are really engaging. There are strings of dialogue that are just delightful in their absurdity; along with the horrible events of the novel, there's a very dark, very humorous vein that runs through it. The last section of the book repeatedly reminds the reader that these are only the first three volumes of the found manuscript. I'm curious to see what will happen in the next volumes.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Dracula by Bram Stoker
The Cider House Rules by John Irving
The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp by Rick Yancey

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Inexcusable by Chris Lynch

Keir Safarian would like everyone to know that he's a good guy. His sisters love him, his Dad's a hard-working guy who has devoted his whole life to his children since the death of his wife, he gets decent grades and is on the football team. He's not the kind of guy who would do something so...inexcusable. He has no idea why Gigi Boudakian would say why he did...that...to her. He didn't; he wouldn't. He's a good guy, and this is his story.

Inexcusable alternates between Keir telling the story of his senior year in high school and scenes of Keir and Gigi reacting to a terrible event (a misunderstanding? Keir certainly thinks so). His story is meant to explain why he couldn't possibly have done what he's being accused of, but instead, it just turns everything into complicated shades of gray. It's a fascinating look at a high school guy's mind and character, and how he interprets what's going on around him. A difficult book to read, but an even harder book to put down.


Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
After by Amy Efaw
If the Witness Lied by Caroline B. Cooney
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin

Jason, a 12-year-old boy with autism, has a hard time understanding many different things. He doesn't see things the same way that "neurotypicals" see things. Up until recently he's had the help of a classroom assistant, but now he's out there on his own. One of his favourite things to do is to write stories and post them online in a writing forum. That's where he strikes up an e-mail based relationship with a girl. They become friends - and, Jason wonders, could it become more?

I really enjoyed the way that this book covered the topic of online writing. It perfectly captured the way that you write and post, and kind of hold your breath, waiting to see if anyone will read it. Then, if they do, and they comment, you can slowly develop a real friendship with people you've never met. Questions of identity and authenticity are so important when considering this world, and I think they will be themes found in many other young adult and middle grade books in the future as children start online earlier and earlier.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork
Crash into Me by Albert Borris
Rules by Cynthia Lord
Django by Bonnie Christensen
The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd

Monday, February 22, 2010

There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom by Louis Sachar

Bradley Chalkers tells the most lies in the entire fifth grade. If you don't believe me, you can call his teacher. When new kid Jeff moves to town, it looks like Bradley might have a friend at last - and if he has a friend, maybe he'll even figure out a way to get one of his teacher's gold stars. But things aren't that easy, are they? It will take the help of Carla, the school's counselor, to get Bradley to talk about his fears and what he wants - and when she does, everything could change.

When I read this book, I was just so thoroughly charmed by the language, the story, and the characters. At first Bradley didn't seem like a character that I wanted to spend a whole book with, but only a few chapters in I could see how complex this character was: there's the Bradley in class, Bradley with Jeff, Bradley with his parents, and Bradley in the sanctuary of his room, where he is free to talk with his animal figurines. There's just such an honesty in this book - the senselessness of bullying, the question of who is really bullying who, the cliqueishness of elementary school and the fear of trying your best and still not being good enough. Many of the covers of this book will look a little dated, but don't let that prevent you from picking up this book.


Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Schooled by Gordan Korman
The Manny Files by Christian Burch
Dodger for President by Jordan Sonnenblick
Bettina Valentino and the Picasso Club by Niki Daly
Pieces of Georgia by Jennifer Bryant
The Cat Ate My Gymsuit by Paula Danziger

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Stitches: A Memoir by David Small

David Small's life was filled with silence, half-truths, secrets, and darkness. At 14, he entered the hospital to have a growth removed from his neck; he left without his vocal cords and not knowing he had cancer. His mother lived a double life, his father carried around terrible guilt relating to David's cancer, his grandmother ended up in an institution. It's amazing to think about all of the information conveyed through this book; if it had been a book written with words instead of images, it would have been quite an overwhelming read. Stitches, as it stands, is an engrossing tale of Small's life, the kind where I found myself, with eyes wide, wondering what new revelation would come in the next pages.

The book was initially marketed as a book for adults, but then started getting recognition as a title that would hold interest for teens (perhaps the most controversially as one of the finalists of the National Book Award for Young People's Literature).


Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
I Never Liked You by Chester Brown
It's a Good Life if You Don't Weaken by Seth
Blankets by Craig Thompson
Cancer Made Me a Shallower Person by Miriam Engleberg
Epileptic by David B.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Yummy by Lucy Cousins

Readers beware: dangerous creatures are found in the pages of Lucy Cousins' collection of folk and fairy tales. The images might be big and colourful, but all the better to show off things like gleaming teeth and sharp claws. The text is simple, which lets the pictures take centre stage. Definitely worth taking a closer look at.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Tomie DePaola's Favorite Nursery Tales by Tomie DePaola
My Very First Mother Goose by Iona Opie
Little Red Riding Hood by Jerry Pinkney
The Kingfisher Book of Nursery Tales by Vivian French
Arnold Lobel's Book of Mother Goose by Arnold Lobel

Friday, February 19, 2010

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

Minli lives with her parents in the Village of Fruitless Mountain; everything there is dirty, muddy, and brown. She and her parents have little money and little rice to live on, but she loves hearing the stories of legends that her father tells her. Then, one day, after conferring with a goldfish, Minli decides to head out to change her family's fortune. Along the way she meets many different creatures, including a helpful dragon, a pair of twins, a boy who lives with a buffalo, a dangerous tiger, and talking fish.

This book had been on my To Be Read pile for a long time (since before the Newbery winners were announced), but I just never managed to actually pick it up. By the end of the first chapter, though, I was hooked. I was so into Minli's story and eager to read about her journey. The book, physically, is also beautiful; the pages are thick, the print is easy to read, and the illustrations are rich. I loved the way that Grace Lin danced on the line between the story and the story's legends; it was like a puzzle, watching all of the pieces coming in to fit together perfectly. This was a highly enjoyable book that celebrates love, family, friendship, creativity, and hope.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon was a Newbery Honor Book for 2010.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Jack and the Beanstalk by E. Nesbit
Tales from China by Cyril Birch
Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

Thursday, February 18, 2010

The Manny Files by Christian Burch

Keats Dalinger is the only boy in a family of four siblings - his oldest sister is practically perfect in every way, the next oldest is a sophisticated fashion plate, and the baby is wild - and prefers to be naked. He feels a bit invisible, and things aren't going that well at school. But then, one day, The Manny shows up. He's a male nanny, and he's there to turn the Dalinger house around. His mantra is "be interesting," and with The Manny around, life will never be dull.

This book is simply delightful. I loved Keats Dalinger and was so unbelievably happy that The Manny came into his life. There's just so much about this book to be enthusiastic about: Keats, the manny, the relationship between the Dalinger siblings, Keats' stories about his school experiences. It's a funny book that also has parts that are quite sad and touching, particularly relating to the kids' grandmother. I loved the ending of the book almost as much as Keats' did, and am really happy to see that there's a sequel, Hit the Road, Manny.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers
Bettina Valentino and the Picasso Club by Niki Daly
Little Darlings by Sam Llewellyn
Eloise by Kay Thompson

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

If the Witness Lied by Caroline B. Cooney

The Fountain family isn't even really a family anymore; the three oldest siblings have scattered away, abandoning each other when they needed each other most. Everything started when their mother decided to carry her fourth child to term rather than accept chemotherapy for aggressive cancer. It became a case with national attention, and when she died shortly after giving birth, the media framed it as a baby killing its mother. A few years later, the baby killed again - this time, his father, by accidentally releasing the parking brake in their car. Their father was crushed and died instantly. The siblings knew it was Tris, the baby, who did it because there was a witness, a witness who called Tris a killer. But when the siblings reconnect, they discover there's a chance that the witness lied. And if the witness lied...then maybe everything would have been different.

It was really nice to read a plot-driven novel; I don't tend to read a lot of those. I also wanted to read more Caroline B. Cooney, so when I saw that this book was nominated for an Edgar award, I thought it would be a good one to pick up. I enjoyed this book; it kept me turning the pages with increasing speed as it built toward the end. I was interested in the family dynamic, but I'm glad that it didn't delve into the guilt any more than it did; it would have felt out of place.

The book felt it like would be a really great TV movie (and I love TV movies, so that's not a slam), but a TV movie of the week like they did in the 90s, with, like, Mark-Paul Goselaar, Candace Cameron, Tori Spelling, and some little moppet playing the siblings, and Meredith Baxter-Birney or someone playing their aunt. That would have been awesome.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Inexcusable by Chris Lynch
Reality Check by Peter Abrahams
Jane in Bloom by Deborah A. Lytton
Stranger with my Face by Lois Duncan

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur

Young Aubrey is still trying to process the death of her father and her sister when her mother takes off and disappears without a word. She sets out to take care of herself, but is discovered by her grandmother, who quickly takes Aubrey home with her. Aubrey starts writing letters to deal with her grief, hoping that her mother will return to take her back home. I loved the relationship between Aubrey and her grandmother as well as between Aubrey and her new friend Bridget. The last third of the book just about broke me, but in the best way possible.


Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
Jane in Bloom by Deborah Lytton
The Everafter by Amy Huntley

Monday, February 15, 2010

Frindle by Andrew Clements

When Nick decides to replace the word 'pen' with the word 'frindle,' it seems like he's bitten off more than he can chew! It started as a way to match wits with his language-loving teacher, but before long it's a national phenomenon. As with many of Clements' other books, the kids are spirited and enterprising and the adults are well-meaning and multi-dimensional. It's an fun look at the fluidity of language and the power of a grass-roots campaign.


Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
No Talking by Andrew Clements
The Dunderheads by Paul Fleischman
Freaky Monday by Mary Rodgers
Thesaurus Rex by Laya Steinberg

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe

Harold (a dog) and Chester (a cat) live with the Monroe family. They have a good life there, and everything is going smoothly. Then one day, while out to see the movie Dracula, the family comes across a rabbit. They bring him home, name him Bunnicula (he has a bit of black fur that looks like a cape), and it's not long before strange things start happening. Bunnicula sleeps all day and is awake at night. He can get in and out of his own cage. The vegetables are turning white...and they have marks in them that look a bit like fangs...


I wasn't sure whether or not I had read this when I was younger. I had a vague memory of owning a paperback copy, and of white vegetables. I picked it up again to read it, to see if I remembered anything. The white vegetables were there, but there was so much that I didn't remember: the humour, the playful language, Chester's obsession, and the family's reaction. I'm surprised that it hasn't been re-released with a Twilight-ish tie-in cover: "Imagine if Edward Cullen had a pet bunny - who was also a vampire!" Are librarians recommending this to the youngest readers clamouring for Twilight? I don't know; I do know that this is a book that is a delight to read.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Marley: A Dog Like No Other by Josh Grogan
The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
Howliday Inn by James Howe

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem by Mac Barnett


Billy's parents warned him: if he didn't do his homework, clean his room, or finish his dinner, they would get him a blue whale. Billy didn't do his homework, he didn't clean his room, and he didn't finish his dinner. So one day a blue whale shows up on the Twitters' front step - and it's up to Billy to take care of him. Along the way, Billy (and the reader) learn a lot of details about blue whales, including why they don't really make good pets. The illustrations are hilarious because they're so straightforward, and the text balances story and facts.

On a different note, I had to read the title several times before I got the words right - I kept reading it as "Billy Twitters ABOUT his blue whale problem." Which it is not.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Redwoods by Jason Chin
Moonshot by Brian Floca
Dinosaur Bob and His Adventures with the Family Lazardo by William Joyce
Psst! by Adam Rex

Friday, February 12, 2010

Crash Into Me by Albert Borris

Frank, Owen, Jin-ae and Audrey know each other from an online community; they have shared the stories of how they tried to commit suicide. They decide that they want to take a cross-country trip to visit the suicide places of celebrities - ending with their own suicides in Death Valley. But once they're out on the road, they realize that it might not be so easy to stick to the plan.

I've read a lot of really great reviews of this book, but I'm not sure that I had the same reaction. I found it hard to care about any of the characters or whether they would actually go through with their suicide pact. (I was particularly perplexed by the brief mention to Jin-ae - a lesbian - having heterosexual sex on the trip. This, to me, came out of nowhere and was really unnecessary.) Owen was by far my favourite character, I think because we spent so much time with him. Maybe I just wasn't committed to the book, or maybe I've been reading too many books with similar dark themes - maybe I'm just burned out on this type of book. I think I would have responded better to a short story of some kind, but since the book is about the journey, that probably wouldn't have worked (and it really isn't a long story as it is). I did appreciate how Albert Borris was able to convey the claustrophobic atmosphere of the car and the journey as well as the compassionate, knowledgeable tone that he writes with. I also really liked the message board conversations that alternate with the real-time narrative; I love the idea of how anonymity can help create open, honest discussions, and how you can be friends with someone you've never met in person.
Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Going Bovine by Libba Bray
13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Killing Yourself to Live by Chuck Klosterman

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Dodger for President by Jordan Sonnenblick

Willie, Lizzie, and Dodger are back - and this time, Willie's running for class president. How did that happen? That's what Willie would like to know! Dodger went to school disguised at Willie (thanks to a magic potion), and then one thing led to another, and Willie finds himself in the middle of an election he can't back out of. Lots of magical scenarios and chimpish plans are quick to follow, and Willie's just trying to keep everything under control - especially with his little sister Amy snooping around!

Fans of Dodger and Me will likely enjoy this book. I think I liked it about the same or a bit more than the first book, if only because there isn't the same drama about whether or not Willie will keep Dodger (it's sort of like watching a pilot of a TV show). I liked Willie and Lizzie's relationship, I liked Willie and Amy's relationship, and I liked the sympathetic depiction of the class bully. I was not a huge fan of the ending (or the lack of ending, which seems to be a trend in the series), but I would be up for reading more about this trio's adventures.


Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Dodger and Me by Jordan Sonnenblick
LaRue for Mayor by Mark Teague
I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President by Josh Lieb
The Frandidate by Jim Benton
Standing for Socks by Elissa Brent Weissman

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon

All the World, written by Liz Garton Scanlon and illustrated by Marla Frazee, is a beautiful picture book with a wonderful message. This is just a book that makes you feel great when you read it - you want to read it again, and you want to share it with everyone. This book is a celebration of community, of family, of big things and small things, of waking up in the morning. The illustrations are...I want to say delicious, I'm not sure why, because I didn't literally eat them. But Marla Frazee is one of my favourite illustrators, and I can't wait to explore more from Liz Garton Scanlon.


Find it at Amazon.

Read it with:
The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
Red Sings from the Treetops by Joyce Sidman
A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Marla Frazee

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

Sixteen people are mysteriously invited to live in the mysterious Sunset Tower building, in the shadow of the mysterious home of the Mysterious Sam Westing. Before long, Mr. Westing dies, and his heirs (mostly the people who live in this building) are drawn into a mysterious puzzle/contest to see who will inherit the Westing estate. What are people's connections to Mr. Westing? Why did he die? How can they figure out their clues? Who will win the millions?

I had this book as a child, but I can't remember if I read it or not. I had a feeling that I had - I was able to puzzle through the main mystery of the clues, but I forgot all of the subsequent details. I enjoyed many of the characters, particularly Turtle Wexler and her sister Angela, the Theodorakis brothers, and Flora Baumbach. I love playing with the ideas of identity, responsibility, greed, and guilt, and those are some of the major themes in this book.

Reading this book was part of my own project to read more middle grade fiction. So look for more reviews of 'vintage' books to come!

Find it at Amazon.

Read it with:
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
The Puzzling World of Winston Breen by Eric Berlin
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Monday, February 8, 2010

Hate List by Jennifer Brown

Valerie was the one who started the Hate List - a list of people that were mean to her, or who represented those that made her life hell. But it was her boyfriend, Nick, who walked into school one day with a gun and started shooting the people on that list. Several people died and many more were injured, including Valerie, who Nick shot before turning the gun on himself. Many people see Valerie as responsible for the shooting and think she should be punished; even Valerie isn't sure what to think, not anymore.

This was a very difficult book to read. The descriptions of high school cruelty and shooting violence are both graphically, but not extraneously, present; I admit I had dreams while reading this that involved guns and getting shot. It's a hard book to read in different ways - it makes you think about every time you've said things like "I could kill her for this," or "One day he will know what this feels like." Nick is never portrayed as a caricature of a high school terrorist; Valerie has to struggle with having loved (and still loving) someone who could make such a terrible choice - as well as reconcile her own role in what happened. This was a strong book that I was compelled to keep reading; it was hard to believe that this was Jennifer Brown's debut novel.

Find it on Amazon.

Read it with:
Hey Nostradamus by Douglas Coupland
19 Minutes by Jodi Picoult
After by Amy Efaw
Lockdown by Diane Tullson

Sunday, February 7, 2010

The Everafter by Amy Huntley

Madison Stanton is dead. Maybe. She doesn't think she's alive, she doesn't think she has a body, and she doesn't know where she is. All she knows is that there are objects in front of her, and when she approaches them, they transport her back to moments in her life. These objects represent things that she lost: keys, a sweater, jewelry. Why is she seeing these objects? What do these moments represent? Can she change the past? And if she does that...can she change the future?

I mostly picked this book up because of its striking cover (and because it was on the shortlist of nominees for William C. Morris YA Debut Award. I liked the premise of going back to moments in your life, especially as Madison (and the reader) learned more about the 'rules' of where she was. I seem to be reading a lot of fiction lately about teens and death, teens and mortality, teens and the afterlife. I'm not sure if this reflects on me (or a reading phase that I'm going through), or if there really are a number of books out there on this topic.

Find it on Amazon.

Read it with:
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford
Red Plaid Shirt by Diane Schoemperlen

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Hanging On To Max by Margaret Bechard

Sam, a high school senior, is just barely able to keep his head above water. He's struggling at school, can't communicate with his father, and is a father himself - he's raising, alone, his son, Max. The story jumps between the past (Sam meeting and hooking up with a girl at school, Sam at his son's birth and realizing that Brittany, Max's mom, plans to give Max up for adoption, Sam blurting out that he wants to raise Max instead) and the present (Sam meeting an old crush who is now a single parent herself, Sam wondering if he can cut it as a parent, Sam wondering if there's a future for him out there somewhere).

I wish there had been more pages spent on Sam's 'past,' but that's only because the parts about Sam's 'present' are so strong. I wanted to hear more from Sam, what it was like when he and Brittany were having the discussions he alludes to. The book has heart-tugging realism that does not read as manipulative, but honest.

This is a book that's been out for awhile, but I just came across it, and I'm really happy that I did. Plus, I just love the look of the cover - it reminds me of Hey Nostradamus! by Douglas Coupland, but with a baby twist.


Find it at Amazon.

Read it with:
Slam by Nick Hornby
Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles
Dear Nobody by Berlie Doherty
Annie's Baby: Diary of Anonymous, a Pregnant Teenager, edited by Beatrice Sparks
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Friday, February 5, 2010

Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford

Carter is just about to start high school. It's going to be awesome - if he can keep his ADD under control, if he can stop stuttering whenever he's around cute girls (especially when he sees boobs and belly buttons), and if he can figure out a way not to be so small and scrawny. Actually, yeah, nevermind - he's not ready for high school after all.

I feel like I should name this review "Caroline Finally Gets It," because I actually started reading this book months ago. I read the first few chapters, put it aside, and somehow never managed to get back to it. Then, when I saw that it was nominated for the Cybils, I told myself, "Okay, it's time to get back to it." So I did, and I'm really glad that there was that kick, because I really, really liked this book.

I loved Carter's voice, his insights into people, his self-discovery as he moves through his first year of high school. I loved the relationship that he has with his sister, and with his sister's boyfriend. I loved his rambling, his digressions, his desire to somehow make it with the ladies despite the stuttering and the brain-scrambling boobs and butts. I'm not the type who looks back at high school and how perfect and magical it all was, but I do remember how there was a big of excitement in that first year - you weren't quite sure how it was all going to go, you weren't quite sure who you were going to be. This book captures that feeling in a wonderfully knowledgeable way.

Find it on Amazon.

Read it with:
Swim the Fly by Don Calame
The Screwed-Up Life of Charlie the Second by Drew Ferguson
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
Joey Pigza Loses Control by Jack Gantos

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Not Suitable For Family Viewing by Vicki Grant

Robin's life is kind of stuck; all she wants to do with her summer is to plop herself in her dark living room and watch reruns of her mother's TV show. Her mother, as practically everyone in the world knows, is Mimi Schwartz, a combination of Oprah and Kathie Lee Gifford. But then, by chance, Robin comes across some items that Mimi has hidden - items that Robin has never seen before. Before she can even really think about it, she finds herself leaving New York and landing in a tiny village in Nova Scotia, home of a helpful young man, a generous hostel owner, a rich matriarch, and many, many secrets.

I really loved reading about Robin's journey, not only through Mimi's past but also her own. I enjoyed her voice and her strength, but also the ways that Vicki Grant was able to convey Robin's privilege and naivete. I was happy with where the book ended up, and how it got there. There were a few moments where I thought, "Wait a minute, how does that work, timeline-wise?" but really, I was too busy enjoying the book to figure it all out. I really want to read more from Vicki Grant - the book world needs more great Canadian books!

Find it on Amazon.

Read it with:
Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott
A Sudden Change of Family by Mary Jane Auch
The Gravesavers by Sheree Fitch
Paper Towns by John Green
Tripping by Heather Waldorf

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Little Mouse Gets Ready by Jeff Smith

Little Mouse is getting ready! But clothes can be so hard to put on: snaps, buttons, velcro, tail holes... is it too much for a Little Mouse to handle? The images in this book are beautiful; Jeff Smith has created a lovely book that is both useful and funny. I laughed out loud when I got to the end, the kind of laugh that builds up and you're laughing harder and harder. I hope kids will also enjoy it; I think that many would. Little Mouse Gets Ready was a 2010 Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor Winner at the recent ALA awards.

Find it on Amazon.

Read it with:
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems
Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London
Benny and Penny in the Big No-No! by Geoffrey Hayes

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Paper Towns by John Green

Margo Roth Spiegelman has always been a part of Quentin Jacobsen's life - including the time, years ago, when they found a dead body. Since then they've been in different social circles, but Q has never been able to get her out of his head. Then, one night, just before their senior year is over, Margo takes him on a nighttime adventure spree - and disappears the next morning. Everyone else is ready to believe that she's run away (again), but not Q, and he's desperate to figure out where she is.

One part mystery, one part romance, one part buddy comedy, one part road trip - this book is made up of so many parts that could go terribly wrong, but it ends up being pretty perfect. It took me a few goes to commit to the novel, but once I found a copy without a girl's face on the cover, I was hooked (I found the other one distracting; the girl on the front did not fit my idea of who Margo Roth Spiegelman was). I shouldn't have let myself get distracted by the cover; I should have known that this, like Green's other books Looking for Alaska and An Abundance of Katherines, would be a book that I would just eat up with a spoon.

Find it on Amazon.

Read it with:
Going Bovine by Libba Bray
Reality Check by Peter Abrahams
Wish You Were Dead by Todd Strasser
Gentlemen by Michael Northrop
13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Monday, February 1, 2010

An Education by Nick Hornby

I picked this up for three reasons:
1. I love Nick Hornby, and strive to read anything that he publishes
2. I heard that the movie was really good, but I missed seeing it when it was playing last year
3. I was at the airport, and I wanted something to read.

So that was the framework for me reading this book.

Set in England in the 1960s, Jenny is a girl who is desperately ready to be a woman. She loves French culture and is doing well in school; she's had a few dates, but they're all just...boys. Then she meets David, who excites all of her fantasies. Before she fully realizes it, she is caught up in David's fancy lifestyle...and everything that comes with it.

I don't usually read plays, so it took a few pages for me to get used to that script format. I enjoyed reading Nick Hornby's introduction to the play, where he talked about the process of writing a script based on a magazine article (as this script was). Would I have picked this up if NICK HORNBY hadn't have been prominent on the cover and the spine? Probably not, but I'm glad I did.


Find it on Amazon.

Read it with:
Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar
Before I Die by Jenny Downham
What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell
Atonement by Ian MacEwan
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte