The End: 50 Apocalyptic Visions From Pop Culture That You Should Know About...Before It's Too Late by Laura Barcella

There are some days where it seems like the end of the world could happen at any time. Global warming, terrorism, zombies: the end is near...at least in the movies. Films, books, plays, and art show some of the ways that people have expressed their views on the end of the world. In The End, 50 different visions of the apocalypse are explored in detail, examining how the world ends (and how likely it is to happen in real life).

There was something oddly reassuring about reading this book. Almost every scenario, whether it included viruses or zombies or the flooding of the entire earth, was said to be extremely unlikely to happen in real life - or, if it did, to have very different results than are shown in pop culture. I knew that I was going to like this book when one of the first things Laura Barcella talked about was the scarcity of women in strong, leading roles during "the end." Why is the apocalypse such a male-dominated event? Where are women while the world is ending? I also love serious explorations of popular culture; while this book maintains a light, often humorous tone, it does believe that there is something to be gained from examining how authors, directors, and artists have positioned the end of the world. Like many of Zest Books' other titles, this just screams "high interest" and is worth considering for inclusion in a library's non-fiction collection.

Check out Laura Barcella's website.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Zest books.

Find it at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's website.

Read it with:
The Stand by Stephen King
How to Fight, Lie, and Cry Your Way to Popularity (And a Prom Date) by Nikki Roddy
Reel Culture by Mimi O'Connor
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Z for Zachariah by Robert C. O'Brien 

Baby's in Black by Arne Bellstorf

Long before they took the world by storm, The Beatles were a band working semi-anonymously in Germany. That's where a young woman named Astrid Kirchherr first saw them and fell in love: with their music, yes, but also with musician Stuart Sutcliffe. As the boys dealt with venue issues, legal troubles, and burgeoning fame, Astrid and Stuart became engaged and encouraged each other in their artistic fields. But a happily ever after was not to be, as Stuart died of a sudden brain haemorrhage in 1962.

Not being familiar with Arne Bellstorf's work, I was thinking that this book might be a little like reading about the 'baby Beatles.' While of course the Beatles do appear, it's not like that at all. They're easily recognizable and do have a young appearance, but not in a caricatured way. It's refreshing to see them as supporting players in the story; so often it's their story that's being told, but there are a number of other people who were there at the time that have different stories, perspectives, and lives. Astrid Kirchherr is a fascinating character that I only knew about in a very limited way. The subject matter, approach, and artistic style makes this a book worth checking out.

Here's a video of The Beatles performing "Baby's in Black" in Munich:


Take a look at Arne Bellstorf's website.


I read an advance review copy from NetGalley courtesy of MacMillan.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Read the Beatles edited by June Skinner Sawyer
The Girl Who Became a Beatle by Greg Taylor
John by Cynthia Lennon

Penny and Her Song by Kevin Henkes

Penny wants to sing her song. She wants to share it with her parents! But her mom says not to wake the babies. Her dad tells her that she has to wait. She tries singing it to herself, but it's not the same. She just wants to sing! Will she ever be able to share her song?

Sometimes you have to wait. Sometimes you can't do what you want to do when you want to do it. Waiting can be hard, but sometimes, if you wait, something really great will happen. I love Kevin Henkes' writing and illustration. I'm a huge fan of his character Lilly, and there were elements of this story that reminded me of Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse. This is a great book for parents/caregivers looking for books about emotions, frustration, waiting, or dealing with siblings, but it's also got a story that will be great for kids looking for a fun book. Whether you're a longtime fan of Kevin Henkes or are just discovering him, make sure to pick up this book.

Check out Kevin Henkes' website for more information about him and his books. 

Get a peek inside the book at HarperCollins.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
Cat the Cat, Who is That? by Mo Willems
Noisy Nora by Rosemary Wells

Steve Jobs by Nick Hunter

Apple. Mac. iPod. iPhone. iPad. Pixar. iTunes. These words have become common for many people in today's world. Thirty years ago, the way that people thought about computers, music, movies, and information was quite different. Many people have contributed to the changes in information technology, including Steve Jobs. Tracing Jobs' life and work from his early days until his last, this book from the Titans of Business series provides a close look at a man who challenged people to think differently.

When I first saw this title from Capstone, I wondered if it would really have an audience. It's written for students, but many of today's students have grown up with the internet, iPods and mp3 players, and personal computers. Would the story of a man involved with computers in the 1970s and 80s be of interest to them? Would the man behind things like iPods and iPads be seen as revolutionary in the same way that he was to so many adults? Once I started reading, though, I saw how narrow my view was. This is as much the story of computers and technology as it is a biography of Steve Jobs. Yes, the main details of his life are in here, but it's also a look at how technology has changed so much in a very short time. Steve Jobs and the Titans of Business series would be a strong addition to the non-fiction books in a classroom or library. Like many of Capstone's non-fiction titles, it could be a strong resource for students working on a project or for kids who want to read a biography or a tech title for pleasure.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Capstone.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and the Personal Computer by Donald B. Lemke
Bill and Melinda Gates by Sally Issacs
Inside the Olympics by Nick Hunter

Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops? by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper and Brian Bellmont

Crissy dolls. Encyclopedia Brown. Choco-diles. Seven Up Bar. The 70s and 80s had a particular flavour that is instantly identifiable. Some of the items that were so popular then continue to this day; others have been revamped and revised, and some have been discontinued altogether. They went quietly from the shelves, confusing loyal fans who have spent years trying to replicate tastes, sounds, and appearances. This book asks the question that has been on a generation's mind: whatever happened to Pudding Pops?

As a pop culture enthusiast, resisting this book was a futile effort. I eagerly paged through the book, thinking back at things I'd experienced in my own life (Connect Four, Choose Your Own Adventure, TV theme songs) and things that I've seen covered in other nostalgia-based works. Owing both to a slightly different age bracket as well as a different country of origin (Canada, which has its own lost tastes, toys, and trends), there were many things here that I was learning about for the first time (Zoom, O'Boisies, the Hal Needham stunt set). One of the limitations of reading this book was that, as a paper book, it was entirely self-contained. At many times I wished I was reading it with my laptop so I could do Google image searches, look up unknown names on IMDB, and (the biggest wish) check out old commercials on YouTube. My longing for web connections also had me thinking about my own era and if we will continue to have the same time of "What happened to...?" or "Remember the..." publications that have come before. When so many things are catalogued online and details are just a wikipedia click away, will we ever have to wonder what happened to a forgotten memory? I'm not so young that I don't remember a time before the internet, so I know the difference that finding online evidence can make in validating a childhood memory (there are still a few that I can't anyone else remembering). At any rate, Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops is a fun look back at a 'simpler time' and the stuff that has captured the imaginations of a generation of people.

Check out the blog that spawned the book, GenXtinct.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Sunshine by Norma Klein
The Official Preppy Handbook edited by Lisa Birbach
Just Can't Get Enough: Toys, Games, and Other Stuff from the 80s that Rocked by Matthew Robinson and Jensen Karp
From Abba to Zoom: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Late 20th Century by David Mansour
Totally Tubular 80s Toys by Mark Bellomo

DJ Rising by Love Maia

For Marley Johnnywas Diego-Dylan, music just isn't an interest; it's part of who he is. Music is as essential as breathing and just as natural. His days are filled with school and work (and thinking about Lea Hall, the girl of his dreams) and supporting his heroin-addicted mother, but when he lets loose on his turntables, all of that fades away. His goal of becoming a professional DJ seems even closer when he gets the chance to show his stuff in public. That sets in motion a chain of events that give Marley (now DJ Ice) the chance to be the hottest young DJ in the city. The intense schedule of work and DJing is stretching him to the limit - and his mother is getting worse. How is Marley going to balance it all?

Without knowing anything of the DJ world, DJ Rising managed to bring me inside the world of clubs and music. That's one of the key strengths of this book; the story of trying to be the best, to overcome opposition, and to prove yourself is universal, no matter what industry you're in.  Marley is a character you can't help but root for, but I discovered just how deep my connection was to him. Partway through the book, he experiences a terrible, devastating betrayal. When I read this part, my stomach just dropped. I felt physically ill for his loss. At the other end of the spectrum, Marley's passion for music, dance, and joyful expression grabbed me. I love when characters are passionate and inspired; it helps them to feel like three-dimensional people. This is an incredible debut for author Love Maia and a great book for teen readers to dive into.

Find out more about Love Maia at her website.

Find it at IndieBound. 

I received an advance copy from Little Brown Books for Young Readers.

Read it with:
Playground by 50 Cent
Boy21 by Matthew Quick
How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

Playground by 50 Cent

Butterball is not happy to be going to therapy. What does someone like Liz understand about his life? He's teased because of his weight. His parents are divorced and he barely sees his dad; even worse, his mom moved him to a place that he hates. He has no friends, and the one friend he did have... well, he doesn't want to talk about that. Yeah, things might not be that great, but how is therapy going to help anything?

(Spoilers below)

Is it too much of a backhanded compliment to say that this book is better than I thought it was going to be? I'm usually not that optimistic about books written by celebrities - even a New York Times bestselling author like 50 Cent - for children, and even more hesitant for books that have some kind of obvious message. In this case, the issue is bullying, and the twist is that it's told from the perspective of the bully. Particularly strong were the scenes where Butterball realized how his actions affected how other people - including girls - saw him (as well as the incredibly sad and frustrating scenes where Butterball's dad engaged in his own destructive brand of parenting). The revelations near the end about Butterball's mom could have been handled a bit better (by both the character and the author), but maybe this will help to contribute to the normalization of gay parents in children's literature. The ending was a bit too neat for my liking, but it might go over better with younger readers who will take away a positive message about redemption.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
The 50th Law by 50 Cent and Robert Greene
From Pieces to Weight by 50 Cent
My Mixed-Up Berry Blue Summer by Jennifer Gennari
Inexcusable by Chris Lynch

I Before E (Except After C) for Kids by Susan Randol

FOIL. BEDMAS. HOMES. These are all acronyms that I used in school to remember different things. There were many more tricks, too: My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas (the order of the planets, including then-planet Pluto)), Thirty days hath September (the days in each month), Never Eat Shredded Wheat (the order of compass points). Many students find these acronyms, poems, and memory aids helpful in memorizing information for tests. This book has lots of fun ways to remember information. Wondering when to use affect or effect? Need to remember the order of the US Presidents? Forgetting how to spell "believe"? This is the book for you.

It was a bit of an information overload to sit down and read this book from cover to cover, but it seems like it would be a fun reference book for students to have in classrooms and libraries. I fully admit to my more nerdish tendencies, but I would have really loved this book as a kid (and I definitely still found it useful today). True, from an adult perspective there were some rhymes or tricks that were so elaborate that I wondered "Wouldn't it just be simpler to actually memorize the information?" But I think that there are enough different tips and approaches for a variety of students to find this book useful. It's also the type of book that could be really helpful for adults who are preparing for any type of trivia competition - did Socrates teach Plato, or was it the other way around? This book can help you remember! (P.S. - Socrates taught Plato, who taught Aristotle - you can remember it with the acronym SPA).

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Reader's Digest Children's Books.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Popular Mechanics' The Pocket Genius by Susan Randol
I Before E (Except After C) by Judy Parkinson
"I" Before "E" Except After "C" by Dr. Laurie E. Rozakis

Evelyn, Evelyn by Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley

Evelyn and Evelyn were born into a world of pain, death, and destruction. Conjoined twins can make for difficult home births, and they aren’t very common in small town medical facilities. Their mother died shortly after giving birth; their father, their doctor, and the local sheriff followed that same night. The two infant girls were picked up by a chicken farmer, and so began their travels. Never with a permanent home, never with anyone who understood them, the girls were exploited and used for others’ gains. This book, Evelyn Evelyn, is the story of their lives and their life – their journey, their struggle, and their music.

This is one of those reviews where I’m torn as to how much to say. Not necessarily in a spoiler kind of way, but rather in a backstory kind of way. Let me put it this way. I knew very little about Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley before I read this book, and that informed my reading experience. An afterword by Neil Gaiman helped to clear some things up for me (as did a series of Google searches), so after reading it I have a slightly different perspective on the story. I want to say stop reading this and go and read the book for yourself, but that will only make you want to read what I write even more. So. I loved the illustrations. It was a beautiful graphic novel even when presenting horrible images. The pictures fit (and maybe even guided) the tone of the story; no matter how dark things got, I never felt that they were truly bleak. Did I understand the book? Not always. Did I like the book? Yes.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Dark Horse Comics.

There's also the Evelyn Evelyn website.

Find the book at Amazon.

Read it with:
The Girls by Lori Lansens
The Love Curse of the Rumbaughs by Jack Gantos
On the Many Deaths of Amanda Palmer (And the Many Crimes of Tobias James)by Robin Kriwaczek
But Who Will Bell the Cats? by Cynthia von Buhler
"Evelyn Evelyn" (the music CD)

Record Collecting for Girls by Courtney E. Smith

There are lots of books about music, and lots of people who have written about music, but few of these titles have been written for girls by a girl. Courtney E. Smith spent 8 years at MTV as a music programmer and manager of label relations. She's interested in listening to music and sharing music, and those passions come together in this book aimed at young girls who are curious about learning more about music.

I like the idea of a book like this. As Smith was talking about it, I realized that many of the books I had read on music loving were, in fact, written by men. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on girl bands as well as the playlists at the end of the chapters. While the book is titled Record Collecting for Girls, it's largely about Record Collecting for Courtney. Her own preferences are at the core of the book - it's okay to like this band, it's not okay to like this artist. There's nothing wrong about this approach, and of course it's going to be written through the lens of Smith's own experiences, but there's a part of me that had hoped for a more encompassing "it's okay to like whatever you want" message. (I've been spending a lot of time wondering about this reaction, especially in light of its gender-based approach.) Overall, I love reading books by people who are passionate about a subject, and while I might not have agreed with everything, there's no doubt that Courtney E. Smith is passionate about music, bands, and record collecting.

p.s. My deepest apologies to the author for mangling her name so thoroughly. Everything is corrected now.

I read an advanced copy through NetGalley.

Find out more information from the publisher.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Songbook by Nick Hornby
Love is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield
Rock and Roll by Steve Almond
My Misadventures as a Teenage Rock Star by Joyce Raskin

Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John

Piper is pretty convinced that her life sucks. Her best friend (her only friend) just moved away. Students and teachers ignore her. She dreams of going away to university in a year, but her parents just spent her college fund on a cochlear implant for her baby sister. This hits Piper particularly hard because she, too, is deaf, and sees her parents as wanting to ‘fix’ their other daughter so she won’t be an embarrassment to them like Piper is. Then she sees Dumb perform. They’ve recently won a Seattle Battle of the Bands, but no one is sure why. Twin brothers (one a silent perfectionist, the other the egomaniacal front man) and a punk bassist make up the band. In a rare moment of bravado, Piper volunteers to manage them, promising to get them a paying gig within a month. Soon, two more members join the group: a nerdy drummer and a hot girl who can’t really play guitar. It will take all five flavors of Dumb to get them – and Piper – on the right track.

The ways that relationships play out over the course of this book are what make it so strong. The family dynamics in particular are so complicated - Piper feels hurt and betrayed by her parents, her brother has his own issues, and her parents are trying to do what they think is best for all of their children. Piper isn't always easy to get along with, but I was able to empathize with her. This is a great choice for people looking for a music-based book, a book with a deaf protagonist, or just a good book, period.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Rock Star Superstar by Blake Nelson
Adios, Nirvana by Conrad Wesselhoeft
The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Berk
Hurt Go Happy by Ginny Rorby
Struts and Frets by Jon Skovron

Is The Trumpet for You? by Elaine Landau

Have you ever thought about playing a musical instrument? Maybe you're interested in the trumpet. It's an instrument that shows up in marching bands, jazz music, and even rock bands. This book takes a look at the crucial question: is the trumpet for you?

I was initially skeptical that this book really would be for people who were wondering what instrument to play. I thought maybe instead it would be about how awesome the trumpet is, or just a general 'biography' of the instrument. It really does, though, look at it from the point of view of a child who is considering why the trumpet might be for them. There are questions to ask yourself, pros and cons of choosing the trumpet, and it even highlights other instruments in the brass family. Realistically, I think that it will be used more by students doing a report on the trumpet than ones actually wondering if they should start playing, but it can ably serve both uses. A great fit for school classrooms or library non-fiction collections.


Find it at Amazon.

I read an advanced copy from NetGalley.

Read it with:
What is Valentine's Day? by Elaine Landau
Buzz to Brilliance by Adrian D. Griffin
To a Young Jazz Musician: Letters from the Road by Wynton Marsalis and Selwyn Seyfu Hinds

My Misadventures as a Teenage Rock Star by Joyce Raskin

Alex is kind of a nobody. She's not that popular and not that stylish, and isn't really sure who she is. Then her brother gets the wild idea that she's going to take over for him playing bass in his band (he's going to college). It doesn't come easy to her; she has to practice and practice and then practice some more. But slowly, she gets the hang of it, and starts to really enjoy making music and being in a band. Over time, she writes songs, makes friends, has adventures, and somehow manages to come out of it all in one piece.

Warning: some spoilers ahead.

This is kind of a strange novel. It's written in style that reminds me of Jeffrey Archer; it's very tell, don't show. It's a short book and a lot of stuff happens, and sometimes it just gets mentioned by Alex. For example, when she breaks up with her first boyfriend, it's really kind of like, "well, this happened," rather than spending any time on her reacting to it. It really does read like an autobiography, only it's the autobiography of a fictional character. This leads to a number of interesting developments, like when her parents won't let her go on tour with her band. Most books (or movies, or TV shows, or anything) would tell the story of the girl who DID go on tour, rather than the one who was still at home, but that's exactly what happens in this book. It's kind of refreshing to read about a teen rock star who achieves some kind of local or regional or even genre recognition, without having her become the hottest international star. In the end, this was a book that I really liked reading, and a great introduction to Joyce Raskin. I was excited to see that she has written a non-fiction book about herself, and that's one that's now definitely on my to read list.

Here's a video of Joyce Raskin in Scarce with the song All Sideways:



My Misadventures as a Teenage Rock Star is scheduled to be published in June 2011. I read an advance review copy at NetGalley courtesy of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Aching to Be by Joyce Raskin
Audrey, Wait by Robin Benway
Cringe edited by Sarah Brown

Hip & Hop, Don't Stop by Jef Czekaj

Hop chooses his words carefully; he raps slowly. Hip spits out words lightning-fast, dazzling people with his speed. Both big hip hop fans and artists, they meet at a rap competition. Fast doesn't win, and neither does slow. But by working together, they learn how powerful their collaboration can be. In this new version of the tortoise and the hare, hip hop takes centre stage. There's lots of in-jokes in the background images, most of them playing on the names of rap superstars. There's a lot of cleverness in the wordplay and design, and the illustrations have lots of stuff to engage children. Whether you're a hip hop fan, and Aesop fan, or just looking for a fun children's book, this one is worth checking out.


Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Hip Hop Dog by Chris Raschka
The Tortoise and the Hare by Janet Stevens
Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip Hop Generation by Jeff Chang
The Message by Felicia Pride
Grandpa and Julie: Shark Hunters by Jef Czekaj