The Go-For-Gold Gymnasts: Winning Team by Dominique Moceanu and Alicia Thompson

Britt loves gymnastics. She's already at the Junior Elite level, and her family has just moved to Houston and she has the chance to train at a big gym with a professional coach. She's nervous about training at a new place where she doesn't know anyone, and when the other girls are less than welcoming, she starts worrying about how she's going to fit in. It's going to take more than an amazing beam routine in order for Britt to feel like she's part of a winning team!

(Some very mild spoilers below)

I found this series after I re-read Go for the Gold by Elizabeth Levy. I was really excited by it; I can remember when Dominique Moceanu was part of the Magnificent 7 team at the 1996 Summer Olympics. While I'm no expert on elementary school-geared sports series, I can definitely see this appealing to young girls. Britt is a likeable character. She's young but not childish; her perspective is limited because her life experience is limited. She has to deal with things like problems with her parents and trying to make friends with people who are jealous of her. It does feel a bit cliched to have a story about gymnasts that includes a storyline about a girl with an eating disorder, but it did take an interesting turn (Britt does the right thing and people lash out at her). You don't need to have extensive gymnastics knowledge in order to read the book. There were a few terms that were lost on me, but there is a glossary at the back of the book to fill in some blanks. It looks like the other books in the series will have different points of view, with each girl taking a turn. If the Olympics gets you interested in American gymnastics, consider picking up this series.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
Go for the Gold by Elizabeth Levy
Off Balance: A Memoir by Dominique Moceanu
The Go-For-Gold Gymnasts: Balancing Act by Dominique Moceanu and Alicia Thompson

The Little Woods by McCormick Templeman

Years ago, Calista Wood's sister disappeared in the woods behind a private school; Cally never saw her again. Now Cally is a teenager and attending that same private school. None of the other students know of her connection to the disappearance. Another student disappeared recently - that's why Cally could start in the middle of a semester. Some say that she ran away while others think that she was murdered. As Cally digs deeper into the mystery she uncovers more about her own story, but getting closer to the truth could put herself in danger.

I have a particular fondness for books set at private boarding schools, because there's something that happens when you take the parents out of a story. There are some parents/adults in this book, but they're all at the edges of the action. The book succeeds in creating a creepy atmosphere where people are not to be trusted and anything seems possible. I had trouble figuring out where the story was going to go because I had no idea what was even possible. Is something supernatural happening in the woods? Or is it much more terrestrial? Is Cally in danger, and is there anyone who can trust? It worked in different ways: Cally is an outsider to the school community (and the woods), but she's also an outsider to the kind of rich, fast-lane life that the other students live. This creepy, spooky, mystery is a great pick for a summer read (particularly if you want to read it in the daylight).

Check out McCormick Templeman's website.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Random House Children's Books.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
Fall by Colin McAdam

Way to Go by Tom Ryan

Danny's life is going nowhere. He's not confident like his friend Kierce, who has a rule for every situation. He's not laid-back like his friend Jay, who's in danger of not graduating but doesn't really care. Danny wants to be confident and he wants to be above caring about what people think...but he's not. He's pretty sure that he's gay but doesn't want to tell anyone; he's not prepared to deal with the reaction in his small town. He gets a summer job working in the kitchen of a new restaurant. That's where he meets Lisa, a complicated New York City girl with a love for making mixed tapes. If he would fall in love with any girl, it'd be Lisa...maybe it could be Lisa. In a summer of discovery, Danny will come to terms with who he really is and what that means for the rest of his life.

Aside from a few references (like the mixed tape on the cover), it was easy to forget that the book took place in 1994. One thing that kept reminding me was the hateful language and fear that accompanied any mention of gayness. I know that this language didn't end in 1994 (and that it - and worse - continues today), but the language that Danny's classmates use (particularly Kierce) is just...unreal. Except that it was and is real, which is so awful that awful can't even begin to describe it. There were also a few phrases throughout the book that stuck out as sounding more present-day, but since I'm not a linguist (is that even what linguists do? date phrases to a certain time period? If not linguists, who does that? is that a job?), I can't say for sure that they weren't around in 1994. Anyway. Danny's coming of age summer is about more than just his sexuality; he's also discovering who he wants to be as a person and what he wants to do as a career. His relationship with his father is going through changes as Danny becomes closer to being an adult; at the restaurant (and in his off hours), he learns about what friendship is and what he wants for himself. (His younger sister has one of those Vanessa Pike-esque language afflictions that I'm sure must exist in real life but I've only seen in books - she talks mostly in movie quotes. I do like, though, their sibling relationship). This book's Canadian-ness sets it apart from a lot of other coming of age novels, and that's important, because while Canada shares a lot of culture with America, there are some differences. I'm really excited to read more from Tom Ryan in the future.

Check out Tom's website, Tom Wrote That.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
Gravity by Leanne Lieberman
Mercury by Hope Larson
The Screwed-Up Life of Charlie the Second by Drew Ferguson

Margaret and the Moth Tree by Brit Trogen and Kari Trogen

Once upon a time, Margaret had two parents. They were wonderful parents who loved her and took great care of her. Then they died, and Margaret lived with different relatives until they all died, too, and there was no one else to look after her. Margaret was sent to the Hopeton Orphanage by the women of the Concerned Ladies Club, but what seemed like a cheerful place upon arrival was, as Margaret quickly found out, a terrible place ruled by a terrible woman named Miss Switch. Miss Switch kept all the money and the good things for herself and divided the children into two groups: the Pets and the dregs. The Pets are her favourites while the dregs...well, it's not good to be a dreg. Margaret spends her days being quiet, so quiet that she's able to hear things that other people can't. That's how she discovers the moths and the moth tree, a discovery that will change her life (and the lives of the other children at the orphanage).

I almost feel like I should put up some sort of disclaimer; the authors are friends of a friend of mine, although we've never met (though that is how I first discovered the book). While the moths are included in the title (and on the cover) my favourite parts of the book focused on Margaret in the orphanage; they read like a cross between Annie and Matilda (with, although probably from only my perspective, a touch of The Cider House Rules). Margaret is a great character. She's a smart girl who has had an extraordinarily difficult life. My heart broke for her and all of the children who are treated so poorly.  This is a fantasy book but a mild one; rather than turning to the common supernatural characters it looks toward nature and connecting with the living creatures around you.  Margaret and the Moth Tree could easily do for moths what Charlotte's Web did for spiders - take some ordinary insect commonly thought to be a bit icky and fill it with the possibility of magic and wonder.

Visit Kari Trogen's website for more info about her and Brit Trogen's website for more info about her.

Margaret and the Moth Tree is published by Kids Can Press.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Emerson sees things that no one else can see. They're not ghosts, exactly, but more like representations of people from the past - southern belles, soldiers, musicians. When you touch them they pop and disappear, which is an unsettling experience. Emerson has been seeing them for years - since around the time that her parents died in a terrible accident. Now she lives with her brother and sister-in-law and is trying to keep everything under control. That's when Michael Weaver enters her life. He says he can help her, but what does that mean? How does he understand her so well? And what is Emerson supposed to do about the deep attraction that she feels toward him?

Once I got into this book, I had a very hard time putting it down. Luckily, I read it during the 48 Hour Reading Challenge, so I was able to read it all in one sitting. It had come highly recommended by a librarian colleague of mine, and I can see why. It's a great mix of the supernatural and science fiction, romance and adventure. I have no idea if the science put forward in this book is even possible, but that's so besides the point (at least for me, and probably for most readers who pick it up). The southern setting, the characters, and the storyline make it a natural for a screen adaptation of some kind. I'm looking forward to picking up the sequel, Timepiece, particularly because I want to know more about Kaleb, one of the minor (but important) characters from Hourglass.

Check out Myra McEntire's website.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
Timepiece by Myra McEntire
The Time-Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink by Stephanie Kate Strohm

Libby is psyched to be spending the summer at a living history museum. She loves history and is sure that this is going to be the best summer of her life. Then she arrives at Camden Harbor and discovers that things aren't exactly like she pictured. Her uniform is way too big, she's forbidden from using modern technology while at work (including cell phones!), and she's living with someone who takes historical recreations way too seriously. There's also an annoying reporter hanging around trying to get the scoop on a ghost that might be hanging around Camden Harbor. On the plus side, though, Libby has caught the eye of a gorgeous sailor who knows all of the right things to say. Maybe this summer can be saved after all!

I love that the main character of a teen book loves Jane Austen and historical recreations. She has a lot more interests, and while  her best friend pokes fun at her for her desire to spend her summer at a living history museum, she stands strong. That's always great to see in teen books. Mixed in with history and drama is romance.  Readers should be able to figure out who the right leading man is fairly early on, but the discovery isn't the point - the journey is. Particularly when it's a journey, to some extent, of Libby getting over herself. I didn't always like how she talked to Garrett, the investigative journalist intent on getting the truth behind the ghost stories. She's not a bad person, though, she just lacked some perspective, and her growth over the course of the novel is great to see.  The setting and story would make for a great filmed version; don't be surprised if you see this soon on a screen near you.

Check out Stephanie Kate Strohm's website.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Graphia.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
Little Blog on the Prairie by Cathleen Davitt Bell
Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern
Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding

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

Girl Unmoored by Jennifer Gooch Hummer

1985 is a pretty terrible year for Apron. As if it wasn't bad enough that her mother died, her father has taken up with her mom's nurse - who's now pregnant. Her father has retreated into his academic life, leaving Apron alone with the woman who hates her. Apron's friends are growing distant and her grandmother can only help so much, and she might even have to give away her pet guinea pig. The only bright spot in her life is Jesus - not the actual Jesus, but the guy who played Jesus in a local production of Jesus Christ Superstar. His name is Mike, and his aunt lives next door to Apron's family. As Apron gets to know Mike, she learns about what a great guy he is and spends time helping out Mike and his boyfriend Chad with their flower shop. But even this happiness comes with dark clouds, because Apron learns about other people's homophobia and Chad keeps getting sicker and sicker.

I could tell when reading it that this was a story that meant a lot to its author. All books, yes, mean a lot to their authors, but this story seems like it is deeply connected to Jennifer Gooch Hummer. You don't start writing this book because you think it's going to be a fun story. And yet, saying that somehow sells it short. Parts of Girl Unmoored are very dark and sad, but it's not defined by despair. Apron in particular is a fascinating character. Her process of dealing with her grief and frustration mixed with the more conventional transitions of growing up allow for her to be a character all her own. The entire book takes place over a span of a few months, showing how quickly one's life can change.  Spoiler alert: get some Kleenex along with this book, because by the last few chapters I was definitely needing some.

Learn lots more about Girl Unmoored and Jennifer Gooch Hummer at her website.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Fiction Studio Books.

Find it at Amazon.

Read it with:
Bummer Summer by Ann M. Martin
Positively by Courtney Sheinmel
Same-Sex Marriage by Tricia Andryszewski

Exposed by Kimberly Marcus

Liz loves the way the world looks through her camera. She's most comfortable when she can photograph the world. Some of her best pictures are of her best friend, Kate, a dancer. One night Liz and Kate have a big fight, and before they can make it right again, everything changes. Kate is accusing Liz's brother of something terrible, and Liz is caught between her best friend and her family. Everything is blurry and out of focus, and Liz has no idea what's true - and who's right.

The verse novel format of this book seems to swirl around Liz as she struggles to make some sense of her life. She doesn't know what to think and the idea of questioning her relationships with the people she loves most is tearing her apart. The guilt of whatever role she played in "that night" weighs heavily on her, and her family seems to be falling apart even as it puts on a show of solidarity. Exposed was one of YALSA's Best Fiction for Young Adults picks for 2012. 




Check out Kimberly Marcus' website.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
You Against Me by Jenny Downham
Scritch-Scratch A Perfect Match by Kimberly Marcus
Inexcusable by Chris Lynch

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

My Name is Elizabeth! by Annika Dunklee and Matthew Forsythe

This little girl's name is Elizabeth. She loves her name! She loves that it has nine letters; she loves that there's a Queen with the same name. She loves the way it sounds and the way it makes her mouth feels. But she doesn't love it when people call her something other than Elizabeth. Her grandfather calls her Lizzy, a friend calls her Liz, and the crossing guard calls her Betsy (which isn't even close). Doesn't anyone understand that her name is Elizabeth?!

I really identified with this book, both because I love my name and because it's often mangled by other people. It's such a simple concept but I think that even as a small child I would have cheered as Elizabeth stood up to the others and insisted on being called by her full and proper name. Even those who don't suffer from forced nicknames will still see a small child making choices about her identity and that's a very powerful message. The blue-based illustrations by Matthew Forsythe were right on point and helped to make this a book for kids and adults alike. This one was on all kinds of "Best of" lists for 2011 so make sure to check it out for yourself.

(Also, it amused me that the French-language version of this book is "Je m'appelle Catherine!" What? Her name's Elizabeth!)

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
Ojingogo by Matthew Forsythe
What Shall We Call Wibbly's Puppy? by Mick Inkpen
Olivia by Ian Falconer

Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic

Austin is seventeen, but he's never going to be eighteen. He's dying. But he's determined to also make the most of the time that he has left; he doesn't want his life to have been lived in vain. Over the course of one momentous weekend, he will do things he's never done before, visit favourite places one last time, reach out to old friends (and old enemies), and do everything in his power to make sure that he when he does pass away, he will have no regrets.

(Spoilers below!)

It took awhile for me to get into the story. I warmed to Austin almost immediately, but his relationship with Kaylee confused me. She was so angry with him most of the time, pissed off at his behaviour. Then, once Austin started making his rounds, the issues that he was confronting were almost at Degrassi High-levels: death, grief, homosexuality, rape, abortion, divorce, bullying, drugs, abuse. But somewhere for me, the story clicked. The story never lagged; time was at a premium and, just like in Austin's life, every moment counted. Kaylee wasn't there to be be Austin's yes-girl; she had emotions that she was dealing with regarding Austin that left her conflicted. It also clicked on a personal level. It had me reflecting on what what I would do if I was in Austin's position, who I'd want to see, what I want to do. By the end of the book I cared enough about the characters to be deeply moved by Austin's death and how the other characters reacted. There are readers who love books that make them sad, and this is exactly the kind of book that I would put in their hands.

(One minor quibble, based on the way that the cover looks before publication: so much is made out of the redness of the car, I would have loved to have seen that shown on the cover image.)


Don't miss checking out Megan Bostic's website.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
Before I Die by Jenny Downham
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Deadline by Chris Crutcher

The Fallback Plan by Leigh Stein

Esther Kohler has just graduated from college - Northwestern, to be precise - and her life has run out of momentum. She majored in acting; she's sick of people asking if she has a fallback plan. At the moment, though, she doesn't really have any plan beyond living with her parents, rereading her favourite books from childhood, and maybe writing a screenplay about pandas. Her mom gets her a job as a nanny for a local family. Soon Esther finds herself as a mother to the little girl, a confidant to the mother, and in a strange relationship with the father. But what does that leave for Esther?

I was so impressed by this book. It just kind of slithered into my brain and wouldn't let go until after I'd finished it. I love the way Leigh Stein writes; Esther's voice started on page one and didn't waver for the entirety of the novel. Although I'm a few years past the recent college graduate stuff (and in a different employment stage), there was so much that rang true for me in Esther's contradictions. She hates being at home, but she doesn't want to leave; she likes being taken care of but also wants her freedom and independence. Her low-key adventures make for an engaging story and a solid debut for author Leigh Stein.

I love this booktrailer:

Also check out Leigh Stein's blog.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Melville House.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Carrie Pilby by Caren Lissner
The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
The Graduate by Charles Richard Webb
Queens of All the Earth by Hannah Sternberg

Ditched: A Love Story by Robin Mellom

Justina never saw herself going to the prom. She definitely never saw herself going in a big, poofy, satiny prom dress. And she certainly never saw herself going with Ian Clark, her best friend and the one person she can always count on. But of all the things that she never thought about, she never imagined that she'd be ending the night in a ditch! Now, with the help of some women at the 7-Eleven, she must piece together - bruise by bruise, stain by stain - exactly what happened and how she ended up ditched on prom night.

I had a hard time getting into the story at first. It was difficult to wrap my head around a teen girl climbing out of a ditch, bruised and with a torn dress, and be in the mood for a comedic romantic story (I had a similar reaction to Caroline's subplot in Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, where I was so worried about a drunk girl in a van with strangers that it was hard to keep my mind on the main plot). But as the story went on, I saw that nothing terrible had happened (at least not in the way that I was fearing) and I could settle in and enjoy the story. And I did enjoy it. Justina is an engaging narrator and protagonist and I really did want to know what happened at the prom - but even more than that, I wanted her to have her happy ending. The back-and-forth between the morning and the night before broke up the narrative in a way that kept the story moving and allowed for lots of dramatic tension in a Hangover sort of way. The ending might come across as a little neat but, after all of the drama in getting there, it felt very satisfying.

Don't miss Robin Mellom's website.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Disney-Hyperion.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
The Classroom by Robin Mellom
The Darlings Are Forever by Melissa Kantor
Prom by Ellie O'Ryan

Tina's Mouth by Keshni Kashyap and Mari Araki

Tina doesn't exactly fit in at her exclusive private school. The other students don't know exactly what to make of her Indian heritage; she's lost count of how many times she's been asked if she has an arranged marriage. She doesn't always fit in with her family, either; she doesn't like going to the big Indian parties that her parents' friends throw. Her English class introduces her to Jean-Paul Sartre and existentialism, and things start to make sense to her. This is her existential diary; this is life through Tina's eyes.

I sat down and read this book the moment I downloaded it from NetGalley. I liked Tina as a character; I was drawn into her world and her point of view. There's so much going on in this story: finding your own personality, friendship breakups, making new friends, the confusion around entering into romantic situations, balancing cultural identities with social realities, relating to siblings, dealing with parents. I enjoyed this book very much and hope to read more from both the author and the illustrator.

I read an advance review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Read it with:
Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge
How I Made it to Eighteen by Tracy White
Letters to Sartre by Simone de Beauvoir
Skim by Mariko Tamaki
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene

While the battles of World War II are taking place overseas, the war is about to come to the small town of Jenkinsville, Arkansas. German POWs are being transferred to a nearby facility and the entire town seems to be a bit on edge. Watching the tension is twelve-year-old Patty Bergen. Patty is struggling with a lot of things: she's terrified of her father's abusive temper, her mother is always insulting her, and she's one of the only Jewish people in her small town. When she meets Anton, one of the German soldiers, she's amazed by his intelligence and his kindness. Then Anton escapes from the prison facility, and Patty's world is about to change forever.

(Some spoilers below)

I first heard of this story when I fell in love with the TV Movies - Daring to Love forum thread at Television Without Pity. So many people seemed to have such strong memories of both the book and the TV movie. This book wasn't really what I thought it was going to be - I pictured it being more of a romance, but due to the striking age difference between Anton and Patty (including her being only twelve at the time), I would have a hard time even thinking of it being based on romantic love. I was also surprised by the examination of race and the casual, institutionalized racism, although if I had really thought about the setting and the time period I shouldn't have been surprised (but probably still shocked at its extent). The edition that I read, the Open Road Media eBook edition, includes an "Author's Affidavit" at the front of the book where Bette Greene confesses that Patty Bergen is based on her and the book is based on her life. Reading the book took on a bit of a different light after that, making it even more difficult to read about "Patty's" mother and father and how they treated her. 

Summer of My German Soldier, the TV movie starring Kristy McNichol, aired in 1978. Someone has put the movie in its entirety up on Youtube, but I have no idea how long it will last until someone pulls it down.

Also check out Jezebel's look at Summer of My German Soldier.

I read a review copy of the eBook from NetGalley courtesy of Open Road Media.

Read it with:
Morning is a Long Time Coming by Bette Greene
The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene
Starring Sally J. Friedman as Herself by Judy Blume

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

As a child, Jacob loved to listen to his grandfather’s stories about fantastical things. As he grew older, though, he pushed away from his grandfather’s world of make-believe. Then one day his grandfather dies under horrible circumstances, and Jacob realizes that his grandfather might have been telling the truth all along. Jacob and his father travel to Wales to investigate, and Jacob stumbles onto a world that never even dreamed would really exist.

One of the reasons that this book has received so much buzz and attention has to do with how the book as an object has been put together. Mixed in with the story are real-life photos. Some of creepy, some are bizarre, some are…well, peculiar. [There might be spoilers ahead about the story] The first part of the book seems very much like a horror story. Halfway through, though, it takes a bit of a turn and dives much more into fantasy, leaving the genre lines a bit blurred. Personally, while I found the book to be enjoyable, I think I liked the look and idea of the book more than actually reading it. When I talk about the book with people, I've been saying that the best way to tell if this is a book for you is to look at the front cover. Do you see a girl standing behind a dark patch on the ground, or do you see a child levitating? If it’s levitation, then you might really enjoy this book - or at least parts of it.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
The Sherlock Holmes Handbook by Ransom Riggs
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Audition by Stasia Ward Kehoe

Dancing has always been Sara's dream. An audition leads a scholarship to study ballet in another state. She's nervous about leaving her family while still in high school and moves into a new life with her host family. Her new ballet school is difficult and she must constantly prove herself. One bright spot is Remington, a dancer/choreographer who's drawn to Sara. As she takes on a new role as Rem's muse, she struggles to keep her sense of self. How can she make choices about the rest of her life when she doesn't even know who she is? Are the dreams she had as child still her dreams now?

There's something about a verse novel that lends itself so nicely to a book about ballet. The short lines mimic the precise movements of dance while evoking the emotion needed to convincingly play a role. Sara's confusion about feeling like she's continually auditioning will resonate with teens and young adults who aren't involved with a competitive world like ballet as well as those who are. It's very clear that Stasia Ward Kehoe has a deep understanding of the ballet/arts world and it comes across in an accessible way. This book is a nice read-alike to another October release, Bunheads by Sophie Flack, but despite the similarities between the two books I think that each one has enough going for it that it can stand on its own merits.



I received an advance review copy from Penguin Group Canada.

Check out more from Stasia Ward Kehoe at her blog and her website.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Bunheads by Sophie Flack
The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder
Tara Lipinski: Superstar Ice Skater by Stasia Ward Kehoe

The Submission by Amy Waldman

Only a short while after 9/11, a selection committee is tasked with choosing a design for a memorial on Ground Zero. After several rounds of contentious debate, a design and an architect are chosen at last. But upon learning the architect’s identity, the group feeling changes - because the architect is a Muslim man named Mohammed Khan. As the story leaks out, people are must face their own pasts and prejudices and the memorial becomes an intersection of politics, public perception, guilt, and intolerance.

I picked this book up because it got a number of positive reviews and coverage in mainstream publications, like Entertainment Weekly. As the tenth anniversary of 9/11 approached, it seemed like an appropriate time to read this book. There were some pages where I would think, “Oh, that’s too exaggerated, that could never have happened…” and then would remember something I heard on the news or saw on TV. I think this would be a good choice to read with a book club, because then you can talk about the different themes and how people reacted to them.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Falling Man by Don DeLillo
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
We All Fall Down by Eric Walters

Bunheads by Sophie Flack

My name is Hannah Ward. Don't call me a ballerina.

Hannah is a dancer - not a ballerina - with the Manhattan Ballet, one of the most prestigious companies in the countries. She's worked extremely hard to be where she is, and she works extremely hard to stay there. Dance is her life, and she's always been okay with that. But then things start happening that make her wonder if there should be more to life than dance. Can she balance being a dancer and having a life - or will one of those things have to give?

I know you can't judge a book by its cover, but I admit that one of the reasons I was so excited to read this book was because of its gorgeous cover. I hope that it's still the final cover when its published. I was also excited because I have long wanted a YA novel set in the dance world (I'm still waiting for one featuring ballroom dance). And with Black Swan recently drawing tons of attention for Natalie Portman's performance of a determined ballet dancer, this is an excellent time for a book like this. Truthfully, though, I think Bunheads is closer to Center Stage than Black Swan, and I am perfectly okay with that. I liked Hannah as a character and appreciated all of the details of a world that I know very little about (who knew how dancers hated parts of The Nutcracker?). I was concerned when it looked like Hannah was going to throw away her life's work for a guy, but by the end of the book all of Hannah's decisions seem to have come organically from a personal place. Author Sophie Flack has a background that mirrors Hannah's, and I am really intrigued to read more from her.

See more at Poppy.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
The Next Competitor by K.P. Kincaid
Ballroom! by Sharon Savoy
Apollo's Angels: A History of Ballet by Jennifer Homans