The Cranes Dance by Meg Howrey

Kate Crane's life is slipping out of focus. She threw her neck out while dancing Swan Lake and needs increasing amounts of medication just to get through the day. She's a soloist with a New York ballet company but for the last few years has danced in the shadows of her sister Gwen. That was before Gwen had a meltdown and quietly went back to their family home in Michigan. Now Kate must deal with the pieces of her life - and Gwen's life - while considering what she wants to do next.

(Spoilers below)

I really enjoyed this book. I've read a few teen books set in the ballet world, but it was a nice change to see a book about a slightly older dancer at a different place in her life. That doesn't mean, though, that Kate has her life all figure out. The physical toll of her work is draining her body and her relationships (or lack of relationships) is draining her emotionally. The shadow that Gwen casts is so huge that it took me a while to realize that she wasn't even really in the novel as a character in person. The book is filled with great details of the ballet world, but it felt like the book was written by a writer who once danced rather than a dancer who writes. The characters are skillfully created and the story builds nicely. This is a great choice for both adults as well as teens who might be looking to read adult books.

Learn more about Meg Howrey at her website.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Vintage Books/Knopf Doubleday.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Bunheads by Sophie Flack
Audition by Stasia Ward Kehoe
Blind Slight by Meg Howrey

Red Nails, Black Skates by Erica Rand

Erica Rand wasn't expecting a pair of skates to have such an effect on her life. A college professor in her forties isn't usually the person who gets swept up into the world of figure skating...or is she? This access to the world of adult figure skating provides an up-close look at the strong gender assumptions that govern skating along with the way that money, race, and sex play out on the ice. Red Nails, Black Skates: Gender, Cash and Pleasure On and Off the Ice, through short essays, looks at how these factors combine in figure skating - adult and otherwise.

I am a longtime fan of figure skating, but adult skating is one area that I've never really explored. I really enjoyed Erica Rand's study of gender, politics, and the pleasure of skating; she has a love for the sport and a critical eye to what is going on at and under the surface. This book and others that have come out recently (including Artistic Impressions) have helped me to place into a context my own thoughts about the sport that I love. I started watching skating in the 90s during the period of hypermasculinity evidenced by Elvis Stojko and Michael Weiss; I watched Johnny Weir's gender be questioned at the 2010 Winter Olympics.  I was in the audience at the Grand Prix final last year where Carolina Kostner came out in a one-piece jumpsuit and saw how immediately people started talking about a skater without a skirt (often in the same sentence as pointing out that it gave her 'cameltoe'). Figure skating is an area where sport, gender, sex, politics, money, and race come together in a fascinating way. Erica Rand's writing combines the personal details of her life and experiences as a skater with research into different aspects of sport and gender theory. Related areas, including roller derby and hockey, are explored as well. The book is accessible to skating enthusiasts and well worth reading. If you're looking for ways to pass the time before the 2012-13 skating season starts, definitely consider picking up this book.

See also her website for more information about her other books.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Duke University Press.

Also check out a great review of the book at The Book Cricket.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Barbie's Queer Accessories by Erica Rand
Artistic Impressions: Figure Skating, Masculinity, and the Limits of Sport by Mary Louise Adams
Culture on Ice: Figure Skating and Cultural Meaning by Ellyn Kestnbaum
Down and Derby by Alex Cohen and Jennifer Barbee

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

Here's Lily by Nancy Rue

When a modeling consultant comes to Lily's school, the last thing that Lily thinks is that she might have the chance to become a model! Her wild hair is what everyone always notices, and it's not exactly something that models are known for. She's excited to learn about beauty, poise, and taking care of herself. Her parents, on the other hand, aren't quite as excited, and wonder if Lily is able to find God in her modeling. Lily isn't sure what that means, and before she has a chance to think about it, she gets sidetracked by dealing with a mean kid in her class who makes other people feel bad. Lily's life has gotten really complicated; is this a chance for her to figure out who she really is?

 Lily is a very likeable character. Yes, she does get up with the whole modeling thing, but her sudden interest comes from a believable place. Less believable to me was the idea of a modeling agent coming to a school under the guise of health, but I'm sure it has happened somewhere at some point. There are some strong messages in this book about standing up for yourself, believing in yourself, and how the important beauty is on the inside. These ideas are woven around the idea of serving God and doing His work on earth. There will be more books in this series, so look for more of Lily's adventures to come.

See more at Nancy Rue's website.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Thomas Nelson.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
The Beauty Book by Nancy Rue
S.A.V.E. Squad #1: Dog Daze by Lauraine Snelling and Kathleen Damp Wright
Little Wings #1: Willa Bean's Cloud Dreams by Cecelia Galante

Let's Count Goats! by Mem Fox and Jan Thomas

There are lots of different goats in the world, and they do lots of different things. There are mountain goats and city goats and eating goats and drinking goats. Pilot goats and musical goats and goats who relax by the sea. Do you know how many goats there are?  There's only one thing left to do: count the goats!

I was so excited when I was exploring at the library and discovered this book. Mem Fox and Jan Thomas together in a book? Count me in! Then I discovered that it isn't exactly a new book - it's been released for a few years. Where have I been? Not counting goats, that's for sure! This book has lots of things that would make it a great book for a storytime: rhyming text, counting, predictability (perfect for kids to shout out the next word), colourful pictures, animals... If you're like me and haven't seen this book yet, definitely keep an eye out for it.

Check out Mem Fox and Jan Thomas's websites.

Read it with:
Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox
What Will Fat Cat Sit On? by Jan Thomas
Can You Make a Scary Face? by Jan Thomas

The Summer My Life Began by Shannon Greenland

Elizabeth Margaret's life has always gone according to plan. High school valedictorian: check. Summer internship at a law firm: check. Acceptance at an Ivy League university: check. Then she gets the chance to spend the summer with her aunt - an aunt that she barely knows. As Em unwinds at her aunt's resort, she starts to question the direction of her life and wonders about what she really wants. Mixed in with her own self-discovery is the uncovering of long held family secrets that threaten to shake (and possibly destroy) the foundation of her family. It's going to be a summer that Em never forgets.

There's a lot to be mined from the teen on the cusp of something more, particularly someone who has always lived by someone else's rules. I had a bit of a hard time into the novel at the beginning; Em's family (with the exception of her sister) seem to be so cold and formal, and some of the dialogue seemed forced. Then I realized that it seemed forced because it was forced - all of the interactions seemed to be driven by duty and obligation.  But once she arrived at her aunt's place, the change in tone was so complete. There were times when the book reminded me of Gilmore Girls (a single mom, running an inn, a bit of a free spirit, creating family out of friends), but the story very clearly spins into its own space. Fans of Gilmore Girls and summer reads should definitely toss this one into their beach bags.

See more about author Shannon Greenland at her website.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Penguin Publishing.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
The Specialists: Model Spy by Shannon Greenland
The Lifeguard by Deborah Blumenthal
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Ha
Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks by Lauren Myracle

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

My Mixed-Up Berry Blue Summer by Jennifer Gennari

Summer is the perfect time for June to work on perfecting her talent: pie making. She's sure that if she can just find the right combination, she can win a blue ribbon in the Champlain Valley Fair pie competition. It's hard to stay focused on baking, though. Vermont has become a state filled with political tension around the legalization of civil unions, and many citizens are determined to "take back" Vermont. This upsets June, her mom, and her mom's girlfriend, and sets them apart from many people in their town. June loves her mom, but she also wants to blend in with other families ...and having two moms is definitely a way to stick out. June is sure of one thing: it's going to be a long summer.

In many ways, this is a very traditional middle grade book. A girl worried about fitting in and making/keeping friends, who doesn't get along with her mom's partner, who has arguments with her parents, who's determined to be successful at something she loves doing. Maybe one day it won't be a big deal if the character is a girl who has two parents of the same sex (sadly, I don't think we're quite at that stage yet). June's struggle felt organic for the character - she loved her mom and wanted her to be happy, but was conflicted because she didn't feel close to her mom's girlfriend and was unhappy about the attention that her mom's relationship brought to the family. I think it's a good thing to have books that reflect a wide spectrum of kids experiences, especially when it comes to GLBTQ families. On a different note, I spent many summers at a cottage not far from Vermont and Lake Champlain, so it was neat for me to read a book set in that area.

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

Visit Jennifer Gennari's website for more information about her.

Find it at Amazon.

Read it with:
I, Emma Freke by Elizabeth Atkinson
The Popularity Papers by Amy Ignatow
Smile by Raina Telgemeier
Calli by Jessica Lee Anderson

Sadie and Ratz by Sonya Hartnett illustrated by Ann James

Hannah never goes anywhere without Sadie and Ratz. That's what she calls her hands. They're not animals, exactly, but they can be quite wild...particularly when they get annoyed by Hannah's brother. Then they like to attack! But Baby Boy is up to something. He draws on the wall and blames it on Sadie and Ratz. Then he tries to blame more things on Sadie and Ratz! Hannah's parents aren't happy, and neither is Hannah. How is she going to prove that she - and they - are innocent?

There's something startling about being so deeply in the mind of a young character. The way Hannah talks about Sadie and Ratz (her hands) as independent things completely out of her control made me wonder if maybe some sort of therapy wouldn't help her. It's hard to remember what it was like to be so young and have the bounds of reality and imagination slipping and blurring so quickly. Hannah is a bright, creative child and her parents definitely see and encourage her imagination. The antagonistic relationship that's between Hannah and her brother comes from a place of love and frustration - something many siblings can relate to. The expressive illustrations (I particularly love the characters' faces) and large simple - but not boring - text make this a great book for new readers and a great one to hand to older sisters.

See more about Sonya Hartnett at her website.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee
Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan
The Boy and the Toy by Sonya Hartnett
Midnight Babies by Margaret Wild illustrated by Ann James

Darth Paper Strikes Back: An Origami Yoda Book by Tom Angleberger

In The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, Tommy and Kellan created a case file to explore the authenticity of the Origami Yoda. Was the Force really flowing through the finger puppet, or was it all just a hoax run by Dwight? In Darth Paper Strikes Back, Origami Yoda and Dwight face two new obstacles: Darth Paper and Harvey. After Dwight gets kicked out of school is on the verge of attending an alternative school for problem children, Tommy is determined to find a way to help. On the advice of Origami Yoda, he starts a second case file to document all of the ways that Dwight - and Origami Yoda - has actually worked to make the school a better place. The file also has Kellan's illustrations (and Harvey's unhelpful comments), but will it be enough to convince the school board that Dwight should be allowed back to school?

The two Origami Yoda books are built on such a great premise. The books and their covers practically scream 'Read Me!' Darth Paper has great strands running through it about friendship, acceptance, honesty, tact, and authority, but it never hits readers over the head with lessons or morals. You could probably read this book without an extensive knowledge of Star Wars, or without reading the first book, but I definitely recommend reading the first one before checking this one out. The ending of the book makes it very clear that there's going to be another one, and that's confirmed on Tom Angleberger's website. I can't wait!


Check out both Tom Angleberger's website as well as the Origami Yoda website.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

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

Teen Boat! by Dave Roman and John Green

 Life isn't easy when you're a Teen Boat! That's what TB (Teen Boat, of course) has discovered. He's busy trying to navigate life as a high school student, but the slightest amount of water can send him changing into a nautical device. Sometimes it's a drag, but sometimes it works out to his advantage...it's all part of being a Teen Boat!

I first heard about Teen Boat! during a School Library Journal webcast of upcoming titles. The minute I got to the subtitle ("The angst of being a teen, the thrill of being a boat!") I knew I had to get my hands on this book. I loved its easy humour and improbable action; the art style and writing work so well together. It's a smart, funny read for reluctant and eager readers alike.  With a book like Teen Boat! Dave Roman and John Green have gone right to the top of my "immediately check out anything they publish" list. Don't miss this book!




See more about Dave Roman and John Green at their websites.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Astronaut Academy: Zero Gravity by Dave Roman
Nursery Rhyme Comics
Jax Epoch and the Quicken Forbidden by Dave Roman and John Green

Undone by Her Tender Touch by Maya Banks

Pippa knew the rules. Cam wasn't looking for love; he wasn't looking for a relationship. He just wanted one night of incredible sex. That's what she wanted, too. But when she discovers that she's pregnant, all of the rules are out the window. Pippa is scared: how is she going to support herself and a baby? But Cam is scared too, because he once lost the only people that were important to him. Pippa and the baby are bringing back terrible memories. Will he ruin everything by pushing her away?

It's been a long time since I've read a romance novel, particularly a Harlequin Desire. Undone by Her Tender Touch wasted no time in getting to a racy sex scene (there was one in the first thirty pages of the book, and it was by no means the only one). There are a lot of ideas about sex, gender, and relationships to explore in this book. Cam's idea for solving most things is to throw money at things, and it's very interesting to see when and where Pippa accepts that as a solution. There are some nice twists and roadblocks on the way to true love, and the characters are grounded in ways that make their actions understandable.  In Hollywood terms, it's a bit Sex and the City-meets-Bridesmaids-meets-Knocked Up, and if you like reading romance stories about power, money, and pregnancy, give this one a try.


Check out Maya Banks' website.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Harlequin.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
The Pregnancy Contract by Yvonne Lindsay
His Heir, Her Honor by Catherine Mann
Enticed by His Forgotten Lover by Maya Banks

Marlow and the Monster by Sharon Cramer

There's a monster who crawls backwards into Marlow's room. He keeps coming in and Marlow is tired of it! He tries to tell his mom, but she just tells him to pick up his dirty laundry. He tries to tell his dad, but his dad says monsters aren't real. Marlow doesn't know what he's going to do! It's up to his sister Sarah to find a way to deal with this monster.

There are so many great stories based on the idea of a kid telling his/her oblivious parents about something that they can't understand. This book can lead to a lot of great conversations for caregivers and kids: do you think monsters are real? Why do you think Marlow's parents didn't believe him? Have you ever thought one way about something and then changed your mind? There are some great story threads running through it, particularly around friendship, making friends, first impressions, and telling the truth. I love the way that the Monster is shown. The style of the black-and-white illustrations didn't stand out for me (they had incredible detail but seemed to fade into the background), but the pictures of the monster completely steal the show (particularly the spread of the Monster peeking out between the legs of Marlow and his mother). Add him to the list of picture book characters that I would love to see as a plush toy.

Note: My review is based on a galley with only part of the illustrations; I have not seen a final copy of the book.

Marlow and the Monster won't be released until July 1, 2012, but you can get a sneak peek at the book and some of the illustration at the Talking Bird Books website.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley courtesy of B&F Publishing/Talking Bird Books.

Read it with:
Marlowe the Monster by Shing Yin Khor
Is a Worry Worrying You? by Ferida Wolff and Harriet May Savitz
Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
There's an Alligator Under My Bed by Mercer Mayer

Death of a Dreamer: The Assassination of John Lennon by Alison Marie Behnke

The world was used to seeing headlines about John Lennon. As a member of the band The Beatles, he had sold millions of albums and had fans all over the globe who wanted to know his every move. Attention continued over the years, from his relationship with Yoko Ono to the breakup of the Beatles to his solo career and his appeals for world peace. But in December 1980 people were shocked by a new headline: John Lennon was dead. He had been murdered outside of his home in New York. How could this have happened? Death of a Dreamer looks at John, his legacy, and his untimely death.

Death of a Dreamer isn't just the story of John Lennon, even though he's the only one on the cover; a closer reading of the title makes this clear. It's about his death, or his assassination, and in order to tell that story it's necessary to tell the story of his assassin, Mark David Chapman. While many of the details of Lennon's life (both before and after the Beatles) were familiar to me, the information about Chapman was new. While still carefully written for a young audience, it's a chilling look at a very disturbed man. When the story of this man is combined with the story of a man who wanted to change the world with his music, the tragic results just seem so senseless.

I read an advance review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Lerner Publishing.

Find it at Amazon.

Read it with:
Real Love: The Drawings for Sean by John Lennon
John's Secret Dreams by Doreen Rappaport
Pope John Paul II by Alison Behnke
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger