So, what happened to yesterday’s big-deal coppers? And how do they handle the death of a has-been arch-nemesis? Through the story, art, and perfect coloring of this creative team, readers get a satisfying look at the possibilities: retired big-city police detective Kane, known as The Spook, learns of the demise of his 1940-ish era rival, Mr. Murder, and can’t help both investigating and ruminating. In passages that alternate between then and now, readers get a purposefully and pun-laden stereotypical journey through how detective comics used to read and what a couple of angry old guys–the Spook has a sidekick, of course, in equally retired former Captain Chung–can unearth in the present. The real story, however, is whether Read more…

There is nothing funny about Sylvia Plath, divorce, betrayal, or virginity. Unless you are a 15-year-old girl with the chicken pox named Karina (Keek for short). And are stuck in bed at your grandma’s house without a computer, cell phone, cable and/or your boyfriend. And you use an old typewriter to basically talk to yourself and figure everything out. And Then Things Are Often Humorous, but still, you are heartbroken and itchy and will hopefully find a way through the tricky maze of adolescence before the pox scars fade and your mother comes back and/or sophomore year starts. I know you don’t know me or anything but I really would like you to know that maybe if we were teenagers at the same time, we might have been friends. Read more…

by Wasserman, RobinAfter Lia Kahn is in a horrible car accident, the only way doctors can save her is to put her brain into the body of a robot. She looks very much like a human but she’ll never age, never die and never feel pain again. At first, her family (except for her sister Zo) is relieved that she’s still able to exist in some way but quickly those feelings change. Gradually, she loses all her friends and even her boyfriend betrays her. She is all alone and has no reason to live, but how can she kill herself? Will Lia eventually find happiness in her new forced life as a robot? What drastic measures can she take to find a way to fit in?- reviewed by Julie, South County Regional, Read more…

by De la Cruz, MelissaOh, to be a vampire – beautiful, talented, smart, with everything you could ever want and no down sides, right? Wrong. In Revelations, the third Blue Blood novel, there have been more attacks by the silver bloods and Schuyler has been accused of being one of them because of her mixed blood. She also has to deal with the Forces and Mimi’s increasingly cruel pranks. The one thing Schuyler has to look forward to are her secret meetings with a forbidden someone. Bliss is also dealing with some strange and slightly sinister changes. And did I mention that a large group from the committee takes an urgent and rather secretive trip to Rio de Janeiro, where everything goes down? This is an amazing installment in an Read more…

by Tingle, RebeccaOh, to be a princess. Jewels, horses, books and servants, all the best things in life. Of course there are down sides too. Kidnapping attempts, silent guardians and arranged marriages. Fifteen-year old, Aethelflaed is King Alfred's oldest daughter and has been promised in marriage to Ethelred of Mercia. With the betrothal gifts comes a bodyguard called Red. Flaed is only once able to escape his watchful eyes and the consequences are greater than she anticipated. As she gets to know Red she realizes she could learn a lot from him, and begins to accept him as a part of her changing life. Will she ever have a need for the skills she's been taught, and if she does how will her fiance react? – reviewed by Read more…

by De la Cruz, MelissaWhat do you get when you cross Gossip Girl and vampires? Blue Bloods. On the Upper East Side of New York City, to be one of the elite is everyone’s goal. Except Schuyler Van Alan who is a grunge girl in a preppy world and she likes it that way. However, at Duchesne, the private school she attends, something's changing. A student is killed. It was written up as an over dose, but there are whispers of something else. People, particularly the popular and insanely cute Jack Force, are saying she was murdered. Schuyler has strange blue veins show up in her arms, and is continually getting hungry for raw meat. Are all these events tied together? Wouldn’t you like to know…- reviewed by Elizabeth, , Read more…

by Dessen, SarahAuden was always the responsible, perfect child while her older brother Hollis was the wild and crazy one. But, the summer before college Auden impulsively decides to spend the summer at the beach with her Dad and his new family. At first Auden thinks she might have made a mistake, but slowly she starts to make friends and enjoy her time there. And when she meets Eli, a guarded and mysterious guy, Auden’s experiences really begin to open up. Auden is not used to opening up to anyone. Can she be open to new things — including Eli? Along for the Ride is a wonderful book about second chances and learning to live in the moment.- reviewed by Jessica, Mint Hill Branch, Read more…

When Papa John Moses decided to kill himself at the family reunion that summer of 1956, he left behind his wife, Calla; their son, Toy; and their daughter Willadee, her pastor husband Samuel Lake, and their three children: Swan, Noble, and Bienville. He also left behind his farm and the two businesses that kept it afloat: the general store and the all-night “Never Closes” bar. After Samuel learns that he no longer has a parish church to lead, he and Willadee decide to stay with Calla and Toy to help run the farm. The Lake children explore their surroundings with the innocence of childhood and the surety of their family’s love and care. But when their neighbor is shown to be a brute and bully to his son, wife and animals, Swan Read more…

by Forman, Gayle We all have to make choices. Think about a difficult choice you’ve had to make. Did you have help making it? For Mia, some choices have been easy, like playing the cello, which always called to her, even though her family is more rock-and-roll than classical music. Others, like applying to Julliard, thousands of miles away from her family and her boyfriend Adam, have been more difficult. But then on one weekday morning, Mia’s life completely changes, and she realizes she has to make the biggest and most difficult decision imaginable. And she has to do it completely on her own. – reviewed by Emily, University City Regional, Read more…

by Fletcher, Christine Set in Chicago 1941, Ruby Jacinski is only 15 but she has to quit school to support her family. Her Mom is ill and her father has been dead for many years. She quickly realizes that working at the slaughterhouse in her lower class Yards neighborhood will only lead to poverty and an early death. When handsome Paulie Suelze suggests she would make ten cents a dance as a taxi hall girl, she realizes that would be a small fortune to her struggling family! Little does she know the job opens her up to a world she’s never known, decisions she’s not old enough to make, and danger beyond any thing she’s ever experienced. A sobering, spellbinding read on the plight of women in the 1940′s.- reviewed by Julie, South Read more…

by Cantor, Jillian They are called the September Sisters. Abby and Becky were both born inSeptember two years apart. They fight like normal sisters do, but when Becky disappears in the middle of the night, Abby is convinced she did it to make her life miserable, and that she would soon return. As the search continues for her younger sister, Abby watches her parent's marriage fall apart. She finds comfort in the friendship of Tommy, a new boy in school, who shows her that you can still find love in the midst of tragedy. Thisis a great story, but tissues are a must! – reviewed by Amy, Steele Creek Branch, Read more…

The book trailer for Eleanor Henderson’s debut novel ends with these words: “They were young when new York was young. That’s how it felt. They’d never been more alive. Three kids, in a roiling, untamed city. But maybe that’s how everyone feels in the moment before they change forever.” Very teen, isn’t it? Alive and on the edge of change. The trailer is available on the author’s homepage, and her News page includes an impressive list of mentions in major media. This is a significant debut. Beyond that, I will let Mark’s review (below) speak for it. HENDERSON, Eleanor. Ten Thousand Saints. 400p. HarperCollins. 2011. Adult/High School–Crackling with the same precision and power she brought Read more…

Rosamund Lupton’s debut is a novel of siblings. The sisters are 26 and 21, not so far beyond teen readers in years. The entire novel is a letter from the older sister to the younger, now deceased. The directness of the narrative voice will appeal to young adults. Also, as the review’s final sentence makes clear, this is a compelling murder mystery that also deals with emotional family and identity issues. On Sunday, Sister garnered a full page New York Times book review, capping the buzz generated by its presence on both the Amazon Best of the Month and Indie Next List for June. Not to mention its popularity in the U.K. last year. And finally, I am a fan of surprise endings and this is rumored to have a great one. LUPTON, Read more…

Today’s guest blogger is Mark Flowers. I’m sure you’ve enjoyed his reviews here, which over the last several months have ranged from graphic novels to fiction to nonfiction: Does it matter if a Shakespearean play was written by William Shakespeare or by a 20th century conman?  Does the value of a piece of art change based on when it was written and by whom, and if it does, why? These are some of the questions Arthur Phillips challenges us with in his new novel, cleverly disguised as an edition of a newly discovered Shakespeare play, complete with introduction and scholarly footnotes. In the novel, the play is at the center of a debate over authenticity and forgery: the narrator believes it to be a clever forgery, Read more…

Laura Harrington’s debut novel makes a powerful anti-war statement, while being entirely supportive of the families personally involved. Alice Bliss is a teenager whose world is turned upside down when her father’s army reserve unit is called up for active duty in Iraq. I will admit that there came a point when I had to put this book down for a day or two when it became too painful. But Alice called me back. She is so wonderfully vibrant and real, I had to finish her story. I admire the author for her ability to bring the reader so deeply into one girl’s world. To further tempt you, I thought I would share an excerpt from an interview I did with Harrington, to be published in the June 15th SLJ Teen Newsletter: What Read more…

John Prendergast and Michael Mattocks relate their very different, but connected, experiences in this joint memoir. Prendergast wrote a Huffington Post article to explain his hopes for the book, including increased awareness of the issues around which he co-founded the Enough Project, which works to “end genocide and crimes against humanity” in Sudan, eastern Congo, northern Uganda, Somalia, Chad and Zimbabwe. The book trailer gives readers a chance to meet both authors and includes blurbs from Wes Moore, whose book The Other Wes Moore (now out in paperback) was reviewed here last year, and Dave Eggers. For a preview of the text itself, click over to Scribd. PRENDERGAST, John & Michael Mattocks. Unlikely Brothers: Our Read more…

2011 Best Fiction for Young Adults I seem to end up with a variety of “Best Books” for the every year. That’s okay though…I get them from different sources who have their own ideas as to what is “best.” So here’s another list of recommended books for you to check out. Riding Invisible Alonzo, Sandra Yancy’s life is torn apart by his older brother’s Conduct Disorder and he runs away when Will threatens his horse. He records his thoughts and feelings in his Adventure Journal. Forge Anderson, Laurie Hals All that stands between Curzon and his freedom is George Washington’s army and a winter at Valley Forge. Split Avasthi, Swati Jace, 16, fights back against his abusive father and is thrown out of the house. He Read more…

Today we review a high-interest novel, set squarely in the world of today’s teens. In fact, Exposure was inspired by the author’s own experience. Therese Fowler’s teen son was arrested for sexting. Fowler states firmly that this is not her family’s story exactly, but she knows of what she writes. For more from the author, take a look at an interview published in Psychology Today or this letter from the author on Amazon. FOWLER, Therese. Exposure. 384p. Ballantine. 2011. Tr $25. ISBN 978-0-345-51553-7. LC number unavailable.   Adult/High School–Fowler evokes shades of “Romeo and Juliet” with a contemporary social media twist: sexting and its consequences. Amelia Wilkes, 17, is not allowed to date, but she Read more…

Today for something a little different. A short, illustrated, dark-humored novel about surviving a civil war, illustrated by the author, Ron Tanner. Let’s briefly peer behind the curtain. I assign books to each reviewer, usually mailing two at a time. I try to mail one “sure thing” and one…experiment. Something that has potential but could go either way, in quality or teen appeal. A few weeks ago, I was perusing my shelves and this book stuck out. After a little research and a browse through the pages, I decided to send it along with another book that I considered a sure thing. Quite the opposite in both cases, it turned out. I love a pleasant surprise! I’m not sure how many of you have discovered Largehearted Boy’s Book Read more…

Lori Roy’s new “literary suspense” novel, noteworthy for its midwestern setting and gothic sensibility, has garnered rave reviews all around. This is probably not one that teens will find on their own, so point it out it to readers who love a good, creepy mystery. ROY, Lori. Bent Road. 358p. Dutton. 2011. Tr $25.95. ISBN 978-0-525-95183-4. LC number unavailable.  Adult/High School– Arthur Scott grew up in a small town in Kansas in the 1950s, but fled to the big city of Detroit after the death of one of his younger sisters, Eve. Now it’s the mid ‘60s, and Detroit has become a dangerous place to live, with race riots and black boys calling his teenage daughter, Elaine, on the telephone. So Arthur packs up his wife, Read more…

The physical creativity and puzzle-like construction of Elena Mauli Shapiro’s debut novel will pique teen interest, as will the embedded QR codes, which enhance the reading experience with online music, food (recipes), maps and 3-D images. Check out the book’s website to view selected “artifacts.” Interesting to consider what a similar book will look like in a few years (or less). In an ebook the QR codes could be replaced by the ability to click on an embedded link within the book itself, saving those extra steps. I imagine a lot of potential. The complex narrative and adult storyline of this complicated novel will not exactly invite the teen reader in. But the book’s visual features may well hold their interest long enough Read more…

For librarians, teachers, students, and readers everywhere, a new translation of The Canterbury Tales is an event. Mark Flowers has written an extended review, which offers an overview of the options available and a clear idea of what makes this one different. As this is a selected collection, click over to the Norton website for a list of contents. CHAUCER, Geoffrey. The Selected Canterbury Tales: A New Verse Translation. tr. by Sheila Fisher. 816p. Norton. Apr. 2011. Tr $35. ISBN 9780393079456. LC 2010053552.  Adult/High School – Filled with sex, adultery, high adventure, and fart jokes, and providing direct access to the ever-fascinating Middle Ages, The Canterbury Tales should, in theory, be a natural choice for teens. Read more…

Carrie Vaughn’s new superhero novel is the epitome of teen appeal — just plain fun. If you want to give it a try, the first chapter is available on the author’s website. I expect teens will enjoy the game of picking out references to genre titles and characters. It reminds me of John Connolly’s Alex Award-winning The Book of Lost Things (Atria, 2006). I was amazed by how many horror movie and fairytale references my students found that I had missed. After the Golden Age is one of Publishers Weekly’s Top 10 Science Fiction and Fantasy reads for Spring 2011, and made “The Books We Can’t Wait for this Spring” on io9. There is a terrific interview with Carrie Vaughn on the Bookyurt site. VAUGHN, Carrie. After the Golden Read more…

Alan Bradley’s Flavia de Luce series stands out for the author’s ability to make each new book at least as good as the one before. I find it interesting that the Barnes & Noble review categorizes this book as Young Adult Fiction. The author of the review recognizes that the series is tricky to label, that it “occupies that slippery and subjective space between “young adult” literature and the traditionally grown-up mystery genre.” Hey! That’s the slippery space where this blog lives! In my own library, it took a while for Bradley’s mysteries to catch on. Just recently word-of-mouth took off, so I will be purchasing titles in the series as they are published. I tend to purchase the first then wait and see with series, Read more…

This is a Words without Borders publication. Words without Borders “translates, publishes, and promotes contemporary international literature.” Every month they publish an online magazine. They also partner with publishers to release print anthologies, of which this is one. Tablet & Pen is quite a thick & heavy tome, and may appear intimidating to teen readers. But I was surprised by just how accessible the pieces are, and found it a wonderful collection to dip into at random. Most of the prose pieces are excerpts, usually full chapters, from novels or longer nonfiction works. This is a strong choice for school libraries in particular. Just as Kevin Young’s Ardency could supplement the study of American History, Read more…