Violet's Secret

Title: Violet’s Secret

Author: Lori Rill

Year: 2012

Genre: Fantasy

Age: 7th grade up

Summary: A young girl faces challenges and uncovers her history by learning how to use her gift, reading others' thoughts through their colors.

Review: I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Violet and her world in this book. Middle school girls will be especially drawn to her because of the every-girl characterization. Don’t think Violet is unremarkable just because she’s relatable, though! Her ability doesn’t make her a superhero, just a very special and observant girl.

Lori Rill (full disclosure: she’s a friend and a teacher here at Susquehanna Township Middle School) really shines in her description of colors and settings. Though I first read the book months ago, specific turns of phrase have stuck with me, including the descriptions of objects as simple as a seat or a desk. I look forward to reading what else she comes up with!

I recommend this book to students here at STMS and STHS (they’ll see a lot of their lives in the world Rill created). Also, readers who enjoy fantasy and realistic fiction.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

Title: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

Author: Jennifer E. Smith

Year: 2012

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age: 7th grade up

Summary: Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything? Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C. Hadley's in 18A. Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it. (text from publisher)

Review: I can describe how I felt about this book in one word: Meh. It was okay. I’ll probably forget about it by next week, but I don’t regret reading it. Hadley was a bit annoying, but not the worst. Oliver was too good to be true in the way that boys in young adult novels usually are. Reading this is an okay way to spend a few hours, but don’t go out of your way to find it.

I recommend this book to girls whose parents are getting divorced and they’re bitter about it. You’ll make a better emotional connection to Hadley than I did.

Pandemonium

Title: Pandemonium

Author: Lauren Oliver

Year: 2012

Genre: Science Fiction

Age: Middle
school up

Summary: After falling in love, Lena and Alex flee their oppressive society where love is outlawed and everyone must receive "the cure"--an operation that makes them immune to the delirium of love--but Lena alone manages to find her way to a community of resistance fighters, and although she is bereft without the boy she loves, her struggles seem to be leading her toward a new love.

Review: Where Delirium was all heat and passion, Pandemonium is cold and calculating. Lena is a resistance fighter, flashing back to her time outside the city walls in the Wilds. This story telling conceit gives Oliver the opportunity for beautiful contrasts in her prose and world building. Lena herself is aware that she’s shuttered up her old self, become someone hard and cold. Secrets are revealed a bit clumsily (for example, if Oliver is going to spend that much time describing someone who really doesn’t do anything, I know it’s important later) but I didn’t care. The new characters are interesting and fleshed out, especially important with only Lena carrying through with us. Some parts show that this wasn’t really a planned trilogy (major plot points never mentioned in Delirium which should have been) but I’d still follow Lena (and Oliver) anywhere. When’s book three???

I recommend this book to those who liked the first book.

Before I Die

Title: Before I Die

Author: Jenny Downham

Year: 2009

Genre: Realistic fiction

Age: 9th grade up

Summary: Tessa has just months to live. Fighting back
against hospital visits, endless tests, and drugs with excruciating side
effects, Tessa compiles a list. It’s her To Do Before I Die list. And number
one is Sex. Released from the constraints of “normal” life, Tessa tastes new experiences to make her feel alive while her failing body struggles to keep up.

Tessa’s feelings, her relationships with her father and brother, her estranged mother, her best friend, and her new boyfriend, are all painfully crystallized in the precious weeks before Tessa’s time finally runs out. (summary from Amazon.com)

Review: I couldn’t stand this book. I read it (or rather, started reading it)
right after I finished “The Fault in Our Stars.” Big mistake. Hazel makes Tessa look selfish, stupid, and rude. I loved Hazel, but I loathed Tessa. I read about 1/3 of this book before I gave up. Tessa was a character I had no desire to spend time with.

I recommend this book to no one.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Title: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Author: Ransom Riggs

Year: 2011

Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy

Age: 6th grade up

Summary: A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive. (summary from amazon.com)

Review: This book took me right to the edge of my creepiness tolerance. I’m easily scared when reading—no Stephen King for me—so I’m impressed with myself for finishing this one. What makes it particularly creepy are the photos. At pertinent points, Riggs illustrates the story with old photographs he collected from yard sales and flea markets. Girls float, the back of a head has a mouth (REALLY CREEPY!) and a beanstalk shoots to the sky. Sometimes, the plot feels a bit too much like it was cobbled together to fit the photos, but it mostly works. The characters are not particularly memorable, but they serve the plot. Read this one for the atmosphere and the creepy moments.

I read this on my Kindle, and I must say the pictures lose some of their creepy on the tiny e-ink screen. Pick up a print copy of this one for maximum enjoyment.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in a creepy mystery.

Stolen

Title: Stolen

Author: Lucy Christopher

Year: 2010

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age: Grades 8 and up

Summary: Gemma is 16, just had a fight in an airport with her parents, and is drinking a cup of coffee with a hunk she just met. However, something about this older guy being so nice to her just doesn't feel quite right. The next thing she distinctly remembers is waking up in an unfamiliar room and realizing that she has been kidnapped. Can she ever get back home?

Review: Almost everything about this story took me by surprise. This is not an average story of a person being abducted. It explores the motivation of a captor, and the malleability of their victim. This is a fascinating cautionary tale for all young people.

The Art of Racing in the Rain

Title: The Art of Racing in the Rain

Author: Garth Stein

Year: 2008

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age: Grades 11 and 12

Summary: This is the story of a race car driver and his dog, told from the point of view of the dog. Set in Seattle, this novel can be summed up with the permeating mantra of, "that which you manifest is before you."

Review: There is a true pattern to the books that I love; they all make me cry. This is a hilarious and heartbreaking story of life told from the point of view of a dog. This is a story that will appeal to any reader because it covers everything from sports to romance to the human condition. I would highly recommend this book to older students who are looking for a novel that can truly reflect life.

Bunheads

Title: Bunheads

Author: Sophie Flack

Year: 2011

Genre: Realistic fiction

Age: 8th grade up

Summary: On-stage beauty. Backstage drama.

As a dancer with the ultra-prestigious Manhattan Ballet Company, nineteen-year-old Hannah Ward juggles intense rehearsals, dazzling performances and complicated backstage relationships. Up until now, Hannah has happily devoted her entire life to ballet.
But when she meets a handsome musician named Jacob, Hannah's universe begins to change, and she must decide if she wants to compete against the other "bunheads" in the company for a star soloist spot or strike out on her own in the real world. Does she dare give up the gilded confines of the ballet for the freedoms of everyday life?

Text from sophieflack.com


Review: The best parts of this book: descriptions of the ballet, rehearsal time, secondary characters. Annoying part: Hannah obviously being a thinly disguised version of the author. The author writes Hannah as though she’s talking to an earlier version of herself, warning her about what’s to come. The dance parts shine, but one has to wonder if Flack will be able to write anything other than a ballet book about herself.

I recommend this book to realistic fiction lovers, dancers.

How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming

Title: How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming

Author: Mike Brown

Year: 2012

Genre: Nonfiction

Age: 8th grade up

Summary: The solar system most of us grew up with included nine planets, with Mercury closest to the sun and Pluto at the outer edge. Then, in 2005, astronomer Mike Brown made the discovery of a lifetime: a tenth planet, Eris, slightly bigger than Pluto. But instead of adding one more planet to our solar system, Brown’s find ignited a firestorm of controversy that culminated in the demotion of Pluto from real planet to the newly coined category of “dwarf” planet. Suddenly Brown was receiving hate mail from schoolchildren and being bombarded by TV reporters—all because of the discovery he had spent years searching for and a lifetime dreaming about.

A heartfelt and personal journey filled with both humor and drama, How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming is the book for anyone, young or old, who has ever imagined exploring the universe—and who among us hasn’t?
Text from www.barnesandnoble.com/


Review: I’ve loved astronomy since I was a little girl. I even seriously wanted to be an astronomer in High School. (To be fair, this was directly after my Egyptolgist phase and only lasted until I learned exactly how much calculus is involved). Ever since, I’ve had a soft spot for stories about the astronomy and about how we see the universe around us.

In How I Killed Pluto... Brown shows himself to be the rare example of an astronomer who can also expertly craft a narrative compelling enough to read for pleasure. Brown’s explanations of astronomic phenomena in layman's terms are easy to follow. I also quite enjoyed how he wove the story of his personal life into his professional life. Sometimes, it felt a bit like filler, but it mostly served the story Brown set out to tell.

I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in astronomy, science nonfiction lovers like myself.

The Fault in Our Stars

Title: The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green

Year: 2012

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age: 9th grade up

Summary: Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.


Review: You’re going to cry while reading this book. Let’s get that out of the way. I cried. I cried a bunch. It’s about high school kids dying of cancer, for Pete's sake. But, oh the journey to get to those tears. Green’s main character Hazel Grace Lancaster is dying and she’s bitter and pissed about it. She’s also smart, funny, and a keen observer of the outside world. Her romance with Augustus, another Cancer Kid, is the main focus here, with side steps into Hazel’s family life. There could be great heaps of sap in this book (Kids! Dying! Of cancer!!), but Green avoids them. One of the plot twists at the end takes a deus ex machina turn that almost took me out of the story, but I loved the characters enough that I didn’t care.

I recommend this book to those who like realistic fiction, want a good cry.

Terrier (The Legend of Beka Cooper, Book 1)

Title: Terrier (The Legend of Beka Cooper, Book 1)

Author: Tamora Pierce

Year: 2007

Genre: Fantasy

Age: Middle School up

Summary: Tamora Pierce begins a new Tortall trilogy introducing Beka Cooper, an amazing young woman who lived 200 years before Pierce's popular Alanna character.

Beka Cooper is a rookie with the law-enforcing Provost's Guard, and she's been assigned to the Lower City. It's a tough beat that's about to get tougher, as Beka's limited ability to communicate with the dead clues her in to an underworld conspiracy. Someone close to Beka is using dark magic to profit from the Lower City's criminal enterprises--and the result is a crime wave the likes of which the Provost's Guard has never seen before.


Review: It’s been a while since a YA high fantasy book really hooked me, so I was surprised when I bought into this one. Beka is a wonderful heroine at work: smart, skilled, sure of herself. Off the beat, she’s shy and inexperienced. It makes for a delightful combination any girl can connect with. Especially great, --and from what I’ve read, very characteristic of Pierce’s work-- is how men and women are completely equal in this society. I’ve read many a fantasy where women are treated the same way they were in the Middle Ages so equality came as a delightful surprise. I also liked how Pierce trusts the reader to keep up with her world building, rather than throwing a giant info-dump at the beginning of the book.

I just loved this book all around. The fight scenes are interesting. The characters are clever and their actions flow naturally rather than as mechanization's of the plot. The central mystery unravels with just enough information to keep you guessing.

I recommend this book to girls who like fantasy but are sick of the boys getting all the main character roles.

...Then I Met My Sister

Title: ...Then I Met My Sister

Author: Christine Hurley Deriso

Year: 2011

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age: Middle school up

Summary: Summer Stetson feels overshadowed by her dead sister Shannon, but a secret birthday gift from her aunt reveals Shannon's diary and Summer uses this gift to gain a better understanding of her sister and their family.
Review: A student recommended this to me and I’m glad I took her advice. This book swept me up in Summer’s family drama so effectively I couldn’t put it down and read it in one sitting. Shannon’s diary poses questions for Summer and reveals answers slowly and organically. Shannon’s and Summer’s relationships with their controlling mother are the highlight of the book. The only real fault here is that while the female characters are dynamic and well developed, the male ones remain one- or two-dimensional.

I recommend this book to girls who like family drama.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Title: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Author: Jonathan Safran Foer

Year: 2005

Genre: Realistic Fiction, Drama, and Historical Fiction

Age: Grade 11 and 12

Summary: This story is mainly told from the point of view of nine-year-old Oskar Schell. Oskar lost his father in the attacks on September 11, 2001. Oskar and his father had an extremely close relationship, and they often played games where Oskar's father would lead Oskar on a hunt for some treasure. After his father's death, Oskar finds a key which he believes to be a clue, and this leads him on a journey throughout New York City. Oskar's story is paralleled by the story of his grandparents who survived the firebombing of Dresden, Germany during WWII.

Review: This is a beautifully written story that is enlightening and a tear-jerker. It's disconnected style may make it hard for some readers to follow, but if you can keep up with it, you will be well rewarded. I would absolutely recommend this to any student looking for a modern day classic. The juxtaposition of 9/11 to the firebombing of Dresden is fascinating, and is something that readers interested in history will appreciate. This is an all around wonderful book that I finished in two days because I could not put it down.

Also, make sure you read this one before you go to see the movie, which will be released on January, 20th.