by Sarah MacLean
Summary:
Lady Alexandra Stafford could care less about the fact that she is a debutante this year. But unless she gets herself ruined, a possibility that although tempting would probably result in her mother murdering her, she will find herself paraded throughout the marriage mart that is the London Season. As the Season progresses, she finds herself entangled in the investigation into her old friend Gavin's father's death, which is much more exciting than balls or tea parties. As danger looms over them Gavin and Alexandra might find more than they bargained for in each other. Will they live happily ever after? Or die at the hands of a traitor.
Review:
The Season is a fantastic regency romance written for teens. It has all the elements of the more adult romance novels written, but without the more racy bits, making it suitable for teens or older tweens. I really enjoyed the book personally and with there was a sequel!
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Level: 8-9th Grade
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Revolver
by Marcus Sedgwick
Summary:
When Sig finds his father dead on the ice, he thinks that things can't possibly get worse. They, along with his sister and stepmother, have lived a hard life in the Artic Circle, though they have always been lucky his father has been able to find work as a surveyor wherever they have been. But he is about to find out that even the dead keep deadly secrets.
Review:
Revolver is told though Sig's perspective as he struggles not only to deal with the death of his father but with the accusations of a man who has hunted them, unknown to Sig and his sister, since the death of their mother 10 years ago. It weaves a realistic tale of the harsh Artic life that many life with a story of survival. It is well written, though the end is a little preachy when Sig decides not to shoot the man himself. A good read for boys especially.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Level: 7-8th Grade
Summary:
When Sig finds his father dead on the ice, he thinks that things can't possibly get worse. They, along with his sister and stepmother, have lived a hard life in the Artic Circle, though they have always been lucky his father has been able to find work as a surveyor wherever they have been. But he is about to find out that even the dead keep deadly secrets.
Review:
Revolver is told though Sig's perspective as he struggles not only to deal with the death of his father but with the accusations of a man who has hunted them, unknown to Sig and his sister, since the death of their mother 10 years ago. It weaves a realistic tale of the harsh Artic life that many life with a story of survival. It is well written, though the end is a little preachy when Sig decides not to shoot the man himself. A good read for boys especially.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Level: 7-8th Grade
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Life as We Knew It
by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Summary:
All anyone would talk about in the days before it happened was the moon. It was going to be so exciting, though all her teachers turned it into an opportunity to assign homework. An asteroid was going to hit the moon and everyone would be able to see it without a telescope. No one had predicted what this asteroid was going to do to the moon. Not even the astrophysicists realized the asteroid would destroy half of the moon and push it closer to Earth. The catastrophe that follows the celebrated event will change the course of Miranda and her family's lives forever. And not for the better.
Review:
I picked up Life as We Knew It expecting a suspenseful read about survival. The book ended up being that and more. It's a realistic read about what happens when our modern way of life is suddenly completely suspended. When the day to day of living is gone, food is no longer delivered to grocery stores, electricity spotty at best. Written as journal entries by Miranda, the book is a diary of a family suddenly forced to survive. The decisions they must make are difficult, including the decision not to help neighbors or friends as they begin to suffer and die of disease and hunger. It's a depressing read, but very realistic. A good book for those who like survivalist fiction.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 8th Grade
Sequel: This World We live In
Summary:
All anyone would talk about in the days before it happened was the moon. It was going to be so exciting, though all her teachers turned it into an opportunity to assign homework. An asteroid was going to hit the moon and everyone would be able to see it without a telescope. No one had predicted what this asteroid was going to do to the moon. Not even the astrophysicists realized the asteroid would destroy half of the moon and push it closer to Earth. The catastrophe that follows the celebrated event will change the course of Miranda and her family's lives forever. And not for the better.
Review:
I picked up Life as We Knew It expecting a suspenseful read about survival. The book ended up being that and more. It's a realistic read about what happens when our modern way of life is suddenly completely suspended. When the day to day of living is gone, food is no longer delivered to grocery stores, electricity spotty at best. Written as journal entries by Miranda, the book is a diary of a family suddenly forced to survive. The decisions they must make are difficult, including the decision not to help neighbors or friends as they begin to suffer and die of disease and hunger. It's a depressing read, but very realistic. A good book for those who like survivalist fiction.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 8th Grade
Sequel: This World We live In
Crossing to Paradise
by Kevin Crossley-Holland
Summary:
Gatty has been a field hand all her life. She's never left the estate where she's grown up, and never imagined she would. When she is chosen to accompany Lady Gwyneth on her pilgrimage to Jerusalem, she's ecstatic for an opportunity to see the world. Though she never imagined it would be so big. As Gatty and her companions make their way across the world to Jerusalem, she finds the world is a fascinating if scary place. She'll learn to read, visit far away places, and have adventures she's never dreamed of. But will she manage to find her way home?
Review:
Crossing to Paradise gives a fairly accurate portrayal of life in the 15th century. Gatty is an uneducated field hand who gets the chance to travel to the Holy Land, learn to read and write, and experience things most people who lived in her position could never dream of. The book is well written, but the historical accuracy the author strives to create with Gatty's language makes the book a little hard to understand at times. The book is overall a good story, though fanciful in terms of how lucky Gatty is throughout the story. A good read for those who like historical fiction, though better for older readers due to the difficulty in understanding the language at times.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Level: 8-9th Grade
Summary:
Gatty has been a field hand all her life. She's never left the estate where she's grown up, and never imagined she would. When she is chosen to accompany Lady Gwyneth on her pilgrimage to Jerusalem, she's ecstatic for an opportunity to see the world. Though she never imagined it would be so big. As Gatty and her companions make their way across the world to Jerusalem, she finds the world is a fascinating if scary place. She'll learn to read, visit far away places, and have adventures she's never dreamed of. But will she manage to find her way home?
Review:
Crossing to Paradise gives a fairly accurate portrayal of life in the 15th century. Gatty is an uneducated field hand who gets the chance to travel to the Holy Land, learn to read and write, and experience things most people who lived in her position could never dream of. The book is well written, but the historical accuracy the author strives to create with Gatty's language makes the book a little hard to understand at times. The book is overall a good story, though fanciful in terms of how lucky Gatty is throughout the story. A good read for those who like historical fiction, though better for older readers due to the difficulty in understanding the language at times.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Level: 8-9th Grade
Friday, June 15, 2012
Lost
by Jacqueline Davies
Summary:
Essie has always had a hard life. She's taken care of her younger sister since Zelda was born, and now works all day at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company to support both of them and her mother. But when Essie meets Harriet, the new girl at work, she is immediately intrigued. After all, why on earth would a well dressed, educated girl be working for $6 a day? Despite the secrets both keep they find friendship together, but tragedy works in mysterious ways. Neither is really who they appears, and neither have made it through life unscathed.
Review:
Set in the early 1900's, Lost seamlessly blends fiction and reality. Many aspects of the book are real, like the Triangle Shirtwaist Company and the terrible fire that happened there which changed fire code standards throughout the US. Essie is like thousands of workers at the time, struggling to remain a step beyond complete poverty and desperation but finding ways to live there. One of the most interesting twists of the book involves Essie and her sister Zelda, though Harriet and her heiress story is also quite intriguing. A good book for tweens who like historical fiction.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Level: 7th Grade
Summary:
Essie has always had a hard life. She's taken care of her younger sister since Zelda was born, and now works all day at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company to support both of them and her mother. But when Essie meets Harriet, the new girl at work, she is immediately intrigued. After all, why on earth would a well dressed, educated girl be working for $6 a day? Despite the secrets both keep they find friendship together, but tragedy works in mysterious ways. Neither is really who they appears, and neither have made it through life unscathed.
Review:
Set in the early 1900's, Lost seamlessly blends fiction and reality. Many aspects of the book are real, like the Triangle Shirtwaist Company and the terrible fire that happened there which changed fire code standards throughout the US. Essie is like thousands of workers at the time, struggling to remain a step beyond complete poverty and desperation but finding ways to live there. One of the most interesting twists of the book involves Essie and her sister Zelda, though Harriet and her heiress story is also quite intriguing. A good book for tweens who like historical fiction.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Level: 7th Grade
Breathless
by Jessica Warman
Summary:
Katie never meant to lie about her brother. But it's so much easier to be the new girl with a brother who died rather than the new girl with the brother who is crazy and is in and out of mental hospitals. Or the new girl with the brother who tried to kill her father, or might have killed a hospital worker. So instead she lies and moves on with her life. She's captain of the swim team and has a great boyfriend and friends. But while things are great on the surface, when you are hiding a big lie it's bound to come out sometime.
Review:
While Katie's brother is in the book quite a bit, the book itself is not about him. it instead shows the devastation that having a person with mental illness can have on the family (especially when it's an illness that manifests violently). Katie chooses to hide any association with her brother, and we can see throughout the book how guilty and ashamed it makes her feel. It's an interesting look at mental illness from a person who is not suffering from the diseases themselves but is suffering from the aftereffects and from being a bit ignored by her parents because she is not the problem child. Good read for older tweens.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Summary:
Katie never meant to lie about her brother. But it's so much easier to be the new girl with a brother who died rather than the new girl with the brother who is crazy and is in and out of mental hospitals. Or the new girl with the brother who tried to kill her father, or might have killed a hospital worker. So instead she lies and moves on with her life. She's captain of the swim team and has a great boyfriend and friends. But while things are great on the surface, when you are hiding a big lie it's bound to come out sometime.
Review:
While Katie's brother is in the book quite a bit, the book itself is not about him. it instead shows the devastation that having a person with mental illness can have on the family (especially when it's an illness that manifests violently). Katie chooses to hide any association with her brother, and we can see throughout the book how guilty and ashamed it makes her feel. It's an interesting look at mental illness from a person who is not suffering from the diseases themselves but is suffering from the aftereffects and from being a bit ignored by her parents because she is not the problem child. Good read for older tweens.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Rules of Survival
by Nancy Werlin
Summary:
Matthew's used to protecting his sisters from their erratic mother But constantly reading her moods and keeping everyone playing their parts so that their mother won't go off the deep end is no job for a 13 year old. So when Matthew sees Murdoch stepping between a father about to hit his son in a grocery store, he sees a man who might be able to help his sisters and him escape their mother. But the problem with trying to escape a mother who can't be trusted to act sane is you never know what she is really capable of.
Review:
Written from Matthew's perspective as a letter to his youngest sister explaining what happened in their childhood, Rules of Survival is a gripping novel that makes you want to know what happens next to this family. Matthew is a likable character, a boy who is trying to protect his family but realizes he can't do it on his own. He has his flaws which show him for the boy he still is, even though he is trying to be the 'man of the house for his family. The book demonstrates the absolute havoc that can be wrecked upon a family by untreated mental illness and the necessity of banding together in such a situation. A good read for older tweens especially.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 8th Grade
Summary:
Matthew's used to protecting his sisters from their erratic mother But constantly reading her moods and keeping everyone playing their parts so that their mother won't go off the deep end is no job for a 13 year old. So when Matthew sees Murdoch stepping between a father about to hit his son in a grocery store, he sees a man who might be able to help his sisters and him escape their mother. But the problem with trying to escape a mother who can't be trusted to act sane is you never know what she is really capable of.
Review:
Written from Matthew's perspective as a letter to his youngest sister explaining what happened in their childhood, Rules of Survival is a gripping novel that makes you want to know what happens next to this family. Matthew is a likable character, a boy who is trying to protect his family but realizes he can't do it on his own. He has his flaws which show him for the boy he still is, even though he is trying to be the 'man of the house for his family. The book demonstrates the absolute havoc that can be wrecked upon a family by untreated mental illness and the necessity of banding together in such a situation. A good read for older tweens especially.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 8th Grade
Saturday, June 9, 2012
The Killer's Cousin
by Nancy Werlin
Summary:
David was hoping for a chance to start over when he moved in with his uncle, aunt and his 11 year old cousin Lily. A chance to be around people who didn't know about the trial and his acquittal. People who didn't know that he had been suspected of killing his girlfriend. But he is not the only person trying to hide their past. The house he's now living in holds its fair share of secrets. Secrets which might not only destroy him, but his whole family.
Review:
The Killer's Cousin is a psychological thriller which captivates the reader from the beginning. The crime David was just acquitted of as the book starts is revealed in pieces through the book. His sinister cousin Lily is surprisingly disturbing and worrisome. The reader finds themselves wondering just how much of what is happening is real or how much might just be in the heads of the characters. It's a book which will appeal to older tweens.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 7th-8th Grade
Summary:
David was hoping for a chance to start over when he moved in with his uncle, aunt and his 11 year old cousin Lily. A chance to be around people who didn't know about the trial and his acquittal. People who didn't know that he had been suspected of killing his girlfriend. But he is not the only person trying to hide their past. The house he's now living in holds its fair share of secrets. Secrets which might not only destroy him, but his whole family.
Review:
The Killer's Cousin is a psychological thriller which captivates the reader from the beginning. The crime David was just acquitted of as the book starts is revealed in pieces through the book. His sinister cousin Lily is surprisingly disturbing and worrisome. The reader finds themselves wondering just how much of what is happening is real or how much might just be in the heads of the characters. It's a book which will appeal to older tweens.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 7th-8th Grade
Test
by William Sleator
Summary:
Every student knows that they need to do well on tests in order to do better in the long run, to help them get into a good college and get a good job. But what if one test was what decided your whole life? What if you only had one chance to make it in this world, and if you failed you're only path was a lifetime of dangerous minimum wage jobs and struggling to make ends meet. As Ann finishes school and prepares to take the test which will decide her future, she stumbles onto a scandal which just might be able to stop the testing forever, provided she can avoid the guys who are trying to kill her for finding out.
Review:
While Test has an interesting premise, on the whole the book was poorly written and not very engaging. Sleator doesn't really develop any of the characters well, and the relationship between Ann and Lep just seems to happen without any sort of explanation. He presents a world where this test has become the be all and end all of a student's life, as well as a way to sort out any potential criminals, but no one outside the students know how important it is. Perhaps a good read to recommend for those really into societal control or conspiracy theory books, but on the whole there are better books out there on a similar topic.
Genre: Futuristic Fiction
Age Level: 6th Grade
Summary:
Every student knows that they need to do well on tests in order to do better in the long run, to help them get into a good college and get a good job. But what if one test was what decided your whole life? What if you only had one chance to make it in this world, and if you failed you're only path was a lifetime of dangerous minimum wage jobs and struggling to make ends meet. As Ann finishes school and prepares to take the test which will decide her future, she stumbles onto a scandal which just might be able to stop the testing forever, provided she can avoid the guys who are trying to kill her for finding out.
Review:
While Test has an interesting premise, on the whole the book was poorly written and not very engaging. Sleator doesn't really develop any of the characters well, and the relationship between Ann and Lep just seems to happen without any sort of explanation. He presents a world where this test has become the be all and end all of a student's life, as well as a way to sort out any potential criminals, but no one outside the students know how important it is. Perhaps a good read to recommend for those really into societal control or conspiracy theory books, but on the whole there are better books out there on a similar topic.
Genre: Futuristic Fiction
Age Level: 6th Grade
Safe
by Susan Shaw
Summary:
Walking home on the last day of school is a glorious feeling. No more homework, no more tests, just fun and freedom for the next three months. But all of that is interrupted for Tracy when she is grabbed from the side of the road walking home. The whole ordeal only lasts a few hours, but when she is found beaten, raped, and traumatized you realize you're only at the beginning of her story.
Review:
Safe is a book about a girl recovering from a traumatic experience. The book doesn't focus so much on the act of what happened to her but about the aftermath. We watch her as she tries to find security again, as she withdraws into herself in order to protect herself, as she tries to pretend everything is normal while pushing people away. Tracy is a character that many can identify with, a strong girl who is trying to find her way. I thought the Shaw was smart to include scenes where Tracy is viewed as the one in the wrong as well, like when the brother of her attacker tells her she is a horrible person for telling 'lies,' because in real life the victims of crimes like these are not only treated like the victim they are. While the book does revolve around a really heavy topic, the way it glosses over the actual acts makes the book appropriate for more mature tweens.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 7th Grade
Summary:
Walking home on the last day of school is a glorious feeling. No more homework, no more tests, just fun and freedom for the next three months. But all of that is interrupted for Tracy when she is grabbed from the side of the road walking home. The whole ordeal only lasts a few hours, but when she is found beaten, raped, and traumatized you realize you're only at the beginning of her story.
Review:
Safe is a book about a girl recovering from a traumatic experience. The book doesn't focus so much on the act of what happened to her but about the aftermath. We watch her as she tries to find security again, as she withdraws into herself in order to protect herself, as she tries to pretend everything is normal while pushing people away. Tracy is a character that many can identify with, a strong girl who is trying to find her way. I thought the Shaw was smart to include scenes where Tracy is viewed as the one in the wrong as well, like when the brother of her attacker tells her she is a horrible person for telling 'lies,' because in real life the victims of crimes like these are not only treated like the victim they are. While the book does revolve around a really heavy topic, the way it glosses over the actual acts makes the book appropriate for more mature tweens.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 7th Grade
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Where I Belong
by Gillian Cross
Summary:
Sent to England to get an education and earn money to help her family back in Somalia, 13 year old Khadija finds herself living with Abdi's family. Abdi wasn't too terribly thrilled about it. He had just lost his father to some sort of accident in Somalia, what exactly it was no one seems to know, and now he has a new 'sister' Khadija, as if taking care of his mother and 2 younger sisters wasn't enough.
Freya knew when her mother got on crazy kicks there was nothing stopping her until she got it all out of her system. Except this time the crazy kick is Somalia. And her mother happens to be one of the most famous fashion designers this century. When her mother sees Khadija she knows she has found the perfect centerpiece for her collection. But what none of them know is what will get set in motion when Khadija is discovered, what devious plots are launched and whose lives will hang in the balance by those they thought they trusted most.
Review:
One of the most interesting things about Where I Belong is that it is narrated in turn by Khadija, Abdi and Freya. They pass the story back and forth in a way that makes it seem like they are right there telling you in person. The book doesn't really touch on any heavy immigration issues (a topic which is quite sensitive in England) but does interestingly talk about the disconnect many immigrants feel to the country they are from when they have never even seen their home country as well as the love many still have when living somewhere else. The book does touch on the problems of Somalia, but also focuses on how it is still a place where people live, and that people love. It's a really good read and great for older tweens.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 8th Grade
Summary:
Sent to England to get an education and earn money to help her family back in Somalia, 13 year old Khadija finds herself living with Abdi's family. Abdi wasn't too terribly thrilled about it. He had just lost his father to some sort of accident in Somalia, what exactly it was no one seems to know, and now he has a new 'sister' Khadija, as if taking care of his mother and 2 younger sisters wasn't enough.
Freya knew when her mother got on crazy kicks there was nothing stopping her until she got it all out of her system. Except this time the crazy kick is Somalia. And her mother happens to be one of the most famous fashion designers this century. When her mother sees Khadija she knows she has found the perfect centerpiece for her collection. But what none of them know is what will get set in motion when Khadija is discovered, what devious plots are launched and whose lives will hang in the balance by those they thought they trusted most.
Review:
One of the most interesting things about Where I Belong is that it is narrated in turn by Khadija, Abdi and Freya. They pass the story back and forth in a way that makes it seem like they are right there telling you in person. The book doesn't really touch on any heavy immigration issues (a topic which is quite sensitive in England) but does interestingly talk about the disconnect many immigrants feel to the country they are from when they have never even seen their home country as well as the love many still have when living somewhere else. The book does touch on the problems of Somalia, but also focuses on how it is still a place where people live, and that people love. It's a really good read and great for older tweens.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 8th Grade
The Knife that Killed Me
By Anthony McGowan
Summary:
Paul has always considered himself to be a loner. It's never been that bad for him, mostly it lets him fly under the radar of bullies or anyone else. But then Roth notices him. Roth, the most notorious guy at school. Infamous for his violence and bullying, Roth is just the kind of person Paul is hoping to avoid. But then Roth does something surprising. Instead of beating up Paul, he becomes his friend. Paul, instead of running from a person he knows to be dangerous, falls right into his trap. He likes being respected by his fellow students, even if that respect is tinged with fear. And when a knife comes into the mix, and a terrible fight, Paul will find out that being friends with nefarious people is the worst mistake he could have made.
Review:
McGowan's book is written in the blink of an eye for the character, as he relives the moments that led to him being about to be stabbed. None of the characters in the book are particularly sympathetic. While you want to feel for Paul as he feels forced into doing Roth's bidding, you don't because he continually is given opportunities to extricate himself from the situation and doesn't. The book does have a good twist at the end but on the whole you don't feel very resolved when it finishes. Most of the characters who should get caught don't, which I suppose also makes it more true to life. A decent read for male tweens.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Summary:
Paul has always considered himself to be a loner. It's never been that bad for him, mostly it lets him fly under the radar of bullies or anyone else. But then Roth notices him. Roth, the most notorious guy at school. Infamous for his violence and bullying, Roth is just the kind of person Paul is hoping to avoid. But then Roth does something surprising. Instead of beating up Paul, he becomes his friend. Paul, instead of running from a person he knows to be dangerous, falls right into his trap. He likes being respected by his fellow students, even if that respect is tinged with fear. And when a knife comes into the mix, and a terrible fight, Paul will find out that being friends with nefarious people is the worst mistake he could have made.
Review:
McGowan's book is written in the blink of an eye for the character, as he relives the moments that led to him being about to be stabbed. None of the characters in the book are particularly sympathetic. While you want to feel for Paul as he feels forced into doing Roth's bidding, you don't because he continually is given opportunities to extricate himself from the situation and doesn't. The book does have a good twist at the end but on the whole you don't feel very resolved when it finishes. Most of the characters who should get caught don't, which I suppose also makes it more true to life. A decent read for male tweens.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
A Certain Slant of Light
by Laura Whitcomb
Summary:
Helen has long gotten used to being unnoticed by those around her. As Light, Helen has chosen several hosts who have sustained her, kept her tethered to the earth for the last 130 years. Yet one day, in the classroom of her current host Mr. Brown, Helen feels someone looking at her. James can see her, can hear her, and might be able to help her soul finally rest.
Review:
This book was much less supernatural than I anticipated. The story was not one of hauntings but one of finding peace. Helen is able to transition to human form (yes it sounds a bit silly but the way it was written is interesting). In this form she starts to remember her old life and the reason she is stuck haunting this world. It is a very well written tale that will appeal even to those who don't like supernatural tales (like me!). A good summer read for older tweens especially (there are drugs, sex and suicide discussed).
Genre: Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Summary:
Helen has long gotten used to being unnoticed by those around her. As Light, Helen has chosen several hosts who have sustained her, kept her tethered to the earth for the last 130 years. Yet one day, in the classroom of her current host Mr. Brown, Helen feels someone looking at her. James can see her, can hear her, and might be able to help her soul finally rest.
Review:
This book was much less supernatural than I anticipated. The story was not one of hauntings but one of finding peace. Helen is able to transition to human form (yes it sounds a bit silly but the way it was written is interesting). In this form she starts to remember her old life and the reason she is stuck haunting this world. It is a very well written tale that will appeal even to those who don't like supernatural tales (like me!). A good summer read for older tweens especially (there are drugs, sex and suicide discussed).
Genre: Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
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