Sam and CY students & staff are reading…

Who would like this book? Mostly girls (maybe some guys who love motorcycles), 13 and up, who like coming-of-age books with family problems, romance, heartbreak, and humor.

The goods on this book: Jude “Juju” Hernandez has just finished her senior year of high school, but her personal plans are on hold because of her overwhelming concern for her father, who has early onset Alzheimer’s. In his younger years, before his marriage and four daughters, he had ridden his Harley Davidson all around Chile, and Juju believes that if they can bring his old motorcyle back to life, he will get better. When she sets out to find a mechanic to lead them in this summer project, her only option is Emilio Vargas, a cute guy with a surprising ability to get along with Juju’s dad, even when he becomes agitated. There is a problem, though. Years earlier, Emilio’s cousin broke off an engagement with one of Juju’s three older sisters (“the holy trinity), and they had forced Juju to join them in a sacred oath to never have anything to do with a Vargas. Juju must navigate the opinions and probable wrath of her older sisters while guiding the motorcycle project with her dad, trying to sidestep Emilio’s charms. How can she pull off the impossible? If you’re looking for a book that is on the mature side yet not heavy, try this sweet-spirited book that balances heartbreak with heartwarmth. It might even make you want to ride a motorcycle. I guess my only complaint is that I wanted Juju to be fixing her own motorcycle, but then it would be a different book.
This book is an ALA Best Book for 2014 nominee.

The details: 357 pages; 2014 Review by Samrarian

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Who would like this book? Anyone who has read Legend and Prodigy and like them will want to read Champion.

The goods on this book: It’s always welcome when the third book of a trilogy holds up and does not disappoint. I think that Champion is a satisfying final book for the Legend trilogy. The plot moves quickly with many unforeseen surprises, and I did not predict the ending. June is now a Princeps-Elect in Denver, while Day is with Eden in San Francisco for medical treatment. The Republic is being attacked by the Colonies. The Colonies accuse The Republic of infecting them with the plague and demand that The Republic give them the cure. Anden is desperate to find this cure and enlists June to ask Day to offer Eden as their only hope. The tension of the love triangle between June, Day, and Anden continues with further complications in their individual lives increasing that tension. The minor characters – Tess, Thomas, Commander Jameson – contribute much to the plot and bring out more depth in the main characters. I hope that this trilog is the next movie series!

The details: 369 pages; 2013 Review by Samrarian

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Who would like this book? If you like musical theatre and/or funny books written in the first person, then grab this book!

The goods on this book: Nate Foster, 13, has been obsessed with musical theater (along with his best friend Libby) for years. He is stuck in a small town in Pennsylvania with parents who have no interest in helping him pursue his dream of landing a part in the upcoming Broadway production of ET: The Musical. He just knows that if he can only get to New York City for an audition, the part of Elliott would be his. It’s not giving too much away to let you know that Libby provides an alibi so that Nate can catch a Greyhound to the Big Apple. His secret adventure is hilarious, frustrating, and enlightening, especially because the point of view and voice of Nate is funny, honest, and insightful. The character of Nate is nonstop entertainment; the other kids who are auditioning, their parents, the director and staff at the audition, random New Yorkers, and Nate’s family members add a lot to his story. I got to read this book while I was in New York City, so I really loved it!
This book is an ALA Best Book for Young Adults 2014 nominee.

The details: 275 pages; 2013 Review by Samrarian

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Who would like this book? If you like real life stories in a graphic novel format and/or liked Smile by this same author, then you’ll probably really like Drama.

The goods on this book: Callie, a 7th grader with purple and pink hair, loves the theater and has found her spot as the set designer. She’s jazzed about her plans for the new production, Moon over Mississippi, but the boy she’s interested in has his heart set on someone else. When twins Justin and Jesse show up to be part of the production, Callie’s life gets more complicated. As she works with her stage crew to bring the set together, trouble with friendships, romances, and the production keep Callie, Jessie, and others on their toes. Their stories deal with issues such as sexual identity in a seamless blend of humor, heartbreak, and happiness. I loved going on this roller coaster ride with Callie and her crew!
This book is a YRCA 2015 nominee.

The details: 233 pages; 2012 Review by Samrarian

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Who would like this book? Mostly girls, 6th grade and up, who are interested in a story told in the first person by a fun, sarcastic freshman in high school who is looking to find her place to belong.

The goods on this book: Janie Gorman has a problem of her own making. When she was nine, she convinced her parents to move to the country and start a farm. Five years later, the idea has lost its romance and she is tired of being bullied as the girl with goat poop on her shoes. Nothing is going her way as she starts a new year at school, and the reader is in for some fun times guessing how things will turn around for her. Some old and new friends pull her into new pursuits that make all the difference. There are some interesting minor characters, such as her older sister Emma, who is obsessed with social justice. It’s refreshing to find a book that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Janie’s voice is funny, engaging, and honest. I felt like I knew her after reading just a few pages, and then I was hooked and needed to know the rest of her story.
This book is an ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults 2012 nominee.

The details: 211 pages; 2011 Review by Samrarian

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Who would like this book? Readers, grades 5 and up, who are interested in what happened when the Titanic sank.

The goods on this book: To prepare for writing this book, Deborah Hopkinson conducted extensive interviews with survivors and witnesses of the Titanic disaster. Combining the riveting stories of passengers and participants with thoroughly researched information about the ship and its voyage, Hopkinson has written a book that is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the Titanic. The story follows the voyage from its departure to after its sinks from the point of view of a wide variety of 27 people: young and old; crew members; and first, second, and third class passengers. It’s a nonfiction account, so she does not embellish the stories. Her straightforward prose allows the heartbreaking, horrific experiences speak for themselves. The book is not only a riveting story of people meeting death or escaping near death, it is also an excellent presentation of the ship itself and an explanation of the facts of what happened and when. Photographs, a timeline, diagrams, statistics, the official final report from 1912, short biographies of the people in the book, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index make this book a useful tool for research. I learned so much from reading this captivating book and found that I had many misconceptions about what really happened.
This book is an ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults 2012 nominee and an ORCA 2015 nominee.

The details: 289 pages; 2012 (910.9163 Hop) Review by Samrarian

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Who would like this book? Readers, grades 5 and up, looking for an exciting story of a wild girl growing up in Africa in the early 1900s who grows up to be the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean from England to Canada.

The goods on this book: As she was growing up on her father’s horse farm in British East Africa (Kenya), Beryl Markham’s goal was to become a warrior in the Nandi tribe with which she spent most of her time. Her mother had fled back to England soon after she was born, leaving her under the care of her father, who was pre-occupied with raising and training horses. Beryl’s experiences with the Nandi include all kinds of adventures in the jungle, but trouble looms as she grows from girl to woman. Her father’s various attempts to force her to become a proper British girl bring out her fierce spirit, which makes for captivating reading! Interspersed among the story of Beryl’s childhood are diary entries and newspaper articles that cover the momentous transatlantic flight that she made in 1936. Her tenacity and fearlessness link the two stories and one can’t help but be cheering for her all the way. If you like hair-raising adventure based on a true story, then this book is for you.

The details: 262 pages; 2011 Review by Samrarian

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Who would like this book? Mature readers, ages 13 and up (language, content), who are looking for a moving story of friendship that explores family relationships and sexual identity.

The goods on this book: It’s 1987 and the summer is a hot one in El Paso, Texas. Ari, 15 and bored, narrates the complex and moving story of his friendship with Dante, a friendship that starts with Dante’s offer to teach Ari to swim and the discovery that Ari’s complete name is Angel Aristotle. Their friendship grows through the summer as they have fun reading old comic books and fooling around as they ride the bus all over town. As Ari’s story unfolds, it’s clear that he is haunted by his own insecurities and by secrets that are being kept by both his mom and his dad. These secrets begin to emerge when a significant event happens. Without wanting to give away too much, I can say that Ari makes discoveries that bring him from boyhood to manhood, from lonely and lost to loved and self-aware. Sáenz’s writing is for patient, mature readers who appreciate clear prose that brings the reader into Ari’s world. It’s a moving exploration of sexual identity and of the power of love in family and friendships.

This book is a Printz Honor Book, 2013, an ALA Best Book 2013 nominee, an ORCA 2015 nominee, and a 2015 Battle of the Book selection at the Senior High level.

The details: 359 pages; 2012     Review by Samrarian

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Who would like this book? Readers, grades 5 and up, who like books with a first person narrator about friendship and overcoming odds, and who do not mind some sadness.

The goods on this book: Freak the Mighty, an amazing story of friendship, is told from the point of view of Maxwell Kane. Max has had a rough life and it shows in how he sees himself. He lives with his grandparents, Grim and Gram, because his father is in prison for having killed his mother. When the book begins, Max doesn’t seem to have anything going his way. He has a room in the basement where he hides his large frame and is apologetic about his lack of brain power. Then, Kevin moves in next door and everything changes for Max. Kevin, or “Freak,” has a serious birth defect that has prevented him from growing and caused him to walk with crutches. What Freak lacks in physical size, he makes up for in brain power and zest for life. He zeroes in on Max and together, with Freak on Max’s shoulders, they become “Freak the Mighty.” Their adventures, patterned after King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, are truly worth reading and make a significant impact on Max (and this reader). It’s great when they take on the bullies. Some of the minor characters are not completely believable, but this gripe is a minor one in light of the rich depth in the characters of Max and Freak. Originally published 21 years ago, this book holds up as a relevant and worthwhile read.

This book is a 2014-15 Battle of the Book selection.

The details: 1993; 169 pages                Review by Samrarian

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Who would like this book? For fans of basketball, this book is a natural fit for anyone grades 6 and up. The book also works as a story of what happens when a person is too full of themselves.

The goods on this book: Drew Robinson, a junior in high school, has earned the nickname “True” because of his phenomenal talent on the basketball court. Seth Gilbert, a wealthy owner of a prep school in California, has moved Drew and his mother across the country from New York and has given his mother a good job and lavishes Drew with anything he needs, including access to his posh house. Drew possesses plenty of talent and perks but is clueless when it comes to understanding the value of others. When his self-absorbed approach to life, both on and off the court, begins to take a toll, Drew is thrown off balance. Drew also meets a mysterious older man with amazing basketball skills late at night at the local playground court. Getting to know this “playground legend” just as Drew’s own inflated sense of self has been punctured leads to some illuminating plot twists and discoveries. True Legend is not only a riveting basketball book, it is a strong character-driven story of friendship, loyalty, and lessons learned.

The details: 2012; 292 pages   Review by Samrarian

This book is a 2014-2015 Battle of the Book selection.

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