November 15th 2009
Who would lke this book? 6th graders who like the mysteries of Ancient Egypt and the spookiness of creepy museums at night.
Why? It’s 1906 in London and Theo Throckmorton, the 11-year-old daughter of archeologists and curators of the Museum of Legends and Antiquities, has her hands full. Theo is uniquely gifted in that she senses the evil curses inscribed into the ancient artifacts that her parents naively bring to London from the ancient tombs in Egypt. Theo does everything she can to protect her parents and herself, studying ancient texts to learn how to ward off the dark magic. Her parents’ work keeps them constantly busy, an extreme frustration to Theo, and they do not recognize her talents. When her mother arrives from her most recent expedition with a priceless Egyptian artifact, Theo plunges into an intriguing adventure full of mystery, suspense, and captivating details about Ancient Egypt. The power of this particular Egyptian artifact weilds influence over international affairs, so the stakes are high for Theo and the two secret societies that are vying for control over the artifact. I had a great time reading this book, which felt like an Indianna Jones ride to me.
The details: 343 p. 2007 Review by Samrarian
November 8th 2009
Who would like this book? Readers, especially girls, grades 7 and up, who like ghost stories and mysteries with some romance and real-life relationship problems.
Why? Summer days in Ondine, Louisiana are long, hot, and humid. Nothing happens and there is nothing for teenagers to do. Fourteen-year-old Iris and her friend Collette are trying to stir up some excitement by playing around at casting spells in the town’s old cemetery. Iris does not expect to actually hear from a ghost, so when she hears, “Where y’at, Iris?” in a distinctive voice and sees a boy who nobody else hears or sees, she plunges into a chilling quest to find out who he is and what he wants. As Iris, Collette, and Collette’s boyfriend Ben go from the cemetery to the witchboard (like a Ouija board) to the library’s archives to Elijah’s disturbed mother, Elijah’s ghost becomes increasingly aggressive toward Iris. The story takes surprising twists and is full of suspense. I couldn’t put it down, and the ending worked for me. Shadowed Summer is a good ghost story/mystery during any season.
The details: 183 p. 2009 Review by Samrarian
14-year-old Iris
November 8th 2009
Who would like this book? Fans of action-packed spy thrillers, grades 5 and up.
Why? I,Q (Book One: Independence Hall) combines the rock-and-roll world of paparazzi and fame with the dark, complex world of conspiracies, terrorism, and spies. Told from the point of view of 15-year-old Q (short for Quest), I,Q is all action that doesn’t stop for reflection or serious character development. The plot setup pulled me right in. Q is agitated over his mother Blaze’s whirlwind romance and quick marriage to fellow rock star Roger Tucker. Roger’s daughter Angela shares Q’s lack of enthusiasm, especially because she is still grieving for her mother, a highly skilled CIA agent who was killed in the line of duty. The new parents have formed a band, Match, which is all the rage. The new family embarks on a yearlong tour in a tricked-out coach that Roger and Blaze insist on driving themselves. It doesn’t take long for them to break down and to be saved by a world-wise old roadie named Boone. The readers are tipped off at the start that something sinister is going to happen by short, italicized chapters by a mysterious spy that alternate with Q’s main experiences. As the two story lines intersect, the spy intrigue takes off and the skills of Angela and Q are put to the test. I hope that the second book in the series, The White House, gives more character development. I, Q is high on action, but unsatisfying when it comes to feeling for and with the characters. Sarah Weeks (author of So B. It) chose it as the 2009 Oregon Book Award for Young Adult Literature.
The details: 302 p. 2008 Submitted by Samrarian
November 5th 2009
Review by Michael
Who would like this book?
Why? The Graveyard Book is about a boy whose family is killed by a man named Jack. The baby got away because he crawled out of his crib and out the front door. The baby (unkown name) crawls to a graveyard and is taken in by the ghosts. The ghosts name the boy Nobody Owens, Bod for short, and he is given freedom of the graveyard. A man named Silas is appointed to be his guardian. Silas is very mysterious and he is not dead and not alive. Bod’s biggest problem is Jack, but for a long time while he is growing up Bod does not even know he has an enemy. Bod enjoys growing up in the graveyard and being able to walk through walls, fade, and dreamwalk. Read this book and you will be amazed at how good it is.
The details: 301 p. 2008 Submitted by Michael
October 1st 2009
Review by Samantha
Who would like this book? Someone who likes dark mysteries.
Why? This fantasy-mystery-thriller interwines the ordinary life of normal kids with the fantastical element of a covert war waged over a time-travel paradox….Haddix is just amazing!!!!
The details: 313 p. 2009 Submitted by Samantha
September 27th 2009
Who would like this book? Girls 13 and up who want a funny book about a girl who has finally gotten the guy of her dreams but will not consent to being the girl of his dreams. Lose yourself for love? Maybe not.
Why? Frankie Landau Banks is now a sophomore at the prestigious East Coast co-ed boarding school, Alabaster. Frankie has “blossomed” in many ways over the summer, and at the start of fall term she is attracting attention from the coolest senior boy, Matthew. Though Frankie is thrilled about this arrangement, she is not so hot about Matthew’s habit of marginalizing her. She really takes exception to his obsession with The Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds, a secret society open only to males, and to which Frankie’s father belonged. Frankie is seriously smart and a great schemer, and she doesn’t waste any of her formidable talents. E. Lockhart gives us Frankie’s point of view of every aspect of life at Alabaster. It’s a great exploration of identity and gender. All the better that it’s also seriously funny.
The details: 352 pages, 2008 Review by Samrarian
July 13th 2009
Who would like this book? Student reporters and other readers interested in investigative reporting at the middle school level.
Why? Adam Canfield is an over-scheduled and chronically late eighth grader who cannot believe that he consented to being co-editors of their school newspaper, The Slash, with ultra-organized Jennifer. Being the only publication in town that is not owned by big business, Adam and Jennifer take on the responsibility of investigating out-of-control zoning regulations and the possibility that funds donated to their school have been misappropriated by their principal, the tyrannical Mrs. Marris. Numerous minor characters add lots of humor; the mysterious Herbs at the city’s Code Enforcement office, annoying third-grader star reporter Phoebe, and the wizened school janitor Eddie are three of my favorites. Best of all, Michael Winerip, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for the New York Times, gives the reader an up-close view of Adam. We feel his anguish when he’s in a tight spot, soar when he’s exhilarated, and tear our hair out when he’s frustrated. As readers, we think and worry about the ethical dilemmas that he and Jennifer must face as they try to bring their important stories to print. Adam Canfield and the Slash made me think even as it made me laugh – a great combination. It is a 2009-2010 Battle of the Book selection.
The details: 336 p. 2005 Submitted by Samrarian
A Battle of the Books 2009-2010 selection
June 29th 2009
Who would like this book? Readers (grade 7 and up) interested in medical mysteries with a science fiction edge will find this book fascinating. Also, if you like books by Jodi Piccoult, give this one a try.
Why? Jenna Fox, 17, has been in a terrible accident. She has recently awoken from a coma and is slowly beginning to remember bits and pieces of who she is. As she tries to get answers for her most significant question,”Who is Jenna Fox?”, her mother and grandmother make things difficult for her with their secrecy and unexplained behavior. For instance, they have recently moved across the continent to California, even though her father must continue his work as a cutting edge medical doctor in Boston. Pearson narrates this riveting story through Jenna’s present-tense voice, allowing the reader to experience firsthand her confusion, anger, struggles, and realizations.The tight focus on Jenna, her immediate family, a neighbor, and a few friends at the alternative school that her mother allows her to attend reflects the narrow world in which Jenna must live. Why is she so protected? Why do her parents keep so many secrets? Why does her grandmother stay so distant? Why do her hands feel so strange? Why does she remember all the details about Thoreau’s Walden Pond but nothing about her high school friends? Questions pile up, and the narration does occasionally buckle under their weight, but when the answers start coming fast and a couple of the characters step up in surprising ways, any doubt about the worth of this book falls quickly away. It’s an unnerving view of the possibilities of medicine in the future and a springboard for discussion of medical ethics.
The details: 288 p. 2009 Submitted by Samrarian
June 20th 2009
Who would like this book? Lovers of mystery, orphans charged with saving the world, and good quotes.
Why? Reynie, an 11-year-old orphan, hates the orphanage so much that he takes up the suggestion of his beloved tutor and answers an advertisement that asks, “Are you a gifted child looking for Special Opportunities?” As Reynie proceeds through a series of clever, convoluted tests, there is no doubt that he is gifted. Sticky, Kate, and Constance Contraire also pass the tests, demonstrating a wide range of fascinating talents. The four are instructed by the mysterious Mr. Benedict that they must work together to defeat the evil Mr. Curtain, who is plotting to take over the world using a type of mind control. Mr. Curtain’s place of operation is an isolated boarding school called The Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened. The foursome go underground, posing as students in the school, while investigating Mr. Curtain’s plan. At the school the children must recite messages such as “You must work longer to have more time to relax” and “You must have war to have peace” as they navigate the bullying inherent in its system of “Messengers” and “Recruiters.” Their creative ingenuity, growing friendship, and Reynie’s reflections add depth to the page-turning plot that is filled with unexpected twists and wacky characters. It’s mainly a mystery that the reader is invited to help solve; explorations of mind control, bullying, and loyalty enrich the mystery, as do the many memorable quotes. This book is a 2010 Young Reader’s Choice Nominee in the Intermediate Division. Don’t miss it!
The details: 485 p. 2007 Submitted by Samrarian
June 14th 2009
Review by Michaela
Who would like this book? Mystery lovers and those who love suspense will read happily.
Why? Bethany is just a normal kid with normal parents, or so she thinks. Right before Bethany’s 13th birthday her parents begin to act oddly, her mom cries, and her dad worries. One night Bethany’s parents tell her to get in the car, and they go through many states to reach an aunt Bethany has never heard of. Bethany overhears her dad talking to her unknown aunt, Aunt Myrlie. He tells her that Bethany doesn’t know about Elizabeth. Bethany’s mind races with answers to the unknown aunt and Elizabeth.
The details: 218 p. 2005 Submitted by Michaela