Battle of the Books 2007
Flush by Carl Hiaasen
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Aug.21, 2007, under Battle of the Books 2007, Bullying, Environment, Real life, Thriller, YRCA
Who would like this book? Young teens who like it when teen protagonists take on “the big bad guys,” in this case the owners of a floating casino who are dumping raw sewage. Get ready to bite your nails.
Why? Hiaasen’s story of the ecologically-oriented family, the Underwoods, opens with the dad in jail for trying to sink the floating casino that he believes is dumping raw sewage into the ocean near their Florida Keys home. The family has their problems related to their dad’s fanaticism, but his kids, Noah and Abbey, feel compelled to prove that he’s right. We get the story from Noah’s point of view, which is great because he’s extremely likable and always learning, especially when it comes to the world of the casino and characters such as Shelly, the bartender, and her boyfriend Lice. The climax had me at the edge of my seat, and I also appreciated how the family dynamics unfolded. What I want to do is go to Florida and watch the sunrise over the Atlantic and then drive across to the west side of the peninsula and watch the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico.
The Details: 263 p. 2005
Under the Blood-Red Sun by Graham Salisbury
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Aug.13, 2007, under Battle of the Books 2007, Historical Fiction, Scott O'Dell, War
Who would like this book? Teens who wonder what it would have been like to have been a Japanese teenager living in Hawaii when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on September 7, 1941.
Why? Tomi is an American teenager who loves baseball, hangs out with his friends who call themselves the “Rats,” and loves his dog Lucky. He was born in Hawaii, but his parents and grandfather were born in Japan. Their ethnic situation is a serious problem in 1941 and becomes catastrophic after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Salisbury gives us a heart-wrenching presentation of that event and its impact on the lives of the people on the island through Tomi’s point of view. This book is an excellent way to learn about this part of World War II and would be a solid basis for discussion about racial discrimination, immigration, and bullying.
The details: 246 p. 1994
Shadow Spinner by Susan Fletcher
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Aug.13, 2007, under Battle of the Books 2007, Historical Fiction, Legend
Who would like this book? Teens and adults who love the power of stories and are fascinated by the legend of The Book of One Thousand and One Nights (The Arabian Nights) will love this exciting tale.
Why? Shahrazad, the Sultan’s newest wife, is saving her own life and the lives of the kingdom’s young women. She is holding the interest of the Sultan night after night with her stories. Before Shahrazad, the Sultan had been killing each of his wives after one night to make certain that they would not betray him. Marjan, a young orphan with a crippled foot who loves to tell stories, idolizes Shahrazad and is amazed when Shahrazad enlists Marjan’s help to find a story that the Sultan has never heard before. Marjan’s quest for a specific story becomes a thrilling story in itself. The quest helps her uncover the story of her own past, making the book like a rich fabric of interwoven stories. It kept me breathless and made me cry.
The details: 224 p. 1998
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Aug.13, 2007, under Battle of the Books 2007, Fantasy, Grief
Who would like this book? Younger teen and pre-teen girls who would like an unlikely quest for a prince that includes a competition to become the princess, many suspenseful challenges, the power of songs, and a magical way of communicating.
Why? Though this book is a fantasy, it has the feel of history. The setting, Mount Eskel, is viewed with disdain by the rest of the kingdom even though they mine the prize stone, linder. Mount Eskel’s prospects improve when it is chosen as the village from which the prince will choose his bride. The teen-aged girls must leave their village to attend a Princess Academy to learn the ways of the cultured lowlanders, a venture that brings the girls many challenges and difficult situations. The story belongs to Miri, a smart and sensitive 14-year-old. Her relationships with her father and sister, with the other girls, with her friend Peder, and with a magical way of communication called “quarry-speak” makes the book a worthwhile read. If you enjoyed Goose Girl, be sure to read Princess Academy.
The details: 314 p. 2005
Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Aug.03, 2007, under Abuse, Battle of the Books 2007, Grief, Real life, YRCA
Who would like this book? Teens who are interested in the healing power of the wilderness, the psychology of a bully, and alternatives to the juvenile justice system OR who just want a good cliffhanger featuring a giant white bear.
Why? Touching Spirit Bear gives us the point of view of Cole Mathews, an angry young man who blames everyone else for his problems and comes at the world with a chip on his shoulder that’s the size of a boulder. When his penchant for violence causes real damage to Peter, a vulnerable classmate, Cole is faced with severe consequences. Enter Garvey, a Tlingit Indian parole officer, who proposes “Circle Justice” for Cole, a practice that involves being banished to a remote Alaskan island for a year. This proposal sets a series of events in motion that kept me spellbound. Cole’s sneering attitude gets old, and for awhile I felt the same as Garvey and Edwin (Cole’s other mentor) when they want to give up on Cole, but I’m glad I stuck with it. The ending is well worth it.
The details: 240 p. 2001
The Kite Rider by Geraldine McCaughrean
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Aug.02, 2007, under Battle of the Books 2007, Grief, Historical Fiction
Who would like this book? Teens who are interested in 13th century China (I know you’re out there!), the 13th century equivalent of an extreme sport (flying by being strapped to a kite), life in a circus, Kublai Khan, and when it might be best to disobey your elders.
Why? It’s the 13th century, and China has just been conquered by the Mongol, Kublai Khan. The story opens at a port, where Haoyou, a bright and serious 12-year-old boy, witnesses his father plummet to his death after being enlisted as a “wind-tester” by DiJou, the unscrupulous first mate who wants to marry Haoyou’s beautiful mother. The story takes off from this bit of murderous treachery, and Haoyou has his hands full warding off the conniving DiJou and his equally despicable uncle, Uncle Bo. As head of the household, Uncle Bo demands complete obedience from Haoyou. A significant thread through the book is how Haoyou comes to terms with this Confucian stricture when applied to his greedy, pompous, selfish lout of an uncle. There’s also threads that deal with racism and grief, and of course an historical view of 13th century China, but the adventure of the story is so exciting that I didn’t think about these aspects until after I’d finished.
The details: 307 p. 2003.
Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Jul.29, 2007, under Adult Read, Battle of the Books 2007, Battle of the Books 2014-2015, Historical Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Real life, War
Who would like this book? Anyone, teens or adults, interested in the Navajo culture, battles of WWII (Pacific), and the use of the Navajo language for the codes in the war will find this book riveting.
Why? Bruchac uses a Navajo grandfather as his narrator very effectively. The grandfather, Ned Begay, begins the story with his experiences growing up in an Indian boarding school where speaking the Navajo language was strictly forbidden. When he joins the Marines at age 16 (fudging with the truth about his age), he is trained as a code talker. In a significant irony, the Navajo language has been made the basis of the secret code for sending messages on the battlefield. Ned relates the details about the battles on Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Guam, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa in a nonsensational, quiet voice that makes them all the more heart-wrenching. His humor and his reliance on traditional Navajo customs allowed me to see how he could endure so much brutality and still maintain his sanity. This book would be a good jump-off point for studying more about the Navajo culture, codes, and/or World War II.
The details: 231 p. 2005
Among the Hidden by Magaret Peterson Haddix
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Jul.29, 2007, under Battle of the Books 2007, Science Fiction
Who would like this book? Teens interested in disturbing “What if….?” questions set in the future. What if the government had enough power to force families to have no more than two children? What if you were the third child in a family?
Why? Luke has lived in the protected environment of his family farm for 12 years when a new housing development forces his parents to conceal him in the attic. Being the third child in their family, he is illegal and, if discovered, would be seized by the Population Police, bringing severe punishment to himself and his family. Luke takes to watching the construction of the houses through an attic vent and closely observes the new neighbors as they get settled. When Luke catches sight of another hidden face in a neighboring house, his narrow world opens up to possibilities that are beyond his imagination. I couldn’t put it down, and it’s great to know that there are five more books in the series: Among the Betrayed, Among the Barons, Among the Brave, Among the Enemy, and Among the Free.
The details: 153 p. 1998 (c. 2000)
Cages by Peg Kehret
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Jul.29, 2007, under Battle of the Books 2007, Grief, Real life
Who would like this book? If you do something wrong that you don’t feel good about, should you keep it a secret or come clean about it? Read this book if that questions resonates with you. It’s also for teen girls who have concerns about difficult family situations, loss of a parent, and problems with friends.
Why? Kit Hathaway is 14 and is paralyzed by fear and indecision because she’s been put on the spot at the end of her speech on shoplifting. The opening chapter of Cages sets up the rest of the book, which is a flashback of the events leading up to the moment in which she must decide whether or not to be honest about a bad decision that she made. The construction of the novel increases the tension, and I couldn’t put it down. Kit’s difficulties with an alcoholic step-father, a detached mother, and a complicated social life come into focus when she starts to volunteer at the local humane society and begins to find her way out of her cage. A fast-paced read, the novel looks at dishonesty/honesty/denial from many perspectives.
The details: 150 p. 1991 (c. 2002)
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Jul.16, 2007, under Battle of the Books 2007, Battle of the Books 2013-2014, Real life
Who would like this book? Teens who are interested in issues of identity, conformity vs. individuality, and harassment in a high school environment.
Why? Stargirl is the classic nonconformist, free spirit. When she shows up at Mica High with her long skirts and ukulele, students don’t know how to handle her. Leo Borlock, the book’s 16-year-old narrator, is fascinated by her pure, primitive approach to life and wants to get closer to her. His desire for fun adventures with her turn out to have unexpected consequences for both of them, and the important question comes into focus: How do you remain true to yourself while navigating a school situation that seems to require conformity? Spinelli explores this question with many entertaining details, such as Stargirl’s rat “Cinnamon,” her stint as a cheerleader, her appearance on Leo’s TV show “Hot Seat,” and the descriptions of the Arizona desert. Stargirl somehow knows the birthday of each student and celebrates by doing a serenade on her ukulele. Anyone have a ukulele?
The details: 186 p. 2000
