****

Gilsdorf, Ethan. Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms. Lyons Press, September 2009. ISBN 9781599214801 $24.95

When Ethan Gilsdorf was 17, he put down his 20-sided die in pursuit of girls, and by all appearances, gave nary a backwards glance to his roleplaying past as he moved forward to college and beyond. On the sly he dabbled in geekdom like a tippler hiding his bottle in a brown paper - a few quarters in an arcade here... browsing the new editions of Dungeons and Dragons rulebooks there... checking out collectible card games like Magic: the Gathering...

Then, in 2001, Fellowship of the Ring came out, and he fell off the wagon. He was fascinated with the Tolkein realm that Peter Jackson portrayed in his three award winning epic films. Not only did it create some conflict with his significant other, it awakened an urge to reconnect with his geek past and investigate the appeal of immersive fantasy in his life and in the life of others. Was he truly an adult, or stagnated in adolescent? To find out, Gilsdorf made a list of why Fantasy appeals, and then set off on a classic hero's journey to discover the answer.

While on this quest, Gilsdorf doesn't just interview and observe; he delved right in. His travels take him there and back again, from Oxford England to pay graveside respects and then drink toasts to the Professor with Tolkeinites, to Cambridge MA to play Dungeons and Dragons, and south to Atlanta to participate in the Forest of Doors for a Live Action Roleplaying (LARP) weekend. He spends some quality time with the fan band, Harry and the Potters, descends into MMO culture and emerges wanting the real thing, so he attends Dragon*Con, described as a "four day Halloween party embraced by every subculture" and finally journeys back across the pond on a New Zealand adventure to visit filming locations for the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Along the way, he wonders if the armed forces can't be likened to some sort of roleplay, ponders the staying power of Geeks in Love, and has his paradigm of what it means to be a geek in constant shift.

Gilsdorf is a solid writer and good storyteller - no surprise there, for someone with his role playing background. He juxtaposes his personal story with strong journalistic reporting, and infuses everything with a dose of integrity. A glossary of terms is appended, though many words are defined in context - the footnote on LARPing, while extensive, is particularly excellent. Photos, many taken by the author, and excerpts from primary sources, add to Gilsdorf's narrative.

Says Gilsdorf, about halfway through the book, "the appeal of LARPing was not the battles, but the collective storytelling, the camaraderie." Certainly, this can be applied to all kinds of gaming as well - it's about the story and the people, the gaming experience, not the game play.

This book serves as a guide to the colliding world of gaming and fantasy genre, and is an excellent primer for those who don't "get" it and are ready to make the leap to the experiential side of things. It will also have appeal to gamers who want to read about other aspects of fantasy and gaming subculture, and who want to see themselves represented fairly and insightfully in print. This four-star book is recommended for public and academic library collections, and has special appeal for teens; hence, it's inclusion on this site.

Reposted from an email from Allie Bodack, The Book Report Network, NY:

"Please take a moment to complete the Teenreads.com 2009 Reader Survey. The goal of the survey is to identify trends and topics that are of interest to readers of young adult literature, both teens and adults. Results will be shared with the media, publishers, authors, booksellers, librarians and educators in September 2009.
 
In addition to questions about Teenreads.com, a website from The Book Report Network, the survey addresses:

-How often they buy books and where they shop
-How often they visit the library and/or take out books
-What kinds of books they are interested in reading
-Who and what influence their reading selections
-How they feel about required summer reading
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-What their other media habits are

The survey can be found at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=uj_2bvfY4l2_2ftO2ZD6YvUazw_3d_3d

The survey will take about 15 minutes to complete. As a token of their appreciation for filling it out, respondents from the U.S. and Canada will be eligible to enter a random drawing to receive a copy of one of 27 titles, which are being provided by publishers. There will be 775 winners selected. See the full list of 27 titles at: http://teenreads.com/surveys/2009-reader-survey.asp. 
 
The survey will close on August 31st so please visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=uj_2bvfY4l2_2ftO2ZD6YvUazw_3d_3d to answer the survey now!

Many thanks for your help.

The Giver meets The Lord of the Flies with a dash of Romeo and Juliet thrown in for good measure.  In a futuristic dystopia, 24 teenagers, one boy and one girl from each of the 12 districts, must compete in a televised fight to the death in the Hunger Games.  When her younger sister is picked as one of the tributes for her district, Katniss volunteers to take her place.  the young man who is the other tribute from her district shows some kindness to Katniss, but how can she respond to his kindness when the only way she can survive is if he dies?

 5/5 stars

****/5

Zack Thomson isn’t like other teenage boys, and the fact the he calls the mental institution home is just the tip of the iceberg. His parents died when he was little and ever since, Zack suffers from weird, life-threatening allergies. He can’t go out in daylight and he can only stomach a certain kind of strawberry smoothie Nurse Ophelia, luminous goddess of health care, makes for him special. In all, Zack was pretty happy living on the psych ward. It wasn’t like he had to attend school or anything- he could exercise and watch as much TV as he wanted without anybody bothering him. In fact, it never occurred to him to leave until a large man on a motorcycle crashed through the front doors of the hospital saying he was there to break him out. The man didn’t just shatter the front doors of the hospital, he successfully broke through the comfortable cocoon Zack had been living in since the death of his father. With the sudden disappearance of Nurse Ophelia after that night, and the mysterious appearance of his uncle, Zack doesn’t know who to trust. He does know one thing though-he has to get to the bottom of these mysteries, and he’s going to have to leave the loony bin to do it.

Set in sleepy Peterborough,Ontario, Turner serves up a hilarious, rip-roaring twist on the vampire genre. Zack Thomson is a likeable, if not a bit deluded (but, hey, if you were a vampire wouldn’t you go through a denial phase?) character. He rarely has the “right” reaction in crisis situations, making him more believable than those characters who all of a sudden are able to spear an apple in two using a machete from a distance of 50 feet. In fact, Zack is just your normal teenage boy- he is awkward with girls (okay, living in an asylum was not too conducive to flirting) and he’s embarrassed by his condition. Turner is able to weave together an excellent mystery surrounding the death of Zack’s parents and his mysterious condition with a fast-paced adventure as well as a believable coming-of –age story. I recommend this books to aficionados of the vampire novel as well as those who liked the City of Bones series.

Nicole is in love with Zin, the leader of her break dancing group.  Everyone can see that he has feelings for her as well, but he refuses to act on them.  While working with Zin at a nightclub (where her boss nicknames her Raven), Nicole discovers that Zin has a secret.  Will his secret tear them apart or can her love save him?

 Van Diepen creates a world  that is both realistic and fantastic.  Zin and Nicole are compelling characters and readers will be cheering for them.  I would have liked to see more development of the secondary characters.  Their world is fascinating but the ending doesn't leave much room for a sequel.

4/5 stars

 ***/5

Joy Wells and her brother Byron live with their parents in a ramshackle old home in Spooking, a dying town on the outskirts of a booming suburb called Darlington. For Joy, a rabid fan of famous horror writer, E.A. Peugeot, Spooking is everything. She loves the old houses, the creepy cemetery, the decrepit playground. She especially loves the swamp, where she imagines Peugeot’s terrifying creatures live. In fact, she is determined to prove that the famous writer’s spooky tales are based on the town of Spooking. All she’s lacking is, well, proof. With this in mind, she ventures into the swamp in an attempt to find that elusive piece of evidence she would need to confirm her theory. What she finds, however, is a thrilling, dark adventure of her own.

When the swamp and its fragile ecosystem is threatened by the development of a water park, Joy must find a way to stop it. However, the mayor’s right hand man, the ominous Mr. Phipps, hates Spooking as much as Joy loves it and is determined to see it buried for good.

Montreal dweller Bracegirdle entwines this gothic tale for children with issues of urban encroachment.  Although Mr. Phipps’ reasons for hating Spooking so much could have been explained a little more (I know it’s only book one, but geez, throw the reader a bone please?) and the tone of the book sometimes wavers between high falutin’ speak and slang, the story moved along at a quick pace, and the characters are eccentric, sympathetic and charmingly flawed. I would recommend this book to lovers of Lemony Snicket.

Gingras, Charlotte. Pieces of Me. Kids Can Press, New York: 2009. 144 pp. HC 978-1-55453-242-1 $17.95; pbk 978-1-55453-432-6 $8.95

*****

The narrative of this lovely, lyrical novel unfolds in short vignettes, like a delicate bird skimming just over the water, dipping now and then to leave deepening ripples on the surface.

Fifteen-year-old Mirabelle is like a wounded young bird who can’t break loose from the nest. Abandoned by her father who couldn’t cope with her mentally ill mother, Mira’s loneliness and desire to escape are palpable from the opening pages, garnering immediate empathy from the reader, who will feel her anguish and silently cheer when Mira finally begins to test her wings. Her tentative friendship with Cath, the new girl in her art class, coaxes Mira from her shell. Wearing a color other than black, eating French fries after school in a café, and being acknowledged as a top student in art class are rich triumphs.

Just when things are looking up, Cath unwittingly betrays Mira. In quick succession, Mira is devastated by three males in her life. Her sensitive art teacher (nicknamed “the birdman” by Mira because he rehabilitates birds) is the one who sees how fragile Mira is and recommends counseling. Paule, the blind but insightful school therapist, helps Mira begin to fit together the shattered pieces of her self.

Literary allusions and symbolism abound. Librarians will love Mira, because she is a reader and library user. Teen girls will identify with Mira’s struggle to form her identity, conflicts with her mother, and her curiosity about her budding sexuality.

Originally published in French, there seems to be nothing lost in translation. The English translation is all sparse, elegant prose and a definite contender for the Batchelder Award.

 ***/5

Although I could have probably used a glossary and some visuals, Murray’s first novel, Break on Through, had me at the first windmill (I don’t know exactly what that is, but I think it involves limbs whirling around in a disturbingly unanatomically correct manner).

If you are even just a little more street smart than I am, you’ll know that this book is about break dancing. It is told from the point of view of Nadine, a fifteen year old from Parkdale, a low income neighbourhood in Toronto. Her obsession is b-girling. That’s all she wants to do; that’s all she thinks about. Everything is going well: she’s got a crew, a boyfriend and a shot at the next Hogtown Showdown (the big break dancing competition).

Until her parents tell her she is moving to the suburbs and her world comes crashing down. She is only one of two black kids in the whole school. The teachers have already pigeonholed her as a troublemaker and she can’t seem to do anything right. Her boyfriend loses interest once she moves and she loses any contact with the breakdancing community, the only thing in her life that she really loves. There is no way she is going to realise her dream of competing in the showdown now. That is, until some unlikely allies come along…

Nadine is angry. She’s angry at her parents for moving, for getting pregnant, for misunderstanding. She’s angry at the suburbs, at her boyfriend and at her new school. She makes a lot of mistakes and acts in a way where you would like to give her a quick bop on the head. Murray conveys this anger beautifully, allowing the reader to empathise with, and care for Nadine while wanting her to just get over it already.

Although the book wraps up a bit too quickly, with a predictable last scene at the showdown and a sudden epiphany on Nadine’s part, Break on Through is compulsively readable.  I would recommend this book to aficionados of Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants or anybody looking for a coming of age story.

The Surrender Tree (Henry Holt & Company)

ISBN: 9780805086744

List Price: $16.95

Considering the current affairs of not only the world but also the United States (involvement in a now lengthy and agonizing war, the current election and political unrest), Engle and her publishers over at Henry Holt and Co. may have published a book that is subtle but extremely relevant to our time. One of the more poignant and prominent aspects of this collection is its unflinching exploration of the Spanish-led “Reconcentration Camps” instituted, a point which has garnered a more thorough review over at School Library Journal contributing blogger Diane Chen’s “Practically Paradise” (entry  on 4/20/2008). Another strong motif in the work is that of nature and respect to the earth and the power of its natural gifts through which Rosa creates her medicines and cures. Rosa’s descriptions of her ingredients as well as the beauty of the Cuban landscape will likely resonate with novice and seasoned environmentalists alike. Combined, the poems illustrate how war is a burden to all, across plants, animals, and people alike.

 **

Bianca, a troubled, intelligent sixteen year old girl, has a feeling that somebody doesn't want her to continue her studies at the Europa International School, where she has landed a full scholarship. On her first night, the school's mysterious Society of the Wolves abandon her in the dark grounds of the school during the orientation for new students.  She finally makes her way back to the main building when she stumbles on a dead body. In the days that follow she is haunted by the image of the dead woman. As well, she is being singled out by the Wolves as persona non grata. Convinced that the Wolves have something to do with the murder, she is determined to find the killer before he or she finds her. 

Set in Germany on the edge of the dark forest and enhanced by the gruesome images of a medieval witch trial, Blazon has all the elements of a good gothic mystery. However, the substance is not there. Bianca's surly attitude and inability to trust anyone is explained in a peremptory and unsatisfactory fashion. Jan, the other scholarship student, is fertile ground that is never cultivated. He is a thief that ends up in a prestigious boarding school, yet this is never explained properly. Johan, the mysterious blond boy on a motorcycle is also never given enough history, although his story is integral to the unravelling of the plot. And Caitlin, the nice roomate, remains just that- nice despite Bianca's unreasonable suspicions.

To put it in a nutshell, Blazon's got the bones of a good gothic mystery but none of the flesh.

First Kiss (Then Tell) Bloomsbury Press, 2008. ISBN 978-1-59990-199-2 $15.95 212pp

****

His name was Mike. I was old-- 15 and 3/4, and dreading turning sweet-sixteen-and-never-been-kissed. I agreed to play spin the bottle, hoping no one would be able to guess at my inexpertise. I almost instantly regretted not holding out for someone I truly and genuinely liked.

Popular authors for teens reveal the stories of their first kisses - first kiss ever, first kiss with a new person, first LAST kiss at the end of a relationship...the memoirs, by the likes of Jon Scieszka, David Levithan, Cecil Castelluci, Donna Jo Napoli, Deb Caletti are much more entertaining that MY story. Well articulated, diary-intimate, and full of delectable and gory details, they are funny, embarrassing, tender, and evocative by turns.

Some of the stories are presented in comic panel format, and others in poetry. Some gems: Sarah Mlynowski and Leslie Margolis provide a self-help spoof, centering around kissing advice. Scot Westerfeld offers a simple haiku, Robin Wasserman's second person point of view tale is one of woe, and Deb Caletti breaks the rules and writes about her second kiss.

The stories are interspersed with facts and tips: great screen kisses, how to avoid a kiss, what not to eat before kissing. The cover screams summer reading - the close together bare feet of a couple on a beach, one on tiptoes, suggests an intimate moment at days end. Indeed, this is a perfect summer read: light and easily digestible in chunks between sunbathing and running through the sprinkler. Whether you are still anticipating your first lip-lock or been kissed a hundred times, girls age 12 & up will probably get a vicarious thrill from reading these sweet reminiscences. 

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

(Tor Teen, 2008)

ISBN-13: 978-0765319852

List Price: $17.95

***** (5 out of 5 stars: excellent; nearly flawless; a must-have for all libraries serving youth)

In a nod to the Orwellian dystopic tradition, BoingBoing.net contributor Cory Doctorow creates a vivid and adventurous “what-if” portrait that is more reality than sci-fi. It’s great to see an author take on such sophisticated issues as politics, terrorism, and civil liberties and present them in a way that is not only accessible but meaningful to teens. The first Young Adult novel for the acclaimed writer and columnist, it will be curious to see where Doctorow takes his readers next, whether it will be bringing Marcus back for another adventure (though I don’t foresee this as the conflicts and characters in L.B. wrap up nicely and seem “one and off”) or whether he will pursue his other interests in steampunk or post-apocalypse. Another perk of this novel is the multicultural cast of characters, from Marcus’ close-knit group of friends to the various ethnic boroughs in which the teens live and go to school. Through the attention to sensuous details and vivid descriptions of his favorite hangouts, it is easy to empathize with Marcus’ need to save the home and city he so passionately loves from destroying itself from within; Doctorow allows San Francisco to be its own living, breathing “character” adding a unique dimension to the storytelling. Marcus voice is fresh and not in the least bit contrived, but balanced by the equally witty female counterpoints of Vanessa (“Van”) and Angela, fiercely independent, no-nonsense, street-savvy girls who give Marcus a run for his money. For teens that may be wary of the “techno-geek” lingo, urge them to give the story a shot, as Doctorow finely balances the “how-to” moments of machine building and computer programming so that it is on-point and factually accurate without being overwhelming. Readers might be surprised by their sense of curiosity and take a leap to the back of the book for tips by real life security experts and hackers (though that term is so ugly, I prefer the contributor’s term “digital pioneers”). Another value-added piece takes form of a bibliography of works both mentioned throughout by the characters and those which inspired Doctorow – your “read alikes” are already compiled for you!

If it is not clear from the worthy amount of praise that adorns the cover of this first edition from the likes of Neil Gaiman (Sandman, American Gods) and Scott Westerfeld (Uglies), then let it be said that this is a must have for all collections and one of the premier, stand-alone works to be published for YA in 2008; if I may be so bold as to predict that this will surely make the short list for the 2009 Printz Award nominees and other end-of the year “Best of” lists. Sure to spur controversy and discussion (this would be a great book club pick), this read will keep you thinking long after the final chapter about the future and vulnerability of free speech and human rights, as well as the promising inventive and rebellious spirit of the “millennial” generation.

*****

This is Marillier's only book that is written for young adults, as far as I know, but it has all of the elements of her other fantasy writing. Like her other books, it is drawn from traditional folklore and is set in our world, although magic is a part of that world. In this case the folklore is Romanian, and the story takes place in a castle called Piscul Dracului. The main character is the second of five sisters who for years have been traveling to the Other Kingdom through a secret passageway in their bedroom, every full moon. The sisters range in age from five to seventeen years old, with Jena being fifteen years old. Jena's best friend, Gogu, is a frog she found in the forest who speaks to her telepathically and joins her in everything she does. Although Jena is only fifteen, and female, she is given a lot of responsibility, and helps her liberal-minded father with his trading business. The story begins when her father is very ill, and must leave for the winter for warmer climates if he wants his health to improve. Jena and her sisters are left in charge of the manor in his absence.
The sisters' cousin, Cezar is eighteen, and seeks to take control of the family and the business while their father is gone. Cezar and Jena were once close, but now Jena watches while Cezar changes into a greedy young man that she no longer recognizes. Jena must learn how to protect her family from his machinations, while keeping her younger sisters in line, and managing the manor and the business. Her older sister has become lost in her love for a man from the Other Kingdom, and Jena learns that sometimes love means having to let go.

Wildwood Dancing is a wonderful book, a fantasy that is incredibly well drawn, and still very realistic and present in this world. It is a coming of age story, about learning to trust yourself and those you love, and at the same time learning to let go of those things that you have no control over.

***

Dead is The New Black by Marlene Perez (Harcourt, 2008) 978-0-15-206408-2 pbk 204 pp $7.95

Vampires & werewolves are all the rage (blame Stephanie Meyers), and this supernatural tale about a slightly odd town named Nightshade stands out as  lightweight treatment of things that go bump in the night. Daisy, whose talents include gymnastics and cooking, stands out for being normal in family of psychics whose powers include clairvoyance, and telekinesis. When young women in town begin passing out from some kind of odd attack that results in sapped energy and fits of a kind, Daisy makes it her mission to get to the bottom of the mystery, alongside hunky Ryan, football star and son of local chief of police. Romance blossoms  (a bit predictably) but the rest of the story is unique, and fun, and has some seriously campy goth elements, like a trend of towing mini coffins along as an accessory in lieu of a purse.

Strong female characters abound, from Daisy’s hardworking rock of mom, to the school’s nurse, Nurse Philips. In between making a mean tiramisu, solving the mystery and getting the guy, Daisy also transitions from ordinary girl to cheerleader, as the squad lacks some key players, uncovers a secret society, and makes nice with a former antagonist. Banter between the three Giordano sisters is witty and by turns warm and teasing (and utterly believable).

Perez’s meal descriptions are mouthwatering, and it’s a treat to read about a teen girl who enjoys food and doesn’t stress too much over body image.  The ending is a little over the top with all loose ends neatly tied up and then some, but this is a fine start to what appears to be on it’s way to a regular mystery series. 

**** 

Savvy Girl by Lynn Messina. (Harcourt, 2008) 978-0-15-206161-6 pbk 264 pp $7.95

A summer internship at a women’s magazine introduces Long Island ingénue Chrissy Gibbons to the glamorous world of high fashion at a fast pace. Although the work part isn’t everything she dreamed (no cover articles, just reading endless query letters and working on the health section while the health editor she works frenetically plans her wedding, instead of doing her work), the fashion editor befriends her. Former model Jessica takes Chrissy under her wing, dishing gossip, complimenting her accidentally audacious fashion sense and bringing her to a number of fancy cocktail parties, where Chrissy tries to rub elbows with a gorgeous college intern on another magazine. The whirlwind of gaiety puts Chrissy’s friendship with her BBF under a great deal of strain (Lily’s parents are mid-divorce, and Chrissy just isn’t there for Lily) and there is also an essay competition at the magazine to content with.,The grand prize winner will earn her very own recurring Savvy Girl column and a $10, 000 for college.

All these plot points sound like a lot to juggle, but Messina does it deftly, blending family tensions, working strife, and romance into a compelling, fast paced story about a 17-year-old girl learning that nothing in like comes easy.  Not as slick as Gossip Girls, Chrissy’s observations and experience deliver a more realistic version of life in NY and mixing with the elite of the fashion world.

The writing sparkles off the page on several occasions; “Lily chain-smokes guys,” is just one great line that stands out. Clearly, Messina has a word a day calendar like her protagonist.: cerulean, audacious, and urbane aren’t words that pop up notice in your average teen trade paperback novel.  The chapter headings are very clever, with sensationalist and playful magazine article-style titles,  like  “Fatal Crush Or Hunger Pangs? Take Our True Love Challenge” in a chapter where Chrissy meets one smooth player. Messina’s bio indicates she’s worked at several “women’s  glossies,” and the authenticity comes as Chrissy experiences a variety of persnalities, tasks and  lessons learned.

All told, this is a solid story, well executed, with a likeable and dynamic main character, and a sweet and satisfactory ending almost as good as cookie dough ice cream. Recommended for larger collections.

While waiting the final 10 days before Breaking Dawn's release:

• Vote in our poll!  Edward, Jacob, neither... or are your Switzerland?
  
• Check out Stephanie Meyer's website for quotes from Breaking Dawn
• Listen to music inspired by Twilight, or that inspired Twilight
  
  • Mitch Hansen Band
  • The Bella Cullen Project  
  • The Twilight Music Girls
  • Stephanie Meyer's playlists:
    • Twilight
      
    • New Moon
    • Eclipse
      
• Check out trailers for the movie, Twilight, in theaters December 12 2008
• Read some Twilight fanfiction:
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• Check out these role play MySpace pages:
  • Bella Swan
  • Edward Cullen
    
  • Jacob Black
    
• Purchase Twilight T-shirts
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• Check out some fan sites:
  • Twilighters
  • Twilight Topsites
    
  • Twilight Guy

These four books are all really solid stories that explore multicultural themes including integration into new environments, alternative lifestyles, and embracing other cultures' differences while realizing and appreciating shared experience. They all feature a female protagonist who is independent and has a lot of personality. They are great alternatives to The Gossip Girls or the A-List (books I find to be anti-feminism and anti-diversity).

In Lydia, Queen of Palestine by Uri Orlev, Lydia is a teenage girl who is forced to move into a kibbutz because of the Holocaust. She has a vivid imagination and deals with her parents' separation as well as the chaos around her by dramatizing their lives through her dolls. As a child, I admired her ability to get through situations I would have found frightening with only her sense of humor and strong will to guide her. It is a unique take on the Holocaust that focuses not on the war itself but on how a child during the time might have perceived the chaos going on around them. I also found Orlev's description of Lydia's life in the kibbutz to be extremely fascinating. Kibbutzim is a movement that began in the 40's in Israel as a communal way of life based on socialism and agriculture. At the time I first read this book, I had never heard of it, and it seemed very exotic and foreign. The idea of a community working together almost as a family seemed very appealing especially during a time where it was so important to watch out for each other.

One More River by Lynne Reid Banks also deals with kibbutzim; however, Lesley is a girl moving from the very American state of Missouri to live in Israel (the country her parents are from) on a kibbutz. It is a classic story of the upheaval and frustration that teenagers may feel when forced to leave behind established and familiar school, friends, and lifestyles. In Lesley's case, her family is quite wealthy, and her parents' decision to exchange luxury for a life of working in a commune is one that is baffling to her. I really enjoyed seeing Lesley transform from a girl who is immature and spoiled into a girl who is beginning to understand that life isn't about possessions and "being popular".

Habibi by Naomi Shihab Nye is similar in that Liyana's family is uprooting her and her brother from the Midwest to move back to Jerusalem where their father is from. This is one of my favorites because Nye writes in a shimmering, lyrical prose that brings to life all of the mixed feelings of adolescence and confusion about identity Liyana is experiencing. She questions everything and draws some beautiful conclusions about racial prejudice.

Bloomability by Sharon Creech is what I think of as a guilty pleasure. I have a penchant for books about boarding schools. I think it has to do with the whole idea of being separated from your parents and having adventures and exploring the world at your own pace. Dinnie is sent to one such school in Switzerland where she is immersed into a social dynamic that is teeming with children from around the world who speak three or four different languages and are much more worldly than she. Initially, she struggles with assimilating all of the new strangeness of this new environment and eventually realizes how exciting it is once she embraces it. Creech has a unique talent in that she can draw meaning out of every situation and reinforce her themes of connectivity and diversity.

* * * * *

Graceling by Kristin Cashore (Harcourt, October 2009)

Since my one allowed bag weighed 70lbs, I was determined NOT to pick up ANY books at ALA this year (don't tell, I still have some from last year, that I haven' t gotten to).  But on Saturday morning, when I was walking through the exhibit hall, I was struck by a poster of a dagger with an eye reflected in it, and a beautiful blue and tan painterly map background, adorned by flowers (seabane, perhaps?)

Stop, said my practical ego. You don't need any more books! My id replied, Pretty! and my hand disobeyed, and reached out to pick up the ARC.

I glanced at the back. Fantasy. You are hard to please, when it comes to fantastic fiction..., nagged my ego. Mmm, but the names are pronounceable... I argued with myself. Regretfully, I started to put the book back. Then I noticed the author was signing. Right now, right there. Ok, ok, I acquiesced. I declined the temporary tattoo (I am as anti-temporary tattoo as I am glitter, nothing personal!) and asked Kristin Cashore to sign my book.

I tucked it into my carry-on and saved it for the 5 hour flight home. At first glance, I thought, a book whose author gives five of seven kingdoms names remniscient of compass points may not have much imagination, but I let it go and kept on, intrigued at first by the concept of an 8-year-old who has a haunting skill--the ability to kill a man with her bare hands. I was drawn into story and compelled to continue by the relationships between deeply developed characters, and the complete worldbuilding.

I couldn't put Graceling down. I devoured it in three hours.

Katsa is a Graceling, one of a rare group of people born with a special and extreme skill. Some have talent with plants or animals, some are skilled at physical activities, some can influence others or read minds. Her unique talent puts her at the mercy of doing the bidding of her uncle the king as little more than a thug. She balances the distaste of hurting people with subversive political activities, creating alliances within the seven kingdoms, and finds herself at the heart of unraveling the plot to kidnap King, after she and her friends have rescued him.

The setting is thoughful, detailed, and unique. The characters have distinct voices, and linger long after the end of the book. Even supporting characters are well-drawn. The story is a well-paced blend of internal struggle, history and culture of the kingdoms, storytelling, fight scenes, and adventuring.

The story of Katsa growing into and controlling her Grace is balanced with story of her growing friendship of the Lienid prince, Po. Unfortunately, both the publisher blurb and Amazon spoil the budding romance between the two main characters. (EDIT 7/15/08: I've found out from the author that this won't be the case on the actual book jacket, though, perhaps readers more savvy than I will figure out what's going on early in the story) I'd have liked, as a reader, for the realization to wash over me, the same way it strikes Katsa, who doesn't even want to be beholden to another person, get married, or bear a child.

This fantasy adventure tale has a heroine, a journey, a good vs. evil battle, and heart-throbbing romance. Ultimately, though, it is a story of self-discovery, and dare I say it, identity. I admire most of all the sense of ownership Katsa comes to feel about herself and her body. One of my very favorite parts of the book is where Katsa and Po realize they are more than just friends, and instead of jumping into anything, they stop, think, and TALK, and take precautions when it becomes necessary. Po is now vying alongside Marcus Flutie and Jacob Black for best boyfriend in YA fiction. And I cannot WAIT for the next book, Fire, a prequel. 

 
I read this book even though I knew it would make me cry. It is the story of Tessa, who is sixteen years old and dying. She has stopped going to school because of how sick she is, and now only wants to live out her remaining time like any teen would, on her terms. So she has made a list of things that she wants to do before she dies. It is not a list of lofty goals, but a list that many teenagers would make, if they were honest with themselves. She wants to have sex, do drugs, do something illegal. And as she works her way down the list, it changes, and other wants are fulfilled, while she realizes that some of the things she thought she wanted were meaningless.

One of the most beautiful things about this book are the characters. Tessa is so well written - she is just as pissed off as any teenager who is not able to do what they want. She is stubborn, and she makes you incredibly angry with some of her stupid choices. Her friends Zoey and Adam are also terrific characters - you want to hate Zoey and love Adam, but in truth, the characters are much more complex than that, and Tessa seems to be more aware of this than the reader. The book is sad, of course, as it is about death, ultimately. But it is also beautiful, as life (and death) can have so much beauty. The book itself seems to grow and mature as you read it, becoming fully realized only in its end.

*****