Teen Book Picks

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

2008-09-18T15:07:00.001-07:00

I am currently listening to this scary, techno-thriller that was lauded by Neil Gaiman. Actually, that was the reason that I decided to give it a listen. I'm not a huge Gaiman fan, but there's not a much more creepy book than his Coraline. Marcus is arrested immediately following the bombing of the Bay Bridge in San Francisco. He and his 3 friends are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Being a techno-geek, Marcus is immediately suspect and held for 6 days while his family fears he is dead. When he is finally released, he decides to retaliate against the Department of Homeland Security or DHS. One thing leads to another, and his life becomes more and more complicated with the threat of imminent arrest if he strays too far. I've not yet finished the book, but despite the techie jargon I'm finding it spell-binding and scarily realistic. Take a look, we have it in hard copy and audiobook. It's gotten outstanding reviews by the "real" critics. By the way, there is sexual content in this book that makes the book for mature teens.

Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature by Robin Brande

2008-01-30T11:58:00.000-08:00

Mena, a high school freshman, is harassed by her former church friends because she spoke up about their treatment of a supposedly gay student. Her parents business suffers due to her actions, and they are not pleased with her. Evolution vs Intelligent Design form the basis of a controversy in the high school, and Mena finds herself right in the middle of it. Mena's former friends confront her biology teacher. As tensions rise, Casey, Mena's lab partner, and his sister help Mena discover a way to embrace her new liberal ideas without giving up the religion in which she was raised. A great read, and a wonderful way to look at this controversy that arises so often in public schools.

Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

2008-01-30T11:27:00.000-08:00

I know, who wants to read a book with a cow on the cover, right? Don't be put off by the cover or the title. This is a book to wrap yourself around. Filled with cows, football, and a little romance, Diary Queen will rope you in. D.J. Schwenk, our heroine, spends her sophomore year working the family farm by herself while her father recovers from hip surgery. Her grades suffer as a result, and her chances of going to college look dim. Her family is a quiet, "don't talk" sort of family, and the results are disastrous. D.J. decides to try out for the football team, and her life explodes. Her best friend won't speak to her. Brian is out of her league. Her brother continues to be silent, and her father, who doesn't talk much anyway, is not speaking to her either. Read this book for a fresh look on life and look for the sequel The Off Season.

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

2008-01-06T07:51:00.000-08:00

I listened to this book while driving to and from work. If you have never listened to an audiobook, this is a great one to start with. Each new disk begins with eerie music. The narrator does a superb job of distinguishing the voices of the characters and getting just the right tone of voice in their conversations. Skulduggery is a walking, talking skeleton who befriends 12-year-old Stephanie and introduces her to the world of magic, secrets, and power. There is a bit of violence and rollicking good fun. Pick it up if you want a light read that will keep you entertained and absorbed.

2007-10-02T14:12:00.000-07:00

Far North
by Will Hobbs

Another tale of survival full of action, adventure, daring and heartbreak. A trip by floatplane strands Gabe, his roommate Raymond and an old Dene Indian elder, Johnny Raven, in the frozen wilderness of the Canadian Northwest Territories when disaster strikes. They face extreme cold, starvation, injury, and wild animals as they struggle to survive the crushing winter weather. Fast-paced and never dull. Grades 6 to 9.

Reviewed by Mrs. Reinhart (10/2007)

2007-10-02T13:45:00.000-07:00

Boston Jane: an Adventure

by Jennifer L. Holm

Jane Peck has enjoyed a relatively unconventional upbringing in the mid-1800s in Philadelphia until she attends Miss Hepplewhite's Young Ladies Academy to learn how to be a proper lady so she can impress her childhood idol, William Baldt. Her life changes when she turns sixteen and she receives a proposal from William who has left the East Coast for the Washington Territory. A long and trying journey by sea lands her on his doorstep, but he's not there. Quickly dubbed, Boston Jane, by the Chinook Indians, she learns that her finishing school education is no help at all and she must rely upon her own wits and intelligence. Jane emerges as a strong, self-reliant young woman who not only survives but thrives in the wilderness. An enjoyable tale written by an author with a gift for storytelling. Grades 6 to 9.

Reviewed by Mrs. Reinhart (10/2007)

2007-10-02T13:26:00.000-07:00

Crossing the Wire

by Will Hobbs

Fifteen-year old Victor Flores lives in Mexico and has been supporting his family by growing corn. Faced with starvation, he has no choice but to leave his home and head to the United States to try to make money to feed his family. The trip is fraught with danger, thirst and hunger. Successive attempts to reach the north are met with failure as he treks over mountains, gets involved with drug traffickers, and faces near-death situations. Eventually, he makes it but he has paid a high price.

The author has once again created a tale of survival and adventure. He also addresses the controversial issue of illegal immigration that is so often in the news these days and puts a very human face on it. Action-packed and thought- provoking at the same time. Grades 6 to 9.

Reviewed by Mrs. Reinhart (10/2007)

2007-10-02T11:57:00.001-07:00

Blood Fever: a James Bond Adventure
by Charlie Higson

Evidently, James Bond's adventures didn't start when he was an adult. As a schoolboy, first in SilverFin: a James Bond Adventure (the first in the The Young Bond series) and now in this title, he has an unerring ability to get himself into life-threatening situations, solve mysteries and still live to fight another day.

This time his adventure begins at Eton and quickly moves to Sardinia where the real action takes place. It seems James has stumbled upon a secret Italian society whose members are involved in stolen art, kidnapping and murder. Along the way, he meets new friends, performs daring feats, narrowly escapes a horrible death, and stops an insane villain. This fast-paced entry in the series is far better than the previous offering SilverFin. A fun and engrossing read. Grades 6 to 10.

Reviewed by Mrs. Reinhart (10/2007)

Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt

2007-10-02T08:51:00.000-07:00

I love a book that forces me to stay up until the wee hours to finish it. In this romantic medieval tale, 16 year-old Keturah, orphaned at birth and raised by her loving grandparents, has just one day to find her one true love in order to elude Lord Death. Thus begins a story woven with romance and fantasy. The story within a story leads one to ponder if the storyteller is destined to relive the story she tells. This short book is recommended as a book to read if you liked Loving Will Shakespeare.

2007-09-25T11:32:00.000-07:00

Loving Will Shakespeare
by Carolyn Meyer

Though fictional, this is a fascinating and emotional look at the lives of Agnes "Anne" Hathaway and William Shakespeare. With scant facts available, the author has created a gripping story that includes many details about the time period.

Mistress Hathaway emerges as a loving and strong heroine who overcomes many tragedies. The death of her mother from the plague when she was young, leads her father to remarry a spiteful and mean woman. Anne's travails lead her to a number of "romances" that do not end in marriage. After the death of her father, her stepmother demands she marry and leave home. Anne has known Will Shakespeare since his birth and has always had a soft spot for him. Their courtship and eventual marriage leads to an unconventional lifestyle as Shakespeare heads to London to pursue his destiny. Grades 8 & up.

Reviewed by Mrs. Reinhart (9/2007)