After

Reader: Meghan K
Age: 14
Title: After
Author: Amy Efaw
Publisher: Viking
Pub Date: Aug. 2009
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: Yes
Recommend: Yes
Comments: After is an exceptional book. It's subtle and thought-provoking. I hadn't really ever thought about the mothers of abandoned babies, only about the infants themselves, and After is a book that reverses the situation, looking at the motivations behind leaving an infant to die.
Convince us to read book: This book is wonderfully morally ambiguous. It never excuses Devon's (the protagonist's) actions, but it looks at motivations and reasons for those actions. I really enjoyed how all of the characters weren't portrayed as good or bad. For most characters, we saw their bad side before their good side was revealed. The book is very grey, ethics-wise.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: After is indeed very dark, but not in the way most YA fiction is dark. This is dark in that it delves into the shadier side of the human conscience, rather than lots of black magic or other ploys. The events in After could happen, and were based loosely on real occurrences, which lends it a refreshing sense of reality without being overwhelming. This book is wonderful. I was very curious about what would happen at the book's end, it was unique in that it plays to the mind more than to the emotions. I cared about the characters, but I didn't feel as emotionally involved as I usually do when reading.
More Comments: I think the reason for this is that the book is written in third person present tense. The perspective is that of a silent, uninvolved witness of the proceedings, it seems intimate, like most first person narratives, but referred to Devon as Devon, never I. While difficult to get used to at first, I now realize what a stroke of genius this is. In the story, Devon has emotionally distanced herself from everything that is happening to her, and a first person perspective would've been letting us into her carefully guarded psych, which would have been completely wrong for the book. I think this whole book is brilliant. Certainly not a good choice for everyone, but for people who see the world in shades of grey and like thinking things out should definitely check out After.

A Banquet For Hungry Ghosts

Reader: Meghan K
Age: 14
Title: A Banquet For Hungry Ghosts
Author: Ying Chang Compestine
Publisher: Henry Holt
Pub Date: Sep. 2009
Galley: Yes
Did the cover reflect the contents: I like the cover for this book. It's a skeleton hand holding chopsticks. Made of Win.
Recommend: Yes
Convince us to read the book: A Banquet For Hungry Ghosts is a collection of original ghost stories centered around the Chinese belief that people who die hungry remain that way: starving and vengeful. Each of the book's eight stories (eight is a lucky number in China) centers around a particular dish, and includes historical notes and a recipe for the dish.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: I fall under the broad umbrella of people who like ghost stories, but are too easily spooked to really enjoy them. This is why I like this book so much, the ghost stories are spooky, but not so scary that I can't get to sleep at night (Yes, I am that big of a wuss). People who love horror stories might find A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts a bit tame, but I enjoyed it immensely.
Did the cover reflect the contents: I like the cover for this book. It's a skeleton hand holding chopsticks. Made of Win.
Did you finish: Yes
Were you disappointed with the book at all: My one drawback with this book is that a few of the stories are a mite predictable. But if that's really my biggest complaint, I should really stop whining.
Age Range: Under 12, 12-13, 14-15
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal

Jars of Glass

Reader: Annika M
Age: 13
Title: Jars of Glass
Author: Brad Barkley & Heather Hepler
Publisher: Dutton Books
Pub Date: 10/?/08
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: No
Recommend: Yes
How would you convince someone to read the book: I would say you can easily relate to the characters because of how they think, which makes it more interesting.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: The most compelling aspect would probably be the writing style. The writing is supposed to be thoughts, so in exciting parts it's written with almost no periods, and in mellower parts, it’s really plainly written.
Comments: I really, really liked the ending. In most books, they have a very clear ending, which can ruin the "flow." Or, they can end really abruptly. In this book, you know it’s going to end soon, but instead of a clear ending, they wind it down slowly. Nothing special happens in the end. It’s like a really good cliffhanger.
Did you finish: Yes
Were you disappointed with the book at all: I wasn't dissapointed.
Did the cover tempt you and/or reflect the contents: The cover did tempt me to pick up the book. It had lots of color, and it's pretty unique (i.e, other covers are mostly pictures of people or drawings).There is a part of the book about sea glass kept in jars, so it does reflect the contents. Age Range: 12-13, 14-15
Quality: 4Q Better than most

So Punk Rock

Reader: David L
Age: 16
Title: So Punk Rock (and Other Ways to Disappoint Your Mother)
Author: Micol Ostow
Publisher: Flux
Pub Date: 07/??/2009
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: Yes
Recommend: Yes
Convince us to read the book: It's hilarious, and even the jokes that only a Jew would get normally are explained and funny to goyim.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: Its humor, and perhaps the comics.
Disappointed: Yes
Were you disappointed with the book: I was not disappointed with the book at all.
Did the cover tempt you and/or reflect the contents of the book: Yes, I think the cover was not only tempting but an excellent representation of its contents.
Age Range: 12-13, 14-15, 16-17
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal

Chasing Lincoln's Killer

Reader: David L
Age: 16
Title: Chasing Lincoln's Killer
Author: James Swanson
Publisher: Scholastic
Pub Date: 02/??/09
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: No
Recommend: Yes
Convince to read book: This is a compelling and complicated look at a huge event in our nation's history translated into simple terms that anyone could read.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: Its fast paced excitement and the subject matter.
Did you finish: Yes
Were you disappointed with the book at all: I was a little disappointed with the low level of vocabulary. It seems to be oriented towards younger readers.
Did the cover reflect the contents: Yes. The contents were clear, but the flashy cover was still highly attractive even to people who dislike history.
Age Range: Under 12, 12-13, 14-15
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal

Patrick Jones

Young Adult librarian and author Patrick Jones visited our TKB meeting this month to talk about his latest book coming out in September called The Tear Collector, for which he is already starting a sequel!



Many of you have already read The Tear Collector, but if you haven't, check it out: Cassandra is always the shoulder anyone can cry on, and the self-sacrificing, dutiful daughter, until she meets a guy that makes her feel what she thinks could be love. Now she has to choose between the Family or a chance to be human. The Family is a new breed of vampire-like creature that lives off human suffering--Patrick said that he wanted to get some "Stephanie Meyer money," lol!

"This book is a new twist to vampires. It's a new type of vampires, the kind that don't harm people." "The book tells of a vampire that lives off of the energy of tears," --Charlie S

"The most compelling aspect of this story is the fact that this is a girl, in high school trying to survive in her own way." --Maddie S



THANK YOU Patrick! We had a great time talking to you and listening to you talk about your books!



Don't forget to email Patrick if you want to read a manuscript of his latest projects! patrick@connectingya.com

TKB Reviews in SLJTeen

Teens Know Best contributed book reviews to SLJTeen, a bimonthly e-newsletter from School Library Journal that features teen reviews, from April 2008 to May 2009. Check out some of these links to our reviews that were published in SLJTeen during that period:

• Salter, Sydney. My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters. Reviewed by Sabrina K, April 2009.
• Ashby, Amanda. Zombie Queen of Newbury High. Reviewed by Meghan K, April 2009.
• Bloss, Josie. Band Geeked Out. Reviewed by Sara M, April 2009.
• Uehashi, Nahoko. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit. Reviewed by Manee T, April 2009.
• Stone, Heather Duffy. This Is What I Want To Tell You. Reviewed by Avi G, April 2009.
• Going, K. L. King of the Screwups. Reviewed by Elizabeth S, April 2009.
• Shaw, Tucker. The Girls. Reviewed by Patong L, March 2009.
• Carman, Patrick. Skeleton Creek. Reviewed by Elizabeth S, March 2009.
• Marriott, Zoë. Daughter of the Flames. Reviewed by Megan W, March 2009.
• Moran, Katy. Bloodlines. Reviewed by Luke M, March 2009.
• Zink, Michelle. Prophecy of the Sisters. Reviewed by Payton G, March 2009.
• Hoban, Julia. Willow. Reviewed by Chloe W, March 2009.
• Noël, Alyson. Evermore. Reviewed by Maddie S, February 2009.
• Elkeles, Simone. Perfect Chemistry. Reviewed by Ashley F, February 2009.
• Headley, Justina Chen. North of Beautiful. Reviewed by Kiara C, February 2009.
• Esch, Ben. Sophomore Undercover. Reviewed by Manee T, February 2009.
• Rich, Naomi. Alis. Reviewed by Meghan K, February 2009.
• Stork, Francisco X. Marcelo In The Real World. Reviewed by Elizabeth S, February 2009.
• Singleton, Linda Joy. Dead Girl Dancing. Reviewed by Sabrina K, January 2009.
• McDonald, Abby. Sophomore Switch. Reviewed by Elizabeth S. January 2009.
• Bradford, Chris. Young Samurai: the Way of the Warrior. Reviewed by Meghan K, January 2009.
• Clayton, Emma. The Roar. Reviewed by Luke M, January 2009.
• Silag, Lucy. Beautiful Americans. Reviewed by Caitlin M, January 2009.
• Dunlap, Susanne. The Musician's Daughter. Reviewed by Mollie W, January 2009.
• Cast, P.C. and Kristin Cast. Untamed: A House of Night Novel. Reviewed by Maddie S, December 2008.
• Malley, Gemma. The Resistance. Reviewed by Maddie S, December 2008.
• McClymer, Kelly. Must Love Black. Reviewed by Maita L, December 2008.
• Smith, Sherri. Flygirl. Putnam. Reviewed by Luke M, December 2008.
• Aronson, Marc. Unsettled: The Problem of Loving Israel. Reviewed by Luke M, December 2008.
• Holt, Simon. The Devouring. Reviewed by Meghan K, December 2008.
• Wasserman, Robin. Skinned. Reviewed by Elizabeth S, November 2008.
• Goodman, Alison. Eon: Dragoneye Reborn. Reviewed by John D, November 2008.
• Smith, Emily Wing. The Way He Lived. Reviewed by Sara M, November 2008.
• Fukui, Isamu. Truancy. Reviewed by Madelyn S, November 2008.
• Schmatz, Pat. Mousetraps. Reviewed by Avi G, November 2008.
• Scott, Elizabeth. Living Dead Girl. Reviewed by Elizabeth S, November 2008.
• Whitcomb, Laura. The Fetch. Reviewed by Megan W, October 2008.
• Hale, Shannon and Dean. Rapunzel's Revenge. Reviewed by Mollie W, October 2008.
• Link, Kelly. Pretty Monsters: Stories. Reviewed by Sabrina K, October 2008.
• Ryan, Amy Kathleen. Vibes. October 2008.
• Weatherill, Cat. Wild Magic. Reviewed by Meghan K, October 2008.
• Green John. Paper Towns. Reviewed by Elizabeth S, October 2008.
• Howell, Simmone. Everything Beautiful. Reviewed by Sara M, September 2008.
• Stiefvater, Maggie. Lament: The Faerie Queen’s Deception. Reviewed by Meghan K, September, 2008.
• Dent, Grace. Diary of a Chav. Reviewed by Avi G, September 2008.
• Liberty, Anita. The Center of the Universe (Yep, That Would Be Me). Reviewed by Avi G, September 2008.
• Cast, P.C. and Kristin Cast. Untamed. Reviewed by Megan W, September 2008.
• Dean, Claire. Girlwood. Reviewed by Meghan K, September 2008.
• Halpin, Brendan. Forever Changes. Reviewed by Katy S, August 2008.
• Baldini, Michelle and Lynn Biederman. Unraveling. Reviewed by Madelyn S, August 2008.
• Meyer, Stephenie. Breaking Dawn. Reviewed by Mollie W, August 2008.
• Reinhardt, Dana. How to Build A House. Reviewed by Katy S, August 2008.
• Mitchard, Jacquelyn. The Midnight Twins. Reviewed by Elizabeth S, August 2008.
• Jones, Carrie. Girl, Hero. Reviewed by Sara M, August 2008.
• McLaughlin, Lauren. Cycler. Reviewed by Sara M, July 2008.
• Colasanti, Susane. Take Me There. Reviewed by Elizabeth S, July 2008.
• Hurley, Tonya. Ghostgirl. Reviewed by Brianna G, July 2008.
• Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. Reviewed by Luke M, July 2008.
• Yoo, David. Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before. Reviewed by Elizabeth S, July 2008.
• Brothers, Meagan. Debbie Harry Sings in French. Reviewed by Jessica P, July 2008.
• Brodsky, Daniella. One Trick Pony. Reviewed by Caitlin M, June 2008.
• Godbersen, Anna. The Luxe. Reviewed by Mollie W, June 2008.
• Brooks, Laurie. Selkie Girl. Reviewed by Megan W, June 2008.
• Lockheart, E. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks. Reviewed by Caitlin M, May 2008.
• Levine, Gail Carson. Ever. Reviewed by Megan W, June 2008.
• Jinks, Catherine. Genius Squad. Reviewed by Mollie W, June 2008.
• Newbery, Linda. Lost Boy. Reviewed by Charlie S, May 2008.
• Summers, Gillian. Into the Wildewood. Reviewed by Megan W, May 2008.
• Cabot, Meg. Airhead. Reviewed by Caitlin M, May 2008.
• Francis, John. PlanetWalker: 22 Years of Walking and 17 Years of Silence. Reviewed by John D, May 2008.
  Doyle, Marissa. Bewitching Season. Reviewed by Megan W, May 2008.
• Voorhees, Coert. The Brothers Torres. Reviewed by Avi G, May 2008.
• Jinks, Catherine. The Reformed Vampire Support Group. Reviewed by Meghan K, May 2008.
• Marr, Melissa. Ink Exchange. Reviewed by Megan W, April 2008.
• Bloss, Josie. Band Geek Love. Reviewed by Sara M, April 2008.
• Somper, Justin. Blood Captain. Reviewed by John D, April 2008.

Along For The Ride

Reader: Avi G
Age: 15
Title: Along For The Ride
Author: Sarah Dessen
Publisher: Viking
Pub Date: June 2009
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: No
Recommend: No
Compelling Aspect of the Book: I was most compelled by the character of Auden. The decisions she made throughout the book and her attitude towards new experiences frustrated me, but they also kept me reading to find out if she would change her ways by the end of the summer. It was interesting to see how certain traits possessed by her parents had been passed along to her. For example, her mother's habit of judging people immediately was present in Auden as well. She writes off Maggie as a fashion-obsessed air-head when she first meets her, and later is quite shocked to find out that Maggie was accepted into the same prestigious college that Auden was attending in the fall. I was also interested in her relationship with Eli; how it first started and evolved throughout the book. Although, during the middle of the book it seemed as though their relationship was stuck in the same place.
Did you finish: Yes
Were you disappointed with the book at all: I'm a big fan of Sarah Dessen but this book was definitely not one of her best. I felt that the only likeable character in the book was Maggie, and her role was a secondary character. Auden and Eli, the two main characters, were somewhat annoying throughout the book. Also, I felt like the middle of the book was filled with nothing. There were no major plot advances or changes in character, and it made the reading dry and tiresome. I felt it was unrealistic that all the failed relationships (Heidi and Robert, Auden and Eli, Adam and Maggie) were resolved in one night when nothing had been mended in the previous months. Over all, I was very disappointed in Along For The Ride.
Did the cover reflect the contents: The cover made it clear that there was a romantic relationship present in the book because of the girl and boy on the bike. I love a book with a little romance in it so that was one of the factors that tempted me to read it. Also, Sarah Dessen is one of my favorite authors so her name on the front was another contributing factor. I think the cover accurately portrayed the contents of the book. I thought Auden learning to ride a bike was good symbolism for her also learning to step out of her comfort zone and take chances in her life. I think learning to ride gave her the power to overcome her fear of relationships and pursue one with Eli.
Age Range: 14-15
Quality: 3Q Readable
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal

The Tear Collector

Reader: Maddie S
Age: 15
Title: The Tear Collector
Author: Patrick Jones
Publisher: Walker & Company
Pub Date: 2009
Galley: Yes
Recommend: No
Compelling Aspect of the Book: The most compelling aspect of this story is the fact that this is a girl, in high school trying to survive in her own way.
Did you finish: Yes
Were you disappointed with the book in any way: I was disappointed because of the lack of strength in the characters. I thought that the story really started too fast, it got too into it too fast.
Did the cover tempt you and/or reflect the contents: The cover was not very tempting for me, there was not much appeal. I wish there was more spice to it.
Age Range: 14-15
Quality: 2Q Needs more work
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal
Comments: This story was hard to follow. It seemed like a really dull story. It was hard to follow the actual plot because I wasn't aware of what the character's goal was, I didn't like this book that much. It was very hard for me to get through it.

Dragon Spear

Reader: Megan W
Age: 16
Title: Dragon Spear
Author: Jessica Day George
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pub Date: 05/12/09
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: No
Recommend: Yes
Convince us to read the book: I read Dragon Slippers and Dragon Flight about a year or more ago, so I didn't remember too much about them, but the author writes in such a way that it wasn't very hard to
get right back into the flow of the book. It was a book that was very sweet, and it all flowed together really nicely. I'm usually worried about sequels to good books, but this one stayed true to the first two
and was a very pleasurable read.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: In this book, Creel and Luka can finally be together and Shardas and his queen Velika are experiencing peace on their island. But, as anyone can tell, something goes wrong and disrupts the peace. I love how the author brought back the friends from the previous books and introduced new characters that was just as fun and charming as the originals. I loved the plot; it was
captivating and kept me reading. It was a light read, and left me with a really happy feeling.
Did you finish: Yes
Were you disappointed with the book: I actually managed to finish this book in one sitting. I was on a long bus ride home, and I read the entire thing at once. I didn't want to put it down. I wanted to know what happened to the characters, and I had to know how it ended. And throughout the series, the characters really developed and grew on me. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a good, run read; though I would suggest reading the first two first.
Did the cover tempt you and/or reflect the contents: The cover, like the other two books in the series, caught my eye. The illustration is absolutely beautiful with all the bright colors. On the cover is a girl and dragon looking at a clutch of golden dragon eggs. The picture depicts what happens in the book very nicely.
Age Range: 14-15
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal

The Vast Fields of Ordinary

Reader: Jessica P
Age: 16
Title: The Vast Fields of Ordinary
Author: Nick Burd
Publisher: Dial Books
Pub Date: 5/2009
Galley: Yes
Recommend: Yes
Convince us to read the book: Life for a normal guy is hard enough after he graduates high school. But if that ordinary boy has a secret that only his new best friend knows it makes things more difficult. This
book unravels in front of your eyes always leaving you wanting more.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: The Secret. The challenges this boy has to overcome by trying to fit in with the crowds and with his family. The boy is struggling to stay strong as his family is falling apart and his not so boyfriend doesn't even acknowledge his existence other than in the bedroom. Dade is holding a secret so close to not rip his family apart. But then this angelic drug dealer comes into Dade’s life and he is left with the ability to love someone.
Did you finish: Yes
Did the cover tempt you and/or reflect the contents: The cover interested me because of the boy in plaid and the title seemed random enough to catch my eye. I didn’t quite understand why there was another boy laying on the grass on the back side until I read the back blurb.
Age Range: 16-17
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal
Comments: It shows how keeping a secret of one’s sexuality can make one go crazy and have to spill.

The Tear Collector

Reader: Charlie S
Age: 15
Title: The Tear Collector
Author: Jones, Patrick
Publisher: Walker & Company
Pub Date: 09/NL/09
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: No
Recommend: No
Convince us to read the book: This book is a new twist to vampires. It's a new type of vampires, the kind that don't harm people.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: I found how the "FAMILY" got their energy from tears not from blood, and how the members of the Family could save a life of another by a transfer of energy.
Did you finish: Yes
Were you disappointed with the book for any reason: While I was reading the book I felt that the story was forced. The words didn't flow off of the page smoothly. The plot was good, the idea was very good and interesting but I just felt that the writing was forced. Also, at the end of the book where Cassandra called Brittney so we were assuming that Cassandra was going to kill this girl because they didn't exactly get along. That is just very unjustified in my eyes. I can understand what everyone was feeling when they found out that Brittney started the rumors but to take her life because she unintentionally tipped the first domino. It's high school, rumors and girls dumping on girls happens. Of course you could point fingers. If anything it was Robyn's fault. She should not have taken a high school break up that seriously, it's not like they were going to get married.
Did the cover tempt you and/or reflect the contents: The cover did not tempt me to pick up the book. I usually don't judge a book by its cover. The cover is the first thing that I see but 'm probably going to read the book whether or not I like the cover. The cover and the book had similarities. The book tells of a vampire that lives off of the energy of tears, but I don't know which character is on the cover crying.
Age Range: 12-18 and up
Quality: 3Q Readable
Popularity: 2P Only for special interest

ALA Convention 2009

We had a blast at the ALA convention in Chicago this year! Elizabeth, Megan, Sabrina, Avi, Meghan, Payton, Frances, Charlie and Maddie did such a great job representing Teens Know Best as they introduced themselves to publishers, advertised our blog, and gave thier book comments at the BBYA session. Thanks guys!

NOTE: We will add a slideshow of our pictures once all nine permission slips (to allow us to post your image on the internet) are turned in, so check back later!

Weekend Highlights:

• EIGHT hours on the Megabus (halfway with no air conditioning!!)


• Musical taxi cabs (without the music).


• Two nights at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza, swimming...speedo guy...
  
• Dinner at the Rainforest Cafe with a giant felt tree frog, mechanical monkeys that screech and do the macarena every ten minutes, and a creepy talking tree with eyelashes.


• Elizabeth's sparkler birthday sundae (one birthday per table minimum).


• Waiting in line for our advanced readers copies of Catching Fire!


• Pumping iron--whoever said reading was a leisurely hobby?
  
• Talking to the folks at Flux, Bloomsbury, Penguin, Scholastic, Henry Holt, Hyperion, Houghton Mifflin, Candlewick, Random House, Lerner, Macmillan, etc. --getting free galleys and listening to booktalks!
  
• Chicago style pizza, compliments of Penguin.


• QandA with Sarah Dessen and Laurie Halse Anderson, getting signed copies of their new books


• Speaking at the BBYA session, everyone did GREAT despite the butterflies!


• Getting tons of comments/compliments on our Tshirts! Passing out business cards (we are so official!)


• Visiting with Simone Elkeles, signed copies of Perfect Chemisty and "es un libro" tshirts.


• Dinner at Ed Debevick's halfhearted-fifties-themed diner, where the servers dance on the bar, make you wear paper hats, sing terrible karoake and abuse their customers!


• Never have I ever...


• Staying up until 2am!


• Another EIGHT HOURS on the Megabus with a grizzly, no-nonsense bus driver!

A BIG THANK YOU to Adela for all her blood, sweat and tears putting this all together for us, and to Payton's mom, Sandi, who went with to chaperon, you are both angels!! Adela, we appreciate all your heart and hard work that you dedicate to Teens Know Best every day--you make it all possible, you are a real miracle worker!

My Fair Godmother

Reader: Sabrina K
Age: 15
Title: My Fair Godmother
Author: Janette Rallison
Publisher: Walker Books for young readers
Pub Date: Jan 09
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teen’s Top 10: Yes
Annotation: Savannah has everything she's always wished for-a boyfriend, popularity, clothes, and a smart older sister. Until, her boyfriend dumps her for her older sister, and Savannah faces being set up by her sister and ex-boyfriend. Just when she thought things couldn't get worse they do-her FAIR godmother arrives.
Recommend: Yes
Convince us to read the book: This book shows that true love-as cheesy as it sounds-can happen anywhere with the person you'd least expect. And that love comes in all different shapes and sizes. This book showed that you can learn something from school, when you'd least expect it and that you really care for those people around you.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: How the characters transformed during the book. Each character evolved in some way because of this adventure and it was shown. I loved how we got to see the struggles the characters had to face living in the middle-ages and adapting to it- I felt like I was right with them!
Did the cover tempt you and/or reflect the contents of the book: The cover did tempt me to pick up the book, but not to read it. It looks interesting and all but seems (from the cover at least) for a younger audience. But it did reflect the contents of the book, so that was a plus but not exactly- Chrissy (the fair godmother) never was described wearing this outfit, but that's just a small detail.
Age Range: 14-15, 16-17
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 5P Everyone wants to read it

Meridian

Reader: Ashley G
Age: 17
Title: Meridian
Author: Amber Kizer
Publisher: Random House
Pub Date: 08/11/09
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: Yes
Recommend: Yes
Convince us to read book: There aren’t that many books these days about things that are NOT vampires or werewolves so finding one on the shelf that does not fit into one of those categories is a major relief. Of course, in breaking the tradition of buying one of those said overused topics – one must then go and declare to the world – LOOK! A BOOK THAT IS NOT A CLICHÉ, OVERUSED, AND IS ACTUALLY WELL WRITTEN! And proceed to stick it into everyone’s faces, looking quite innocent and saying two words “read this.”
Compelling Aspect of the Book: The one thing about Meridian that really made me want to read it was that it was different. Now I don’t know how many of us have noticed, but lately (after the….unfortunate…increase in the popularity of Twilight – which is SO overrated thank you very much.) many teen and young adult writers began to turn their novels into sappy love stories, with the ever so classic “I’m so perfect everyone loves me” main characters. It’s sick. And it’s wrong. Personally, I’d rather read a story about puppies rescuing a duck from a tree if it would speak out with individuality! Meridian is a story about an average teenage girl who witnesses a deadly crash, and before she can blink she is whisked away to her Great Aunt’s house in Revelation, Colorado. Facing unimaginable danger, she must discover how to be a Fenestra – a half-angel being that is a window for souls to pass into the afterlife, before it’s too late. Come on, angels, souls, mystery, and adventure. Who wouldn’t want to read it?
Did the cover tempt you and/or reflect the contents: The first thing you notice when you pick up a book is its cover, that goes for any book, but when you pick up Meridian it really isn't the cover that draws you in, it's the story itself. Although the cover is not "bad" in any way, it lacks the connection of the actual content in the book - where is the pizzazz? Sure you’ve got a sad and sorry little gothic girl, with a bunch of skulls and a few pretty red roses, it fits but it’s not what I would pick up and say “Oh my gosh. I love the cover – I wonder what the book is about!” and then proceed to read the excerpt and happily take it home with me. It’s not a bad cover, in relation to quite a few books these days it is wonderfully done, but the cover wasn’t what made me pick up the book; it was the title.
Did you finish: Yes
Age Range: 12-13, 14-15, 16-17, 18 up
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal

Because I am Furniture

Reader: Sabrina K
Age: 15
Title: Because I am Furniture
Author: Thalia Chaltas
Publisher: Viking
Pub Date: April 16 09
Galley: Yes
Nominate Teens’ Top 10: No
Recommend: Yes
Convince us to read book: This book was a bit of what Ellen Hopkins writes, doing poems/short writings about difficult subjects and sculpts it into something completely different. It shows the true pain of abuse, what it takes toll of the victims. Not only the victim but the people who live with the victim are affected as well, and this book shows the true horror of that as well.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: The most compelling book was how the family did nothing for so long about calling the cops on the father, and how much strength it took them to call one person. This really opened how I looked at the characters in a different way, and made them seem more alive. I'm glad though that the book ended in a positive ending and not on a sad note, which would create a bad image for abusive victims.
Did the cover tempt you and/or reflect the contents of the book: The cover did tempt me to pick up the book, it's unique and mysterious, just like the book. It reflected the contents, for Anke to be invisible, almost like furniture and this is shown right away in the cover.
Age Range: 16-17
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal

North of Beautiful

Reader: Payton G
Age: 13
Title: North of Beautiful
Author: Justina Chen Headley
Publisher: Little, Brown, and Company
Pub Date: 02/2009
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: No
Recommend: No
Compelling Aspect of the Book: I found the most compelling aspect of the book to be that this could be someone's real life (hypothetically.)
Did you finish: Yes
Did the cover tempt you and/or reflect the contents of the book: The cover really didn't do much for me, and it didn't really say anything about the book. I think it would have been better if her hair hadn't been over her face, and had shown her birthmark.
Age Range: 14-15, 16-17
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal

The ABC's of Kissing Boys

Reader: Sabrina K
Age: 15
Title: The ABC's of Kissing Boys
Author: Tina Ferrara
Publisher: Random house
Pub Date: Jan 13, 2009
Galley: Yes
Recommend: Yes
Convince us to read book: It shows the true hardships and struggles of relationships in high school and how it works. Yes it may have been a bit over-exaggerated, but it really showed the pressure of high school socially.
Was there a compelling aspect of the book: How someone's life can depend on being in varsity soccer or not and be ruined. Really? I mean yeah it is high school but come on?!? That got me a bit of how much Parker caredabout being on varsity soccer or not. She was going to be captain the next year anyways, what was the big deal? I don't know, Parker just got to me sometimes about the whole situation. She made a big deal about nothing.
Did the cover tempt you and did it reflect the contents of the book: The cover does not tempt me to pick up the book, it looks like one of those books about a teen girl that just rants on and on. The cover does reflect the contents but it makes it look more like a self-help book on kissing then an actual novel.
Age Range: 12-13, 14-15
Quality: 3Q Readable
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal

Mutiny: A Novel of the HMS Bounty

Reader: Luke M
Age: 15
Title: Mutiny: A Novel of the HMS Bounty
Author: John Boyne
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Pub Date: 2008
Galley: Yes
Annotation: When John Turnstile decides to join the crew of the HMS Bounty in order to escape prison, little does he know what awaits him on board the ship. On a mission to the pacific, he learns of loyalty, duty and respect and is soon caught up in one of the most famous mutinies of all time.
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: Yes
Recommend: Yes
Convince us to read the book: A historical novel of the mutiny of the Bounty as told by the captain's servant.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: I liked how the story really happened and this seemed how it would happen. The treatment Turnstile got and the relationships he had seemed realistic. I also found many of the characters very realistic, especially Mr. Bligh.
Did you finish: Yes
Were you disappointed with the book: I thought that some parts of the book got very long, especially the early parts of the book. A lot of John's earlier life could have been skipped. I don't think any captain's servant would have been so close to the captain and that they would probably have mutinied. Mr. Lewis could have been dropped altogether.
Did the cover reflect the contents: The cover was interesting, as the ship looks a lot like the Bounty. The person on the cover looked like John, but I didn't get the writing as John had no journal. Also, the system of using "HMS" wasn't used until 1789 so the Bounty would not be HMS Bounty.
Comments: Note 1-Peter Heywood remained loyal to Mr. Bligh, I don't know how you would be able to change that in the story though. Note 2- A note in the back would be helpful, explaining the fate of the mutineers, that John Jacob Turnstile is made up and any other parts of the true story that were altered (like Mr. Heywood).
Age Range: 16-17
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal

Charlie Bone and the Shadow

Reader: Elise S
Age: 13
Title: Charlie Bone and the Shadow
Author: Jenny Nimmo
Publisher: Orhcard Books
Pub Date: 2008
Annotation: When Charlie sees his evil Grandma Bone putting a picture in their basement, he has to go and look. Within seconds, however, he is sucked inside, only barely managing to escape, but not before one of his friends is captured too. Soon everybody is involved in an adventure to save Billy, destroy the "shadow" i.e. Count Harken, and not get killed!
Recommend: No
Compelling aspect of the book: I like all the different abilities of the children of the Red King. There are some very funny characters, and it's a good continuation of the past books.
Did you finish: Yes
Were you disappointed with the book for any reason: Okay. So first off the only thing Charlie really achieves in this book is rescuing Otus the giant, and putting him in this mirror. Secondly, his friend (and one of the awesomest most useful characters, Billy Raven) gets stuck in the evil painting and Charlie doesn't get him out by the end. And thirdly, another one of the best characters is randomly DROWNED and then within the last paragraph is ressurected without an explanation. It felt like the entire book was just the middle of a story, it was missing its ending.
Did the cover tempt you and/or reflect the contents of the book: The cover was very intriguing. Once you got into the book you could totally see how it reflected the contents.
Comments: I love Jenny Nimmo, but this book just didn't have an ending! Also, for readers who haven't read the other 6 books, it might be nice to have some sort of brief explanation at the beginning.
Age Range: Under 12, 12-13
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal

As of June 30th...

Thanks for all the great reviews that are coming in lately you guys! You all must be very busy reading now that school’s done--keep up the good work!

Details for the Chicago trip to attend YALSA’s BBYA Session and the Penguin Readers Party are still in the works as we await replies from a few folks, so stay tuned for the update once everything gets set in stone. We will let you know ASAP! Hang in there!

Check out your peer book reviews below--I love that you all have your own totally different opinions about some of the same books!

Surface Tension

Reader: Payton G
Age: 13
Title: Surface Tension
Author: Brent Runyon
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Pub Date: 03/10/2009
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: No
Recommend: No
Compelling Aspect of the Book: To me, the most compelling aspect of the book was that we got to see Luke growing, personality-wise. Each summer, he gets a little edgier, a little angstier, like a real teen. I thought that that was cool.
Did you finish: Yes
Did cover tempt you and/or reflect the contents of the book: The cover really didn't make me like or dislike the book. It did sort of reflect the contents, but I think it would have been better if it was four pictures of the same lake. I think this because the idea of the book is that the lake is the main character, Luke's constant. It stays the same for the four summers that we see him go there.
Age Range: 14-15, 16-17
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal

Cracked Up to Be

Reader: Sabrina K
Age: 15
Title: Cracked Up to Be
Author: Courtney Summers
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pub Date: 12/23/2008
Galley: Yes
Recommend: Yes
Convince us to read the book: Parker is a great character, I've never read a character that was so well based before in a book. You could tell that the author took time to really get this character downand develop into the spunky character the reader got to know.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: How one event changed this group of friends’ lives forever, this was almost like the horror movie, "I Know What You Did Last Summer" except it was at a party and Jessica (the girl who died) didn't physically come out and attack the popular kids.
Did the cover reflect the contents: The cover did not tempt me to pick up the book, I've seen the image used for so many other book covers. Even though it does reflect the contents of the book the coverwas unoriginal and bland, something to show the many emotions of Parker would be a great cover idea.
Comments: I loved how every chapter or so there was a new detail that was added about the party before Jessica's death. It added more suspense to the plot and gave the characters more depth.
Age Range: 14-15, 16-17
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal

David Inside Out

Reader: Mollie W
Age: 15
Title: David Inside Out
Author: Lee Bantle
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Pub Date: May 2009
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: No
Recommend: Yes
Annotation: When David begins to have feelings for his friend Sean, he realizes that he's gay. While coping with the stress that coming out can cause, David must learn to accept himself for who he is, and find the people who will do the same.
Convince us to read the book: David Inside Out is a little more enlightening to what the process of coming out can be like. Though it's different for everyone, David Inside Out provides a window into someone’s experience.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: The most compelling part of the book was how Bantle shows that despite what society and homophobic people might want us to believe-GLBTQ's(Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual,Transgender or Questioning)go through a lot of the same issues straight people do. They have poor relationships, people who don't get them, they fight with their friends, and in the end, they are just looking for someone who will be loyal, love them and accept them for who they really are.
Did you finish the book: Yes
Were you disappointed with the book: David Inside Out hammers a good message home, that's why I wish it was a little more accessible to younger age groups. Due to the amount of sexual content I don't find it appropriate for younger ages (not because it's gay sex that occurs, but because it's very detailed and graphic).
Did the cover reflect the contents: I found the cover slightly inaccurate, because the book focuses a lot more on David alone than David's relationship with another guy.
Age Range: 14-15, 16-17, 18 up
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal

Bones of Faerie

Reader: Meghan K
Age: 14
Title: Bones of Faerie
Author: Janni Lee Simner
Publisher: Random House
Pub Date: Jan 27, 09
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: No
Recommend: No
What would you tell your friends about this book: We all know what they say about assuming, but this is ridiculous! In all my years of reading too much and watching too much TV I have NEVER encountered more people so nonchalant about the end of the world. Oh sure the world pretty much ended, but that's unpleasant. Let's dwell on something else!
Compelling Aspect of the Book: This book wasn't really compelling in the traditional sense of the word. I wanted to know what happened next, but not in the "Oh-This-Is-Suspenseful!" kind of a way. The book simply made me impatient, which is probably not the reaction the author was going for.
Did you finish: No
Were you disappointed with the book: My biggest complaints were that the tone of the novel did not match the dark subject matter. People who try (and fail) to tell a scary story are just as bad as people who try (and fail) to tell a funny story. I think this author is talented, but should not be writing this kind of material, her writing style simply isn't suited to it. Granted, I haven't read any of her other stories, but I'm sure she's a really good author when in her element.
Did the cover reflect the contents: I wanted to love this book, I really did. Bones of Faerie promised to be an interesting mixture of post-apocalyptic and dark fantasy elements. Both are dark themes, and I was assuming the book would a thought-provoking, twisting, thrill ride.
Age Range: 12-13, 14-15
Quality: 2Q Needs more work
Popularity: 2P Only for special interest

Geektastic

Reader: David L
Age: 16
Title: Geektastic
Author: Edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci
Publisher: Little Brown and Company
Pub Date: 08/01/09
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teen's Top 10: No
Recommend: Yes
Convince us to read the book: Many of the stories, especially the first few, are quite enjoyable and well written. It's tough to relate to the conventioners, but reading about our historical counterparts is fun.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: The part of the book that kept me reading was my hope that I would be able to relate to the characters in the short story. In most cases, I could not. The short stories were fun and interesting reads, though.
Did you finish: Yes
Were you disappointed with the book: I was quite disappointed when I realized how little Geektastic can relate to nerds or geeks who are similar to me and how badly it portrays us. There were a few stories, namely “Everyone But You” and “It's Just a Jump to the Left” that simply didn't even brush upon the ideas of geekdom. Oh, and making up words like that is not something that the geeks of the modern era do, especially when the made up word or phrase sounds cool, but is dumb and doesn't make logical sense. I was also dismayed by the overuse of swear words. In my experience, high school geeks are much less likely to swear than other high school cliques and seeing so many f-words and b-words was upsetting.
Did the cover tempt you and/or reflect the contents of the book: No, the cover was somewhat garish and annoying. It did catch my attention, but I'd change the title, for one. It really is... umm awkwardly misplaced? The sort of thing that a popular kid would say. The subtitle, Stories from the Nerd Herd is simply offensive (although it's tough to put why it is into words). I'm quite the nerd, but I would never call myself a part of a herd. Especially in this case. Since when are there that many nerds? Since when have we geeks been people who allow the society to herd us? It is definitely not a turn-on for nerds or geeks of this generation.
Age Range: 14-15, 16-17
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal

Flygirl

Reader: David L
Age: 15
Title: Flygirl
Author: Sherri L. Smith
Publisher: G. P. Putnam Sons
Pub Date: 01/22/09
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teen’s Top 10: No
Recommend: No
Compelling Aspect of the Book: The idea behind the book is intriguing, and I definitely like WWII history.
Did you finish: Yes
Were you disappointed with the book: Yes, I was quite disappointed. The book is written in a childish manner, clearly aimed at children. It is also very boring. This is not a good combination. Someof the names like "Patsy Kake" and "Lily Lowenstein" were simply silly and uncreative. I really was bored by the book, and although it got more interesting about one-hundred and fifty pages in, the readers who are willing to read and enjoy a book that is written so simply and has so little merit would be bored by page fifty.
Did the cover tempt you and/or reflect the contents: It did tempt me to pick the book up, but the heroic portrayal didn't do the book justice.
Age Range 1: Under 12
Quality: 2Q Needs more work
Popularity: 1P Yech! Forced to read it