Kathleen Odean | YA Books

BOOKS FOR TEENS

Recent Reviews of Teen Books | Teen Books in Pairs | Teen Novels & Shakespeare | Teen Books into Movies | Songs about Books

RECENT REVIEWS OF BOOKS FOR TEENS

Autobiography of My Dead Brother. Walter Dean Myers. Illus. by Christopher Myers. HarperTempest/Amistad, 2005. $16.89. 006058291X. Grades 8 -11.

Drive-by shootings make 15-year-old Jesse's Harlem neighborhood scary for him, his friends, and his caring family. Worse, his slightly older best friend is suddenly acting like drug-dealing is a viable option. Graphic novel-type illustrations add to the impact of this troubling story.

Crackback. John Coy. Scholastic Press, 2005. $16.99. 0439697336. Grades 8-11.

Miles, thrilled to be playing varsity football, loses some of his excitement when a dictatorial coach takes over and sounds all too much like Miles's father. When a teammate insists Miles try steroids, he wrestles with what he believes and wants from football and life.

Inexcusable. Chris Lynch. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2005. $16.95. 0689847890. Grades 9-12.

As this chilling novel opens, a girl is insisting that the narrator, Keir, admit what he did, clearly something terrible. Keir describes himself as a polite, reliable guy, a football player who's close to his dad and sisters. But his actions tell a different story altogether.

Invisible. Pete Hautman. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2005. $15.95. 0689868006. Grades 8-12.

Narrator seventeen-year-old Dougie, who is building a bridge for his model railroad using 22,400 matches, claims not to be troubled and insists he has a best friend. But readers will figure out that he's an unreliable narrator, with serious problems in his past and present in this chilling, tightly-written novel.

Black Storm Comin'. Diane L. Wilson. Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2005. $16.95. 0689871376. Grades 7-10.

Going West by wagon train is harder than 12-year-old Colton ever imagined, His black mother is sick from childbirth and his white father deserts the family part way across the Utah Territory. Colton, who must now make money for the family, sets his sights on riding for the Pony Express.

Day of Tears: A Novel in Dialogue. Julius Lester. Hyperion Books for Children, 2005. $15.99. 0786804904. Grades 5-8.

Told through dialogues and soliloquies, this powerful story captures the voices of slaves before, at, and after a huge slave auction. Also heard from are white plantation owners, the man running the auction, and a few whites who object to slavery. The viewpoints and images create a memorable, heartbreaking collage.

Last Dance on Holladay Street. Elisa Lynn Carbone. Knopf, 2005. $15.95. 0375828966. Grades 7-10.

Raised by black parents on a Colorado farm, thirteen-year-old Eva seeks out her birth mother after her parents die. She finds her mother, who is white, working at a Denver bordello. With her black birth father long gone, Eva must scheme and fight to avoid her mother's fate and find another way to survive in 1878 in a West largely hostile to women.

47. Walter Mosley. Little, Brown, 2005. $16.99. 0316110353. Grades 7-10.

This intriguing combination of fantasy and historical fiction tells the story of an adolescent slave simply called "47," painting a vivid picture of his painful daily life. Into this grim setting comes a new slave, who turns out to be a magical being from another dimension who instills hope and self-worth in 47.

Going Going. Naomi Shihab Nye. Greenwillow, 2005. $15.99. 0688161855. Grades 7-10.

Florrie, who is sixteen and lives in San Antonio, loves old buildings and hates the out-of-control growth of consumerism. She wants to act on her beliefs, but can she succeed in getting her friends, family and even some strangers to boycott chain stores and restaurants for sixteen weeks?

Luna: A Novel. Julie Anne Peters. Little, Brown, 2004. $16.95. 0316733695. Grades 8-12.

High school senior Liam has felt like a girl inside for as long as he can remember, but only his younger sister knows his real feelings and his longing to reveal his true self to others.

The Sledding Hill. Chris Crutcher. Greenwillow, 2005. $15.99. 0060502436. Grades 7-10.

In this exploration of censorship, Eddie Proffit deals with the deaths of those he loves while standing up for what he believes in. The 14-year-old defends a challenged book written by the much censored Chris Crutcher himself.

Uglies. Scott Westerfeld. Simon Pulse, 2005. 0689865384. Grades 8 -11.

In the year 2003, all sixteen-year-olds get an operation that makes them beautiful. Proponents say it makes adults equal but, as still "ugly" Tally learns, some people think it's a bad idea.
Where I Want to Be. Adele Griffin. Putnam, 2004. $15.99. 0399237836. Grades 8-11.

Chapters alternate between Lily, a popular 17-year-old, and her older sister, Jane, who had psychological problems and is now dead. But Jane's spirit lingers while the sisters each look at the past and try to make sense of their difficult relationship.

Conrad's Fate. Diana Wynne Jones. Greenwillow, 2005. $15.99. 0060747439. Grades 5-8.

In this welcome installment for fans of the Chrestomanci books, Conrad Tesdinic needs to find the cause of the bad luck he can't seem to shake. In his search, he teams up with a teenage Christopher Chant who's on a urgent mission of his own.

The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray. Chris Wooding. Orchard Books, 2004. $16.95. 0439998964. Grades 9-12.

Thaniel Fox, brave and gallant, hunts supernatural creatures called wych-kin on the streets of Victorian London. When he meets Alaizabel Cray, a young woman who's escaped from evil conspirators intent on taking over the city, the plot thickens in this gripping, original fantasy.

The Hunter's Moon. O. R. Melling. Amulet, 2005. $16.95. 0810958570. Grades 8-11.

The first book in a trilogy from Canada, this fantasy starts when American Gwen and her Irish cousin, Findabhair, set off to visit the magical places in Ireland. On their first stop, Findabhair is lured into the fairy world and Gwen must try to rescue her.

Magic or Madness. Justine Larbalestier. Razorbill, 2005. 1595140220. Grades 7-10.

Her mother has always warned 15-year-old Reason against the girl's grandmother, who's allegedly a witch. When Reason's mother is hospitalized with mental health problems, Reason reluctantly goes to live with the grandmother and finds out the truth about her magic.

The Secret under My Skin. Janet Elizabeth McNaughton. Harper, 2005. $15.99. 006008989X. Grades 7-10.

Set in 2368 after Earth has been thrown into political disarray by environmental crises, an orphan finds herself rescued from the work house by a kind couple. The girl searches for her past while forging a promising future through her uncanny ability to absorb information and learn through dreams.

Face Relations: 11 Stories About Seeing Beyond Color. Marilyn Singer, ed. Simon & Schuster, 2004. $17.95. 0689856377. Grades 7-11.
Offering plenty to talk about, these stories cast their net wide to look at teens of different nationalities and skin colors who deal with a host of issues, all with hopes for a better world.

The Faery Reel: Tales from the Twilight Realm. Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling, editors. Viking, 2004. $19.99. 0670059145. Grades 9-12.
More than 500 pages long, this collection of short stories and a few poems focuses on fairies in traditional and modern settings. Tanith Lee, Holly Black, Gregory Maguire, and Patricia McKillip are among the contributors.

First Crossing: Stories About Teen Immigrants. Donald R. Gallo. Candlewick, 2004. $16.99. 0763622494. Grades 6-10.
Teenagers from different places around the world all struggle with adjustments in the U.S., whether with their adoptive families, the families they come with, their new friends, or with those who reject them for being different.

Gothic! Ten Original Dark Tales. Deborah Noyes. Candlewick, 2004. $15.99. 0763622435. Grades 7-10.
From light-hearted to creepy, these ten stories explore the concept of gothic literature with elements like vampires, haunted houses, and graveyards. Authors include Neil Gaiman, Celia Rees, Vivian Vande Velde, Garth Nix, M.T. Anderson, and others.

Past Perfect, Present Tense: New and Collected Stories. Richard Peck. Dial Books, 2004. $16.99. 0803729987. Grades 5-9.
This collection of thirteen stories, most previously published, includes his first published story; historical fiction; supernatural tales; and stories set in the present. Peck introduces each section with entertaining notes about the stories, and ends the volume with tips on writing.

Curse of the Blue Tattoo: Being an Account of the Misadventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady. L. A. Meyer. Harcourt, 2004. $17.00. 0152051155. Grades 7-10.
Jacky Faber, former sailor, is as incorrigible as ever when her ship’s captain enrolls her in the Lawson Peabody School for Young Girls. It’s 1803 in Boston, and the prim girls and strict teachers don’t know what hit them in this rollicking tale.

A Hat Full of Sky. Terry Pratchett. Harper, 2004. $17.89. 0060586613. Grades 5-8.
Tiffany Aching, who discovered her magical powers in The Wee Free Men, is being pursued by an evil force intent on taking her over. Her six-inch-tall blue-skinned allies and the canny Granny Weatherwax weigh in on the side of good.

Indigo's Star. Hilary McKay. Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2004. $15.95. 0689865635. Grades 5-8.
The same hilarious family from Saffy’s Angel continues their muddled, warm-hearted life, this time taking in an American boy named Tom, who is Indigo’s new friend. Indigo and Tom learn from each other as they repel bullies and play guitar together.

Predator's Gold. Philip Reeve. Eos, 2004. $17.89. 0060721944. Grades 6-10.
This sequel to the inventive fantasy, The Mortal Engines, finds Tom and Hester embroiled in a new set of dangers in their strange future world where cities move and viciously devour each other.

Son of the Mob: Hollywood Hustle. Gordon Korman. Hyperion, 2004. $15.99. 0786809183. Grades 8-12.
Vince Luca, son of a mob boss, and his girlfriend Kendra, daughter of an FBI agent, hope to leave their family difficulties behind when they move to California for college. But their troubles, romantic and otherwise, continue unabatedly on the West Coast.

Here in Harlem: Poems in Many Voices. Walter Dean Myers. Holiday House, 2004. $16.95. 0823418537. Grades 7-12. Like Edgar Lee Masters' Spoon River Anthology, on which it is modeled, this effective collection of poems uses many voices to create a vivid picture of Harlem. Historic photographs enhance this beautifully designed, slim volume.

Never Mind! A Twin Novel. Avi and Rachel Vail. HarperCollins, 2004. $16.89. 0060543159. Grades 5-8. The voices of Meg and her twin brother, Ed, alternate by chapter in this middle school crowd-pleaser. Humorous misunderstandings abound during the days leading up to a party which both of them are dreading but which succeeds in bringing them together as friends for a change.

New Found Land. Allan Wolf. Candlewick, 2004. $18.99. 0763621137. Grades 7-12. Thirteen voices convey the excitement and danger of the Lewis and Clark expedition in this long, readable verse novel. From the expedition leaders to York, Clark's slave, to Sacajawea to other expedition members including a dog, the characters come to life in distinct ways on the journey.

Talk. Kathe Koja. FSG/Frances Foster Books, 2005. $16.00. 0374373825. Grades 8-12. Chapters alternate between Kit and Lindsay, the leads in a high school play about politics, torture, and speaking out. Kit, who is gay but keeps it a secret, realizes that Lindsay, a previous prom queen, has chosen Kit as her next boyfriend.

Ttyl. Lauren Myracle. Harry N. Abrams, 2004. $15.95. 0810948214. Grades 8-11. Three teenage girls who are good friends exchange instant messages as they grow and change in tenth grade. Pages look like a computer screen, with boxed messages characterized by realistically incomplete sentences, informal punctuation and some abbreviations.

B for Buster. Iain Lawrence. Delacorte, 2004. $15.95. 0385730861. Grades 7-11. In this outstanding novel about courage and friendship, sixteen-year-old Kak serves in the Canadian Air Force as part of a WWII bombing crew. His excitement about flying his first mission over Germany turns to terror when he realizes how easily he and his companions could die.

Behind You. Jacqueline Woodson. G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2004. $15.99. 039923988X. Grades 7-10. When the police shoot fifteen-year-old Jeremiah, mistaken for another black teen, his parents, friends, and girlfriend, Ellie, are devastated. Their voices, and Jeremiah's, explore grief, racial issues, and ultimately hope in this sequel to If You Come Softly, which can be read on its own.

Chanda's Secrets. Allan Stratton. Annick, 2004. $19.95. 155037835X. Grades 8-12. This Printz Honor Book draws an emotionally powerful picture of life for a conscientious, caring teenager in sub-Saharan Africa, who takes on adult responsibilities when family members fall ill and start dying from AIDS. Chanda seeks a way to speak out and break the cultural secrecy that surrounds the epidemic.

Daniel, Half-Human and the Good Nazi. David Chotjewitz. Translated by Doris Orgel. Atheneum Books, 2004. $17.95. 0689857470. Grades 7-11. A teenager in Germany in the 1930s, Daniel, who initially believed in Hitler's views, faces the news that he is half-Jewish. As the Nazis make life increasingly frightening and dangerous for the Jews, Daniel's closest friend must make crucial choices that affect them both.

Kira-Kira. Cynthia Kadohata. Atheneum, 2004. $15.95. 0689856393. Grades 6-8. Having moved to Georgia in the 1950s, Katie's Japanese-American family has to adjust to small town life in an unfamiliar rural community. Katie relies on her older sister Lynn to guide her and provide friendship, but when Lynn falls seriously ill, roles get reversed in this heartbreaking, luminous Newbery Award winner.

Chasing Vermeer. Blue Balliett. Ill. Brett Helquist. Scholastic, 2004. $16.96. 0-439-37294-1. Grades 5-8.
Anonymous letters to their neighbors, a thought-provoking book, and the theft of a Vermeer painting prompt sixth graders Petra and Calder to think in new ways and also test their courage, inspired by their teacher, who makes learning truly exciting. Codes to solve and black-and-white illustrations add to the fun.

The Grand Tour. Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer. Harcourt, 2004. $17.00. 0-15-204616-X. Grades 6-10.
Mystery meets fantasy as two young married couples travel on their Grand Tour across Europe, applying their magical powers to unraveling an evil scheme. This sequel to Sorcery and Cecelia combines the Regency period, an intricate plot, and lots of magic.

Montmorency: Thief, Gentleman, Liar? Eleanor Updale. Orchard, 2004. $16.5. 0-439-58035-8. Grades 6-10.
Former prisoner Montmorency baffles the police in Victorian London with his quick getaways into the new sewer system. His duo life as a thief called Scarper and a wealthy gentleman called Montmorency grows more dangerous as this intriguing, original story approaches its surprising climax.

In Darkness, Death. Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler. Philomel, 2004. $16.99. 0-399-23767-4. Grades 5-9.
The third installment in a series about fourteen-year-old Seikei, an apprentice Samurai, this fast-paced tale of ninjas, tyrants, and murder plunges readers into the world of eighteenth-century Japan.

The Spirit Line. Aimée and David Thurlo. Viking, 2004. $15.99. 0-670-03645-5. Grades 5-9.
Who has stolen the nearly finished rug that Crystal Manyfeathers was weaving for her kinaalda, the Navajo coming of age ceremony for girls? Crystal struggles with the death of her mother and questions traditional Navajo ways as she and her friend, Henry, search the reservation for the thief.

The Singer of All Songs. Kate Constable. AAL/Scholastic, 2004. $16.95. 0-439-55478-0. Grades 6-10.
Calwyn, who has never left her walled community of all females where she is an aspiring priestess, surprises herself by setting off to see other countries. But a grim fate awaits the world if Calwyn and her companions don’t stop an increasingly powerful sorcerer.

The Oracle Betrayed. Catherine Fisher. Greenwillow, 2004. $17.89. 0-06-057158-6. Grades 6-10.
On her drought-ridden island, Mirany reluctantly becomes a priestess, which thrusts her into a battle with the corruption threatens to destroy the country. Elements of ancient Egypt and Greece create an effective backdrop for Mirany’s dangerous adventure.

Troll Fell. Katherine Langrish. HarperCollins, 2004. $15.99. 0-06-058304-5. Grades 5-9.
Two nasty uncles make orphaned Peer’s life a misery at their mill near Troll Fell, where trolls hide their gold in the hillside. Peer’s kindness and courage attract allies, both human and magical, but will it be enough to save him from his uncles’ nefarious plans?

Gifts. Ursula K. Le Guin. Harcourt, 2004. $17.00. 0-15-205123-6. Grades 6-10
Narrator Orrec and the girl who is his best friend, Gry, live in a barren country where magical gifts are valued above wealth. When a visitor comes from the outside world, the two teenagers start to see their home land in a new way while they also question their own troubling powers.

Wishing Moon. Michael O. Tunnell. Dutton, 2004. $17.99. 0-525-47193-6. Grades 6-10.
With three wishes a month from Aladdin’s lamp, beggar girl Aminah first indulges her desire for material comfort, but then starts using her wishes for good. A cranky jinni, Arabian Nights setting, and more than a hint of romance enhance the charming story.

Messenger. Lois Lowry. Grades 6-10. 2004.
Returning to characters from The Giver and Gathering Blue, this moving story explores the price paid for living an authentic, simple life. Teenager Matty, though tempted by his village's new fascination with trading, reaffirms his beliefs during a dangerous journey.

The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place. E.L. Konigsburg. Grades 6-9. 2004.
Margaret Rose, Connor's sister in The Silent Bone, relates her experiences defying convention as a twelve-year-old. Her nonconformity means she doesn't fit in at summer camp, but also gives her the courage to try to save her uncles' eccentric artwork.

Vote for Larry: A Novel. Janet Tashjian. Grades 8-12. 2004.
After seventeen-year-old Josh Swenson became famous for his web "sermons" against commercialism, he disappeared as if dead at the end of The Gospel According to Larry. But now he’s back with his principles intact and, against all odds, he's running for President.

Blushing: Expressions of Love in Poems and Letters. Collected by Paul Janeczko. Orchard Books. Grades 7-12. 2004.
This small, lovely collection brings together poems about love from different times and poets. It moves the beginnings of romance, through its joys and pains, to remembering past loves.

Is This Forever, or What? Poems & Paintings from Texas. Selected by Naomi Shihab Nye. Grades 7-12. 2004.
This handsome volume speaks to readers beyond the Texas borders, with its wide-ranging selection of poems with universal themes. Striking paintings, beautifully reproduced, add to its appeal.

Revenge and Forgiveness: An Anthology and Poems. Edited by Patrice Vecchione. Grades 9-12. 2004.
Exploring revenge and forgiveness among families, friends, and lovers, Vecchione selects a rich array of poems, some fairly sophisticated, others simpler. Extensive biographical notes includes references to other works by these poets.

Singing the Dogstar Blues. Alison Goodman. Grades 7-11. 2003.
In this science fiction thriller, Joss and her partner in school, an alien, are learning to time travel. But an assassin and puzzles from the past threaten their future.

The Slightly True Story of Cedar B. Hartley (who planned to live an unusual life). Martine Murray. Grades 5-8. 2003.
Australian Cedar Hartley and her new friend, the son of circus performers, plan a neighborhood circus. Twelve-year-old Cedar, a narrator with a fresh, funny voice, also slowly solves two family mysteries.

Shakespeare Bats Clean-up. Ron Koertge. Grades 6-10. 2003.
Fourteen-year-old Kevin, bored at home with mononucleosis, tries his hand at different poetry formats, writing about baseball, a new romantic friendship, his mother’s death, and more. The result is a character study, a wonderful introduction to poetry, and a possible tool for teaching poetry writing.

The World According to Dog: Poems and Teen Voices. Joyce Sidman. 2003.
With photographs by Doug Mindell. Grades 6-12. Another attractive book, this combines poetry in a variety of formats by Sidman with short prose pieces from different teenagers. All address aspects, mostly pleasurable, of having a dog.