YALSA 2015 Hub Reading Challenge, Update #3

It was another week for rereads, mostly because these books are already in my personal library, so they were easy to get.  After rereading I Hunt Killers Last week, I had to read the sequel, Game, even though it's not on this year's list. And of course, it ends on an unbearable cliffhanger, so I'll be reading book three as soon as I can get my hands on it!

Maus: A Survivor's Tale by Art Spiegelman

Art Spiegelman interviewed his father, Vladek, a Holocaust survivor.  Vladek's story is told in comic book format, with the Jews as mice and the Nazis as cats.  

The graphic novel approach brings a new perspective to this moving memoir.  I especially liked the way that Vladek's Holocaust memories were interwoven with the present relationship between the father and son.  Intertwined with the horrifying and vivid personal account of Vladek's experiences during the Holocaust, we also see the troubled relationship between a father and his son as they both deal with the long-term effects of this unforgettable human tragedy.

A MUST-READ!

Tears of a Tiger by Sharon Draper

Hazelwood High, book one.

Andy, a high school basketball star, struggles with his guilt after he got into an accident while drinking and driving.  His friend, Rob, was trapped in the car and died when the gas tank exploded.  

Strong dialogue and realistic characters make this series a home-run for teen readers.  And the non-stop drama will keep the pages turning.

Forged by Fire by Sharon Draper

Hazelwood High, book two.

Gerald's story is like a bad soap opera:  We frist meet Gerald, a battered and neglected child, when he is severely burned in a fire after being left home alone by his addict mother, Monique.  He finds a safe and loving home with his Aunt Queen.  When he is nine, his mother and her abusive new husband take him back into their home.  The only bright spot for Gerald is Angel, his four-year-old half sister.  Gerald finds out that Angel is being sexually abused by her father.  Monique is unwilling or unable to protect her children and Gerald resolves to protect Angel and himself.

Draper tries to cram a bit too much drama into this slim volume.  Poor Gerald; it's one tragedy after another for him.

Darkness before Dawn by Sharon Draper

Hazelwood High, book three.

Keisha, getting ready to give a speech at graduation, reflects on the trials and triumphs of her senior year.  She and her classmates have seen and experienced a lot--death, abuse, divorce, homelessness, rape, abandonment, anorexia, and love.  Whew!  No kidding, it's all in there!

The drama is a bit over the top, but teens who enjoy page-turners will not be able to put this one down.  Reading the first two books will make this one richer, but it can also stand on its own.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Hunger Games, book two.

Katniss' act of rebellion during the Hunger Games lights a spark that spreads though Panem and makes her the face of the revolution as the Districts look for ways (both large and small) to defy the Capitol.  Katniss and Peeta travel through Panem on their mandatory victory tour, and then, before they even have a chance to settle into the semi-normal lives of Hunger Games survivors, President Snow takes his revenge.  I gasped out loud when the rules of the 75th Hunger Games (the Quarter Quell) were announced.

I found this book even more brutal than the first, perhaps because Katniss is now a familiar character and I feel her pain more than ever.  President Snow is absolutely ruthless in his attempt to punish Katniss, and has a sadist's knack for twisting the knife just when it will hurt the most.  

Like Hunger Games, Catching Fire will keep readers riveted from the very first page.  Excellent and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. 

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Not on the YALSA list, but had to read it:

Game by Barry Lyga

Jasper Dent trilogy, #2.

When a serial killer known as the Dog-Hat Killer begins terrorizing New York City, an officer from the NYPD comes to Lobo's Nod to ask for Jazz's help with the case.  Jazz, still struggling not to give in to his darker impulses, joins the hunt for this new killer, all the while looking over his shoulder for Dear Old Dad, who is newly escaped from prison and sure to be in touch--sooner or later.

I read most of this 500-ish page book in one sitting. It was taut, suspenseful, and just very well done. The body count is high and the murders are gory (penectomies and enucleations abound). Connie and Howie are more fully developed in this one and have bigger parts to play as well. Unfortunately, this also ups their peril. 

This book ends on a HUGE cliffhanger, with several lives hanging in the balance, so have the third one (Blood of my Blood) queued up and ready to go.

YALSA 2015 Hub Reading Challenge, Update #2

I've noticed lots of repeats on the challenge list this year. While I don't mind rereading at all, for a few of these titles, once is definitely enough! Since I do the challenge to discover new stuff, I don't want to spend too much time rereading, especially books I didn't love the first time.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I love John Green's writing and I marked lots of great lines as I read that I intended to use in my review. In the end, though, this simple and repeated exchange between Hazel and Augustus says it all. 

"Okay?'

"Okay."

They meet at a cancer support group--Hazel is terminal, but her tumors are being kept at bay for the foreseeable future and Augustus is in remission, but missing a leg. As our protagonists fall in love, awkwardly and sweetly, they know that their "forever" will be brief. After all, "[s]ome infinities are bigger than other infinities."

What I loved most about this beautiful, humorous, and heartbreaking story is how real the love story and the friendships feel. Hazel and Augustus fear that their lives will be meaningless, that they will be forgotten when they die. What each finds in the other is a glimpse of what their lives have meant to another. Just like in our real, everyday lives, these ordinary characters find the extraordinary in each other. And that's what love is.

"Okay?"

"Okay."

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.  

**Reread for the 2015 YALSA Challenge. Still love it.

Glory O'Brien's History of the Future by A.S. King

Glory O'Brien is deeply damaged. Her mother committed suicide by sticking her head in the oven when Glory was just a little girl. She has spent her life eating microwave meals because her dad refuses to use the stove. They love each other, but are mired in the past and unable to move on with their lives. Glory is an outsider. Her only friend, Ellie, lives on a hippie commune (or is it actually a cult?). They seem to be friends out of convenience and habit, rather than because they have anything in common. Glory is Ellie's only link to the outside world. Glory doesn't really know why she is still friends with Ellie. One night, the girls decide to mix the remains of a petrified bat into some warm beer and drink it. This is where things get STRANGE.

The girls start seeing visions--Ellie sees personal details about people's relationships when she meets their eyes and Glory sees flashes of both past and future. Glory records her visions in the hopes that her notes might help to avert the terrifying future to come--a future in which an endless civil war rages, and where women are truly second-class citizens, banned from the workplace and doomed to poverty and abuse. 

I enjoyed the feminist themes, though at times they did feel a bit heavy-handed. While I get that Glory's visions are fragmented, I had a hard time putting all of the fragments together into a coherent whole. My favorite part of the book was Glory's relationship with her father and her struggle to come to terms with her mother's death. I wanted to love this book, but it didn't quite come together for me. Maybe magical realism just isn't my cup of tea. 

Half Bad by Sally Green

Book one in the Half Bad trilogy.

Nathan lives in an alternate-reality England where witches are part of the daily reality. There is a brutal war between the white (good) witches and the black (evil) witches. Nathan is a half code--his mother was a white witch and his father a notorious black witch. 

For a book this long, I was hoping for more world-building. I mean, these witches are at war with each other, but there really isn't a whole lot of distinction made between the two factions and the reason behind the war is never explained. The white witches are supposed to be the good guys, but almost none of them actually demonstrate any goodness through their actions. I liked that many of the characters were multi-faceted; having my initial impressions of certain characters change as the story progressed was a pleasant surprise. 

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

I loved, loved, loved this book. It grabbed me by the throat right away. It was oh-so-believably creepy, with well-drawn characters whose motivations were complex and interesting. I can see mature teen readers gobbling this one up.

Jazz is a teenaged boy whose father, Billy Dent, is a famous and prolific serial killer. Even though Billy is in prison, and will be until he dies, he is a pervasive presence in Jazz's life. As hard as he tries, Jazz is unable to silence his dad's voice, constantly repeating the lessons of how to be a successful killer. 

When dead bodies start piling up in Jazz's small town, he is determined to catch the killer. Thanks to his dear old dad's lessons, Jazz can slip right into the mind of the killer, much to his dismay. The cops, especially the one who put Billy Dent behind bars, aren't too keen on Jazz's input. 

Jazz is such a realistic character, with all of the normal teenaged angst, but with the added bonus of trying to stop himself from becoming the man his father has trained him to be. Jazz exhibits many sociopathic tendencies, but he is most human when he's with his wise-cracking best friend, Howie, and his take-no-shit girlfriend, Connie. Howie's hilarious comments provide plenty of comic relief, even in the midst of some pretty gory gruesomeness. Connie keeps Jazz grounded and calls him out when he starts wallowing in self-doubt. There are some well-meaning adults who try to do what's best for Jazz and he respects them, even though he doesn't agree with them. And then there's his crazy grandmother. Whoa. She's hilarious and horrifying all in one racist, wrinkly, gun-waving package. 

I dare you to read this one after dark.

**Reread for the 2015 YALSA Challenge.  I'll be reading the sequel (Game) next, even though it's not part of this year's challenge.

My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf

Most of us can relate to the experience of knowing a "weird" kid in high school, that kid who looked or acted differently from other kids and just didn't fit in.  That kid who we lost touch with after high school and who never really crossed our minds again. Backderf tells the story of his acquaintance (I hesitate to call it a friendship, despite the book's title) with Jeffrey Dahmer in high school. As a clueless kid, Derf didn't take the warning signs all that seriously, even when he noticed them. The adults in Jeffrey's life didn't either. 

This memoir tells about Jeffrey Dahmer's life leading up to his first murder, and isn't especially gruesome, graphic, or illuminating.  I was intrigued by the book's premise, but in the end, it wasn't my cup of tea. 

**Reread for the 2015 YALSA Challenge. Still not my cup of tea. I have to admit, I skimmed.

2015 YALSA Morris/Nonfiction Reading Challenge, Update #2

Having to go through Interlibrary Loan for this week's titles slowed me down quite a bit, but I did finally get a stack of books. I only completed two challenge books this week, but filled in the empty spaces with Dan Brown's latest, as well as the first two Harry Potter books (which I have read so many times that I consider J.K. Rowling to be a close, personal friend).

Laughing at My Nightmare by Shane Burcaw

Shane Burcaw writes with honesty, humor, and often in graphic detail about what it's like to live with spinal muscular atrophy.  

My favorite quote: 

"Every single one of us has problems. That's part of being alive. The beauty begins when you connect with other people and realize that we're all in the same boat. Once we accept the fact that life is inherently difficult, we can move on and focus on having a good time despite the tough stuff."

The Carnival at Bray by Jessie Ann Foley

Maggie is torn from her life in Chicago and transplanted in a tiny town in Ireland after her mother remarries. She is lonely and isolated in her unfamiliar surroundings. Just when the new place starts to feel like home, tragedy strikes. Maggie sets out on a risky adventure to fulfill a dying wish. Maggie's coming-of-age story is peppered with observations about love and what it means to live.

My favorite quote:

"...that's what living people do. They shatter and rebuild, shatter and rebuild, shatter and rebuild until they are old and worn and stooped from the work of it."

2015 YALSA Morris/Nonfiction Reading Challenge, Update #1

The challenge before the challenge started a few weeks ago. I'm a little late to the party, but jumping in anyway. I can get through at least one of the lists before February 2, but I'm shooting for both. I love doing the YALSA Challenge every year because it helps me discover great books that I might otherwise miss. Thanks to a couple of snow days, it was a marvelous week to curl up and read.

Here is the Morris List:

The Carnival at Bray by Jessie Ann Foley
The Story of Owen: Dragon Slayer of Trondheim by E.K. Johnston
Gabi, a Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero
The Scar Boys by Len Vlahos
The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

Here is the Nonfiction List:

Laughing at My Nightmare by Shane Burcaw
The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion & the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming
Ida M. Tarbell: The Woman Who Challenged Big Business--and Won! by Emily Arnold McCully
The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights by Steve Sheinkin
Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek by Maya Van Wagenen

 

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This week's completed books:

The Scar Boys by Len Vlahos 

Growing up is hard enough, even under ideal circumstances. After being horribly burned by a near-miss lightning strike, Harry Jones struggles to deal with the accident and to face himself. Thanks to a caring therapist and, eventually, some good friends, Harry learns to be an active participant in his own life.  There were many times as I read that I wanted to smack Harry upside his fat head. He isn't good at standing up for himself and he makes some dumb decisions. He also has a sly sense of humor that I loved and I rooted for him, even as he learned every lesson in the hardest possible way.

This is a well-done story about the power of music and friendship to help us transcend difficult times and to be better people. 

Gabi, a Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero

Gabi, a Mexican-American high school senior with a love for poetry and sopas, deals with all kinds of issues, as do her friends. Through her diary entries, which are fresh and funny, thoughtful and yearning, we join her as she and her peers deal with drug abuse, rape, teen pregnancy, self-esteem and body issues, homosexuality, faith and the lack of it, and sexism. Gabi struggles to come to terms with these issues in her life, and takes the reader along for the ride. The author is obviously trying to teach a few lessons here, but is never too heavy-handed. I love Gabi's sarcastic humor and her good heart. She is definitely a character who readers will care about and root for.

Some favorite quotes:

"Family. Familia. And while familia is the glue that keeps us crazy, it is also the glue that makes us who we are."

"Never ask the fat girl if she is hungry. She's always hungry. Even if she is not, she is, because food is safe and controllable and soothing and salty and sweet, and it doesn't scream at you or make you feel bad unless you are trying on clothes."

"Cinco de Mayo! Woo! Another holiday where people get to use sombreros and fake mustaches as proof of their understanding and commitment to learning about my heritage."

"...for a lot of people, high school is it--the best time of their life. Oh my God, if high school is supposed to be the best time of my life, I'm going to have the shittiest life ever." 

What kept this from being a five-star book for me was the awkward grammar and the way the Spanish was kind of unevenly integrated into the narrative. While I assume that the author used this style to make sure that Gabi's voice was authentic (and it did work) it brought me back to all the hours I have spent grading poorly edited student papers. I realize that other readers won't be as bothered by the grammar; I'm certainly glad that I read this book and will happily recommend it to teen readers.

Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek by Maya Van Wagenen

Maya is an unpopular, nerdy middle schooler who is inspired by an old book, Betty Cornell's Teen-Age Popularity Guide, to spend her eighth grade year attempting to climb the social ladder.  Each month, Maya follows some of the tips in the book and writes about how her peers react. The results are all over the place--sometimes hilarious, sometimes thought-provoking, and sometimes utterly cringe-worthy. Regardless of the outcome, Maya handles herself with grace and kindness. She is wise beyond her years.  

This is a book that would have helped the shy, lonely teenager I used to be. I can't wait to share it with my students, and the other teens in my life. 

I'll leave you with Maya's final popularity tip: "Popularity is more than looks. It's not clothes, hair, or even possessions. When we let go go these labels, we see how flimsy and relative they actually are. Real popularity is kindness and acceptance. It is about who you are, and how you treat others.

The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights by Steve Sheinkin 

Though I knew a bit about how African American soldiers were treated during WWII before I read this book, I had never heard about the Port Chicago 50. Especially in light of recent events, this is a timely, engaging, and thought-provoking story. 


Without even basic safety training, African American soldiers were given the dangerous job of loading munitions from rail cars onto ships. When the inevitable accident finally occurred, hundreds of people were killed and injured. The navy officers blame the soldiers for the accident, but then expect them to get right back to the same work. The men refuse and are eventually told that if they continue to disobey orders, they will be charged with mutiny. Fifty men end up being charged and put on trial for mutiny. I won't give away the ending, but Thurgood Marshall gets involved. 

Though these men were instrumental in the Navy's decision to integrate, they have never received much recognition. This book left me better informed, but angry. The United States has certainly come a long way, but we're not there yet. 

The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion & the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming

Russian history has never been all that interesting to me, and I must admit that I had very little background knowledge going into this book. I vaguely remembered reading about "Bloody Nicholas" in high school. Candace Fleming has done a stellar job researching and writing a book that brings  the Romanovs to vivid life. The intimate portrait of their private lives makes them seem much more human, and their ends that much more terrible. She also adds in snippets about the dreary lives of peasants from primary source documents. For them, it didn't matter much who was running the country--their lives were just hard. Finally, other figures who affected the complicated course of Russian history make an appearance--Lenin and Rasputin are highlights.

Even though I knew how the story was going to end, I was riveted nonetheless, a small part of me holding out the hope that Disney got it right about Anastasia after all.

2014 YALSA Hub Reading Challenge Check-in #9

Spring Break, oh how I love you!  I caught up on my sleep this week and read a couple of books that I will happily recommend to my students.  Double win. 

Winger by Andrew Smith

Ryan Dean West is the only fourteen-year-old junior at boarding school. He already feels out of place, but when he's busted for trying to hack a cell phone, he gets stuck in Opportunity Hall, the dorm where all the delinquents live.  His roommate is a bully and Ryan Dean fears for his life. Oh, and he thinks about sex. All. The. Time. Especially with his best friend, Annie, who only sees him as a kid, and definitely NOT as a love interest.

Thankfully, Ryan Dean, though younger than his peers, has a killer sense of humor, a talent for drawing comics, and a fearlessness that he embraces while playing rugby and while facing a multitude of challenges.

This is a great guy book (filled with sports action, raunchy humor, and short chapters) that will surely appeal to reluctant readers.

The twist near the end of the book could have been handled better and didn't seem to fit with the rest of the narrative. Nevertheless, the book will be a great addition to my classroom library.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor and Park both feel like they don't fit in, but as they gradually discover each other, they find that they fit together.

Eleanor is all wrong. Her red hair is too much, she's overweight, and her oversized, mismatched clothes don't do anything for her appearance.  She's also the new girl at school and a target for bullies from her first day.

Park is part Korean and worries that his white dad thinks he's too Asian and too effeminate (unlike his brother, who looks more like their dad). 

At first, they can't stand each other, but thanks to their daily bus ride to and from school, they gradually bond over comics and mix tapes. My favorite part of the story is the evolution of their relationship.  It totally brought back memories of the breathlessness of first love and the way that the smallest things can carry huge meaning when you are young and experiencing love for the first time.

I wasn't as thrilled by their families--Eleanor's was dysfunctional on every level, while Park's was portrayed as almost perfect.  I would have found this part of the book more believable if there was more of a balance.  I also wanted to know more about Park's mother and how she felt about leaving Korea and her entire life there.  Living in Omaha couldn't have been easy for her.  And don't get me started on the ending--it was so abrupt that I scrolled back to make sure I hadn't accidentally skipped some pages. 

Overall, an enjoyable read. 

2014 YALSA Hub Reading Challenge Check-in #7

War, oppression, and torture, oh my. It was a difficult reading week, with books that were pretty slow reads. Hopefully, I'll get my hands on some lighter reading for next week.

Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein

Code Name Verity, book 2. 

As in the first book, the events take place during WWII.  Rose Justice is an American who comes to England to work as a transport pilot. Though she's not a soldier and carries no weapons, she still ends up as a prisoner of the Nazis. She is taken to the infamous women's concentration camp, Ravensbruck. This book is fiction, but the author obviously did a great deal of research. 

The middle part of the book reads more like a survivor's memoir than a piece of fiction, as the conditions Rose encounters are based on real conditions at the camp during that time. At the camp, Rose meets a group of Polish prisoners called the Rabbits because they were subjected to horrific medical experiments by the doctors on staff at Ravensbruck. The Rabbits are determined to tell the world about their treatment, but Rose doesn't have the heart to tell them that there have been rumors, but that no one believes them (no one WANTS to believe them) because they are too terrible to be true. As her captivity stretches on and the war nears its end, the Nazi death machine revs into high gear as they resolve to cover up their crimes by leaving no witnesses. 

Rose struggles to hold on to her hope of survival. She says, "Hope is the most treacherous thing in the world. It lifts you and lets you plummet. But as long as you're being lifted you don't worry about plummeting.”

Engaging, well-researched YA historical fiction. Recommended for mature readers with an interest in WWII and badass female characters.

If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan

Sahar and Nasrin are both 17 and live in Iran. They've been in love for as long as they can remember.  Unfortunately, if anyone finds out, the penalty will be a public hanging.  When Nasrin's mother announces that she will marry a handsome older doctor, Nasrin agrees and assumes that her relationship with Sahar will continue; she'll have a comfortable life and continue to have a clandestine relationship with Sahar. 

Sahar knows Nasrin's plan won't work and she's desperate to find a way to stop the wedding. When she discovers that sex reassignment surgeries are not only legal, but paid for by the government, she decides to become a man and marry Nasrin herself. 

Okay, so here's where the story lost me for a while. Sahar is smart and plans to become a doctor. I found it very hard to believe that she would assume she could just have this major, life-altering surgery without consulting ANYONE about it (even Nasrin) and then be fully recovered in the month before the wedding.  I get that she's blinded by love, but it irked me that she never considered LEAVING FRIGGING OPPRESSIVE IRAN, but instead jumped right to becoming a man. 

I'll avoid spoiling the ending, but let's just say that it was maybe a little hopeful.  

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This one was my book club's selection for this month and not on the YALSA list:

The Last Train West by Jean M. Prestbroten

This was a memoir about a German woman who cared for children in occupied Poland during WWII with some of the blanks filled in with fictionalized details.  Gretel Sennhenn started out as an enthusiastic supporter of Hitler, but as the war dragged on and she saw more and more of the suffering of ordinary people, she started to become disillusioned with the Nazi party. When the Allies arrived to liberate Poland, Gretel was forced to flee for her life. 

I've read many stories about the Nazi's victims, but not much has been written about how WWII affected the everyday lives of citizens who may or may not have supported the war in the first place. I found Gretel's story interesting and wasn't at all bothered by the blending of fact and fiction. This, in fact, was the book's greatest strength. What makes history interesting is the stories of the people who lived it, not so much the dates and places.

On the downside, this is a self-published book that could certainly benefit from a competent editor, more research, and the input of an actual German speaker.

2014 YALSA Hub Reading Challenge Check-in #6

It's been an emotional roller coaster of a reading week, from dystopian thrillers to zombie cows to kids obsessed with Broadway musicals to boys kissing boys. You go, YALSA. I've loved every minute!

Killer of Enemies by Joseph Bruchac

Lozen, an Apache hunter struggling to survive in a dystopian future where all technology has failed, is the strong, silent type. Unlike many YA heroines, she is a total badass. A combination of physical and mental toughness, the Apache lore she has learned from her family, and a certain mystical element makes Lozen a formidable fighter.

The Ones are holding her family hostage. Her mother, sister, and brother will be safe only as long as Lozen continues to successfully kill the gemods (genetically-engineered "pets" that escaped their cages when the electricity failed). She has a plan to escape with her family, but will she survive long enough to make it happen?

I loved Lozen. Not only is she tough, but she also stays true to her Apache background and to her role as protector. The action is pretty nonstop and kept me turning pages. On the downside, I wanted more of an understanding of her world. I also wanted some of the other characters to be fleshed out a bit more. Maybe this is nitpicky, but I wished that this book would have been edited better. In several places, awkward wording and grammatical errors slowed me down quite a bit.

I would actually rate this closer to a 3.5 and would recommend it to action fans. Even though the main character is a girl, she's tough and no-nonsense enough to appeal to even the manliest of readers. Here's my favorite quote:

"Yea, though I walk through the Valley of Death

I will fear no evil

for I am the meanest son of a bitch

in this whole damn valley."

Zombie Baseball Beatdown by Paolo Bacigalupi

When some bullying teammates chase them off of their normal practice field, Rabi, Miguel, and Joe head over to a park next to the local meatpacking plant to play baseball. However, the stink is worse than usual, and before the boys know what's going on, workers are running out of the plant and their baseball coach is trying to eat their brains.

When the local police dismiss the boys' story, they take matters into their own hands. By relying on each other and their trusty bats, the boys unravel the mystery, but will they be too late to stop a zombie apocalypse?

This is a quick, easy page-turner that uses humor to tackle tough issues like bullying, racism, immigration, and exactly where our burgers come from.

The audiobook is a must-listen for the zombie cows alone!

Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle

Nate Foster is a slightly overweight 13-year old who lives in a small town and loves Broadway musicals. To make matters worse, his perfect older brother is athletic and gets all of their parents' approval. When Nate's best friend, Libby, tells him about an audition for E.T. the Musical in New York, they hatch a daring plot to get him there. 

Like any starry-eyed kid who doesn't quite fit in, Nate is absolutely convinced that this one big chance is going to help his dreams come true. He sees busy, crowded New York through an innocent's eyes and compares himself to Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.

"...I don't see any horses changing colors yet. But hey, I'm still indoors. And besides, it's Manhattan City and I think anything's possible at this point.  I peek down, just in case I'm in ruby slippers. Nope. Nikes. But still."

Nate has plenty of ups and downs in the city. Against the backdrop of his quest, he deals with some issues of identity and family. Is Nate gay? Possibly, but he's not quite sure yet. At this point in his life, Nate feels different (and the bullies who call him a fag and drop him in trash cans know he's different) but he doesn't have it all figured out. 

All Nate knows for sure is that he's not an a-hole: "Sometimes people are just a-holes, and you have to decide, every day, which kind of kid you are."

Good advice, Nate.

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

Do you know that feeling when you've just finished a book that is so marvelous, so beautiful, and so full of meaning that you sit motionless except for the tears streaming down your face?  And then you try to write a review, to "sell" it to other readers, but the words just won't come? That's how I'm feeling now, so bear with me.

Seemingly disparate elements come together in this breathtakingly beautiful story narrated by a Greek Chorus of gay men lost to AIDS. Craig and Harry, inspired by a classmate beaten for being gay, intend to set a Guinness World Record for the longest kiss. It has to be two boys kissing, they believe, because "...maybe it'll make people a little less scared of two boys kissing than they were before, and a little more welcoming to the idea that all people are, in fact, born equal, no matter who they kiss or screw, no matter what dreams they have or love they give.” 

As these two boys kiss, other boys are dealing with their own relationships (or lack thereof). Neil and Peter have been together for a while, Avery and Ryan are brand new to each other, Tariq struggles to heal from a physical beating, and Cooper tries not to love anyone at all. While these boys all try to find their way, the Greek Chorus is watching from afar, giving advice that drifts, unheard, on the breeze. 

“We gather the things we learned, and they don't nearly add up to fill the space of a life.
You will miss the taste of Froot Loops.
You will miss the sound of traffic.
You will miss your back against his.
You will miss him stealing the sheets.
Do not ignore these things.” 

I feel sadly inadequate to capture the beauty of this story, these words. This is a story that can save lives. Read it and share it with everyone you love.

2014 YALSA Hub Reading Challenge Check-in #5

Now that I've read most of the graphic novels on the list, my weekly reading lists won't be as impressive from here on out.  I discovered a few gems this week, so my reading time was time well-spent.  Who am I kidding?  It usually is.

The Nazi Hunters: How a Team of Spies and Survivors Captured the World's Most Notorious Nazi by Neal Bascomb

Adolph Eichmann was the Nazi commander in charge of transporting millions of people to their deaths in concentration camps during WWII. After the war, he disappeared without a trace. A team of spies eventually tracked him down and brought him to Israel for a trial. Eichmann's trial gave survivors a chance to tell their stories and made the horrors of the Holocaust a reality for people around the world.

Though the story is an important one, I wonder if something got lost in the adaptation of this book from the adult book Hunting Eichmann. The storytelling itself is not exactly riveting, though the book is obviously well-researched and the story could be exciting. The writing style didn't do much for me.

Help for the Haunted by John Searles

When a middle of the night phone call summons her parents to a deserted church on a snowy night, Sylvie isn't all that surprised. After all, her parents' unusual vocation--helping troubled souls find peace--often takes them to strange places. On this night, Sylvie sleeps in the car until she is awakened by gunshots. Running into the church, she sees...

From here, the story alternates between past and present as Sylvie tries to solve the mystery behind her parents' murder. Lots of creepy moments (but not gory ones) make this a suspenseful read that would be appropriate for middle and upper grade readers. The paranormal aspect of the story was well done and kept me guessing.

Keep the lights on while you read and don't forget to lock the basement door!

Beautiful Music for Ugly Children by Kirstin Cronn-Mills

This book is the reason I participate in the YALSA Hub Reading Challenge. Every year, I pick up a bunch of books that I wouldn't normally read and find a few gems that I would have missed.

Gabe has always known he's a guy. Unfortunately, he is trapped in a girl's body and his family and friends know him as Liz. Gabe's family has a difficult time accepting him, even though they do love him. His best friend is accepting and supportive, but Gabe wants more than friendship, which causes some tension. I loved Gabe's relationship with John, a neighbor and mentor who provides the kind of unconditional support and love that every young adult needs.

Music is a huge part of this novel, from the A side/B side metaphor to the "_____ is the New Elvis" chapter titles to the many song and artist references. I think that most teen readers will relate to Gabe's passion for music and his efforts to be true to himself.

I cheered for Gabe and cried for him and I will enthusiastically recommend this book to my students. However, what kept me from giving this five stars was the one-dimensional bullies and the too-neat ending. That said, this is one of my favorites from the challenge so far.

A few favorite quotes:

"That's what bites about the future--there's no way to predict it. You just have to show up and see what happens."

"Rush Limbaugh can't be the new Elvis; he's too mean."

Strobe Edge, Volumes 1-6 by Io Sakisaka 

I really had to force myself to keep reading these. First of all, I am not a manga fan. Reading left to right is so ingrained in me that I kept reading the panels in the wrong order and having to go back and reread. The whole "I love him/her, but he/she doesn't like me back" got old pretty quickly. Twelve year old girls might like this series, but I did not.

Boxers by Gene Luen Yang

Boxers and Saints #1.

The Boxer Rebellion took place in China during the 1890s. Gene Luen Yang tells the story of this bloody war in two parts, the first from the perspective of Little Bao, a young Chinese boy who learns kung fu and how to use the power of the ancient Chinese gods. He eventually recruits an army (the Boxers) to defend his village and the rest of the countryside from foreign missionaries.

In his quest to free China from these "foreign devils," Little Bao becomes a person he can no longer recognize. This is a war story. It's a violent and not especially hopeful look at what happens when people go to war over culture and religion.

Saints by Gene Luen Yang

Boxers and Saints #2.

The Boxer Rebellion took place in China during the 1890s. Gene Luen Yang tells the story of this bloody war in two parts, the second from the perspective of Four Girl/Vibiana, a Chinese girl who converts to Christianity and sees visions of Joan of Arc. Her story intersects with that of Little Bao. 

As he does so well in his other work, the author combines realistic and magical elements that all come together in the end. This bloody and violent war story is not a happy one, but the vibrant artwork and compelling storyline will appeal to young adult readers.

2014 YALSA Hub Reading Challenge Check-in #4

Hooray for graphic novels! Quick and worthwhile reads helped pump up my total for the challenge. Since the weather is not giving me anything to be joyful about, at least I had some good books to help keep me warm.

Dogs of War by Sheila Keenan and Nathan Fox

I can never get enough books featuring animals to satisfy my students, and this is one that I will certainly add to my collection.

Three short stories inspired by real MWDs (military working dogs) show how dogs helped soldiers survive during wartime. The first story features Boots, a Mercy Dog during WWI.  His job was to locate wounded soldiers who might otherwise be left for dead.  The second story features Loki, a sled dog who protects his trainer's life during WWII.  The third story is the book's emotional center, featuring Lanford, a Vietnam veteran struggling to cope with PTSD.  A young neighbor and his naughty puppy enable Lanford to talk about his experiences in Vietnam and his close relationship with his scout dog, Sheba.

Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina

When Piddy transfers to a new school, she's not too happy about it. But things quickly go from bad to worse when a school bully threatens to kick her ass for no apparent reason. At first, Piddy doesn't take the threat seriously, but as Yaqui and her friends continue to stalk her, Piddy gradually withdraws from everyone around her.

I enjoyed the Spanish sprinkled throughout the story and I think that teens, especially girls, will be able to relate to Piddy's struggle.

Will & Whit by Laura Lee Gulledge

Will (Wilhelmina) Huckstep is a smart and funny young woman who tries to avoid thinking about a family tragedy. She doesn't talk about her feelings with her aunt or her friends, but she is afraid of the dark and creates lamps out of found objects to try to chase away the shadows she fears. When Hurricane Whitney comes to town, Will has to find a way to keep the darkness at bay.


This is a beautifully done graphic novel with a focus on character development rather than plot. Will gradually learns to face her fears and to deal with her emotions so that she (and her friends) can move n with their lives. Despite a few places where the dialogue was a bit heavy-handed during Will's emotional breakthrough, the story was enjoyable and moving. I would especially recommend this for girls who are dealing with tough issues in their own lives.

March (Book One) by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell

Book one of a planned trilogy about the life of Congressman John Lewis.

Congressman Lewis, an important part of the civil rights movement, started his life on a sharecropper's farm, preaching to his chickens and dreaming of becoming a preacher. He eventually met Dr. Martin Luther King and Jim Lawson and got involved in the non-violent protest movement. The student protesters were non-violent, but their opponents were not. I am in awe of the kind of bravery it took to stand up to violence and unfair treatment without lashing out and returning fire.

This well-done graphic novel chronicles an important period in American history and reminds us what can be accomplished when a group of people is united in a common cause.

The Adventures of Superhero Girl by Faith Erin Hicks

Our kick-ass heroine can leap tall buildings, but being a superhero is not exactly paying the bills.  She's angsty and insecure, and she feels overshadowed by her big brother who is, well, superhero-ier. I loved the artwork and the story.  I look forward to adding this title to my classroom library and sharing it with students far and wide ('cause that's MY superpower).

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I read this one for a book club and NOT for the YALSA Challenge.

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Victoria was abandoned as a baby and has spent her childhood in a dizzying array of foster homes and group homes. She is a prickly, unlikable character, but as we see in the glimpses of her childhood, she has some pretty good reasons for refusing to trust the people who profess to care about her. In chapters that alternate between past and present, we gradually learn Victoria's story and how she sabotaged her last chance to be adopted. Her regrets about Elizabeth, who could have been her mother, haunt her.

Her one passion is flowers and their meanings (which she learned from Elizabeth). After turning 18 and being emancipated by the state, she becomes homeless until a chance encounter with a gruff Russian florist leads to a job and a place to live. She meets a guy at the flower market who understands the language of flowers. One of my favorite scenes in the book is their back and forth dialogue, spoken entirely with flowers.

The author lost me in the middle of the novel. Just when Victoria seems to be opening to the possibility of love, she walks away. The plot in this section felt forced and unbelievable. And Victoria made some decisions that were very difficult to either like or understand.

Victoria started to grow up a bit during the final third of the story and I was drawn back in. While the ending wasn't exactly happy, I found it at least hopeful.

Especially in the first third of the novel, I found the language beautiful and poetic. I'm not sure if the writing actually got less polished toward the end or if I noticed more awkward language as I went on because I wasn't as caught up in the story. This book made for a great book club discussion, as opinions ranged all over the map!

Since reading this book, when I'm in a bad mood I want to surround myself with thistles.