May 2007

The Indianhead Federated Library System presents

Starred Reviews

New and Notable Books for Young People

May 2007 * Eau Claire, WI

The books in this newsletter were given starred reviews by the following periodicals: School Library Journal (SLJ), Publisher’s Weekly (PW), Booklist (BL), Horn Book (HB), Voices for Youth Advocates (VOYA) and Criticas (CR). Library binding prices and ISBNs are noted. Quotations have been taken directly from the reviews. This selection tool has been created to assist IFLS library staff wade through the 5,000-5,500 children’s and young adult titles published each year. Librarians should consider which of the following books best fit their collection and clientele.

Note: VOYA reviews rank books by Quality (Q) and Popularity (P), with 5 being the highest rating, 1 being the lowest. For your convenience, I have included this code with each VOYA review. Books receiving a 5Q or 5P are included in this edition.

Picture Books

Juvenile Fiction

Non-fiction
YA Fiction

Audio

Picture Books

Charlip, Remy. A Perfect Day. HarperCollins/Greenwillow, $17.89 (978-0-06-051973-5)

(PreS-gr.2) “...father and son...gentle story...perfect day consist of doing ordinary things...simple illustrations resemble something a youngster might draw...comforting atmosphere...love...easy for beginning readers to enjoy...also ideal for one-on-one sharing ...perfect example of parent and child bonding.” (SLJ)

Lobel, Anita. Nini Here and There. Greenwillow, $17.89 (0-06-078768-6)

(PreS-K) “...few words on each page...striped tabby who watches her owners pack for a big trip...zipped into a carrier...falls asleep...awakens to find that she’s been brought to a beautiful countryside home, her people by her side...artwork...endearing delight...With just tiny modifications of lines and angles...coaxes distinct expressions out of Nini’s whiskered face...captures a family’s warmth...without ever showing a human face...” (BL)

Onishi, Satoru. Who’s Hiding? Kane/Miller, $14.95 (978-1-933605-24-1)

(PreS) “...elegantly simple concept book...eighteen animals, six colors, and the concept of camouflage...first spread....white background with each animal labeled... spreads alternate between colored backgrounds that camouflage one or more animals and white backgrounds...reader must figure out what has changed...challenges become more difficult as the book progresses...sure to become a dog-eared favorite...” (HB)

Patricelli, Leslie. The Birthday Box. Candlewick, $15.99 (978-0-6736-2825-3)

(PreS) “...child...gets a present from Grandma...discovers ‘a big brown box!’... full of possibilities...lets imagination reign...finally opens...stuffed dog...two of them can create adventures...simple first-person narration is refreshing...paintings are rudimentary but nonetheless expressive and endearing...perfect birthday book for a toddler...would also work well for storytime.” (SLJ)

Perkins, Lynne Rae. Pictures from Our Vacation. Greenwillow, $17.89 (978-0-06-085098-2)

(K-gr. 3) “...insight, warm humor...family’s summer vacation...life doesn’t always live up to expectations...But then relatives gather for a family reunion...gang of cousins...too busy to take photos...exhilaratingly free in her approach to the picture book form...incorporates the girl’s snapshots and notebook entries into both text and art...maps...type placement...attention to the details of childhood...” (HB) (BL)

Juvenile Fiction

Avi. The Traitor’s Gate. Illus. by Karina Raude. S&S/Atheneum/A Richard Jackson Book, $17.99 (978-0-689-85335-7)

(gr. 5-9) “...19^th century...traitors, spies, family...John Huffam’s father works as a clerk in the Naval Ordinance Office in London...suspected of trying to sell a secret ...to pay his gambling debts. When he is arrested...14-year-old John...must seek financial help from a distant relative...unravel the mystery surrounding his father...perfectly captures John’s passage from naive boy to disillusioned young man...Victorian tale charmingly told in Victorian fashion...vividly...brings London...to life...action-packed...” (SLJ)

Kelly, Tom. Finn’s Going. Greenwillow, $17.89 (0-06-121454-X)

(gr. 6-9) “...Danny and Finn are identical twins...death of one twin...the survivor, now 10, the world has become wobbly and unsafe. He runs away from home, trying to remove the painful reminder his face bears for others...journeys to the island where his family...last vacationed together...looks for a way to make sense of his guilt and grief... who he is and who he isn’t...powerful novel...realistic perspective of a smart, funny kid...sad...ultimately life-affirming...” (BL)

Michaels, Rune. Genesis Alpha. Atheneum/S&S, $15.99 (978-1-4169-1886-8)

(gr. 6-9) “Skillfully interweaving science fiction and cyberspace into a murder mystery...difficult to put down...poses questions that will linger long after the last page is turned. Josh and Max are brothers...Josh was conceived to provide Max with the stem cells that saved his life at seven years old...thirteen years later, their world has turned inside out...Max...in jail accused of murdering a girl...challenging themes...balanced perspective...” (VOYA 4Q5P)

Newton, Robert. Runner. Knopf, $15.99 (978-0-375-83744-9)

(gr. 5 and up) “Australian...16-year-old Charlie...1919 Melbourne. After his father’s death...Responsible for caring for his impoverished family...runs several miles nightly...speed attracts the attention of local crime boss...offers him a job as a runner... takes the job...far too dangerous...neighbor...offers to train him for the big Bellarat Mile Race...best opportunity for redemption...tender...bright, engaging dialogue, compelling historical setting, and fully developed characters...”(PW)

O’Connor, Barbara. How to Steal a Dog. Farrar/Frances Foster Bks., $16 (978-0-374-33497-0)

(gr. 3-7) “Georgina and her family have been living in their car since her father left...Mama is working two jobs...trying hard to hold things together...Georgina decides to steal a dog for the reward money...dog’s owner can’t afford to offer a reward...ends up feeling sorry for the lonely woman...honest and deeply touching...Readers will identify with the agony...caused by being different...struggles with her conscience...endearing humor...poignant...theme of love and emphasizes what is really right in the world.” (SLJ)

Riordan, Rick. The Titan’s Curse. Hyperion/Miramax, $17.95 (1-4231-0145-6)

(gr. 6-9) “Just after finding Bianca and Nico, two newly discovered half-bloods, Percy, Grover, Annabeth and Thalia end up trapped between a helicopter and a manticore...Annabeth disappears over a cliff... pitting them against the usual assortment of colorful adversaries...exciting installment, depth to the characters...nonstop laughs and action.” (BL)

Scott, Michael. The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel. Delacorte, $19.99 (978-0-385-90372-1)

(gr. 6-9) “...incorporates ancient myth and legend and sets it firmly, pitch-perfect, in present-day California...15-year-old twins...potentially powerful magicians...spoken of in a prophecy...evil John Dee, alchemist and magician...pursuit of the twins and Flamel by Dee...exhilarating action...small details of character and dialogue...evocative descriptions of people, mythical beings and places...enthralling story...” (SLJ) (VOYA 5Q4P)

Walden, Mark. H.I.V.E.: Higher Institute of Villainous Education. Simon & Schuster, $15.99 (978-1-4169-3571-1)

(gr. 6-9) “James Bond meets Harry Potter...Thirteen-year-old Otto, a boy genius, is kidnapped from the orphanage that he has molded into his own small kingdom...to H.I.V.E. to learn the secrets of global domination...Leaving...is not an option...Otto... attempts an audacious escape...writing is not always polished, the subject matter is just pure fun...Fans of the Alex Rider Adventures...will love this book.” (VOYA 3Q5P)

Wizards: Magical Tales from the Masters of Modern Fantasy. Jack Dann and Garner Dozois, Eds. Berkley, $25 (978-0-425-21518-0)

(gr. 7 to adult) “...eighteen never-before-published stories...Neil Gaiman, Orson Scott Card, Jane Yolen...compendium of tales about wizards of all stripes...both contemporary and ancient times...fantastic and realistic...something for all fantasy fans... showcases modern fantasy writers at the top of their form...Wonderfully imaginative and fun to read...” (VOYA 5Q2P)

Non-fiction

Aston, Dianna Hutts. A Seed Is Sleepy. Illus. by Sylvia Long. Chronicle, $16.95 (978-0-8118-5220-4)

(gr. 1-4) “...contemplative look at the natural world...introduction to seeds and plants...will stretch children’s minds and imaginations. Each spread is devoted to the seed’s many attributes...does not shy away from words that children may be unfamiliar with...constructs sentences that define these words in terms children can understand...ink-and-watercolor sketches....rich color and intricate detail...cursive writing...” (SLJ)

Barasch, Lynn. Hiromi’s Hands. Lee & Low, $17.95 (978-1-58430-275-9)

(K-gr.3) “...picture-book biography...two sushi chefs: a father and daughter... scrubbing the floor for the first year, cooking rice for the second...long days for 10 years...Young Hiromi...especially wanted to learn her father’s trade...achievement is celebrated in a spread of labeled, delicately arranged sushi...pronunciation guide... inspiring story...informative...study in perseverance...will appeal to a varied audience.” (SLJ)

Debon, Nicoas. The Strongest Man in the World: Louis Cyr. Groundwood, $17.95 (978-0-88899-731-9)

(K-gr.6) “...well-known Canadian...nineteenth century was widely regarded as the strongest man in the world...impressive amount of biographical information...childhood in...Quebec...triumphant European tour...his own circus...graphic novel-style format...let us feel as if we really know the man...pleasing to the eye...” (HB)

Demi. The Legend of Lao Tzu and the Tao Te Ching. Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry, $21.99 (1-4169-1206-1)

(gr. 4-7) “Visual stunner...beauty of its art and design...sensitive textual presentation...Nearly half the pages relate the story of Lao Tzu...heart of the book are 20 verses from the Tao Te Ching...how to live a virtuous life...pithy, sometimes paradoxical verses...Dominating each...page...large circle of shining gold that frames the illustrations and the text...one of the best...” (BL)

Dickinson, Terence. Nightwatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe. Fourth Edition. Firefly, $35 (978-1-55407-147-0)

(gr. 7-12) “Aspiring stargazers will find everything that they need to unlock the secrets of the night sky...newly updated...explains both what to look for and how to find it in easy-to-understand text...conveys a sense of wonder and excitement...tables that give the dates for eclipses and the visibility of the planets...enough information...to make the book useful for students looking for basic astronomy homework help. Gorgeous photographs...” (VOYA 5Q3P)

Florian, Douglas. Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings. Harcourt, $16 (978-0-15-205372-7)

(K-6) “...Moving from universe to galaxy to solar system...sums up the heavens in twenty snappy rhymes...tongue-in-cheek but never so much as to distort the information he conveys...full-spread paintings...sometimes echo historical astronomy... gorgeous palette...expansive and illuminating view of the subject...glossary...” (HB)

Jenkins, Steve. Dogs and Cats. Houghton, $16 (978-0-618-50767-2)

(K-gr. 6) “...uniquely styled flip-book comparison of dogs and cats...extensive text and multiple sidebars explicate social and physical characteristics, life cycle, domestication, evolution, and breeds...plenty of trivia...tied to behavior...readers can observe in pets...scientifically engaging and aesthetically pleasing...inviting, multidimensional introduction to the pets we love.”(HB) (BL) (SLJ)

Malone, Peter. Close to the Wind: The Beaufort Scale. Putnam, $16.99 (978-0-399-24399-8)

(gr. 3-6) “Captain Francis Beaufort of the Royal Navy...1805-1810...graduated scale for measuring the wind...entirely informative and utterly charming...rousing story... William Bentley, who provides the engaging narrative voice, is a fictional midshipman on the Zephyr...paintings...clarity, detail, and use of forms...many small inset drawings give information on sailing ships...map of the voyage...biography of Beaufort...will take promotion...” (SLJ)

McGavin, George. Endangered: Wildlife on the Brink of Extinction. Firefly, $35 (978-1-55407-183-8)

(gr. 6-12) “...compelling book about biodiversity... in the next century, between twenty and fifty percent of the world’s animal species could be lost...simple, nonscientific prose and fully illustrated with color photographs, maps and many sidebars...visually appealing as well as intellectually stimulating...overview of mass extinction events...more than fifty classes of animals...on the endangered list...things humans can do to slow down...extinction...preservation...timely and relevant... “(VOYA 5Q4P)

Miller, Lee. Roanoke: The Mystery of the Lost Colony. Scholastic, $18.99 (978-0-439-71266-8)

(gr. 6-9) “...lost colony of Roanoke, founded in 1587...deserted...no trace... competitive political situation...mistreatment of the Secota Indians...threat of pirates...changing attitudes of Queen Elizabeth...primary source documents and drawings, many reproduced in the text...fascinating look at the darker side of history...successfully pared down to an elementary level from her adult book on the same topic.” (VOYA 5Q2P)

Morley, David. Healing Our World: Inside Doctors Without Borders. Fitzhenry & Whiteside, $18.95 (978-1-55041-565-0)

(gr. 6 and up) “...excellent, timely, and relevant...general information...journal entries giving personal, detailed, and dated accounts that summarize the group’s work... El Salvador...Congo...Zambia...easy-to-read text...black-and-white photos...fascinating volume... ‘evidence that someone actually cares.’” (SLJ)

Reber, Deborah. In Their Shoes: Extraordinary Women Describe Their Amazing Careers. S&S/Pulse, $12.99 (pap.) (978-1-4169-2578-1)

(gr. 8 and up) “...fun, accessible book...interview...sidebars and lists on what to do now to prepare...timeline of how her career took shape over the years...variety of careers is impressive...forensic scientist...social worker...actress. At the end of each chapter there is a list of complementary careers...at least one Web site for further information...fine addition to any collection.” (SLJ) (VOYA 5Q4P)

Rosing, Norbert. The World of the Polar Bear. Firefly, $45 (978-1-55407-155-5)

(gr. 6 to adult) “...incredible photographic journey through the seasons in the world of the polar bear...text...first person...relates experiences in the pursuit of the photographs...enticing photos will encourage students to read the text that includes... interactions with other wildlife, sky phenomena...afterword by a research scientist... certain to get a lot of attention.” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Schertle, Alice. We. Illus. by Kenneth Addison. Lee & Low, $16.95 (978-1-58430-060-1)

(gr. 1 and up) “...broad chronicling of human history...collective first-person narrative that lyrically traces human evolution, from apes to astronauts...mixed-media collages...unpunctuated free verse never mentions race...multicultural tone of the book echoes loudly in the diverse people pictured...bold spreads that invite lingering...busy, eclectic mix of pastels, paint, torn paper and photographs...placing the innovations against the larger context of the natural world...compelling...” (PW)

Scholastic CHOICES. Franklin Watts/Scholastic, $22.50

Jones, Jami L. Bouncing Back: Dealing with the Stuff Life Throws at You. (978-0-531-12404-8)

Trueit, Trudi Strain. Surviving Divorce: Teens Talk About What Hurts and What Helps. (978-0-531-12368-3)

(Gr. 6-9) “...seek to address localized turmoil in adolescent lives...visually engaging and realistic...Voices of real teens...documented statistics...glossary...Non-condescending tips...checklists...straightforward and down-to-earth...welcome path toward emotional maturity and self-reflection.” (VOYA 5Q3P)

Sidman, Joyce. This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness. Illus. by Pamela Zagarenski. Houghton, $16 (978-0-618-61680-0)

(gr. 4-7) “Mrs. Merz assigns her sixth-grade students to write poems of apology... surprising array of emotions, poetic forms, and subjects...accessible to young people... delicately outlined collage drawings and paintings...creativity and...wisdom.” (SLJ)

Sullivan, Edward T. The Ultimate Weapon: The Race to Develop the Atomic Bomb. Holiday House, $24.95 (978-0-8234-1855-8)

(gr. 6-12) “...highly readable history of the development and eventual use of the atomic bomb...Quotes from military personnel, laundresses, and scientists are interwoven in the text...human picture of patriotism, sacrifice, and stress...political and ethical implications...living conditions...horrific results...balanced and unbiased... interdisciplinary ...laden with photographs.” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Treaster, Joseph B. Hurricane Force: In the Path of America’s Killer Storms. Kingfisher, $16.95 (978-0-7534-6086-3)

(gr. 4-8) “...serious scientific and socioeconomic look at one of nature’s deadliest forces. From the tragic Galveston storm of 1900 to Katrina and Rita in 2005...weather factors...how scientists define their possible paths...precautions for the future...Sidebars touch on...global warming...disaster of the use of the Superdome...focal point is Hurricane Katrina...” (SLJ)

Voices from Colonial America. National Geographic, $21.95.

Doak, Robin. California, 1542-1850. (978-0-7922-6408-8)

Hossell, Karen. Delaware, 1638-1776. (978-0-7922-6408-8)

(gr. 6-9) “...part of a beautifully produced series...each of the original thirteen colonies as well as Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, and Texas...traces the history of the colony from the time of its first European settlers through officially becoming a state...fist-person accounts...chronological chapters...topical sections...lovely, calm layout...primary source illustrations...period maps, pamphlets, paintings and drawings...could use a clear map...time line...Web sites...” (VOYA 5Q3P)

YA Fiction

21 Proms. Edited by David Levithan and Daniel Ehrenhaft. Scholastic/Point, $8.99 (paper) (978-0-439-89029-8)

(gr. 9 and up) “...impressive array of 21 authors...Ranging from sad to funny to truly disastrous...wide cross section of prom nights from both male and female perspectives...celebration of all that is good, bad, and sometimes unforgettable...fast-paced but carefully strung...Clever writing...razor-sharp wit...some of the best teen fiction writers of our era.” (SLJ)

Arnold, Tedd. Rat Life. Sleuth/Dial, $16.99 (978-0-8037-3020-7)

(gr. 7-12) “Fledgling writer Todd...teacher...makes a few critical red marks suggesting that she actually likes his writing style...son of a couple of motel managers in the 1970s...helping out Rat, a mysterious Vietnam veteran...mystery...story and characters are more interesting than those in a simple whodunit...fascinating action is so character driven...” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Bowers, Laura. Beauty Shop for Rent: Fully Equipped, Inquire Within. Harcourt, $17 (978-0-15-205764-0)

(gr. 7 –12) “Fourteen-year-old Abby Garner...has lived with her great-grandmother Granny Po since her mother abandoned her three years earlier...women in her family...each had a baby by age 17...determined to avoid the same fate, instead she is intends to become a millionaire by age 35...Gena Hopkins...rents...beauty shop...posh day spa...emotional turmoil rings true...multigenerational friendships...a delight.” (PW)

Castellucci, Cecil. Beige. Candlewick, $16.99 (978-0-7636-3066-9)

(gr. 7-12) “Fourteen-year-old Katy is not happy...stay with her estranged father in Los Angeles while her beloved mother attends an archeological dig in Peru...The Rat—as Katy’s father is known...has high hopes for the comeback of his band, the legendary Suck...initially disgusted by her father’s friends...dingy surroundings...feels “beige”...story moves quickly...does not come to the expected end...true to its punk heart...” (VOYA 4Q5P)

Chima, Cinda Williams. The Wizard Heir. Hyperion/DBG, $17.99 (978-1-4231-0487-2)

(gr. 6-12) “Seph McCauley knows that he is different...magical powers...keep causing trouble...secluded private school...needs wizard training...cost is too steep... exceptional follow-up novel [to The Warrior Heir]...richly drawn characters... wonderfully rich web of magic...leaving some dangling threads for subsequent tales.” (VOYA 5Q5P)

Clarke, Judith. One Whole and Perfect Day. Front Street, $16.95 (1-932425-95-6)

(gr. 6-12) “...traces the minds and movements of eight characters through chance meetings, family rifts, and decisive moments to a final, festive celebration of unity. Sixteen-year-old Lily, tired of being sensible, decides to fall in love...Red-necked Pop...takes a walk down memory lane...Together, these small decisions, actions... converge...a miracle of identities revealed, kindness rewarded and apologies accepted...” (HB)

Corrigan, Eireann. Ordinary Ghosts. Scholastic, $16.99 (0-439-83243-8)

(gr. 9-12) “Sixteen-year-old Emil lives alone with his militaristic father after his mother dies and his charismatic older brother, Ethan, disappears...Emil discovers that Ethan had the master key to their...school...finds a girl...shocking revelations about his mother’s death and Ethan’s sudden departure...shines with language that authentically echoes teen speech patterns and slang (including some swearing)...memorable...realistic, fully developed characters...” (BL)

Duncan, Dave. Mother of Lies. Tor, $24.95 (978-0-765-31484-0)

(gr. 9-adult) “...gods reward the dedication of their initiates with power...four siblings...Celebres...join forces...sequel to Children of Chaos...creates a world...preface...is invaluable, providing needed background...Brutality...amount of violence distressing...very satisfying...” (VOYA 5Q2P)

Ehrenberg, Pamela. Ethan, Suspended. Eerdmans, $16 (978-0-802-853-240)

(gr. 7-10) “After Ethan is suspended from his suburban Philadelphia junior high...grandparents he barely knows in an inner-city neighborhood in Washington, D.C. Suddenly the white, privileged kid finds that he is the ‘cracker’ freak in an almost entirely black and Latino school...time warp...feels alone...falls in love...redefine his meaning of home...themes of race and class without sounding preaching...politics are right at the surface...Best of all the portraits of his scrappy Jewish grandparents...” (BL)

Erskine, Kathryn. Quaking. Philomel, $16.99 (978-0-399-24774-3)

(gr. 6-12) “After Matt’s (Matilda’s) father abuses her mother to death, Matt...stays... relatives...At fourteen, Matt has learned some survival skills—don’t feel, don’t get close...don’t talk...Sam and Jessica...gang of extreme war supporters; Quaker pacifists Sam and Jessica...underscoring the many different definitions of what it means to be an American...Focus on Matt...saves the book from being preachy...structure is more complicated than it first appears...” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Hall, Albyn Leah. The Rhythm of the Road. Thomas Dunn Books/St. Martins, $24.95 (978-0-312-35944-7)

(gr. 9-12) “Jo...truck-driving Northern Irish [father]...traversing the U.K...shared passion for country music—especially that of Cosima...adolescent Jo struggles... Bobby, struggling with depression...rift between father and daughter...Bobby disappears... suspected suicide... writing is captivating and rhythmic...emotions...ring true...mature readers may take away powerful lessons on growing up.” (VOYA 5Q2P)

Halpin, Brendan. How Ya Like Me Now. Farrar Straus Giroux, $16 (978-0-374-33495-6)

(gr. 6-12) “...cousins Eddie and Alex, thrust together under one roof when Eddie’s...mother goes through drug rehab...two of the few white students...drama is realistic...strong, solid offering... “(VOYA 5Q4P)

Hautman, Pete. All-In. Simon & Schuster, $15.99 (978-1-4169-1325-2)

(gr. 7-12) “...picks up where No Limit ...leaves off...Denn, now seventeen, living in Vegas, playing serious, serious poker for serious, serious stakes...unbeatable streak...master at studying...body language, facial expressions, and gambling behaviors of his opponents...luck flips dramatically...Skillfully using the multiple-voice approach... thrilling story of loss, good versus evil, and redemption...guaranteed to make parents and teachers uneasy.” (VOYA 5Q5P)

Johnson, Peter. What Happened. Front Street, $16.95 (978-1-932-425-673)

(gr. 7-12) “...narrator...mother is dead, his father has abandoned both him and his older brother...involved, as passengers, in a hit-and-run accident. Should they go to the police?...unusual grace and tenderness about kids who are troubled...by the necessity of moral choice when their lives seem to be nothing but a ‘combination of catastrophes and dumb decisions.’...voice...is breathtakingly good...Fans of Robert Cormier will welcome...” (BL)

Marr, Melissa. Wicked Lovely. HarperCollins, $16.99 (978-0-06-121465-3)

(gr. 7 and up) “...page-turning plot and an ample dose of sexual tension. Seventeen-year-old Aislinn has a secret; she sees fairies everywhere...handsome Keenan takes a particular interest in her...on a centuries-long quest for his queen...Aislinn confides her secret to her friend Seth, whose steel-walled home...protects her from the fey...secrets emerge about Aislinn’s family history...fully imagined faery world that runs alongside an everyday world...” (PW)

Modesitt, L.E., Jr. Soarer’s Choice. Tor, $27.95 (978-0-765-31647-9)

(gr. 9 to adult) “...concludes second Corean trilogy...background...parasite Alector culture...migrates from planet to planet...High Alectors...begin plotting...to seize power...well-developed characters...ethical protagonists...action-packed... “(VOYA 5Q4P)

Nix, Garth. Lady Friday. Scholastic, $17.99 (0-439-70088-7)

(gr. 6-9) “Young Arthur Penhaliogn...fifth installment of the wonderful and extremely complex Keys to the Kingdom series...must defeat both the wicked Lady Friday and the mysterious Piper...gaining his due as Rightful Heir...enormous inventiveness...Eccentric characters...difficult moral decisions...” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Noel, Alyson. Kiss and Blog. Griffin/St. Martin’s, $8.95 (trade pb) (978-0-312-35509-8)

(gr. 7-12) “Sophomores Winter...and...Sloane plan to skyrocket to the A-Table at Ocean High School...popular crowd has rejected [Winter’s] takeover bid, but accepted Sloan’s...basic teen novel of popularity, obsession, and revenge...resolution is a mite pat...Because the oft-used plot is rampantly popular with teenage girls... despite a predictable course of events.” (VOYA 3Q5P)

The Restless Dead: Ten Original Stories of the Supernatural. Ed. by Deborah Noyes. Candlewick, $16.99 (0-7636-2906-5)

(gr. 8-12) ...terrifying stories from some of the most well-known authors writing for teens...M.T. Anderson, Holly Black, Libby Bray...vampires...vindictive ghosts...Many readers who may typically avoid short story collections will grab this one...creepy cover...evocative title...will deter the faint of heart...seriously scary tales...Highly recommended, and not just for reluctant readers.” (BL)

Ruby, Laura. Chaos King. Eos/HarperCollins, $17.89 (978-0-06-075259-0)

(gr. 6-9) “...sequel to The Wall and the Wing...wicked, clever fun...audacious romp...Bug...superstar corporate spokesperson...Gurl...must cope with being the Richest Girl in the Universe...fame and money are not all that they are cracked up to be...weird things begin to happen...Besieged by re-animated prehistoric behemoths...team up...before the world falls to the forces of Chaos...colorful characters...Biting but subtle social commentary...exceptional standout.” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Sage, Annie. Physik. HarperCollins, $18.89 (978-0-06-057738-4)

(gr. 6-9) “...third installment of the Septimus Heap series...Septimus tries to discover a cure for a mysterious disease...Jenna must deal with an unwelcome ghost of a dreadful queen from the past...manages to have Septimus yanked through a mirror to the Castle five hundred years earlier...quick wit...nonstop adventures...” (VOYA 4Q5P)

Sandell, Lisa Ann. Song of the Sparrow. Scholastic, $16.99 (978-0-439-91848-0)

(gr. 7 and up) “...unique and eloquently wrought addition to Arthurian lore in 44 verses expressing the sentiments of Lady Elaine...motherless tomboy...Raised amisdt soldiers...knows little of what it means to be a woman...passion is roused by handsome Lancelot...despises Gwynivere...but the two women form a bond in the throes of danger after they are kidnapped...remarkable range (and natural progression) of emotions... unconventional...encapsulates modern feminist values...” (PW)

Shusterman, Neal. Darkness Creeping: Twenty Twisted Tales. Penguin Putnam, $7.99 trade pb (978-0-14-240721-9)

(gr. 6-9) “...spooky stories, some old, some new, all delightfully creepy...enough horrific touches to appeal to the most challenging readers...a spook fest of menacing tales—sometimes subtle but always sinister—with plenty of teen appeal.” (VOYA 4Q5P)

Volponi, Paul. Rucker Park Setup. Viking, $15.99 (978-0-670-06130-3)

(Gr. 6-12) “J.R. and Mackey grew up playing pickup basketball in Harlem...state playoffs...college scholarship offers...lifetime goal has always been winning the tournament at Rucker Park...street ball...J.R. is murdered right on the court, and Mackey is left to clean up the mess...feels wholly authentic...character study...murder-mystery element...” (VOYA 5Q5P)

Audio

The One and Only Shrek! Plus 5 Other Stories. By William Steig, read by Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci. Audio Renaissance, unabridged, one CD, one hour, $14.95 (978-1-4272-0152-2)

(K-up) “Listeners will surely hear the glee...full-bodied, though never over-the-top, performances by Streep and Tucci...surprisingly successful as stand-alone vivid audio programs—even without Steig’s terrific, witty watercolors...great facility for vocal sound effects...whole new flavor on audio...” (PW)

Secrets of a Civil War Submarine. By Sally M. Walker, read by J.R. Horne. Listening Library, unabridged, two CDs plus enhanced CD, 2.5 hours, $27 (978-0-7393-3894-0)

(gr.4-9) “Horne’s authoritative yet warm voice is a fine fit for...fascinating exploration of what happed to the Civil War submarine the H.L. Hunley...sunk in 1864...lost...for 131 years...succeeds in keeping scientific concepts from sounding too dry and in making the Hunley feel like a real character...An enhanced CD...crisp slideshow of 81 images and captions...” (PW)