May 2008

The Indianhead Federated Library System presents

Starred Reviews

New and Notable Books for Young People

May 2008 * 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 of 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 items 1-5 for Quality (Q) and 1-5 for Popularity (P).

Contents:

Picture Books
Juvenile Fiction
Non-fiction
YA Fiction

Picture Books

Cordsen, Carol Foskett. Market Day. Illus. by Douglas B. Jones. Dutton, $16.99 (978-0525-47883-6)

(PreS-gr.1) “…funny as it is well crafted…Benson family oversleeps…market day…in all the hubbub everyone forgets to feed the cow…It’s not often that words and art mesh as well as they do here…rhythmic text…scans beautifully…gives a deadpan telling of the goings-on, while the full-page paintings capture all the excitement of trouble…Sharp-eyed kids will see the source of the difficulty…delightful read-aloud for lap-sitters or groups.” (BL)

Elliot, David. On the Farm. Illus. by Holly Meade. Candlewick, $16.99 (978-076-36332-26)

(PreS-gr.2) “…handsome poetry collection…as hearty and comforting as a bowl of sugared porridge…idyllic backdrop…parade of familiar animals…13 pithy, often slyly comic poems…rapid-fire, down-to-earth distillations of animal behavior or characteristics…woodblock printing…judiciously textured images that never anthropomorphize and yet…imply glimmers of innate character…” (BL)

Haseley, Dennis. Twenty Heartbeats. Illus. by Ed Young. Roaring Brook/Porter, $16.95 (978-1-59643-238-3)

(K-gr. 4) “Set in the indeterminate Far East of long ago...lends itself to various levels of interpretation...rich man pays an artist to paint a picture of his beloved horse...after years of waiting, he is furious when the artist paints the picture in little more than ‘twenty heartbeats.’ When he sees the thousands of drawings of his horse in the artist’s studio, however, he understands...text unfolds economically... illustrations...breathe life into the book...” (PW)

Hines, Anna Grossnickle. 1, 2, Buckle My Shoe. Harcourt, $16 (0-15-206305-6)

(PreS-K) “…nursery rhyme…creating color and pizzazz through well-chosen fabrics, fancy stitching, and three-dimensional elements…In half of the paired pictures, a little girl buckles her shoe…and so on, while alternating sets of images boldly represent numerals…jaunty endpapers…bold, simple layouts…playful art…fine-tuned understanding of how young children might use the book as they learn to count…” (BL)

Lee, Suzy. Wave. Chronicle, $15.99 (978-0-8118-5924-0)

(all ages) “...wordless two-color...will charm...explicitly recalls...postwar classics... solitary girl...encounters the ocean...Dueling textures—dry charcoal, wet paint strokes—mirror the silent conversation between the girl and the waves...expressions morph from suspicion to resolve to joy...ocean is alive...book’s oblong shape...dramatic expanse of beach to work with...rewards multiply with rereading.” (PW) (SLJ)

Lorig, Steffanie and Richard. Such a Silly Baby! Illus. by Amanda Shepherd. Chronicle, $15.99 (978-0-8118-5134-3)

(PreS) “...refrain is always the same: ‘But there was a hitch…/my baby got switched,’ and a clueless Mommy ends up with, say, a chimpanzee…Baby is always retrieved with the turn of a page, but the spreads give readers plenty of opportunity to savor his briefly unsupervised cavorting in a comic, exotic setting. Exuberant… practically demands audience participation on the animal noises…buoyantly hued silliness and goofy visual asides…” (PW)

Milway, Katie Smith. One Hen. Illus. by Eugenie Fernandes. Kids Can, $18.95 (978-1-55453-028-1)

(gr. 2-5) “After his father dies, Kojo quits school to help his mother collect firewood to sell...small Ashanti village has elected to try microlending...When it is the boy’s mother’s turn, Kojo uses a few of the coins to buy a hen...slowly but steadily builds the proceeds from that one hen into the largest poultry farm in West Africa...shows how his success impacts the lives of everyone it touches...based on the experiences of an actual Ashanti poultry farmer...illustrations that spark the imagination...authenticate the setting...distinguished book...” (SLJ)

Nedwidek, John. Ducks Don’t Wear Socks. Illus. by Lee White. Viking, $15.99 (978-0-670-06136-5)

(PreS-gr.2) “A serious girl learns to loosen up after meeting a dapper duck with a wacky wardrobe...deadpan retorts...As the story progresses, his outfits and reasons become more outlandish...colorful illustrations bring the story’s humor to life...just plain fun...” (SLJ)

Pullen, Zachary. Friday My Radio Flyer Flew. Illus. by author. S&S, $16.99 (978-1-4169-3983-2)

(PreS-gr.2) “On Saturday a boy discovers his father’s old Radio Flyer in the attic...builds wings for the wagon, which break off...father is a continual presence...Subtle alliteration moves the story through the week...Full-color spreads are oversize and beautifully done...scarcely contain...powerful images of a young boy working out his dream of flying...affirming the bond between boys and their fathers as well as the power of imagination.” (SLJ)

Rodriguez, Edel. Sergio Makes a Splash! Little, Brown, $15.99 (978-0-316-06616-7)

(PreS-gr.1) “Sergio the penguin isn’t afraid of all water—just ‘the very deep kind.’...comic and useful premise...sympathetic presentation...illustrations…minimalist, three-color palette...each pack a poster-like punch...finds occasions for jokes...creates dynamic vignettes and makes even Sergio’s back look expressive...doesn’t sacrifice child appeal in its embrace of up-to-the-minute visual techniques.” (PW)

Rosoff, Meg. Jumpy Jack and Googily. Illus. by Sophie Blackall. Holt, $16.95 (978-0-8050-8066-7)

(PreS-gr.2) “Jumpy jack is a snail with buck teeth and a paralyzing fear of monsters. His friend Googily is a round, blue creatures with...a kind heart...Jumpy Jack repeatedly...asks his friend to check for monsters before they proceed...much visual humor in the contrast between his large features looming up from behind windows and doors...and the snail’s relieved response...creates a wonderfully safe space for children to explore their fears...dry humor...whimsical details...” (SLJ)

Rostoker-Gruber, Karen. Bandit. Illus. by Vincent Nguyen. Marshall Cavendish, $15.99 (978-0-7614-5382-6)

(PreS-gr.2) “Bandit the cat is annoyed to discover that his bed, toys, and tuna are missing...placed in his carrier and put in the car...arrives at an empty house... unimpressed... promptly makes his way back across town to his favorite sunny spot in his house. Except it’s not his house any more...approaches the issue of moving in a fresh way...mixed-media illustrations...funny, stylish...” (SLJ)

Smith, Lane. Madam President. Illus. by the author. Hyperion, $16.99 (1-4231-0846-9)

(K-gr.2) “...sly, witty recitation of a president’s responsibilities, a ponytailed girl has the list down pat: give executive orders (to her cat); negotiate treaties (between said cat and dog)...and veto, veto, veto...no story...amazing artwork...disparate uses of materials and images that often give the look of collage...some winking at adults, this book is very much for kids, who might even come away having learned a bit about presidential duties.” (BL)

Swanson, Susan Marie. The House in the Night. Illus. by Beth Krommes. Houghton Mifflin, $17 (978-0-618-86244-3)

(PreS-gr.1) “Using only a few graceful words per page…bedtime gem…astonishing illustrations are so closely intertwined with the meticulous text that neither can be isolated without a loss of meaning…black-and-white scratchboard illustrations are as delicate and elegant as snowflakes…single color…to bring warmth to both home and stars…both children and adults will treasure.” (PW)

Talbott, Hudson. United Tweets of America. Illus. by author. Putnam, $17.99 (978-0-399-24520-6)

(gr. 2-5) “Gather all of your chuckle-bellied trivia snatchers for a rollicking romp through the states...wise-crack-filled cartoons featuring birds in competition for the “United Tweets of American Pageant.”...flaunt its stuff and introduce its state...plenty to make children laugh...plenty to amuse adults...does not provide the same type of information for each state...dependably names the state bird and capital...small shape map of the state...nickname. After that, it’s a free-for-all...this book is a hoot.” (SLJ)

Vila, Laura. Building Manhattan. Viking, $16.99 (978-0-670-06284-3)

(gr. 1-3) “Tracing the growth of Manhattan from a time ‘before maps or words were used’ to the present day…many lenses—geography, sociology, politics, ethnography…radiantly dramatic mural-like paintings…both fisheye and bird’s-eye views of the island…varies her vantage point from romantic idealism…to surreal…to metaphoric…only one pithy sentence on each spread to convey both a specific moment and a sense of history and human ambition…” (PW)

Juvenile Fiction

Appelt, Kathi. The Underneath. Illus. by David Small. Atheneum, $16.99 (978-1-4169-50585)

(gr. 4-8) “…animals in crisis…strong currents of magic realism…rich and complex…Chained and starved by cruel trapper Gar Face, lonely hound Ranger finds companions in a stray cat and her two kittens…Mother cat falls victim…struggle to keep their makeshift family together…caring, generous bonds…ancient shape-shifter in a moving parallel story…folds in specific traditions of the Caddo peoples of east Texas…bayous as a kind of enchanted forest laden with spirits and benign, organic presences…down-to-earth drawings…perfect match for the book…ebbing, flowing lyricism.” (BL)

Balliett, Blue. The Calder Game. Illus. by Brett Helquist. Scholastic, $17.99 (978-0-439-85207-4)

(gr. 5-8) “Calder, Petra and Tommy, seventh-graders with a penchant for solving art mysteries...When Calder’s father goes to England to attend a conference, he takes Calder along...explore...Woodstock...alone...Before Calder leaves...class visits an exhibit ...Alexander Calder...in Woodstock...shocked to see one of Calder’s sculptures ...despised by the residents...sculpture goes missing, and so does the boy...contrivances ...beauty of the story...potent messages about observations, imagination, and connections ...offers readers new ways to think.” (BL)

Bell, Ted. Nick of Time. St. Martins/Griffin, $17.95 (978-0-312-38068-7)

(gr. 6-9) “...immensely appealing book about 12-year-old Nick McIver, son of a lighthouse owner...off the coast of Great Britain in 1939...action kicks into high gear when Nick finds a sea chest containing a mysterious glowing globe. Hunted by pirates from the past...globe, a time travel device...Nick finds himself bouncing back and forth in time...pluckiest, most likable boy-hero...great battle scenes, lots of nautical jargon, and themes of courage, integrity and honor...” (SLJ)

Birdsall, Jeanne. The Penderwicks on Gardam Street. Knopf, $15.99 (978-0-375-840906).

(gr. 4-7) “The Penderwick sisters...return in another warm family story...opening chapter...tells how the girls’ mother died right after Batty’s birth...four years later, Aunt Claire presents the girls’ father with a letter from his late wife, telling him it’s time to start dating...girls come up with a harebrained scheme to thwart...never much suspense about where all this is going, but things happen in such touching ways that the story is hard to resist...just the sort of cozy fare that’s missing in today’s mean-girl world.” (BL)

Dowell, Frances O’Roark. Shooting the Moon. S&S/Atheneum, $16.99 (978-1-4169-2690-0)

(gr. 5-8) “...Jamie Dexter’s father, The Colonel, a die-hard officer...proud believers in the US military....summer of 1969...brother TJ decides to forgo college and volunteers for the Medical Corps in Vietnam...When TJ sends rolls of film home from the front, Jamie learns how to develop them...chock-full of pictures of his surroundings and...the moon...increasingly disturbing images...father grow disenchanted with the military...her firm world view is shaken...clear, well-paced...spare setting and restrained plot...slightly detached...cohesive and engaging...” (SLJ)

Dunkle, Clare B. The Sky Inside. Atheneum/Ginee Seo, $16.99 (1-4169-5204-7)

(gr. 4-8) “Thirteen-year-old Martin idly wonders about the origins of the railway carts…steel-domed suburb…when he witnesses the removal of a freethinking misfit in one of those carts, he begins to wonder what lurks…parents allow his…sister to depart with a smooth-talking official as part of a ‘product recall’…The Giver casts a long shadow here, but Dunkle makes this dystopian community her own…Pied Piper folktale…vivid, chilling details about his society…entertaining, provocative novel…” (BL)

Ferris, Jean. Twice Upon a Marigold. Harcourt, $17 (978-0-15-206382-5)

(gr. 5 and up) “…sequel to Once Upon a Marigold…tells what happens after evil Queen Olympia’s plot to murder her husband and his daughter Marigold fails…queen… emerges…suffering from amnesia. The new Olympia…is quite a bit more pleasant… Unfortunately, her memory returns…goes back to her old tricks…hilarious warping of fairy-tale conventions…new characters…” (PW)

Grabenstein, Chris. The Crossroads. Random, $19.99 (978-0-37594-6974)

(gr. 5-8) “...Cooooool...book’s cover image (a face peering out of the bark of a tree)...hitchhiking, hot-rodding gohosts...creepy atmosphere, believable story...suspense... characters...contemporary, doo-wop, and even Dickensian types...great sense of timing... Zack Jennings...sees a leering face in a gnarled tree...New York City...at a crossroads just behind Zack’s new home there’s an oak tree capable of branching out into murder... absorbing psychological thriller...rip-roaring ghost story...Expect lots of requests.” (BL)

Hardinge, Frances. Well Witched. HarperCollins, paper, $17.89 (978-0-060-880-392)

(gr. 5-8) “…contemporary England…friends Ryan, Josh and Chelle become stranded in an outlying area and need bus fare home…old wishing well and swiping coins…spirit living in the well has granted them weird, unwieldy powers and demands that they make other people’s wishes (those made on the stolen coins) come true… compelling though sometimes disquieting…quirky but believable characters…readers… may find the narrative’s darkness and density oppressive at times…beautiful, precise imagery…” (BL)

Jones, Diana Wynne. House of Many Ways. Greenwillow, $18.89 (978-006-1477966)

(gr. 6-9) “…madcap world of Howl’s Moving Castle…equally rollicking, enchantment-filled tale…story centers on Charmain, a bookish teen. When Charmain’s great uncle William, the king’s Royal Wizard, falls deathly ill…taken in by elves for a cure, Charmain is sent to look after William’s house…discovers she has inherited some of his gifts…elaborate and satisfying comic fantasy…delicious characters…” (BL)

McKay, Hilary. Forever Rose. McElderry, $16.99 (978-1-4169-5486-6)

(gr. 4-8) “...fifth in the series...Eleven-year-old Rose, the youngest...most off-center member of this off-center family...emotional heart...older siblings growing up and pulling away...never...tidy...hectic but beautifully orchestrated plot...spillover issues from the previous books...new messy relationships, triumphs, and pleasures...surprises...final volume of the Casson family saga...hilarious disaster scenes...moving and entirely unsentimental celebration of the virtue of kindness.” (HB)(SLJ)(PW)

Murdock, Catherine Gilbert. Princess Ben. Houghton, $16 (978-0-618-95971-6)

(gr. 6-8) “...deliciously frothy yet substantial fairy tale...Fifteen year old Princess Ben...petulant and indulged—wakes up one morning to find that her parents have been killed in a violent attack...cold, haughty Queen Sophia...mysterious tower...learns how to conjure up the four elements...threads of political intrigue, romance, adventure, self-actualization, and feminism...interwoven with skill and verve...prose sweeps the reader up and never falters...original turns of phrase...” (SLJ) (BL)

Prineas, Sarah. The Magic Thief. HarperCollins, $17.89 (978-0-061-375-880)

(gr. 4-6) “ …Conn is a thief, but…becomes a wizard by book’s end…picks the pocket of the wizard Nevery, who is startled that the nicked magical stone didn’t kill the boy…takes on Conn as a servant…boy’s inquisitiveness and talents move him to apprentice…Nevery…save the city-state, which is faltering as its magic seeps away…irresistible voice…series…” (BL)

Stewart, Trenton Lee. The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey. Illus. by Diana Sudyka. Little, Brown/Megan Tingley Bks, $16.99 (978-0-316-0570-6)

(gr. 5-7) “What was supposed to have been a reunion with Mr. Benedict turns into trouble for the four young heroes of The Mysterious Benedict Society...Mr. Benedict and his assistant Number 2 have been kidnapped...set off to rescue him, aided by a set of clues Mr. Benedict left before his abduction. Adventure and danger...combination of courage and their amazing talents...not just a rip-roaring adventure with plenty of clever twists...but also a warm and satisfying tale about friendship.” (SLJ)

Thompson, Kate. The Last of the High Kings. Greenwillow, $17.89 (978-0-06-117596-1)

(gr. 5-8) “...The New Policeman...sequel...equally intricate and even more cohesive...deepening our perception of established characters...Irish fairy world of Tìr na n’Òg and the human world...J.J. Liddy...grown-up with a family of his own...agrees to swap his own baby for a changeling in return for some chiming maple wood to make fiddles...changeling, Jenny...works to protect the world from a pùka and its monstrous companions...patient skill in letting readers piece together this plot-puzzle peaks of narrative surprise...emotional satisfaction...triumph...through sacrifice despite fallibility all around...” (HB)(PW)

Non-fiction

Dictatorships. Twenty-First Century/Lerner, $36.80

Gay, Kathlyn. Mao Zedong’s China. 978-0-8225-7285-5

Markel, Rita J. Fidel Castro’s Cuba. 978-0-8225-7284-8

(gr. 7-12) “…Fidel Castro…compelling study of this complex man…privileged childhood…controversial dictator of Cuba…political impact…few glimpses into his personal…life…Mao Zedong…simple style…places Mao in context with other rulers of China…more personal life…abundance of intriguing photographs…invaluable resource for young students of world politics.” (VOYA 5Q2P)

Evans, Dilys. Show and Tell: Exploring the Fine Art of Children’s Book Illustration. Chronicle, $24.99 (978-0-8118-4971-5)

(gr. 7 and up) “...Twelve contemporary artists are covered in as many chapters...Hilary Knight...to Brian Selznick...education, favorite artists, approaches to specific composition problems or texts, and serendipitous moments...depth of the author’s understanding regarding how decisions about formal qualities and design affect narrative...color reproductions are true, spreads are carefully placed...” (SLJ)(VOYA)

Greenberg, Jan, ed. Side by Side: New Poems Inspired by Art from around the World. Abrams, $19.95 (978-0810-9947-13)

(gr. 8-12) “...anthology of accomplished poems inspired by artworks...bringing together the work of poets and artists from around the globe...grouped loosely into categories...inspirational introduction...Each spread features a poem in its original language, the English translation, and an artwork, usually from the same country or culture as the poem...Teens will easily connect with the poems’ universal themes...Biographical information about both the poets and the artists...” (BL)

Kennett, David. Pharaoh: Life and Afterlife of a God. Illus. by author. Walker, $19.85 (0-8027-9568-4)

(gr. 4-7) “...extraordinarily handsome...delves deeply into the various roles of the pharaoh...much fuller understanding of Egyptian life...Seti I, the living god and the father of Ramesses II...brief history...explanation of the craftsmanship involved in building and decorating tombs...flows naturally...masterful artwork...innovative design...much to see here, and children will want to look at the book again and again...” (BL)

Lewin, Ted and Betsy Lewin. Horse Song: The Naadam of Mongolia. Illus. by the authors. Lee & Low, $19.95 (978-1-5843-02773)

(gr. 2-5) “...picture-book chronicle of international adventure...Mongolia... Naadam festival—a celebration that brings together nomadic tribes for sports competitions...most popular events...horse races featuring child jockeys...long, arduous course...simple, captivating language...skilled nine-year-old jockey, Tamir...learn about local customs...heart-pounding, moment-by-moment account of Tamir’s race...clearly presented cultural specifics mix with vivid sensory perceptions... handsome, heartfelt glimpse of a rarely featured culture...additional cultural commentary and a glossary.” (BL)

Meltzer, Milton. Willa Cather: A Biography. (Literary Greats Series). Twenty-first Century/Lerner, $33.26 (978-0-8225-7604-4)

(gr. 6-12) “…fluent prose, scores of inviting black-and-white photographs, and several sidebars…traces Cather’s Virginia and Nebraska roots. Well-researched and easy to follow…honestly portrays…sexual-orientation…suggested anti-Semitism…handles the topics gracefully and truthfully…chronology, bibliography, Internet resources… makes author investigation reasonable and engaging…” (VOYA 5Q2P)

Perspectives on Diseases and Disorders. Greenhaven, $34.95.

Autism. Carrie Fredericks, Ed. (978-0-7377-3869-8)

Eating Disorders. Lorraine Savage, Ed. (978-0-7377-3872-8)

(gr. 9-12) “…highly informative and homework-friendly…useful and fascinating material and a list of organizations to contact…wide range of information from authoritative and pertinent sources…overview…controversies…personal accounts…” (VOYA 5Q2P)

River of Words: Young Poets and Artists on the Nature of Things. Edited by Pamela Michael, intro. by Robert Haas. Milkweed, $30 (978-1-57131-685-1); paper, $18 (978-1-57131-680-6)

(all ages) “…River of Words project…connect students’ art and poetry education to the natural world…link their imaginations with a sense of place…culled from yearly contests, with 85% of the entries coming from the United States…most were submitted by teachers…others came directly…refugee camps or detention facilities…startling, many of them dislocating and highly complex…also beguilingly direct…” (PW)

Up Close Biographies. Viking, $16.99.

Adkins, Jan. Up Close: Frank Lloyd Wright. (978-0-670-06138-9)

Stone, Tanya Lee. Up Close: Ella Fitzgerald. (978-0-670-06149-5)

(gr. 6-12) “…Each book is an in-depth profile that stays true to the “up close” promise…subjects are twentieth-century American icons…new details…uncommon insight…not sugarcoated…Extensive bibliographies…thirteen current and forthcoming titles…” (VOYA 5Q3P)

Winters, Kay. Colonial Voices: Hear Them Speak. Illus. by Larry Day. Dutton, $17.99 (978-0-52547-872-0)

(gr. 4-7) “…layered and textured group of voices…December 16, 1773, and ‘Boston is about to explode.’ …immediacy of the words… glorious introduction to the Boston Tea Party…Each handsome two-page spread brings forth another voice from the time…printer…baker and the shoemaker…milliner…tavern keeper, blacksmith’s slave, Native American basket maker…strong, moving text…thoughtful design…back matter…” (BL)

YA Fiction

Brothers, Meagan. Debbie Harry Sings in French. Holt, $16.95 (978-0-8050-8080-3)

“…impressive debut...the ‘problem’ (transvestitism) is so nimbly woven into the narrative that it will barely surprise readers. After a successful stay at a rehab facility, 17-year-old Johnny…is sent…to live with…[uncle] Sam…begins a relationship with…Maria…bond over music and outcast status…fascination with Debbie Harry… desire to look like Harry…Maria…encourages him to perform, dressed as Harry, in a drag contest…relationship with his uncle provides…touching scenes…plot-heavy…brisk pace…strong-willed, empathetic narrator…” (PW)

Cabot, Meg. Airhead. Point/Scholastic, $16.99 (978-0-545-04052-5)

(gr. 7-12) “…first novel of a new series…Em Watts and best friend Christopher Maloney…life goal to play videogames and hate the…zombie establishment that focuses on exterior beauty…younger sister Frida…worships every celebrity…newest MegaStore grand opening…Anti MegaStore protesters cause an accident…saves the life of her sister but…crushed beneath a giant television…awakens in a hospital room…many interesting themes…story and characters are familiar yet different enough to create involvement…” (VOYA 4Q5P)

Clare, Cassandra. City of Ashes: Mortal Instruments. Margaret K. McElderry Books/S & S, $17.99 (978-1-4169-1429-7)

(gr. 9-12) “Clary is still an untrained Shadowhunter in New York City…only daughter of Valentine, the evil, renegade Shadowhunter…a must-read for all vampire fans…second book in the Mortal Instruments series…gripping battle scenes and intricate family drama…fast paced…gory battle scenes are straight out of a movie… “(VOYA 4Q5P)

Galante, Cecilia. The Patron Saint of Butterflies. Bloomsbury, $16.99 (978-1-59990-249-4)

(gr. 9-12) “Agnes and Honey grew up at the Mount Blessing religious commune …Controlling leader…Honey begins to challenge the oppressive environment…Agnes… striving instead for sainthood…When Agnes’s grandmother pays an unscheduled visit… and witnesses a terrible accident…ask probing questions about the bizarre lifestyle… convinces Honey, Agnes, and Agnes’ little brother…to flee…life on the outside proves tougher than they ever imagined…will have teens enthralled…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Gould, Peter. Write Naked. Farrar Straus Giroux, $16.95 (978-0-374-38483-8)

(gr. 6-12) “An ancient black…typewriter seems to beckon sixteen-year-old Victor…lugging…to his uncle’s cabin hidden in the woods…being naked is the only way to write…face of a girl appears at the window. Home-schooled Rose Anna knows the woods…writing her eco-fable…converging personal journeys of two thoughtful young people unfold beautifully…quirky but honest voice…authentic yet rich with sensual detail and figurative language…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Kadohata, Cynthia. Outside Beauty. S&S/Atheneum, $16.99 (978-0-689-86575-6)

(gr. 7 and up) “…wise, tender and compelling…12-year-old…Shelby and her three sisters are as different as their respective fathers…devoted to one another and to their stunningly beautiful Japanese-American mother…collect men…When their mother is critically injured—and disfigured—in a car crash…dispersed…to the care of the four fathers…growing insight into the difference between beauty and perfection…” (PW)

Landy, Derek. Skulduggery Pleasant: Playing with Fire. HarperTeen, $17.89 (978-0-06-124089-8)

(gr. 6-12) “Continuing the adventures of Skulduggery Pleasant and Stephanie Edgley…pits the walking, talking skeleton and his teenaged apprentice against the evil Baron Vengeous…snappy, entertaining book reads like a graphic novel without the graphics…may…help reluctant readers make the transition from comic books and graphic novels to full-length fiction…” (VOYA 4Q5P)

Lisle, Holly. The Ruby Key. Scholastic/Orchard, $16.99 (978-054-500-0123)

(gr. 6-10) “…strong opener to the Moon & Sun series…14-year-old Genna and her brother are swept into a tricky bargain with an otherworldly lord…Humans…and nightlings have held and uneasy truce…nightling slave…truce is meaningless: …village head has struck a deal with the nightling lord…to trade his people’s lives for immortatlity … siblings and rebel…concoct a plan to defeat their corrupt rulers…world…is distinctive and real…forthright, first-person narrative…will leave readers clamoring for the next installment.” (BL)

Marr, Melissa. Ink Exchange. HarperTeen, $16.99 (978-0-06-121468-4)

(gr. 7 and up) “Returning to the faery world of Wicked Lovely…highly addictive read…Leslie…Broken by terrible trauma…finds salvation—or so it seems—in a strange tattoo that gives her power and strength…tattoo comes with a shocking price…laced with the blood of Irial, king of the fey’s Dark Court…will be bound to Irial as a slave… Compulsive enough to give the Twilight series a run for its money, and dizzyingly more sinister.” (PW)

McPhee, Peter. New Blood. James Lorimer, $8.95 trade pb (978-1-55028-996-1)

(gr. 6-12) “Fourteen-year-old Callum McDuff and his parents moved from Scotland to Winnipeg after Callum had been viciously attacked by three boys his age…nearly fatal…Scottish accent attracts attention from Rick and his thugs. Cullum will not run…hardships of Callum’s life but also the happiness and love in his family…Scottish culture…becomes a colorful character…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Meehl, Brian. Suck It Up. Delacorte, $15.99 (978-0-385-73300-7)

(gr. 7 and up) “…very, very funny…Morning McCobb, a recent graduate of the IV (International Vampire) League, is the vampire as superhero, geek and lonely boy all rolled into one…tell the world that…vampires do exist…Portia Dredful…PR agent mom’s highest profile client…clever…prose engaging, smart and fast-paced…exploits every known vampire cliché to great effect…refreshing take on the brooding vampire romance…” (PW)

Mills, Sam. The Viper Within. Knopf, $19.99 (978-0-375-94465-9)

(gr. 7-12) “…Sixteen-year-old narrator Jon…will kidnap…victim…single high school girl, who, in the minds of the Brotherhood is “SNAKE,” a convoluted religious, sexual, ethnic, and political threat. In reality, her transgressions appear to be brown skin and academic honesty. The naïve, well-meaning, but thoroughly duped Jon…charismatic classmate…new religion, promising acceptance but forbidding…reading…rich in ironies, paradoxes, and contrasts…forces readers to grapple with multiple perspectives on terrorism, cults, religion…” (VOYA 4Q5P)

Mitchard, Jacquelyn. All We Know of Heaven: A Novel. HarperTeen, $17.89 (978-0-06-134579-1)

(gr. 9-12) “Best friends Maureen and Bridget could almost be twins… cheerleaders in their small Minnesota town…cross the line in front of a truck. One of them dies…dental surgeon arrives to work on Bridget and realizes that an unthinkable mistake has occurred—Maureen is the one who survived…for Maureen…seemingly endless physical and mental challenges…Bridget’s family travels downward into depression…Characters pass naturally through anger, frustration…Details of her recovery are realistic…brain-injured…unforgettable and intense story…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Nanji, Shenaaz. Child of Dandelions. Front Street/Boyds Mills, $17.95 (978-1-932425-93-2)

(gr. 7-12) “At fifteen, life is good for Sabine…privileged, loving, extended Indian family in Uganda…best friend Zena, a black Ugandan…1972…President Idi Amin…all …Indians should be expelled from Uganda…now considered enemies of the state…ignite terror and violence…harrowing political journey…beautifully told…” (VOYA 5Q3P)

Neumeier, Rachel. The City in the Lake. Knopf, $18.99 (978-0-375-947-049)

(gr. 8-11) “The City in the Lake is a robust, prosperous kingdom until Prince Cassiel vanishes…after his disappearance, life withers throughout the land…17-year-old Timou’s father, a mage, departs for the city to search for the source of the kingdom’s malaise…doesn’t return, Timou sets off after him…finds shocking personal connections …archetypal fantasy elements: mages, magic…perilous quest serves as her coming-of-age…poetic, shimmer language and fascinating unfolding of worlds…celebration of the natural world…” (BL)

Pfeffer, Susan Beth. The Dead and the Gone. Harcourt, $17 (978-0-1520-63115)

(gr. 8-12) (Companion to Life as We Knew It, c.2005) “…asteroid hit the moon… cataclysmic changes on land and sea…bustling city…On the night the moon tilts, 17-year-old Alex and his younger sisters are alone…parents don’t return…up to Alex to do what’s best…bartering for food and batteries…rescuing Julie from rapists…corpses that line the street…Religion is one of the strong threads…Church anchors the plot… everything…seems wrenchingly plausible.” (BL)

Runholt, Susan. The Mystery of the Third Lucretia. Viking, $16.99 (978-1-67006-2522)

(gr. 7-10) “While visiting a Minneapolis art museum, 14-year-old best friends Kari and Lucas (both girls)...artist copying a Rembrandt painting...while visiting London...kids see the same man, recognizable despite a disguise, copying another Rembrandt. When international reports herald the discovery of a previously unknown Rembrandt...Kari and Lucas...recognize the work of ‘The Gallery Guy.’...clever, well-structured mystery that seamlessly folds art history into its exciting premise...pacing occasionally lags...skillfully pulls in what could have become peripheral narrative tangents...authentic narration...” (BL)

Sievert, Tim. That Salty Air. Illus. by author. Top Shelf, paper, $10 (978-1-6030-900-56)

(gr.11-12) “...terrific graphic novel about an obsessive man battling large creatures from the sea. Dirt poor, Maryanne and Hugh live in a shack by the sea...news that Hugh’s mother has drowned destroys his love of ‘that salty air’...monstrous squid... couple’s battle with the creature symbolizes both humankind’s struggle with the elements and Hugh’s struggle within himself...Words are few and carefully placed...crisp, black and white illustrations...do most of the work...amazing, strong, well-paced graphic novel about relationships...as much for adults as it is for teens.” (BL)

The Starry Rift: Tales of New Tomorrows. Ed. by Jonathan Strahan. Viking, $19.99 (0-670-06059-3)

(gr. 9-12) “…exemplary collection of 16 SF stories…Scott Westerfield...Ann Halam, Neil Gaiman, Cory Doctorow…Margo Lanagan, Garth Nix…Each story is followed by a brief biographical sketch…author’s note…diverse subjects range from full-immersion gaming…quantum physics…clan wars in a high-tech India…lobotomized slaves…real-world matters such as love, loss, and abuse…A real winner with no weak links…” (BL)

Supplee, Suzanne. Artichoke’s Heart. Dutton, $16.99 (978-0-525-47902-4)

(gr. 7-12) “Rosemary Goode has a lot to offer, but most people—even Rosie herself—cannot see beyond the extra weight she carries around. Under constant pressure…to lose weight…starts to make choices about how she wants to live her life, instead of watching it pass by…courage to respond to overtures of friendship…standing up for herself within the family…transformation…feels authentic…no easy answers…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Townsend, Wendy. Lizard Love. Front Street, $17.95 (978-1-9324-2534-5)

(gr. 6-12) “Grace, who has moved from Mooresville, IN to Manhattan, is having trouble adjusting...discovers the Fang and Claw, a pet store specializing in reptiles...spending every day after school helping Pops and his son Walter...begins to enjoy her growing sense of stability...maturing body brings unwanted attention that throws her for a loop...remarkable narrative gift...descriptions...positively elegant...Even the minor characterizations are full and complex...relationships...resonate with the honesty of adolescence...” (BL)

Volponi, Paul. Hurricane Song: A Novel of New Orleans. Viking, $15.99 (978-0-670-06160-0)

(gr. 7-12) “…darn-near-perfect offering…football player Miles…live with his musician father…who borders on neglectful thanks to his love of jazz…just eking out a semi-successful coexistence…real-life disaster hits…Superdome…does not shy away from showing readers the poor conditions…eminently readable…heartbreaking and moving…brilliant blend of reality and fiction…” (VOYA 5Q4P)