All in Pieces by Suzanne Young stretches the drama of an unhappy, unloved teenage girl to the max. Savannah Sutton is in a reform high school for anger management for stabbing a pencil into the hand of her former boyfriend when he mocks her special needs brother. At Brooks Academy, Savannah meets Cameron, a modern day Prince Charming. In spite of Savannah’s resistance, Cameron breaks through her protective shield and “rescues” her from some uncomfortable situations. Learning to deal with anger when feeling powerless is addressed honestly. Being “saved” by a handsome, rich, altruistic guy is an unrealistic solution to the not uncommon problems of an alcoholic father, a runaway mother, a special needs sibling, and poverty. Rough language and a friend’s near-fatal overdose make the story teeter on the edge of “too much”! The novel is timely in its choice of topics but totally off the mark in the resolution of being saved by a guy and the reliance of “others” to take care of Savannah rather than showing how she could develop her own strength and self-reliance. Not the best YA available.
Monthly Archives: November 2017
Net Neutrality
Internet neutrality is a hot topic issue in the U.S. Congress at the moment. The book Net Neutrality presents a concise forum for the discussion and explanation of different aspects regulating to the use and abuse of the world wide web. Who should regulate the speed, source, and options of what is available on the internet? Should the speed of the internet service be charged accordingly? Is government involvement a good or bad idea? The pros and cons of the debate are succinctly presented for consideration. The legal battle is between the internet being a public, open use utility or a private, for-profit business. How to regulate in order to protect consumers from high usage charges and yet stimulate internet businesses to grow, expand and innovate is the issue. This book gives a simple, beginning approach to the new problems of the information age and is recommended for high school libraries.
Black Holes: The Weird Science of the Most Mysterious Objects in the Universe
Black Holes by Sara Latta is non-fiction book that is a quick and captivating read for those who are interested in astronomy and physics but not becoming actual astronomers or physicists.
Latta presents the history and backstory of how the concept of black holes, which started out being called dark stars, has grown into our modern conceptual and theoretical knowledge we now use in studying these unique celestial bodies. From Newton’s Principia, to John Mitchell who first theorized about “dark stars,” to Einstein, Hawking and beyond, Latta presents a scientific history that doesn’t bog the reader down with the overwhelming amount of mathematics which underlies the hypotheses and theories of black holes, but gives a taste to accentuate and assist with the concepts being explained.
The book is laid out in timeline order that would flow smoothly and transition easily, except for an abundance of side notes that explain different concepts. The side notes are interesting and informative, but break the train of thought as you move through the book– some being up to two pages long.
As a nonfiction text, the use of pictures and drawings assist the reader with the concept of imagining the unimaginable. They introduce the reader to the scientists and devices used, the data as it is gathered and assembled, and examples that try to put the scope of vastness being described into context.
Black Holes is about a topic that not everyone would take an interest in without prompting or reason, but not giving this book a chance would leave one with a “hole” in their knowledge of the universe around them. Therefore this books is recommended for the casual to interested science reader.
Labyrinth
Labyrinth, by Israel Keats, is a juvenile fiction book in the science fiction genre that is fast paced and action packed.
The story begins with two teens, a boy from a dysfunctional family who feels that he has nothing to live for, and a girl from a caring home, but one in comparison where the parents schedule every minute of her day, picking classes and outside activities for her. Set in the near future of 2089, when a gaming company L33T C0RP has developed the next stage in virtual reality in which you are an actual player, their task is to work together to complete the game before either time or their lives run out. The stakes are high– win or remain in the game forever.
Keats does a good job of working the different aspects of the teens’ lives such as the boy-girl dynamic, athlete/non-athlete, middle class/lower class, student/non-student in the short 117 pages of this reluctant reader style book. The characters dive into the plot immediately, with action on almost every page. There are also riddles that the character(s) need to solve that may leave you stumped. The dynamic conflicts between the two characters are resolved as effectively as possible with little stereotyping or cliche.
This book is recommended to those who like video games as the setting is inside a video game, and fast-paced action stories.
One For Sorrow
Against the ominous backdrop of the influenza epidemic of 1918, Annie, a new girl at school, is claimed as best friend by Elsie, a classmate who is a tattletale, a liar, and a thief. Soon Annie makes other friends and finds herself joining them in teasing and tormenting Elsie. Elsie dies from influenza, but then she returns to reclaim Annie’s friendship and punish all the girls who bullied her.
Elsie wasn’t a scary ghost. She wasn’t an all that sympathetic one either. All she really did was annoy me as a reader so much that I sped through this book because I didn’t want to interact with her anymore. I made One for Sorrow just an okay read because there really weren’t any sympathetic characters in here. They were all just mean little girls, I’m not into reading books about mean children.
The Wobbly Wheels
Fall is here and Carlos and Carmen play in the colorful leaves Mamá and Papá are raking into a pile. Papá makes a deal; Carlos and Carmen help rake the leaves and he will help them learn to ride a bike – with only 2 wheels. Carmen goes first. She pedals and wobbles and falls into a big pile of leaves only to bounce back up with a wobble and a laugh. Carlos’ wobbly effort end up with a crash in the leaf pile and the need for a band-aid. With lots of practice, by the end of the day Carlos and Carmen can pedal fast and steer. Then it is Papá’s turn to learn!!
Spanish words are interspersed and repeated in the text. At the end of the book there is a Spanish-English glossary of all Spanish words.
The Carlos and Carmen series is an engaging latinx beginning reader series that incorporates cultural experiences in the everyday life of young children.
What Girls Are Made Of
This novel grabbed me from the very start. I do want to warn that it should be given to upper-high, mature readers. The book is told from the perspective of a sexually active 17 year-old girl, who is trying to figure out just how much love and sexuality should and do define one’s true character. The book discusses sex in an upfront, honest way – characters find pleasure in sex, but are also presented with consequences. The main character tries to gain self and peer acceptance, much of which is dependent upon her sexuality and the way she views boys and men treating women. I found it interesting that the author was able to weave in art history surrounding the roles of men and women throughout time and place to help further the character’s understanding for gender roles and expectations. Although many of the scenes are raw, disturbing and even shocking – the novel truly sheds light on the way young females view sexuality and the pressures to be accepted. I was pleased in the end to see the main female character find her own way, not dependent upon anyone else; the book leaves the reader feeling like she will be okay.
The Unicorn in the Barn
Eric Harper’s grandma has been moved into a nursing home. Her home has been sold to help with expenses and Eric is having a hard time adjusting to that reality. After all, the Harper’s have owned this land for as far back as Eric can recall. They’ve loved it and protected it. However, when he learns the new owner, a veterinarian, helps magical creatures, he decides he can learn to adjust. And when he is offered a job caring for some of the creatures he is overjoyed. The trick for him will be to learn how to get along with bossy Allegra, the veterinarian’s daughter.
As the story unfolds we see a hard won understanding and friendship develop between Allegra and Eric. They work together to try to restore grandma’s health. Did you know unicorn hair had healing powers? Neither did they until grandma picked a few stray unicorn hairs off of Eric and soon thereafter had movement in a once feeble hand.
Ogburn delves into the topics of death, loyalty, bravery, just treatment of all living creatures and friendship. The dialog at times seems a little stilted or dated, but savvy readers should be able to adjust. The overall story line is about natural consequences and Ogburn handles the topic well with just enough emphasis without overdoing it.
There’s a surprise at the end of the book that astute readers may guess at midway through.
A first person tale, told in eleven year old Eric’s voice, this realistic fantasy will have the reader wanting more. A sweet story with a little sadness. With a possibility for a sequel.
Inside the US Army
Inside the US Army is an attractively organized book that is full of information. It begins with a description of the army, its training and equipment and ends with the future of the army (robots, computers, etc.). There is a labeled diagram of an infantry soldier and gear as well as a bulleted page of army history.
Typical nonfiction features (table of contents, text boxes, index and glossary) are clearly organized. Further reading resources include both books and internet materials.
Soldiers pictured are varied ethnicity and sex, which is encouraging for young readers. This book is part of the US Armed Forces series and a solid addition for the younger readers in your library.
I Don’t Know What to Call My Cat
A young girl has a new cat, but has a very difficult time naming it. She tries many lovely names, like Lorraine and Ethel, until she discovers that her pet is a male cat. Whoops! The list of potential boy cat names include Butch and Rocky. Mr. Maestro seems to be fine, until she joins in on the musical fun and the cat disappears. She looks everywhere, even the zoo, where she picks up another pet. Steve, the gorilla, is a nice pet, but eventually gets hauled away by the Bureau for Naughty Animals and ‘Tricky’ the cat returns (with a new collar and name). Hmmm….
This book is a busy, colorful riot of fun and readers will enjoy studying the pages for all the crazy details related to the story. Cat lovers will cheer for Tricky, the cat. Recommended.
A Bear and the Piano
A young bear stumbles across a piano in a clearing in the forest and began to play. Each day, he came back until the sounds coming from that piano became beautiful and magical. Other bears came to listen to his music and he was so happy. One day, a man and his daughter walked to the clearing and heard the bear play. They told him that he could come with them to play on even better pianos in front of hundreds of people in cities everywhere. He wanted to go, but worried that his friends would be sad. But, in his heart wanted to play music in a bigger, better way. So, he left with the people and did just that.
Yet, he began to miss the forest and his friends. One day, he went back, wondering if they would be angry with him for leaving or perhaps had forgotten him. He reached the clearing and…nothing! No piano or friends! Suddenly, he saw a fellow bear and followed him to find his old piano. His friends had taken care of it and had followed his career. They weren’t mad – they were proud of him! He then sat down to play the most important concert of his life…for his friends.
This is a lovely story and a lovely book with soft colors and a wonderful message. Highly recommended.
Great White Sharks in Action
Kids love books about sharks and they will learn some great information in this book as they turn through the pages showing gaping mouths and dagger-sharp teeth. The photos will grab their attention and the text-boxes, labels and short sentences will teach them such information as the life span of great whites (30+ years), swimming speed (35+ miles per hour) and reproduction (two to twelve pups that develop inside the female). Typical non-fiction features (table of contents, labeled diagrams, index and glossary round out a solid introduction to this great predator. Recommended
Earth Movers
Earth Movers is a high interest book for those readers that love to play with trucks or in the dirt or both! Large photos with labels and information (bolded words are explained in the glossary) are attractively laid out on bright background colors. Associated nonfiction features (table of contents, index and glossary) are helpful additions for the younger readers just getting started.
This book will not last long on the shelf and readers will learn some things along the way. Recommended.
Coral : a close-up photographic look inside your world
Breathtaking photography with some good science mixed in – this book should interest most budding marine biologists. An introduction explains the history and process of photography. After that, the reader discovers some amazing animals of the ocean in glorious living color. Textboxes indicate scientific name, habitat, diet and size of each coral. Corresponding text adds extra information, some rather frivolous, but mostly interesting.
At the end of the book, the reader is invited to become a photographer, with tips to get started. Perhaps, this book, part of the Up Close series, will encourage a future wildlife photographer to take that first step. Or, it might prompt a future naturalist to take a closer look at organisms around her.
Follow Me Around Japan
This book is a tour of all things Japan introduced by a young girl named Satchiko. The pages are loaded with information about daily living, school and home, customs, food, art and history. There is a guessing game as well as comparisons between Japan and America. An additional section called “Preparing for Your Visit” will help future travelers get ready for their trips to the featured country.
An index, glossary and table of contents are strong non-fiction features and the colorful layout lends itself to browsing as well as deeper reading for information. Recommended!