Most people totally take for granted the food that arrives in their grocery story.  They also probably feel that their store gives them a large variety of fruits, vegetables and grains.  But many, many facts in The Story of Seeds will surprise readers and more than likely push them to try new varieties that are offered and/or buy from farmer’s markets and co-ops.  Only 150 of the 12,000 plant species are grown for sale in the world today.  Because of this, seed varieties have gone extinct.  This book examines both the factors that have led to this condition as well as the pioneers in cultivation and preservation that are trying to retain what we have left.  Who would have thought that seeds were a goal for capture in World War II?  Would one believe that there is a Doom’s Day Seed Vault in a mountain in Norway?  There is much to be said to the complexity of the world of seeds.  This book would be fabulous for a student wanting to research a unique topic.

Henry has the perfect life, or so it seems.  Born into the riches of Medina (aka land of Bill Gates and friends), he has made all the right moves to prepare himself for  Harvard Law School and a career as a politician.  With girlfriend Catharine by his side, this power couple couldn’t be stopped—until dark eyed, dark haired Anne Boylen crashes into their lives.  Henry’s whole being flips out whenever Anne appears.  There’s nothing he can do to stop his passion for everything that is different about Anne.  Though Anne is not the type of person who will bend over  to fit into a new crowd, to please Henry she is led into situations that totally compromise her.  The constant tension in the book is whether they will make it through together or apart.  A play on the love story of the real Henry VIII and Anne Boylen, readers can wonder how far the author will stray from history while being whipped up in some over the top lusty lines.  There is no outright sex but foreplay abounds.  Some will see this as too “oh, my” while others will drink it up like they did for Bella and Edward.  It could be a fun addition to most high school libraries.

Non-fiction texts are getting all of the spotlight because of common core standards and authors who choose interesting topics will get their books sold. So is the case with Chocolate: Sweet Science and Dark Secrets of the World’s Favorite Treat. Kay Frydenborg gives exceptional insight into so many aspects of chocolate. On the science side, readers will be intrigued to know how chemically perfect chocolate is as a source of food. Historically, the roots of chocolate go so far back in South American culture. Treated like money, people were killed for chocolate.

The second two-thirds of the book will most likely be enjoyed more by students as they get into the history and rivalry of commercialized chocolate producers like Cadbury, Hershey and Lindt. Different types of chocolate, new advances in chocolate and conncetions back to history round out this extremely well written book. Recommended by Junior Library Guild, Chocolate should be in most school libraries and all public libraries. Because why wouldn’t people like chocolate?

Lerner’s Inside Elections series is a timely look into how political parties, special interests, voters and the media function around elections in the United States. The book Voters: From Primaries to Decision Night by Robert Grayson details how voting works; primaries, caucuses and conventions; the campaign and voters; the electoral college; election day promises and problems; and counting the vote. This is 58 packed pages explained in an easy to understand, conversational tone for students. For example, Grayson writes “You may be thinking, ‘Wait a minute, I thought elections were decided directly by ordinary voters, not by special super-voters’” (34). He goes on to detail how the nation’s founders had a very different United States in terms of population, communication, and education level. Thus the electoral college, though it might be outdated today, was a justifiable means to get a more perfect end. Page layout, sidebars and graphics help make these classic ideas even more interesting. If your collection’s book on these topics are shabby, this is a really nice collection that will be worth adding this fall.

Richelle Mead continues to write dramatic, adventure twisting stories for teens and The Glittering Court continues with a kick ass heroine in Adelaide, a countess of Osfrid, who leaves all of her future well cared for life behind for the unknown world in The Glittering Court.  While the Court sounds like her life will still be jewels and parties, it is actually a version of arranged marriages where girls are paraded around to colonists in a new land.  What makes Mead a master of her craft is the twists and turns she plays like a well groomed poker player.  Adelaide remains true to her inner beliefs, lifts up others, and is super smart.  Mead creates wonderful role models for teen readers and The Glittering Court will entrance many.  Recommended.

Freakishly weird storms coupled with abnormal temperature patterns.  Horrible diseases plague the U.S. along with terrorist attacks.  Then, what happens when your parents and their church believe the Rapture is happening and you are left behind?  Vivian Apple wakes up to confront that reality and begin a road trip to a possible future, one that could be to the end of the world.  Vivian lives in a post Rapture world where a second Rapture will take up those who become believers.  But Vivian, as well as her best friend Harp, just can’t believe any of this is true.  In her search for the truth of her life, Vivian will encounter friendships and romance, as well as heart breaking pain at the hands of those who should love her unconditionally.  Vivian Apple at the End of the World will be liked by those who question what truth is and how people perceive it.

Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hitton is a novel written in free verse form as in the style of Brown Girl

Dreaming. It’s about a girl named Mimi whose family moves from Berkley, California to Vermont

*Japanese making Mimi multi-ethnic and feeling like an outsider in her new community. Not only

must she adapt to a new climate with cold winters, but she is in the middle of Junior High. It is set in

the late 1960’s and Mimi questions school policies such as classes being assigned by gender (really,

shop is only for boys). It also highlights historical events such as the first lunar landing.

I like the style of this book with many short chapters making it easy to pick up and put back down, for

busy people who tend to read books in short bits. It has Japanese words and customs sprinkled

throughout which increases the interest. It is a realistic book of a girl on the verge of discovery of who

she is.

Tiny Cooper is not Tiny.  He’s big boned and has a big presence too.  Additionally, he is gay and figuring out how to love in this novel written as a script for a musical by David Leviathan.  Hats off to Leviathan for accomplishing such a feat of writing.  The word choices are so terse, yet so loud and powerful.  Tiny wants to experience the type of love he sees his unconditional parents exchange to freely.  He tries this through multiple boyfriends, each who have their own agendas.  When Tiny does find love, his last partner becomes the one who can’t trust the love Tiny so desperately wants to give.  Ultimately, Tiny shares the message he has had to learn over the course of the story — that you have to fall to learn to trust.  And if you hit bottom, you just have to get up again.

The stage directions Leviathan incorporates are more impressive than the dialogue between actors.  In fact, because of the repetition within music, a reader can fast forward their reading.  Written for a high school audience and above, there are plenty of witty lines which just highlight the truth in certain stereotypes of gay men.   Tiny is jazz hands gay, proud of it, and makes his presence known to all.  It will be interesting to see if this gets picked up in my library.

This is a silly, funny story about the fashion world and the humorous drama that surrounds it. In a panic search for a fashion assistant just one week before Fashion Week, Cover magazine has a huge problem.  Mitford the giraffe saves the day.  She knows just the right new look, who to bring on as the most unique model and the latest “look” for this season.  Mitford’s dream comes true and Fashion Week is a success!  The wispy, sketchy drawings capture the mood of spontaneous design.  A delightful book!