Jamie Gordon feels naked without her camera.  Viewing the world through a lense is giving her more opportunities in life than just attending high school.  Becoming a paparazzo in New York City is fast becoming her only passion, even at the expense of her closest relationships with her boyfriend, her handicapped brother and her best friend.  When is is given the opportunity to be in the life of Willow Twine for a week during spring break of her sophomore year in L.A., she jumps at the chance.  Willow’s lifestyle teaches Jaime enough in one week, but is it enough to mend fences with those she loves the most?  Todd Stasser brings forth an interesting look from the camera side of the lense.  The writing style jumps back and forth chapter by chapter between current and past events in Jaime’s life which lead up to the somewhat climatic ending. Nothing to worry about if middle school kids wanted to read this, but they might not like such a choppy style.

The Handy Psychology Answer Book may be the the most approachable, fun to read text book one will ever find. While divided into sections by topic, it’s hard to not just read cover to cover because the guide book is so interesting.

Dr. Cohen, a licensed clinical psychologist and associate professor of clinical psychology has written more than 70 articles in professional journals and 14 book chapters, and in writing this guidebook, she has excelled in explaining human behavior.

There are many photographs that help increase interest. A fun example is in the section on Pavlovian conditioning where she features a photo of a bull dog puppy keenly focused on a bowl of food.

Famous (or infamous) individuals / organizations are used as examples of various elements of psychology, including Patty Hearst (victim of torture, kidnapping), and O.J. Simpson (perpetrator of domestic violence) for Psychology of Trauma; Ted Bundy (mass murder) and the Enron executives (fraud) for Psychopathy;  Bernard Madoff (Ponzi scheme) for rationalizing immoral behavior; and Kelly Micahels (child molestation) for Forensic Psychology.

Dr. Cohen uses folk psychology (‘When the cat’s away, the mice will play’, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained’), as well as the classic suspense film Psycho,  to explain the basics of psychology.

Cohen discusses current trends in mental illness such as the increase in the number of cases of autism and Asperger’s syndrome.

In addition to providing answers to more than 800 questions pertaining to psychology, Cohen’s answer book also includes a glossary, index, and comprehensive bibliography.

This book consists of 26 stories of heroines whose volunteerism and humanitarianism had critical effects on the war against the Nazis during WWII. The stories of espionage, sabotage, resistance and rescue are set in Germany, Poland, France, The Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Great Britain, and the United States.

While most war histories focus on men, Women Heroes of World War II focuses on heroic women, some who were still teenagers. The stories are intriguing, exciting, harrowing, and inspiring.

The book contains photographs, a glossary, notes, a bibliography and an index, and will make an excellent addition to a library’s WW II collection.

Israel, from the Enchantment of the World series, is a comprehensive look at the state of Israel today through 2012.  Color photos throughout enhance this typical country report book.  With about a 70% text to 30% picture rate over a two page spread, the author, Nel Yomtov, is still able to give a very balanced look at an unbalanced region.  Yomtov carefully gives equal time to each of the three religious groups, their historical connection to the land and their political influence today.  Because of it’s rich and turbulent past, when one begins to read about the economy and culture that make up the cities and rural life, it’s not surprising that tourism is its leading industry.  To go there is to see Israel at its core, with its industrial as well as farming side of life, Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Druze and other faiths comingled in this country the size of New Jersey.  It is a worthy addition to any school or public library.

Gale Cengage’s People in the News Series provides middle and high school students with 80-100 page biographies on social and political icons of the times.  Susan M. Traugh’s Sean Combs presents a balanced look at the life of a super star who has had to rebirth himself like a phoenix may times in his career.  Whether he was Puff Daddy, or P. Diddy, readers will be able to see the roller coaster of a life Sean Combs has endured during his fame, including a historical look at the rise of hip-hop, the battle between the two coasts, and the overall development of a self-made man. Students will probably be surprised just how far reaching his presences is in different industries — from music to clothing to perfume to books and magazines…even a restaurant and now a line of alcohol, his style is “Swagger.  Timeless.  Diverse “(82). Traugh admits many times that Combs has his critics, but she is not one of them.  Any student who is doing a report on any aspect of hip-hop will find this book helpful.  Recommended for 7th and up.

Very readable guidebook,  with excellent sections on how to choose a college, how to find colleges that will be a great fit, how to evaluate colleges and how to find scholarships. It offers lots of practical tips on how to organize a college search with a “college score sheet” that can be copied and used when one visits colleges. Has chapter on suggestions for what to do over summer to be ready to apply to college. Nice sample resume. Excellent section on how to explain any weaknesses on a  school transcript. In depth chapter on funding education and finding scholarships. Detailed list of colleges that are not in the usual college search books with section on “B Student Support and Success”, and “Support for Students with Learning Disabilities” along with the standard statistics from each school. Colleges are listed in alphabetical order. It would have been nice if they also had an appendix with the colleges listed by location and one by size.  Highly recommended.

Violet McKenna has never felt comfortable with herself until she arrives at Winterhaven, a private high school. Violet has visions of terrible events that happen in the future, including death.  She even foresaw her own father’s death but in the past, when she tried to warn people, no one would listen.  Feeling as though she was drawn there with a purpose, Violet learns that everyone there has a special power or gift, much like her.  Telepathy or telekinetic powers, clairvoyants and shape shifters, students are there to learn how to hone their gift as well as be a normal teenager.  Author Kristi Cook doesn’t take long to bring on the romantic relationship that is full of tension as well.  The “Aidan effect” hits Violet hard but unlike other girls, he is drawn to her too.  And he keeps his gift a secret.  Violet is smart enough to put clues together, eventually figuring out his power, but such knowledge only leads to more complications, more visions, more chances for death to those she loves.  As Violet says about half way through the book, “Wow, that’s taking teenage angst to a whole other level…”(195) which is exactly what Cook does with the intricate plot of this novel.  Even though the foreshadowing was blunt at times, readers will still be engaged because Violet is a clever girl, the plot is intricate and yet moves at a fast pace, and the passion, though PG, is intense.  This will be a hit with all fans of vampire novels.

“Prettiest” and “Ugliest” girls in the Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior class appear on a list at the start of Homecoming week each year at Mount Washington High School. Who makes and posts the list and why?

More importantly, how do the eight girls who names appear on The List cope?

The reaction of each girl is shared throughout the novel and this continuing changing point of view can be hard to follow. If the reader becomes confused, it is easy to flip back to the opening page and review The List.

The issue of bullying is a major theme throughout the novel, in addition to examinations of peer and of parent – child relationships.

The List is an intriguing read.

Girl in the Arena does have similarities to Hunger Games – strong female protagonist who will fight to the death to save her family.  But this dystopian novel is set in current times, with a ne0-gladiator league that rivals the NFL.  Lyn wants nothing to do with the gladiator culture – not shocking after losing 6 previous fathers.  But she really liked the 7th father and this time more is at stake.  Claiming her 7th father cheated during his last match, the gladiator company, called “Caesar’s”, will take away everything promised to her mother–her house, future inheritances from the deaths of her husbands, everything.  And, during the last battle, the winner, Uber, took Lyn’s bracelet that had fallen from her father’s wrist in the match.  This meant Lyn would have to marry Uber.  Whether she wins or loses, she will save her family and herself if she becomes the first woman gladiator fighter.  Add in a little romance and an autistic brother that sees of the future and this is a pretty good story despite the annoying dash marks used instead of quotation marks.  Recommended as one to get to continue to satisify those who liked Hunger Games.

Coe Booth continues the story of Tyrell (2006), a boy whose constant struggle living in the Bronx should be bringing him down.  But he remains optimistic.  Tyrell’s father comes home from jail and Tyrell hopes the family can pull it together enough to get his younger brother out of foster care.  But Tyrell’s dad and the people he’s living with remain connected to illegal activity and Tyrell finds out his mother slept around while his father was in jail.  Physical abuse, drug use, and sexual activity abound.  Tyrell’s language is much more raw in this new chapter of his life.  It may be realistic, but it’s probably too harsh for most school libraries.