This book of legendary short stories detailing the fantasy adventures of Conan the Barbarian, of Crimmeria, of the fictitious land of kingdoms ruled by Kull.  The level of imaginative detail of this geographic area of fantasy kingdoms is impressive. Conan is an intriguing character who lives by a simplistic warrior code of fighting and survival in a dangerous world.
The Hyborian Age introduction gives an incredibly imaginative and detailed overview of the geography and society of Conan’s land of kingdoms. The nine stories that follow are a series of dangerous and at times violent adventures, as Conan drifts from kingdom to kingdom trying to make his way in the mystical and confusing world he lives in. Conan is an experienced sword fighter, and has a highly tuned sense for survival, often being outnumbered in his many battles.
Each story can be read on its own, without any prior knowledge of the events or characters in previous stories. Very few details of other Conan stories are mentioned, except in the most general of terms, including the introduction story The Hyborian Age. This was undoubtedly a matter of necessity, as Conan stories were all originally published in magazines in the 1930’s.

Beyond the Black River and Shadows in the Moonlight appear to have the best true sense and spirit of adventure from this book, and both stories have a great element of suspense.The People of the Black Circle spends the most time exploring the mystical and magical aspects of the kingdoms where Conan lives.
Overall, Conan the Barbarian: The Original, Unabridged Adventures of the World’s Greatest Fantasy Hero, is an excellent collection of stories, that captures the reader’s imagination and is an excellent beginning series for any young fan of fantasy and adventure stories.

In Breathing, the reader hears the story of first love as told by a 15 year old girl, Savannah Georgina Brown. Set in a small North Carolina town, Savannah normally spends her summer vacations babysitting her younger brother and his best friend, working part time at the public library, reading trashy romance novels while swinging in her hammock, and hoping that she doesn’t have another hospitalization for her severe asthma. This particular summer things change dramatically when she meets a cute surfer, Jackson, who is in town to visit his cousins. The romance between Savanna and Jackson concerns Savanna’s mother but when Jackson stays by Savanna’s side during a hospitialization, the mother grows to appreciate Jackson and his devotion to her daughter. ‘What if the guy who took your breath away was the only one who could help you breath?” is a notable line of the novel that refers to Savanna’s ‘love at first sight’ experience of meeting Jackson and also commends him for the support he gave her while she was ill. Jackson and Savannah are separated by his having to return home to another city, and the reader listens to their long distance phone conversations and Savannah’s worried discussions with her mother and brother during the time she and Jackson are apart. This book may appeal to teenaged girls who like romance stories. It is a ‘feel good’ story, but Savannah’s Southern dialect and especially her bad grammar grated on this reader.

Two books from the same series Exploring Space, The Hubble Telescope and NASA are level 3  of their 5 level scale and follow similar formats.  One or two sentences per page with large font; full color photos are used throughout and most span both pages.  Because of the science background, the vocabulary is more pretty complex for the type of audience it is written.  Pronunciation guides would have been helpful.  Simple research at an elementary level or upper grade ELL students might find these books useful.  Additional selection for most libraries.

Entertainment Tonight/Us Weekly/People Magazine rolled together with a coming of age story about three teens from three backgrounds – high profile teen pop star whose a recovering addict, daughter of a movie producer who has struggled with weight, and a small town girl who is hired to be the assistant to the rival of girl #1.  Readers who like the drama a Hollywood will most likely enjoy the drama in this book.  De La Cruz creates characters who develop throughout the story, with twists and turns here and there to keep the book interesting, even though the overall resolution is apparent via the title.  The opulence of the rich and famous is flaunted heavily, but the real emotions and realities shine through the three main characters particularly well.  Set in the south of France during the Cannes Film Festival, this is a fun read for those who like to live vicariously through the above magazines.

The title is a small glimpse of the POW!er of this book.  Small in size, but full of punch, this 48 page wonder covers the origin of comics, debuts of the main characters throughout comic history, changes in comics due to changes in societal norms, as well as the changing audience for comics in their various forms — including brief pages on comix, indies, manga, and other graphic novels.   Full of interesting tidbits, this book would be suitable for elementary through high school libraries.  Paragraphs of text are in a very small type font that would be hard for younger elementary, though the full color, glossy page comic art filled pages will definitely make it a page turner in it’s own right.  This is probably an additional purchase unless there is a comic assignment or huge draw to graphic novels in your school as there is in mine.

Jackie’s Gift, by Sharon Robinson, is a wonderful true story about the Robinson family’s first Christmas in a new home with new neighbors.  Young Steve Satlow loved baseball, the Brooklyn Dodgers, and believed that “…Jackie Robinson the best player the Dodgers have ever had, black or white…”  When the Robinsons move in down the street, despite other neighbors attempts to stop them, Steve can’t wait to meet him.  Two interesting topics are handled with utmost respect.  The racism of Steve’s neighbors is explained and compared to racism Steve’s grandparent experienced as Jewish immigrants so that Steve can relate first-hand.  Then, after bringing a Christmas tree to Steve’s house, the Robinsons learn that Steve’s family is Jewish.  Steve’s parents find room for the gift in their home and hearts despite their religious beliefs.  The water color illustrations are just gorgeous as they give the feeling of “history” to the story.  This is probably a must have for most elementary libraries that strive to represent multiple perspectives on December holidays.

Stephen Currie’s American History series Environmentalism in America examines the eras, events, and movements relating to ecology awareness, activism, and legislation. The 96 page book is a hardback, and a very typical school library historical short volume that expands on information commonly found in high school history textbooks. Currie gives a brief but solid historical perspective of the subject that has ultimately created and shaped public opinion and activism as well as governmental public policy regarding local and national ecology issues. Overall, this is a well-written but brief informational book.

“You never know when everything is going to change, when everything you’ve taken for granted…is going to get smashed to pieces and you’ll realize that there’s nothing you can do, there’s no way out”, Will, the protagonist of the novel, confides to the reader. In The Returners, this is exactly what happens to 15 year old William Hodges. This dystopian novel, set in the very near future of 2016 England, examines issues relevant to current societies around the world: issues of politics, race, immigration, prejudice, and ethnic cleansing.

The novel is suspenseful, engaging, and disturbing. Dream sequences of historical attrocities, including WWII concentration camps and the Rwanda genocide, are constant throughout the book and may be disturbing to the reader. Themes include loss, grief, despair, bullying, regret, betrayal and redemption.

In spite of the weighty subject matter, the novel is exciting and profound, with plot twists unexpected by the reader. Recommended for those fans of dystopias.

A Long Walk to Water, by Linda Sue Park, is an interesting narrative read about two people from the Sudan, twenty years apart, whose experiences have a common thread, perseverance.  It’s the story of Nya in 2008, an 11 year old whose job is to get water for her family 8 hours a day, and Salva in 1985, who as an 11 year old boy was forced to run for his life from rebel soldiers, in the middle of the school day, with one thought, where is my family? Salva continues to walk to refugee camps in Ethopia and Kenya and as one of the Lost Boys, a new life is given to him in America. Nya will also get a chance at a new life, 20 years later, because of Salva’s perseverance.   Every reader can empathize with the separation anxiety Salva experienced of being displaced from your parents or family.  But they may see, for the first time, how something as simple as a water well could dramatically change a way of life.  Linda Sue Park creates characters with the ability to push ahead, one day at a time, regardless of their situation, showing the true determination of the human spirit.  A Long Walk To Water deserves its starred reviews and is recommended for grades 5 and up.

Uncertainties are for certain in the teenage years.  Astrological signs and daily horoscopes hold as much as meaning as SAT results.  So is the case for Lani, a high school junior who is a bit too concerned with fate.  Every since the near drowning accident where her best friend Erin helped to save her life, Lani has been faithful to their friendship, even though they are growing apart. But then Jason steps in.  Jason is dating Erin, even though sparks are flying between Lani and him.  When Erin leaves for the summer, Lani struggles with fate, chemistry and betrayal.  The beginning of her senior year is shrouded by vicious harassment.  Lani will make decisions regarding friendships that would be tough for most adults.  Though slow at the beginning because of the ongoing references to fate and typical, boring characterization of high school students, this book takes off once the romance is allowed to bloom.  Nothing sexual to worry about here, but one student does come out of the closet despite verbal abuse from his father. If you have other Susane Colasanti in your library, this would be a worthy addition for fans.