Elephant Run by Roland Smith

During WWII, Nick Freestone, age 14 is sent from London to Burma on a plantation where timber elephants are raised and trained by mahouts run by his father where he will be safe. Not so. The Japanese invade, his father is sent to a work camp and Nick is forced into slave labor under the direction of the Japanese. An old monk assists Nick and Mya (daughter of a man who worked with his dad) as they escape from their plight to rescue his sick father and her brother. Hannibal, a timber elephant who was attacked by a tiger and has never forgotten his injures is pivotal to their treacherous escape. This book is filled with plot twists, and on the edge reading as you root for a successful journey. Nick is a formidable kid who must grow up quickly to survive this dangerous time in history.
Ages: 11 an up.
Comments: A tween recommended this to me! The book is heavy on plot and setting but that is okay. As an old seasoned reader I guessed some outcomes but still I really enjoyed this book. I learned a great deal about Japan's invasion of Burma and their mission there. I also learned a bit about what a mahout is and their role. I was also reminded of just how remarkable and smart elephants are.

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson (audio)

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson. 2007.

Audience: Grades 9th and up; 12 yrs. and up

My Rating: 3*s of 5

Summary: After finally getting noticed by someone other than school bullies and his ever-angry father, seventeen-year-old Tyler enjoys his tough new reputation and the attentions of a popular girl, but when life starts to go bad again. He must choose between transforming himself or giving in to his destructive thoughts.

Comments: The first half of this book absolutely worked for me. I was completely empathetic with Tyler and on the edge of my seat to know what would happen with Bethany. His feelings (eh-hem) for her are palpable (I wonder if guy readers would agree?). But when gears shift to other areas of focus, the story lost momentum for me. The drama amped up and seemed a bit over the top, but hey, what do I know about 17 year old boy-brains? I was glad at how things played out eventually, but would have stayed more glued to the story had the Bethany storyline remained a key player. Overall, an interesting male point of view equivalent to Speak.
Awards:

Read-alikes: Antsy books by Shusterman, Paper Towns by Green

The Brothers Torres by coert voorhees

Summary: Frankie Towers (torres is spanish for towers) lives in Borges, New Mexico where there is not much to do but plenty happens in this saucy story about two brothers and the classes of people in their town. Frankie is not that muscular, not athletic, not so sure of himself or as popular as his brother Steve a senior. But he is okay looking. Frankie has his sights on a hot girl named Rebecca. Nerves abound as he is just about to ask her to homecoming but is cut off by Dalton an preppy, rich kid, easy to loathe who is on the soccer team with his brother. Steve is cool but not so cool that he has the respect of the local cholos. (not a gang but a group of badasses). After Frankie is beat up by Dalton, his brother Steve and his buddies rough up (John) Dalton just enough so that he doesn't come after Frankie again. When Dalton's mom and dad buy the family's restaurant, Steve's rage and hatred for Dalton is unstoppable until a final showdown during the Homecoming Dance. Frankie who is on the sidelines must decide where he stands and take action.

Ages: 14 and up

Comments: Lots of Spanish words and phrases. Lots of Mexican food. Be prepared to have you mouth water when some of his mama's cooking is described. Be prepared to be grossed out as his best friend Zach (who loves to blow up things) not surprising has only one eye after an incident. What is gross is that will pop his eye in his mouth for a cleaning even during lunch. I can relate to the main character, Frankie. When he gets nervous his emotions totally take over and his is in touch with how his body is responding making it hard for him to speak. Claudia W. liked the fact that this is about a family with a mother and father who are still married, who still love each other and who are in touch with their children (the good and the scary) and who show genuine concern for their sons. Did I say saucy to describe this book? Oh yes, it's got saucy food, saucy fights, saucy love and saucy guts. Brotherly love in this story has evolved with time, is fragile but never severed.

Bang! by Sharon Flake

Mann, age 13, and a talented artist lives in a neighborhood where random shootings are the norm. His own family has not escaped, his seven year old brother was shoot dead on the front porch of their home two years ago. His mother and father live with the constant fear of losing their other son yet they don't know what or how they can insure this does not happen. Still reeling in grief his mother bakes a birthday cake each year for his brother. His father grieves by withdrawing his love and support of the emotional feelings of his family. Determined to change Mann from a boy to a man his father leaves him and his friend Kee-lee in some woods where they are to find a way to survive until they make their way home. There is more tragedy before the end of this book but there is also growth and redemption.

Ages: 13 and up

Comments: Readers can enter a real, violent world with real people who live in it everyday. Hope is never lost or abandoned in this gripping and disturbing story.

The Last Invisible Boy by Evan Kuhlman Illustrated by J. P. Coovert

Summary: After losing his father Finn Garrett begins to physically fade. He is becoming transparent and his hair has changed from black to white. His journal/book with short, short chapters (some half a page and others four pages) are replete with cartoon drawings. Through this conversational prose Finn describes his family, school friends, grief, remembrances, and daily life without his father.

Ages: 11 and up

Comments: I was looking for something like Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans. This should work because of the style, however, you should warn potential readers that this story is on a single painful topic. There is some humor but I did not experience any laugh-out-loud moments like I did during the reading of Diary. Finn thoughts about the viewing and funeral are candid and vivid.