Found by Haddix (audio)

Found (The Missing, book 1) by Margaret Peterson Haddix. 2008.
Audience: Grades 4-8; ages 10-14
My Rating: 2*s of 5
Summary: When thirteen-year-olds Jonah and Chip, who are both adopted, learn they were discovered on a plane that appeared out of nowhere, full of babies with no adults on board, they realize that they have uncovered a mystery involving time travel and two opposing forces, each trying to repair the fabric of time.
Comments: I finally listened to this book after hearing a lot of buzz about it. Well, I don't feel buzzed by it. The concept is great, but the pacing, dialogue, and *language* dragged it down for me. IMHO Haddix's word choices, especially during dialogue, seem old fashioned to a point that it pulls me from the story and characters. Hearing these outdated choices read aloud was extra enervating! In the genre, Unwind is so incredibly better, but unfortunately for an older audience. But, hey, older kids seem to be liking this book so what do I know?!

Awards: Lone Star list 2010
Read-alikes: Unwind by Shusterman (for teens)

ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley

Charlotte is determined to begin a new school year as a new girl. She wants to not be invisible. And she wants to go to the Fall Dance with football player heart throb, Damen Dylan. She lands Damen as her lab partner in Physics and everything seems to be on track until she chokes on a gummy bear and dies in school. She is sent to Deadiquette school but escapes back to the living because she has unfinished business. She can't really be dead and cross over until she has what she has wanted in life, acceptance and love. The living and the dead collide with imminent disaster. Will Charlotte act to rescue both worlds? Each chapter begins with an epigraph. There is also a box with thoughtful realizations which summarize each chapter. Was not familiar with this... but "Screenwriter Hurley's novel is the first in a much-promoted series based on a character she created online in 2002 (http://www.ghostgirl.com)."

Ages: 13 and up

Comments: I found the treatment of the themes and writing style to be innovative. Lots of dark humor. The stereotypes were in a straight jacket (the popular cheerleader with her "court"who is utterly cruel to the unpopular, the gorgeous unattainable football boy) but I suppose this was necessary to set up of the story.

I Am Scout: The Biography of Harper Lee by Charles J. Shields

Charles J. Shields author of the best seller biography, Mockingbird writes the biography with teens in mind. The biography describes the early relationship of her parents and their marriage, her young life and family in Monroeville Alabama, the writing of Mockingbird, her friendship and work on In Cold Blood with Truman Capote, the making of the movie and her later years. Some things I thought that were interesting are: Her original title for Mockingbird was Atticus. She was so close to her father, she looked up to him and adored him. Her mother unfortunately was mentally ill. Once incident with her mother is the reason why she writes in the book that Scout's mother died when she was age two. In real life, when Nelle (Harper) was two years of age, her mother tried to drown her. Her sisters intervened to save her. She only had one more semester I believe at U of Alabama and she would have completed law school. There are several chapters devoted to her friendship with Truman. Truman always wanted fame, glory, and fortune, Nelle wanted none of that. She worked with him as his "literary assistant' during the interviews and writing of In Cold Blood. She made the acquaintances in the town where the murder happened so Truman could interview them. He never gave her credit for all of the work she did on the book. Heck she even read and edited (with a bum hand) his final manuscript. At one point she threw her Mockingbird manuscript out the window, littering the ground with it! Everyone wants to know why she never wrote a second book. Well now I know and understand why not. I won't give it away in case you decide to read the book.

Ages: 12 and up

Comments: What comes through so well is her personality, her inner struggles with writing the book and how the two are so closely intertwined. I thought the writing of this biography was a little dry at first but later on the pace picks up. I had planned to start reading this while I was in Alabama a few weeks ago but I was finishing up another book. It just would have made for a perfect setting. :)

The Last Knight by Hilari Bell

Summary: Michael Severeson, the son of a nobleman at age eighteen has decided to resurrect knighthood after it has been lost for over two hundred years. He saves a man from going to jail, Fisk and makes him his squire. Off they set to do good in the world. Their first heroic deed is a total disaster. It seems they have rescued a damsel who is not in distress but a murderer. To set things right again, Michael must apologize to the man's brother (she killed her husband) and capture the lady to bring her to her judgement and final punishment. This is not going to be easy for one, Michael, who is too honest and quickly finds himself in impossible binds as his squire stands by shaking his head so to speak. The novel is told in alternating chapters between the two main characters and their points of view. Their pursuit is filled with magic and adventure.

Ages: 12 and up

Comments: I loved the deadpan humor in this book. My quibble with this book is even though you have the alternating chapters between the two main characters, it was hard to distinguish between the two on more than one occasion.