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 Hearing these outdated choices read aloud was extra enervating!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.

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.