My Most Excellent Year

Biblio Bits My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger, Dial Books, 2008 (ISBN 9780803732278)

Reading Level/Interest Age 1030 lexile/Ages 13+

Genre Realistic Fiction, Humor, Romance

Plot Summary

Ninth grade holds some surprises for T.C., Augie, and Alejandra. T.C. doesn't expect to fall head-over-heels for the new girl, Alejandra, the smart, politically-minded, daughter of an ambassador, who has zero interest in his attention. Augie, T.C's Chinese-American "brother," doesn't expect to direct the school talent show or to have his first crush on a boy (and he really doesn't expect that everyone already knows he's gay!). Alejandra (or Ale) has no idea what to expect from a public school, she doesn't expect to get on stage and perform in front of an audience, and she does not expect that she can ever live up to the plan that her parents have for her. She certainly doesn't expect that she'll ever give the time of day to T.C.! None of them expect that a deaf six year-old boy will change their lives. This romantic comedy is a roaring good time and is told in IMs, emails, and letters between the characters.

Critical Evaluation

What a crazy cast of characters, but somehow Kluger makes it all work so well together in this book. I was skeptical about the IM, email, and letter-written format when I started it, figuring it would be distracting and just a cute gimmick. But it really worked here and actually enhanced the flow and pace of the story. Each of the three main characters, T.C., Ale, and Augie, alternate "narration" in each chapter, yet the narration comes from their own content (letters), as well as content by others (parents, friends, and even some people who are mostly on the periphery). This is a classic romantic comedy, so we know the ending will be positive. But it's not just fluff, there's some real depth. Themes about identity and self-discovery, friendship, grief, and dreams. This is a book about engaged youth who care about each other, good causes, their families, and they are teens who ultimately do good things for the world.

Reader's Annotation

Dancing, theatrical productions, romance...Wait! Wait! There's also baseball, die-hard Red Sox fans, and baseball trivia. There's an ace lip-reader who steals pitching signs to tip off the batter. It's all tied up in this story about a few kids and the stuff they care about.

Author Information

Steve Kluger was born in 1952 and grew up in Maryland. He has worked as an actor and playwrite. He's a gay activist and an ardent baseball fan. Kluger has written plays and books for adults and youth, many of which feature baseball. He lives in Boston, "the only city in the world." (Information for this author biography are from his official website and the Gale's Contemporary Authors Online, 2002.)

Challenge issues

Some swearing, a pretty liberal worldview, and a gay protagonist might be the areas that would draw negative attention.

Booktalking Ideas

It's a tough sell to get this book into the hands of boys because of the darn girly cover (softcover has a slightly less girly look). So I would choose NOT to show the cover at all. I would introduce listeners to the three main characters who share the fact that during their ninth grade year, each of them faces some unexpected challenges...but I would stress the fact that I laughed my way through the whole book! It definitely falls in the category of Love with a Laugh, and I might pair it with An Abundance of Katherines (Green, 2006), What My Mother Doesn't Know (Sones, 2001), and Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging (Rennison, 2000).

Curriculum Ties

I love how the English teacher has the students writing letters. T.C. writes to his mom, Augie writes to movie stars, and Ale writes to Jackie Kennedy. (And of course Hucky writes to Mary Poppins.) With the exception of Hukcy, these letters won't be sent (many recipients are dead anyway). What does it mean to write a letter that you know won't reach it's addressee? Each of our three main characters has chosen their letter recipient to be someone who they feel knows them and their experience somehow. Have students pick someone to write to---alive or dead---who they share something with: share a problem or issue and ask for their advice. Students will need to refer to things in the recipient's life that show that they "know" them, like Augie, Tick, and Ale do.

Why this book?
Funny, funny, and funny. And then I cried at the end. But what I really love is how the friendship between Augie and T.C. is portrayed: totally supportive (including when they razz each other!) and completely believable.

Awards
None.

Rockport Public Library owns?

Yes.

Shiver

Biblio Bits Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, Scholastic, 2009 (ISBN 9780545123266)

Reading Level/Interest Age 740 lexile/Ages 13+

Genre Supernatural, Horror, Romance

Plot Summary

Grace, age 17, is sort of raising herself: her mom is a self-absorbed artist and her dad is usually absent with his own work. Grace has two close friends and has a strong connection with the woods behind her house and the wolf pack who inhabits it. She was attacked by wolves the winter she was nine, pulled right out of her back yard, but a wolf with curious yellow eyes intervened and Grace survived. Since then, that special wolf has become a bit of an obsession for Grace: she watches for him and frequently catches glimpses of him, watching her from the edge of the woods. When a youth at her high school is viciously attacked by, what appears to be, the wolf pack, the townspeople stage a hunt to exterminate the wolves. Grace discovers her own wolf, in human form, badly hurt from a shot to his neck and takes him in. There is strong tension in the story, both romantic (Romeo and Juliet go paranormal!), and when a new werewolf is running wild in the community, without the rules or protection of the pack.

Critical Evaluation

This book received starred reviews from both School Library Journal and Publishers Weekly, so I was prepared to be wowed by a book that is being touted as the "next Twilight." This one has more elements of horror, more actual gore as well as some pretty scary situations that involve suspense. The narrative alternates between Sam and Grace, which works to give the story some perspective. Clearly, Stiefvater has worked hard to create a seamless world in which lycanthropes have a place, and some of the details seemed perfect (explaining the mental differences that Sam experiences in his two forms) while others seemed a bit forced (the elaborate emphasis on the permanent change to wolf form). Somehow I just couldn't get emotionally engaged with Grace's character. Sam's character seemed much more accessible and fully-formed; I got a clear sense of the emotional angst and the haunting troubles of his past, as well as the challenges of pack life. For fans of the emotionally-charged, doomed, paranormal romance story, this will be a sure bet.

Reader's Annotation

In the mood for a tense story of first love gone terribly wrong? Grace and Sam know their moments together are numbered; Sam will be changing into wolf form for good this year, and Grace is just a regular girl.

Author Information

Maggie Stiefvater was born in 1981 and has worked as a waitress, calligraphy instructor, and technical editor. She describes her current life as "eccentric" and lives in Virginia with her husband and two children. She has a pretty snippy tone on her bio page regarding questions that she won't answer (if it's something she has already posted on her FAQ page) and adds that she likes "plain English" instead of text-speak when fans write emails to her. I certainly wouldn't write her a fan email after reading that sort of condescension, and I don't even know text-speak! (Information obtained from her bio page on her official website.)

Challenge issues

Lots of romantic tension here (Sam's sleeping in Grace's bed!), some very passionate scenes, but nothing too explicit. What was more disturbing is the image of Sam's parents who attempted to slit his wrists and kill him when they found out what he was. And there are some explicit moments of graphic violence.

Booktalking Ideas

Paranormal romance for teens is pretty much the order of the day, since Twilight, so there are plenty of booktalking bedfellows for this title. I might also include it in an Adrenaline Books booktalk, since that covers both horror and suspense.

Curriculum Ties

I would love to do a comparison of various representations of werewolves in teen literature, from Professor Lupin of Harry Potter fame to the "shifters" of Cynthia Leitich-Smith's books to Jacob from Twilight. Each author has a unique take on the parameters, powers, and limitations of lycanthropes.

Why this book?
Another book that falls into the "If you like Twilight..." category. I saw the cover as a full-page advertisement on the back cover of Horn Book, so I decided to see where the Meyer-inspired literary explosion is going.

Awards
Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2009; Amazon's Top Ten Books for Teens.

Rockport Public Library owns?

No.

Eternal

Biblio Bits Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith, Candlewick Press 2009 (ISBN 9780763635732)

Reading Level/Interest Age Ages 14+

Genre Horror, Supernatural, Romance

Plot Summary

Miranda is having one of those days: tongue-tied during her try-out for Romeo and Juliet, laughed at by the popular girls, and then her secret crush gives his girlfriend a big kiss right in front of her. She's ready for a quiet night in with her friend Lucy to nurse her bruised ego. But Lucy has other plans: a trip to the graveyard to meet up with some cool, older boys. The creepy night is made scarier when the girls are separated in the graveyard; pretty soon it's clear there is menace nearby. What Miranda doesn't know is that she has a guardian angel on her side; just as she's about to take a fatal step, Zachary calls her name and shows his light-filled form. This is a big breach of the Rules and before he knows it, Miranda is gone and Zachary's having a stern talking to from the Angel Michael. He's punished, but not quite fallen. Meanwhile, Miranda is a neophyte vampire (excuse me, Eternal) princess, "living" outside of Chicago with the current reigning Dracula as his pet/daughter. Zachary's new mission leads him straight to the midwestern headquarters of the Eternals and back to Miranda. The two have a mutual attraction that seems impossible. Can Zachary save Miranda? Is there any soul there left to save? Does she even want saving?

Critical Evaluation

Told in chapters that alternate from Miranda's and Zachary's points of view, this book had many appeal factors: supernatural beings, romantic tension, and a glimpse into the vampire "good life." Smith's writing style is engaging: funny and glib, tautly descriptive, romantically tense (in a doomed Romeo and Juliet way), with references to popular culture (when Zachary is asked what he's doing, his answer: "I'm on a mission from God," clearly a reference to this movie). The pace is consistent, though the beginning had some slow parts. Readers may stumble, as I did, over certain turns of phrase and allusions to the supernatural world that I was unfamiliar with. Were the relationships between shifters (werebeings) and Eternals more fully explained in Tantalize (2007)? There were a few leaps of faith that Smith asked of readers, with regard to plot and details, such as the sentries that guard the castle. They take the form of wolves, but it seemed that they were Eternals in another guise. I wasn't clear about whether this was a form of punishment or an indication of their station in life. I also finished the book and didn't feel that certain details were worked out to my satisfaction; perhaps this means a sequel to come. These things aside, this would be a good recommendation for a bereft fan of the Twilight (Meyer) books.

Reader's Annotation

It's Romeo and Juliet all over again, except this time the two warring clans are Angels and Eternals. Will the love-struck beings find their way to eternal happiness?

Author Information

Cynthia Leitich Smith was born in Kansas City, MO. She has published works for children, teens, and adults. She teaches writing for children and young adults in the MFA writing program at Vermont College for Fine Arts. She has won awards for her works which often portray the lives of Native American children in a modern context. Smith is married to award-winning author Greg Leitich Smith and lives with him in Texas with their four cats. Smith is "a tribal member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation." (Information for this brief biography is from here and here.)

Challenge issues

Possible areas of challenge: sexual tension; violence; some swearing.

Booktalking Ideas

Another perfect one for that booktalk around Halloween or that booktalk called "If you liked Twilight, here's what you should read next." Of course the romantic themes could be a draw also, around Valentine's Day, to focus on stories of star-crossed lovers: Romeo and Juliet, Trouble (Schmidt, 2009), An Abundance of Katherines (Green, 2006) to name a few.

Curriculum Ties

Why this book?

Another one that has appeared on the "if you like Twilight..." lists and an author who was reviewed in a group presentation on the genre of horror for tweens for this class (LIBR 264-10).

Series/Sequel

This title is considered a companion book to Smith's "dark fantasy debut," Tantalize (2007).

Awards
Book of the month, Native America Calling; YALSA Teens Top Ten Nominee.

Rockport Public Library owns?

Yes.

Twilight: The Movie

Biblio Bits Twilight, produced by Godfrey, Mooradian, Morgan, and Rosenfelt; screenplay by Rosenbery; directed by Hardwicke. Summit Entertainment 2009.

Reading Level/Interest Age Rated PG-13

Genre Pop culture, horror, romance, magical realism

Format DVD

Plot Summary

When Bella moves to Forks, Washington (from sunny Arizona and life with her mom), she expects a small, boring town and a quiet life with her dad. Bella reconnects with a childhood friend, Jacob, who lives on a nearby reservation. Her attention is captivated by the Cullen family: five gorgeous, adopted siblings who attend Forks High School with her, and keep to themselves. It turns out that Bella and Edward are assigned as biology lab-partners, but Edward is unbelievably rude and Bella is mystified. When Edward saves Bella's life with a demonstration of superhuman strength and speed, she begins to suspect that Edward might be something other than human. Romance, and plenty of complications, soon follow.

Critical Evaluation

Condensing a nearly-500 page best-selling novel into a feature-length film is a tough job. Overall, I was impressed with the choices the screenwriter made in selecting the most significant portions of the book to portray onscreen. I was also pleased with many of the casting choices (Bella, her dad, Jacob, James, Jessica), the visual "look" and filming-style, and the way the relationships played out onscreen. However, Robert Pattinson (teen heartthrob) just didn't do it for me, as Edward, particularly his flat-sounding voice. And I have tried to listen to this on CD and hated the sound of the reader's voice. In my mind, Edward has a timeless appeal (and not those ridiculously dark eyebrows!), like a younger George Clooney. I, and others, are eagerly awaiting the release of the next installment: New Moon (November 20, 2009).

Reader's Annotation

You've read all the books, you have to see the movie! The real question is: are you Team Edward or Team Jacob?

Author Information

Stephenie Meyer received her degree in English from Brigham Young University. The idea for the characters in this popular series came to her in a dream; she worked on the first installment at odd moments and late at night, while her three sons were little. All of the Twilight Books have appeared on bestseller lists and she was named one of the most promising authors of 2005 by Publishers Weekly. She lives in Arizona with her husband and three sons. (Information in this author bio is from the author's official site.)

Challenge issues

Mature themes like throwing yourself so wholeheartedly at a boy (vampire) that you exclude all other interests and friends are just one of the ways that viewers might object to this film. Also, giving vampires a place in our world---and having their world be attractive---is another shivery concept.

Booktalking Ideas

Another one you won't have to booktalk (movietalk?) because it will walk off the shelves and probably stay off the shelves. It would be natural to include this movie in a booktalk about the supernatural or a Halloween/spooky theme, but it would also work in a booktalk with a romance theme.

Curriculum Ties

Not really applicable unless it was in a language arts class where students were asked to examine the role of Bella as the unlikely heroine in this series, or perhaps what it means for feminism that this book has become so popular with teen and tween girls.

Why this movie?
I had to satisfy my curiosity about how the movie version would measure up to the characters and visuals I had in my head, after reading the books. I saw it first in the theater (with my husband and a bunch of teen/tween girls) and revisited it for this assignment.

Awards
No.

Rockport Public Library owns?

Yes.

Vote for Larry

Biblio Bits Vote for Larry by Janet Tashjian, Henry Holt and Co., 2004 (ISBN 9780805072013)

Reading Level/Interest Age 810 lexile/Ages 12-14

Genre Realistic fiction

Plot Summary

Since readers left Josh Swensen in The Gospel According to Larry, he has had to enact a pseudocide (fake suicide) to get out of the media spotlight. In the intervening years, Josh has left his family and friends behind, lived under pseudonyms, traveled and lived all over the country, always in fear of being found out. His old friend (and heart-throb) Beth, a passionate activist, locates Josh (now almost 18 years old) in Colorado and kidknaps him. Beth's goal is to convince Josh to run for a local seat in his home town in Msasachusetts; the prospect of jumping back into the public life (not to mention explaining that he isn't dead) is scary, not to mention that Josh has a girlfriend out in Colorado and must sort out his feelings for both girls. Ultimately, a local seat just isn't enough and, with help, Josh founds the Peace Party, a political party based on taking back the political system from big business. With a strong momentum of support from teens across the country, Josh and his running mate, Beth, wage a political campaign like no other, despite (or because of) their youth.

Critical Evaluation

Having not read the first Larry book, I was curious to see whether this one could "work" on its own. There were enough references to the exploits of the previous episode that I was able to piece together the background, but it might bother some tweens to read this one as a stand-alone. The pace of the story moves very quickly, especially as the momentum of the campaign builds; there are some slower moments, when Josh self-reflects, either about the "big" issues of the campaign or the equally big issues of his love life. There is a lot of content about the US political system, the presidential process, and many modern social issues facing our country in this story, such as poverty, education, campaign finance reform, and others. It seems to strike a good balance between portraying the fantasy of a teenage presidential candidate, with the realities of running a campaign (including physical threats and threats on his character), the historical/political content, and a little romance thrown in.

Reader's Annotation
When Josh "Larry" Swensen comes back from the dead to offer an alternative to the one-party political machine, it doesn't take long for disenfranchised teens to tune in to his message and turn off the reality TV shows!

Author Information

Janet Tashjian was born in 1956 and grew up in Providence, RI. She obtained her MFA in Creative Writing at Emerson College and studied with the notable children's/YA author, Jack Gantos. Tashjian also cites Lois Lowry as a "goddess" and inspired children's author who is "so funny and smart." She currently lives in Needham, MA, and has a husband, son, and dog. (Information for this author biography is from the author's page on Macmillan books.)

Challenge issues

Challenging mainstream thinking, questioning authority, criticizing our government (and the Bush administration), and some occasional swearing might be offensive to some.

Booktalking Ideas

A great selection for a booktalk on challenging the norms of our society. I could see it paired with So Yesterday (Scott Westerfeld), The Carbon Diaries (Saci Lloyd) and Little Brother (Cory Doctorow) because all three of these books give a realistic picture with a twist, not to mention raising some important questions.

Curriculum Ties

This would be such a fun book for a social studies class to read while they are studying the election process---just to round out the textbook with something fun and thought-provoking, of course. Another link would be in a current events class, to follow-up on some of the issues that the Peace Party raises. There are some great resources listed in the back of the book related to the topics mentioned in the book.

Why this book?
Well how many books are there about teenager who is running for president? This book shows teens that engaged activism and questioning the status quo can enact positive change, even if it's not as a candidate on a political ticket.

Awards
None.

Series/Sequel

The Gospel According to Larry (2003) precedes this title; Larry and the Meaning of Life (2008) follows it.

Rockport Public Library owns?

Yes

Lock and Key

Biblio Bits Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen, Viking, 2008 (ISBN 9780670010882)

Reading Level/Interest Age 840/ages 13+

Genre Realistic fiction, romance

Plot Summary

When 17 year-old Ruby's dead-beat mom abandons her, Ruby copes as well as she can. When social services learns of her situation, Ruby goes to live with her estranged sister, Cora, and brother-in-law, Jamie. Cora and Jamie have successful careers and live in an exclusive neighborhood which is a bit of a culture shock for Ruby. Things get even more shocking when Jamie enrolls Ruby at his alma mater, a private high school, where Ruby feels completely out of place. Ruby finds it difficult to accept her new situation and since she has had to be self-sufficient for so long, she has trouble trusting those who reach out to her. This includes her happy-go-lucky neighbor, Nate, who seems determined to be Ruby's friend. As Ruby and Nate get to know each other better, Ruby realizes that Nate's dad physically and verbally assaults him; given her own past history with her mother, it's hard for Ruby to know how (or if) she should help Nate. As Ruby begins to adjust to and accept her new life and her new relationships, she has to face some difficult truths about herself and her family.

Critical Evaluation

Sarah Dessen has delivered another book that has many of her characteristic appeal factors: family problems, friendships, emotional/psychological reflection, and a little romance thrown in. In typical form, a boy/girl friendship develops into a sweet romance (full of uncertainty, of course), in this case between Nate and Ruby. There were some loose ends in the story, however, that did not feel typical of Dessen, particularly the issue of her mother's disappearance. While this might have been a central focus of the book, Ruby seems to take it strangely in stride that her mother is simply gone. For good? Is she OK? Will she contact or try to find Ruby and Cora? Ruby doesn't seem overly concerned. However, Dessen does give a reader plenty of the realistic details and dialogue, and engaging characters and plot development that her fans enjoy. Fans of Sarah Dessen will probably like this book no matter what.

Reader's Annotation

Ruby thinks she can make it on her own after her mom abandons her---she'll be 18 in only a few months! When she is "found out," she is whisked away to live with her sister in her fancy house, a complicated family reunion ensues.

Author Information

Sarah Dessen was born in Illinois in 1970 and grew up in Chapel Hill, NC. The daughter of two academic parents, Dessen was given an typewriter and a desk and wrote a lot of stories as a child. Dessen was a book-lover from an early age and cites Judy Blume and Lois Lowry as authors who were able to capture her own teenage thoughts and feelings. She waited tables during and after her college years at University of Chapel Hill, and eventually got a teaching position there. Dessen still lives in Chapel Hill with her husband and young daughter, writing full time. (Information in this author biography was gleaned from the author's official site.)

Challenge issues

Underage drinking and drug use, cutting school, casual (but not explicit) sexual encounters, and physical violence against a minor are a few of the parts of this book that might elicit a challenge.

Booktalking Ideas

A perfect selection for a booktalk on the subject of realistic fiction "teen problem" books. Or perhaps a booktalk about teen relationships and romance. Probably, though, you won't have to booktalk it---it'll be mostly off your shelves and in the hands of your 7th/8th grade girls!

Curriculum Ties

Not really much for curriculum content here, but probably high on the list of older middle school girls' pleasure reading.

Why this book?
OK, I admit it. I am a Sarah Dessen fan. I read her latest (ninth) book this summer (Along for the Ride), really liked it, and then remembered that there were a few others that I hadn't yet read. This was the one that happened to be on the shelf when I looked.

Awards
None.

Rockport Public Library owns?

Yes