Kazumi Reads

Plot Summary:
Claudia has always known one thing: Time has stopped. On the Outside, Claudia plays the role of the dutiful daughter who is in line to become Queen of the Realm. However, she is not happy about this endeavor since it is her father's grand plan to marry her to the Queen's son, giving her, and him, ultimate power. What makes her so special? Her father is the warden of Incarceron, a living prison that does what it wants and when it wants. What was once a plan to rehabilitate prisoners, Incarceron has become a world where no goes in and no one goes out. In this world, seventeen-year-old Finn, known as the Starseer, is part of the Comitatus, which rules one end of Incarceron. Although he is part of vicious group of "scum" he and his oathbrother, Keiro, fight to survive Incarceron's ever watchful eye. What was supposed to be a routine ambush, Finn holds a woman hostage and she holds the key to his past, which is what will lead on an extraordinary journey through Incarceron that will rival the legend of Sapphique...the only prisoner to escape from this living prison. As Claudia prepares for her "doom," she decides to defy her father and unlock his secrets of Incarceron, but what she does not plan on is that her discovery will connect her with Finn, which strikes a series of unfortunate events that will reveal years of deception and an assassination plot.  


Critical Evaluation:
Incarceron is an incredibly complex, but fast-paced and one heck of a read. I honestly wasn't sure if I could make it through this story, but once I got started I was done for. Catherine Fisher has created a world that is not only beautiful, but incredibly hideous at the same time. By providing readers with two very different worlds, they will begin to understand that neither of these worlds is free from tyranny and oppression. Although one is quiet and peaceful, the citizens are bound by "protocol" where art, music, free-speech, and  progress are forbidden. The other world is filled with fear and violence where only the strongest will survive. Despite these differences, the people, aristocrats and scum, are not in control of their destinies, which lead to one result: chaos. Although the main plot of the story is to bring Finn to the Outside to take his place in society, the separate subplots provide unique elements to these complicated worlds where freedom is the ultimate goal.

Information about the Author:
According to her website, Catherine Fisher was born in Newport Wales. She graduated from the University of Wales with a degree in English and has worked in education and archeology and has lectured,in creative writing at the University of Glamorgan (para.1). Not only is she an award-winning children's author, and poet, she has also written a variety of science fiction and fantasy series as well. Here is what Catherin Fisher says about Incarceron:

Incarceron and its sequel are certainly the most complex books I’ve written. They were a wild roller-coaster ride of fun, invention, despair and worry. Sometimes I thought I would never get through it; other times the book seemed to write itself, the characters took over, things happened I hadn’t even foreseen. I had a really mixed bunch of characters, the austere, dangerous Warden; feisty Claudia, arrogant, vain Keiro; Finn who never quite tells the truth. And Jared, Claudia’s gentle, clever tutor. There are lots of relationships of various sorts going on here which I tried to imply more than state. Also there are a few mid-blowing twists in the story that seriously jolt the reader into amazement. At least I hope they do!

Genre:
Teen Fantasy


Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9& up


Books Similar to Incarceron:

• Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
• Maze Runner by James Dashner

Awards & Recognition:

• 2007 Mythopoeic Society of America's Children's Fiction Award
• 2008 Times Children's Book of the Year 
• Starred Review Booklist (1/1/2010)
• Starred Review Publisher's Weekly (12/7/2009)
• Starred Review Horn book (1/1/2010)
• Starred Review School Library Journal (2/2/2010)
• Kirkus Review (1/15/2010)

Teens, tell us what  you like to read during the holidays!
For a chance to win a  Snow Much Fun Raffle Basket:

• Let it Snow: Three Holiday Romances
• National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
• Starbucks Gift Set
• Other Snow Much Fun items

November 21-December 18th

Raffle tickets available at the Teen Reference Desk.
One entry per person; winner need not be present to win.

Raffle will take place on Dec. 19th

Peanuts Characters created by Charles M. Schulz

The Alhambra Civic Center Library will be closed November 24-25, 2011 in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday. We will be open on November 26, 2011.

Happy Thanksgiving from Teen Services!

Love Anime? Join the ACCL Anime Club as we watch watch, and discuss Anime. The club will be watching Angels Beats this month.

The Anime Club meets once a month and screenings are subject to change.  To learn more, click on the following link.

Plot Summary:


Critical Evaluation:
The Night Circus is a beautiful tale where magic sets the stage for a dream that most people would love to re-live over and over. What most readers wouldn't expect is how richly complicated this story is where two people, destined to destroy each other, actually come to together to create something incredibly beautiful other than falling in love. Another aspect of this story is the alternating point of views that not only contribute to the complexity of this story, but how one long time rivalry can alter so many lives where the collateral damage changes the lives of everyone involved. Readers will love the characters and the love that develops between the main characters. However, what they won't expect is the ending where a lifetime of deception and secrets finally come to a rather fitting end.  

Information about the Author:
The Night Circus is Erin Morgenstern's first novel. According to her website, Morgenstern grew up in Marshfield, Massachusetts and graduated from Smith College with a BA in Theatre and Studio Art. Most of her stories and art are fairy tales ans she  currently lives in Salem, Massachusetts. According to Morgenstern:

I started querying literary agents in June of 2009. After working with interested agents and revising my manuscript (twice) I signed with my agent in May of 2010. Then I spent a summer in the Revisionland Hotel, and in September of 2010, THE NIGHT CIRCUS sold to Doubleday. The sound you are hearing is my head spinning, still.

My fiction tends to be location-driven. Nocturnal circuses, subterranean libraries, townhouses dressed up as pirate ships. I got tired of living in Alice’s Wonderland and decided to build some of my own.

I write 10-sentence flash fiction pieces inspired by photographs that are posted to the blog every Friday. They are fondly known as flax-golden tales.

Genre:
Fiction


Reading Level/Interest:
Adult


Books Similar to the Night Circus:

• Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
• Daughter of Smoke and Bone Laini Taylor
  

Awards & Recognition:

• Kirkus Starred Review (4/15/2011)
• Booklist Starred Review (5/15/2011)
• Publisher's Weekly Starred Review (5/16/2011)
• Library Journal Starred Review (6/15/2011)

Plot Summary:
Rose is destined to be a wanderer. Despite her mother's superstition, and denial, Rose was meant to adventure beyond the her homeland. Not only is she different from her her brothers and sisters, Rose is the apple of her father's eye because he know that she is special. Neddy, Rose's oldest brother, feels the same way and watches over Rose fearing that something will happen to her. However, when Rose falls into a pond she is saved by a giant White Bear. Even though Neddy witnessed this, he is pretty sure he imagined the Bear and doesn't tell anyone about him. However, when her family falls on hard times, and her sister, Sara, becomes ill, the White Bear that saved Rose returns offering a solution to all their financial troubles and Sara's declining health. The catch is: Rose must stay with the Bear for an unknown amount of time. Although she is excited about this proposition, her father and brother refuse to let her go. Rose's mother believes she is being punished for her denial about Rose's birth direction (Rose was born North, but her mother told her father that that she was born in the East) and the misfortune was upon them. Instead of protecting Rose, she tells her that is would be best that she left with the bear, which leaves her feeling worthless. Caught between her desire to see the lands beyond, and staying with her family, Rose goes with the Bear not knowing what will happen to her. What she does not realize is that this Bear is not any ordinary bear. Moreover, the time she spends with him she eventually learns that something terrible has happened to him and she would have to save him before its too late.   

Critical Evaluation:
Based on a Norwegian folk tale, East of the Sun, West of the Moon, and Beauty and the Beast,  Edith Pattou crafts a tale of love, adventure, heart break, and danger. In this story, is a heroine who not only knows that she was meant for something more than a life a domesticity, but has more courage than most grown men. Readers will not only appreciate her strength, but they will also love Rose's kindness and empathy for the White Bear. Moreover, the quest that Rose must take in order to save the Bear not only provides vivid detail of the lands she travels, but the people she meets along the way, especially Thor and Malbo, the Inuit Shaman. For most readers, the part that will tug at the heart is when Rose reveals the identity of her Bear and losing him to the pale Troll Queen. East is an extraordinary tale of love and sacrifice that will beg readers to keep reading all the way to the end.

Information about the Author:
In her website, Edith Pattou was born "Evanston, Illinois, grew up in Winnetka, and was a teenager in the city of Chicago where she attended Francis W. Parker School. She completed her B.A. at Scripps College in Claremont, California where she won the Crombie Allen Award for creative writing. She later completed a Masters degree in English Literature at Claremont Graduate School followed by a Masters of Library and Information Science at UCLA" (para. 2). Not only has she worked for a variety of organizations (libraries, bookstores, schools, recording studio, and even the Playboy Foundation). She has written over three novels for young adults including: East, Firesong, and Fire Arrow. She has even written a children's book called Mrs. Spitzer's Garden.

Genre:
Teen Fantasy, Teen Romance


Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 8 & up


Books Similar to East:

•  Beast by Donna Jo Napoli
•  Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer

Awards & Recognition:

• Starred Review KLIATT (5/1/2005)
• Starred Review Booklist (9/1/2003)
• Starred Review SLJ's Best Books (12/1/2003)
• Starred Review ALA's Best Books for Young Adults (3/15/2004)

Plot Summary:
Seventeen-year-old Amy, and her parents, have been traveling on a spacecraft called Godspeed under the guise that they would be amongst the first to establish life on a new plant. The only catch is that Amy and her family would have to cryogencially frozen for three hundred years. Although Amy is hesitant leaving everything, and everyone behind, she decides being with her family is more important. The only problem with this situation is those who froze her had no idea that she was still conscience. For three hundred years, Amy is alone with her nightmares until she is unexpectedly re-animated a hundred years later.Unfortunately, her awakening wasn't planned and she almost dies if it wasn't for Elder. As Amy slowly regains consciousness, she learns there have been some disturbing changes on Godspeed where society has taken a huge step backwards rather than forwards. Moreover, Elder, who is being trained by Eldest, starts to learn that his role in society is not at all what he though and struggles to find the truth about who he is and what he, as the future leader, must do to maintain justice and order. Furthermore, those who have been frozen, like Amy, are being murdered by a ghost and both Amy and Elder must stop this from happening.enteen-year-old Amy, and her parents, have been traveling on a spacecraft called Godspeed under the guise that they would be amongst the first to establish life on a new plant. The only catch is that Amy and her family would have to cryogencially frozen for three hundred years. Although Amy is hesitant leaving everything, and everyone behind, she decides being with her family is more important. The only problem with this situation is those who froze her had no idea that she was still conscience. For three hundred years, Amy is alone with her nightmares until she is unexpectedly re-animated a hundred years later.Unfortunately, her awakening wasn't planned and she almost dies if it wasn't for Elder. As Amy slowly regains consciousness, she learns there have been some disturbing changes on Godspeed where society has taken a huge step backwards rather than forwards. Moreover, Elder, who is being trained by Eldest, starts to learn that his role in society is not at all what he though and struggles to find the truth about who he is and what he, as the future leader, must do to maintain justice and order. Furthermore, those who have been frozen, like Amy, are being murdered by a ghost and both Amy and Elder must stop this from happening.
Critical Evaluation:
This story is probably on of the most beautiful stories I have read in a while. Many important issues such as tolerance, love, and ethics are being discussed as both Amy and Eldest uncover the truth about what it means to be human. This story combines mystery, space travel, the downfall of society, and love in a powerful tale that one cannot put down. By reading from Amy and Elder, readers get a wonderful insight into who these teens are and the power of their minds and hearts. More importantly, we get a rather scary insight into a world where emotions have not only been taken away, but denied because our free will does not always lead to the right decisions, which, unfortunately, cannot be prevented. This book will definitely bring about a lively discussion, especially where all sides of the stories are presented and analyzed.

Information about the Author:
According to her website, Beth Revis was born in North Carolina who always loved to write: " Despite being a complete over-achiever and teacher’s pet in high school, she often wrote short stories instead of taking notes during classes. This habit persisted into college, except the stories became novels" (para. 5). Revis went onto to North Carolina University and earned her BA in English with a Minor in History and later got her MA in English. Like most of us English majors, she became a teacher and absolutely loved it:

Although Beth had originally begun teaching thinking it would be a nice way to pay the bills before she got a book deal, she discovered that, much to her surprise, she didn’t just like teaching, she loved it. This made it much harder for her to quit when she decided to focus more time on her writing (para. 8).

When she is not writing, she loves to travel and enjoys being with her family, husband, and dog. One of her goals, before she dies, is to make her way to Jerusalem, the Great Wall of China, and the Pyramids of Giza.

Genre:
Teen Sci Fi, Teen Romance

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to Across the Universe:

• The Giver by Lois Lowery
• Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Awards & Recognition:

• Kirkus Starred Review 12/1/2010

Plot Summary:
Sixteen-year-old Misao has always known what its like to see beyond this realm. All her life, she has the ability to see demons, but none have ever tried to harm her. Unfortunately, the day after her sixteenth birthday, she is attacked by humans possessed by other demons. Although she has no idea why the demons want to kill her, she learns that she is not of this world. Ten years ago, a boy named Kyou asked Misao to marry him when the time is right. After they made this promise, Kyou disappeared and all Misao has is shattered memories of him. What she did not know that Kyou is actually a Tengu, a bird-like demon, who not only loves, and desires, Misao, but has claimed her as his Senka Roku, which means "Bride of Prophecy." What Misao doesn't realize is that any demon who claims her will not be granted amazing powers, but her blood, alone, will make any demon invincible. After claiming Misao as his bride, Kyou must dedicate his life to protect her not because of her power, but because he loves her.

Critical Evaluation:
Of all of the Shojo manga out there, this particular series is absolutely brilliant since it has a great balance of romance, comedy, drama, and violence. Other than Matsuri Hino's Vampire Knight, the amount of epic battles is almost unheard of in the world of Shojo. However, the best part of this series is the forbidden love between Misao and Kyou. The flashback of their childhood memories are absolutely precious simply because a young boy made a promise to a young girl and fulfilled it. Although I was leery about Kyou's intentions, it is clear that he loves Misao for the woman she is and risks everything to save her. Although sex is a big part of this story (in order to obtain the powers of the Senka one must bed or consume her), there is a hidden moral message about waiting for the right time and the right person, which, for us adults, is better than no message at all. This series is definitely meant for older teens (younger teens will probably be really uncomfortable for the inevitable consummation of the "marriage").

Information about the Author
Although there is not a lot of information about Kanoko Sakurakoji, what we do know is that she was born on August 1 in Tokyo, Japan. According to Shojo Beat.com, " [Sakurakoji's] hobbies include reading, watching plays, traveling and shopping. Her debut title, Raibu ga Hanetara, ran in Bessatsu Shojo Comic (currently called Betsucomi) in 2000, and her 2004 Bestucomi title Backstage Prince was serialized in VIZ Media's Shojo Beat magazine. She won the 54th Shogakukan Manga Award for Black Bird( para.1)."  


Genre:
Teen Fantasy Manga, Teen Romance Manga


Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 10 & up


Books Similar to Black Bird:

• Haruka Beyond the Stream of Time by Tohko Mizuno
  
• Vampire Knight by Matsuri Hino
  

Awards & Recognition:

• 2009 Shogakukan Manga Award for Shojo manga