Plot Summary:
Finley McManus didn't know what to expect when he Coach asked him to hang out with Russell (AKA. Boy21) and when he met him, his whole life changed. Finley was born in raised in one of the roughest cities in Pennsylvania. Surrounded by violence, the Irish mob, and plenty of racial tension, Finley earned the name "White Rabbit" because of his quiet demeanor and athletic prowess. As the point guard for his high school basketball team, Finley is the unsung hero for the team because, without him, there is no way his team would be as good as they are. Whenever he is not practicing with his girlfriend, Erin,who happens to be a basketball player as well, he keeps to himself and spends most of his time on the court and away from the drama at his home. What was supposed to be a quiet night with Erin, Coach showed up at his house to ask him a favor. Russ, the son of a Coach's close friend, who was recently murdered is the favor. Although Finley isn't sure why Coach chose him to help, it turns out that Russ is a basketball phenomenon, who has refused to play basketball. In fact, the death of his parents has rattled him so much that he think he is an alien named as Boy21, which also happen to be Finley's basketball number. Finley believes that Coach is asking him to convince Russ  to try out for the basketball team, which has him worries. When Finley met Boy21, for the first time, not only did he a giant man-child, he met a person who truly believed he was from outer space. Whether this act was Russ' coping mechanism, or he was just out of his mind, Finley agreed to Boy21's "resource" on human behavior. The only problem that Finley could foresee is that he's white and Boy21 is black. Black and white kids didn't really interact at their high school so Finley had not idea what would happen when he showed up to school with Russ. Luckily, with time, patience, and understanding, Finley and Boy21 have developed a friendship that would not only change the dynamics of their school, but allow them to heal and hope for a better future.

Critical Evaluation:
Honestly, I am still amazed that issues like this still exist. This is the year 2013 and one would think that we could get over differences like skin color and get on with our lives. The sad reality is that cities, like Bellmont, are still plagued with issues of race and rampant violence. For Finley, it's normal to come to school and be frisked by the police to make sure he didn't have any dangerous weapons and that his neighborhood is run by the Irish mob. On top of living in an armpit of city, he also has to care for his disabled grandfather and do as much as he can for his father since his mother left. I think what I appreciate the most about Finley's character is his sincerity and desire to see his father happy. At the same time, it is hard to see him struggle because someone his age should not have to carry the burdens and responsibilities that he has. As for Russell, he grew up in the suburbs and attended a private academy where he not only excelled in basketball, but he was a genius! Finley is an average student, but, when compared to Russell, they were light years away from one another. However, Finley has something that Russell does not have: a family (broken), but still a family. Although these two characters have very little in common, they compliment each other because Boy21 intrigues Russ and Russ appreciates Finley's "calming presence." Furthermore, Russ has the voice that Finley has yet to find and that is what makes this pairing ideal because they give one another the courage to become who they want to be. Quick has done an excellent job in conveying to teen readers the harsh reality of life and that when things get tough, we have to overcome our demons and live the life we were given.    

Information about the Author:
According to his website:

Matthew Quick (aka Q) is the New York Times bestselling author of THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, which was made into an Oscar-winning film, and three young adult novels: SORTA LIKE A ROCK STAR; BOY21; and FORGIVE ME, LEONARD PEACOCK. His work has been translated into twenty-eight languages, received a PEN/Hemingway Award Honorable Mention, was an LA Times Book Prize finalist, a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice, a #1 bestseller in Brazil, and selected by Nancy Pearl as one of Summer’s Best Books for NPR. His next novel for adults, THE GOOD LUCK OF RIGHT NOW, is forthcoming from HarperCollins in February 2014. All of Q’s books have been optioned for film.

Q was born and spent the first few years of his life in Philadelphia before being raised just across the Delaware River in Oaklyn, New Jersey. He graduated from Collingswood High School (class of 1992) and La Salle University (class of 1996), where he double-majored in English and secondary education. He taught literature and film at Haddonfield Memorial High School in New Jersey for several years, during which he coached soccer and basketball, chaperoned trips to Peru and Ecuador, initiated a pen-pal exchange with students in Namibia, and counseled troubled teens.

In 2004 Q made the difficult decision to leave teaching and pursue his dream of becoming a fiction writer. He received his Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Goddard College in 2007. He now lives in Massachusetts with his wife, novelist/pianist Alicia Bessette.

Genre:
Teen Lit for Guys,Teen Sports Lit

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up


Books Similar to Boy21:

• Whale Talk by Christopher Crutcher
• Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach

 From Amazon.com:
(Kirkus, starred review)

"Beautiful...It is this depth that makes "Boy21" more than a first-rate novel fueled by basketball; it's a first-rate work of art." (The New York Time Book Review)

"Every aspect of this multilayered novel harmonizes...excellently set-up twists display Quick's mastery of pacing; authentic dialogue and deft character development ensure both our emotional investment in these richly complex boys and also our empathizing with their main commonality--feeling like "you're not the person on the outside that you are on the inside."" (The Horn Book)

"His emotionally raw tale retains a delicate sense of hope and optimism, making it a real gut punch of a read." (Publishers Weekly)

Plot Summary:
In the small town of Hopewell, excitement rarely happens. For Tucker Faye, most of his time is spent hanging out with his best friends and/or causing trouble. One day, when Tucker decided that he wanted to make his own catapult, he didn't realize the repercussions of launching the lawn gnome onto the roof. Tucker's father, Reverend Faye, is not only a God fearing man, but very strict. Tucker's mother, the church organist at the little parish, is just as devout as her husband, but a little more laid back. When Tucker's father came home to find that the shingles on the roof had been damaged, Tucker knew he was going to be in trouble. However, when his father went to the roof, and found the gnome, his father disappeared into thin air before Tucker's eyes. When he saw his father vanish, screamed for his mother and told her everything that happened. Although she didn't believe him, Tucker knew his father had gone missing and didn't know if he was going to come back. Well, an hour later, his father returned, but he looked older and was wearing strange blue stocking on his feet. What was even stranger is that he returned home with a girl Tucker's age, named Lahlia, and a small grey kitten. What was even more devastating is when the family sat down for dinner, his father refused to say grace and denounced the existence of God. Shocked, and worried, Tucker continued to ask his father about the day on the roof and his father would not answer. When Lhalia was adopted by another couple in town, things should have gone back to normal, but, unfortunately they did not. Since his father's return, his mother has been slowly losing her mind and his father refused every diagnosis she had received. As the year passed, Tucker withdrew from his family until he came home to an empty house with a note saying that his long lost uncle, Kosh, would be taking care of him until his parents returned. Ironically, on that very same day, Tucker saw something hover in the woods he was playing and that is when the ghosts appeared. Furthermore, Lahlia had also returned and started talking about a pure child, blood moon, Klaatu, and Diskos. At his uncle's farm, Tucker realized what Lahlia was talking about when a Diskos had sucked him up in a vortex that landed him on the roof of the second Twin Tower on September 1, 2001. The Diskos were real and Tucker knew that his father was also transported to another world, but why did he take his mother? Does he think that the whatever lies behind the Diskos could save her?

Critical Evaluation:
I really did not know what to expect when I picked up Pete Hautman's The Obsidian Blade. First of all, I didn't realize that this was would be a trilogy. Secondly, I didn't expect time travel and aliens. And, thirdly, I couldn't figure out what the Obsidian Blade was until 3/4 of the way through the book. Let's just say, I am impressed with how gripping and utterly complex this story is. Apparently, Tucker's little home town is a connecting point between one world or the other where portals/wormholes/Diskos are used to transport corporeal beings. The motivation behind the Diskos is kinda unnerving; who ever used the Diskos would be transported into times of devastation through out history. Long story short, the Diskos were looked down upon because if beings travel to other times, and upset the balance, they would be changing events that should have never been changed. However, the Diskos were still in operation by the Klaatu, who, despite their advanced technology, are just as primitive as we are. In many aspects, the Cydonian Pyramid and the Klaatu resemble the ancient Mayan and their pyramids; both cultures need a living blood sacrifice in order to thrive. Hautman, clearly, is exploring the power of religion and faith in this story and has managed to juxtapose two world using history and biblical premonitions (the Digital Plague/Plagues of Egypt). Furthermore, Tucker's father losing his faith, after coming to the Cydonian Pyramid, is not only devastating, but it tears the family apart; when the faithful preacher declared that God doesn't exist, everything changed. As for his mother Autism diagnosis, I am not quite sure where Hautman was going with this. Granted, folks with Autism are said to  have heightened sense (i.e., sensing paranormal entities), I am assuming that his mother's ghosts are being justified as autistic behavior and not seeing the Klaatu? As for Lahlia, why the Reverend saved her is still a mystery, but I am sure it will be revealed later on. Although we know what the Obsidian Blade is, we still have yet to learn why it was used and why Tucker was its victim. Anyways, there is a lot going on in this premise and I am hoping that it will reveal itself in the next two books, which I need to read ASAP before I forget all of the details. Read on, readers...read on!

Information about the Author:
According to his website:

I was born in 1952 in Berkeley, California.  I lived in the Bay Area until I was five, by which time I had three younger siblings. In 1958 we moved to St. Louis Park, Minnesota, where my parents continued to produce offspring.  By 1964 I had four brothers and two sisters. I attended Cedar Manor Elementary School (also the alma mater of Al Franken and the Coen brothers), and eventually graduated honor-free from St. Louis Park High School.  This is so tedious. Why do you keep reading?

For the next seven years I attended college, first at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design, then at the University of Minnesota, where I took nearly every one-level class offered, but very few three- or five-level classes.  I left college without graduating, but knowing a little bit about nearly everything, and a great deal about absolutely nothing.  That superficial education now serves me well at cocktail parties, and as a novelist.

After college I worked various jobs for which I was ill-suited, including sign painter, graphic artist, marketing executive, painter cap salesman, pineapple slicer, etc. Eventually, having no better options, I decided to write a novel. I finished writing Drawing Dead in 1991. Two years later it was published by Simon & Schuster.

In 2004 my novel Godless won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. That's a huge deal if you are a writer. It made me deliriously happy.

Today, I live with novelist and poet Mary Logue in Golden Valley, Minnesota and Stockholm, Wisconsin. We have one small dog (are you still reading?) named Gaston. When I'm not writing or reading, I like to cook, run, bike, inline skate, hunt mushrooms, look at art, and take naps.

Genre:
Teen Sci-Fi, Teen Adventure


Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to The Obsidian Blade:

• Across the Universe by Beth Revis
• The Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com

This might be Hautman’s most daring book yet. Throughout, Hautman raises significant issues concerning family, faith, and destiny. Well-developed and complex characters, a fascinating time travel framework (including dispatches from the far future), and a heart-stopping conclusion will leave readers looking forward to the next book.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Vivid imagination and deft storytelling make for refreshing speculative fiction in this time-travel tale... Part science fiction, part adventure, part mystery, but every bit engrossing; be sure to start the hold list for the sequel.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

This fast-paced opener to the Klaatu Diskos trilogy will satiate adventure seekers, and the refined brain candy will be delicious to more thoughtful readers... Tantalizing.
—Booklist (starred review) 

Plot Summary:
To all of the nerds, past, present, and future, there is nothing more mortifying and embarrassing then falling in love with a guy, or girl, from the opposite side of your nerd herd.  After waking up from a night of serious partying, Arizhel (Chung Ae), ended up waking up in a room with a Jedi. O-M-G! Clearly, the Blood wine she and her fellow Klingons concocted the night before was not such a good idea after all. After introducing himself, the Irish Jedi (Thomas) ordered breakfast to kill the nasty hangover and, after chatting for a bit, Thomas and Chung made a connection. Granted, they may have had been a little intoxicated due to the awesomeness of the Con and Blood Wine, but, underneath the make-up, the outfits, and the persona, are two teenagers who willing to look past their "differences" and are willing to defy the social norms that their groups have constructed. Sometimes, when nerds are not taking over the world, they can also be our greatest asset. For Montgomery, she has enlisted the help of SPRIGGAN (Springfield High's Genre and Nonsense Club). Montgomery is Springfield's head cheerleader and she has no idea what she is getting herself into. Apparently, her boyfriend (the Quarterback) is a hard core Trekkie and gamer. Granted, Mica, David, and Ezra are thrilled to assist the exceptionally popular and gorgeous girl, Ellen is furious. After accepting her proposal (and $100 fee), the group gives Montgomery a crash course in everything nerd; each member will teach her the basics about popular science fiction, comic books, video and computer games, books, television shows, etc. Although Montgomery is an eager student, she seems to lack the understanding of what makes a fan passionate about the subject. Just when things couldn't get an weirder, Montgomery starts to appreciate her new tutors and actually considers them friends. There are many, many more stories in this collection, like these, that will have readers rolling on the floor laughing and loving the fact that we are all nerds, geeks, dorks, etc., deep down inside and that is worth celebrating and loving.

Critical Evaluation:
I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK! I don't know how else to express my joy with this book. Although I am adult, a lot of these stories resonate with my own adolescence and it's refreshing to see that teens have support. Teens who are looking for a break from the monotony of life and the usual teen fiction, will find the dose of laughter they need. There is a great selection of YA authors who contributed to this collection who not only share their own experiences (through their characters), but some of these stories, especially the collaborations, are some of these best stories out there. The lesson that readers will learn is that there is no shame in being a nerd. Furthermore, it is highly recommended to not only explore our inner geek, but to seek out those who can help us cultivate that passion. Many non-nerds wonder why nerds are so weird, but what they are missing is that it's not about being weird: it's about expressing our passion and ourselves. Honestly, it take an immense amount of courage to step out into the real weird in full cosplay regalia, not to mention the time and energy it takes to make that outfit. Nerds not only spend countless hours researching, they also spend quite a bit of money purchasing goods and supplies in order to better understand what they love. Some call it hording, some call it collecting, and some call it investing, but, to the newly outted nerd, it is those enthusiasts and collectors who become valuable resources. I highly recommend this collection to any teen, especially those who are constantly put down for being different. Teens need stories like these because they need to know that they are not alone and that it is more important to love themselves and be proud of who they are. We live in a age where it's cool to be different and stories like these will only reaffirm what it is to be awesome despite the criticisms and the outright jealousy of those who wish they were cool.

Information about the Author:

According to her website:

Holly Black is the bestselling author of contemporary fantasy novels for teens and children.

Her first book, Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale, was published in 2002 by Simon & Schuster. Tithe was called "dark, edgy, beautifully written and compulsively readable" by Booklist, received starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly and Kirkus Reviews, and was included in the American Library Association's Best Books for Young Adults. Holly has since written two other books in the same universe, Valiant (2005), and the sequel to Tithe, Ironside (2007), which spent five weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Valiant was a finalist for the Mythopoeic Award for Young Readers and the recipient of the Andre Norton Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature.

Holly has also been a frequent contributor to anthologies, and has co-edited three of them: Geektastic (with Cecil Castellucci, 2009), Zombies vs. Unicorns (with Justine Larbalestier, 2010), and Bordertown (with Ellen Kushner, 2011). Her first collection of short fiction, Poison Eaters and Other Stories, came out in 2010 from Small Beer Press. She has just finished the third book in her Eisner-nominated graphic novel series, The Good Neighbors, and is working on Red Glove, the second novel in The Curse Workers series. White Cat, the first in the series, is out as of May 2010, and is about capers, curse magic, and memory.

Holly lives in Massachusetts with her husband, Theo, in a house with a secret library.

About Cecil Castellucci:

Cecil Castellucci is the author of books and graphic novels for young adults including Boy Proof, The Plain Janes, First Day on Earth, The Year of the Beasts and Odd Duck. Her picture book, Grandma’s Gloves, won the California Book Award Gold Medal. Her short stories have been published in Strange Horizons, YARN, Tor.com, and various anthologies including, Teeth, After and Interfictions 2. She is the YA editor of the Los Angeles Review of Books, Children’s Correspondence Coordinator for The Rumpus and a two time Macdowell Fellow. She lives in Los Angeles.

Genre:
Teen Short Stories


Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up


Books Similar to Geektastic:

• Zombies vs. Unicorns edited by Holly Black & Justine Larbleister
• 21 Proms edited by David Levithan & Daniel Ehrenhaft

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com

Grade 9 Up—From Trekkers to science geeks, Buffy fanatics to Dungeon Masters, nerds of all persuasions are sure to find themselves in the pages of this anthology. It contains fun reads such as Black and Castellucci's "Once You're a Jedi, You're a Jedi All the Way" in which a Klingon wakes with a Jedi in her hotel room while at a sci-fi convention, and Tracy Lynn's "One of Us," in which a cheerleader enlists the school nerds to teach her the basics of geekdom so she can impress her Trekker boyfriend. The collection also includes more profound fare such as Kelly Link's moving and masterful "Secret Identity" about a 15-year-old girl who has pretended to be her 32-year-old sister on an online RPG. She must face the consequences of her lies when she arranges to meet the man with whom she has developed a relationship. Also included are stories by YA lit greats such as John Green, Libba Bray, Scott Westerfeld, and M. T. Anderson. Each story is followed by a comic-book-style illustration offering information or advice such as "What Your Instrument Says About You" and "How to Look Cool and Not Drool in Front of Your Favorite Author." Simultaneously addressing the isolation and loneliness that geeks can feel as well as the sense of camaraderie and community that can be found when one embraces a world or ideology in which he or she can completely invest, Geektastic is a completely dorky and utterly worthwhile read.—Heather M. Campbell, formerly at Philip S. Miller Library, Castle Rock, CO
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Plot Summary:
Hazel Grace is a survivor. Diagnosed with Stage IV Thyroid Cancer, her life should have been over last year. However, she proved the doctors wrong by making a miraculous recovery. However, the treatments and the cancer have left her lungs filled with tiny tumors that need to be eradicated with medicine, but leaves Hazel permanently dependent to on oxygen tank named Philip. What should have been the typical life of a teenager, Hazel is light years ahead of peers except that she doesn't have a lot of friends and prefers to spend her time alone. In order to get her out of the house, her mother forces her to attend a support group at the local church, which she finds utterly depressing and boring until Gus came around. In fact, Hazel never thought a gorgeous boy would show up to this group, nor did she count on the fact that he actually thought she was beautiful. Confused, and unsure why this perfectly normal guy would want to be with her, she learns that he too is a cancer survivor and he has a prosthetic leg. Although this fact does not change anything, Hazel is forced to tear down the walls she has put between herself and live the life that she has been given even if for a little while longer.

Critical Evaluation:
I rarely listen to audiobooks because I am so fearful that the narrator is going to be utterly terrible, and sadly, some teen audiobooks have been. Since I absolutely loved the print version, I decided to give the audiobook a shot. Boy, was I proven wrong! I could not, whatsoever, get over the fact how well Kate Rudd did with the characterizations. When the serious parts rolled around, I could not stop crying because Rudd had put so much raw emotion into the dialogue that one cannot stop listening to it! Along with the brilliant reading, listeners have the opportunity to hear from John Green himself as he talks about writing The Fault in Our Stars. Believe it or not, this story was inspired by a real NerdFighter who gave so much of herself despite fighting cancer. This book not only transcends age barriers (both teens and adults will love this story), but it brings an awareness to the power of the human spirit, love, and having the courage to go on with life. I am pretty sure this books has sealed itself into the annals of awesome books that teens forty to sixty years from now will read and relish. Needless to say, the audiobook will have the same lasting power thanks to the wonderful narrator and I am actually looking forward to listening to her future works.

Information about the Author and Reader:
Get ready for an amazing FAQ section from John Green:

Q. When were you born?
A. August 24, 1977

Q. Where did you grow up?
A. Primarily in Orlando, Florida but also a little bit in Birmingham, Alabama

Q. Where do you live?
A. I currently live in Indianapolis, Indiana. I wrote most of The Fault in Our Stars and much of Paper Towns here. We used to live in New York City, where I wrote part of Paper Towns and most of An Abundance of Katherines. Before that, I lived in Chicago, where I wrote Looking for Alaska.

Q. Did you receive any formal education?

A. Yes, I graduated from Indian Springs School (in Alabama) and then received a B.A. from Kenyon College (in Gambier, Ohio), where I double-majored in English (mostly Mark Twain) and Religious Studies (mostly Islam).

Q. Did you want to be a writer when you were younger?

A. Yes, but I always thought being a writer was, like, being an astronaut or playing in the NFL or something. It always seemed to me a very unrealistic dream. (I still don’t think of writing as my fulltime job: I make videos and help run record companies and other stuff.) Shortly after I graduated from college, I began working at Booklist Magazine. Booklist is an amazing magazine. Every two weeks, they review HUNDREDS of books. It slowly dawned on me that each of those books was written by someone, and I started to feel like maybe I could be one of those someones. During these years, I was also very blessed to have one of my editors at Booklist, Ilene Cooper, mentor me and encourage my writing. Ilene is an author, and through our friendship, I realized that people who write books are not, like, fundamentally different from other people. (Well, Ilene is smarter and funnier and better-informed than almost anyone else, but you know what I mean.)

So, yes, I wanted to be a writer. But it wasn’t until I was much older–in my 20s–that it seriously occurred to me that I could be a writer.

Q. Where do you get your ideas?

A. I don’t really know. If I had a better understanding of where my ideas came from, I would go there and acquire more ideas. I don’t tend to have big ideas, like, “A SCHOOL FOR WIZARDS!” or “VAMPIRES IN SUBURBIA!” My stories tend to start out with people: a child prodigy who hits the wall of his intellectual talents. A religious but not fundamentalist Muslim in the South. A young woman kept alive but uncured by a novel cancer treatment. These characters mix with questions that interest and/or haunt me: Why are we so interested in leaving a legacy? Can we construct meaning in a world that is so profoundly apathetic toward us? Is it possible to have a full life without having a long life? That’s where my books start, really. They begin at the intersection between people I’m imagining and questions that bug me.

Q. What was your childhood like?

A. I was extremely fortunate. My parents loved and encouraged me; my brother was empathetic and supportive; my friends (when I had them) were lots of fun without being too dangerous. That said, due to some malfunctioning brain chemistry and also due just to the nature of being a person, I often felt isolated and alone and scared. I was quite nerdy and dearly wished that I could be popular. I think I was quite difficult to be around–my insecurity and anxiety made it difficult for me to have straightforward, engaging social interactions with anyone, and I was really super self-absorbed.

I don’t particularly recommend any of these personality traits, but I do think spending a lot of time in my youth (particularly middle school) alone was helpful to me as a writer: For one thing, I read a lot. For another, I spent a lot of time listening to other people talk.

Q. Do you have advice for young writers?

A. That is not really a biographical question, but yes, I do. I believe that reading is a writer’s greatest apprenticeship. We learn how to write by paying attention to all the ways that writers who’ve come before us used this meaningless scratches on a page to bring stories to life in the minds of readers.

My other recommendation is to tell stories to your friends and pay attention to when they get bored. I still do this a lot, and it helps me understand how to pace a story, and what kind of phrases and images audiences find engaging.

Finally, trust your critics. When someone identifies a weakness in your story, they are almost always right. They may not have identified quite the right weakness, and they may not have quite the right solution, but if your readers are bothered by something, then things have gone awry. If you’re going to ask for readers’ time, after all, the story you write has to be a gift for you and for them.

          About Kate Rudd:

"It's a rare book that gets you laughing and crying at the same time," Kate Rudd says of John Green's YA novel, THE FAULT IN OUR STARS. "The book was really a visceral experience for me--it was the kind of book that I would have read at home, in private, because of the crying," she confesses. "I'm kind of an emotional person anyway, so the engineers and the directors are used to me. I think there were at least 100 pages where I was physically crying, and not trying to show it in every moment, but you can't always keep it out of your voice. Sometimes it actually serves the script, because of Hazel's breathing issues. So if at times I was a little breathless from the story, it was okay."

When Rudd began recording audiobooks two years ago, she did almost exclusively YA titles. "I don't know if it's just because my voice was still a little bit younger--I'm only 31. I really like young adult literature. I think it's some of the smartest writing that's out there, so it's been really satisfying to be able to tell those stories." Rudd's mom was a librarian, and Rudd says she naturally grew up with a love for books. "She didn't ever tell me that because I was a certain age, here's what I needed to be reading. She just had piles of books, and I went picking and found things that were interesting to me."

Rudd, who lives in West Michigan near the Brilliance Audio studios, happened upon narrating as something to supplement her acting career. "There's a lot going on here in terms of short films and independent films. There's not a lot going on here that would be enough for all of us actors to support our families on. There's enough to stay active and to occasionally catch a windfall, but a lot of times we do it because we love it and because we are hearty people."

But she discovered that audiobook work was a passion. "I'd like to do this until I'm old and gray. In the beginning, this was a temporary stopgap measure--I needed a job; I'm an actress; I'm trying to raise some kids; here, this is close enough; I'll do this for awhile. That was my attitude going in. I quickly fell completely in love with it and found it to be so surprisingly gratifying, and if I can find a way to do this forever, I will."--Jennifer M. Dowell

Genre:
Teen Audiobooks
 
Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up
 
Audiobooks Similar to the Fault in Our Stars:
I am still looking for audiobooks that are just as awesome as this one. 

Awards & Recognition:

• Winner of the 2013 Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production 
  

Plot Summary:
Alice Liddell was bored with the ordinary. In fact, Alice longs for the extraordinary and would give anything to live in a world where nonsense is the law of the land. One day, while on an outing with her sister, Alice sees a white rabbit wearing a waistcoat and carrying a pocket watch. Surely, no one has ever seen a white rabbit wearing a waistcoat and carrying a watch so Alice follows him down a rabbit hole that would lead her to Wonderland. Before entering Wonderland, Alice is tested when she comes upon a small table with a key and a variety of doors. After finding the proper door, Alice realized she was much too big to enter and and that is when  a small bottle of liquid appears with the following bale: "Drink Me." Although she is now the perfect size, she forgot the key! When she realized her mistake, she didn't know what to do and that is when a piece of cake with the words "Eat Me." Well, the cake made her shoot up a few miles and she was stuck again. Rather than trying to find a solution, Alice does something that every child does when she doesn't know what to do: she cries and cries. After flooding the hallway with tears, Alice takes the bottle and shrinks herself only to be "flooded" into Wonderland. While in Wonderland, Alice meets a variety of characters who have their own stories to tell and they are definitely ones she has never heard. Although Alice originally relished the opportunity to be a part of this world, she realizes that nonsense is literally what it is: nonsense. From the Dodo, Bill, the White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, the Door Mouse, and the Caterpillar, the Red Queen, and many others, Alice finds herself surrounded in a world where everything up is down and no matter what she does, or says, it always ends up the opposite. Throughout her journey, Alice starts to realize that living in the ordinary world isn't all that bad and, after the shenanigans and adventures she experiences, being at home with her kitty, Dinah, is just what she needs. However, old habits die hard, and when Wonderland beckons her return, Alice curiosity, once again, gets the best of her.

Critical Evaluation:
This is one of my favorite books of all time. In fact, I have a cat named Dinah and when I grow up, and have a daughter, her name will be Alice. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is a fun and fantastic adventure where a little girl learns to appreciates the difference between reality and fantasy. Although Wonderland had shown her many, many amazing things, she learns that silliness can lead to madness that could lead to some scary things. For example, when she ate the cake in Rabbit's house, she was almost burned alive because the Rabbit, Dodo, and Bill thought she was a monster. Another incident is when she almost lost her head because of the dizzy Red Queen. Let's not forget her tea party with the Mad Hatter and the March Hare. Logic and the illogical lead to many different paths and Alice had the unique opportunity to experience both. In this collection of Alice's adventures, world renowned scholar, Martin Gardner, has given Carroll fans a wonderful gift, which is Alice's stories with John Tenniel's original artwork, and ANNOTATIONS UP THE WAZOO! I majored in English so this version, although not necessary for some readers, is a joy because along with the story, we get bits and pieces of facts and history on top of all of literacy criticism. For those who are no familiar with the author's life, they will learn that this man was a highly respected theologian and mathematician. When I learned about who Lewis Carroll was, or, should I say, Reverend Charles Dodgson, I was floored. Why on earth would a man of fact and logic write a story about the illogical? Well, lucky for us, Carroll was a living contradiction, just like Alice Liddell. More importantly, we learn that this beautiful story was based off the stories of his good friend's daughters, which, in my opinion, is the greatest gift any little girl could ever ask for. Since this edition contains the original Annotated Alice that Gardner published thirty years ago, this edition includes additional information so fans all over the world will be super excited to get their hands on this! If you love Alice, and want to know everything about her inception and influence, I highly recommend that you go out and buy this for your collection. A great addition to any home library.  


Information about the Author:
According to the Lewis Carroll Society of North America:

Who exactly was Lewis Carroll?
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, known by his pen name, Lewis Carroll, was a man of diverse interests — in mathematics, logic, photography, art, theater, religion, science, and of course literature. He was happiest in the company of children for whom he created puzzles, clever games, and charming letters. And of course, he also told them stories.
As all Carroll admirers know, his book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865), became an immediate success and has since been translated into more than eighty languages. The equally popular sequel Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, was published in 1872.

The “Alice” books are but two examples of his wide ranging authorship. The Hunting of the Snark (1876), a classic nonsense epic, and Euclid and His Modern Rivals (1879), a rare example of humorous work concerning mathematics, still entice and intrigue today’s students. Sylvie and Bruno (1889), published toward the end of his life, contains startling ideas including a description of weightlessness.
The humor, sparkling wit and genius of this Victorian Englishman have lasted for more than a century. His books are among the most quoted works in the English language, and his influence (as well as that of his illustrator, Sir John Tenniel) can be seen everywhere, from the world of advertising to that of atomic physics.

Why did Mr. Dodgson write under the pen name of Lewis Carroll?
As a modest gentleman and a scholar/instructor at Oxford, he valued his privacy very highly. He would refuse letters sent to “Lewis Carroll, Christ Church, Oxford”, claiming no such person lived there! But he did occasionally use his pen name to smooth an introduction to a well-known member of society or new child friend.

How did he come up with the name Lewis Carroll?
He took the first two parts of his name, Charles Lutwidge, and translated them into Latin: Carolus Ludovicus. He then reversed their order: Ludovicus Carolus, and then loosely translated them back into English: Lewis Carroll. He actually supplied his first publisher with a short list of possible pen names, and it was the publisher who selected “Lewis Carroll” from the list. Share that bit of trivia at your next mad tea party!

Was there a real Alice?
Indeed there was. Alice Pleasance Liddell was arguably Charles Dodgson’s greatest child friend. She was one of the daughters of Henry George Liddell, Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, where Mr. Dodgson lived, taught and wrote.

Was Lewis Carroll in love with Alice?
To say that much has been written on this question would be a monumental understatement. For the purposes of this site, suffice it to say that in addition to being a friend during her childhood years, she was his first true creative muse. Interestingly, Alice Liddell also inspired a number of other well known artists of the time, including John Ruskin, William Richmond and Julia Margaret Cameron. The fact that the two “Alice” books are still so beloved today stands as a testament to the lasting power of that original inspiration, and to Mr. Dodgson’s timeless genius.

What was the origin of the Alice books?
Mr. Dodgson would often take young Alice and her sisters Lorina (older) and Edith (younger) on leisurely rowing expeditions in the company of a fellow Oxford scholar. During these boat rides and subsequent picnics, he would make up fantastical tales to entertain the girls. What we now know as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland began as one of these stories, and was only written down because Alice begged Mr. Dodgson to do it. The first version, which he wrote and illustrated by hand for her, was entitled Alice’s Adventures under Ground. Some of the most famous chapters of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland were actually written only after his friend (and noted children’s author) George MacDonald and his family encouraged Mr. Dodgson to explore the idea of expanding and publishing the story so that more children could enjoy it. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland met with instant success, as did its sequel, Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There.

Can Lewis Carroll’s creativity and writings be explained by any possible drug use, epilepsy, migraines, or other mind-altering circumstance?
In brief: no, no, no, and no. Based on all evidence unearthed to date, unless you count the occasional use of an over-the counter homeopathic remedy, Lewis Carroll was not a drug user. This may disappoint lazy media hounds and Miley Cyrus, but that’s the truth as we currently know it, and given Carroll’s abstemious personality and conduct, that particular finding is unlikely to change. Similarly, while he had a couple of seizures of one kind or another in later years, and wondered if one of them might be “epileptiform” in his diary, he also recorded afterward that his own doctor told him that it was not, and there was no history of it in his immediate family line. And while he records that he occasionally had a very bad headache, including some descriptions that sound like migraine symptoms, we have no hard facts that could lead one to say uncontestably that he suffered from migraines. Seizures and severe headaches can be caused by any number of things, and providing a medical diagnosis more than 100 years after the fact is not advisable. It’s fascinating what people since Carroll’s time have tried to read into his life after reading his remarkably inventive works. Our explanation for how the Alice books, the Snark, and all Carroll’s other writings came to be is simple: the man was extremely talented.

Genre:
Classic Literature

Reading Level/Interest:
All ages

Books Similar to the Annotated Alice:

• The Annotated Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum
• The Annotated Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
  

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com
A welcome, greatly expanded third edition of Gardners beloved critical edition of Carrolls Victorian fairy tales. One of the longest ongoing love affairs in literature has to be that between Gardner, a prolific, popular writer on math and science, and Carrolls ostensible childrens tales, Alices Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. With a dedication rare even among scholars, Gardner has tracked down origins and meanings of the wordplay and mathematical puzzles the sly Carroll embedded in his texts. He has also researched Charles Dodgson's life and illuminated the two stories sly parody of high Victorian culture. This new volume combines the notes from The Annotated Alice (1960) and More Annotated Alice (1990) with Gardners latest discoveries, offering both ardent fans of Carroll's work and newcomers a chance to read the texts in the light of Gardner's labors. The result is rather like sitting in on the creation of a work of art; the manner in which the shy mathematician and tutor Dodgson poured everything that fascinated him (children's games, chess, mathematical riddles and logic, an amused view of Victorian literature and society) into the work by his alter ego Carroll is illuminated through Gardner's lucid and copious notes. They run in a narrow (and surprisingly unobtrusive) column accompanying Carroll's text on each page, turning the book into a fluid mix of Carroll and Gardner. The illustrations, by John Tenniel, also provide fertile ground for Gardner's commentary. The notes are so clear, enthusiastic, and helpful that it is now hard to imagine Carroll without Gardner. A unique collaboration has produced, for once, a book that lives up to its name. As close to a definitive take on a classic work as anyone is likely to come. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Plot Summary:
Life for Knox is pretty heaven, especially when he has money to burn and no one to stop hi. In this world, only the rich can thrive because everything has a price tag. For Syd, he isn't rich and he knows what it's like to suffer. Since the moment he was abandoned, Syd has been wracking up debt because it cost money to feed, cloth, medicate, and keep a roof over his head. In fact, it costs money to go to school so most teens either work or ask their patrons to front them the money. In this world, the patron system is not about philanthropy- it's about give and take. If teens didn't have patron, they would their lives in utter squalor or die. Although Syd hasn't wracked up the debt like his best friend Egan, his "job" and his low-profile lifestyle has kept him a float and almost debt free. Once Syd has paid off his debt, he will flee the Valve and everything else that has made his life miserable and start over as a free man and not as a Proxy. To be a proxy is to be in debt to a patron and that patron can dish out any goodness and evil upon the Proxy. Unfortunately for Syd, he is Proxy to Knox. When Knox's father purchased Syd's debt, Syd has been obligated (mind, body, and soul to endure any punishment that Knox would accumulate. In other words, Syd knows what its like to be beaten with EMD (Electro-Muscular Disruption) stick, slaving away under the hot sun, and being left alone in the dark for days. Although being hit with an EMD stick is painful, Syd is tough and he can pretty much take whatever punishment that Knox deserved. However, when Knox got into a car accident that killed his friend, Marie, Syd is the one who will be tried and sentenced. Knox may be a spoiled brat, but, this was now what he wanted for anyone...even his Proxy. The question that remains is: will Knox have the courage to take his own punishment or will Syd comply with his punishment. Decision making has never been so difficult and the consequences have never been greater.

Critical Evaluation:
Alex London has created a world that is not only frightening, but provides a look into a world that could very well become our own. In this society, people are born with debt unless they are among the wealthy. There is no middle-class in this world; only the very rich and very poor. Syd accumulated debt the moment his parents abandoned him and he had no choice but to grow up in an orphanage. In other words, Syd had no choice in how, when, and where he would live, nor did he have the capacity to obtain the money to pay for his necessities. Syd's situation is a classic example of economic inequality where the law of the land has literally allowed free enterprise to discriminate and, to an extent, subjugate, the poor. Politics aside, the morality of the Proxy system is just as appalling. To think, if one has enough money to purchase another human to be a "beast of burden" then slavery has slithered its way back into society. Syd is a victim of his circumstances and when Knox goes too far, he pushed into desperation that could very well kill him. However, the price of freedom is well worth the risk and Syd has no choice to upset the balance that he has so carefully tried to maintain in order to pay off his debt. Syd is one of those dynamic characters who is not only poor, he is also gay and a minority. Not only does he have to deal with ridicule of being poor, people look at him differently because he happens to like guys and he is not from the area (based on his skin color). In addition to the very complex plot, London gives this character a million milestones to overcome and Syd, by the grace of God and higher powers, miraculously overcomes all of it. For Knox, growing up privileged has also, in a way, made him a victim of his circumstances as well. Knox is expected to take over his family business and he is supposed to be the model example of a future business executive. However, after losing his mother and his father's nonexistence, Knox did what any typical teenager would do and rebel. However, when Knox witnessed Syd's beating for his mistake when they were just four years old, he promised he would change, but, unfortunately, that was short-lived. Over the years, Know has become indifferent to Syd's punishment, but when Knox killed Marie, Knox had literally sent Syd to his death. I truly believe that Knox, despite his poor judgment, knows what is right and wrong and that is why he did what he had to do. Call it guilt, or  humility, but Knox finally learned that he really does have to grow up and take his future into his hands. This book is a non stop-thriller filled with raw emotion and lots of surprised.  

Information about the Author:
According to his website:

C. Alexander London grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. He's an author of nonfiction for grown-ups (under a slightly different not very secret name), books for teens (as Alex London...see above), and, younger readers. He once won a 12-gauge skeet-shooting tournament because no one else had signed up in his age group. He's a Master SCUBA diver who hasn't been diving in way too long, and, most excitingly, a fully licensed librarian. He used to know the Dewey Decimal System from memory.

He doesn't anymore.

While traveling as a journalist, he watched television in 23 countries (Burmese soap operas were the most confusing; Cuban news reports were the most dull), survived an erupting volcano in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a hurricane on small island in the Caribbean, 4 civil wars (one of them was over by the time he got there, thankfully), and a mysterious bite on his little toe in the jungles of Thailand. The bite got infected and swollen and gross and gave him a deep mistrust of lizards, even though it probably wasn't a lizard that bit him.

Although he has had many adventures, he really does prefer curling up on the couch and watching some good television or reading a book. He enjoys danger and intrigue far more when it's happening to somebody else.

He lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Genre:
Teen Sci Fi
 

Reading Level/Interest:
Teen Dystopian Thrillers, Teen LBGTQ Fiction, Teen Sci Fi

Books Similar to Proxy:

• Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
• Divergent by Veronica Roth

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com

"Put down what you're doing and read this book. Right now. The complex characters, intricate world, and blistering pace are off-the-charts amazing. I fell in love with this story from the first sentence to the final, epic page. London is a force to be reckoned with." -   Marie Lu, author of the Legend trilogy

Plot Summary:
In the kingdom of Fiore, the people of the land rely on the magic guilds that protect and defend their home. As for Lucy, she is set on becoming a famous wizard and the only way she can make it into the "Wizard Weekly" publication is to join a guild. Although she wasn't quite sure which guild to pick, she ultimately decided on Fairy Tail after she met Natsu and Happy. The moment she walked into Fairy Tail, she expected to see powerful and commanding wizards, but what she saw was quite the opposite: the wizards in Fairy Tail are literally a bunch of kids like her who are looking for acceptance and a family. Just like Lucy, everyone in the guild knows what its like to lose someone precious and, despite their faults and oddball tendencies, Lucy learns that Fairy Tail is literally the most powerful guild in the kingdom. Natsu (aka. Salamander) is a fire magic user, who was actually raised by a dragon, is one of the most powerful wizards of his age. Natsu's sidekick, Happy, is a super cute, blue cat who has the power to fly and has an obsession with fish. Gray is an ice magic user who is also quite powerful, but has a habit of losing his clothes. Erza Scarlet, the second in command, is the matriarch of the guild and is incredibly strong thanks to her armor magic. Fairy Tail is under the care of their master, Markarov, who they not only see as a mentor, but as a father figure. In this story arc, Lucy not only meets her new team mates, but she meets a unique group of people who would give their lives to protect her. For example, she meets Mira and Elfman (siblings who use magic to turn into animal like creatures), Cana (who uses card magic and has a drinking problem), Levy (who is part of the Shadow Group and can decode ancient texts), Loke (who uses ring magic and is a flirt), and many other interesting characters. Fairy Tail is a fun adventure where the purpose is to protect the innocent and one another at all costs.


Critical Evaluation:
Fairy Tail is such a blast! Not only is there a perfect mixture of humor, explosions, and fighting, there is a nice touch of drama and heartfelt moments. The main theme of this anime is that Fairy Tail is more than a guild: it's a family. In many ways, Fairy Tail is a sanctuary for those who need guidance, love, and support. Despite the rivalries, and the fighting, these wizards know the true meaning of friendship. Along with the story line, which isn't all that bad since most anime adaptations tend to stray away from the original story, the animation and graphics are spectacular! I just loved the intricate designs of the spell circles and loved seeing all the different colors. Granted, most of the female characters are pretty boob-a-licious (and there are quite a few hilarious naughty moments), this anime definitely appeals to the older, teen boy audience. However, teen girls will like it simply because Happy is just too cute for words! As for the English adaptation, viewers will continue to debate the original Japanese audio versus the English audio, but I am a believer in the talents of Funimation. As much as I love hearing the Japanese language, I can get burned out reading subtitles so I switch on the English dub. I usually enjoy hearing both Japanese and English versions because it's interesting to see how the different voices represent the characters. All in all, this series is a lot of fun and I am going to be adding this to my personal collection real soon!

Information about the Author & Director:
According to Wikipedia:

Hiro Mashima was born May 3, 1977 and is Japanese manga artist.His first success was the fantasy manga Rave, published by Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine, from 1999 to 2005. The series was later adapted into an anime. However, the anime adaption was cancelled before it could complete the series.

In 2003, he collected some of his one-shot titles in two volumes: Mashima-en Vol.1 & 2. Those stories include, among others, Cocona, "Xmas Hearts" and "Fairy Tail", a sort of prototype for his latest work.

In 2006, he began his best known and current ongoing series, another fantasy manga called Fairy Tail, serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine which has been adapted into an anime and has aired on TV Tokyo from October 2009 till March 2013. He also published the one-shot manga Monster Soul during the same year.
He was a notable guest at the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con and at the 2011 New York Anime Festival. He was influenced by Akira Toriyama and Hayao Miyazaki. He has one daughter.

Shinji Isihihara is known for directing the following anime series:

• Log Horizon

• Fairy tail

• Air Gear

• Yes! Precure 5

• Koroshuya 1

Genre:
Teen Anime


Rating:
Ages 14 and up

Number of episodes:
12

Anime similar to Fairy Tail:

• DragonBall Z
• Soul Eater

Awards & Recognition:
From Wikipedia:

Fairy Tail won Animax Asia's "Anime of the Year" award in 2010. In 2012, the anime series won the "Meilleur Anime Japonais" (best Japanese anime) award and the best French dubbing award at the 19th Anime & Manga Grand Prix in Paris, France. In reviewing the first Funimation Entertainment DVD volume, Carlo Santos of Anime News Network praised the visuals, characters, and English voice acting, as well as the supporting characters for its comedic approach. However, Santos criticized both the anime's background music and CGI animation. In his review of the second volume, Santos also praised the development of "a more substantial storyline," but also criticized the inconsistent animation and original material not present in the manga. In  his review of the third volume, Santos praised the improvements of the story and animation, and said that the volume "finally shows the [anime] series living up to its potential.

Plot Summary:
Cupcake loves to bake and he loves to play his drums. In fact, Cupcake owns his own bakery and he is part of a band that is performing in the upcoming parade. When Cupcake learns that his best friend, Eggplant, is going to Turkey to visit his uncle, he is beyond ecstatic to hear that his uncle is good friends with the legendary pastry chef: Turkish Delight. Not only is Turkish Delight a legend, he is Cupcake's idol and he would give anything to meet him. Knowing how Cupcake feels about Turkish Delight, Eggplant invited his best friend to travel with him. Although Cupcake is excited, he needs to save money in order to pay for his flight, which means that Cupcake needs to make sacrifices; instead of attending band practice, Cupcake needs to extend his business hours and ask Eggplant for extra help with upcoming bake sales, running the bakery, and other events. As time goes by, Cupcake continues to work and work and, unfortunately, his passion for baking is starting to fizzle. The more that Cupcake works, the more tired and frustrated he is because he can't seem to make anything extraordinary. However, this about to change when Eggplant delivers some bad news that will turn everything around.

Critical Evaluation:
Bake Sale is absolutely darling. Not only is it about one of my favorite hobbies, it has a well-balanced recipe filled with charm and love with a dash of humor. The artwork is just precious; it takes some serious talent to make a tomato, potato, eggplant, and celery look super cute. Furthermore, the bright and soft pastels really bring out the sweetness, which this book is filled with. Do I see a tween boy picking this up? It just depends on the boy. Despite the overall girly appearance, tweens learn a very valuable lesson about friendship. Furthermore, there this is also a tale about hard work and sacrifice where two vegetables give it their all to make one another happy. I was also super excited about the recipes the author has included and I cannot wait to try them. All in all, this is a quick read that will hook readers with its bright, glossy pages and the ending will leave you hanging, which means there could be another installment or it's up to the reader's imagination as to what happens.

Information about the Author:
According to her super cute website:

Sara Varon is a printmaker, illustrator, and children’s book author living in Brooklyn, New York.

Nice and sweet!

Genre:
Tween Graphic Novels

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 4-6

Books Similar to Bake Sale:

• Odd Duck by Cecil Castelluci
• Tua and the Elephant by R. P. Harris

Awards & Recognition:

•  Positive review from the Bulletin for the Center of Children's Book (10/01/11)
•  Positive review from Booklist (9/15/11)
  

Plot Summary:
Leo Caraway had a bright future ahead of him. He got into Harvard will a full-ride, President of the Young Republicans Club, and he was going places. However, beneath the straight-laced and hard-working exterior, is a an animal inside that he inherited from his biological father: Marion X. McMurphy. After years of suppressing McMurphy, he is on the verge of melt down when his best friend, Melinda, asked him to tutor, Owen, the the "smartest" and gayest guy in school. Granted, Owen should not need tutoring, but Leo couldn't say no to Melinda who was a punk rock force to be reckoned with and best friend. Leo and Melinda have known each all of their lives; in fact, their father's used to work together until Melinda's father suddenly died of a heart attack. Although Melinda lost her father at a young age, Leo could never say no to her because he had a mother and father who loved him very much, even if Leo's father is his adopted father. During the math final exam, Leo noticed Owen struggling during his test and, as much as it aggravated him that Owen didn't know how to solve the problems they had been studying, he decided to say something to Owen during the test and was then accused of cheating. What should have been a simple reprimand, and the fact that he wasn't going to allow his homophobic principal use him to kick Owen out of school, Leo thought everything would be okay. Unfortunately, his decision to stand up for someone who was about to get railroaded by the school principal put his future at Harvard in jeopardy. Not willing to except this fate, Leo decided to do the thing he has been dreading all his life: contact his father, Marion X. McMurphy (aka. King Maggot) the lead singer of Purge, and ask him for money. Desperate times called for desperate measures and Leo is now a roadie for Purge. However, when Leo meets his father for the first time, he saw someone completely different than what he saw Purge's website. Is it possible that King Maggot may not be the wild beast that everyone adores? Seriously? Who would have thought that the President of the Young Republicans Club is actually Prince Maggot?

Critical Evaluation:
O-M-G! I thought this story was hilarious! Although this story wasn't as "hard-core" as I wanted it to be, Korman's wit is not only quick, but the dialogue he uses really bring the characters to life. In this story, a preppy guy not only learns he has the blood of the "Punk Rock Elvis" in his veins, he actually has the audacity to become a roadie to get money from the father he never knew. Honestly, if I learned that my father was this underground punk rock idol, I would be tickled pink! However, there is much more going on then we think because Leo's conception wasn't exactly planned and the fact that his mother was ashamed to tell him about his father makes readers crave for more. Korman's story takes readers on a fun ride where a uptight teenager learns a lot about people and that sometimes we cannot judge people based on how the look (aka. Melinda and Maggot). Furthermore, it's the people who we assume to be greatest and the most normal that we should be worried about because if one small thing goes out of place, they are waiting in the shadows to strike. Billy Hammond, the narrator of this audiobook, provides pretty decent characterizations of all of the main characters; I was kinda hoping that Leo would have sounded a little more teenager-ish and Hammond could have put a little bit more energy into the moments where things go absolutely wrong.  I really did enjoy the musical interludes (although not very Punk-like) between chapters and the SOUND EFFECTS! I have never, ever heard sound effects (i.e.,noises to convey a PDA, internet discussion board, and phone calls). This was probably the most entertaining part of the audiobook because it informs readers that they are actually making progress. The audiobook is five CD's and they go by pretty quick (I got through one whole disc in thirty minutes). Born to Rock is a fun book to read, or listen, to so if you want to see, or hear, about Leo's summer, get ready for a shock that no one saw coming!

Information about the Author:
According to Gordon Korman's website:

Gordon Korman was born October 23, 1963 in Montreal, Quebec in Canada. He wrote his first book, This Can't be Happening at Macdonald Hall when he was 12 years old for a coach who suddenly found himself teaching 7th grade English … he later took that episode and created a book out of it, as well, in the Sixth Grade Nickname Game, where Mr. Huge was based on that 7th grade teacher.

His first book found a home with Scholastic, who also published his next 20 or so books, including six more Bruno and Boots titles, and several award winning young adult titles, among them my personal favorite, Son of Interflux. Scholastic still publishes many of Gordon's titles, though Hyperion Press is also now printing some of Gordon's stories.

Gordon eventually made one of his homes in New York City, where he studied film and film writing. While in New York, he also met his future wife, and they eventually married -- they now have three children. He now lives on Long Island, outside of New York City, has approximately 70 books to his credit, and is currently contracted for several more.

Genre:
Teen Audiobooks

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up
 

Books Similar to Born to Rock:

• Heavy Metal and You by Christopher Krovatin
• Debbie Harry Sings in French by Meagan Brothers
  

Plot Summary:
Wyatt and Rachel have one thing in common: loneliness. After losing his best friend, Tyler, Wyatt has cut himself off from everyone and everything. In order to start over, Wyatt has moved from his home in Long Island, New York, to a tiny town called Slakkill, New York. When Wyatt stepped off the train , he didn't expect the place to be covered a snow and shrouded in an eeriness that would make anyone uncomfortable. Although Mrs. Greenwood is a dear friend of his mother, he was a little "weirded" out that the house he would be living in is the same house that his mother's best friend, Danielle, ran away from and hasn't been seen since. Although everyone believed she was dead, her mother kept hoping she would come home, but, unfortunately, when Wyatt stepped into Danielle's room, he met her ghost. For Rachel, she has lived her life in the old abandoned tower because her surrogate mother told her that the world is a dangerous place and that she would be safe if no one knew where she was. For seventeen years, Rachel has known nothing but loneliness because her real mother had died when she was born and the only other person she could talk to is her adopted mother. However, Rachel has a very unique gift that will not only lead her to Wyatt, but provide her with the will, and the way, to leave her tower. As for Wyatt, the moment he stepped into Mrs. Greenwood's home, he knew something was strange was happening in this sleepy town that will not help him deal with his problems, but bring him the relief that he has been wanting since Tyler's death. Unfortunately, the closer Wyatt and Rachel get closer to the truth about Rachel's mother, Danielle, disappearance, the secrets from the past come back with a vengeance and the "Happily Ever After" were hoping for may come as a surprise. 


Critical Evaluation:
Alex Flinn has re-created a classic fairy tail, but with a dark twist. In this rendition, Flinn has incorporated very difficult issues such as drug use, death, and teen pregnancy into a fairy tail mixed with harshness of reality. Wyatt's best friend, Tyler, and his sister, we're brutally murdered by their stepfather and Wyatt believes that he could have prevented all of it if he just told someone that his best friend, and family, were being abused. Rather than moving on with his life, Wyatt decided to punish himself by pushing away his friends and his own mother. For Rachel, she has literally been held captive by her adoptive mother in a tower under the assumption it was the best thing for her. Rachel knows nothing of the world other than what she reads in her book. As the years passed by, Rachel has been plotting her escape, but, until recently, she learned that she has special healing powers. With this new discovery, her determination to leave has shifted from wanting to flee, but to pursue the truth behind her powers and who she is. In a strange turn of events, Rachel ends up saving Wyatt and it was at the moment, she learned that this guy was meant to be hers. If you are a true believer in destiny then this book definitely has that flare to it because nothing in this story screams that it there meeting was just a coincidence. Furthermore. Rachel and Wyatt have another connection other than fate and it revolves around Rachel's missing mother. Along with the magic, there is tragedy involved where Rachel's mother got caught up in a dangerous situation that cost her her life. This fairy tale spin is not at all what I imagined; in fact, unlike Cloaked, this story is filled with mystery, romance, murder, magic, and suspense. What makes Wyatt the hero is this story is that despite losing his best friend, he realized he has had so much more and Rachel and that is what compels him to rescue the maiden in the tower. Wyatt truly loves Rachel not because of her looks, but everything he has been searching for in a best friend and companion resides in her. Rachel is the epitome of naive; however, her willingness to take on obstacles (way beyond her experience) shows how pure and courageous she is. Wyatt and Rachel, in essence, need each other because if Wyatt had never fallen and that lake, he would have been killed. If Rachel had never rescued Wyatt from the lake, she would be stuck in her tower, wondering what life could have been. All though the story about the Rhapsody and the underground drug ring, curse, and prophecy is a bit far fetched as to why Rachel has special abilities, the story needs some fairy tale-esque climax and resolution. All in all, not a bad read.

Information about the Author:
According to her website:

I was born in a log cabin in the Big Woods of . . . okay, maybe not. I was born in a small town on Long Island, New York. When I was five years old, my mom said that I should be an author. I guess I must have nodded or something because, from that point on, every poem I ever wrote in school was submitted to Highlights or Cricket magazine. I was collecting rejection slips at age seven!

 My family moved to Miami when I was in middle school. I had a really hard time making friends, so I spent a lot of time reading and writing then. But unlike Christopher Paolini or Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, I never finished writing a novel. That was also when I learned to be a keen observer (Picture Harriet the Spy). By high school, I’d made some friends and gotten involved in various “gifted and talented” performing arts programs. I studied opera in college (I’m a coloratura — the really loud, high-pitched sopranos.) and then went to law school.

It was law school that probably helped with my first novel. Breathing Underwater deals with the serious and all-too-common problem of dating violence. I based the book on my experiences interning with the State Attorney’s Office and volunteering with battered women. I thought this was a really important topic, as 27 % of teenage girls surveyed have been hit by a boyfriend. I’m happy that the book is so popular, and if you are reading this bio because the book was assigned for school, I’m happy about that too.

 Right now, I live half a mile away from my old middle school, in Palmetto Bay, a suburb of Miami, with my husband, Gene, and daughters, Katie and Meredith.

Genre:
Teen Fantasy, Teen Romance

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to Towering:

• Abandon by Meg Cabot
• Splintered by A.G. Howard

Awards & Recognition:

• Positive Review from School Library Journal