Kazumi Reads

Plot Summary:
What if every biography about Abraham Lincoln was missing a dark part of his life? What if the greatest president of the United States not only freed us from the ideology of slavery, but from becoming a slave race itself? Although we know that Abraham Lincoln was a humble country boy who overcame his obstacles to become president, what if he was a sent by God to free us from the devil himself? Let's face it: Abraham Lincoln was, and still is, the greatest vampire slayer in history. When he lost his mother to "milk" sickness, Abe learned that it was not disease that killed her, but a vampire. Unable to live with the idea that vampires were free to roam the Earth to feed off anyone, he dedicated his life to destroying this evil. However, what we didn't realize is that his teacher, and greatest, ally is a vampire himself. What the history books don't tell us, his friend, Henry Sturges, a vampire and mentor, is the one who taught him that not every vampire is a ruthless monster. In fact, there are vampires who wish to remain in the shadows where peace and coexistence prevail. When Abraham witnesses a slave auction, for the first time, not only does he see the horrors of this institution, he notices that amongst the audience members are vampires. Of all things to witness, and know, Vampires have the ability to purchase their prey without having to come out at night and without worrying about people noticing. The worst part is that humans have actually made a pact with the vampires so everyone can profit. With Henry's help, and that of the infamous Edgar Allan Poe, Lincoln has to make a decision to fight the good fight or live a normal life.  For Abe, he chooses to live a life with his wife and sons, but, in return, he will fight his battle against slavery in office and hang up his ax for good. However, when his rival, Stephen Douglas, changes his position on slavery and promotes slavery in the new, free territories, Lincoln decides to come out of "retirement" and take a stand once and for all. The rest we know is "history," but is it really?  



Critical Evaluation:
In this delightful spin on the life of Abraham Lincoln, Seth Grahame-Smith brings even more awesomeness to the life and legacy of Honest Abe. By intertwining the facts of Lincoln's life with that of his "secret" diaries, readers get to see a different side of a man who did everything he could to conceal his personal life. Although the vampire slayer gig may be fiction, I think it adds depth to the man who suffered and rose above it all. What's even more fascinating is that by casting this man as a strong, nimble, and fierce warrior, readers get have the opportunity to challenge the facts that said Lincoln was a humble, gawky, and freakishly tall man who couldn't find pants that fit. Most will wonder if Lincoln, was in fact, the opposite of his persona. In other words, if Lincoln was presented the opportunity to show the world the fire that was in his eyes when eh spoke, could he have done so much more? I will admit that I have a bit of Lincoln obsession because we don't really know much about this private man other than what historians, biographers, friends, and acquaintances know or have told over the years. In many ways, I really, really want to believe that Lincoln was this all powerful superhero who was denied his full potential because this world wasn't ready for him. After reading this amazing story, readers will be itching to read the Lincoln biographies or do a little research of their own. As a reader, I am not only impressed with the twist on Lincoln's life, but juxtaposing two very similar, yet very different examples of slavery. For Abraham Lincoln, not only did he want to free his fellow human beings from the bondage of slavery, but protect the human race from becoming enslaved by vampires.  Personally, I like the fact that I am not being harvested for my blood to feed a merciless race of otherworldly beings. Furthermore, I love the fact that I live in a country that protects and upholds my inalienable right to live of life  liberty, freedom, and happiness. There is a phrase that says "evil begets evil" and if Lincoln had not put an end to slavery than who knows where would be now.

Information about the Author:
According to his website:

Raised in Weston and Bethel, Connecticut, Seth Grahame-Smith recieved a degree in film from Boston's Emerson College. In 2005, he quit a TV-development job to become a freelance writer- and for a few years that seemed like a very, very bad decision.

Published in 2009, Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies, debuted as #3 on the New York Times Bestseller List. Since then "PPZ" has sold over a million copies and has been translated into more than 20 languages. 

Seth's follow up book, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, debuted at #4, and remained on the on the New York Times Bestseller List for over three months.

Genre:
Fiction

Reading Level/Interest:
Adult

Books Similar to Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter:

• Jane Slayre by Sharon Browning Erwin
• Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

Awards & Recognition:

From Amazon.com

"Seth Grahame-Smith is an excellent writer whose prose raises Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter a step above others of its genre...[He] does such an excellent job blending the facts of Lincoln's life into the story that it is sometimes hard to determine fact from fiction...Suspenseful, and most readers will want to read it in one sitting." ( Asbury Park Press )

"Evocative...Grahame-Smith [is] a lively, fluent writer with a sharp sense of tone and pace." (TIME )

"Thanks to P&P&Z, a delicious mutant book craze was born. But then opportunists infested the territory...It's nice to see plucky Grahame-Smith retake his turf." (Entertainment Weekly )

"Not just the Lincoln biography we've all been waiting for. It's also the funniest, most action-packed and weirdly well-researched account of the Civil War you'll probably read in a long time. Grahame-Smith could be poised to become the Howard Zinn of vampire-related alterna-history." (Vanity Fair )

"Grahame-Smith does an excellent job of capturing the spirit of this style of story-telling, mixing historically accurate anecdotes with entries from Lincoln's fictional secret journal, weaving the vampire elements into the story in a manner that's quite believable." (Wired

Plot Summary:
Unlike most of the Presidents of the United States, Abraham Lincoln was the tallest and skinniest of them all who said "howdy" to his guests and called his wife "mother." Born in a log cabin in Hogenville, Kentucky, Lincoln spent his youth in the backwoods, chopping wood and working on the family farm. When he wasn't doing chores, or working odd jobs, Lincoln always had a nose in a book. After his father, Thomas, moved him and the family to Indiana, tragedy struck the Lincoln household. After losing his mother, Nancy, to "milk fever," Lincoln helped his father craft her coffin and bury her, which left him little time to grieve. When his father brought home his new mother home, Sarah Bush Lincoln, Lincoln and his sister were fortunate to have someone who loved them dearly. When he was 17, he traveled to the glorious city of New Orleans, which was filled with wonder and horror. During his short stay, Lincoln saw slavery for the first time, which not only struck a chord in his own life, but challenged every belief he had. Eventually, when Lincoln was 21, he got a job in a general store in Illinois, where he learned to better himself by reading and learning. Although he wasn't expecting this responsibility,  he ended up as a captain of the militia when Black Hawk decided to invade the territory. Although his service only lasted a few months, Lincoln immediately ran for the state legislature, but wasn't elected. At the same time, he and a business partner tried to open a shop, which failed, and left him with $1100 in debt. In order to pay back his debts, Lincoln held all sorts of odd jobs and then decided to become a lawyer. Although his early beginnings, as a lawyer, were not glamorous, people started to see the passion and the conviction in Lincoln's eyes when he talked about anything and everything. Eventually, he made friends with Mary Todd's sister and husband who introduced her to him. Although Lincoln was strongly attracted the Mary, he courted and proposed to only break it off. However, after overcoming a dark depression, he eventually married Mary a year later who gave birth to their first son nine months after. Now as a father and husband, his political career, and law practice, took off. Despite his success, the issue of slavery had invaded his mind and soul, which pushed him to run for the presidency. Despite the criticism and threats, Lincoln never wavered from his stance and when he won the election, we all know what happened then: the Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Battle at Antietam, the Gettysburg Address, and his untimely demise. In this book, readers will learn about Lincoln the man, the politician, and the heroic figure we all have grown to respect and admire.

Critical Evaluation:
In this brilliant account of the most beloved President of the United States, Freedman provides readers with am enthralling narrative. Abraham Lincoln lived an extraordinary life in a time where the our growing country was being invaded by injustice. Although we all learn a little about Lincoln's youth in this short, but informative, biography, it also provides plenty of quotes, facts, and stories of how this amazing man became the 16th President of the United States. I will admit that I only knew a few things about Lincoln, prior to reading this, and that he was the author of the Emancipation Proclamation and the Gettysburg Address. We all know that those two documents were definitive points of the Civil War, but we will always know the reason behind this devastating war: Slavery. From the moment he saw it in Louisiana, Lincoln had always known that it was immoral and unconstitutional; slavery was was about denying people their inalienable rights that our forefather's died for and Lincoln, himself, knew the burden of being bound to a master because of the laws that were imposed on him as an adolescent; if he took on a job and made money, it would go directly to his father, who didn't appreciate him. What I enjoyed about this work is that Freedman conveys to readers that Lincoln, was in fact, a simple and ordinary human who persevered through personal tragedies to become the leader who united a country. Another great aspect of this book is the collection of photos. I cannot express how powerful and evocative the Civic War images are; when we read, and see the pictures, not only does this provoke our senses, but it drives home the point of the story. One of my favorite attractions at Disneyland is stopping by the theater that is home to Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. It's sometimes hard to believe that that the Civil War actually happened and, when I hear, and see, the snippets of Lincoln's speeches. I admit, I cry every time I see the photos of dead soldiers, especially the one of the two brothers: one was a Union soldier the other Confederate.This was a volatile time to live in because if Lincoln didn't do what he did, who knows where this country would be today. There are a lot of things to think about in the end, but we also have to make a moment and realize just how beautiful freedom really is.
 
Information about the Author:
According to Scholastic's Publishing's website:

Russell Freedman is the award-winning author of 47 books, some of which have been translated into a diverse number of languages, including Japanese, Korean, German, Spanish, Flemish, Arabic and Bengali. But Freedman wasn't always a children's book writer. He grew up in San Francisco and attended the University of California, Berkeley, and then worked as a reporter and editor for the Associated Press and as a publicity writer. In these jobs, Freedman did lots of research and provided important information to the public. Since becoming an author, he has done the same thing but now he gets to focus on topics that he is personally interested in and wants to learn more about. His nonfiction books range in subject from the lives and behaviors of animals to people in history whose impact is still felt today. Freeedman's work has earned him several awards, including a Newbery Medal in [1988] for Lincoln: a Photobiography, a Newbery Honor each for Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery in 1994 and The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane in 1992, and a Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal.

Freedman has traveled extensively throughout the world to gather information and inspiration for his books. His latest book, Confucius: The Golden Rule was inspired by his extensive travels through Mainland China, where he visited Confucius' hometown in modern day QuFu, in the Shantung Province.

Russell Freedman now lives in New York City.

Genre:
All Ages

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 4 & up

Books Similar to Lincoln: A Photbiography:

• Children of the Dust Bowl by Jerry Stanley
• The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Place by Russell Freeman

Awards & Recognition:

• 1988 Newbery Award Winner
• 1998 Laure Ingalls Wilder Award Winner
• 2007 National Humanities Award Winner

Plot Summary:
James Henry Trotter is an unfortunate boy. One day, he had a family and a lovely home until a Rhinoceros ate his parents. What's even worse is that he is now living with his Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker who are two of the most hideous, cruel, and funny looking women in all of England. Constantly beaten, and broken, James endures his aunts malicious behavior until an old man appears out of nowhere with a bag of tiny magical crocodile tongues. According to the gentlemen, if he boils and drinks these tongues with ten hairs plucked from his own head, he will be the happiest person alive. Overcome with excitement, James searches for a hiding a place until he trips on the roots of the old, lifeless peach tree and loses the tiny tongues. Saddened by these turn of events, the tree does something miraculous: it sprouts a peach that won't stop growing. Amazed, and bewildered, James' terrible aunts decide to make money off of this unfortunate incident, separating James from the magic peach. However, later that night, instead of picking up the trash left by visitors, James jumps the fence that guards the peach to find a hidden doorway. Not knowing what to do, James climbs inside the peach to find a group of giant insects having tea and sitting by the fire. Overcome with shock, James finally realizes that the crocodile tongues not only changed to the tree, but the insects that lived in the soil. Rather than than enduring his aunts' deplorable behavior, James and his new friends go on an adventure that will take them to place they never imagined.

Critical Evaluation:
In this short, yet imaginative, is a story about a little boy's bad luck. Not only were his parents taken from him, he was put in the care of two despicable adults. Like most of Dahl's stories, we have another tragic tale of innocent children growing up in the hands, and homes, of irresponsible adults. I think what cracks me up the most is the candidness in Dahl's writing that conveys to young readers just how bad James' life is with his aunts without traumatizing them. As much as we want to deny it, there are children who are just like James who live in dysfunctional homes where they know what its like to suffer. However, Dahl's characters, despite their treatment, never lose hope that things will be all right in the end, which, in turn, gives those readers hope as well. One prevalent theme that this story focuses on is taking pride in who we are. For example, when Grasshopper, Centipede, Spider, and Earthworm start talking about their role in nature, it lets readers know that they also have specific traits that contribute to our world. For James, who has always been seen as worthless, starts gaining confidence in himself as he becomes captain of this crew of oddballs. Without James, there would be no one to think of brilliant ideas as to how to escape a pod of man-eating sharks or turning a giant peach into a flying machine. In fact, with the help of his new friends, James has done many thing he never would have imagined doing! With every challenge, James and company are able to survive with trust, teamwork, and a little creativity. The ending is absolutely awesome because it not an every day sight to see a giant peach shish kabob-ed on the Empire State Building. Not to mention, New York City devouring the peach, leaving the pit for James' new home is just as brilliant. This book is just plain fun and I can't wait to talk to tweens about this story. 

Information about the Author:
According to the book jacket of James and the Giant Peach:

Roald Dahl, born in 1916 in wales, spent his childhood in England and later worked in Africa. When World War II broke out, he joined the Royal Air Force and became a fighter pilot. After a war injury, he moved to Washington D.C., and there he began to write. His first short story was published by Saturday Evening Post, and so began his long career.

Roald Dahl became, quite simply, one of the best-loved children's book authors of all time. Although he passed away in 1990, his popularity and that of his many books -- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, Danny the Champion of the World, to name just a few--continues to grow.

Genre:
Tween Fiction

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 4 & up
 

Books Similar to James and the Giant Peach:

• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
• Matilda by Roald Dahl

Awards & Recognition:

Reviews from Amazon.com:

"The most original fantasy that has been published in a long time...[it] may well become a classic."
San Francisco Chronicle

"This is a stunning book, to be cherished for its story, a superb fantasy."
Chicago Sunday Tribune

"Here is a broad fantasy with all the gruesome imagery of old-fashioned fairy tales and a good measure of their breathtaking delight."
Kirkus 

Plot Summary:
After learning that her grandmother was possessed by a Fury, Pierce is taken back to the Underworld with John. In order to protect her, Pierce has no choice but to leave the mortal world because the Furies have been using her to get to John. When she realized who John was, her entire world has turned upside down because not only is she hunted, she has to come to terms that she is the consort of a death deity. In other words, she will spend eternity with the man she loves while her family and loved ones live and die before her very eyes. Although she isn't happy with this idea, Pierce has finally admitted that she loves John and cannot live without him. However, when she stumbles upon her messenger bad, and cellphone, she sees a frightening image of her cousin, in a coffin, being buries alive. According to John, this could be a plot to get her to revel herself of the Furies will kill everyone she loves. Unwilling to watch her cousin die, she tells John that she will spend the rest of her life with him if she can make sure Alex is okay. What they weren't counting on is their return will not only expose Jade's, her high school counselor, murderer, but they will run into Pierce's grandmother once more. With the Furies hot on their tracks, Pierce and John set out to find Alex with a little help from the crew of The Liberty and her best, and only friend, Kayla. What was supposed to be an "epic" Coffin Night turns in a night that no one will ever forget, especially when the death deity does something impossible.


Critical Evaluation:
In this installment, Meg Cabot sheds light on the life of  John Hayden and the choices Pierce must make in order to be by his side for eternity. I won't lie when I say I couldn't wait for Underworld and I wasn't disappointed at all. The story is well written and readers won't be able to put it down. Although it is a romance story, there is quite a bit of action because the Furies are stopping at nothing to find Pierce and John. Furthermore, the ending literally leaves readers hanging because not only is there no going back, the underworld is about to get a new mortal visitors. I am really curious about Kayla because when she is around Pierce, the Persephone Diamonds gives off a bright purple glow. Pierce told john that the diamond gives off a deep black to show her they are in danger so when it gives another color something must be going on. However, when Smith tells Pierce about the Fates are spirits that are meant to bring good into our lives, I wonder if Cabot is giving readers insight into Kayla's character. For all we know, Kayla could be the fate that could bring some sort of hope or joy in this dire situation, which is desperately needed since there will be an all out war of some kind. Furthermore, with the incident involving Alex, I know his character will bring more to the next installment because now he has the proof he has been waiting for and the tenacity. Although this story focuses on the wrath of the Furies, it also exposes another sort of evil underworld that not only involves Uncle Chris, but the prominent families of Los Huesos. Bring on Awaken so Pierce and John can have the happy ending they deserve.

Information about the Author:
According to her website:

Born and raised in Bloomington, Indiana, Meg also lived in Grenoble, France and Carmel, California (the setting for her bestselling Mediator series) before moving to New York City after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Indiana University.

After working for ten years as an assistant residence hall director at New York University (an experience from which she occasionally draws inspiration for her Heather Wells mystery series—two new books in the series will be out in 2012 and 2013), Meg wrote the Princess Diaries series, which was made into two hit movies by Disney, sold over 20 million copies, and has been translated into 38 languages.

Meg Cabot (her last name rhymes with habit, as in “her books can be habit forming”) currently lives in Key West with her husband and two cats.

Genre:
Teen Supernatural Romance
 
Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up
 
Books Similar to Underworld:

•  Entice by Carrie Jones
•  Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
  

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com:

"Cabot shows the dark side behind the bling-blingy superficial worlds.” –Teenreads.com

"[The] strong, amusing voice, the plot twists, and the possibility of romance will draw mystery and chick-lit readers alike." –ALA Booklist

“Bag the tiara and get out the gun ... Cabot delivers.” –Publishers Weekly

Plot Summary:
Johnny is not a stranger to heart break. At thirteen, his father was killed in a car accident and his mother drowned her sorrows in sleeping pills and Gin. In order to keep a roof over their heads, and food in their stomachs, Johnny had to become the "man" of the house and take over for his emotionally distraught mother. Now that he is sixteen, Johnny has one thing he never thought he would have: a drinking problem. In order to get away from his awful existence, Johnny drinks and drinks. The fond memories of his time with his "babysitter," Tessa, are what keep his somewhat sane and addicted to music. Other than that, Johnny does what he can to carve his place in the world, which is somewhere between the wall and the wallpaper to escape his former zombified mother. As much as he enjoys his solitude, Johnny does have one friend whom he can partake with named Terry. If Johnny is messed up, Terry is a train wreck. Although Johnny is struggling to find his place, his world changed when he woke up in the hospital after mistakenly taking pills that he thought were Aspirin. After being sent to rehab, Johnny's discovered the brilliance of Blondie and when he heard Debbie Harris sing in French was literally love at first sound. When he was released, nothing was the same and things got weirder when his mom shipped him off to his uncle's in South Carolina. Although he was expecting the worse, living with his uncle and cousin isn't that bad, especially when he meets Maria. For Johnny, life may actually get better, but when he decides he wants to be Debbie Harry, things between him and Maria, and his classmates, is going to leave on fabulous mess.

Critical Evaluation:
In this relatively short story, one teen loses everything only to gain so much more. After the death of his father, Johnny, and his mother, fell apart. When his mother finally got it together, Johnny was an alcoholic. Unfortunately, when we lose a loved one, some people aren't able to deal with the loss and they hide from everything and everyone. In Johnny's case, he had to become the adult to make sure that he and his mom had a roof over their head and food on the table. However, while his mother was sulking, he drowned his sorrows in alcohol. Obviously, it wasn't anyone's fault that this happened, but, in reality stuff like this does. The only way Johnny could cope was to self-medicate, which led him to a party that landed him in the ER, Fortunately, Johnny found a much safer alternative to deal with his problems by listening to Blondie. What's interesting about this particular story is that Johnny has been constantly looking for himself and it seems that he isn't satisfied with just Johnny. When he heard Debbie Harry sing in French he was just amazed, entranced, and mesmerized. Not only was she gorgeous, her voice made her special and different. Johnnie has always wanted to be and feel special so he used clothing, make-up, and radical hair styles to show everyone that he is someone different. Although most teens experiments with fads, especially fashion fads, they are trying to demonstrate their autonomy, but, at the same time, find that place where they feel comfortable in their own skin. For Johnny, he felt that if he somehow became Debbie Harry, he would feel wonderful and perfect. As the story unfolds, a lot of secrets will be revealed, which will not only settle the animosity between Johnny and his mother, but allow him the opportunity to stand up for himself and have the courage to believe in himself. 

Information about the Author:
According to her publisher's website:

Meagan Brothers is the author of the young adult novels Supergirl Mixtapes, which was a 2012 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults nomination, and Debbie Harry Sings in French, which was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, won a GLBT Round Table ALA Award, and was named a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age. A native Carolinian, Meagan currently lives in New York City. 

Genre:
Teen  LBGTQ Fiction

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to Debbie Harry Sings in French:

• I am J by Cris Beam
• Freak Show by James St. James
  

Awards & Recognition:
Review Quotes from Amazon.com

"Will keep readers fully engaged." — Publisher's Weekly, starred review

Plot Summary:
In this true tale, Lizzie revisits her past with an amazing tale of love and hope. On February 13, everything changed for her and her family. On February 13, four days after her sixteenth birthday, her hometown of Dresden, Germany, is leveled to the ground by Allie firepower. Not only is homeless, the life she knew was all over every since the war started. With her father gone, her mother had to take over his duties by getting a job at the local zoo. What Lizzie didn't anticipate is her mother's attachment to an orphaned elephant named Marlene. Although Lizzie sees this bond as silly, she is having a hard coping with the fact that her father is gone, her mother works too much, and an elephant has taken her place in her mother's eye. Thankfully, all of that changes when her mother brings Marlene home. Usually, one does not keep an elephant for a pet, but, in this case, extra exception have been made. With the impending invasion of Dresden, the zoo keeper was given a direct order to destroy most of the big of animals; if the zoo is bombed, all of the wild animals will escape and hurt others. Since Marlene has been raised by Lizzie's mother, with a lot of convincing, the director of the zoo gives her permission to care for Marlene. When Lizzie sees Marlene in her garden, she has no idea what's going on. Although Lizzie has been jealous of Marlene, all of that melts away the moment Lizzie looked in Marlene's big brown eye and it was love at first sight. In many ways, Marlene has the ability to see inside the hearts of those she meets, which is not only comforting, but allows the person to see inside hers. With the busyness of life, Lizzie admits she actually forgot about the war some days, but it wasn't for that horrible night when Dresden was finally bombed. With her family, and Marlene, in tow, they must find shelter or face an uncertain future in the German wilderness.

Critical Evaluation:
Michael Morpurgo is a master of storytelling. By incorporating three true stories, Morpurgo has created a story where one family and one elephant come together to survive the horror of war. Just like War Horse, the bonds between humans and animals takes center stage and its the relationships that inspire us to hop, to dream, and to love. I absolutely love elephants and I am so overjoyed to know that one little elephant was saved because her human companions loved her so much they did everything they could to keep her alive. Although we, humans, have this horrible ability to destroy everything we love based on ideology, it's the power of the human spirit that can make all the wrong right. For Marlene, she knew she was being protected from the forces that could destroy her. However, in efforts to show her gratitude, her affection for her family was more than the could ever expect. I think what makes elephants extraordinary is their empathy. Marlene could feel the hurt in Lizzie when it came to her father simply because she lost her own mother. The beauty of this magnificent creature is not just their way of expressing emotion but their temperament. Most elephants, unless provoked, are very social, calm, expressive, and collected; they tend to their young and they go about their days. In many ways, elephants are more trusting and caring than most humans so having Marlene beside their side gave Lizzie, and her family, the will to survive. An Elephant in the Garden is a wonderful story where friendship, love, forgiveness, sacrifice, and hope can make the darkest of days a little brighter.


Information about the Author:
According to his website:

Michael Morpurgo is, in his own words, "oldish, married with three children, and a grandfather six times over." Born in 1943, he attended schools in London, Sussex and Canterbury (one at least of which was horrible enough to inspire him to describe it obliquely in The Butterfly Lion). He went on to London University to study English and French, followed by a step into the teaching profession and a job in a primary school in Kent. It was there that he discovered what he wanted to do. "We had to read the children a story every day and my lot were bored by the book I was reading. I decided I had to do something and told them the kind of story I used to tell my kids - it was like a soap opera, and they focused on it. I could see there was magic in it for them, and realised there was magic in it for me.

In 1976 Michael and his wife, Clare, started the charity Farms For City Children (FFCC), which aims to relieve the poverty of experience of young children from inner city and urban areas by providing them with a week in which they work actively and purposefully on farms in the heart of the countryside. They now have three farms – Nethercott in Devon, Treginnis in Wales and Wick in Gloucestershire. "As a teacher I realised many children had little real contact with the world around them – to them the television was real. I wanted them to experience life at first hand." In the last 30 years over 50,000 children from cities and towns throughout the UK have spent a week of their lives living and working for a week on one of the three farms.

Living in Devon, listening to Mozart, and working with children have provided most of the stimulae Michael needs to discover and write his stories. He spends about half his life mucking out sheds with the children, feeding sheep or milking cows; the other half he spends dreaming up and writing stories. "For me, the greater part of writing is daydreaming, dreaming the dream of my story until it hatches out - the writing down of it I always find hard. But I love finishing it, then holding the book in my hand and sharing my dream with my readers."

Genre:
Tween Historical
 

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 6 & up

Books Similar to An Elephant in the Garden:

• The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
• War Horse by Michael Morpurgo
  

Awards & Recognition:

Review Quotes:

To learn more about Sheila's (aka. Marlene) story:

• http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5038279/Baby-elephant-kept-as-pet-to-save-her-from-WW2-blitz.html
• http://www.belfastzoo.co.uk/ZooHome/NewsAndEvents/4594.aspx

Plot Summary:
Billy Bloom is not the average teenage boy. In fact, he is far from average; he is FABULOUS! As a drag princess, Billy has absolutely no qualms about slathering on the white make-up, wearing extravagant costumes, and dawns a loud and proud attitude. In Connecticut, he was the reigning leader of the Gay-Straight Alliance and had the time of his life. However, his mother decided that it was time his nonexistent father took care of him and she shipped him off to the armpit of hell: Florida. After his first day at the Dwight D. Eisenhower High School, Billy knows he is not only an outsider, but a target for bigots, holier-than-thou hypocrites, cruel cheerleaders, and just plain mean people. Although Billy takes refuge into his own world (aka. the cupboard), he has no choice to face this journey on his own since his housekeeper doesn't approve of him and nor do his parents. Just when things couldn't be any more depressing, God sent a little angel, a girl whose name sounds like blahblahblah, scoops him up and befriends him. What's even more shocking, the high school hear throb, and football hero, Flip, actually says something nice to him. Despite these silver linings, the teasing and the taunting escalates. In an attempt to put an end to this viciousness, Billy decides that going to school in full drag will end it up. Sadly, it didn't and it sends him to the hospital. What he didn't know is that the person who came to his rescue was non other than Flip. After the the almost fatal beating, Billy and his peers receive an unexpected lesson that will not only change their opinions about one another, but force them to realize that hate has no place in this world. Furthermore, the more we get to know each, the more we realize that we are all little grains of sands falling through the hourglass no matter good-looking, ugly, straight, gay, stupid, smart, popular and un-popular we are. No one is perfect and Billy and company will learn the reality of this message.   

Critical Evaluation:
HOLY CRAP! I LOVED THIS BOOK! I have to hand it to James St. James when it comes to comic relief. I could not, whatsoever, stop laughing. In this "no holds bar" story, a teens learns the hard reality that despite the fight for equality in progressive communities, there are still quite a few areas that have yet to embrace/learn this lesson. St. James does a brilliant job providing readers with every detail, feeling, ans insight into what it means to be someone who is not only different, but not willing to hold back anything. Billy is probably one of the most patient, vulnerable, and loveable characters I have read in a while. I seriously wish I could meet Billy because not only is he real, he is straight-up honest when it comes to people and their actions.I absolutely love how all of the cultural nuances and references because it not only adds to the humor, it provides readers with examples they can relate to. I will definitely admit that when it hurt when he would tell us about the awful things he had to endure at school and all I wanted to do was get angry and kick come ignorant booty, but, with his courage and grace, Billy continues to tolerate these actions. However, what readers will see, is that bullying is not at all acceptable. Unfortunately, there are still quite a few people who cannot accept people, ideas, or things that are different, especially if it makes them look bad. As much as I hate to say it, Dwight D. Eisenhower High School isn't a fictional place--it's very real. Being a teen is hard enough, but imagine if you are a teen who is not only struggling with adolescence, but struggling with their sexuality and dying to express their individuality. This world is so beyond cruel, it's infuriating, and readers will struggle with these issues as they read Billy's story. However, there is always light at the tunnel because if we can get through to one person at a time, the whole world will chance and we can learn to love others and ourselves. As the infallible Lady Gaga would say:

I'm beautiful in my way
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Don't hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself and you're set
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way 

Information about the Author:
According to Amazon.com:

James St. James (born James Clark August 1, 1966) is an American television personality, author, celebutante and former Club Kid of the Manhattan club scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s. James St. James was notorious for a lifestyle of excess that included heavy drug use, partying, and bizarre costumes that first brought him to national attention as the subject of Club Kids television appearances and interviews. He wrote Disco Bloodbath (now published under the title Party Monster) that was later made into the feature film Party Monster starring Macaulay Culkin as Michael Alig and Seth Green as St. James. His life was the subject of the 1998 documentary Party Monster: The Shockumentary.

Genre:
Teen Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, and Queer Fiction

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to Freak Show:

• From What I Remember by Stacy Kramer
• Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

Awards & Recognition:

• Starred Review Publisher's Weekly (3/19/2007)
• Starred Review Kirkus Review (5/1/2007)
• Starred Review School Library Journal (6/1/2007)

Resources for LBGTQ Teens:

• http://www.oasisjournals.com/
• http://www.itgetsbetter.org/
• http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/home/index.html
• http://www.friendsofglbtyouth.org/

Resources on Bullying:

• http://www.stopbullying.gov/resources/index.html/
• http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2010/10/resources_to_help_stop_bullying_0930.php
• http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/antibullying/index.html
  

It's that time again! It's Back to School Time! Yay. As most of you know, going back to school can be exciting and yet incredibly frustrating at the same time. However, let us welcome you back with some fun and food! Come and hear about what Teen Services has to offer you!

Thursday, August 23
3 PM
Reese Hall 

Come and hang out with us and participate in probably one of the coolest events a Library could ever offer a teen.

Plot Summary:
Kylie is an overachiever. Not only is she going to NYU on scholarship, she is the Valedictorian of Freiburg Academy. Although Kylie is the smartest girl in school, she is also a loner and an outcast. Unlike her Freiburg peers, Kylie is not rich and is there on scholarship, which makes sets her apart from everyone else. Max is the exact opposite of of Kylie. Not only is he super popular, but rich and gorgeous. Will, on the other hand, is unbelievably rich, but an outcast like Kylie who isn't shy to express who he is much to the chagrin of the school principal and his parents. Lily, Kylie's nemesis, is not only smart, but she is also rich and beautiful and Max's girlfriend. Kylie's goal in life is to be a writer because, through her characters, she can fully express who she is and nothing will stop her from achieving her dream. However, when Mistress Murphy announces one last assignment before graduation, Kylie's is extremely unhappy with this paper; it's not that it's difficult, her task is team up with another classmate who just happens to be Max. Mortified, and terrified, Kylie just wants to get this over with so she can get out of La Jolla and to New York so she can finally live the life she has always wanted. The only problem is that she has to somehow get Max to meet with her so she can complete their assignment. Surprisingly, this meeting will be the weirdest and the craziest ride of her life. When her laptop is stolen, Kylie does the dumbest thing she could have ever done: chase after the thief. However, she isn't the only one with bad judgment since Max decides to help her out. What they don't realize is that they are about to ruin the plans of some serious thieves. Just when things couldn't get worse, Max and Kylie are left, alone, in Ensenada and all they can really do is talk and Kylie is not about to let this gorgeous, rich boy tell her about how his life is difficult when her own is about to implode if she doesn't get home quick. The irony of it all: spending time with each other turns out to be the best thing that has ever happened to both of them.

Critical Evaluation:
I gotta admit, this book was hilarious, heart-breaking, and absolutely wonderful all at the same time. When I picked up this book and, by looking at the cover, I was expecting something light and almost vapid. BOY WAS I WRONG! What makes this story brilliant is that it's told in alternating point of views, which not only adds to the depth of the story, but really conveys to readers that each these characters are the real deal. What I love about this story is that the main characters evolve wonderfully where they are not only able, and willing, to discuss their vulnerabilities, but their vices as well. Max, who seems like world's biggest jerk, is not at what Kylie thinks. Now Kylie, according to Max, is seriously one of the quirkiest persons he has ever met, which makes her unreal. When Kylie not only hijacks his BMW, she hijacks the van that was transporting all the electronics that were stolen, which not only makes her his hero, but someone to admire. When Max is able to walk into a room, and own it, Kylie's admiration for him skyrockets. These two characters have really underestimated each other and it's great to see how humbling this experience is to one another. As for Will, Lily, and Jake, their own stories compliment this story because not only are Max and Kylie struggling with their own insecurities, and fears, Will, Lilly, and Jake are also forced to re-evaluate their own characters as well. I will also admit that I loved, loved, loved, Jake's voice in this story. Jake has Asperger's Syndrome and he clings to Kylie because she knows about everything he likes and dislikes. As reader's dive further into the story, they will learn that their father is practically a ghost. When Kylie is unable to take of Jake for the day, their father is the one who has to step in. For Jake, he has to go out on a limb and give their dad a chance without throwing a tantrum. When he walks out of the house to find Kylie, not is the father given a major wake up call, Jake learns that he has to start communicating with others besides Kylie. As I said, along with the sheer comedy, the characters have some serious issues that will not only be revealed, but have to be dealt with. The ending is perfect and I was completely satisfied.

Information about the Author:
According to Amazon.com:

FROM WHAT I REMEMBER...is the second novel by Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas. Their first novel, KARMA BITES, was a middle grade novel published by Houghton Mifflin in 2010. Kramer is a former film producer and currently writes movies, tv and magazine articles. Her television credits include LIZZIE McGUIRE and LESS THAN PERFECT. Her film credits include LABOR PAINS (writer), JAWBREAKER (producer) and IGBY GOES DOWN (producer) among others. She's at work on a new movie for Twentieth Century Fox. In addition, she's written comic pieces for ELLE, MARIE CLAIRE and THE LONDON SUNDAY TIMES as well as a variety of other publications. She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and three children.

[Valerie Thomas] is a writer of young adult novels. I spent many years working in the film industry as a producer and screenwriter until I escaped to the relative calm of the book world.

Genre:
Teen Contemporary Fiction, Teen Humor, Teen Romance

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to From What I Remember:

• Spanking Shakespeare by Jake Wizner
• This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen 

 Awards & Recognition:

From Amazon.com:
"It's no surprise that both Kramer and Thomas share common roots in the film industry. Their love of the medium comes through not only in Kylie and Will's passion for quoting movies but also in the fast-paced action sequences that seem made for the big screen." - Kirkus Review

"...the quick pace and the hot-and-cold relationship between Kylie and Max will keep readers interested and rooting for them until the very end. Far from flawless, the characters seem real." -School Library Journal

"This has all the right ingredients for an engrossing summer read... Pack it in the beach bag along with sunscreen and shades, take a break from ACT prep, and put a Do Not Disturb sign on the worry side of your brain." -Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"This book made me laugh, cry and swoon; sometimes all at once." -YA Books Central

"From What I Remember's charm resides largely in its various characters' viewpoints, all teenagers capable of rather impressive empathy (when they choose to use it) and self-awareness. These are kids who are not only smart, they think. And they express themselves with clarity and style. " -Best Children's Books 

Plot Summary:
In the Goodgrounds, the City of Water is inhabited by citizens who do what they are told and how to think. In the Goodgrounds, no one every leaves without authorization; no one goes into the Forest; guys and girls are never allowed to be alone, nor are they allowed to touch one another. In this world, everyone abides by the rules or face incarceration. For Vi, she is willing to risk her freedom, and her life, to be next to Zenn, her match. After receiving a commlink from Zenn, Vi takes a long and dangerous trip out of the City of Water to meet up with him at the Special Forces compound. What she didn't realize is that the reason Zenn had her come all the way out there is that he was going to tell her something very important. However, their conversation was interrupted by a Hovercopter. Although Vi swears she has done nothing wrong, the Hovercopter is there to take her to the Green: the base of Thinkers. Not sure why the Thinkers would be after her, Vi is preparing for the absolute worse. The thing about Vi is that she is a but of trouble maker. In other words, this wouldn't be the only time that she was busted by the authorities, which is not only good, but rather unusual for a mild-mannered, rule abiding Water citizen. When her hearing started, she learned the real why she was there: she is a Free-Thinker and a threat to Goodgrounds. After being banished to the Badlands, Vi is devastated and angry. What's worse, is that she is locked up with Jag, who is an escapee from the Badlands. For Vi, this punishment is not only unfair, but she will meet the same fate as her father who was also exiled. What she didn't count on is that everything she has ever known, and learned, is a lie and the Badlands is not what its supposed to be and she will soon discover the truth behind her father's disappearance and her sister's untimely demise. Furthermore, the more time she spends with Jag, her future with Zenn slips away. 

Critical Evaluation:
 Johnson has created a world not only devoid of individuality, but of humanity itself. Every section of the world is divided amongst character traits and duties. For Vi, the City of Water is a place where serenity and obedience are its greatest strengths as well as its ability to create citizens who are gifted. However, somewhere in the gene pool, the traits to become great inventors skipped Vi and gave her the rebellion gene. The greatest thing about Vi is she is nothing but a typical teenager; however, in this realm, its against the will of the Thinkers for teens to be anything but mailable and well behaved. Vi is strong, independent, opinionated, and not afraid to speak her mind. More importantly, her free will is what gets her in to trouble and that is why she lands a one way trip to the Badlands. One of the main issues explored in this story is the struggle for freedom from oppression, but celebrating our individuality and the ability to feel. When I think of this story, I am reminded of the movie, Equilibrium, starring the gorgeous Christian Bale, where human emotions are suppressed with discipline, fear, and reliance on mood altering chemicals. The motive behind not feeling, or, in this case, touching, can stir up feelings and ideas that could lead to utter ruin. For Vi, she wants nothing to be touched and to be loved because, to her, it's worth risking everything and that is dangerous for any organized hierarchy or specific way of life. Humans are unpredictable and it is absolutely impossible to control them so the Thinkers have established the routine of ridding Goodgrounds of it's bad elements by banishing them to the Badlands. However, what they don't realize is that the Badlands are thriving. In fact, they are doing so well they are infiltrating Goodgrounds to bring it down by stealing technology. Despite the fact that she has lost Zenn and her home, Vi sets out on a journey to not only uncover the truth behind her father and sister's death, she will do everything in her power to bring an end to the Thinkers. Although this story is very similar to Ally Condie's Matched, Possession will keep the reader hooked despite the many similarities. 

Information about the Author:
According to her website:

Elana wishes she could experience her first kiss again, tell the mean girl where to shove it, and have cool superpowers like reading minds and controlling fire. To fulfill her desires, she writes young adult science fiction and fantasy.

Using her boring human powers, she graduated from Southern Utah University with Summa Cum Laude honors in Elementary Education with a minor in Mathematics. She started her teaching career as an upper grade music and art specialist. After a four-year stint in 3rd grade, she is currently the technology specialist.

In her world, Oreos and bacon would be the only food groups. Everyone would drive 10 over the speed limit. Winter would be eliminated as a season, and Jeff Probst would be President. As it is, she lives with her husband and two kids in central Utah, gets cited when she drives too fast and eats Oreos only on special occasions.

Genre:
Teen Dystopian Thriller, Teen Romance

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up
 

Books Similar to Possession:

• Matched by Ally Condie
• Witch & Wizard by James Patterson

Awards & Recognition:

From Amazon.com:

“Who Should Read This: Anyone who wants a challenge: This plot is so twisty, I had to read the last chapter twice before I could believe what happened. There's also a very nice balance between badass action and romantic tension for readers who like a good mix of the two.” –MTV.com

“Most [readers] will be drawn in by the love triangle, revelations about Vi and her family, and a dark twist ending that maintains the faintest glimmer of hope.” --PW

"[T]he super-cool, surprise ending...stays entirely true to the plot....[T]he romantic tribulations...may serve to draw romance fans into the sci-fi side....[T]he setting is developed with care and detail, making for a vividly drawn alternative world. Fans of Matched (BCCB11/10) and other recent romantically focused additions to the dystopiansub-genre may wish to add this to their reading list."
-The Bulletin

“This debut novel fits neatly into the latest dystopian fantasy craze. Readers will enjoy tough-as-nails Violet ‘Vi’ Schoenfeld and her two love interests, Zenn and Jag.” –Library Media Connection

Plot Summary:
It all started centuries ago. In Sixth century China, a scholar spots an eagle carrying something extraordinary in its beak...a white snake. Instead of witnessing this creature's death, the scholar raises his bow and shoots an arrow at the eagle, forcing it to release the. After seeing this magnificent creature fall, the scholar rushes to its aide. After gently washing and bandaging its wounds, the scholar makes a promise: if this beautiful snake were a princess in its past life, he would find her and marry her. Centuries later, the snake would appear, but this time, she is in another form that not even the scholar could have known. Meanwhile, after taking some time off from his mundane life in Australia, Charlie goes to Venice to protest at the G8 meeting. The moment he stepped off the plane, he knew he was in a magical place. In fact, this place is so magical that he when he met Caitlin, it was literally love at first sight. Could Charlie be the scholar that once saved her life all those years ago? Convinced that Charlie is her soul mate, Caitlin decides that she will love Charlie for the rest of her life; however, Caitlin harbors a dangerous secret: she is not human. After attempting to rescue Caitlin, and her friend, Alice, from a few thugs, Charlie is wounded and unconscious. The last thing he saw before blacking out is Caitlin and Alice taking those thugs down quickly; Caitlin and Alice supposedly know martial arts, but these guys were strong. In fact, they are so strong they happen to be vampires. Although Caitlin is willing to risk everything to be with Charlie, the question that remains is will Charlie accept her for who she really is? Caitlin's will be revealed, whether she likes it or not, because not only is the Council after her, old enemies are turning up as well.


Critical Evaluation:
In this imaginative re-telling of an Chinese folktale, Martin Chu Shui has created a story filled with love, mystery, action, surprises, ans suspense. I am not familiar with this particular tale, but it's based on a love that has not only managed to grow over centuries, but reunite two souls who have been separated by time and space. Although the story, itself, is a bit hard to believe (the love at first sight thing), Shui's story uses love as tool to lure readers into this fast-paced adventure where demons and monster are real. I definitely will say this story was a quick read, but there are problems with the grammar, but readers won't care since they are simple mistakes. Also, the author uses a lot of European spelling, which is only natural since the story itself takes place in Europe and Australia or maybe the Shui is just cool like that. The characters are very likable, especially Charlie who is totally clueless. In a way, readers will feel sorry for Charlie (no pun intended) because he has no idea what his role in this relationship/story is. Despite knowing his heritage is tied to Caitlin's background, he doesn't believe in all of the "hocus pocus," especially when James tells him that he part of a Council that battles monsters and demons. Unfortunately, when Charlie is drugged, the fairy tales that he studied in school are about to come true after realizing that Caitlin is actually a the same white snake that was rescued by the scholar who is also carrying their unborn child. There are some parts of the dialogue that are on the cheesy side, but when you have vampires, fairy tale creatures that are real, and an entire secret organization chasing after our heroes that is a small detail we can live with. Anyone romance fan will eat this up, but be prepared for an epic battle that is about to begin.  

Genre:
Teen Paranormal Romance
 
Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up


Information about the E-Book:
Readers can download this book at:

• Amazon.com
• Smashwords
  

Plot Summary:
In order to save her village, Soah makes the ultimate sacrifice by becoming the wife of Habaek, the Water God. The villagers not only fear Habaek, Soah's is terrified that she will be eaten up by a monster. However, when she descends into Suguk, the water country, Soah learns that Habaek is not a monster, but a child. Relieved to know that she will not be eater, Soah is content with her reality, but, when she meets Mui, Habaek's cousin, her feelings are torn between her loyalty to her husband and this seductive stranger. What Soah doesn't realize is that Habaek and Mui are one ion the same. After failing to protect the woman he loved, Nakbin, Habaek was cursed to be a child by day and a man at night. Not knowing who, or what to believe, Soah sets out to find the truth, which not only reveals the truth behind Habaek's past, but unleashes never ending plots to tear her away from Habaek. Meanwhile, the Emperor of the Gods' has finally found his key to begin a bloody with his rivals, which include Habaek's parents and Habaek himself. However, what Habaek doesn't know is that his previous bride, Nakbin, may still be alive, which not only threatens his ties and love for Soah, but reveal that many traitors that want to destroy him. For Soah, the more she gets involved with Habaek, the more danger she is in, but, with trust and faith, she sets out on her journey to not only find a way to lift Habaek's curse, but to provide him with a reason to change his own fate.


Critical Evaluation:
When I first laid eyes on this Manwha, it was love at first sight. Mi-Kyung Yun has created a world with such exquisite detail that readers cannot but help fall in love with the story. For those who are unfamiliar with Korean mythology, like myself, not only do we get a wonderful taste of these myths, the artwork is what drives the dialogue. Although I cannot really comment on the storyline itself, I will definitely say that this is probably one of the most romantic graphic novels I have ever read. Although Habaek is cruel and unfeeling towards Soah, it's her bravery and will that makes him fall in love with. Although many characters see Soah as a replacement from his previous wife, Nakbin, Soah's love for human life is what sets her apart from Nakbin. As readers dive further into the story, we learn that Nakbin is only half-human, which explains her ability to disregard the lives others to save those she loves, but, at the same time, be selfless as well. Call it selfish, or impulsive, but Nakbin was willing to destroy the man she loves because of a deal she made with her father to save her brother. For Soah, she is a true human because despite her "weaknesses" and her "bleeding heart" she literally welcomes utter disaster because she cannot bear the thought of letting someone die when she has the power to save them. For Habaek, this quality ignites something within his soul that will not only change the course of the story, but his fate itself. What I like the most about this story is that our destiny doesn't make who we are, but we are the ones who make our destiny. Guys and girls, alike, will not only identify with this story, but they will equally enjoy the journey that these two characters take.   

Information about the Author:
According to Goodreads.com:

Mi-Kyung Kun (윤미경) is a Korean comic artist; she is currently publishing the Bride of the Water God series in the Korean comics magazine Wink.

Received the Silver Medal for Seoul Media Group's "Shin-in-gong-mo-jeon" ("New Artist Debut Competition") for Na-eu Ji-gu Bang-moon-gi (The Journey of My Earth Visit) in 2003.

Received a "Shin-in-sang" ("Best New Artist") award from the Dokja-manhwa-daesang organization for Railroad in 2004.

Genre:
Teen Manwha

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to Bride of the Water God:

• Black Bird by Kanoko Sakurakoji
• Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time by Tohko Mizuno

Awards & Recognition:

• 2004 Dokja-manwha-daesang Best New Artist Award