Plot Summary:
In order to escape the streets, Perry has signed up to fight the war in Vietnam. Although he has aspirations of making something of himself, he knows staying home won't get him anywhere. After landing in Vietnam, Perry meets a cast of characters who have their own reasons, and issues, as to why they volunteered. For instance, Pee Wee. For the lack of a better description, Pee Wee is nuts. Like Perry, Pee Wee is from the Projects who hung out with the wrong crowd. In fact, Pee Wee inadvertently signed up for the Army because his buddy wanted to join, but was turned down because he was "rowdy." Jenkins, another newbie, is scared out of his mind and didn't take to Pee Wee's antics when it came to fighting. After orientation, Perry and company were called into the field and the fear that Perry had been trying to keep at bay was slowly taking over. For Pee Wee, this should have been a moment of elation, but Perry knew better that Pee Wee was all talk because he could also see the fear in Pee Wee's eyes. When they landed in Chu Lai, Perry, Pee Wee, and Jenkins were assigned to Alpha unit where they meet Johnson (a rather large and intimidating Southerner), Lobel (a movie buff), and Brunner (a suck-up). Although the reality of war has yet to set in, an accident occurs that conveys to these young men that war is very real and very scary. Although these young men have very little in common, the quickly learn to put their differences aside when they are sent to the front line. In fact, all Perry can think of is getting out Vietnam and relocating to Hawaii where he would enroll in the University of Hawaii. Unfortunately, that dream will have to wait because all he can think about is staying alive. The more action Perry and his fellow soldiers see, they more they realize that war is nothing like the movies they watch. In fact, they start wondering why Alpha group (an all-Black unit) is always the one sent in first. In this horrifying account of war, a group of men are forced to grow up and fight a war that eventually loses its meaning and the loss of life is catastrophic. To this day, the Vietnam War is one of the darkest moments in American history. 

Critical Evaluation:
Walter Dean Myers is one of those author's who knows how to get in the reader's head and force them to adsorb every word that is on the page. Most people don't know this about me, but I am a huge war movie fan and this story is written so well that I can visualize every detail. I cannot begin to imagine what these soldiers saw and it is absolutely heart-breaking. Perry wanted nothing more then to escape the streets and they only way he could do is to enlist. As a young, Black male, Perry's options were limited and it's almost the only way (at the time) he could progress, and get an education, is to join the Army. Granted, he is not the only one to join the service under these circumstances, it is still really hard to believe that these brave young men, who put their lives on the line, would come home to the same ignorance, hatred, and utter disrespect that they have grown up with. For example, with WWII, Black came home to Jim Crow Laws and Japanese Americans came home with no homes and deep resentment. These minority units (Tuskegee and 442nd) were the most highly decorated units, yet, all the could do was work as janitors and mechanics. As Vietnam escalated, the American people became angry. Some may not know this fact, but the reason why soldiers were given the awful label of "baby killers" is because Vietnam was the first war to have real live footage aired to the American people, the American Press was aloud onto air bases, and some reporters were implanted. Unfortunately, since most of the news was skewed (i.e., ratings and editing) , it shouldn't be surprising that people would overreact they way they did and that is why books like Fallen Angels are absolutely essential in providing real insight into the mind of a soldier. Since Perry volunteered for the service, readers needed to understand that the Draft was used for this war and a lot of young men, who weren't meant for war, were killed on the field. To this day, Vietnam veterans continue to suffer from the effects of the war and some don't even want to talk about their experience because of the horror they witnessed. I was in tears when I finished this story, but, despite the ordeal these young men went through, I am thankful for their sacrifice and service.     

Information about the Author:
According to his website:

I was born on a Thursday, the 12th of August, 1937, in Martinsburg, West Virginia. My name at birth was Walter Milton Myers. For some strange reason I was given to a man named Herbert Dean who lived in Harlem. I consider it strange because I don't know why I was given away.

I was raised in Harlem by Herbert and his wife, Florence. Herbert was African American. Florence was German and Native American and wonderful and loved me very much.
As a child my life centered around the neighborhood and the church. The neighborhood protected me and the church guided me. I resisted as much as I could.

I was smart (all kids are smart) but didn't do that well in school.

I dropped out of high school (although now Stuyvesant High claims me as a graduate) and joined the army on my 17th birthday.

Basketball has always been a passion of mine. Sometimes at night I lie in bed thinking about games I've played. Sometimes I think about what would have happened if I had gone into the NBA (I was never good enough) or college ball.

Anyway.... I wrote well in high school and a teacher (bless her!) recognized this and also knew I was going to drop out. She advised me to keep on writing no matter what happened to me.
"It's what you do," she said.

I didn't know exactly what that meant but, years later, working on a construction job in New York, I remembered her words. I began writing at night and eventually began writing about the most difficult period of my own life, the teen years. That's what I do.

Genre:
Teen Military Fiction, Teen Historical Fiction, Teen Lit for Guys


Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to Fallen Angels:

• Search and Destroy by Dean Hughes
• Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com:

"A coming of age tale for young adults set in the trenches of the Vietnam War in the late 1960s, Fallen Angels is the story of Perry, a Harlem teenager who volunteers for the service when his dream of attending college falls through. Sent to the front lines, Perry and his platoon come face-to-face with the Vietcong and the real horror of warfare. But violence and death aren't the only hardships. As Perry struggles to find virtue in himself and his comrades, he questions why black troops are given the most dangerous assignments, and why the U.S. is there at all. Fallen Angels won the 1989 Coretta Scott King Award." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

. . . as thought provoking as it is entertaining, touching and, on occasion, humorous. -- The New York Times Book Review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. 

Plot Summary:
Rafe is tired of labels. Every since he was a little boy, everyone knew he was different. In fact, when he came out, nobody was surprised and everyone accepted the fact that they live in a community with a gay kid. Rafe: the openly gay student. Rafe: he is gay and smart. Rafe: well liked and gay. Everywhere Rafe goes, he is never just Rafe, but the gay guy known as Rafe. In order to get away from the label that is always attached to his name, Rafe has transferred to an all boy's high school where no one knows his name and the fact that he is gay. It's not that he wants to be locked away with a bunch of privileged and gorgeous boys, he just wants to be seen as Seamus Rafael Goldberg, the ordinary teenager who loves to write and wants to be accepted for who is and not what he is. When Rafe arrived at Natick, he didn't know what to expect, including his roommate, Albie. Albie is not at all what Rafe is expecting (Albie is a pig and Rafe is a neat freak), but, despite everything, Albie and his friend, Toby, are actually not that bad and kinda cool. When Rafe is asked to join in a game of football, by Ben he is given a once in a lifetime opportunity: becoming a jock. As time goes, Rafe has become part of a pack and the more time he spends with his new friends, the more guilty he feels about leaving his best friend, Claire Olivia, behind. Although they didn't part on the best terms, Claire was his confidant and the only person he could be himself around. However, he has learned that his English teacher knows he is gay (thanks to his mother), but, luckily, he is willing to keep to keep Rafe's secret and actually the allow him to express himself in his weekly journals. Life should be absolutely perfect for Rafe, but, unfortunately, when Rafe starts falling for Ben, things are about to become more difficult and even more complicated. Then again, who said being a teen is easy, especially if that teens is harboring a secret that could pretty much change the dynamics of an entire school.

Critical Evaluation:
Rafe never wanted to be the poster child for gay rights for teens. In fact, when he came out to his parents, he knew they would accept him for who he is. What he didn't expect is that his parents would use his sexuality as their latest revolution. Clearly, Rafe's parents are liberals who want nothing but the utmost for their son, including acceptance and respect. In many ways, readers will admire his relationship with his parents because they are more concerned about nurturing his soul and protecting his rights. What his parents don't realize is that they are marginalizing Rafe. Rafe's goal in life is to live a life without labels and, for once, be a normal guy. In his mind, Natick was the ideal place to start over where nobody had to know he's gay and they would actually see him for who he is. However, even at Natick, he is still labeled as a jock and that is why him and Albie had a rocky start. What this story brings to light is the idea that we, as human beings, are separated and lumped together by our similarities that society has designed, which have some serious consequences. For Rafe, being the openly gay student stunted his abilities to be amongst his own peers; everybody knew that it's not okay to bully the gay kid, but it doesn't mean they have to like him. At Natick, everyone knows that being a jock means you are automatically what Claire and Rafe call an FBIT (Frat Boy in Training), which we learn from Ben, is not true. Konigsberg does an amazing job juxtaposing Rafe and Ben because they are both sick of social constructs and want to be recognized for who they are and not what they are. Although Ben is straight, the admiration they have for one another is genuine and that is why their friendships works. However, with every friendship, there has to be an understanding  that honesty is just as integral as respect. Openly Straight is an amazing tale of one guy who wanted nothing more than to "normal" and embarked on a journey where he not only learned about himself, but how to truthful to himself and others.

Information about the Author:
According to his website:

Bill lives in just outside of Phoenix with his longtime partner, Chuck. They have an Australian Labradoodle named Mabel, who completes them. She also can jump very high and head a ball like a champion soccer player.

Bill is now a full-time writer of fiction, which is his dream job. Except when it makes him crazy and impossible to live with, which is about 36 percent of the time.

Before Bill was a fiction writer (and long before he ever referred to himself in the third person), he was a sports writer. As a sports writer and editor for The Associated Press from 2005-08, he covered the New York Mets and his weekly fantasy baseball column appeared in newspapers across the country, from the New York Daily News to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. In May of 2001, while working for ESPN.com, he came out on the front page of the website in an article entitled “Sports World Still a Struggle for Gays.” That article won him a GLAAD Media Award the following year.

Since then, he has spoken at numerous venues across the country on what it’s like to be a gay person in the world of sports. He has written for The New York Times, New York Daily News, North Jersey Herald and News and Denver Post, to name a few. His work has also appeared in Out Magazine. In 2011, his coming out was named the #64 moment in gay sports history by the website Outsports.com. His story was included as a chapter in the book “Jocks 2: Coming Out to Play” by Dan Woog.

Genre:
Teen LBGTQ Fiction, Teen Contemporary Fiction, Teen Humor, Teen Sports Lit

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 10 & up

Books Similar to Openly Straight:

•  Freak Show by James St. James
•  The Geography Club by Brett Hartinger

Awards & Recognition:
Positive Reviews from:

• Booklist
• The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
• Library Journal

Plot Summary:
She wakes up battered and bruised; her fingernails are missing and she doesn't remember who she is. The next thing she remembers is being dragged out into the woods, awaiting death. However, something in her screams to fight back and when the opportunity presents itself, she takes it. Alone, and on the run, she has to find help because she has no idea who she is and why someone would want to kill her. Luckily, for her, she is not completely helpless because no only does she have the will to run, but she has the skills to survive. After taking her kidnapper's car, she finds her way to Newberry Ranch where she tries to get help from the security officer on duty. Although he isn't a real police officer, he does everything he can to help her. When she thought this nightmare was over, it was only the beginning to a series of events that she never thought possible. When the security guard got off the phone, he informed her that she wasn't kidnapped, but a runaway from a local mental hospital. There is no way this could be true because why would staff members from a psychiatric hospital drag her away to secluded cabin, rip out her fingernails, and carry guns? Furthermore, why would they threaten to kill her? After hearing this new information, she takes matters into her own hands and is back on the road not knowing where to go and who to trust.When she stopped at a local McDonald's for food, she meets a guy named Ty who not only helps her get away from the men who are chasing her, but promises to help her recover her memories. Little do they know, the journey they are to embark is not only risky, but could can turn deadly in an instant if she cannot find her parents. The clock has started ticking and they are running out of time.

Critical Evaluation:
Wow. This was incredibly suspenseful. Not only will readers enjoy the pace of this story, they will want to finish this book in one sitting. For a small book, there is a lot going on. For example, we don't know our main character's name because she suffers from amnesia. Secondly, we don't know if she is going to be the type of heroine we are going to admire. Once readers get passed the first few chapters, they will learn that our girl is not only brave, but incredibly quick on her feet. Henry captures the point of view of a kidnapping victim extremely well because not only do we see the flight or flight decision making, we see how determined she is to find out who she is and her desire to live. Although she is scared out of her mind, she refuses to give up because she is convinced that someone is trying to frame her or worse...kill her. What's confusing about her amnesia is that it seems to be temporary; she is can remember things from her past, but not the names of her family. Furthermore, when she and Ty make progress in their journey, we learn that she hasn't lost the ability to certain things such as: drive, unlock a car seat, and use her marital skills when necessary. Although she is more than capable of handling this on her own, Ty is the one person she needs the most to keep her calm and focused. Ty, who also has a hidden past, is the perfect protector since he is the only one who believes that she isn't a crazy serial killer, but is being framed for something that she didn't do. Honestly, Ty is the type of guy that any girl would be proud to have as their boyfriend because he is genuine. The more these two teens get to know each other, it's only natural they would fall for each other. However, this is not a love story, but a story about survival where the fates of thousands of people depend on her. 

Information about the Author:
According to her website:

April Henry knows how to kill you in a two-dozen different ways. She makes up for a peaceful childhood in an intact home by killing off fictional characters. There was one detour on April's path to destruction:  when she was 12 she sent a short story about a six-foot tall frog who loved peanut butter to noted children's author Roald Dahl. He liked it so much he arranged to have it published in an international children's magazine. By the time she was in her 30s, April had started writing about hit men, kidnappers, and drug dealers. She has published more than a dozen mysteries and thrillers for teens and adults, with five more under contract

Genre:
Teen Suspense, Teen Mysteries, Teen Adventure

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die:

• Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Schott
• Stolen by Lucy Christoper

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com:

"Suggest this one to fans of Stefan Petrucha’s Split (Walker, 2010) and Matt Whyman’s Icecore (2007) and Goldstrike (2010, both S & S) for a good adrenaline rush with the tiniest hint of romance." -- School Library Journal

- School Library Journal

"Older Jack and Jill readers will find themselves unable to put down this book until they reach the stunning conclusion."
- Jack and Mill Magazine

"Henry is a dependable best-selling force in both adult and YA worlds, and this book is tailor-made to please her fan base." -- Booklist

"Henry (The Night She Disappeared) delivers another speedy, suspenseful mystery, this one reminiscent of Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne books."--Publishers Weekly

Plot Summary:
In this spinoff of Alice in the Country of Hearts, Alice makes her way from Julius and the Clock Tower to the Hatter Mansion. After meeting Blood Dupre, Alice has decided that the man who resembles the man she loved is not the same person. Granted, everything in this world is different, she falls for Hatter's second in command: Elliot March. Elliot March is kind, gentle, and very cute (especially his rabbit ears), and Alice adores him in every way. However, when she realized that Elliot is Blood's top assassin, she is torn between the man she adores and the assassin who makes a living taking lives. However, in this world, taking lives isn't horrific; in fact, everyone who dies is reborn through the talents of Julius, the clockmaster. What makes Alice special is that she is a being that has a heart that beats and not a clock. In other words, if Alice is killed, she will not be reborn, nor will she be able to return to her world. When Alice decides to make Hatter Mansion her home, her stalker/kidnapper, Peter White, demands that she makes Heart Palace her home and that puts Alic in extreme danger since Queen Vivaldi makes a habit of beheading a habit. In this crazy world where night and day com at all times, Alice must survive the inhabitants who proclaim undying love for her and then put her in danger at moments notice. In this story, it's Elliot March who confesses his deepest feelings and Alice must choose between her conscience and her heart.


Critical Evaluation:
When I first read the first series, Alice in the Country of Hearts, I was happy that it ended the way that it dis. However, when learned that there spin offs where all of the leading men get to have their moment with Alice, I was even more excited. What readers need to realize that the reason why Alice has a love story with every character is that this world is based on Alice's need, and want, to be loved by everyone. According to Alice, she is unlovable and idolizes, and resents, her older sister who happens to be everything she is not. In many ways, Alice realizes all of her good qualities as she spends time with the citizens of this world and, ultimately, it is their love and devotion that keep her in the Country of Hearts. I will say that I am a wee bit jealous to have such gorgeous men fawn over her, but, it's really to sad to see how lonely they really are. I am definitely looking forward to the next spin-offs since they will reveal more answers as to why Alice created this world and see all the characters evolve.

Information about the Author:
Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of information by Quinrose on their website, but here it is (with the help of Google Translate:

QuinRose～クインロゼ～』では、
女性主人公のファンタジー恋愛アドベンチャーゲームを中心に制作しています。
※関連作品として、男性主人公のゲームも制作しております。

2010年からソニーのパブリッシャーとなり、
現在は家庭用機ゲームを主に開発中です。

In "QuinRose ~ Kuinroze ~",
Has produced mainly female hero fantasy romance adventure game.
※ as related work, we have also produced male hero game.

And publisher of Sony from 2010,
And is currently developing a game machine primarily for home use.

Genre:
Teen Fantasy Manga, Teen Romance Manga

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to Alice in the Country of Hearts: My Fanatic Rabbit:

• Pandora Hearts by Jun Mochizuki
• Gakuen Alice by Tachibana Higuchi

Plot Summary:
Oz is turning fifteen, which means his coming of age ceremony is approaching. What should have been an important moment in a young man's life, the Baskervilles interrupted his ceremony to punish him and send him into the Abyss. Although Oz has no idea what he is being punished for, he is rescued by a girl named Alice who has immense power, but needs a to form a contract with someone in order to release that power. What Oz doesn't realize that the legend he has grown up with is true and that the Abyss is filled with dangerous creatures known as chains who are waiting for the perfect prey in order to escape. For Alice, her mission is to forge a contract with Oz in order to gather the memories she lost a long time ago, but, her plans are alterered when she and Oz are recruited by members of Pandora. Led by Sharon Rainsworth, Xerxes Break, and the mysterious Raven (who looks a lot like Oz's friend, Gilbert), Oz and Alice are rescued from the Path that was opened by Oz's pocket watch, which happens to contain one of Alice's long lost memories. When asked to joined Pandora, Oz and Alice aren't sure, but one thing they do want is answers. Why is Oz being punished? Why were Alice's memories erased? What is Pandora? As the group moves through the country, solving mysteries and crimes committed by chains, the answers lie with those who know the truth, could lead to ending that readers may not be prepared for.


Critical Evaluation:
I absolutely love the artwork in this series! Not only are the characters super cute, but the monsters are super ugly and creepy. As for the storyline, it's an interesting premise where a clueless boy is thrown into the midst of a secret battle between humans, spirits, and chains. However, when Oz is sentenced to a life in the Abyss for no reason (other than being), we learn that he could be the offspring of the devil himself! The question is: why doesn't Oz know and why is Pandora recruiting a potentially dangerous ally? As readers progress in the series, they learn that everyone in this organization cannot be trusted because not only do they have their own agendas, they are hiding some pretty heavy secrets; hence, why the group is called Pandora. I will admit that I am intrigued by the idea that this series is loosely based on Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland; the Abyss is Alice's Rabbit Hole and, when at full power, she turns in the Bloddy Rabbit, and is later retrieved from the Rabbit Hole by a dude who talks to a doll on his shoulder. Basically, this series is full of madness that is not only unthinkable, but scary as well. I am not sure what to expect in the latest volume, but I am sure excited about it!

Information about the Author:
According to Wikipedia:

Jun Mochizuki (望月 淳 Mochizuki Jun^?, born December 22 in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese manga artist, best known for creating the manga series Pandora Hearts.

Genre:
Teen Fantasy Manga

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up
 
Books Similar to Pandora Hearts:

• Alice in the Country of Hearts by Quinrose
• Black Butler by Yana Toboso
  

Plot Summary:
Mikado is moving up in the world. Not only is he attending Raira Academy in the iIkebukuro, he is actually attending school with his childhood friend, Kida. Although Mikado is from a small town, he is incredibly excited, and terrified, by the hustle and bustle of the big city. When Kida picks Mikado up from the train station, he can't believe how cool his old friend is. If there is one thing about Ikebukuro, there are certain people to stay away from such as Simon (the Russian Sushi Man), Shizuo (skinny dude with awesome strength), and Izaya (the informant who has serious hatred for Shizuo and is a sadist). For Seiji, who is also attending the same high school as Kida and Mikado, he has problems of his own including a blood-thirsty sister and a stalker. As Mikado and Kida tour Sunshine City, not only do they run into Seiji, the meet the Black Rider in the "flesh." Since Mikado is afraid of everything, meeting the Black Rider should have scared him, but, his reaction was the opposite.Who is this Black Rider? When the first day of school arrives, Mikado is leery about introducing himself to his class, but, when he meets Anri, Mikado is hit by cupid's arrow. After surviving his first day, Kida and Mikado meet up with, Yumasaki, Karisawa, and, the ever elusive, Kadota; they are all on the weird side, but good guys at heart. The questions that remains is what do these characters have in common? All will be revealed when the identities of "The Dollars" are made known. With alternating point of views, DRRR!!! Durarara!!! is an action packed series based off of Narita-San's light novel, where mystery, drama, fantasy, and adventure, and love lay right around the corner.

Critical Evaluation:
Honestly, this is probably one of the most creative, complicated, silliest, and the weirdest manga I have read in a while. Not only are the characters out of the ordinary, their stories are a great compilation of how wild and crazy adolescence really is. On top of the usual teen drama, there is a fantastical storyline involving a Dullahan in search of its missing head, an unsuspecting warrior, and plot to bring misery to the human race. In other words, if one could combine every soap opera in existence with the traditional fantasy novel then the final product is DRR!!! Durarara!! Another great aspect of this series is the alternating point of views because no only do readers get the bigger picture, they get to learn more about each character. Furthermore, each chapters is preceded with an online chat room script. As stated earlier, DRR!!! was originally a light novel that was turned into an anime; thus, the manga is a re-telling of both the novel and series. Although I have yet to watch the series, I am hoping that most of the story arc is kept intact because, conceptually, an anime is usually made right after the release of the manga and/or light novel. Whatever the case, Narita is definitely an artist since he is infamous for writing a ton of installments packed full of grammatical and spelling errors (see note about the author). This series is for older teens since there are some mature themes and violence. Other than that, there is a lot of fun to be had for those who are looking for an adventure.

Information about the Author:Again, there is not a whole lot of information (in English), but, according to Goodreads.com:

Ryohgo Narita (成田 良悟, Narita Ryōgo) is a Japanese light novelist. He won the Gold Prize in the 9th Dengeki Novel Prize for Baccano!, which was made into a TV anime in 2007.[1] His series Durarara!! was also made into a TV anime, which began airing January 2010

There are two traits found in most of Narita's works:
* Narita writes extremely fast, one volume a month if he wishes - with tons of spelling errors and missing words as a tradeoff. The editors like to leave them sometimes just for fun, though.

 * His work titles often have an exclamation mark at the end (i.e. Baccano!, Vamp!, Durarara!!, etc.).

Genre:
Teen Adventure Manga


Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 10 & up

Books Similar to DRRR!! Durarara!!

• Soul Eater by Atsushi Ohkubo
• FLCL by Gainax

Plot Summary:
Ryoko knows what she wants in a man. He has to be athletic, kind, smart, caring, and dark haired. Although she has never had a boyfriend, she knows that her first kiss will be with the man she falls in love with. Unfortunately, instead of finding "Prince Charming," Ryoko met Ryunosuke and her world was turned upside down. Although Ryunosuke meets her standards, there is one small problem: Ryunosuke is a host. Although Ryoko believes that Ryunosuke could never be serious about his feelings for her, there is something about him that she just cannot shake and after meeting Inaba, she starts to realize that maybe Ryunosuke is the real deal; in fact; the more that Ryunosuke pursues her, the harder Ryoko falls for him. After a few bumps and surprises, Ryoko knows that Ryunosuke is the one she wants, but the question that remains is if she is willing to accept his career choice as a host where women pay him money to date them. Just when things could not get anymore complicated, Ryunosuke decides that he will quit being a host for her, but quitting a host job is not quite that easy. When Ryoko accidentally runs into the acting president of the host club, she accepts a bargain that she may not be able to fulfill. If she doesn't deliver, not only will Ryunosuke have to pay for her failure, but jeopardize their relationship at the same time. Who said love was simple?
     
Critical Evaluation:
It's amazing how love can not only change a person, but change everything around us. For Ryunosuke, love is nothing but a means to and end and a large pay check. However, when he met Ryoko, he learned that love is real and that is makes us do funny things. I will definitely say that this manga is super silly and sweet at the same time. Although I am not a huge fan of the artwork, the storyline is interesting simply because everything that could go wrong, literally did go wrong. Although Ryoko is a walking contradiction, Ryunosuke is the reality check she needs. Granted, Ryoko misjudged him quite a bit, she learns that Ryunosuke is very different from the character he portrays as a host. In fact, he is not only smart and gorgeous, he is very protective and thoughtful of Ryoko's feelings. The main message this story is based on is that we cannot put a price on love, nor we can we put a price on people. The reason why Ryunosuke cannot be let out of his contract is because he is the most popular and most successful host in the club. In other words, his success is what lines the president's pockets, which is why it is not so easy to leave. I do want to state that there is a difference between host and hostess club and prostitution; in the Japanese culture, host clubs are primarily for entertainment although "extra-curricular" activities may occur. Ran, a minor character, does state that she has had intimate relations with Ryunosuke, readers don't know if this is the case. Although Ryunosuke's job is taboo, he loves Ryoko so much that he willing to quit, but the hilarity of it all is when Ryoko makes a deal with the acting president that forces her to put herself in Ryunosuke's shoes. With this agreement, not only does Ryoko gain a little humility, she learns how crazy and lonely this kind of life is. This manga is definitely for the romance fan looking for something out of the ordinary.


Information about the Author:
Sadly, I couldn't find a whole lot about the author so I will keep searching!

Genre:
Teen Romance Manga
 

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up
 
Books Similar to B.O.D.Y.:

• Absolute Boyfriend by Yuu Watase
• Ouran High School Host Club by Bisco Hatori

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.