Review: Small Persons with Wings

Small Persons with Wings
Ellen Booraem
2011; Dial Books (Penguin); ISBN 978-0-8037-3471-5 (hardcover)

Summary:  Mellie has a fairy named Fidius as a best friend.  When she tells the other kids in kindergarten about Fidius, though, he gets mad that he's going to end up in a jar again.  So Fidius leaves, and Mellie is teased for the next eight years.  She finds sanctuary in science, art history, and logic.  When her parents inherit a run-down inn, Mellie thinks this is a second chance to have friends.  Once they move, Mellie helps her parents start cleaning up and meets her next-door neighbor, a boy her age named Timmo.  But then Mellie and her parents discover that there are fairies in the inn.  And Mellie's family has an ancient connection with small persons with wings--they don't like being called "fairies".

An everyday heroine learns to appreciate the fantastic again in this touching novel.  Mellie is a smart, grounded girl who still can't help wishing that she was from Planet Skinny, too.  Yet Mellie's own personality is able to triumph over her appearance--even when she's transformed into a frog.  Whimsical touches like a fairy who prefers bourbon to nectar and a mannequin who appears to be a woman adds magic to the real world setting.  Middle-schoolers who enjoyed How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier will also enjoy Small Persons with Wings.

Thoughts: The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, whose hundred year anniversary will be next month on March 25, was recently back in the news after the New York Times reported that the last six unknown victims had been identified.

It's interesting to think about this major historical event in light of the recent events in Wisconsin over public workers' rights to organize and bargain collectively.  For the Triangle Shirtwaist fire was a rallying cry for union organizers and workers, showing that there was a need for collective bargaining against the power of owners and managers.

For those of you who are interested in YA lit, the Triangle Shirtwaist fire is well-covered, with a range of perspectives.  These are just some of the titles that discuss this event:

Ashes of Roses by Mary Jane Auch
Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix (guest post at librarian by day)
Lost by Jacqueline Davies (my review)
Threads and Flames by Esther Friesner

The time might be ripe for a display about unions in history!  Such a display would be a reminder that history influences the present and helps to explain it.

Thoughts: Living in a Post-Project World

Over the last three years, I've been involved in two major, non-day job projects: writing my book and serving on the 2011 Printz committee.  They were both great experiences, ones that helped me understand both myself and the profession to which I belong.  By the end of Midwinter 2011, the book had been published and the Printz winner selected.  So the big question is, now what?

Well, for one thing, I've been enjoying reading whatever I want.  Even adult books!  If you look at the GoodReads widget I have on my blog, you can see that I've finally had a chance to read Maisie Dobbs.  I'm catching up on a lot of happenings in comic book land.  The YA lit I'm reading is more tuned to what I like to read, rather than what I should read for my various projects.

This all means that the output at this blog is slowing down a bit.  It's changing in other ways, too.  I don't know if I'll ever go back to the style of posts I wrote when I first started this blog--they were in-depth reviews of books, highlighting important aspects of the books.  Now I prefer the short-and-sweet review that gives a hint of the book.

Bloggerland is a very big pond, with a lot of fish in it.  I'm certainly not a big fish, but I like being able to share my thoughts about books.  It probably will just be a bit more irregular in the future.  Yet on the other hand, I hope to have more time to reflect, to contemplate.  My blog has always been reviews first, and everything else a distant second.  I'm hoping that I can narrow this gap in the coming months. 

I still love finding new books and talking about them.  So if you've got a suggestion for what I should read, hit up the comments section!  (That's another goal for the blog: encourage more discussion from all of you reading my blog).

Thanks for reading!

The Perils of Early Genius

1960s paperback cover

Thanks to a non-librarian friend, I came across this article in Lapham's Quarterly:  Vanishing Act.  It tells the story of Barbara Follett, a child author in the 1920s, and how her early celebrity and true talent wasn't enough to give her a happy life.  Definitely food for thought for all of us librarians who work with talented teenagers.  The article even has quotes from Anne Carroll Moore, the well-known doyenne in children's librarianship who created the children's room at NYPL.

Review: The Big Crunch

The Big Crunch
Pete Hautman
2011; Scholastic; ISBN 978-0-545-24075-8 (hardcover)

Summary: Imagine a love story without love at first sight or swelling music or eyes meeting across a room.  June and Wes meet when June moves to town.  Used to being a new girl thanks to her father's consultant business, June tries to not get in too deep.  Wes doesn't know what to make of the new girl he can't stop looking at.  It takes a few collisions before June and Wes admit that they're perfect for each other.  At least, perfect for right now.  But as another move looms for June, the couple has to figure out how to keep their love from being crunched.

Pete Hautman crafts an engaging romance in his newest novel.  June's reflections on another town and school offers insightful looks into teen life.  Wes comes across as a teenage Everyman: smart, thoughtful, but still prone to avoidable mistakes.  Their romance slowly builds, giving each character a connection they didn't know they were looking for.  Yet their romance is a realistic one; the novel ends at the moment when June and Wes realize that they may not be together forever.  They both know, however, that this first love will always be a part of them.  Like Wendelin van Draanen's Flipped for middle-school readers, The Big Crunch is a romance that can be enjoyed by older teens of both sexes.

Crosspost: New to Me--Seventeenth Summer

Now that the work on the Printz Award is done, my New to Me posts have returned!  They're now featured on The Hub, YALSA's new home for teen reading.  Visit the site to see my latest column on Seventeenth Summer.

Review: The Sweetness of Salt

The Sweetness of Salt
Cecilia Galante
2010; Bloomsbury; ISBN 978-1-59990-512-9 (hardcover)

Summary: Take two sisters. Divide in half and add overprotective parents to one half. To the other, add a dream of opening a bakery and a four-year-old daughter. Keep separate, then combine after high school graduation. Add a heaping cup of lies and secrets and stir vigorously. Wait, letting emotions simmer. Add a dollop of friendship and a pinch of romance. Bake for a summer and enjoy.

The story of practical, sheltered Julia and her impulsive older sister Sophie is part of this coming-of-age novel. After years of her parents planning her life, Julia finally begins listening to the little voice inside her, the voice that says the University of Pittsburgh and law school isn't what she wants. Sophie encourages Julia to make her own choices and break away from their parents, which is a rocky process for Julia. The two sisters seem like total opposites, but over the course of the summer, they find common ground. Set in a small Vermont town that belies the taciturn New England stereotype, the setting and the supporting characters add depth. The Sweetness of Salt will be enjoyed by fans of Deb Caletti.

Review: Anna and the French Kiss

Anna and the French Kiss
Stephanie Perkins
2010; Dutton (Penguin); ISBN 978-0-525-42327-0 (hardcover)

Summary: At first, leaving Atlanta for a French boarding school is something Anna refuses to like.  She hates leaving behind her little brother, her best friend and the guy she likes.  She doesn't even speak French!  But once Anna arrives at the School of America in Paris, she slowly sees the positives.  Boarding school is a lot like being an adult, and there are tons of movie theaters in Paris for a film freak like Anna.  Best of all, there's Etienne: an American boy with a British accent and a French father, who becomes Anna's best friend.  Friendship isn't all there is between Anna and Etienne, though.  Paris is the city of romance: will that hold true for Anna?

Fluffier than a French pastry, Anna and the French Kiss mixes soul-searching with romance.  Anna takes time to adjust to life in another country, worried about her lack of knowledge and the reputation of Americans abroad.  As she bcomes more comfortable, she's also able to develop her romance with Etienne, who's definitely all a teenage girl could wish for.  The debut novel of Stephanie Perkins, Anna and the French Kiss is a great choice for hopeless romantics and armchair travelers. 

Review: Paranormalcy

Paranormalcy
Kiersten White
2010; HarperTeen; ISBN 978-0-06-198584-3 (hardcover).  ARC borrowed from friend.

Summary:  For Evie, the ordinary is exotic.  She wishes she could attend high school, have a locker, eat in the cafeteria, even go to prom.  Instead, she lives in one of the compounds run by the International Paranormal Containment Agency.  Evie can see through glamours to the true appearance of paranormal creatures.  This talent, one that no on other human has, means that Evie can only long for a normal life.  When she falls for a shapeshifter, Evie hopes that this is her chance to be a regular teenage girl.  But her faerie ex-boyfriend and a dark prophecy might keep Evie from getting what she wants.

Paranormalcy has drawn comparisons with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, with good reason.  The theme of an extraordinary girl who longs for normalcy was well-mined by that show.  Yet Kiersten White's debut also stands on its own two feet.  A subtle mythology grounded in real-world situations, laugh-out-loud humor, and intriguing characters helps create a fast-paced fantasy.  Evie is a fantastic heroine, slowly maturing into a strong young woman.  While Paranormalcy thankfully does not end on a cliffhanger and resolves the major storylines, here's hoping we might get another novel featuring Evie.

ALA Midwinter Recap

It's been nearly two weeks since Midwinter ended, so what are the highlights that have stuck with me?

--Working with the rest of the amazing Printz committee to select this year's winner and honor books.  I'm incredibly proud of the work we accomplished: the books we read, the discussions we had, the fun we shared in the midst of all this work.  There were so many wonderful books published this year, and not to pat ourselves on the back too much, but I think we picked five very worthy books.

--Spending time with old friends and making new friendships.  My roommate buddies Liz B. and Sophie have been both friends and colleagues for several years, and they make conferences a time for both work and fun.  It was great to have Stacy as our fourth roommate, since I've always enjoyed her blog.  And it was great to meet Sarah, the GreenBeanTeenQueen in person!  (Psst: Sarah's running for the 2013 Printz!  You should check out her blog.) 

--Getting to walk around the exhibits, seeing what books are coming soon and of course, grabbing some ARCs.  What books am I most excited about?  Libba Bray's Beauty Queens, Micol Ostow's family, and Displacement by Thalia Chaltas are calling my name.  There's the sequels Dark Goddess: A Devil's Kiss Novel by Sarwat Chadda and Maureen Johnson's The Last Little Blue Envelope.  And a debut that's definitely intriguing: Putting Makeup on Dead People by Jennifer Violi.  

All in all, this was a memorable Midwinter Meeting for me.  Since I plan to take a break from committees and conferences after Annual in New Orleans, I'm glad I'm taking a break on a high point!  Leave a comment if you want to talk about the Printz or mention an ARC that you got at Midwinter.

Hiatus

Due to the last-minute push to ALA Midwinter, I'll be taking a hiatus for the next two weeks.  I'll be back after the conference to talk about serving on the Printz Committee, what my plans are in 2011, and of course, reviews!

I hope you all had a lovely holiday season, and that 2011 is full of great things.

Review: Mostly Good Girls

Mostly Good Girls
Leila Sales
2010; Simon Pulse; ISBN 978-1-4424-0679-7 (hardcover)

Summary:  Violet's junior year should be just like she planned.  There's tasks like lots of studying in order to keep up at her private school and editing the literary magazine.  Then there's spending time with her best friend Katie, and maybe even finding a way to talk to her crush, Scott Walsh.  But things don't go according to plan.  Violet loses her position on the lit mag and discovers a secret about Scott.  Worst of all, Katie suddenly becomes a different person, making choices that Violet doesn't understand or like.  Will Violet be able to hold on to Katie, or will her junior year be completely ruined?

The tangles of friendship are explored in this contemporary novel.  Violet and Katie's long-standing friendship is authentically presented, full of inside jokes and mutual concern.  The world of a rigorous prep school is well-captured, showing the pressures to which teens are subjected.  As the story reaches its conclusion, the reader finds that Violet and Katie's friendship, although changed, is still strong.  Mostly Good Girls would pair nicely with Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian. 

Review: Hold Me Closer, Necromancer

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer
Lish McBride
2010; Henry Holt; ISBN 978-0-8050-9098-7 (hardcover)

Summary:  Sam seems like a normal guy: high school drop-out with a job in fast food, friends for life with Ramon and admirer of his coworker Brooke.  But then Sam discovers he's not so normal--he's a necromancer.  Capable of raising the dead, such power is dangerous, especially for a newbie like Sam.  There's already a necromancer in Seattle, and he's not happy about an unregistered necromancer on his turf.  Sam is in deep trouble, and he's only got a week to get out of it.  It'll be up to his new guide, a Harbinger named Ashley, and Brid, the hot half-werewolf, to give Sam that help.

Mix sarcastic humor with supernatural creatures and you get Hold Me Closer, Necromancer.  One of the 2011 Morris Award finalists, this novel cleverly creates an engaging hero in Sam, who faces an unusual hero's journey.  As Sam discovers his heritage, he slowly finds the path that works for him.  The leisurely pacing allows plenty of time not just for Sam but for characters like Douglas, the evil necromancer and Brid, heiress to her werewolf clan.  A great read for older teens, Hold Me Closer, Necromancer will appeal to fans of Neil Gaiman, Charles de Lint, and Holly Black.

Review: The Ring of Solomon

The Ring of Solomon
Jonathan Stroud
2010; Hyperion; ISBN 978-1-4231-2372-9 (hardcover)

Summary:  In 950 BCE, the great king Solomon relies on his seventeen magicians to help him rule Israel.  The ambitious magicians and the spirits they control all fear Solomon, due to the powerful ring he wears.  Even the mischievious, incorrigible djinni Bartimaeus steers clear of Solomon.  That is, until he's summoned by Asmira, a young woman with little magical skill.  She has been sent by the Queen of Sheba to defeat Solomon and take his ring.  Can Bartimaeus defeat this powerful king and fulfill Asmira's mission?  If he ever wants to leave Earth and return to the Other Place for rest and rejuvenation, Bartimaeus will have to find a way.

A prequel to the popular Bartimaeus trilogy, The Ring of Solomon is a welcome addition.  Bartimaeus's wisecracks and intelligence are showcased in this installment.  Other characters like Asmira, Solomon, and the cruel magician Khaba are equally memorable.  More than just a humorous fantasy romp, The Ring of Solomon poses interesting questions about morals and ethics.  Best of all, all the elements readers loved in the original trilogy are on display in this prequel.  Let's hope this isn't the last book featuring Bartimaeus.

2011 William C. Morris Award Finalists

The 2011 Morris shortlist has been announced!  The finalists are:

Hush by Eishes Chayil
Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey
Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride
Crossing the Tracks by Barbara Stuber (read my review)
The Freak Observer by Blythe Woolston

This might be one of the most balanced shortlists I've ever seen.  There's a little something for anyone: historical fiction, contemporary, fantasy/paranormal, humor.  There's some talked-about books and some relative unknowns.  Big publishers and small. 

I want to congratulate the Morris committee: they did a great job!  I can't wait to find out who the winner is. 

Due to my responsibilities on the Printz committee, it's unlikely I'll be able to do a Morris Award review roundup as I have done in the past--at least not in the depth as I have done.  It's possible that reviews of some of these titles will appear this month.  I definitely encourage everyone to give these a read and form your own opinions!

Review: Black Hole Sun

Black Hole Sun
David Macinnis Gill
2010; HarperCollins; ISBN 978-0-06-167304-7 (hardcover)

Summary: Durango is many things.  He's a Regulator, one of the soliders/protectors who are fiercely loyal.  He's also a dalit, a Regulator without a master.  Like the samurai on Earth, Durango and his rag-tag crew of other dalit Regulators criss-cross Mars, trying to earn enough money to fill their bellies.  A job protecting the miners of Fishers Four will barely do that.  What's worse, Durango and the other Regulators will be facing the Draeu, legendary cannibals that scare almost everyone on Mars.  As he tries to protect the miners and his crew, Durango is forced to confront many hard truths about his life and about survival. 

A gripping science fiction adventure, David Macinnis Gill has combined several elements in his second novel.  Taking the idea of Japanese samurai and mixing it with the red planet creates an unusual world, one that is slowly explained to the reader.  To keep those readers turning the pages, Gill fills the story with action setpieces and a dash of romance between Durango and his second-in-command, Vienne.  Reluctant readers are likely to enjoy this sci-fi flick in book form. 

Historical Fiction Month Wrap-Up

During the month of November, I hope that you have gained a new appreciation for historical fiction.  It's a genre of fiction that is flexible, dynamic, and dare I say it, popular. 

Neil Gaiman once described graphic novels not as a format, but as a genre, a container for whatever you want to put into it.  Historical fiction is the same: you can add another genre like fantasy, ideas like feminism, or techniques like flashbacks in order to create the novel.  For readers, this is a blessing and a curse.  In the hands of a good author, historical fiction can be transformed into a thrilling page-turner.  But done badly, historical fiction is bland and boring. 

This month, many great works of historical fiction have been featured on librarian by day.  Whether you've become a new fan of the genre or have remembered why you love historical fiction, I thank you for reading this month. 

Guest Post: How An Author Researches

Enjoy today's guest post from author Kimberly Griffiths Little, about what draws her to historical fiction and how she researches and writes her books.  --Melissa

Historical Fiction Is A-Changing!

Many folks hear the genre, “historical fiction” and smother a yawn. They want fantasy, dragons, action, danger, excitement, incantations, magical wands and lightning bolt scars on their main character, but STOP. WAIT.

The saying, “Kids don’t really like historical fiction” is a long-held mantra, and it’s true that many editors don’t buy much historical fiction. Publishers are leery of being able to sell only a few thousand copies of “historical fiction”.

And yet.

Review: Forge

Forge
Laurie Halse Anderson
2010; Atheneum (Simon & Schuster); ISBN 978-1-4169-6144-4 (hardcover)

Historical Period/Events: American Revolution

Summary:  Curzon spent a year in a colonial militia, promised his freedom by his master, James Bellingham.  When Bellingham doesn't emancipate Curzon, he escapes, scratching along with fellow escaped slave Isabel.  But then Isabel leaves to find her sister, leaving Curzon determined to go on without her.  He soon finds himself enlisted again, trying to survive the desolate winter of 1777-1778 at Valley Forge.  It's there that Curzon will cross paths with two people, only one of whom he ever wanted to see again.

A follow-up to Chains, the National Book Awards finalist, Forge beautifully continues the story.  Curzon's growth is clearly portrayed, taking him from a boy who is only concerned with his own safety to a man who protects those he cares fore.  Readers also get to observe Colonial racial attitudes, as a free black man can be treated with respect by some.    A lengthy author's note from Laurie Halse Anderson details the facts and fictions in her story.  Those who enjoyed Chains are bound to snatch up Forge, as well as fans of Johnny Tremain and April Morning.

Thanksgiving and Native Americans

The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth by Jennie A. Brownscombe (Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

This image represents how Thanksgiving began.  At least, that's the legend.  The Pilgrims, in celebration of their survival through their first long winter in the New World, held a ceremony of thanksgiving like the harvest festivals they had participated in back in Europe.  Joined by the local Indians who had helped them during that winter, the Pilgrims gave thanks to God for bringing them through. 

Since that first Thanksgiving in 1621, much of what this painting represents has been called into question.  Were relations between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans so friendly?  Was this even the first Thanksgiving?  And does this matter when Thanksgiving in the United States is now seen as being about food and football, not to mention the kickoff to the Christmas shopping season. 

November is often a time to discuss Indians, due to their role in the first Thanksgiving.  While acknowledging that books about Native Americans have come a long way, author Cynthia Leitich Smith notes:

However, stereotyped depictions persist. Contemporary settings are in short supply (and almost exclusively targeted at picture book readers). Certain well-known Nations like the Navajo (Diné) and Cherokee are highlighted while others don't appear to exist. Groups like Urban Indians are almost ignored. Few biographies focus on Native people known for their service to their own communities.

 How can you find high-quality portrayals of Native Americans, to share with teens in your schools and libraries?  Look to resources like the following
--Debbie Reese's American Indians in Children's Literature
--Resources from Cynthia Leitich Smith on Native American themes
--The National Museum of the American Indian, particularly in the Education section

Have a very happy Thanksgiving!

Review: Crossing the Tracks

Crossing the Tracks
Barbara Stuber
2010; McElderry Books (Simon & Schuster); ISBN 978-1-4169-9703-0 (hardcover)

Historical Period/Events: 1920s America

Summary: When her mother dies when she is six, Iris is left with her emotionally distant father.  Now sixteen, Iris wonders if she'll ever find someplace that she belongs.  Her isolation feels even more extreme when her father hires her out as a companion to the mother of a country doctor.  Iris is surprised to be warmly welcomed by Dr. and Mrs. Nesbitt and treated like part of the family.  She slowly gains confidence in herself, even trying to help the local mean girl.  But when her father dies, Iris will have to see if she's gotten strong enough to make her own home.

The 1920s were a complex period to grow up, even if you didn't live in a big city.  Social and technological advances made life a bit easier, although it doesn't make coming of age any simpler.  Iris gains freedom through inventions like the telephone and the car, but she still feels unsure when it comes to her father and her future.  Far from jazz and bright lights, one girl learns how to be strong and independent.  Pair Crossing the Tracks with a book like Ten Cents a Dance to give an urban take on the same struggle. 

Review: Countdown

Countdown
Deborah Wiles
2010; Scholastic; ISBN 978-0-545-10605-4 (hardcover)

 Historical Period/Events: 1960s America; Cuban Missile Crisis; Cold War

Summary: Franny feels invisible: her little brother Drew is perfect and her older sister Jo Ellen is a college girl with a secret.  Her best friend Margie treats Franny badly and she doesn't know why.  Worst of all, her uncle Otts has gone crazy it seems.  In the midst of this drama, Franny's life is changed, like every other American's, by the announcement that missiles have been located in Cuba.  Gripped by the Cuban missile crisis, Franny tries to make sense of a world turned upside-down.  Can one eleven-year-old find strength and hope in such a world?

A coming-of-age novel based on Deborah Wiles's life, Countdown is an emotional look at the Cuban missile crisis.  The tension and uncertainty of the period is part of the narrative, giving readers a look at this piece of Cold War history.  The story is interspersed with a scrapbook-like collection of photos, newspaper articles and quotes, giving a documentary feel to this novel.  But Franny's relationships with her family are at the heart of this novel, and we see Franny's family as flawed and sympathetic characters.  More a children's novel than a YA book, Countdown can still be enjoyed by middle schoolers interested in the Cold War.

Review: Dangerous Neighbors

Dangerous Neighbors
Beth Kephart
2010; Egmont; ISBN 978-1-60684-080-1 (hardcover)

Historical Period/Events: 19th-Century Philadelphia; American Centennial Exhibition

Summary:  All her life, Katherine has taken care of her twin sisters, Anna.  But when Anna dies by falling through the ice on the Schuykill River, Katherine feels like she has failed--and she doesn't want to go on living.  For months, she's in a daze, even as Philadelphia prepares for and presents the Centennial Fair of 1876.  Katherine wants to join Anna in death, yet something keeps holding her back.  How can Katherine go on without her sister? 

1876 Philadelphia comes alive in this dreamy, introspective novel.  The bustle of a city playing host to thousands of tourists is contrasted wtih Katehrine's narrow focus on her grief.  As she starts to go beyond her own heartbreak, Katherine's eyes take in the beauty of existence, letting her suicididal impulses drift away.  This character-driven novel transports the reader not just to nineteenth-century Philadelphia, but into the head of a grieving young woman as she gains the strength to stand alone.  Dangerous Neighbors will appeal to readers of novels like Laurie Halse Anderson's Chains.

Guest Post: My Sister The Moon and the Ivory Carver Trilogy

Today's guest post comes from Julie, who can be found at http://himissjulie.com or on Twitter at @himissjulie.  Enjoy!  Melissa

My Sister The Moon and the Ivory Carver Trilogy

Mother Earth Father Sky, My Sister The Moon, and Brother Wind, by Sue Harrison http://sueharrison.com/the-ivory-carver-trilogy

When I was around thirteen or fourteen I was at a loss about what to read. I’d read all of the assigned reading for school (finishing weeks early, of course) and I wasn’t in the mood to re-read any of my mom’s Stephen King books or any of my dad’s issues of Analog. I’d just finished all of Jean Auel’s Earth’s Children* books and was hungry for more, but, sadly, Jean Auel’s glacier’s pace of writing and publishing was determined to thwart me. So imagine my delight when one day at the bookstore I saw a cover that trumpeted “Sue Harrison outdoes Jean Auel!”

I plucked the book from the shelf and turned it over to see if it would satisfy my deep craving for prehistoric facts, survival, and romance:

"An abused and unwanted daughter of the the First Men tribe, young Kiin know the harsh realities of life in a frozen land at the top of the world. In an age of ice nine millennia past, her destiny is tied to the brave sons of the orphaned Chagak and her chieftain mate Kayugh--one to whom Kiin is promised, the other for whom Kiin yearns."

It was love at first blurb, and as I dove into the story, it reminded me in many ways of several of my favorite books, including Island of the Blue Dolphins, Julie of the Wolves, and, of course, the Clan of the Cave Bear books that it was being compared to.

In retrospect I realize that Harrison’s novels are much more well-written than Auel’s. She made quite an effort to have the tone and style of her writing match what, from her research, indicated the spoken cadence of the Aleut people. She wove details about day to day life into the narrative seamlessly, and made each character’s voice distinct and engaging.

The main character of the second two books in the trilogy is Kiin, a young girl who is abused and unwanted by her father. Refused a name--and thereby a soul--until she finally reached menarche, Kiin spent the first part of her life enduring beatings and dreaming of being wife to Samiq, one of the chieftain’s two sons. She knows that she is promised to one of Kayugh’s sons, and hopes it will be Samiq, for he is the one who is always kind to her and tends her wounds after her father has beaten her. The other son, Amgigh, sometimes taunts her along with her younger brother, Quakan, who has been taught that all of his failings are the fault of his greedy older sister, who should have died, and instead took his birthright from him.

When Kiin begins to menstruate, proving she has a soul, she must be named, but her father continues to insult her and his tribe’s chief by giving her a name that means “Who?” Kiin, however, doesn’t care, and is simply glad to have a name and soul, which brings her that much closer to becoming wife to Samiq.

Like in many young girls’ lives, menstruation is the beginning of many sweeping changes in Kiin’s life. With her name and new status and the potential for a new family, Kiin begins to assert herself in small ways. She carves a piece of ivory into a shell so she can keep it from her father, who fancies himself a carver but in reality only mutilates the materials he carves. This small but powerful secret adds to Kiin’s growing self-confidence, and in the other books her carving--and singing--are the talents that keep her alive during harrowing times.

The books alternate the point of view character quite a bit, so boys could be talked into reading these titles as well. Samiq is a character that I can see many boys identifying with and admiring, and we get several chapters from his perspective, so keep that in mind when hand-selling the books.

My Sister the Moon and Brother Wind are the volumes that explore and resolve the love triangle (quadrangle at times) in Kiin’s life, and take her from an uncertain, unwanted girl to a brave and competent young woman. The journey is full of rich details regarding the food, clothing, and traditions of the various peoples, and there is a great balance of action, romance, and lyrical writing that will keep most teens engaged. There is a touch of supernatural to the stories as well, including two otherworldly sisters who speak in prophecies and several spirit animals and objects who speak to various characters at different times.

The first book of the trilogy, Mother Earth Father Sky, focuses on Chagak, and ends with the birth of Kiin. Chagak is a teen during much of that book, so it also has some teen appeal, but I don’t think nearly as much as My Sister The Moon; however, teens that read Kiin’s story will probably want to read that book as well.

These books might possibly be a tricky sell to teens, but I think readers who enjoy survival books, romances, books with strong female characters, stories about abuse (including sexual abuse and incest), and historical fiction could be talked into giving these a try.

*I could--and might--write a whole ‘nother post on these books. Man, they were mind-blowing to re-read as an adult!

Review: The Healer's Apprentice

The Healer's Apprentice
Melanie Dickerson
2010; Zondervan; ISBN 978-0-310-72143-7 (paperback)

Historical Period/Events: Germany in the Middle Ages

Summary:  Rose knows that she is lucky to have the position of healer's apprentice.  The local healer, Frau Geruscha, has taught Rose to read and write along with showing her much encouragement.  But Rose grows faint at the sight of blood.  More troubling, though, are her feelings for Lord Hamlin, the son of the local duke.  Lord Hamlin is attractive, strong and responsible.  He is also betrothed to the daughter of a duke, a young woman who has been kept in hiding for years to protect her from an evil conjurer.  Amidst broken hearts, secrets, and demons, Rose must rely on her faith to sustain her.

An unusual blending of two genres--historical fiction with Christian fiction--succeeds thanks to an interesting storyline.  The historical details are well-drawn, capturing life in a German village in the 1300s at a time when faith was a large part of everyday life.  Rose and Lord Hamlin are the heroes of the story not simply for their faith but for their strong, moral natures.  Interesting questions about ethics and choices are sprinkled among the sweeping romance.  With an appealing cover and a hook-filled storyline, The Healer's Apprentice will attract readers who don't normally read either historical or Christian fiction.

Excerpt: Historical Fiction Mash-ups

In the fall issue of YALS, I have an article talking about historical fiction mash-ups: examples of historical fiction blended with another genre.  If you're a YALSA member, you automatically receive this journal.  For those non-YALSA folks, though, here's an excerpt from my article for your enjoyment!

Review: Annexed

Annexed
Sharon Dogar
2010; Houghton Mifflin; ISBN 978-0-547-50195-6 (hardcover)

Historical Period/Events: 1940s Europe, Holocaust

Summary: In The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank described the years spent in hiding due to her Jewish faith.  Yet what was it like for the teenage boy in hiding?  Peter van Pels struggles with the loss of privacy and opportunity.  He misses his girlfriend Liese, misses fresh air, misses freedom.  Cooped up in the small rooms, distracted by the fights between different members of the Secret Annex, Peter doesn't realize that the end is coming.  And when the inhabitants are discovered and taken away, Peter will realize how captivity can also be freedom. 

Annexed gives readers a different perspective on one of the classic works about the Holocaust.  Peter's story is told in two parts: his life in the concentration camp, struggling to survive, and the time in the Secret Annex. The daily boredom of hiding is contrasted with the deadly grind of imprisonment with heartbreaking effect.  Not just a retelling of The Diary of a Young Girl, Sharon Dogar's novel expands Anne Frank's world in an intriguing way.

Review: The Twin's Daughter

The Twin's Daughter
Lauren Baratz-Logsted
2010; Bloomsbury; ISBN 978-1-599990-513-6 (hardcover)

Historical Period/Events: Victorian England

Summary:  The first of many strange days for Lucy occurs when she answers her front door and sees her mother's face on another woman.  While Lucy's mother Aliese lived in comfort and luxury, Lucy's aunt Helen lived in the workhouse, unknown to Aliese.  Brought into the household, Helen learns to adapt, becoming a lady like Aliese.  Lucy is happy to see her mother and her aunt reunited.  But when tragedy befalls these identical twin sisters, leaving one alive and the other dead, Lucy is left with a wealth of questions.  First and foremost is whether a child really knows her mother.

Like a Gothic twist on The Parent Trap, this mystery keeps the reader guessing.  The identity of the woman left behind seems obvious to both Lucy and the reader, but there is a stunning turn of events as the novel reaches its conclusion.  Lucy is a stubborn yet thoughtful young woman, lucky enough to have the support of her friend turned love interest, Kit.  Lauren Baratz-Logsted crafts a memorable mystery, giving a historical setting to a thriller.  The Twin's Daughter is likely to be enjoyed by those who liked the contemporary mystery Dead Girls Don't Write Letters.

Guest Post: Getting Teens Interested in Historical Fiction

Today's guest post comes from Jessica, who you can find on Twitter as @jessyabookobssd, or at her blog, I Read to Relax.  Enjoy!  --Melissa

Getting Teens Interested in Historical Fiction
As a Teen Librarian it is always a challenge to introduce new books to reluctant readers.  One genre that I always love to recommend is historical fiction.  Many teens, though, seem to want nothing to do with the ominous H.F…until they pick up that one special book, that is! But, how to get them there?  That is the real challenge.

The War to End All Wars

In Flanders Fields
By John McCrae
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.


We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.


Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.


I first heard this poem in, of all places, What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?  As the Peanuts gang drove around Normandy, they visited sites important to World Wars I and II.  Their trip culminates in Linus reciting the first two verses of this poem while near the battlefields of Ypres.  See it for yourself (skip ahead to the five minute mark). 

  

On November 11, 1919, at 11:11 am, the armistice agreement that ceased hostilities in World War I went into effect.  World War I was a devastating conflict, inflicting casualties far beyond anything seen previously.  Millions went to war, and millions never returned.  Understanding World War I is critical to understanding World War II, yet many Americans know very little about this conflict.  Today is Veterans' Day: take a moment to remember those who serve, and those who have fallen.  And take a moment to remember World War I, the war to end all wars.

For more information, try one of these books.

Fiction
Crossing Stones by Helen Frost
Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson
Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery
Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo
The Foreshadowing by Marcus Sedgwick
Kipling's Choice by Geert Spillebeen
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Nonfiction
Unraveling Freedom: The Battle for Democracy on the Home Front During World War I by Ann Bausum 

The War to End All Wars: World War I by Russell Freedman (read my review)
Truce by Jim Murphy

Images taken from Wikimedia Commons. 

Review: Picture the Dead

Picture the Dead
Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown
2010; Sourcebooks; ISBN 978-1-4022-3712-6 (hardcover)

Historical Period/Events:  Nineteenth-Century America; the Civil War

Summary: Death seems to surround Jennie.  The Civil War has taken her father, her twin brother, and her cousin/fiance.  Jennie knows she should move on and deal with the problems she faces: no money of her own, a lack of status in her small Massachusetts town, and the cruel treatment of her aunt.  Yet Jennie can't help thinking of her lost love Will.  It seems like he is trying to reach out to her from beyond the grave with some kind of message.  But just what is that message?  Jennie will have to find new reserves of courage when Will's warnings reveal the truth to her.

Evoking a very different time, Picture the Dead captures Civil War-era Massachusetts.  It was a time when people believed spirits could be seen in photographs, that ghosts brushed against our lives.  In moody, atmospheric prose, Adele Griffin showcases a ghostly story of lost love.  The scrapbook format, created by Lisa Brown's illustrations, enhances the story and provides clues to the mystery Jennie is untangling.  Pair Picture the Dead with Dianne Salerni's We Hear the Dead for an eye-opening look at the Spiritualist movement.

Review: Warriors in the Crossfire

Warriors in the Crossfire
Nancy Bo Flood
2010; Boyds Mill Press; ISBN 978-1-59078-661-1 (hardcover)

Historical Period/Events:  1940s Saipan; World War II

Summary:  As a native on the island of Saipan, Joseph is disdained by the occupying Japanese.  He dreams of going to a university like his cousin, the half-Japanese Kento who wants to be an engineer.  But Joseph would return to the island and open a school.  But such dreams must wait, for the Japanese Empire is fighting the Americans, and the native population is caught in the middle.  When the Americans attack the Japanese, Joseph and his family hide in a cave.  But with the Japanese facing defeat, they enforce a horrible policy, in an even that Joseph will witness.

Exploring a horrific event, this novel is also a look at the native population of the small Pacific island of Saipan.  The tension that existed between the natives and the Japanese is vividly portrayed.  There is also the beliefs of Joseph's people: their dances, their code of conduct, and more.  With simple words precisely selected like a haiku, Warriors in the Crossfire is a novel that honors the people of Saipan.  Use this novel in World War II displays or booktalks, as a complement to titles on the Holocaust.

YA Literature Symposium 2010

(Apologies for the blank post that went out earlier!)

The 2010 Young Adult Literature Symposium was held this past weekend in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  It was a great event, allowing librarians to concentrate on literature--the reason many of us are librarians, I suspect. 

The theme was Diversity, Literature and Teens: Beyond Good Intentions.  Programs that I attended included Connecting Religious Teens with Literature and The New Gay Teen: Moving Beyond the "Issue" Novel.  It was great seeing authors at the Authors' Happy Hour, and listening to Lauren Myracle and Ellen Hopkins at the closing session.  Best of all was having time to talk books with my fellow librarians. 

I was busy at the Symposium because I was a presenter too!  Doomed to Repeat It: Diversity in YA Historical Fiction gave me a chance to talk about some diversity themes in YA literature and share books with the audience.  Also part of the program were authors Christina Gonzalez and Ruta Sepetys, who were both fantastic.  If you're interested, further resources and the presentation slides are available at http://bit.ly/doomedtorepeat . 

If you want to read about what happened at the Symposium, check out the YALSA Blog's YA Lit Symposium tag, or access tweets sent during programs at #yalsalit10 . 

The next Symposium will be held November 2-4, 2012 in St. Louis.  Will you be there?

Guest Post: Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Today's guest post comes from Dana W. Fisher, who discusses Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix and provides some curriculum connections.  Enjoy!  --Melissa

Uprising
Margaret Peterson Haddix
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (2007)
ISBN: 978-1-4169-1171-5

Published in 2007, this little gem of a book was almost immediately overshadowed by the publication of the first book in Haddix’s new series.  I think it deserves your consideration and a second look.

Review: Revolution

Revolution
Jennifer Donnelly
2010; Delacorte Press; ISBN 978-0-385-73763-0 (hardcover)

Historical Period/Events: French Revolution; Music in the 18th Century

Summary: Two years after the death of her little brother Truman--a death she feels responsible for--Andi Alpers is in freefall.  She's on various substances (some legal, some not) in order to get through the day, she takes care of her mother who has gone crazy in the aftermath of Truman's death, and she's about to get kicked out of her exclusive Brooklyn private school.  The only good thing in her life is music: playing her guitar and having music lessons with her teacher.  To try and get her back on track, her absent father forces her to accompany him to Paris, where Andi is expected to complete the outline for her senior thesis on the eighteenth-century composer Malherbeau.  In Paris, Andi gets drawn into the historical world of the French Revolution, thanks to several reasons--but most of all to the diary she finds, of a girl named Alexandrine who becomes devoted to Louis-Charles, the last French dauphin and the son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.  These threads--Alex, Louis-Charles, Malherbeau, Truman, and Andi--will get drawn together in unusual ways, leading Andi to learn that while the cruel, horrible world may go on, she does not. 

This weighty novel, focused foremost on the grieving process, shows us an intriguing modern-day teenager.  While Alexandrine remains a character on the page, Andi lives and breathes, drawing the reader into her story.  Andi's struggle to deal with Truman's death is the thematic foundation of Revolution, and it is a slow, hesitant journey for Andi from hell to paradise.  The world-weary Andi slowly sees that just because the world is cruel and unfair, she cannot give in to the cruelty.  With leisurely pacing, Jennifer Donnelly lets Andi's story unfold, peppering the story with well-rounded characters and secondary themes of art vs. science, family dynamics, and young romance.  This novel is bound to find an audience among intelligent teens.

Review: The Red Umbrella

The Red Umbrella
Christina Diaz Gonzalez
2010; Knopf; ISBN 978-0-375-86190-1 (hardcover)

Historical Period/Events: 1960s Cuba and America; Operation Pedro Pan

Summary:  Life for Lucia is good.  She has her best friend Ivette, she's close to her parents and her little brother Frankie, and Cuba is a good place to live.  There have been troubles since the revolution, though, but Lucia doesn't really understand why her parents are so worried.  Then her family is branded as anti-revolutionaries, open to mistreatment and theft.  Fearing for their safety, Lucia's parents send Lucia and Frankie to America.  Living in Nebraska with the Baxters, a kind older couple, exposes Lucia to many new things, most of which she likes.  But she worries about whether she'll ever see her parents again.

Based on stories from Christina Diaz Gonzalez's family, The Red Umbrella looks at how families tried to protect each other after the Cuban Revolution.  Life in Cuba and Nebraska is vividly portrayed and contrasted, from the warm tropical beauty of Lucia's first home to the apple-pie Americana of her second home.  Peppered with Spanish phrases, The Red Umbrella is an eye-opening look at a new immigrant's adjustment to a new country.  This historical novel will be enjoyed by readers who have read Margarita Engle's novels in verse about Cuban history and are eager for a more modern story.

What is Historical Fiction?

It may seem like a silly question to ask, but defining just what is historical fiction illustrates the complexity of this genre.  On the surface, it's any novel set in the past.  But dig a little deeper, and you start seeing different questions.

Historical Fiction Month Kick-off

Welcome to Historical Fiction Month at librarian by day!  Every weekday in November, there will be discussion of young adult historical fiction.  Whether it's a book review, an essay from a guest contributor, or a post from me, readers will learn new things about historical fiction.  At least, that's the plan!

If you're attending the 2010 Young Adult Literature Symposium later this week, I hope you'll attend my presentation, "Doomed to Repeat It: Diversity in Young Adult Historical Fiction."  If you can't make it to the symposium, I'll be sharing info from the symposium next week.  In addition, if you are looking for a genre guide to YA historical fiction, perhaps you'll consider purchasing my book for your library or media center. 

I hope you enjoy the posts that appear this month at librarian by day.  I greatly appreciate the comments I've received since I started this blog, and I think that this month is the beginning of something new.  If you like the themed months idea, let me know.  And if there's any improvements you'd like to suggest, hit up the comment link.

In the meanwhile, get comfortable, enjoy the beverage of your choice, and happy reading!

Review: Dark Water

Dark Water
Laura McNeal
2010; Knopf; ISBN 978-0-375-84973-2 (hardcover)

Summary: Life in the southern California town of Fallbrook should be like living in a paradise.  But for Pearl, it's not so great.  Her parents have recently divorced, and Pearl and her mother live in the ramshackle guest house on her uncle's avocado ranch.  She's growing distant from her best friend, while her friend and cousin Robby is distancing himself from her.  Then she meets Amiel, a migrant worker who doesn't talk but juggles and mimes to express himself.  He captures Pearl's attention, making her chase him even as he tries to keep her at arms' length.  When a wildfire sweeps through Fallbrook, Pearl will choose Amiel over safety--with devastating consequences. 

This National Book Award finalist showcases the development of one young woman.  Pearl is confused and uncertain due to the changes in her life.  Falling for Amiel leads Pearl to bad decisions, as she does anything to attract his attention.  Laura McNeal presents in a sympathetic manner a young woman grappling with her life and making choices that others wouldn't make.  Other characters like Pearl's mother, her uncle, and Amiel are equally well-drawn in this thoughtful novel.  With its sense of foreboding, Dark Water keeps the reader turning the pages to find out what happens.

Review: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares
Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
2010; Knopf; ISBN 978-0-375-86659-3 (hardcover)

Summary: It all starts with a red notebook.  Lily leaves it at the Strand, the famous New York bookstore.  Dash finds it by the Salinger novels and follows its instructions.  Over the holiday period from just before Christmas to just after New Year's, Dash and Lily will have a friendship built on their notes to each other in the notebook.  As they exchange it back and forth, they will have a series of adventures.  Whether it's creating a Muppet, visiting Madame Tussaud's, or getting locked in at the Strand, Dash and Lily will discover new things about themselves as well as each other.

If a novel could be hot chocolate, Dash & Lily's Book of Dares is hot chocolate.  It's a sweet treat that you enjoy, thanks to the talents of Rachel Cohn and David Levithan.  Quirky, affectionate Lily and intelligent, reserved Dash are memorable main characters, each having their opportunities to tell the story.  Other characters, like Dash's puppy of a friend Boomer and Lily's Great-Aunt Ida, known as Mrs. Basil E., add extra fun to the story.  Readers who are not ready for the mature themes in Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, Cohn and Levithan's first novel together, will embrace Dash & Lily's Book of Dares.

Review: Yummy

Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty
G. Neri; illustrations by Randy DuBurke
2010; Lee & Low Books; ISBN 978-1-58430-267-4 (paperback)

Summary:  Victim, villain, or both?  That's the question in 1994 as an eleven-year-old killer draws attention to Chicago's gang problem.  Nicknamed Yummy due to his love for candy, Robert Sandifer accidentally shoots a teenager in his Southside neighborhood.  The shooting exposes to the world at large many problems: gang warfare, broken homes and neglect, and children killing children.  In hiding after the shooting, Yummy just wants to go home to his grandmother.  But as the gang tires of protecting him, they know they can't let him go home.  Instead, they kill him.  Through the eyes of Roger, a classmate of Yummy's, a senseless story is told. 

With authentic language and stark black and white illustrations, the early 1990s are dramatically captured in Yummy.  The Roseland neighborhood, where stores close at 4pm to allow owners to get home before dark, is a tough, dangerous one.  The gangs and crime turn neighbors into strangers, removing a resource for when the government safety net fails.  Yummy is bounced in the system, never receiving from social workers or his grandmother what he gets from being a member of the Black Disciples.  The questions asked in Yummy are difficult to answer, giving readers an opportunity to consider ethics, morals and choices.

Review: Virgin Territory

Virgin Territory
James Lecesne
2010; Egmont; ISBN 978-1-60684-081-8 (hardcover)

Summary: Dylan is an unhappy transplant to Jupiter, Florida.  Never mind that it happened almost ten years ago: he's still upset that his father moved them away from New York City.  It was supposed to be a fresh start after the death of Dylan's mother.  Instead, Dylan is drifting, working at a golf course and isolated from others.  Then, a sighting of the Virgin Mary at the golf course changes Dylan's life.  He meets a girl named Angela, he makes new friends, and he reconnects with his father.  Is it because of the Virgin Mary, God, or another powerful being?  Or maybe it's just Dylan figuring things out . . .

With its cast of likable characters, Virgin Territory looks at the intersection of faith and life.  Mary followers, who travel all over the country to sighting locations, arrive in Jupiter and create upheaval in the small town.  Thanks to his new friends, Dylan slowly begins to recover from his mother's death, which occurred the day before the 9/11 attacks.  This recovery also allows Dylan to start repairing his relationship with his father.  Pair Virgin Territory with The Patron Saint of Butterflies for two examinations of spirituality in modern life. 

Review: Dark Song

Dark Song
Gail Giles
2010; Little, Brown; ISBN 978-0-316-06886-4 (hardcover)

Summary: Ames has a great life.  Her dad is rich and gives her anything she wants.  She has an adorable little sister and a great best friend.  The only fly in the ointment is her rocky relationship with her mom.  That's what keeps Ames' life from being some disgustingly sweet story.  But then, Ames' near-fairy tale life becomes a horror story.  Her father is fired, losing all their money.  Before she knows it, Ames is with her family in Texas, cleaning an old drug house to live in.  She's angry and resentful, and the only person who seems to understand is Marc.  Dark, obsessive Marc, who offers to kill her parents so it can be just the two of them.  Ames faces a choice: what will she decide?

Inspired by media coverage about girls helping their boyfriends murder her parents, this new novel from Gail Giles is a timely one.  As high-flyers come back to Earth thanks to the recession, teens who have been given everything have to learn to adjust.  In Ames's family, the good times hid the fact that none of them--except perhaps Ames's little sister--have the coping skills to face hardship without being destructive towards those they love.  As Ames slowly learns those skills to deal with this new life, she becomes isolated from her friends and family by Marc.  It's only when he suggest killing her parents that Ames receives the wake-up call she needs.  Giles's fans will cheer for Dark Song.

Review: Bruiser

Bruiser
Neal Shusterman
2010; HarperTeen; ISBN 978-0-06-113408-1 (hardcover)

Summary:  Tennyson doesn't like it when his twin sister Bronte starts dating Brewster Rawlins.  Better known as the Bruiser, Brewster is a large, hulking boy who keeps to himself.  But Bronte senses something special in Brew, who likes poetry and looks out for his litle brother, Cody.  As Tennyson gets to know Brewster, he starts to understand him.  But as Bronte and Tennyson learn about Brew's strange gift, it not only changes them--it changes Brew.

This accomplished novel adds a dash of the paranormal to a tale of friendship.  Not just a novel in multiple voices, with Tennyson, Bronte, Brewster and Cody each sharing narration duties, but there are shifts in style as well.  Brewster's sections are in poetry, while Cody's captures a young boy's thoughts and feelings.  Tennyson and Bronte are equally well-drawn.  Shusterman shows his talent not just for the unusual, but for the everyday aspects of life.  Bruiser urges readers to look beneath the surface and consider their actions in a compelling story of friends and family.

Review: A Small Free Kiss in the Dark

A Small Free Kiss in the Dark
Glenda Millard
2010; Holiday House; ISBN 978-0-8234-2264-7 (hardcover)

Summary:  Twelve-year-old Skip escapes from years of abuse in his foster homes and takes to the streets.  Billy, a homeless man that Skip is friends with, becomes his unofficial father figure, and the two of them watch out for each other.  Their cozy yet uncertain life is thrown into turmoil when a war begins, with bombings in the city they live in.  They struggle to survive, taking in a young boy named Max that they find in the local library.  Eventually, they find a home in an abandoned amusement park, trying to stay away from soldiers who are nearby.  Their family is increased by Tia, a teenage ballerina with a baby they name Sixpence.  But as soldiers approach them, Skip must gather his family together to escape to safety.

An insightful novel with beautiful language, this import from Australia views the destruction of war through a young teen's eyes.  Skip, with his eye for details, notices the light and shadow, color and texture of everything he sees.  In his attempts to find beauty, though, he sees much ugliness, whether it's the bombed-out buildings, the callous actions of survivors, or the cruelty of the soldiers.  He may not understand what he sees, but he attempts to figure them out without losing hold of his new-found family or the hope of art.  In his simple, straightforward manner, Skip draws comparisons to characters like Jonas from The Giver.   A quiet, thoughtful novel, A Small Free Kiss in the Dark offers a hopeful take on surviving disaster.

Review: The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June

The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June
Robin Benway
2010; Razorbill (Penguin); ISBN 978-1-59514-286-3

Summary:  The worst things for sisters April, May and June to deal with are their names and their parents' recent divorce.  Then they each discover that they have superpowers.  April can see the future, May can become invisible, and June can read minds.  It's hard enough dealing with normal teenage life, like crushes, friends, and family--now the sisters have to figure out their new abilities.  At first, these talents bring out the worst in each girl.  But when April sees a horrible vision, May wants to run away, and June gets into big trouble, the sisters will find out that their powers, like their lives, work best when they work together.

Creating a delightful novel in three voices, Robin Benway has penned an intriguing followup to Audrey, Wait!  Each sister's personality is distinct and clear, from April's bossy good-girl attitude, May's sarcastic and guarded wisecracks, and June's bubbly little-sister voice.  The story hums along, with the sisters learning not just how to use their newfound talents but also adjusting to their parents' divorce.  Most interesting of all is the feel that April, May and June are learning how to be friends and sisters, moving beyond their childhood squabbles and becoming adults.  The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June is an inspiring look at sisterhood and its magic.