Naruto! Volume 1

  Kishimoto, Masashi. Naruto! Volume 1. Viz Media, 2003.  4Q5P

Naruto, a troublemaking orphan, and last in his class at Shinobi school is trying to be the greatest Hokage (best of the shinobi’s) ever.  What he doesn’t know is the evil nine tailed squirrel that terrorized the village lives within him.  Although Naruto has gotten better at the ninja techniques and graduated Shinobi school, he is still not a match for his master who at the end of the story declares he will never be a master Shinobi. 

Although I’m aware that graphic novels/manga are a popular form of entertainment among teens, I just cannot get into them.  I had a very hard time reading this book, the story jumped from one thing to another, and half of the time there was so much detailed drawings in the scene that I had no idea what was going on.  I’m sure if I were to read more of them I would get the hang of it, but I probably won’t be doing that.  Other than Sakura’s annoying obsession,  the story was interesting enough and pretty funny at times.  The drawings were awesome, I can appreciate the time that was put into them, I just can’t get into the format.  The cover art is busy to say the least, but it ties in everything from the story, with a picture of the squirrel in the background and Naruto in the foreground.

Three Little Words

  Rhodes-Courter, Ashley.  Three Little Words.  Atheneum. New York, 2008.  301 Pages  4Q3P

Ashley Rhodes was taken from her mother at four years old and put into the foster care system.  Over the next nine years, she was shuffled from one home to another, often not even getting a chance to pack her things.  Although some of the homes Ashley lived in were loving and comfortable, the terrible conditions that she had to endure in some of the houses should have been more than enough to break her.  Not to mention, the constant uprooting of her life.  At the age of thirteen, Ashley was finally adopted by Gay Courter and her husband.  Although it seems like this would be the happy ending the readers were looking for, Ashley really brought to light how difficult and tumultuous the adjustment period can be.  Ashley did, however, end up adjusting to her life with the Coulters, and ended up being a spokeswoman for foster children everywhere, by speaking out against the failures of the foster system. 

This memoir reveals an appalling amount of flaws in the foster care system. From overcrowded houses to foster parents who are abusing the system as well as the already troubled children they foster.  Reminiscent of Walls\’ Glass Castle, Ashley is able to take an analyzing look back on her life and express the feelings and emotions that must have consumed her at the time without making the book feel like a self-pitying rant. 

I expected this novel to be depressing and gloomy, which I have to say it was at times, but I was pleasantly surprised at the end to be uplifted and hopeful about the future of foster care that Ashley has had a part in changing.  After all of the things that she has been through, she managed to become an amazing person with an amazing story. 

Although the end jumped around a bit, which got confusing at times, the honest and infuriating story sucked me in from the start and was one of the most heart wrenching books I have read in a while. 

The cover art is cute, showing a picture of Ashley when she was young in an angel costume.  Although I\’m not sure if a teen would pick this book up from the cover, or even the description, I am confident that if given a chance it would be well received by teens, and inspiring to people who have lived in similar conditions.  Some of the situations may be hard to understand for younger teens, so I would recommend this book for 14 and up.

Project 17

  Stolarz, Laurie Faria.  Project 17.  Hyperion Books. New York, 2007.  256 Pages.  3Q4P

Derik “La Playa” La Pointe’s last chance to do something with his life besides working at his parent’s diner has come.  He is entering a film-making contest to win an internship with a popular reality tv channel, and the chance to show his film to the nation.  His million dollar idea is to film a documentary at the infamous Danvers State Hospital, the rumored originator of the frontal labotomy, which is about to be torn down. 

The team he gathers all have their different reasons for coming.  Greta and Tony, the theatre rats, want film exposure.  Chet, the class clown, wanted  a night out of the house, away from his alcoholic father.  Liza, the perfect student, needed extra-curriculars for college admission, and Mimi, the outcast, wanted to find out information about her grandmother who was housed there years before. 

The plan is to spend the night in the hospital while filming the documentary.  While touring the hospital, its contents strewn about everywhere as if it had just been abandoned yesterday, the group happens upon a girl’s diary.  The rest of the night becomes a spooky scavenger hunt of sorts, searching for this girl’s doll so she can rest in peace. 

Project 17 definately managed to give me chills from time to time.  I don’t know if it’s because of my overactive imagination, or if the writing was just that good, but I wouldn’t even read this book at night.  I’m sure I’ve established by now that I love when writers tell the story from multiple points of view, like they did in this story, but I just can’t say it enough. I love getting to read the story from every character’s perspective and seeing in them what I may not have seen from only the narrator’s POV. 

For the most part, the story was good.  Just looking at the cover art gives me chills, so any horror lover will be attracted to it.  It would be appropriate for ages 12 and up as there is no blood or gore, considering they can handle spooky situations. 

The one gripe I have is something that teens may or may not even pick up on.  It just seemed like the same old “Breakfast Club” story that’s told over and over again.   Six people from different cliques get together for some reason or another, fight a lot at first, then realize they are more alike than they thought and become friends or a couple.   Only this novel wraps up the old idea in a new scary package, and sells it as a new thing.  Other than that annoying little tidbit,  the book is an all around good read that should have most sleeping with a nightlite for a few days.

The 9/11 Report

   Jacobson, Sid.  The 9/11 Report.  Hill and Wang. New York, 2006.   115 Pages.  4Q2P 

This book is a graphic adaptation summarizing the findings of The 9/11 Commission Report.  It outlines the events leading up to the attacks, the key players in the attacks, the timelines on the day of, and what happened in the aftermath. 

I have mixed feelings about this book.  I’ll start with the positives.  The pictures alone made a great story.  They were exquisitely drawn, with great attention to detail.  The timelines that were included that synchronized the events of the day were interesting, and helped me keep the many things that went on straight in my head.  All in all, this book made it easier to understand all of the facts surrounding 9/11 without throwing in personal opinion and conspiracy theories, leaving me to form my own conclusion. 

On the downside, this is just a lot of information to squeeze into a graphic novel.  Some of the pages were really hard to follow because there were so many speech bubbles, and it wasn’t clear as to what order you should read them in.  On top of that, some of the speech bubbles had so much writing and information in them, they were hard to read. 

Everything considered, this graphic novel is definately easier to understand than anything else out there, and would make a great addition to a classroom.  However, I doubt a teen would pick it up as pleasure reading unless they had a specialized interest in 9/11.

Jellicoe Road

  Marchetta, Melina.  Jellicoe Road.  Harper Teen. New York, 2008.  432 Pages.  5Q5P

Taylor Markham’s mother abandoned her at a gas station on Jellicoe Road when she was eleven.  Minutes after, a woman named Hannah picked her up and brought her to the Jellicoe boarding school.  Now seventeen, having been pretty much a loner besides Hannah, Taylor finds herself the reluctant leader of the war between the school, the cadets, and the townies.  Up until now, Hannah has been the familiar constant in her life, when one day she leaves with the only explanation being a note brought to the headmaster by a “friend”.  Now all Taylor has left of her is a mysterious manuscript by Hannah about five friends who lived eighteen years ago in the very same place that she does now.  With the only family Taylor has left being the friends she has reluctantly made, and the leader of one of the enemy camps whom she has reluctantly fell in love with, she tries to unravel the mystery of the manuscript, and her past. 

Generally, I have not been a fan of the Printz winners, but this novel actually  deserved to win an honor. The characters, especially Taylor, were so well developed that I felt like I had a stake in what was going on in their lives.  Marchetta managed to make this book a mystery, comedy, and drama all rolled into one fantastic novel.  It was so interesting to see how the two stories intertwined throughout the story, finally coming together at the end. The only problem I had with the book is that it took a couple of chapters for me to really understand what was going on.  All this really means to me though is that the novel is meant for older teens who can wrap their heads around all of the storylines that are going on.  The cover art is colorful and fun with funky font, and a picture of a poppy which ties it into the story.  Definately a head turner, and well worth a read.

Chains

  Anderson, Laurie Halse.  Chains.  Simon and Schuster. New York, 2008.  320 Pages    5Q3P

Isabel and her five year old sister, Ruth are slaves who were promised freedom in their master’s will.  Unfortunately, her greedy nephew sold them for his own profit before they could prove her will set them free. The Lockton’s, their new masters,  immediately shipped them to their New York home.  Set during the Revolutionary War, Isabel is quickly offered by the patriots help with her freedom if she spies on her loyalist masters in return.  Although reluctant at first, once Ruth is sold out form under her, Isabel realizes that helping them is her only chance to be reunited with her sister. 

Usually historical fiction bores me with the details, but somehow Anderson managed to write a riveting story with a smattering of historical facts in it.  I probably retained more information about the war from this book than I did in all of high school.  This would definately make a good supplement in the classroom.  The cover art depicts a small African girl with her hands crossed over her head, which makes a very powerful image, and will definately attract readers.  Teens may be initially turned off of the book simply because of the historical context, but I do believe if given a chance, they would love this novel, and anticipate the sequel just as I do.

Life As We Knew It

  Pfeffer, Susan Beth (Author).  Bauer, Emily (Reader).  Life As We Knew It (Audio CD).  Random House, Inc., Listening Library.  5Q4P

Miranda was a normal sophomore in high school.  Worried only about her friends, boys, and what she was going to do that summer.  She barely ever though about the asteroid that was supposed to crash into the moon…except for the fact that she had to do so much homework because of it.  That is, until the asteroid actually crashed into the moon so hard that it knocked it out of orbit, causing worldwide catastrophes.  All around the globe, earthquakes, volcanoes and title waves were killing millions of people.  Those who didn’t die from natural disasters were taken down by flu, starvation, or freezing to death because of a long hard winter with no electricity or gas. Miranda and her family were better off than most, with a wood burning stove for heat and a little stash of food Miranda’s mother bought before the stores ran out….but her and her family were still rationing food, starving themselves some days to make sure their supply would last.  Miranda grows up fast during this time, and starts thinking about other people more than herself.  She constantly worries what the future will be like…if they have one.  the book ends with not so much of a conclusion, but a ray of hope for Miranda and her family.

I listened to this book in its audio form, which I have never done, but highly enjoyed.  The reader’s voice was clear and expressive, and although it was a little long, I never got bored.  Teens of any age would love this book in print or audio form.

The Death of Jayson Porter

Adoff, Jaime.  The Death of Jayson Porter.  Jump at the Sun/Hyperion.  New York, 2008.  259 Pages 4Q4P

Jayson Porter is sick of life.  He’s sick of his alcoholic mother beating up on him.  He’s sick of coming home not knowing whether she’ll be in a good mood or a terrible one.  He hates seeing his crackhead father, who is always searching for another fix.  The run down apartment he lives in is in the middle of the ghetto, yet he takes a bus to an all white school, and is having a hard time surviving in both.  Every time he walks down the breezeway of the eighteen story apartment building, he dreams of jumping.  He thinks that will be the only way out of his situation, the only way to end the pain once and for all.  Even his best friend, Trax and his new girlfriend, the only good things in his life, can’t pull him out of his depression.  When Jayson learns a terrible secret about his parents, and Trax dies in an explosion, it pushes Jayson over the edge…literally.  He jumps.  And lives.  Leaving him to face up to the things in his life.

Although I didn’t really get into the plot, or identify with the characters in this novel, it was very easy to read, and kept me interested enough to keep reading.  The prose style writing, bold first lines, and tons of white space make it a great novel for reluctant readers.  Although it is easy reading, the issues in the book would make it most appropriate for an older teen.  The cover art depicts a city, with a little person falling from a building (if you look closely).  It is dark and foreboding, and just asking for someone to pick it up.

Vampire Academy

 Mead, Richelle.  Vampire Academy.  Penguin Group.  New York, 2007.  332 Pages.   4Q5P

Rose Hathaway and Lissa Dragomir are best friends who share  a very special bond.  Lissa, a mortal vampire, is last in the Dragomir line of Moroi royalty after losing her family in an accident.  Rose, half vampire/half human, is a Dhampir–sworn to protect the Moroi from the evil Strogoi vampires.  After being on the run for two years, Rose and Lissa are caught and returned to St. Vladimir’s Academy.  Back at the Academy, everything returns to how it was before they left….almost.   Between Rose falling in love with her gorgeous mentor, Lissa falling in love with the illicit Christian, all of the gossip that surrounds the girls, and the mysterious mutilated animals that Lissa keeps finding, the girsl realize that St. Vladimir’s might be more dangerous than the outside world.  When Lissa’s uncle kidnaps her to use her for her special powers, they realize they are right. 

Ever since reading Twilight, I have been more open to reading about vampires and the supernatural, and I have to say that I liked this book ten times more than Twilight (which I loved).  The story and the writing are just as good, and the characters are more likeable.  The detailed descriptions in the book really pulled me in, and kept me interested.  The cover art depicts a young woman with a smirk on her face and the gates to what looks like a mansion in the background, making it look like a dangerous, dark book, which might even appeal to males, even though the main characters are females.   I’m definately looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

Unraveling

Baldini, Michelle & Biederman, Lynn. Unraveling. Delacorte Press, New York. 2008.  230 pages    4Q4P

Amanda Himmelfarb (aka: Himmelfart thanks to the evil Courtney Flakey) is always screwing up.  Her mother, the Captain, is always yelling at her for screwing up.  To make matters worse her younger sister, Melody, can do no wrong.  Desperate for attention and love, Amanda sets her sights on Rick Hayes, the hottest guy in school, and not-so-coincidentaly, Courtney’s boyfriend.  When Rick actually starts paying attention to her, it seems like her dream come true, at first.  But he is always trying to sneak around with her, and Amanda wants to take it public.  She finally gets him to agree to go to the homecoming dance with her… in exchange for her virginity.  Shortly after giving it up to Rick, Amanda finds out he was just using her for something Courtney wouldn’t give him which sends her life into a tailspin. 

Unraveling is truly a great book for young women going through the “fighting with your mother” stage.  Amanda is witty, sarcastic, and funny in this book which takes the edge off of the fights that she has with her mom. The writing really pulled me into the book.  It made me mad when Amanda fought with her mother, cringe when she was about to do the deed, sad when she found out what slime Rick was, and somewhat happy at the end when she and her mother started getting along.  The only gripe I have is how her mother practically did a one eighty at the end, which I guess is explained by the death of her friend, but it still seems unlikely to me that change would come so quickly.  The cover art is cute, and would definately attract the eye of any teenage girl.