December 2007

The Indianhead Federated Library System presents

Starred Reviews

New and Notable Books for Young People

December 2007 * Eau Claire, WI

The books in this newsletter were given starred reviews by the following periodicals: School Library Journal (SLJ), Publisher’s Weekly (PW), Booklist (BL), and Criticas (CR). Library binding prices and ISBNs are noted. Quotations have been taken directly from the reviews. This selection tool has been created to assist IFLS library staff wade through the 5,000-5,500 children’s and young adult titles published each year. Librarians should consider which of the following books best fit their collection and clientele.

Picture Books

Juvenile Fiction

Non-fiction

YA Fiction

Audio

Picture Books

Applegate, Katherine. The Buffalo Storm. Illus. by Jan Ormerod. Clarion, $16 (0-618-53597-7)

(PreS-gr. 2) “...moving picture-book account of a pioneer family’s journey. Young Hallie...excited...beloved grandmother...gives her images to look forward to...days are challenging...storms are terrifying, and Hallie aches for her grandmother...poet’s attention to words’ rhythms, sounds, and imagery...textured, mixed-media illustrations...really shine...” (BL)

Dodds, Dayle Ann. The Prince Won’t Go to Bed! Illus. by Drysten Brooker. Farrar/Melanie Kroupa Bks., $16 (978-0-374-36108-2)

(PreS-gr. 1) “Merriment and mayhem fill the castle when the prince won’t go to bed...One after another, the adults try to identify what the prince needs...until the prince’s older sister solves the problem by giving her brother a goodnight kiss...laugh-out-loud funny...bright and playful language and a hearty helping of rhyme...perfect for reading aloud...lively illustrations...figures fairly bound from the pages...” (SLJ)

Harper, Charise Mericle. When Randolph Turned Rotten. Knopf/Borzoi, $19.99 (978-0-375-94071-2)

(PreS-gr.2) “Best friends Randolph...and Ivy...do everything together until Ivy receives an invitation to an all-girls sleepover...constant chatter...friend feeling a little left out...insides changed... ‘to horrible, rotten, awful and icky insides.’ Ivy is totally oblivious...Ironically, it is Randolph’s rotten tricks that save the party...acrylic cartoons are colorful, yet simple...minimal, but still expressive...” (SLJ) (PW)

Harris, Robie H. Maybe a Bear Ate It! Illus. by Michael Emberly. Scholastic/Orchard, $15.99 (0-439-92961-X)

(PreS-gr. 2) “...art is the story, with just a few well-chosen words...A whiskered critter...clad in striped pajamas (even his ears and tail are covered) is ready for bed...in the midst of a yawn, the book disappears...mourns his loss. Has it been stolen by a bat?... Plain white backgrounds...concentrate closely on character, whose every beautifully calibrated movement and feeling blasts out across the page...Even adults will be hard pressed not to smile...” (BL)

Jenkins, Martin. Ape. Illus. by Vicky White. Candlewick, $16.99 (978-0-7636-3471-1)

(PreS-gr.2) “...four of the five members of the great ape family...much more than a garden-variety survey...oil and pencil...organutans, chips, bonobos and gorillas... psychologically complex, fully realized personalities. The pictures are consistently stunning...occasional captions add information about the apes’ habitat or behavior... intense emotional connection between subject and reader...” (PW)

Madison, Alan. Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly. Illus. by Kevin Hawkes. Random/Schwartz & Wade Bks., $19.99 (978-0-375-93597-8)

(K-gr.3) “Velma is the youngest...longs to be special...tight ponytails...mirror her moods...niche eludes her until a science lesson on butterflies and a field trip to the conservatory....transform her world...lyrical text...sensitive but humorous compositions... design...” (SLJ)

McBratney, Sam. Colors Everywhere: A Guess How Much I Love You Storybook and When I’m Big: A Guess How Much I Love You Storybook. Illus. by Anita Jeram. Candlewick, each $7.99 board book (978-0-7636-3545-9) and (978-0-7636-3546-6)

(ages 2-4) “Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare...introduce preschool concepts via sweet-natured stories...easygoing exchanges, familiar to fans of the original...sunny ink-and-watercolor illustrations...subtle yet solid reinforcement of the text...fresh and logical expansion of the popular characters’ world.” (PW)

Muth, Jon J. Zen Ties. Scholastic, $17.99 (978-0-439-63425-0)

(all ages) “Stillwater...giant panda...Zen parables to siblings Karl, Addy and Michael...combine his slow-moving grace with genuine spiritual tranquility...introduces the three to Miss Whitaker...crabby outbursts...turns out to be marvelous spelling coach...Stillwater...irresistaible...offers a model of pure saintliness, and children will instantly respond to him.” (PW)

Noyes, Deborah. Red Butterfly: How a Princess Smuggled the Secret Silk Out of China. Illus. by Sophie Blackall. Candlewick, $16.99 (978-0-7636-2400-2)

(gr. 1-5) “Ancient sources say silkworms and mulberry seeds left China hidden in the elaborately coiffed hair of a princess. Imagining what might have prompted the princess to reveal the secret of silk production, a crime punishable by death...exquisite delicacy...sumptuous portraits...ink-and-wash spreads swirl with flourishes...theft...small but powerful rebellion against loss...hopeful future.” (PW)

Portis, Antoinette. Not a Stick. HarperCollins, $12.99 (978-0-06-11235-2)

(PreS-gr.1) “...little pig holding a long, forked object. An unenlightened voice offstage suggests, ‘Hey, be careful with that stick.’...pig corrects the false impression... and demonstrates the item’s many uses...offstage warnings appear in white italics on a gray ground, implying a drab rejection of fantasy...”(PW)

Scieszka, Jon. Jon Scieszka’s Truck Town: Smash! Crash! Illus by David Shannon, Loren Long and David Gordon. Simon & Schuster, $16.99 (978-1-4169-4133-9)

(PreS-gr.2) “Little gearheads will rally to this demolition derby...Jack Truck...best friend Dump Truck Dan...adore the smash and crash of work in progress...Cement Mixer Melvin...covered in gray glop...assist baby-pink Gabriella Garbage Truck...revs readers up with gear-grinding noise and rowdy antics...panoramic vistas...vast junkyards...most of the machines are male, but the burliest of all is Wrecking Crane Rosie...bound to be a hit.” (PW)

Seder, Rufus Butler. Gallop! A Scanimation Picture Book. Workman, $12.95 (978-0-7611-4763-3)

(PreS-up) “...groundbreaking Scanimation technology...primer on motion...actually depicts a variety of animals running, swinging from trees or in flight...gasp with delight...hidden tab in each heavy page slides an acetate layer printed with vertical black lines over an encoded, detailed image of a horse...or other creature...layers’ interaction creates the illusion of motion...black-and-white images...contrast with the bright palette used for the spare, reader-directed text...” (PW)

Tafuri, Nancy. Blue Goose. Simon & Schuster, $15.99 (978-1-4169-2834-8)

(PreS) “Farmer Gray’s homestead is as colorless as his name...while he’s away for the day, Blue Goose, Red Hen, Yellow Chick and White Duck get some paint and undertake a barnyard makeover...mix the different colors...paint the sun yellow...animal cast is creative, confident and diligent...scenes have the bold, graphic punch of murals...celebration of color ideal for sharing...” (PW)

Thompson, Lauren. Wee Little Chick. Illus. by John Butler. Simon & Schuster, $14.99 (978-1-4169-3468-4)

(PreS-gr.1) “...most remarkable thing about...heroine...is her diminutiveness...But there’s a lot more to Wee Little Chick than her size...can climb the highest...loudest peep...runs the fastest...cuddly representational style...brisk, straightforward approach to a self-esteem message should resonate...” (PW)

Van Lieshout, Maria. Bloom! A Little Book About Finding Love. Feiwel and Friends, $12.95 (978-0-312-36913-2)

(all ages) “As slight and sweet as cotton candy...pig in love...loosely drawn pen and ink illustrations...wring Oscar-winning expressions from the slenderest curves and squiggles...minimalist text...beguiling version of love at first site...butterfly, the only blue object seen in a book that features pink...butterfly departs...pig is...heartbroken...cross between toddler meltdown and Juliet...happily cut short by the attentions of...faithful swine swain...” (PW)

Yee, Wong Herbert. Abracadabra! Magic with Mouse and Mole. Houghton, $14 (978-0-618-75926-2)

(K-gr.3) “...second chapter book about best friends Mouse and Mole...Minkus the Magnificent is coming to town...marvelous...disappointing...table collapses and the audience realizes that the magic is really trickery...Mole is depressed...Mouse summons him to a midnight show featuring fireflies, mimosa plants, and the full moon. Reassured that magic is all around...great sensitivity and humor...attractive layouts...lovely addition to the pantheon of easy-reader pals.” (SLJ)

Juvenile Fiction

Colfer, Eoin. Airman. Hyperion, $17.99 (978-1-4231-0750-0)
(gr. 5 and up) “...brims with boy appeal...hero’s...birth in a hot air balloon above the 1878 World’s Fair, in Paris. But Conor Broekhart’s home...Saltee Islands...off the Irish coast...best friend...Princess Isabella...Isabella’s tutor...instructing him in fencing, fighting, and the fledgling science of human flight...Though the king is a progressive pacifist, his economy hums on the strength of diamonds mined in Little Saltee by prisoners...Conor inadvertently witnesses a coup d’ètat...race to fly...turns into Conor’s only chance to escape...polished, sophisticated storytelling...” (PW)

Friend, Natasha. Bounce. Scholastic, $16.99 (978-0-439-85350-7)

(gr. 5-8) “...Evyn...mother...died when she was one year old...thirteen...father, Birdie, announces that he is getting married and moving Evyn and her brother...to Boston...six new brothers and sisters...unable to tell him that she is upset about the marriage or about living with total strangers...does not fit in at her new school... pregnant!... emotional roller coaster...beautifully written...short, clean and sweet...will truly engage...” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Funke, Cornelia. Igraine the Brave. The Chicken House/Scholastic, $16.99 (978-0-439-90379-0)

(gr. 3-7) “...spunky, adventurous new heroine...Igraine, a twelve-year-old who wants nothing more than to become a knight...parents...keepers of the Singing Books of Magic...brother, Albert, is studying to follow in their footsteps...well defended by her family’s magic...greedy new neighbor makes plans to seize the Singing Books and a magical mistake leaves the castle’s defenses weakened...must use every bit of her skill and courage...Fun characters and illustrations...light fantasy adventure...will be a hit with all young fantasy fans” (VOYA 5Q5P)

Giff, Patricia Reilly. Eleven. Random/Lamb, $15.99 (978-0-385-73069-3)

(gr. 3-8) “The day before he turns 11, Sam searches the attic for hidden birthday presents...discovers...newspaper clipping showing a photograph of him as a missing child...exquisitely rendered story of self-discovery...Sam pieces together artifacts and his own flashbacks to find out whether Mack...really is his grandfather...solicits help from Caroline...realistically examines friendship, family secrets and the struggles of a learning-disabled child trying to make sense of the world...sympathetic characters...suspenseful plot...” (PW)

Harris, Joanne. Runemarks. Knopf, $18.99 (978-0-375-84444-7)

(gr. 5 and up) “In Norse myth the whole world ended with Ragnoròk...tells what happened next. The supposed end of all things is now centuries past and the middle world is ruled by the Order...Maddy, born with a rune of power on her hand...deeply unpopular...believed to be witch...convenient talent for controlling the goblins...meets One-Eye...agrees to train her in the ways of Faerie...moving seamlessly between the serious and the comic...” (PW)

Horowitz, Anthony. Snakehead. Philomel, $17.99 (978-0-399-24161-1)

(gr. 5-9) “...seventh installment of the Alex Rider series, Alex goes undercover for the Australian Secret Intelligence Service...must travel to Bangkok to infiltrate a criminal syndicate...wish to return to...normal teenage life...Determined to learn more about his family...Indonesian jungle...cargo ship...Daredevil stunts and narrow escapes... excitement, gadgets and action...” (VOYA 4Q5P)

*Graphic Novel Kibuishi, Kazu. Amulet, Book One: The Stonekeeper. Scholastic, $21.99 (978-0-439-84680-6), trade pb $9.99 (978-0-439-84681-3)

(gr. 5-8) “...use of color...is subtle but highly effective...distinctive onomatopoeia and tight frames help to lock the reader into the action...pages rapidly turning toward protagonist Emily’s fate...forced to move with her mother and brother...dilapidated home...mesmerizing amulet that opens the gates to a perilous alternate world...bravery...” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules. Abrams/Amulet, $12.95 (978-0-8109-9473-7)

(gr. 3 and up) “...junior-high diarist...year’s worth of comic moments...riotous sequel...school-related drama constitutes a good portion...cartoons form part of the narrative, corroborating (or disproving) Greg’s statements...fleshes out the often testy relationships between Greg and his slacker older sibling, Rodrick...little brother Manny...hilarious interplay between text and cartoons...” (PW)

Lee, Tanith. Indigara. Firebird/Penguin, $11.99 trade pb (978-0-14-240922-0)

(gr. 5-9) “When Jet’s gorgeous sister, Turquoise, gets a bit part in...movie...whole family...moves...three months of filming...Jet is not happy...chief friend, deluxe robot-dog Otis...discovers long elevators that lead to an interestingly gritty subterranean world...also finds danger...cast-off...has-beens...are fantastically transformed into stars..Heroes are larger than life...every sentence seems to come from a B-grade script...Clever, imaginative, and satiric...richly crafted...” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Mankell, Henning. A Bridge to the Stars. Delacorte, $18.99 (978-0-385-904-896)

(gr. 6-9) “It all started with the solitary dog...11 year old Joel saw from the hall...1956...each night thereafter, he slips outside to search for the dog while his lumberjack father, blissfully unaware, snores away...returns home to find that his father is gone...desperate until he discovers that his lonely father has spent the night with a local barmaid...things are changing...far north of Sweden...quiet but deeply satisfying coming-of-age story...unhurried pace is not for every child...character-driven...beautifully realized...” (BL)

Rivera, Raquel. Orphan Ahwak. Orca, $7.95 (trade pb) (978-1-55143-653-1)

(gr. 5-8) “During a violent attack on her village, Aneze...young Inuit girl...awakens to find the villagers dead except for the women, who have been carried off...rummaging...food and a precious flint stone...follow...finds her mother’s body...determinedly heads north into the Canadian wilderness...interesting afterword...extensive research...skillfully interweaves fact and imagination...in the vein of Julie of the Wolves...Hatchet...will captivate both boys and girls... “(VOYA 5Q4P)

Tilly, Meg. Porcupine. Tundra, $15.95 (978-0-88776-810-1)

(gr. 5-8) “When Jacqueline Cooper’s father is killed in Afghanistan, her mother goes to pieces and takes her three children to live on a farm with strict great-grandmother they didn’t know they had...[Jacqueline] makes it her job to keep her family together and safe...Lyrical first-personal passages...determined, responsible, but still appealing protagonist...strong sense of place...prairies of Alberta, Canada...very satisfying...” (SLJ)

Winerip, Michael. Adam Canfield, Watch Your Back! Candlewick, $15.99 (978-0-7636-2341-8)

(gr. 5-8) “Adam Canfiled, co-editor...investigative reporter...mugged by a carload of high school students...sequel to...Adam Canfield of The Slash...focus on bullying...rigged science fair projects...underlying evil intent...African American neighborhood that is being targeted by wealthy white developers...terrifically current tale of overextended, high-achieving middle schoolers...undeterred by condescending adults...irresistible, often very funny...” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Non-fiction

Aronson, Marc. Race: A History Beyond Black and White. S&S/Atheneum/Ginee Seo Bks., $18.99 (978-0-689-86554-1)

(gr. 9 and up) “...definition of the word ‘race’ based on four assumptions... examines how each of them came into being historically...prehistoric hunter-gatherer tribes...forward to modern Europe and the United States...examines the roles of slaves and Jews throughout history...plight of African Americans and various immigrants to America...inserts powerful...situations at the beginnings of many chapters to help readers understand the thinking of those in the chapter...set the scene...illustrations of artwork, posters, charts, and graphs to show exactly what people of a given period would see as they were being persuaded of one theory or another...tightly focused...essential resource...” (SLJ)

Carson, Mary Kay. Emi and the Rhino Scientist. Houghton, $18 (978-0-618-646-395)

(gr. 5-8) “...all the elements of top-notch nonfiction...outstanding book design...presentation of information via the shadowing and profiling of a Sumatran rhino, Emi, and her baby...relationship between endangered-species breeding expert Terri Roth and Emi...informative text that asks questions to engage the reader...captivating...” (BL)

Farndon, John. Do Not Open: An Encyclopedia of the World’s Best-Kept Secrets. DK, $24.99 (978-0-7566-3205-2)

(gr. 5 and up) “...Presented in a case designed with diecuts to resemble the door of a jail cell...pseudo-hyperlinks direct readers to pages with related content...Flaps, foldout pages and varied styles of illustration...visually fresh...largely straightforward... leave some mysteries open-ended...incites curiosity—and expansively rewards it.” (PW)

Grimm, Brothers. The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Illus. by Rachel Isadora. Putnam, $16.99 (978-0-399-247-446)

(PreS-gr.2) “...Setting...European story in Africa...entirely distinct treatment...sheer beauty...collages of painted, textured paper...archetypal African kingdom...pop vibrantly against primarily white backgrounds...invite lingering examination...Some readers may wish the compact, straightforward text tied in better to the setting, perhaps anchoring it to an individual country and culture. But...no-fuss approach does keep the story short for reading aloud...timeless, unembellished words can provide near-infinite space for an artist’s interpretation.” (BL)

Hakim, Joy. Einstein Adds a New Dimension. Smithsonian, $27.95 (1-58834-162-3)

(gr. 7-12) “...brisk, intellectually challenging account of the development of quantum theory and modern cosmology...introduces a teeming cast of deep thinkers... brilliant experiments...goofs occasionally...but nevertheless displays a real talent for lucidly explaining such difficult concepts as probability and quantum entanglement... focus is on history...digestible resource list...generous assortment of illustrations...color photos...editorial cartoons...science-inspired modern art...” (BL)(SLJ)

Hampton, Wilborn. War in the Middle East: A Reporters Story: Black September and the Yom Kippur War. Candlewick, $19.99 (978-0-7636-2493-4)

(gr. 6-12) “...excellent book focuses on one correspondent’s experience covering...the Yom Kippur War of 1970...put the issues in perspective...history...back to Biblical times, summarizing the major political events that shaped and created the existing countries and their people...clearly written overview...Excellent historical photos...exciting...impartial examination of the region’s history...” (VOYA 5Q3P)

Hill, Laban Carrick. America Dreaming: How Youth Changed America in the 60s. Little, Brown/Hachette, $19.99 (978-0-316-00904-1)

(gr. 6-12) “...coffee-table book...beautifully produced visual feast...highly informative, balanced look at this decade...covers the well-known cultural trends...emphasis is on the political, social, and ethnic movements of the time...colorful arrangement of photos, song lyrics, historic documents, and other sidebars...do not overwhelm the extensive text...chronology, index...bibliography...” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Holtz, Thomas R., Jr. Dinosaurs: The Most Complete, Up-to-Date Encyclopedia for Dinosaur Lovers of All Ages. Illus. by Luis V. Rey. Random, $387.99 (978-0-375-92419-4)

(gr. 5 and up) “...up-to-date compendium...welcome presence...covers everything from dinosaur eggs to taxonomy and cladistics to the history of paleontology... information is often partnered with sidebars or commentaries by paleontologists working in the field...illustrations range from small photos to larger sepia-toned drawings to even larger full-color paintings...48-page ‘Dinosaur Genus List’...Regrettably missing is a bibliography of sources consulted...eye-catching imagination grabber...” (SLJ)

Manning, Phillip Lars. Dinomummy: The Life, Death and Discovery of Dakota, a Dinosaur from Hell Creek. Kingfisher, $18.95 (978-0-7534-6047-4)

(gr. 1 and up) “When teenage dino-enthusiast Tyler Lyson found a few dinosaur vertebrae...in 2000...bones belonged to one of the best-preserved dinosaurs ever located... some of the hadrosaur’s scaly skin had been fossilized as well...realistic, computer-generated depictions of colorful, active dinosaurs...life might have been like 65 million years ago...mystery of his death...discovery and excavation...explanation for why Dakota’s body remained so well preserved...dino enthusiasts...should be captivated... dramatic account...attention-getting die-cut cover, through which a luminous dino-eye peers...” (PW)

Marcus, Leonard S. Golden Legacy: How Golden Books Won Children’s Hearts, Changed Publishing Forever, and Became an American Icon Along the Way. Golden Bks, $40 (978-0-375-82996-3)

(adults) “...lavishly illustrated, handsomely designed volume...complete history of [Little Golden Books]...1910 founding...in Racine, WI...sale of Golden Books to Random House in 2001...unearths some startling facts...highly readable narrative is documented with thorough and detailed footnotes...winning combination of nostalgia and clear-eyed, meticulously researched history breaks new ground and should have broad appeal.” (SLJ)

Mark, Jan. The Museum Book: A Guide to Strange and Wonderful Collections. Illus. by Richard Holland. Candlewick, $18.99 (978-0-7636-3370-7)

(gr. 3 and up) “...eclectic, tall-format...leisurely and edifying journey of discovery...demonstrates the fundamentally eccentric nature of institutions more commonly viewed as sober and staid...mixed-media collages...play with perspective, type and design...circuitous gambol includes the ancient muses...Alexandria, Egypt; the Middle Ages...famous collectors...discussion is far-ranging...invites close perusal, prompting an analogy between this book and the exhibits it celebrates.” (PW)

Markle, Sandra. Tough, Toothy Baby Sharks. Walker, $17.95 (978-0-8027-9594-6)

(gr. 2-5) “...not your average shark book...clear descriptions and startling photographs of the various ways baby sharks are born...intriguing facts. A lot of the information will be new to kids, even those who routinely read about these interesting creatures...stunning, full-color photos...capture babies at the exact moment they hatch...will have readers running up to friends and families saying ‘Did you know...’” (SLJ)

Marrin, Albert. The Great Adventure: Theodore Roosevelt and the Rise of Modern America. Dutton, $30 (978-0-525-47659-7)

(gr. 7 and up) “...survey of Roosevelt’s robust contribution to our country’s political history...expanded the influence of the executive branch to tackle labor disputes, corporate monopolies, and environmental conservation...repute as a sportsman...architect of America’s awesome global power...political cartoons...portraits of the Roosevelt family...” (SLJ)

Mora, Pat. Yum! MmMm! Què Rico! Illus. by Rafael Lopez. Lee & Low, $16.95 (978-1-5843-027-11)

(gr. 1-4) “...inventive stew of food haiku celebrates the indigenous foods of the Americas...gloriously colorful...sidebar that presents information about the origin of the food...blueberries...corn...illustrations burst with vivid colors and stylized Mexican flair... capture the flavor of the item in a way children can easily understand...lip-smacking fun that teachers can use to supplement social studies and language arts... authors note... addresses lingering scientific debate about the geographical origins...” (BL)

Nelson, Scott Reynolds with Marc Aronson. Ain’t Nothing but a Man: My Quest to Find the Real John Henry. National Geographic, $27.90 (978-1-4263-0001-1)

(gr. 4-8) “...as much about a historian’s quest for the truth as it is a biography...chronicles how he began to learn about African American workers on the railroad...research process...primary and secondary sources...dead ends...overcame roadblocks...layout is attractive...sepia-toned photographs...excellent example of how much detective work is needed for original research...” (SLJ)(PW)

Ray, Deborah Kogan. Down the Colorado: John Wesley Powell, the One-Armed Explorer. Farrar/Frances Foster Bks., $17 (978-0-374-31838-3)

(gr. 3-5) “Dramatic, full-color paintings...sweeping tale of an amazing explorer...Engaging, two-page chapters describe boyhood in Ohio...desire to pursue a career in science...naturalist...chart rough, new territories...exciting, page-turning adventure...illustrations...capture the wild beauty of canyon country and the thrill of the action.” (SLJ)

Revkin, Andrew C. The North Pole Was Here: Puzzles and Perils at the Top of the World. A New York Times Book/Kingfisher/Houghton Mifflin, $10.95 trade pb (978-0-753-4638-9)

(gr. 6-12) “...New York Times reporter...enthusiasm for the North Pole...seven easy-to-read chapters covering the past, the present, and the possible future...Each chapter ends with at least one article excerpt...New York Times...Suggested Internet sources... history of the people and the place comes alive...complex scientific ideas are presented simply enough for all...” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Snyder, Kurt with Raquel E. Gur and Linda Wasmer Andrews. Me, Myself, and Them: A Firsthand Account of One Person’s Experience with Schizophrenia. (Adolescent Mental Health Initiative. Oxford University Press, $30 (978-0-19-531123-5), trade pb, $9.95 (978-0-19-531122-8)

(gr. 7-12) “...detailed, heartfelt tale...thirty-four-year-old...draws readers in ...extended first person account...professional commentary...difficulties, starting when he was eighteen...detailed but extremely readable medical information....success story... explanations, definitions, and encouragement...medications, side effects, hospitalization, insurance...legal...compelling thoroughness and readablity...honesty...evenhanded... FAWs... charts...” (VOYA 5Q3P)

Weatherford, Carole Boston. Birmingham, 1963. Boyds Mills/Wordsong, $17.95 (978-1-59078-440-2)

(gr. 4-8) “In understated free verse, an un-named, fictional girl narrates the events that preceded the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church...marched with other children...was present at the church....format...is small...makes the reading experience of an enormously tragic event an intimate experience...poetic text....photos of childhood objects...full-page archival black-and-white photographs...author’s note provides additional historical background...emotional read, make even more accessible and powerful by the viewpoint of the child narrator.” (SLJ)

Werker, Kim. Get Hooked Again: Simple Steps to Crochet More Cool Stuff. Watson-Guptill, paper, $11.95 (0-8230-5110-2)

(gr. 6-9) “...lots of solid information; clear, crisp photographs...appealing projects...crochet basics in a conversational tone that will keep readers engaged...some of the information is advanced...but it is clearly explained...toes, fingerless gloves, clothes, and hats. Beautifully designed...has real pick-me-up appeal.” (BL)

YA Fiction

Adlington, L.J. Cherry Heaven. Greenwillow, $17.89 (978-0-061-431-814)

(gr. 8-11) “...companion novel to...The Diary of Pelly D...dystopian fantasy... Seventeen-year-old Luka...brutal...conditions...works as a slave laborer... escaping... childhood home, Cherry Heaven, where 10 years ago she watched a man gun down her mother and sisters...other story involves Kat....sister...parents...move... to Cherry Heaven ...slowly emerging portrayal of a troubled society...central mystery... distinctly different from our own world, yet chillingly familiar...” (BL)

Amirrezvani, Anita. The Blood of Flowers: A Novel. Little, Brown/Hachette, $23.99 (978-0-316-06576-4)

(gr. 9-adult) “In seventeenth-century Persia, a young girl’s life takes a disastrous turn when her father dies...father’s estranged brother in the city...wealthy carpet designer ...fascinated...train...art of carpet design...temporary marriage arrangement...accepts, pressured by her need for money...able to sexually delight her husband...close friend... enters into a permanent marriage with the same man...well-crafted...folktales...mystical element...vivid sexual description...” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Cohn, Rachel. You Know Where to Find Me. Simon& Schuster, $15.99 (978-0-689-87859-6)

(gr. 7 and up) “...probes a teen’s suicide and the painful repercussions for her loved ones. After her best friend and first cousin, Laura, kills herself...17-year-old Miles is shattered...flaky mother flees town...Miles is left alone with Laura’s father to endure a summer of grief at his D.C. estate. A prescription-drug addict herself, Miles must embark on a journey of self-discovery if she is to survive...multidimensional, in-the-moment teenage world...bleakness...superbly suits this sad, somber tale...heartbreaking... rings with authenticity...rarely has [teen suicide] been discussed with such gritty realism.” (PW)

Croggon, Alison. The Crow. Candlewick, $18.99 (978-0-7636-3409-4)

(gr. 7-12) “..third book of the Pellinor Trilogy...battle between the Bards, forces of Light, and the Hulls, minions of the Dark...powerful wizards...twelve-year-old...Hem...attends Bard school...difficulties with his peers because of language barriers and his light skin...saves a white crow from death...become best friends...vivid, gritty battle scenes and wonderful characters...spellbinding...”(VOYA 5Q2P)

Dunmore, Helen. The Tide Knot. HarperCollins, $17.89 (978-0-06-081856-2)

(gr. 5-8) “...sequel to Ingo...Sapphire...visit to the ‘Lost Islands’...tides might overpower the coast...warning from dolphins...immediate...experience traveling the sea currents, meeting dolphins, sharks and a whale... ‘Mer’ and human selves...exhilarating fantasy that is also a strong family story.” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Lackey, Mercedes and James Mallory. The Phoenix Unchained. Tor, $27.95 (978-0-7653-1593-9)

(gr. 7-adult) “...Obsidian Mountain Trilogy...demons of the Dark defeated...wild mage becomes convinced that the banishment of the Dark unbalanced the world...quickly paced plot...right mixture of pathos and levity...friendship rings true...thoughtfully created world, engaging characters...tight plot....” (VOYA 4Q5P)

Malley, Gemma. The Declaration. Bloomsbury,$16.95 (978-1-59990-119-0)

(gr. 7-12) “In 2140, no one dies of old age...drug...prolong a life span indefinitely...encouraged to take the drug, and strict population controls are enforced. Children whose birth was not authorized are labeled Surplus, have no rights...trained to be servants...world is fully realized...religion, government, and the power of the written word...excellent adventure story...fast pace...” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Mazer, Norma Fox. The Missing Girl. HarperTeen, $16.99 (0-06-623776-9)

(gr. 9-12) “...peeks into the mind of a villain with ominous effectiveness...several viewpoints—including that of an obsessive predator...five Herbert sisters don’t know he’s watching them...too preoccupied by their own needs...11-year-old Autumn disappears... confinement...is horrific...isn’t overly graphic...does include some chilling sequences... gripping and satisfying...substance, too...” (BL)

Meyer, Stephanie. Eclipse. Little, Brown, $18.99 (978-0-3161-6020-9)

(gr. 6-12) “...picks up where New Moon...left off. Edward promised his paramour, Bella, that he would transform her into a vampire as long as she marries him after they both graduate from high school...does not sit well with Bella’s werewolf friend and suitor...Meanwhile evil approaches from Seattle...string of murders...Italy...danger culminates in a vampire/shape-shifter showdown...combination of romance, jealousy, angst and action creates a read as addicting as opium...much-needed comic relief...old standards remain: Edward broods, Jacob is sullen, and Bella fails to display any mettle or backbone...fans will burn the midnight oil to finish and then gnash their teeth awaiting Breaking Dawn, forthcoming in 2008.” (VOYA 4Q5P)

Owen, James A. The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica: The Search for the Red Dragon. Simon & Schuster, $17.99 (978-1-4169-4850-6)

(gr. 6-12) “...Jack (C.S. Lewis), John (J.R.R. Tolkien), and Charles (Williams)...Caretakers of the Imaginarium Geographica...splendid...fantastic and compelling...Dragon ships...made of living dragons, are the means of travel between the two worlds...children and ships disappear in the middle of the night...King and Queen of Paralon ask the Caretakers for help...elements of Dante’s Inferno...fairy tales...Arthurian tales...Peter Pan...fascinating novel filled with mythology...” (VOYA 5Q2P)

Petrucha, Stefan. Teen, Inc. Walker, $16.95 (978-0-8027-9650-9)

(gr. 7-10) “When he was a baby, Jaiden Beale’s parents died in an explosion caused by faulty equipment...being raised by the corporation responsible for the accident. The corporate world’s answer to child rearing makes for some hilarious antics...it is revealed that the company is knowingly contaminating the local water supply with mercury...Jaiden and his two friends are determined to expose...almost costs them their lives...authentic voice...page-turning adventure...ethical dilemmas...” (SLJ)

Schusterman, Neal. Unwind. Simon & Schuster, $16.99 (978-1-4169-1204-5)

(gr. 8 and up) “...explores one of the most divisive of topics—abortion...gripping, brilliantly imagined futuristic thriller...civil war waged over abortion has almost destroyed America...new laws...Human life can never be “terminated,” but between the ages of 13 and 18, a child can be ‘unwound’ by his parents...irrevocable...every single bit of his body being harvested for medical use...16 year old Connor...run away...two other Unwinds...Beyond his pulse-pounding pace...extrapolating the effects of alien circumstances on ordinary people and everyday behavior...folklore, medical practices... dense and believable backdrop...” (PW)

Sedgwick, Marcus. My Swordhand Is Singing. Random/Lamb, $15.99 (978-0-375-84689-2)

(gr. 7 and up) “...grim, atmospheric tale, set in 17^th-century Europe, brings fresh blood to the vampire mythos without once using the word ‘vampire.’ Peter and his father, Tomas, are woodcutters...Tomas seemingly on the run...carries a wooden box, which Peter is forbidden to examine...father/son dynamic is particularly well-wrought...note of sympathy for the creatures...Several scenes have the visceral, visual impact of cinema...readers will likely devour this bone-chiller.” (PW)

Strasser, Todd. Mob Princess: Stolen Kisses, Secrets and Lies. Simon Pulse/S&S, $8.99 (trade pb) (978-1-4169-3541-4)

(gr. 7-12) “...second title in Mob Princess trilogy...Rich, beautiful, mob princess Kate Blessings...trying to hold the family together after he father kicks her out for being involved with Nick, the son of her family’s worst enemy...preventing an all-out war between the two crime families...Readers will love Kate’s intelligence, courage and wit...suspense with a tinge of irony...sexual references, profanity, alcohol use, and controversial themes...lacks the heart...of Gordon Korman’s Son of the Mob.” (VOYA 4Q5P)

Thompson, Kate. Origins. Bloomsbury, $17.95 (978-1-58234-652-6)

(gr. 7 and up) “...Missing Link trilogy...last volume...post-apocalyptic stunner... weighty...themes...genetic engineering...human evolution...allegorical fable... intertwines two storylines...Christie, living in northern Scotland...2009 chronicles the bizarre events that lead to the abrupt end of human civilization...second...centuries in the future...two factions of Neolithic humanoids...begin a genocidal war...two refugees...join forces to try and bring peace...quest...shocking revelation. Few conclusions wield the impact of this one...SF fans will be blown away.” (PW)

Van de Ruit, John. Spud. Razorbill/Penguin, $16.99 (978-1-59514-170-5)

(gr. 7-12) “South Africa, 1990...apartheid is abolished...naive John Milton... begins his scholarship year...boarding school...entertaining and lengthy diary...Starring in the school’s production of Oliver...unexpectedly popular with girls...fresh and insightful... embarrassing parents...life never lacks drama or humor...deft blend of humor and seriousness...” (VOYA 5Q5P)

*Graphic Novel Watson, Andi. Glister, Issue One. Image Comics, $5.99 trade pb (978-1-58240-853-8)

(gr. 5-8) “...Glister Butterworth...haunted tea pot...ghost of Phillip Bulwark-Stratton, whose long-winded literary works have fallen out of favor...wants Glister to help him finish his masterwork...takes over her life...wordy ghost keeps coming back...humorous tale of tea and trolls...bi-monthly series...Each issue will be digest-sized and include a self-contained story. Fans of the series will want to read every issue...” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Weinheimer, Beckie. Converting Kate. Viking, $16.99 (978-0-670-06152-5)

(gr. 6-12) “...Kate...convincing, likeable young woman who must come to terms with her father’s death and her mother’s religious beliefs...struggles to form her own viewpoint on life and death...right and wrong...home schooled...Kate is ready to embrace public school...religion, homosexuality, friendship, and family relationships...sensitive, respectful, and thought provoking...” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Woodson, Jacqueline. After Tupac and D Foster. Putnam, $15.99 (978-0-399-24654-8)

(gr. 7 and up) “...invokes the music of the late rapper Tupac Shakur...inequalities confronting many African-Americans...1994...narrator is 11...Everyone in her safe Queens neighborhood is listening to his music and talking about him...Meanwhile D, a foster child, meets the narrator and her best friend...they become close...ends in 1996 with Tupac’s untimely death and the reappearance of D’s mother...subtlety and depth...girls’ relationships...exceptional vividness and staying power.” (PW)

Zarr, Sara. Sweethearts. Little, Brown, $16.99 (978-0-316-01455-7)

(gr. 7 and up) “...former misfit who must face her troubled childhood...full-bodied characters and creative storytelling...well-timed flashbacks...popular high school senior Jenna remembers being fat Jennifer...best friend Cameron...After Cameron moves away, Jennifer’s cruel classmates tell her he has died...Cameron suddenly reappears... rekindled connection forces her to decide if “Jenna” is really who she wants to be... harsh... complex and bittersweet story...” (PW)

Audio

Brazilian Playground. Putumayo World Music, CD, $14.98.

(gr. 3-8) “...boisterous sambas, lilting bossa novas...outstanding collection of 13 Brazilian songs...performers...uniquely gifted and endearing. Some of the songs appeal directly to kids...But mainly the selections appeal to all ages, offering a vivid portrait of Brazil...glimpses of festivals and religious practices, showcase traditional musicians...put a Brazilian spin on the universal comedy of daily life...ample liner notes...provide background information, summaries, and, in some cases, partial translations...glossary, map and photos...” (BL)

Dream: Lullabies and Love Songs. May Robertson. Lyric Partners, CD, $15.

(PreS-gr.3) “...lovely alto voice...successfully eclectic formula...mixes traditional songs...with reimagined renditions of contemporary songs...arrangements are simple...acoustic, featuring cello, mandolin or guitar. Sparing harmony vocals add texture...genuine depth and variety...” (BL)

The Talented Clementine. By Sara Pennypacker. Read by Jessica Almasy. 2 hr. Recorded Books, CS, $25.75 (978-1-428-154-063), CD, $25.75 (978-1-428-154-117)

(gr. 2-4) “...sequel to Clementine...Clementine’s classmates are excited about showcasing their talents...upcoming talent show...Clementine...unsuccessful in her attempts to unearth her hidden talent...fabulous reader...voice that perfectly suits quirky Clementine...very funny...never rushes...stands on its own...kid-friendly reading carries the action along to its satisfying conclusion...” (BL)