Tantalize, by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Tantalize, by Cynthia Leitich Smith.  Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press, 2007.  310 pp. ISBN 9780763627911


READER'S ANNOTATION
One month before the grand re-opening of Quincie's family's restaurant, their beloved chef has been murdered, possibly by a werewolf.  Or is the new vampire theme of the restaurant attracting real bloodsuckers?

GENRE
Horror, Humor

SUMMARY
After her parents' death, first-person narrator Quincie Morris was left in her Uncle Davidson's care.  Now at age 17, she will help her uncle manage the family Italian restaurant, which they've decided will now have a vampire theme.  When their beloved Chef Vaggio is murdered one month before the grand reopening, they are left scrambling to find a replacement, and Quincie to cling to the hope that her half-human/half-werewolf best friend and love interest, Kieren, was not involved in the killing.  A new chef named Henry Johnson is hired, who is quite talented but also a bit off-putting.  Also problematic for Quincie is the fact that the time has come for Kieren to join a wolf pack and leave Austin.  Then murders begin piling up and Uncle Davidson starts acting very strangely...  Smith continues the stories of these characters in two later novels.

EVALUATION
Of all the monster books I've read this semester, Tantalize has probably been the most fun, and I like Quincie's sense of humor and sarcasm. I think the fact that she, as a teen, is helping to run a restaurant should give teens an enjoyable taste of independence.  And at the same time give an idea of the huge sacrifices that one makes in other areas of life, such as friendship and school, when one takes on such a responsibility. In addition, there is relevant social commentary in this novel, one example being the fact that werepeople have fewer rights than humans and suffer discrimination. One of my favorite aspects of Tantalize is that we don't find out until the end whether Kieren truly reciprocates Quincie's romantic feelings.  And I also love the ambiguity of the ending as far as what Quincie's future holds. What some may find controversial is Quincie's drinking, but her drinking is included to illustrate how alcohol impairs one's judgement.

HOW THIS BOOK HELPS
This book could help teens who find themselves with more responsibility than they can handle, or whose parents/guardians are absent.  It could also help teens who feel they may have a drinking problem.

WHY I CHOSE TO READ IT
I liked the idea of vampires, werepeople, and humans together in one city, and the restaurant aspect sounded fun.

Emiko Superstar, by Mariko Tamaki & Steve Rolston

Emiko Superstar, by Mariko Tamaki. New York: Minx, 2008. 149 pp. ISBN 9781401215361


READER'S ANNOTATION
Emiko's just about ready to perform live on stage for the first time, but feels she still needs to add a "wow factor" to her show...

GENRE
Graphic Novel

SUMMARY
"A borrowed diary, a double life, and identity issues fuel a teenager's quest to find herself before she cracks and commits social suicide, in this new series written especially for girls." (Syndetic Solutions, Inc. summary)

EVALUATION 
Emiko is a very realistically developed protagonist.  Far from perfect and somewhat shy at first, she nevertheless eventually manages to muster up her courage and step out of her shell.  But even at the novel's end, she acknowledges that she is still a work in progress.  This is a really lovely and incredibly entertaining story about the need to fit in that we all experience at some point and, ultimately, finding one's true self. Potentially controversial element: graphic novel format.

HOW THIS BOOK HELPS
This novel could help teens who are starting over, either in a new town, or building new friendships. 

WHY I CHOSE TO READ IT
I had read about this on a UCLA "best graphic novels for teens" list.

Robot Dreams, by Sara Varon

Robot Dreams, by Sara Varon.  New York: First Second, 2007. 205 pp. ISBN 9781596431089


READER'S ANNOTATION
Now that Dog and Robot are separated, how will they each survive?  Will they ever again feel as happy as they were together?

GENRE
Graphic Novel

SUMMARY
"This moving, charming graphic novel about a dog and a robot shows us in poignant detail how powerful and fragile relationships are. After a Labor Day jaunt to the beach leaves the robot rusted, immobilized in the sand, the dog must return alone to the life they shared. But the memory of their friendship lingers, and as the seasons pass, the dog tries to fill the emotional void left by the loss of his closest friend, making and losing a series of friends, from a melting snowman to epicurean anteaters. But for the robot, lying rusting on the beach, the only relief from loneliness is in dreams." (barnesandnoble.com synopsis)

EVALUATION 
Despite the fact that this novel is completely wordless, Varon tells a completely original story that really grabs at the heartstrings.  We feel the pain of both Dog and Robot at the loss of their friendship, yet also the hope in the fact that  life does go on.  In soft browns, aquas, and other pastel colors, Varon communicates the characters' emotions vividly.  The last few pages of this novel are very touching as one old friend gives another the ultimate gift in the form of music: a wish for him to remain happy. Potentially controversial element: graphic novel format.

HOW THIS BOOK HELPS
This novel could help teens who have drifted apart from a formerly close friends, letting them know that they will indeed make new friends.

WHY I CHOSE TO READ IT
I've always loved any anthropomorphic fiction, and I couldn't resist the cover drawing of a contented dog and robot sweetly smiling as they rowed along in a little boat.

Zombies vs. Unicorns, edited by Justine Larbalestier and Holly Black

Zombies vs. Unicorns, edited by Justine Larbalestier and Holly Black. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2010. 415 pp. ISBN 9781416989530 


READER'S ANNOTATION
Which makes for better fiction: zombies or unicorns?  Read through these twelve inventive tales and decide for yourself!

GENRE
Fantasy, Horror

SUMMARY

This is an anthology of twelve short stories by YA authors, half about zombies and half about unicorns.  The premise by which the editors unite the tales is that they wish readers to read them all and then decide whether zombies or unicorns make for better subject matter for fiction. Each story is preceded by a page of banter between editors Larbalestier and Black about the merits of zombies and unicorns.  Stories vary widely in theme and setting, all the way from Margo Lanagans’ seemingly Middle Ages tale, A Thousand Flowers, which concerns a royal lady who will make the ultimate sacrifice to be with her true love, to Carrie Ryan’s futuristic Bouganvillea, in which a young girl’s mettle is tested .

 
EVALUATION
I really loved the great majority of these stories.  Although it is hard to narrow it down, my favorite is Naomi Novik's Purity Test just because it's so zany, centering around a teenage girl conscripted to help rescue a group of baby unicorns in New York City.  I especially love the unicorn Belcazar's sarcasm, and his lines about Fairyland and chocolate milk really tickle my funnybone for some reason.  I also loved Bouganvillea by Carrie Ryan.  She manages to convey such a heavy expectant mood, and I like the growth and ultimate strength shown by Iza, the main character.  The black humor and thought-provoking nature of  Alayna Dawn Johnson's Love Will Tear Us Apart are also just great.

HOW THIS BOOK HELPS
I think that one uniting factor of several of the stories is that protagonists are called upon to act decisively in the interest of self-preservation or in order to be true to themselves.  This could inspire teens in any situation in which courage is called for.

WHY I CHOSE TO READ IT
Some of the stories sounded really funny and/or thought-provoking.

Ultimate Spider-Man,Vol. 2: Learning Curve, by Brian Michael Bendis

Ultimate Spider-Man,Vol. 2:  Learning Curve, by Brian Michael Bendis. New York: Marvel Comics, 2004. Unpaged. ISBN 0785108203


READER'S ANNOTATION
It's hard balancing school and work...especially when you're fighting crime at the same time.

GENRE
Graphic Novel/Comic Book

SUMMARY
"Following the murder of his uncle, the assault on his high school, and the confusing signals from Mary Jane Watson, Peter [Parker] finds himself on the brink of manhood: getting a job at a New York City newspaper, the Daily Bugle, to help support his family and taking on other extracurricular activities...like bringing down organized crime head honcho Wilson Fisk, otherwise known as the Kingpin!" (summary on back cover)

EVALUATION 
This is an update to the original Spiderman series, telling Peter's story from the beginning, but in the present day.  The illustrations are in full color, which seems rare in teen graphic novels (based on the limited number that I've read) and is quite striking.  Characters' emotions are clearly expressed in these depictions, although some are a bit static, and Mary Jane in particular looks older than the high school student she is meant to be.  The story is of course action-packed, but there are comedic moments inserted here and there, such as Peter's interaction with a school psychologist.  Overall, a fun, light read.  Poterntial controversial element: violence.

HOW THIS BOOK HELPS
Teens who have a large amount of responsibility may identify with Peter Parker.

WHY I CHOSE TO READ IT
I had never read a Spiderman comic/graphic novel before.

Jumped, by Rita Williams-Garcia

Jumped, by Rita Williams-Garcia.  New York: HarperTeen, 2009.  169 pp. ISBN 9780060760922

READER'S ANNOTATION
Leticia just heard that Dominique's going to beat up Trina after school.  Will she step in to try to change events?

GENRE
Realistic Fiction

SUMMARY
This short novel is composed of three alternating narrators' first-person accounts of one day at high school. Trina is a happy and somewhat vain yet friendly girl who loves creating art.  Dominique lives for basketball, and in all area of life can become aggressive if she feels she's being challenged.  Leticia lives to talk on her beloved cellphone and share gossip. As the novel opens, Trina walks down a school corridor, by chance passing by Dominique and her friends. As is Trina's habit with everyone, she says "Hey" to the girls, even though she does not know them. Dominique believes Trina to be challenging her, and after Trina is out of earshot, Dominique indicates aloud that she'll be beating her up after school.  Unseen, Leticia witnesses the entire scene. Each girl then narrates her day at school  We do not find out until the end whether Leticia decides to warn Trina, or whether Dominique actually follows through with her plan.

EVALUATION
I found this to be a quick and really enjoyable read, narrated in true-to-life teen voices.  Each character's voice is quite distinct.  Yet the girls' similarity is that each is quite self-involved, and does not appear to be much influenced by the opinions of friends/classmates or the lessons they could glean from the often extremely relevant topics that are discussed in their classes.  This self-involvement is really the key to the novel's conclusion, for better or worse. The plot is not fast-paced, but this is not an action novel, but a day-in-the-life story.  The slowness of some scenes mirrors these teens' frustration at their days and lives being constrained by an order imposed by others.  And the fact that the narrators alternate frequently and their voices are so honest more than makes up for the slow plot moments.  The novel's a powerful look at the various factors which may trigger/encourage a teen to bully/hurt another teen --and perhaps even more importantly, the critical role that "bystander" teens who overhear threats of bullying can play in potentially stopping incidents of bullying/violence.

HOW THIS BOOK HELPS
This book could help teens who are being bullied and also bullies themselves to better understand the dynamics of bullying. 

WHY I CHOSE TO READ IT
I'd heard really good things about this author, and am interested in the topic of bullying.

Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater




Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater. Scholastic: New York, 2009. 392 pp. ISBN 9780545123266


READER'S ANNOTATION
Ever since he saved her life a few years ago, Grace has been drawn to the handsome wolf who watches her from the woods.  If only they could be together somehow... 

GENRE
Fantasy

SUMMARY
When teenage Grace was a child, one of the wolves living in the woods bordering her house rescued her from the rest of his pack.  She found herself mesmerized by his beautiful yellow eyes during this rescue, and has watched him from her house in the years since.  The wolf in turn, has watched Grace.  One day an injured boy, Sam, appears outside Grace's house.  Grace comes to realize that Sam is none other than her wolf in human form, the wolf she has been hoping to get closer to for so long.  Elated to finally be together in the same form, Grace and Sam fall in love.  This is made a bit challenging, however, by having to hide Sam and the fact that he shapeshifts, from Grace's parents.  And the real problem is that Sam only gets to spend a few months each year in his original human form, and each year this amount of time decreases. This could be the last year he changes into human form at all...  This title is the first of the Wolves of Mercy Falls series.

EVALUATION
One of the stand-out aspects of this book is the strength, self-reliance and resourcefulness of the character of Grace.  When the going gets tough, her inspiring "just dive in and and do it" attitude kicks in.  I also like the way in which Stiefvater includes the theme of forgiveness, through Sam's ultimately strong relationship with father-figure Beck despite his Sam's strong dislike of a couple things that Beck has done. I found the plot to be a tad slow-moving at first, but the introduction of the character of Isabel and her initial questioning of Grace really creates a sense of intrigue as we initially don't know what Isabel's true motives are, and also because she and Grace are such seeming opposites.  I usually enjoy audiobooks, but in this case I would recommend sticking with the written text.  Portions of the audio version (Scholastic Audiobooks, 2009) are read slightly overdramatically.  But I do recommend this novel as a good fantasy read with some great suspense.  What some may find controversial is the fact that Grace and Sam have sexual intercourse, although no graphic details are included.

HOW THIS BOOK HELPS
I think this book will help teens whose parents are absent due to late working hours or are simply not at home very much.  Such teens may identify with Grace.  Teens who have survived abuse at the hands of their parents, or whose parents have done ethically questionable things, may identify with Sam. Sam experiences the first at the hands of his birth parents, and then is "adopted" by Beck who has inducted members into the wolf pack in a morally questionable way.

WHY I CHOSE TO READ IT
I always like books with dual narrators, because it allows you to get two often very different perspectives on the same story.

Burnout, by Rebecca Donner & Inaki Miranda

Burnout, by Rebecca Donner & Inaki Miranda. New York: Minx, 2008. 147 pp. ISBN 9781401215378


READER'S ANNOTATION
Danni's life up to this point has not been easy.  Her dad's left, and now she and her mom are on the road looking for a place to live.  Hopefully things will be better in this new town...

GENRE
Graphic Novel

SUMMARY
"When Danni and her mom move in with her mom's alcoholic boyfriend, Danni develops a fierce crush on Haskell, her soon-to-be stepbrother, who's a hardcore environmentalist. Desperate and confused, Danni wrestles with what she's willing to sacrifice as she confronts first love, family secrets and the politics of ecoterrorism set against the lush backdrop of the Pacific Northwest." (barnesandnoble.com synopsis)

EVALUATION 
Protagonist Danni shows growth in character in this novel, yet it is somewhat depressing that by the end of the story, she doesn't seem to be using any new coping skills to deal with emotional trauma.  (However, though, she has just lost a boyfriend, and not too long after her father abandoned her and her mother.)  Perhaps, given what she's gone through, her reaction is realistic, but it's sad that she doesn't even seem to have a tiny bit of hope.  Potential controversial element: brief "almost" sexual intimacy between Danni and Haskell.

HOW THIS BOOK HELPS
This book could help teens with one or more absent parents, or who are living in alcoholic households.

WHY I CHOSE TO READ IT
Judging by the drawing on the cover, it looked liked the protagonist had been through a lot and might have an interesting story to tell.

Blue Bloods, by Melissa De La Cruz

Blue Bloods, by Melissa de la Cruz. New York: Hyperion, 2006. 302 pp. ISBN 0786838922

READER'S ANNOTATION

Schuyler Van Alen has just found out that she's a vampire, along with many of the annoying popular kids at her school.  Along with the special abilities that this bestows come new dangers.

GENRE

Horror

SUMMARY

Nonconformist Schuyler Van Alen, the last of the line in a distinguished family, is being raised by her distant grandmother, Cordelia, due to the fact that her mother has been in a coma for years. Schuyler and her best friend Oliver are definitely not part of the in crowd at their small private Manhattan school. Yet this year, at the age of fifteen, she learns that she is inextricably linked to arrogant Mimi Force and the rest of the popular set. Schuyler finds out that she is, like them, a Blue Blood, a vampire. In the world that De La Cruz has created, being a vampire includes several innovative aspects, including possessing great strength and having flashbacks to past lives. The early years of being a vampire, called the twilight years, are when Blue Bloods are at their most vulnerable to attack. And now things are especially dangerous, as a vicious sub-group of vampires called the Silver Bloods begins hunting the young Blue Bloods one by one…  This is the first title in the Blue Bloods series.

EVALUATION

This first installment of the Blue Bloods series is much more enjoyable than I'd expected, mainly for its suspense, the reflective moments of characters like Schuyler and Bliss, and in particular the mystery surrounding Schuyler’s mother.  Schuyler is a strong female protagonist, who is believable though, and is not immune to normal teenage issues such as her crush on Jack Force and her sometimes selfish behavior in her friendship with Oliver.  I enjoyed De La Cruz's unique vision of vampires, as she notes that they are fallen angels who are trying to prove that they are worthy enough to be admitted back into Heaven.  This idea of vampiric integrity contrasts with the negative public perception of vampires.  This sends a strong message to readers about not blindly believing rumors/commonly-held beliefs about the behaviors or motivations of people or groups in society. My only critique of the novel is that a couple of Schuyler’s responses to new information seem automatic and not really thought out on her part, which is not in keeping with her overall character. However, I would definitely recommend this novel to teens as an entertaining and interesting read.  What some may find controversial about this novel is its references to violence and sexual intercourse, but these are by no means the focus of the story.

HOW THIS BOOK HELPS

This book could help teens who, like Schuyler, do not have close/loving family members around to provide support or who have low self-esteem.  It will hopefully make such teens realize that they have much more strength and ability inside them than they know.

WHY I CHOSE TO READ IT

I love New York and the cast of characters sounded really intriguing. 

Monster, by Walter Dean Myers

Monster, by Walter Dean Myers. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers, 1999. 281 pp. ISBN 0060280786

READER'S ANNOTATION
Accused of being involved in a fatal robbery, Steve is now in a detention center, more scared than he's ever been in his life.  Sometimes he wonders if he'll ever get out. 

GENRE
Realistic Fiction

SUMMARY
Steve Harmon is a 16 year-old who has been placed in the Manhattan Detention Center, on trial along with others for a store robbery which involved what the prosecution has labeled a felony murder. In order to deal with the frightening and depressing reality of the detention center, Steve decides to write a movie script about his day-to-day experiences in the courtroom and the detention center. Thus most of the novel is a record of the dialogue in the courtroom, Steve's observations of others' appearances and the physical space, and his notes on camera angles, etc. (he's been a member of his school film club for quite a while). Interspersed throughout these movie scenes are Steve's diary entries. Steve comes from a supportive family, yet grew up in a neighborhood where crime seemed like a reasonable option to some. Steve comes to know one such man, and thus becomes accused of taking part in the aforementioned robbery.  Will the jury believe that he is or isn't responsible?

EVALUATION
In my opinion, this novel rises to literary excellence in many ways, and it is one I'd recommend to both teens and adults without hesitation.  The first reason is its unique format.  Myers' writing of the majority of the novel as Steve's movie scenes is innovative in itself.  And this format makes Steve's sporadic heartfelt diary entries, which add the novel's emotional/self-reflective content, all the more powerful.  This novel also shines because  Myers leaves Steve's level of involvement in the robbery in question throughout.  Because of this, interesting questions about one's feelings of personal responsibility and how they are affected by how we see ourselves are raised.  Steve is a very likeable character with whom I think teens will easily identify, yet none of the other characters are fully developed, but necessarily so due to the format.  I highly recommend this quick yet enjoyable read.

HOW THIS BOOK HELPS
This novel should help any teen who finds themself in a detention facility or accused of a crime, or in any other highly fear-inducing situation,.  It will also help teens who have acquaintances or friends involved in criminal activity, illustrating the possible negative results of getting involved in such activity themselves.

WHY I CHOSE TO READ IT
I was really intrigued by the film script format.