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BILL’S BEST BOOKS–November 2007

HERO. Perry Moore. Hyperion, 2007
Reviewed by Julie M. Prince
(H)

Thom wants nothing more than to blend in. Maybe by becoming a basketball star, he can overcome some of his shame that his ex-superhero father has brought upon his family. But, what to do with these powers and special abilities that keep popping up? He tries to keep them a secret, but when a catastrophe “outs” Thom, he suddenly finds himself trying out to be a member of the notorious League of superheroes he’s always admired. Despite the fact that he knows his father would disapprove, Thom makes the probationary team, and now he’s in a position to become a real hero.

Thom Creed is fighting for truth, justice, and the…wait, hasn’t that been done already? You betcha. Except, this isn’t any ordinary superhero story. This one is fresh and original. With a gay, teenage protagonist, Perry Moore’s new book explores what it’s like to be different, and why things aren’t always what they seem. A thoroughly enjoyable story, and one not soon to be forgotten!

S.A. Harazin. BLOOD BROTHERS. Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2007.
Review by Julie M. Prince
(H)
Fear, uncertainty, and complicated friendships are a part of any teenager’s world. However, few teenagers (thankfully) have to deal with these trials on the same level as Clay Gardener. When his best friend unexpectedly and uncharacteristically attacks him, Clay is forced to defend himself. The result is that his high-achieving and well-loved friend is left fighting for his life at the very hospital where Clay works. Now Clay’s usual self-doubts and self-loathing are magnified as he tries to hold onto his best friend’s life as well what’s left of his own. This is a moving and very powerful story that only gets stronger as each page is turned. A must read!

Lisa Yee. SO TOTALLY EMILY EBERS. Arthur A. Levine Books, 2007
Review by Julie M. Prince
(M/MG)

Emily Ebers can’t stand her mother. Not only has Alice taken her far away from her home and all of her friends, so they can live in a “nice, safe neighborhood,” she’s also divorced Emily’s fabulous dad. Now Emily’s too far away to visit him this summer, much less see him in concert with his former band, The Talky Boys. She’s going to miss the whole tour, and it’s all Alice’s fault!

As she awaits post cards and phone calls from her dad (she’s sure he’s super busy being famous and all), Emily hangs out with her new best friend, Millicent Min. They could be so totally close, if only Millie weren’t so mysterious all the time. Why is she ashamed of being tutored by the hunky Stanford Wong? Who cares if Millie’s a little behind in school?

When Emily and Millie have a total blow out argument about Millicent’s true secret, Emily is left with no one to turn to—even Stanford has been lying to her all this time!

Emily’s emotions are raw and true. Yee is a master at perspective, and she manages to keep each character unique, even in this third and final book of the Rancho Rosetta summer trilogy. I can’t wait to see more of Lisa Yee’s magical storytelling!

Linda Urban. A CROOKED KIND OF PERFECT. Harcourt, 2007.
(M/MG/RR) Review by Julie M. Prince

Playing at Carnegie Hall may sound like a pretty ambitious goal for most 10 (almost 11!) year olds, but to Zoe Elias, the goal is perfectly attainable. Or, it would be if she were actually a prodigy. Or if she had a piano.

Zoe won’t let a couple of minor details stop her from trying to achieve her Carnegie Hall dream, even if it means starting out by practicing on an old wheeze-bag organ and playing at the Perform-O-Rama organ competition.

A deceptively quiet book with short, reader-friendly chapters, Zoe’s story resonates long after the last page is turned.

Sarah Aronson. HEAD CASE. Roaring Brook Press, 2007. Review by Julie M. Prince
(H)

What would you do if you’d accidentally killed two people? Would you kill yourself? What if you couldn’t, even if you wanted to?
Frank Marder is a murderer. Everyone in town is saying so. He chose to drink and drive. He killed two innocent people. It doesn’t seem to matter to anyone that one of those people was his girlfriend. It doesn’t seem to matter that he’s wheelchair bound. That he can’t walk or move his arms. That his mother has to feed him and—do other things that mothers shouldn’t have to do for their grown sons.
They want vengeance. They want him in jail. Don’t they know he already is? HEAD CASE is powerful and scary. A glimpse at everyone’s worst nightmare.

Joyce Moyer Hostetter. BLUE. Calkins Creek, 2006.
Review by Julie M. Prince
(M/MG/H)

13-year-old Ann Fay Honeycutt is the man of the house now that her daddy has gone off to fight Hitler. Taking care of her baby brother and two little sisters is hard enough, but she also has to don her daddy’s blue overalls and tend the vegetable garden as well as helping out her momma around the house. How much can one person handle? When a polio epidemic strikes her hometown of Hickory, North Carolina, Ann Fay finds out just how much she can handle.

This is a beautifully written story about personal struggle and courage. Highly recommended!

Gennifer Choldenko. IF A TREE FALLS AT LUNCH PERIOD. Harcourt, Inc., 2007.
Review by Julie M. Prince
(MG/M/RR)

Kirsten McKenna has lost her best friend to the most popular girls in school. She’s gained a lot of weight. Her parents are arguing nonstop.

Walker “Walk” Jones is new to Mountain. He used to attend City, but he got a scholarship and now he’s found himself smack dab in the middle of a school where rich, white kids rule.

So, how do these two become friends? The process of elimination, apparently. They’ve both been assessed and dismissed by the powers that be. But, there might be more to their friendship than mere coincidence.

This is a fast-paced, easy read. The characters are smart and relatable. This book delivers!

Kathryn Erskine. QUAKING. Philomel, 2007.
(M/H)
Review by Julie M. Prince

Kathryn Erskine respects her readers. She tackles subjects that others seem to avoid like the plague. She does it with wit and grace through Matt, the sarcastic and cynical main character of QUAKING.

Matt (not Mattie, and certainly not Matilda) has once again been dumped into the hands of distant relatives of distant relatives. And this time, she has to make it work because there’s nowhere else left for her to go.

But these peace-loving Quaker people will have to understand that she doesn’t have any feelings, so she does not intend give in to their silent pleas for love and affection. It’s just not worth it to let her guard down only to have everything taken away again.

And she doesn’t intend to take their advice and stand against bullies, either. Don’t they even have the common sense to run and hide at the first sign of trouble? This tactic has always served her well in the past.

Or has it? Maybe it is time to stand, especially if she wants to stay in one place for once.

Martine Leavitt. HECK SUPERHERO. Front Street, 2004. (MG/M)
Review by Julie M. Prince

Heck is worried about his mom. She’s missing again,. She never was good at staying in real time, and now that she’s gone into hypertime again, she’s dangerously close to entering the dimension where she doesn’t exist at all. That’s Heck’s worst fear.

He simply has to figure out and perform the Good Deed that will send he and his mom topworld. A good superhero always puts the needs of others first, so Heck will ignore his screaming toothache, smelly clothes, and rumbling stomach in order to save his fragile mother. The only question is whether he’ll find her in time.

Heck is a uniquely strong character with a story worth reading.

STORY OF A GIRL by Sara Zarr
Little, Brown and Company, 2007
(H/RR)
Review by Julie M. Prince

Being a Lambert has never been easy, but being Deanna Lambert is especially hard. The whole town of Pacifica, aka Pathetica, knows that Deanna’s own father caught her in the back seat of Tommy Webber’s car when she was just 13 years old. It’s been three years, but thanks to Tommy’s big mouth, she’ll never live it down.

Deanna has a father who never looks at her, a crush on a boy who’s off limits, and no idea what her future holds. She knows only that she doesn’t want to end up in the same town where she started, but she has no idea how to get out.

Author Sara Zarr created a character whose thoughts and emotions are so realistic and familiar, it’s easy to forget that Deanna is only real in the pages of the book. This is a quick, easy, and fabulous read!

Levitin, Sonia. STRANGE RELATIONS. Alfred A. Knopf, 2007.
Review by Julie M. Prince
(H)

When Marne goes to visit relatives in Hawaii, she’s picturing paradise. She’ll jog on the beach and relax with her best friend, Kim. It doesn’t take long for Marne to realize that her summer vacation won’t be all fun and games. She’s introduced to a new culture while staying with her Chasidic rabbi uncle, her busy, controlling aunt, and their seven children. Will Marne adjust to this foreign lifestyle? Does she even want to adjust?

STRANGE RELATIONS is an enticing story that introduces a modern girl to her Jewish roots.

Jenny Downham. BEFORE I DIE. David Fickling Books, 2007.
(H) Review by Julie M. Prince

Tessa Scott is dying. She’s supposed to be at the most exciting part of her life. Learning to drive, having sex, doing drugs, breaking the law. Living. So, she’s going to do it. She’s determined to live before she dies.

Tessa’s made a list of ten things she wants to do before she dies, and her friend Zoey is going to help her check them off. Except things aren’t going according to plan.

This book made me want to pull my hair out by times. It was too real. Tessa was too—-alive. It was like watching a train wreck in slow motion and being unable to do anything about it.

At the same time, the book was so powerful and important, it felt as though I were being honored with the privilege of reading it. So I did. And I’m glad.

Thank you, Jenny Downham.

Editors’ Note: bill’s Best Books is currently on hiatus. Check back soon for a new format and new reviews.