ALAN Online

“ALAN’s Picks” is a recurring post on ALAN Online featuring book reviews of the newest titles in Young Adult Literature. Reviews are compiled and posted monthly. Be sure to visit ALAN Online often to read more about the newest titles from the best authors in the business.
Reviewed this month:

The Book Of Tormod: A Templar’s Apprentice by Tormod MacLeod
The Dust of 100 Dogs by A. S. King
The Ghost’s Child by Sonya Hartnett
Larry and the Meaning of Life by Janet Tashjian
The Night Children by Kit Reed
No Choirboy: Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row by Susan Kuklin
Say the Word by Jeannine Garsee
Savvy by Ingrid Law
The Secret of Laurel Oaks by Lois Ruby
Spellbound by Anna Dale
Stravaganza: City of Secrets by Mary Hoffman
The Traitor Game by B. R. Collins
War of the Witches by Maite Carranza

The Book Of Tormod: A Templar’s Apprentice by Tormod MacLeod
Scholastic, 2009, 288 pp., $16.99
Historical/Medieval/Legends/Myths/Fables
ISBN: 0-545-05654-3

Tormod MacLeod’s story takes place in Scotland during the late fourteenth century. Unappreciated and mistreated by his family, Tormod yearns for an independent life his thirteen summers can only imagine. This desire for a life of adventure is realized when Alexander Sinclair, a Templar Knight, instills a secretive quest upon Tormod to deliver a very important message to the Abbot of a preceptory in the province. While attempting to deliver his message, Tormod is intercepted by armsmen of King Philippe le Bel of France. Tormod has a gift of prophetic vision and uses this unique, yet uncontrolled ability, to save the life of Sinclair. Now a member of the Templar’s party, Tormod must hone his spiritual powers and seek to control his impulsive youthful behavior. Sinclair attempts to train Tormad in the meditative ways of a Templar Knight, an order that is comprised of people with similar and unique abilities. Sinclair, being one of these individuals, has seen that Tormad will play an important role in not only saving himself, but in saving the entire world.

Kat Black weaves a tapestry of history, religion, and the spiritual unknown. This refreshing new story creates a craving for more and more!

Reviewed by Ignacio Guerra, Marietta, GA

 

The Dust of 100 Dogs by A. S. King
Flux, 2009, 320 pp., $9.95
Fantasy
ISBN: 0-7387-1426-7

Emer Morrisey is a teenage pirate who lives in the seventh century and is reincarnated after living for 100 dog years as Saffron Adams. Saffron’s head has all of Emer’s memories, and she amazes everyone at her school with her knowledge as she grows up. Her parents believe that she will do something wonderful with her life and lift them out of poverty. Saffron only wants to graduate from high school and find Emer’s pirate loot. Interspersed throughout the novel are dog facts, making what is already an interesting story even more so.

Ms. King has the reader hooked from the beginning and continues to pull one in as each chapter reveals more information about Emer’s life before and after she became a pirate. Parts are gory but pirate stories often contain violence and gore. The ending is not expected and begs a sequel.

Reviewed by Ann A. Wolf, Boca Raton, FL

 

The Ghost’s Child by Sonya Hartnett
Candlewick, 2008, 176 pp., $16.99
Relationships/Love/Fable/Self-Actualization
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3964-8

Built around a character named Matilda, Hartnett’s novel chronicles the inspiring journey
of the young lady’s life and centers on the love she develops for a boy named Feather. Interspersed with flashbacks, the story opens with a very old Matilda sharing her story with a mysterious young boy who has arrived at her house unannounced. She shares her life story with him and focuses on her love affair with Feather as it represents her happiest moment and her greatest sorrow.
Even though the book is short, it is packed with common situations to which readers can easily relate and offers lessons to life’s problems. Matilda struggles with relating to her parents, falling in love, losing her only child, grieving the loss of her love, and determining her life’s purpose. She is an engaging character who represents an archetype of “everyman/woman,” while also personifying the determination that is such a crucial aspect of the human spirit.

A simple story that younger readers could enjoy, The Ghost’s Child has a rich philosophical complexity that more mature readers could readily absorb. Hartnett inspires her readers to think about the important issues that define all of our lives. This novel is an easy read that leaves one thinking long after it is returned to the shelf.

Reviewed by Joellen Maples, Rochester, NY

 

Larry and the Meaning of Life by Janet Tashjian
Henry Holt, 2008, 224 pp., $16.95
Humor/Anti-Consumerism/Terrorism/Spiritual Enlightenment
ISBN: 978-0805077353

Ever since Josh Swensen—the 18-year-old who created a popular anti-consumerism Web site under an assumed name, then faked his own death, then lost the presidential election—returned from an 8-month cross-country trip to find his estranged girlfriend, he’s been stuck in a rut. At the insistence of his best friend, Beth, Josh agrees to visit Walden Pond, the legendary home of his life’s inspiration, Henry David Thoreau. While there, he meets a man named Gus, who convinces Josh that exactly what he needs to recover his motivation is a spiritual guru.

Against the wishes of his stepfather and Beth (but with approval from his deceased mother, who sends him messages through people at the Bloomingdale’s makeup counter), Josh decides to pursue Gus’s offer. When he finds his missing girlfriend, Janine, among Gus’s group of followers, he dives into Gus’s teachings full force. Although Gus’s lessons seem rather lame, they lead Josh to ask himself some heavy questions about who he really is and how far he’s willing to go to achieve enlightenment. Those questions will be put to the test when an old enemy returns and asks for his help. When the facts on Gus fail to add up, Josh begins to wonder who Gus really is, and why the guru is intent on spending so much time with Janine. His attempts to unravel the mysteries of the situation build to an exciting conclusion that may put Walden Pond in jeopardy.
Allegedly “written” by Josh himself, this book features hilarious footnotes throughout that add a wry twist to this humorous tale.

Reviewed by Allison Fraclose, Tucson, AZ

 

The Night Children by Kit Reed
Starscape, 2008, 234 pp., $17.95
Science Fiction
ISBN: 0-7653-2038

Imagine a mall too large to walk through in a single day. How would you feel if you got lost and couldn’t find your way back to your loved ones? That’s what happens to the Night Children, gangs of kids who roam secretly through the MegaMall to avoid being caught and sent to the State Home.
Desperate to defend his turf, Tick, the leader of the Castertown Crazies, meets Jule, a resident of the mall, after the mysterious disappearance of her aunt. Suspicious of what is happening behind the scenes in the Dark Hall, they join forces with Lance the Loner to bring down the crazy owner, Amos Zozz, before he can begin Phase Two of the MegaMall.

As the plot thickens, the author, Kit Reed, carefully adds just enough clues to keep the reader guessing and wanting to know more. The story’s theme reminds readers how greed has the potential to destroy humanity; however, simple acts of kindness can redeem people from their mistakes. This book will keep readers engaged until the very last page.

Reviewed by Amy Lavin, West Jordan, UT

 

No Choirboy: Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row by Susan Kuklin
Henry Holt, 2008, 205 pp., $17.95
Violence/Juvenile Justice/Capital Punishment/Nonfiction
ISBN: 0-8050-7950-5

Ever wonder what it is like to be a teenager in prison? Young adult author Susan Kuklin has and now, in this ground-breaking new book, she examines the lives of four young men who reside inside our nation’s prisons. Why? They committed murder before they reached the age of 18.

Told in a compelling narrative, Kuklin examines life inside the criminal justice system, visiting the sad lives of troubled and remorseful boys who face the prospect of capital punishment. Her intriguing case studies explore not only the young men incarcerated, but how crime and punishment is meted out in a universe where the poor and minority are often at a distinct disadvantage. Culminating with the insights of a lawyer who has worked on two of these homicides and voices of a victim’s family, this painful, provocative and perceptive read is a must for all who care passionately about the meaning of justice in America.

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kaplan, Orlando, FL

 

Say the Word by Jeannine Garsee
Bloomsbury, 2009, 368 pp., $16.99
Friendship/Gay and Lesbian Literature
ISBN: 1-599-903334

Shawna Gallagher was supposed to be born a boy, and her father’s never forgiven her for being a girl. All she can do is try to be the perfect child—boy or girl—and hope that getting into med school will be enough to make up for her pink status. When her mother makes a dramatic reappearance in Shawna’s life after having abandoned her family for a lesbian lover when Shawna was young, things suddenly aren’t so perfect anymore—and when Shawna learns some family secrets, she’s not so sure she cares.

Certain authors earn the trust of their readers with tight, consistent writing, and realistic characters who have compelling stories. Jeannine Garsee (Before, After, and Somebody in Between) is one such author.
Shawna is a charmingly flawed character with a self-esteem that doesn’t match her exterior; something many readers will relate to. Interactions with her overpowering, controlling father are disturbingly accurate, and the way Shawna is forced to face her own demons is even more so.

Say the Word explores discrimination and resentment from unique points-of-view, giving its characters a chance for redemption. Some take advantage of the chance; others see no reason to change. Either way, the story is riveting. Garsee is a master storyteller and her books are a pleasure to read.
Julie M. Prince, Tucson, AZ

Savvy by Ingrid Law
Dial/Penguin, 2008, 352 pp., $16.99
Family Life/Social Issues/Coming-of-Age
ISBN: 0-803-733062

Mibs always knew her thirteenth birthday would change her life. She just didn’t know her life would change in more ways than one. All Beaumonts discover their “savvys” on their thirteenth birthdays. Mibs has always wondered if her own special ability would be something as powerful as her brothers’ savvys—generating storms and electricity—or more like her mother’s ability of doing everything perfectly. Before Mibs can find out what her future will hold, the future of her whole family becomes uncertain when her poppa is in a horrible accident.

Mibs is supposed to stay behind while her mother and brother head off to the far away hospital to stay with Poppa, but if there’s even a chance that Mib’s new savvy can save her father, she has to get to him. She doesn’t mean to drag so many people along on her crazy, bus-riding adventure, but weird things always happen on a Beaumont’s thirteenth birthday, and this is no exception.
The adventure Ingrid Law takes us on is certainly unique. From the one-of-a-kind characters to the mobile setting, this book is constantly in motion. Zany and clueless adults keep us entertained as Mibs and her siblings try unsuccessfully to hide family secrets from their suspicious new friends. It’s hard not to notice the strange things that happen when the Beaumonts get upset or worried, and during this trip, staying calm doesn’t seem to be much of an option. Ingrid Law’s debut novel opens a whole new world that just begs for more exploration.

Reviewed by Julie M. Prince, Tucson, AZ

 

The Secret of Laurel Oaks by Lois Ruby
Tom Doherty Associates, 2008, 282 pp., $17.95
Historical Fiction/Supernatural
ISBN: 0-7653-1366-9

If you are looking for a suspenseful story to captivate your imagination, pick up a copy of Lois Ruby’s The Secret of Laurel Oaks. A book to entertain readers of all ages, it is based upon the sordid past of the Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana; and its ghostly heroine,Daphne, is a carbon copy of the real life slave girl, Chloe. Trapped within the grounds of this old, violent home, she struggles to acquit her of a murderous mistake. Daphne has a secret to reveal that ties her to Laurel Oaks, and thirteen-year-old Lila becomes a lightning rod for this supernatural activity. Lila’s anthropologist mother, food critic father, and sports fanatic brother do not seem to experience the same unnerving phenomena that constantly haunt her. The tragic loss of Roberto, a family friend, further heightens the angst and spiritual connection between Lila and Daphne.

The structure of the book proves very helpful in relating the individual tales of both girls.
Chapters rotate between Daphne and Lila, each being told in a unique voice and communicating the diverse, and often chilling, situations of their lives. Most chapters are fairly short, keeping the plot moving briskly. Due to its reliance on actual people and places, The Secret of Laurel Oaks makes a wonderful foray into historical fiction. The story’s easy-to-follow format and believable and endearing characters blend to create an enjoyable piece of storytelling. Hardcore literary critics may fault Ruby for not developing the relationship between Lila and Roberto’s respective families or further fleshing out the importance of Miss Amelia’s treasured bebes. These slight flaws, however, cannot diminish this tale of love, understanding, and friendship.

Reviewed by Jennifer Grazer, Kennesaw, GA

 

Spellbound by Anna Dale
Bloomsbury, 2008, 289 pp., $16.99
Fantasy/Adventure/Sibling Rivalry/Tolerance/Prejudice
ISBN: 978-1-59990-006-3

While on family holiday in the beautiful English countryside, twelve-year-old Athene Enright discovers the Low Gloam, a tribe of fascinating little nocturnal “humans” with bat-like ears and striped and speckled skin. Getting to know the Gloams starts as a thrilling adventure. The adventure turns into a nightmare when Athene’s hatred for her six-year-old brother Zach sends him to an enchanted underground prison run by the Low Gloams. Tormented by guilt for causing Zach’s disappearance, Athene and her two new Gloam friends, Humdudgeon and Huffkin, take a trip down the magic tree trunk to rescue Zach. Once they reach the dark and dreary kingdom of the Low Gloam, however, they find themselves bound by a magic spell that makes it impossible for them to return above ground.

Determined to find Zach and save him and the other forest creatures held against their will by the Low Gloam, Athene discovers her own personal strength and courage. More importantly, Athene realizes that life without Zach is as dull and colorless as life as a prisoner underground. The love between siblings is at the center of this highly imaginative story of fanciful creatures trapped by both magic and prejudice. The power of this love helps to unite captor and captives against a common danger and brings the novel to its exciting and satisfying conclusion. Dale deals with the importance of family and tolerance for others in a story that has suspense and tension but doesn’t frighten young readers. These young readers will identify with Athene’s conflicted feelings about her brother.

Reviewed by Kathy Nichols, Marietta, GA

 

Stravaganza: City of Secrets by Mary Hoffman
Bloomsbury, 2008, 383 pp., $17.99
Fantasy/Historical Fiction/Time Travel/Coming-of-Age
ISBN: 978-1-59990-202-9

It is Matt’s seventeenth birthday and he is looking forward to the changes in his life. A new car, (after completion of his driving exam) and the freedom to spend more time with his girlfriend, Ayesha, and best friend, Chay, are the highlights of getting a year older. However, Matt doesn’t know that an overlooked gift from his aunt Eva will change his life.

Matt suffers from dyslexia and has major trouble reading and writing. Yet, every year Aunt Eva sends a book token and a birthday card, so that he may buy a book. Most years, Matt gives the token to his mother, who is a language arts teacher and avid reader, in exchange for the money to spend on something he desires. However, walking home on his birthday in anticipation of his coming birthday dinner, Matt passes an antique book store and decides to step in to kill some time. Upon entry into this shop, Matt develops a deep attraction to a certain leather-bound book and after talking the store’s owner into accepting his book token in exchange for the book, Matt finds out that the book is more than pages and leather binding.
The book is a talisman that sends its owner back in time. With this talisman, Matt ventures to sixteenth century Talia (Italy) where he is placed in the middle of a university’s printing press. There, he learns about the lives of royalty, nomadic tribes and the Stravaganza—a group of people who use talismans to travel between the present day and sixteenth century Talia, including several of his classmates at Barnsbury Comprehensive School. But why is he in Talia? Is there something he must do to help the people of Talia?

In Hoffman’s lastest novel of the Stravaganza series, she weaves the themes of fantasy, present-day adolescent emotion, and human rights into a compelling coming-of-age story with which every teenager can identify. Her amazing description of a historical Italy, as well as her ability to get into the mind of a boy nearing adulthood, who is facing many cognitive and emotional challenges, is gripping and realistic. Stravaganza: City of Secrets is a historical fiction/fantasy lover’s dream.

Reviewed by Ray Engle, Dayton, OH

 

The Traitor Game by B. R. Collins
Bloomsbury, 2008, 295 pp., $16.99
Fantasy/ Contemporary Fiction
ISBN: 978-1599902616

In her first novel, B.R. Collins has created a book that will draw in fantasy fans. Michael, the story’s protagonist, and his friend, Francis, find themselves caught up in the fantasy world they created. Bouncing back and forth between Evgard and reality, the two face and tackle numerous obstacles and difficult situations, including Michael’s suspicion that Francis has shared the secret with someone else. Michael’s anger causes him to tell the school bully that Francis is a “poof,” causing him to be beaten badly. The story begs the question: Who really is the traitor?

Reviewed by Frankie Huff, Orlando, FL

 

War of the Witches by Maite Carranza
English translation by Noël Baca Castex
Bloomsbury, 2005, 341 pp., $16.99
Witchcraft/Fantasy
ISBN: 978-1599901022

Anaíd is a typical teenage girl—unhappy with her physical appearance, struggling to find herself socially, and often irritated by her beautiful, but eccentric mother. Normalcy disappears, however, when she awakens one morning to find that her mother has mysteriously disappeared.
In the days following her mother’s disappearance, Anaíd experiences startling changes. A wolf howls; she understands and answers. Rubbing some of her Aunt Criselda’s ointment on her face and hands, she falls into an altered state and is transported to the forest clearing where her aunt and three other witches of the wolf clan have been discussing her future. Here she discovers the truth: her mother—the red-headed Selene is a witch, the prophesied chosen one who will end centuries of war between the Omar witch clan and the bloodthirsty Odish.

The women decide that Anaíd must be trained and initiated into the world of witchcraft. Moving beyond her aunt’s instruction, she rapidly discovers her own powers. She is able to communicate with forest animals, teaches herself basic spells, and develops her telepathic skills.
Realizing that Selene is imprisoned by the Odish and that the prophecy is due to be fulfilled, Anaíd sets out to rescue her, traveling first to Sicily to learn what she can from the powerful head of the dolphin clan. During her initiation, she escapes a storm by transforming into a dolphin, astonishing all the older witches with her powers. Finally, she travels to the dark world of the Odish, where she rescues her mother and fulfills the prophecy in a way unexpected by all.

Reviewed by Kathleen Dudden Rowlands, Northridge, CA