ALAN’s Picks is a monthly book review column compiled and edited by Dr. Pam B. Cole of Kennesaw State University. Be sure to check ALAN Online each month for a fresh look at the latest in YA Lit.
Reviewed this month:
Ballad: A Gathering of Faeries by Maggie Stiefvater
Boy Minus Girl by Richard Uhlig
Boy on the Lion Throne: The Childhood of the 14th Dalai Lama by Elizabeth Cody
The Comet’s Curse: A Galahad Book by Dom Testa
Creature of the Night by Kate Thompson
Deep in the Heart of High School by Veronica Goldbach
Den of Thieves by Julia Golding
Eidi by Bodil Bredsdorff
Gorgeous by Rachel Vail
How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier
Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison
Pet Trouble: Runaway Retriever by T.T. Sutherland
Ballad: A Gathering of Faerie by Maggie Stiefvater
Flux, 2009, 360 pp., $9.95
Faeries/Fantasy
ISBN: 978-0-7387-1484-4
Though fairy tales and fairy lore are stock and trade in storytelling, novels about faeries seem to be the latest craze in the horror-fantasy genre for young adult readers. What makes Ballad: A Gathering of Faerie stand out is that Stiefvater’s faeries are Celtic and true to the lore that informs them. Ballad is the sequel to the popular Lament, but the story easily stands on its own. Readers will understand enough about the back story of Deirdre and her attraction to Luke early on and will grasp that she and James have a history of friendship that he clearly has wished to accelerate. However, when James falls in love with his own faerie muse, Nuala, he is ironically set free of his love for Deirdre. Ballad has numerous twists and unexpected turns as it winds its way through the fey. Cloverhands, the thorn-king, and faeries that burn and rise again like a phoenix every sixteen years are just a few of the characters readers will meet. Stiefvater has created a mature and intelligent story that should appeal to those interested in contemporary characters faced with circumstances a bit out of the ordinary.
Reviewed by Elaine J. O’Quinn, Boone, NC
Boy Minus Girl by Richard Uhlig
Knopf/Random House, 2008, 246 pp., $15.99
Adolescent Sexuality/Friendship/Family Relationships
ISBN: 978-0-375-83968-9
Les Eckhardt is a typical eighth grader living in a small Kansas town. He is dealing with major causes of teen angst: raging hormones, unrequited love, overprotective parents. Author Richard Uhlig addresses all these teen challenges through Les’s point of view with both humor and insight. Into Les’s boring life enters his father’s younger brother, Ray, a traveling musician whose love life is a source of inspiration to Les and his friend Howard. Les soon learns, however, that Uncle Ray has serious character flaws, including an unwillingness to accept responsibility for his former girlfriend’s sexually transmitted disease and pregnancy. Through dealing with Uncle Ray and his girlfriend Cookie, Les comes to understand that actions have consequences, and he gains respect for the choices his boring, but responsible, parents have made.
Boy Minus Girl deals frankly with questions of sexual identity through Les’s friendship with his exotically beautiful classmate, Charity Conners. While Les yearns for a sexual relationship with Charity, Charity is attracted to a female classmate. When Charity approaches the object of her affection and is rejected, Les bravely stands beside her as her friend, once again recognizing that actions have consequences, and friendship often requires sacrifice. This book has strong sexual content; each chapter begins with advice from a book called The Seductive Man, and Les describes his frequent masturbation and sexual frustration through teen prayers: “Dear Jesus. . .please forgive me. If I don’t jerk off for a whole week, would you please make me brave enough to talk to Charity?” Some younger readers may find the sexual content too strong, but the well-developed themes make the book relevant and timely for teen readers.
Reviewed by Pat Scruggs, Franklin, TN
Boy on the Lion Throne: The Childhood of the 14th Dalai Lama by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
Roaring Brook Press, 2008, 160 pp., $18.95
Nonfiction/Tibet/Dalai Lama/Religion
ISBN-13: 978-1-596-43394-6
The Dalai Lama, the religious and political leader of Tibet, is believed to be a reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama. Boy on the Lion Throne tells the story of the search for and discovery of the current reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. In 1937 Lhamo Thondup, not yet three-years-old, was living in the small Tibetan village of Takster; he was thought to be what the Tibetan people had been searching for since the passing of the 13th Dalai Lama four years previously. Lhamo Thondup was administered tests by the monks in the search party, which included identifying items that were owned by the 13th Dalai Lama. Lhamo easily passed these and other tests. In addition, Lhamo showed a comfort, familiarity, and confidence with these strange monks well beyond his few years. It was, therefore, quickly determined that Lhamo Thondup was the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama.
Boy on the Lion Throne tells of the Dalai Lama’s childhood and the preparations that he underwent to become the political and religious leader of Tibet. The book follows his life until the age of nineteen when he fled Tibet for India just ahead of soldiers from the Chinese Communist Party. Kimmel provides a great deal of information about the Dalai Lama’s childhood in language that is easily accessible but not watered down, and photos compliment the text nicely. She does an excellent job balancing personal information about the 14th Dalai Lama with information about Tibet. This book is a great resource and interesting read.
Reviewed by Aimee Rogers, Tucson, AZ
The Comet’s Curse: A Galahad Book by Dom Testa
Tor, 2009, 230 pp., $16.95
Science-Fiction/Survival/Mystery/Space
ISBN: 0-765-32107-6
In an astrological phenomenon, the earth barely misses being crushed by the Comet Bhaktul by passing safely through the comet’s tail; the comet deposits particles on the earth that alter the course of the human race. These particles lead to a deadly virus that impacts only adults. As the death toll increases, survivors become desperate to save mankind.
Dr. Zimmer proposes sending a lifeboat into space in an effort to preserve the human race. Although Dr. Zimmer’s plan is met with great skepticism, work begins immediately on building the Galahad. In order to ensure that the Bhaktul virus cannot continue, only teenagers are selected for the mission. Thousands of the world’s smartest and healthiest teens are narrowed down to just 251 fifteen and sixteen year olds. Five of these teens are chosen to govern the Galahad. The crew is assisted in their mission by Roc, an incredibly responsive computer that monitors the spaceship and provides guidance.
As Galahad begins its five-year journey, a stowaway makes himself known to the crew. The stowaway sets about sabotaging the mission and endangering the lives of all 251 crew members and destroying mankind’s last hope of survival. Triana, the commander, and the Council must make difficult decisions regarding the stowaway and their mission.
The concept of the novel is intriguing and relevant, as it lends itself to questions about how the human race can and will continue to survive on Earth as more ecological disasters and pandemics threaten the planet each year. Testa provides a healthy dose of mystery, while also remaining true to the story line and the personalities of his teenage characters. Readers who enjoy science fiction, technology, and mystery will embrace this quick and thought-provoking novel.
Reviewed by Aimee Rogers, Tucson, AZ
Creature of the Night by Kate Thompson
Roaring Brook Press, 2008, 250 pp., $17.95
Violence/Isolation/Suspense
ISBN: 978-1-59643-511-7
Bobby is a bad boy from Dublin and not afraid to prove it. He swears, smokes, drinks, dopes, says cruel things to his mother, and steals cars. When Bobby’s mother takes him to a rural village for a new start, he looks for trouble and finds it by engaging in the same illegal activities. What Bobby does not realize, however, is that new trouble, unlike any he has ever encountered, is on the horizon. Bobby used to think he was the ultimate evil Creature of the Night, but as difficult as it seems, there is someone—or something—more malevolent. Author Kate Thompson draws a remarkably compelling portrait of juvenile delinquency, yet her characters retain their humanity. The deviance of the teen characters is believable, not overly explicit. The mother figure is hopeless, pathetic, and enabling—a classic stock character. Set in Ireland, the text is written with thick slices of dialogue and fast-moving narration. This book is for readers in the mood for something edgy.
Reviewed by Mary Rice, Springville, UT
Deep in the Heart of High School by Veronica Goldbach
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2009, 202 pp., $16.95
Friendship/Family/Grief
ISBN: 13: 978-0-374-32330-1
This easy-to-read, high interest novel follows three friends—Olivia, Fatima, and Vanessa—through their freshman year at Hamilton High School in San Antonio, Texas. The book’s eclectic characters are joined by their loyalty to each other and to the marching band. Olivia is dealing with the loss of her father and her shyness toward boys; Fatima struggles with her weight and a moral dilemma when a “hot” guy asks her to do his homework; Vanessa, new to the school, attempts to fit into a community in which everything is named after the Alamo as she adjusts to life with a newly-single mom. The setting also provides a taste of south Texan culture. Goldbach gives readers believable characters they can identify with and cheer for. This novel would be a great “what to read next” for the reluctant reader grades five and up who enjoyed Ann Brashares’ Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series.
Reviewed by Lottie Waggoner, Wabash, IN
Den of Thieves by Julia Golding
Roaring Brook Press, 2007, 417 pp., $16.95
Suspense/Politics/Historical Fiction
ISBN: 978-1-59643-444-8
Although Cat Royal was raised as an orphan in the wings of the Royal Theater (hence, her name), she has never performed on the professional stage. Her “acting” has been abroad and often in life-threatening situations. In the fourth book of the Cat Royal Adventures, Cat is sent as an English spy to the French Revolution. Her guise is a difficult one: she must blend in perfectly with Madame Beaufort’s French ballet troupe or be discovered as a traitor to the revolution.
Golding weaves an intricately entertaining adventure of relationships, coming-of-age, and politics. The constantly flowing action is carried on the back of a strong undercurrent of democracy. Cat is shown first hand the power the people, not the monarchy, can wield. Cat’s brushes with captivity and death are assuaged by wit, charm, and intelligence.
The historical and political themes make this novel accessible across a number of content areas. The character development, themes, and style allow this text to be an excellent “bridge” to other canonical texts such as those by Dickens, Brontë, or Alcott.
Reviewed by Kristie Jolley, Orem, UT
Eidi by Bodil Bredsdorff
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1993 (English Translation, 2009), 138 pp., $16.99
Coming-of-Age/Family/Adventure
ISBN: 978-0-374-31267-1
Eidi, the second novel in Bredsdorff’s The Children of the Cove series, is the story of a young girl’s quest to find her own place in the world. As the book begins, Eidi’s stepbrother is born. Although she knows she should be joyful, his birth leaves her feeling out-of-sorts and unsure of her role in her new family. Despite her mother’s concerns for her safety, Eidi decides to leave the quiet, isolated cove where she lives and spend the winter earning her keep spinning wool for Rossan, a close family friend. When Rossan is injured on their journey to Eastern Harbor to sell his wool at market, Eidi assumes responsibility for negotiating a fair price. Offered a job weaving shawls for Bandon, a local wealthy businessman, Eidi soon befriends Tink, the young boy in Bandon’s care. Troubled by Bandon’s harsh treatment of Tink, Eidi must decide whether or not to help the boy. She must also confront her feelings about her family, past and present.
Translated into English from Danish, Bredsdorff’s prose is elegantly simple and readers will be drawn to the unique setting and Eidi’s unfamiliar way of life. They will also appreciate the maturity and thoughtfulness of Eidi’s character. Despite her youth, Eidi is generous and kind, possessing a strong work ethic and a keen sense of justice.
While familiarity with the The Crow-Girl, the first novel in the series, will enhance readers’ understanding of Eidi as references are often made to specific character relationships and events from that book, it is not necessary. This quiet story can stand on its own. Recommended especially for middle level readers.
Reviewed by Emily Meixner, Ewing, NJ
Gorgeous by Rachel Vail
HarperTeen/HarperCollins, 2009, 278 pp., $16.99
Beauty/Family/Interpersonal Relations
ISBN: 978-0-06-089046-9
When picking up a book about a girl who sells her cell phone to the devil in exchange for beauty, what is one to think? One might easily pass over said book, prejudging it as trite and shallow; however, as Rachel Vail’s Gorgeous reveals, appearances can be deceiving. Vail has written a story about real people with real problems. We are drawn into Allison’s thought process as she goes on a journey of self-discovery. Yes, this is a book about what it really means to be beautiful. More than that, however, it is a book about trust. Can you always trust that friend you’ve had for years, or do people sometimes change for the worse? Can you trust hearsay and rumors? Can you trust your family? How about yourself?
Those moments of truth in Vail’s novel are beautiful, though as in life, they are rare. The first real moment of honesty isn’t witnessed until two-thirds of the way through the book, when Allison’s love interest explains why he keeps a screwdriver in his locker at school. The scene is both revealing and touching, as is a later scene where Allison’s father tells her what he really thinks of her, moving Allison (and maybe even the reader) to tears. Gorgeous is a surprising treat of a book that makes you smile, makes you think, and makes you realize that things are not always as they seem.
Reviewed by Crystal Leibowitz, Moriches, NY
How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier
Bloomsbury, 2008, 307 pp., $16.99
Fairies/Magic/Interpersonal Relations
ISBN: 13: 978-1-59990-301-9
As a first year student in the world of New Avalon Sports High, Charlie (Charlotte), really just wants to fit in and make the basketball team. But in a world (part America, part Australia, part just New Avalon), where many people have their own personal fairies, which have limited powers over one aspect of existence, Charlie feels cursed by her parking fairy. Whatever car she is in can always locate a premier parking spot. She’s abused by a legendary senior athlete who picks her up and plops her into his car every time he drives. In trying to ditch her fairy, Charlie decides to “starve” it by not going anywhere on wheels—making her late to class, detention, family events, and shopping dates with friends. It turns out Fiorenze (whom Charlie’s never liked) also feels cursed by her own fairy, one that makes any boy like her automatically, and so Charlie and Fiorenze decide to work through their differences in order to swap fairies—with less than predictable results. Add in a new boy in school, Fiorenze’s mother who’s an expert on fairies, try-outs for the team; and a rather zany mix of chaos and catastrophe ensues. In this quick-paced novel about friendship and finding oneself, there’s also an interesting expansion on the “be careful what you wish for” theme that makes it more than just a fluffy read.
Reviewed by Lois T. Stover, Tall Timbers, MD
Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison
HarperCollins, 2009, 232 pp., $16.99
Fantasy/Good vs. Evil/Destiny/Immortality
ISBN: 978-0-06-171816-8
With her purple-tipped hair and punk clothes, Madison Avery has a hard enough time fitting in at her new school. Add being dead to the mix. Madison finds she has little in common with her peers. No one, not even her dad, knows she’s dead. Madison’s physical body is an illusion created by the powerful amulet she stole from Kairos, the dark Timekeeper, who killed her on prom night.
Madison must solve the mystery of why she was targeted and killed and how she can get her life (or at least her real body) back. Why does the Timekeeper want her dead? How can she determine who is telling the truth? Who can Madison trust? Caught in a battle between Light and Dark Reapers (angels) and two Timekeepers, Madison learns to use Kairos’s amulet to stop short periods of time, to become ghost-like, and to change memories. When Barnabas, the Light Reaper who is assigned to keep Madison safe, sees what she can do with Kairos’s amulet, he suspects she has a greater purpose, an important destiny. The only problem is Madison doesn’t believe in fate. She just wants her life back.
Kim Harrison’s debut young adult novel is suitable for middle school-aged students, particularly those who enjoy a strong female protagonist. With a guardian angel who talks to Madison in limericks, exciting, near-miss death scenes, and an open ending begging for a sequel, Once Dead, Twice Shy is a fun foray into Madison’s world of “now and the next” (p. 214).
Reviewed by Julie Land, Marietta, GA
Pet Trouble: Runaway Retriever by T.T. Sutherland
Scholastic, 2009, 164 pp., $5.99
Pets/Problem-Solving/Friendship
ISBN: 978-0-545-10241-3
When Parker’s sister, Camellia, leaves home for college, she leaves her brother and father in the company of their new best friend, Merlin. Little does anyone know that Merlin is, in fact, an escape artist. This troublesome characteristic of Merlin is soon discovered and provides for many humorous and memorable situations for Parker to explore. Merlin, an adorable and beautiful golden retriever, immediately attaches himself to Parker and never wants to leave his side—not at night and especially not when school starts for the year, which causes quite the commotion for everyone involved. Sutherland provides wonderfully realistic dialogue and unique, yet relatable situations, for any dog lover of any age to enjoy. Much like Marley and Me, Runaway Retriever gives us stories all audience ages can understand. Being a middle school student, Parker loves the dog and wants to keep him, yet when Merlin is constantly disrupting the school day, Parker suffers fear of school punishment and peer embarrassment. These emotions lead Parker down a road of mystery-solving shenanigans to put some order back into his life, all the while, struggling to enjoy the benefits of his newfound best friend.
Reviewed by Abigail Kennedy, Zephyrhills, FL
