ALAN Online

ALAN’s Picks is a monthly 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 new titles in YA Lit.

The ABC’s of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro
Girl Force by Nikki Goldstein
The Lost Summer by Kathryn Williams
Sahwira: An African Friendship by Caroly Marsden & Phillip Matzigkeit
Shadowland: Book III of the Brotherhood of the Conch by Chitra Lekha Banerjee Divakaruni
Signal by Cynthia DeFelice
Super Stock Rookie by Will Weaver
Triskellion by Will Peterson
A Troubled Peace by L. M. Elliot
Undone by Brooke Taylor
The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd
Zombie Blondes by Brian James

The ABC’s of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro
Dellacorte/Random House, 215 pp., $8.99
Popularity/Neighbors/Friendship
ISBN: 978-0-385-73582-7

Being a teen is difficult enough, but when you are one of the “elite” in school and then one decision means you are not, what happens? What do you do? Parker Stanhope’s junior year is going to be wonderful, or at least it was. Her life-long passion for soccer is paying off. She is moving up to the varsity soccer team, her lifelong goal. However, the coach holds two players back on the JV team, and she is one of them. The frustration, disappointment, and anger with this decision consume Parker. She feels her junior year is ruined. Her friends abandon her, and now she must reinvent Parker in order to survive.

As Parker’s world crumbles, she concocts a crazy plan to regain her former status. Parker pays a college hunk to kiss her publicly. Surely, this will boost her status. The plan seems simple enough except for one small detail; Parker does not know how to really kiss. She comes up with a surprising solution. She enlists the help of her neighbor, a lowly freshman, to teach her the ABC’s of kissing. This seems like a good plan, but it, too, is laced with complications.

Ferraro has written a delightful book that will interest teen girls. The novel is easy reading, but it has some real life lessons. It addresses friendships, loyalty, popularity, and self esteem; all issues teens struggle with daily.

Reviewed by Rita Karr, Supply, NC

Girl Force by Nikki Goldstein
Bloomsbury, 2004, 244 pp., $14.99
Health/Self-Acceptance/Ayurveda/Meditation
ISBN-10: 1-59990-354-7

First published in Australia, this introduction to Ayurvedic teachings targets teens and pre-teens searching for the reasons their bodies differ from their peers’. Although it only briefly touches on Ayurveda, the principles underlie the book in a very accessible manner. Girl Force is defined as finding your best self and nurturing the body type you’ve been given in a healthy, positive manner.

Although diet is mentioned, thankfully, it’s only in reference to the foods that boost the energy of a particular body type, such as Air, Fire, or Earth. Chapters dealing with beauty, fashion, and the benefits of gentle exercise emphasize developing natural assets rather than conforming to an industry ideal.

Written in a friendly, bubbly style, this book is one I’ll share with my preteen as a way to introduce her to her beauty within.

Wendy Cope, Marietta, GA

The Lost Summer by Kathryn Williams
Disney/Hyperion, 2009, 263 pp., $15.99
Friendship/Romance
ISBN: 978-1-4231-0128-4

If you’ve ever been to camp, been a camp counselor, or have wanted to go to camp, this book rings true. Seventeen-year-old old Helena Waite romanticizes “Camp Southpoint,” where she has been a camper since she was ten and anticipates her return.  This time, however, she’s going as a junior counselor.

Although only three months separate her and her friend Katie Bell, those three months prohibit  Katie Bell from becoming a counselor herself. Thus the rift begins. Whereas in previous years, “Hels Bells” were inseparable, Helena feels pulled by the older counselors whom they had once worshipped and drifts from Katie Bell and “civilian” camp life.

At first, she divulges secrets to Katie, but soon Helena is entranced by her former idols, as well as by a burgeoning romance with the hunky counselor, Ransome. Although she feels torn, the pull of the new romance is strong and, in a sudden turn of events, she almost loses both her friendship with Katie Bell and her own life.

Beautifully written, this glimpse behind the scenes of camp life serves as a love letter to friendship and camp.

Wendy Cope, Marietta, GA

Sahwira: An African Friendship by Carolyn Marsden & Phillip Matzigkeit
Candlewick, 2009, 189 pp., $15.99
Adolescent Friendship/Race Relations/Conflict Resolution
ISBN: 978-7636-3575-6

Sahwira is the story of the friendship or sahwira between two adolescent boys. It is a friendship that cuts across racial boundaries and allows readers to see that children often do not understand or see the need for segregation. Despite the racial unrest, tensions, murders, mistrust and other events around them, the boys’ friendship endures.

The story is set in Rhodesia, modern day Zimbabwe, in the 1960s, which coincides with the civil rights movement in the United States. In fact, the author uses the movement as a backdrop for the story. There is an interweaving of the racial happenings in Rhodesia and the United States. This could well be the story of the friendship of two American boys. The novel is beautifully written and makes good and easy reading for historical understandings. It can also be used for literature, pleasure, and for teaching conflict resolution and friendship. Boys, as well as girls, will enjoy the book.

Reviewed by Ethel King-McKenzie, Kennesaw, GA

Shadowland: Book III of the Brotherhood of the Conch by Chitra Lekha Banerjee Divakaruni
Roaring Brook, 2009, 240 pp., $17.95
Fantasy/Magic/Time Travel
ISBN: 978-1596431539

As an apprentice to the Brotherhood of the Conch, fifteen-year-old Anand has a special ability to communicate with objects of power and shares a special bond with the magical conch shell that gives the Brotherhood its name. Sent by his master to meet a hermit in the mountains who would be able to train him further, Anand spends four days, instead of the allotted three, waiting for the hermit to appear. After no sign of him, Anand leaves the mountains and returns to the hidden valley where the Brotherhood resides, only to find that his home has been destroyed.

His best friend, Nisha, has also escaped the disaster that appears to have ripped their home from the very ground, and the two set off to recover the conch and hopefully restore Silver Valley. Their journey takes them to what Nisha thinks is Shadowland, a place haunted by the spirits of the dead. However, the truth of the world that abducted their beloved conch is much more terrifying. In a land torn apart by a violent war that has left millions imprisoned and impoverished, those in power struggle to keep their greedy society alive, while the magic users fight to restore order to a land where the very air is no longer breathable. With only a limited number of days before the conch’s power is depleted and Silver Valley lost forever, Anand and Nisha must use their wits and knowledge to survive in this chaotic world and save their own world. Strong characters, a fast pace, and compelling story twists make this action-filled tale most enjoyable.

Reviewed by Allison Fraclose, Tucson, AZ

Signal by Cynthia DeFelice
Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2009, 151 pp., $16.99
Mystery/Abuse
ISBN:  978-0-374-39915-3

Sending a signal to contact her parents takes an emotional and physical toll on Campion, an abused adolescent. After finding Campion in a deserted farmhouse, Owen, the twelve-year-old narrator, commits himself to helping his new friend Campion become healthy and strong enough to signal her alien planet.

Who would really want to leave earth … and why? Owen gradually pieces together the mystery that Campion—named after a wildflower—represents. In this short novel, Cynthia DeFelice leads readers to ponder such questions and consider what connections they have with adults in their own lives. What is worth fighting for? Who will help you along the way? Sometimes the answers are surprising.

Rich in descriptions of rural upstate New York, this novel illustrates how we draw strength and support from taking risks to make friends. Initially loners who were each equally lonesome, Both Campion and Owen learn to trust each other and work toward their common goal: making meaningful contact with adults in their worlds.

Written in simple, accessible prose, Signal is certain to appeal to DeFelice’s growing fan base of young readers. Like her ghost mysteries, Signal appeals to our imagination and also tests our sleuthing skills.

Reviewed by Kelly Byrne Bull, Baltimore, MD

Super Stock Rookie by Will Weaver
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2009, 208 pp., $14.95
Racing/Coming-of-Age
ISBN: 978-0-374-35061-1

What would you do if you had the chance of a lifetime? For Trace Bonham, his once-in-a-lifetime chance came before entering his senior year. After successfully racing at his small town speedway, Trace is asked to try out for Team Blu, a mysterious racing team looking for a new, young driver. When he realizes he isn’t the best, Trace willingly settles back into his niche at Headwaters Speedway. The people are like family; the drivers respect him; and Mel Waters is just starting to warm up to him. Unexpectedly, Trace learns he has been unanimously picked as the new driver. Pulled into a whirlwind generated by Team Blu’s desperation to get him started right away, Trace begins to question the team’s motive, and the effect it will take on his life. Ultimately, he is forced to choose between the brand new super stock racing car with its own crew and the people he’s considered family for seventeen years.

In this entertaining new novel, Will Weaver tells an entertaining story about a teenage racecar driver inspired, perhaps, by Weaver’s own experience with racing. This novel is easy to read and would be great for students, especially boys, as young as middle school age. Due to its approachable language, this novel also lends itself to slower readers. Unlike many young adult novels today, Weaver subtly weaves adolescent issues into the story without being didactic. It is hard not to swallow this book after attaching yourself to Trace’s journey. This book can be thoroughly enjoyed by readers of any age. Super Stock Rookie is part of the Motor Novel series.

Reviewed by Brian Spiro, Cincinnati, OH

Triskellion by Will Peterson
Candlewick, 2008, 368 pp., $16.99
Mystery/Adventure/Fantasy
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3971-6

To escape the unpleasantness surrounding their parents’ impending divorce, Rachel and Adam leave their home in New York and travel to Triskellion, a small village in the English countryside, where their mother has arranged for them to pass the summer with their grandmother, a figure they met once as infants, but about whom they know relatively little. From the moment they arrive, the two teenagers are met with suspicion on the part of Triskellion’s residents, a close-knit community that is seemingly contemptuous of all outsiders. When a chance encounter with a mysterious boy named Gabriel causes Rachel and Adam to discover an ancient chalk circle carved into the surrounding countryside, they embark on a journey that leads them to unearth a dark secret concerning Triskellion’s past, one that powerful figures in the village will go to any length to suppress, and that, unbeknownst to them, is irrevocably linked to their own family’s history.

Blending mystery and fantasy, Triskellion is a fast-paced and engaging story that will grab readers from the outset and leave them turning pages long into the night. A sort of Da Vinci Code for younger audiences, Peterson’s novel relies heavily on the use of narrative twists to confound readers and leave them guessing at its outcome until the moment of its resolution. Considering that the genre of mystery is somewhat underrepresented in the field of young adult literature, Triskellion should prove to be a welcome—and entertaining—addition.

Reviewed by Sean Connors, Columbus, OH

A Troubled Peace by L. M. Elliott
Tegen/HarperCollins, 2009, 289 pp., $16.99
World War II/France/PTSD/French Resistance
ISBN: 978-06-074427-4

Henry’s trek across post-World War II France leads him back to many of the French country folk who assisted him in his escape from the Gestapo in Under a War-Torn Sky. In his return to France, Henry hopes to put to rest the PTSD-related memories interfering with his chances for future happiness at home in Virginia. During this journey, Henry witnesses first hand the pain, suffering, and sacrifice of the French people as they attempt to piece back their war-torn country. Henry must once again choose between the fiery and sexy Claudette or high school sweetheart Patsy. More importantly, he is forced to decide if loyalty to friends is worth the sacrifice of personal safety. A Troubled Peace will keep both male and female readers pulling for Henry’s success. Teachers of U.S. and European history classes will also appreciate having another quality book to recommend.

Reviewed by Maria Cahill, Johnson City, TN

Undone by Brooke Taylor
Walker, 2008, 310 pp., $16.99
Coming-of-Age/Loss/Relationships
ISBN-13:978-0-8027-9763-6

Undone tells a sincere story of teenage friendship. What starts as a typical story of female friendship develops into a gripping mystery. The main characters, Serena and Kori, are best friends who seemingly share everything with one another. Kori, a rebellious and mysterious ex-cheerleader, draws an average and unassuming Serena into her world. As a result, Serena soon changes her persona and outward appearance in order to emulate her new best friend. Their friendship blooms as they share secrets, go to parties, and discuss their families. However, after one particular party, a tragic and surprising occurrence makes Serena question how much she really knows her friend.

Taylor crafts a mystery that has the reader guessing, along with Serena, about Kori’s true identity and the secrets she tried so desperately to hide. Serena is shocked when she realizes that Kori had been withholding important information. For example, she knew that Serena’s mom was having an affair with a married man. While struggling to cope with the loss of her friend, Serena realizes that she may never have really known Kori at all.

Before the tragic party, the girls were presented with a class assignment that encouraged them to reveal their inner conflicts and aspirations. They are asked to create a list of five things that they could never dream would happen and after the tragedy, Serena attempts to finish Kori’s list for her. A coming-of-age story to which most teenage girls can relate, Undone highlights the various struggles that best friends encounter. This novel is a complex tale that keeps the reader intrigued and would be best suited for the high school reader as it includes mature topics such as sexuality and drug use.

Reviewed by Joellen Maples, Rochester, NY

The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd
Dial/Penguin, 2009, 309 pp., $16.99
Coming-of-Age
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3340-4

In the summer before Dade Hamilton leaves for college, he experiences many of life’s tests before finally settling into himself. He knows he is gay but only admits it to the ceiling light in his bedroom. Dade loves Pablo, but Pablo uses Dade as sex on the side to his relationship with Judy. Though Pablo ends it, he starts stalking Dade. Enter Alex, a hotty who sells marijuana, and Dade falls in love for the first time. He also meets Lucy, one year older, much wiser, and a lesbian, who becomes his best friend. These two are good for Dade and for a while life is good, but that never lasts.

Burd’s novel weaves together all the rollercoaster emotions attached to finding oneself in this coming-of-age and coming out story that is sensitive, touchingly human, and heart-achingly realistic. As a high school teacher, these characters, genuine, fragile, hurtful, harmful, and searching for a place in the world, seem borrowed from my classroom. There is sex, but it happens off stage; the romance is center stage. The homophobia in the book is realistic to most high schools and for the brave offers opportunities for discussion. A good read and a good first book, I want more from Nick Burd.

Reviewed by C. J. Bott, Solon, OH

Zombie Blondes by Brian James
Square Fish, 2008, 232 pp., $8.99
Horror/Popularity/Identity
ISBN: 978-0-312-57375-1

At age fifteen, Hannah wants nothing more than to be popular. But how far will she go to obtain all-important popularity? Would she step on others on her way to the top? Would she change herself to be like the perfect girls—the cheerleaders? Would she eat the flesh of the living and become a zombie?

Brian James’ novel provides a great allegory to popularity—how it can change people to the point they no longer recognize themselves. Readers are left to wonder if Hannah really is just letting her imagination get the best of her, or if the cheerleaders indeed are zombies, as her comic-book-reading friend Lukas claims.

While I enjoyed the allegorical look at popularity more than the ending, readers of horror will appreciate James’ style and diction—a great commentary on the desire to be adored.

Reviewed by Angie Beumer Johnson, Columbus, OH