ALAN Online

ALAN’s Picks is a monthly book review column edited and compiled by Dr. Pam Cole of Kennesaw State University.  Be sure to check the site regularly for the a preview of the latest titles in YA Lit.

Reviewed this month:

Also Known as Harper by Ann Haywood Leal
Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin
Be a Genie in Six Easy Steps by Linda Chapman and Steve Cole
David Inside Out by Lee Bantle
Distant Waves by Suzanne Weyn
It’s Not You, It’s Me by Kerry Cohen Hoffman
Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
Secrets of Truth and Beauty by Megan Frazer
Tempo Change by Barbara Hall
Undone by Brooke Taylor
The White Witch by Janet Graber
A Wish after Midnight by Zetta Elliott

Also Known as Harper by Ann Haywood Leal
Henry Holt, 2009, 246 pp., $16.99
Homelessness/Single-Parent Families/Selective Mutism/Poets
ISBN: 978-0-8050-8881-6

All Harper wants is to submit her poems to the school’s poetry contest. When she’s at school, Harper feels safe, organized, smart—which is not how life feels at home. True, her father’s drunken meanness no longer threatens the family, but when he abandoned them after the stillbirth of baby Flannery, money just doesn’t stretch the way it used to do. With the rent past due to Mrs. Early—a fact that Harper’s classmate Winnie Rae Early doesn’t let her forget—Harper’s mom moves them to a motel. But, as Mama takes on a second job trying to build up her bank account so they can find another place, she needs Harper to skip school to care for little brother Hemingway. Harper and Hem meet Lorraine, who doesn’t talk due to her own past tragedy, and Lorraine’s younger brother Randall, who introduce the children to Dorothy, an eccentric older woman who wears a man’s suit and pushes a wheel chair. Harper immediately takes to Dorothy, who seems to understand Harper’s need to put her thoughts into poems, a need almost as strong as the need to breathe for this thoughtful fifth grader. Although there is more loss to bear, and the future is not settled for Harper and her family, the reader is fairly confident that they will find a way to survive. Lorraine begins to find her own words again; Harper finds a way to share her words with a larger audience, and even Mama begins to write again by the end of this first novel by Leal.

Although the themes are not new—the drunken father abandoning the family, the loss of home and security, and plucky heroine who is able to help stabilize things for her mother and younger sibling, and the development of friendships in unlikely places—Leal is able to create in Harper an appealing young woman who will get under the reader’s skin. Harper is named for author Harper Lee, whose To Kill a Mockingbird Mama reads out loud to the children constantly as a way to evoke a sense of hope and honor in them. Harper’s own poems are scattered throughout the text and help her connect to Lorraine and Dorothy and to explore and understand her own feeling; she even finds a way to begin to understand the “evil” Winnie Rae. Those poems, while sometimes reflective of a more mature understanding of her circumstances than a normal ten year old might have, are insightful, skillfully written, and strong in voice. In being evicted from their comfortable known world, another opens up to this appealing family, a world into which the reader is easily pulled and then does not want to leave.

Reviewed by Lois T. Stover, Tall Timbers, MD

Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin
Simon & Schuster, 2009, 195 pp. $15.99
Autism/Writing/Family
ISBN:  978-1416963783

Labeled autistic at a young age, sixth grader Jason Blake IS a storyteller. The narrator of this story, Anything But Typical, Jason also crafts his own stories and posts them online through Storyboard. Although he has great difficulty talking to and interacting with others, Jason understands so much about the world around him. He begins THIS story explaining,

“People like to hear things in a way they are most comfortable. The way they are used to. The way they can most easily relate to, as if that makes it more real. So I will try to tell this story in that way. And I will tell this story in first person. I not he. Me not him. Mine not his.”

Jason is acutely aware of how he is perceived by others. Jason is knowledgeable about how he is supposed to respond to others. However, Jason cannot often make his body do what his mind tells it. In making the journey to the Storyboard convention, Jason learns that his written words give him power and that his family not only loves him, but depends on him, too.

Having this first person access to Jason’s thoughts shows readers the disconnect that often happens between the thoughts and actions of exceptional children. Readers come to understand that Jason—through much coaching and therapy—knows how to interact with others, but knowing and doing are quite different things. Anything But Typical is a great choice for younger adolescents. It would be an especially worthwhile read for those who interact with peers that have ASDs.

Reviewed by Kelly Byrne Bull, Baltimore, MD

Be a Genie in Six Easy Steps by Linda Chapman and Steve Cole
Harper, 2009, 326 pp., $16.99
Fantasy/Blended Families/Genies
ISBN: 978-0-06-125219-8

Be a Genie in Six Easy Steps is about four stepsiblings—Milly, Michael, Jason, and Jess—who are all on a quest to be genies. Their motivation for this goal, however, is not just about acquiring magic powers in general. It is about using those powers to leave London and the uncomfortable situation of living together because of their parents’ marriage.

The first few chapters narrate how the children come into possession of the magic lamp. Each of several subsequent chapters outlines the steps the protagonists must take in order to become genies. The last chapters narrate the plot’s resolution. Although the storyline is easy enough to follow, the main characters’ mission to be genies is interrupted sufficiently by some interesting twists that should keep young readers interested. A major plot device consists of young people reading a book to become powerful. The author manages to use this device in a way that readers may recognize, but should not find sentimental or preachy. On a more stylistic note, the book manages to build a story in a fantastical way, while also dealing with the reality that many children face in coming together as a blended family. The language of British English is used throughout the novel, but by pointing out a few words like “loo” to children, the idiomatic vocabulary should not hinder most readers. Overall, it is a fun read for its audience.

Reviewed by Mary Rice, Springville, UT

David Inside Out by Lee Bantle
Henry Holt, 2009, 184 pp., $16.99
ISBN: 978-8050-8122-0
Homosexuality/Relationships/Self-Acceptance/Track

“Coming out of the closet—the gay closet” is the theme of this heartfelt and quickly-paced young adult novel about an adolescent male who comes to terms with who he is—a boy who likes boys. Seventeen-year-old David is a track team runner, a fan of the author Barbara Taylor Bradford and the musical group the Supremes. He is also an emerging adolescent who is having a hard time accepting his homosexuality. Confused and lonely, David learns that his feelings about boys are not strange—even as he tries to suppress his feelings by flicking a rubber band on his wrist every time he thinks of ‘certain urges.’ Soon, David hooks up with two different people, his openly gay friend, Eddie, and Sean, the good-looking captain of the cross-country team, both of whom have a ‘thing’ for David. Together, they help David come to terms with who he is and why he feels the way he does.

Told briskly and succinctly, the short chapters in this compelling read tell how fragile adolescence is and how pivotal even the slightest gesture and feeling can be. David is a conflicted and complex individual who yearns for intimacy, but clearly has trouble defining his sense of normalcy. Running track proves to be David’s only solace, but, even there, he finds himself totally conflicted. While young girls like him, he is most attracted to his male teammates, confounding himself even more. Time moves quickly in this novel, and the characters are drawn with an eye for how they can emotionally define and validate
David’s feelings. With supportive characters, perceptive insights, and honest dialogue, David’s clumsy, but typical adolescent journey toward self-knowing will make a telling read for adolescents both straight and gay.

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kaplan, Orlando, FL

Distant Waves by Suzanne Weyn
Scholastic, 2009, 319 pp., $17.99
Relationships/Titanic/Spiritualists
ISBN: 978-0-545-08572-4

This is a story of five sisters brought up by a clairvoyant mother. They live in a town known for its spiritualists. For different reasons, the sisters long to live a different life away from home. Different opportunities give the girls a chance to get away from home. By a twist of fate the sisters all end up on the Titanic. Two of the sisters have the gift of seeing the future and soon start seeing disaster happen. They will all end up fighting for their survival.

This is a fresh take on the story of the Titanic. Ms. Weyn has developed characters that readers really care about. It was easy to sympathize with the desire the girls had to get away from home. The main character, Jane, was wise beyond her years. She had goals for life that were very modern for the time. This book utilized the famous people from
the Titanic (e.g., Benjamin Guggenheim and his mistress played an important part in this story). This is a novel students will enjoy reading.

Reviewed by Julie Rushton, South Jordan, UT

It’s Not You, It’s Me by Kerry Cohen Hoffman
Delacorte/Random House, 2009, 176 pp., $15.99
First Love/Relationships/Coming-of-Age
ISBN: 978-0-385-73696-1

Hoffman’s preface quote to the book is apropos as it mirrors the main character’s actions in the story until the end. Hoffman begins with the anonymous quote, “You don’t die from a broken heart. You only wish you had.” The protagonist, Zoe, lives by this motto taking the reader through thirty-one days after a breakup with her soul mate, Henry. He delivers the standard breakup line that doubles as the book’s title: It’s Not You, It’s Me. Zoe struggles to come to terms with this phrase and tries in earnest to change Henry’s mind. Zoe views every day as an opportunity to win back her love. She writes him poetry and, as her actions become obsessive, she stalks him as well as the girl that she perceives as her replacement, Madison. She even kisses Henry’s best friend. Finally, Zoe and her best friends conspire to get Henry back. The plan ends in a night of embarrassment for everyone involved. In the end, Zoe learns the consequences of obsessive desire.

This novel deals with the devastation of a first lost love and the ensuing internal turmoil. Told in a chronological day-by-day format, Zoe’s journey inspires sadness and laughter. Hoffman creates relatable characters and a topic (first love) that all girls must eventually negotiate. At times embarrassing and funny, the final lesson is one that teenage girls need to hear—loving oneself is more important than loving someone else. A quick read, this novel is one that middle school and high school teens will enjoy.

Reviewed by Joellen Maples, Rochester, NY

Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
Clarion, 2009, 304 pp., $16.00
Witchcraft/Time Travel/Romance
ISBN: 978-0-547-22399-5

Seventeen-year-old Tamsin Greene is not talented. Unlike everyone else in her family, her talent (her magic) never appeared—even despite her grandmother’s prophesy that she would become one of the most talented witches in her family’s history. Tired of being a social outcast and the subject of constant pity, when she is mistaken for her gifted older sister and asked to locate a mysterious wall clock by a man who appears in her grandmother’s bookstore, she accepts the challenge. However, as Tamsin begins to search for the heirloom, she quickly realizes that finding it may be more dangerous for her and her family than she anticipated. And when her lie is discovered and her sister disappears, Tamsin is required to travel through time to confront truths about herself, her family, and her talent.

Once a Witch is fast-paced and exciting, and as Tamsin tells her story, teen readers will empathize with her attempts to prove her worth to her family. They will also feel her anguish as she realizes—perhaps too late—the potentially dire consequences of her choices. Finally, readers will keep their fingers crossed as Tamsin reconnects with Gabriel, a friend from childhood who uses his talent to help her discover her own. Will their
friendship turn into love? Although much is resolved when the novel ends, MacCullough’s final pages suggest the possibility of a sequel.

Reviewed by Emily Meixner, Ewing, NJ

Secrets of Truth and Beauty by Megan Frazer
Disney/Hyperion, 2009, 347 pp., $15.99
Contemporary/Adolescent/Self-Esteem/Sexual Identity
ISBN: 978-1-4231-1711-7

Being the one who doesn’t fit in with the cool kids, the one with the low self esteem is very difficult to deal with on a daily basis. Add to that a huge family secret and an over controlling mother who constantly puts you down about your weight, and you’ve got a teenage girl who is trying to find herself. The main character, Dara, has been assigned a school project; she has to write an autobiography. After much discussion and encouragement from her classmates, she decides to make her autobiography about the days
when she participated in beauty pageants. After all she was Little Miss Maine! This project backfires and causes much trouble and turmoil for Dara and takes her down a path she never expected to go. Accusing Dara of using the autobiography project to hurt them, Dara’s parents pull her out of school and decide that she needs therapy. Dara decides she has had enough and leaves to find answers that she has been seeking about the family secret, but mostly to find peace of mind and find the answers she has been seeking for so
long. In the end Dara finds more than she intended.

Frazer touches upon real life issues that teenagers face every day: weight and sexual identity. There are parts of her book that are heart breaking and sad, while other parts put a smile on the reader’s face. She has written an easy read that has the reader wondering how this will end; will there be happiness for Dara?  Frazer brings to light the realization that the things we do in life describe us, they don’t define us. Frazer does a great job pointing out that it is other people and our relationships with them that make us who we are.

Reviewed by Priscilla A. Boerger, Boca Raton, FL

Tempo Change by Barbara Hall
Delacorte/Random House, 246 pp., $16.99
High School/ Music
ISBN: 978-0-385-73607-7

Blanch Kelly attends a private school on a scholarship, and she is forced into being in the Madrigals, the school chorus, to beef up her activities resume. There she meets a shy girl, Viv, who has the most beautiful voice she’s ever heard. When Blanche decides she’d rather start a band than be in the Madrigals, she recruits Viv to sing, Ella, a co-worker, to play drums, and her best friend, Gigi, to rock out on the keyboard. Blanche fills in the rest with her guitar and lyrics.

But, is Blanche forming this band to get into a good college or to get the attention of her faraway famous rock star father she only communicates with through sporadic email?  When the media find out who her father is, can the girls’ success be attributed to their talent or his fame?  And what will happen after the singer is lost in the woods and claims to have been saved by angels?

Tempo Change is a novel full of eccentric characters and compelling dialogue. The plot urges you forward into each surprising twist. This is not your typical high school music novel. This is an engaging tale of what family and being artistic really means.

Reviewed by Cynthia Mitchell, Satellite Beach, Fl

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, something tragic and surprising happens that 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 White Witch by Janet Graber
Roaring Brook, 2009, 160 pp. $17.95
History/Superstition/Survival
ISBN: 978-1-59643-337-3

It’s 1665 and the plague has hit London. Gwendoline Riston is a unique girl whose unearthly looks and healing abilities have always been followed by whispers of witchcraft. In the dour society of a post Cromwell rule, standing out is the last thing a motherless girl wants to do. When death, superstition, and fear arrive at her small village outside London, Gwen is left alone to face the blame for events outside of her control that may well lead to her death. How does a young girl keep her wits when the world around her is going up in flames and seems to be losing its mind?

Janet Garber’s engaging novel is appealing and seamlessly supported by historical events. Readers will enjoy the suspense and twists and gain insights into England’s Civil War between King Charles I and Cromwell’s Roundheads. The plague becomes a living and threatening villain, complete with rich and vivid imagery. The roots of homeopathic medicine provide a subtle authenticity to Gwen’s character and abilities, and the author’s notes add depth and insights into true events. I have just completed a historical fiction unit in my class, and this is an excellent novel I guarantee will be included as one of next year’s possible selections.

Reviewed by Sandra Fisher, Hiram, GA

A Wish after Midnight by Zetta Elliott
CreateSpace, 2008, 230 pp., $11.99
Civil War/Relationships/Racism
ISBN: 978-1441474247

Genna is a sixteen-year-old African American girl living in Brooklyn, New York, during the 1990s. Her life is not easy. Her single mother struggles to put food on the table, while Genna struggles to find friends that accept her—even though she cares about school more than clothes. Genna struggles with maintaining friendships, even with her siblings, until she meets Judah, a Rastafarian who understands her soul. The love seems like a
fairy-tale, until Genna wakes up in Brooklyn, New York, in 1860. It’s during this trip back in time that Genna comes to learn about herself, her race, and her history.

Zetta Elliott creates a beautiful, realistic story about the trials and tribulations of one girl— Genna—whether she lives in present day America, or that of the Civil War. Elliott does not talk down to her target audience, young adults, but instead writes about things they will relate to—drugs,  sex, racism, and love. Both teens and adults will relate to the fascinating
characters that Elliott creates. Elliott isn’t timid about creating situations that might cause the reader discomfort, which should only be applauded. The subjects discussed in this novel would be perfect to further delve into in either the classroom or the living room.

Reviewed by Jaime Williams, Acworth, GA