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:

Candor by Pam Bachortz
David Inside Out by Lee Bantle
Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines
Juggling Fire by Joanne Bell
L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad
The Last Newspaper Boy in America by Sue Corbett
Malice by Chris Wooding
Num8ers by Rachel Ward
Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard
Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink
Rose Sees Red by Cecil Castellucci
Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

Candor by Pam Bachortz
Egmont, 2009, 256 pp., $16.99
Mind Control/Utopia/Dystopia
ISBN: 978-1-60684-012-2

Candor is the ironic name for a town where residents cannot speak their minds because they have all been psychologically programmed not to do so. The mind control methods used, called Messages, have everyone convinced that they live in a perfect place. Everyone, that is, except Oscar. In a shed behind one of Candor’s model homes, Oscar runs a business, where he assists newly arrived teenagers in escaping the Candor community before the Messages get to them. When Oscar meets two of the latest move-ins, Sherman and Nia, his business and his life begin unraveling.

The young people in this book have sufficient depth. Their actions make sense, but they are not overly predictable. The adult characters are mostly flat, which contributes to the story’s plot, since Candor is supposed to be a place where round characters become flat. There is subtle teen sexuality, and there are consequences for sexuality that are obvious, but not didactic. The Messages that control the residents are the most significant piece for discussion in this book. What Messages permeate our society today? How should we judge what Messages are worth subscribing to and which are not?

Reviewed by Mary Rice, Springville, UT

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

As an adult who reads young adult literature, I’m sensitive to the difficulties teenagers face in their efforts to reconcile their desire for social acceptance with the need to embrace their own emergent identities. In David Inside Out, Lee Bantle demonstrates how complicated this process potentially is for homosexual young people. When his friend Eddie reveals that he is gay, David Dahlgren, a junior in high school and member of the cross-country team, chooses to distance himself from a relationship he fears will subject him to rumors. What makes David’s betrayal of Eddie worse is the knowledge that he has feelings for his teammate, Sean. To suppress these feelings, he begins reading “manly” magazines and wearing a rubber band he snaps whenever his thoughts stray to Sean. When Sean unexpectedly reveals his feelings for David, such actions no longer seem necessary. Because they fear the consequences of revealing their identities, the boys maintain a secret relationship. As the strain of living a dual existence mounts, one is left to wonder whether David will find Eddie’s strength and accept his sexual identity.

Though Bantle reveals David to be a complex figure, he does not develop other characters in like fashion. Likewise, seemingly unnecessary storylines, such as one involving a mother  who is attracted to her son’s friends, are introduced and abandoned without explanation, as are key characters (for example, the homophobic Parker with whom David is friends). These shortcomings notwithstanding, David is a likeable character and his story, though raw at times, is engaging. It is said that good stories allow readers to see themselves in the characters they read about and experience things they might not otherwise experience. Bantle’s novel succeeds on both counts.

Reviewed by Sean P. Connors, Columbus, OH

Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines
Bloomsbury, 2009, 324 pp., $16.99
Fantasy/Family/Relationships/Technology/Second Life
ISBN: 978-1-59990-372-9

At a time when technology is common place, Haines takes us to another level altogether in Girl in the Arena. Through a modern twist, a young girl, Lynn, is thrust into adulthood to care for her special needs brother and has to fight, literally, for what she wants—a normal life. After losing both her seventh and favorite father, as well as her mother to horrible deaths, Lynn is forced to make serious decisions and is determined to live life her way. Throughout the story she shows great strength and determination to leap over obstacles that are thrown her way. As she goes through her chosen course, she learns some important life lessons, discovers some hidden truths, makes new friends, and strengthens the friendship she already has.

Haines has produced a riveting story; one that brings the virtual world to life. The reader is bound to take a trip through a multitude of emotions. The characters in the story come to life in this well-written book; the reader can easily put a face to each of them. This is a great read not only for “techies,” but also for anyone who wants a good, exciting, and unique story.

Reviewed by Priscilla A. Boerger, Boca Raton, FL

Juggling Fire by Joanne Bell
Orca, 2009, pp., 171, $12.95
Family/Wilderness/Adventure
ISBN: 978-1-55469-094-7

Sixteen-year-old Rachel and her bloodhound/malamute Brooks trek through the Yukon wilderness, hoping to solve the mystery of her father’s disappearance some years before. Why did he leave? Where did he go? Is he still alive? Relieving the loneliness of her solitary quest through juggling and retelling fairy tales, Rachel journeys into her memories of her father to uncover clues to his disappearance and critical advice he gave her for surviving alone in the wilderness. Rachel and Brooks endure the elements and encounter bears and wolves in their epic quest.

Resonating the journey of Telemachus in search of his wandering father Odysseus, Rachel’s adventure is marked by both internal and external struggles, and her frequent juggling is symbolic of her attempt to reconcile disparate fragments of her life as she comes of age. The narrative structure is also a deft juggling act that weaves together several strands of past, present, and fantasy to create a rich portrait of a young woman on the brink of adulthood. The setting is vividly described throughout, with rich local color and concise details about the flora and fauna of the Yukon. The novel also earns high marks for its sensitive treatment of depression and family life.

Reviewed by Sean Kottke, Battle Creek, MI

L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad
HarperCollins, 2009, 324 pp., $17.99
Friendship/Hollywood/Self-Perception
ISBN: 978-0-06-176758-6

L.A. Candy is the debut novel by MTV reality star Lauren Conrad. It stars nineteen-year-old Jane Roberts, who has recently moved to Los Angeles with her BFF, Scarlett. Jane wants to make a name for herself during an internship to one of L.A.’s hottest event planners, but she and Scarlett end up being recruited for a brand new TV show—one the show’s producer describes as  “a reality version of Sex and the City, but a little more PG.” Overnight, the girls go from waiting in long lines to get into the city’s newest clubs
to being photographed by paparazzi as they leave them. With their newfound fame come unexpected benefits—and unexpected consequences. Will Jane and Scarlett embrace their new lives as reality television stars, or will the pressures prove to be too much?

Ms. Conrad has been there, done that, and now, with L.A. Candy, she has written an original story. It might be easy to write off her effort as Hollywood fluff, but her characters are carefully developed, and she captures the highs and lows of life (and love) in the spotlight in a believable and engaging manner. Fans of her own reality adventure, MTV’s The Hills, will be instantly drawn in. By the time you reach the last page, you too will be wondering what season two will bring.

Reviewed by Jessica M. Hosier, Rochester, NY

The Last Newspaper Boy in America by Sue Corbett
Dutton/Penguin, 2009, 204 pp., $16.99
Social Issues/Relationships/Mystery
ISBN: 978-0-525-42205-1

Wil David, namesake and great grandson of the illustrious hairpin inventor and founder of Steele, Pennsylvania, turns twelve and inherits the paper route that his family has worked for four generations. However, Steele’s next newspaper boy may very well be its last, as the owner of The Cooper County Caller has decided to end home delivery to the tiny factory town, where no one has cable, but everyone subscribes to the daily paper. What begins as one boy’s campaign to save a job he’s been training for all his life quickly evolves into a movement to restore civic pride and bring hope to a community that’s fallen on hard times. When the Cooper County Fair comes to town with a new game promising $1,000 to the player with crackerjack aim who can land a series of Frisbees on a difficult target, Wil must call upon all of his carefully honed newspaper tossing and library research skills. Can he beat the game and unite the citizens of Steele to fight for their beloved newspaper?

Reminiscent of Holes with its endearing and quirky characters, magical coincidences and carefully woven multigenerational storyline, Corbett has crafted a modern David and Goliath tale that feels timeless yet timely, reflecting contemporary anxieties over economic dislocation and the future of print journalism. Corbett’s writing style is engagingly whimsical; each chapter title is written like a headline, and the novel teems with a variety of print forms, from newspaper articles, editorials and emails to postcards, diaries, and student essays. Wil David himself is a fascinating character study, an info-maniac with prodigious research skills, a keen scientific mind, and a thirst for knowledge. While Steele, Pennsylvania, itself is fictional, Corbett does a fine job capturing the feel of thousands of real Rust Belt towns and their inhabitants.

Reviewed by Sean Kottke, Battle Creek, MI

Malice by Chris Wooding
Scholastic, 2009, 379 pp., $14.99
Adventure/Monsters/Magic
ISBN: 978-0-545-16043-8

Seth and Kady think that the popular notion that the world described in their favorite comic book Malice is a real place is a fun and silly rumor. No one believes, so they think, that if you collect the right things and say the right words, that you will be immediately transported to a mystifying and terrifying world that exists only inside a comic book. Yet, Seth and Kady’s suspicions are aroused when their friends suddenly disappear. Soon, though, curiosity gets the best of them, and they find themselves transported into an evil, upside down comic universe life with monsters, caves, dark corridors, and hidden booby traps, and no way to return.

Part straight narrative, part graphic novel, this is a young adult book that any middle school reader starving for a hair-raising adventure tale will find scrumptious. For inside this book, readers will find the gripping and terrifying story of how ordinary, curious, adventure-seeking youngsters disappear into a parallel universe—a mysterious comic book land known as Malice. Here, in this creepy techno world, these brave and daring young people encounter a multi-layered series of terrifying events with more evil twists and turns than can be found in a tightly-wound toy Slinky. Readers should beware—this young adult author plays for keeps and no character is truly safe inside this haunting read. From its 3D cover to its vivid third-person straight-forward narrative, this book is perfect for  reluctant readers—as this book is number one in the author’s  soon-to-be continuing series about scary teen-driven misadventures.

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kaplan, Orlando, FL

Num8ers by Rachel Ward
Chicken House/Scholastic, 2010, 325 pp., $17.99
Action/Adventure/Love & Romance/Science Fiction
ISBN: 978-0-545-14299-1

Rachel Ward’s novel, Num8ers, tells the story of fifteen-year-old Jem, who is living in London with her foster mother and lives a fairly typical teenage life, except for one thing—when she looks into other people’s eyes, she sees the date they are going to die. Throughout the story, the reader follows Jem as she finally befriends another person and learns to appreciate the time people have while they are alive.

Jem’s story is perfect for fourteen to eighteen year olds. She tells her story and experiences with seeing people’s death dates and the results of having such a “gift” in a thrilling, page-turning way. The chapters are short, and keep you wanting more of Jem’s exhilarating and frightening adventures and British slang. The teenage reader will identify easily with her.

Reviewed by Jane Monnat, Baldwinsville, NY

Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard
Razorbill/Penguin 2009, 238 pp., $8.99
Time Travel/Self-Confidence
ISBN: 978-1-59514-260-3

We have all felt like the odd person out on occasion, but for fifteen-year-old Calli, this is her life. She takes a summer trip to England with a group of girls in order to change her self-perception. Things are not going well and, in fact, she feels that if she buys a pair of Prada heels, she will be more like everyone else. Instead, she trips and falls; and suddenly, she has traveled back in time to England in 1815. How she got there and how she will return to the 21st century are a mystery. She comes to the Duke of Harksbury’s castle and is mistaken for a friend named Rebecca who is coming from America. Now Calli is definitely the stranger in a strange world who needs to fit in and find a way back to her world.

Mandy Hubbard’s first novel is one that will keep the reader hooked. The descriptions of life in the 1815s in England are fascinating, and readers want to know more about the life of a teenager from that time period.

Reviewed by Ann Wolf, Boca Raton, FL

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink
Little, Brown, 2009, 343 pp., $17.99
Fantasy/Mystery/Supernatural
ISBN: 978-0-316-02742-7

Is she dreaming, or is she truly separated from her body and exploring worlds similar and yet very different from our own?  A classic tale of the battle of good vs. evil, Prophecy of the Sisters presents readers with the eerie mystery of twins Lia and Alice. Set in the 1800s, Lia presents her story via
first-person, present tense narration—an effective and interesting perspective for the reader.

The future of the world rests upon Lia’s shoulders as she prepares to battle her sister who intends to allow evil to rule. Though predictable at times, the novel provides wonderful characterization, voice, and some truly shocking moments. Readers will want to read the sequel to explore the rest of Lia’s adventures.

Reviewed by Angie Beumer Johnson, Columbus, OH

Rose Sees Red by Cecil Castellucci
Scholastic, 2010, 208 pp., $$17.99
Friendship/Acceptance/Relationships/Social Issues/Historical
ISBN: 978-0-545-06079-0

Rose’s world has turned black. The best friend she made in fourth grade hates her. They had done everything together—everything Daisy wanted. When Rose made a decision on her own, she found that Daisy was no true friend. Now she has started at a high school for the Performing Arts, where she knows no one. She’s afraid to step out and make new friends; she’s afraid she isn’t talented enough and has nothing to offer. Everything changes when Yrena, the Soviet girl next door, climbs in through the window and prompts her to live in full technicolor. The two befriend each other, make more friends, experience the city, go to a No-Nukes rally and, of course, create a minor international incident.

Castellucci’s novel, set in New York during the Reagan Era and Cold War, is reminiscent of works familiar and iconic. At the start, Rose reminds us of Laurie Anderson’s Melinda in Speak. Yrena, like Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday, is escaping her restrictive life to experience the city. Under the vigilance of both CIA and KGB, Yrena has spent two years in New York without seeing the city, and Rose has spent her whole life not noticing it. While the novel becomes didactic in its heavy-handed dealing with the “why-can’t-we-all-just-get-along” message in the final chapters, the reader will relate enough with the characters to forgive that. Teen readers who have ever known the angst of isolation and inadequacy will love Rose and her guts to step beyond her insecurities. Castellucci uses the adventures of these teens to speak on a grand scale about international relations and nuclear disarmament, but the immediate message is Rose’s revelation that an authentic life brings real friends, exhilarating experiences, and a sense of belonging.

Reviewed by Lynne Vanderveen Smith, Biglerville, PA

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
Little, Brown, 2009, 323 pp., $17.99
Relationships/Adventure/Futuristic/Science Fiction
ISBN: 978-0-316-05621-2

The setting is 100 years in the future. Where? A shanty town in America’s Gulf Coast region—a place where grounded oil tankers are dissembled for their spare parts. There, in this creepy and desolate environment, a poor, scrappy, and starving teenager by the name of Nailer lives by his wits and whatever he can scrounge for food and survival. Yet, one day, in the distance, he spots on the vast blue ocean before him a new ship—one that appears to be most modern in appearance and design—crisply sailing the ocean’s waves. Suddenly, our hero becomes transfixed as he stares out to sea and dreams of a better life—and a way to reach this shining new vessel.

Fate and literature bring Nailer to his ‘dream ship,’ but nothing , as predicted, runs smoothly, and soon, he finds himself facing ethical dilemmas that would perplex individuals twice his age and fortune. A beautiful girl, lots of money and choices beyond his wildest imagination cloud his once quiet and uncomplicated universe. This exciting new voice in science fiction will delight readers with a strong penchant for relishing thought-provoking tales told with a futuristic bent. Not for the timid, this book is frank, violent, and deep in discussion and tone, but perfect for advanced readers with an eye for both the nitty-gritty of real life and the complexities of a future world gone mad.

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kaplan, Orlando, FL