Slob by Ellen Potter

Pages: 199

Intended Audience: Tweens and up

Genre: Real life / Social issues

Notes for parents: Contains issues of bullying and grief

The Back Cover

Give them back, I hissed.

Unfortunately, I was standing by the messed-up side of his face so that when he looked up, I was staring full-on at the misshapen sneer and the milky blue eye.

“Give what back?” he snarled.

“You know what.” I was trying to avoid saying it because it sounded sort of ridiculous. “Give me back my cookies.”

“Your cookies?” he snorted. “What would I want with your cookies?”

I stood there for a minute feeling especially fat. I mean, I always feel fat, but sometimes I feel like a boulder. And I just stand there, letting it happen because I’m a boulder and that’s what boulders do.

What the Back Cover doesn’t tell you:

I’m not sure I like when the description is taken straight from the book, but somehow this one works. Owen is a fat kid trying to survive a world full of cruel kids, crueller adults, harsh memories and hopeful dreams.

What’s good?

Owen had my heart from the very beginning. I wanted so badly for everything to work out well for him. I love how Owen sees his situation so matter-of-factly and relates his story with such unfiltered honesty. The author’s humour and beautiful use of language hooked me immediately so I’m looking forward to reading more by her.

Best part: The Nemesis. I prayed it would pift and his hopes would be realized.

What’s not so good?

There was definitely something likeable about Owen’s sister Jeremy (yes, Jeremy…sort of), but the entire purpose of her political crusade was completely lost on me.

Worst part: GWAB – I didn’t understand the point.

Recommendations þþþþo

I definitely recommend this for tweens, but I think it will be enjoyed by everyone. Owen is so endearing and so determined to be himself that it’s impossible not to cheer for him.

Potter, Ellen. SLOB. New York: Penguin, 2009

Accomplice by Eireann Corrigan

Pages: 296

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Real life / Social issues / Suspense-Mystery

Notes for parents: Mild language and a few mature themes

The Back Cover

They’ve gotten good grades—but that’s not good enough. They’ve spent hours on community service—but that’s not good enough. Finn and Chloe’s advisor says that colleges have enough kids with good grades and perfect attendance, so Chloe decides they’ll have to attract attention another way. She and Finn will stage Chloe’s disappearance, and then, when CNN is on their doorstep and the nation is riveted, Finn will find and save her. It seems like the perfect plan—until things start to go wrong. Very wrong.

It was suppose to be a victimless crime. Finn was supposed to be the good accomplice, and Chloe was supposed to be the hidden object of attention. But when things intensify, situations become more and more extreme…and what once seemed victimless isn’t so innocent anymore.

What the Back Cover doesn’t tell you:

The cover tells you just enough.

What’s good?

Once I got past the first 50 pages, I couldn’t stop reading. I had to see how it would end. The setup was surprisingly believable and the secrets and lies made for a compellingly complex story. The plot undulated between innocence and guilt and I flipped often between wanting the girls’ plan to succeed and desperately wanting them to be found out. All of the characters—main and supporting—we’re well-crafted and relatable.

Best part: Dean West – ultimately he’s the one I was cheering for.

What’s not so good?

It took me a long time to get into this book. It was a while before I felt any sympathy for these girls who were duping a whole town. I didn’t like their reasoning, their methodology or their need for attention. However, it all comes out in the wash as it becomes apparent that their actions have more consequences than even they imagined.

Worst part: The end, kind of. It was unsatisfying and yet, I don’t know how it should have ended. Maybe that makes it a great ending. I don’t know.

Recommendations þþþoo

It loses checkmarks for the slow beginning and unsettled ending, but gains for great characterization and excellent plotting. This isn’t a must read in my book, but it’s definitely a good read. Very entertaining.

Corrigan, Eireann. Accomplice. New York: Scholastic, 2010

Virals by Kathy Reichs

Pages: 454

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Supernatural / Suspense / Mystery

Notes for parents:  Some language and violence, but nothing excessive

The Back Cover

Adventure has always been in fourteen-year-old Tory Brennan’s blood. After all, she is the niece of world-famous forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan. So when she moves to middle of nowhere Morris Island, South Carolina, to live with a marine biologist dad she’s never known, Tory does the best she can to adjust to her new life.

There she meets a group of local kids who are just as “Sci-Phile” as she is—science geeks who’ve grown up exploring the backwoods marshlands of nearby Loggerhead Island. But there’s something strange going on at the Loggerhead Research Institute … maybe even something deadly. After rescuing a stray wolfdog pup from a top-secret lab, Tory and her friends are exposed to a rare strain of canine parvovirus, changing them---and their DNA—forever.

Now, with newly heightened senses and canine-quick reflexes, they’ll have to solve a cold-case murder that’s suddenly become very hot … that is, if they can stay alive long enough to catch the killer’s scent.

Fortunately, they are now more than friends.

They are a pack.

They are virals.

What the Back Cover doesn’t tell you:

In case you didn’t know, Temperance Brennan is the main character in Reichs’ adult novels, and the inspiration for the t.v. series Bones.

What’s good?

The story has a solid flow with action, suspense and humour in all the right places. Tory and her three cohorts are well-drawn, likeable characters and there’s a good supporting cast. The location itself—Charleston, South Carolina, with its picturesque downtown, and interesting outer islands—takes on a role of its own.

Best part: Coop.

What’s not so good?

Who are these kids? They know about sonicators, epiphyseal fusion, post-war dog tags, canine diseases, PIS, DNA…seriously!? Tory is suppose to be 14-years-old! She’s so smart she skipped a grade. If she was that smart she’d be working on her PhD! Dr. Karsten, a professor and scientist, is too stupid to change the default code on a keyless lock, but Tory can identify the age and gender of a dead body based on a visual examination. Not believable.

Worst part: “Healthy dentition. Wisdom teeth not fully erupted…” – This was Tory examining the body. That was the moment I stopped believing I was reading about a 14-year-old.

Recommendations þþooo

The author’s attempt at a strong female character is sabotaged by her shortcuts. Instead of making Tory resourceful, Reichs gave her mindboggling intelligence. Instead of forcing her to deal with the mature world--which could have added to the suspense-- Reichs made the adults oblivious so they could be ignored.  There was a lot of tension, danger and mystery, and the story was definitely entertaining, but I was constantly distracted by the details. If the author had made the characters a little older, the adults a little less clueless, and made the ending a little less ridiculous, this could have been a great story.

Reichs, Kathy. Virals. New York: Penguin, 2010

Fat Cat by Robin Brande

Pages: 327

Intended Audience: Tweens and Teens

Genre: Real Life / Social Issues

Notes for parents: None.

The Back Cover

Cat before: Smart, funny, fat.

Cat after: Smart, funny, hot.

What’s her secret? A no-holds-barred science experiment…with Cat as the guinea pig. Can her combination of brains and bravery help Cat avenge herself against the guy who broke her heart—and maybe even turn him into an experiment of her own?

What the Back Cover doesn’t tell you:

Cat is in Mr. Fizer’s legendary AP Science class where entering the science fair is compulsory and your topic is based on a picture you pull from The Stack. In an attempt to win the science fair and beat her nemesis, former best friend Matt, Cat decides on an ambitious experiment that will require her to completely change her lifestyle.

What’s good?

It’s funny, it’s charming, and it exemplifies some great life lessons. The benefits of a healthy lifestyle are realized gradually, but never overpower the main message that we should like people just the way they are, and love ourselves just the way we are. There are other great messages about sibling relationships, friendship, abstinence, love, determination, and so much more. The story is never preachy, the characters are engaging and realistic, and the plot cleverly twists and turns as Cat battles cravings, makes revelations, and navigates her journey toward a healthier well-being.

Best part: Amanda and her great one-liners.

What’s not so good?

Embedded into all of these great messages was an annoying insistence that hair, makeup, and clothing are a necessary part of physical beauty. I guess the author was trying to say that looking good makes you feel good, but I’m not sure if the message was clear.

Worst part: The cover made me crave potato chips every time I picked up the book.

Recommendations þþþþþ
This book spoke loudly to me personally. This is a charismatic, well-written, witty story that I highly recommend.

Brande, Robin. Fat Cat. New York: Ember, 2009.

Wake by Lisa McMann

Pages: 210

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Supernatural

Notes for parents: Some use of the f-word and some scenes of violence and sexuality in dream sequences.

The Back Cover

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people’s dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie’s seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can’t tell anybody about what she does—they’d never believe her, or worse, they’d think she’s a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn’t want and can’t control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else’s twisted psyche. She is a participant…

What the Back Cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the first book in a series about a girl who gets sucked into the dreams of the people around her.

What’s good?

This is an easy, fast-paced read with an interesting premise. The characters are well-drawn and the storyline is compelling. The author’s simple writing style is refreshing and the mystery of Janie’s abilities creates an exciting narrative that pretty much guarantees I’ll be picking up the next book in the series.

Best part: Miss Stubin’s “catcher” comment.

What’s not so good?

Many of the dream sequences seem a little too organized or conveniently topical. Maybe this just bothers me because my own dreams rarely make any sense. Cabel’s involvement with Captain seems too casual, but it’s ultimately believable. Janie’s alcoholic mother’s emotional and physical absence seems a little too handy. Perhaps more of her story will be revealed in other books in the series, but in Wake it just seemed like a convenient way to keep mom out of the way.

Worst part: Janie’s mom.  

Recommendations þþþþo

An excellent dive into the paranormal. It’s by no means mind-blowing, but it’s a well-written and engaging story.

McMann, Lisa. Wake. New York: Simon Pulse, 2008.

Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu

Pages: 210

Intended Audience: Teens & Mature Tweens

Genre: Real life / Social issues

Notes for parents: Contains issues of hoarding behaviour and death.

The Back Cover

From the outside, Lucy’s home looks normal. The secrets are all on the inside: Towering piles of newspapers and magazines; bags of junk flooding every inch of open space; a rotting smell permeating the air. This is the awful truth she’s kept hidden—that her mother’s hoarding has overwhelmed their lives with garbage and shame.

With only two years until graduation, Lucy plans on maintaining the lies until it’s her turn for a normal life, one where she can be honest with her friends…and maybe even have a boyfriend. But when she comes home one morning to find a situation she might not be able to cover up, Lucy must make a decision. Should she finally tell the truth? Or find a way to keep their secret forever?

What the Back Cover doesn’t tell you:

It doesn’t tell you what “situation” Lucy comes home to, which is perfect! You have to read the book to find out and I must say that I did not see it coming.

What’s good?

This is a disconcerting look at the impact that hoarding has on a teenage girl. You can’t help but feel waves of compassion for this girl who just wants a normal life. The opportunity to escape her mother’s behaviour comes in the form of a shockingly tragic discovery. Watching her try to fix things is gut-wrenching. How it would end remained a complete mystery to me right up until the last chapter, and I was stunned. The story was built up skillfully and the end was pulled off to perfection.

Best part: The end.

What’s not so good?

Oddly, the end. As brilliant as the surprise ending was, I think she– both the character and the author—made the wrong choice. For Lucy, her choice was still going to garner the media attention she so desperately wanted to avoid, and it’s likely the truth of it all would come out eventually and she would have even more questions to answer. For the author, it seemed like a cop out. Ultimately it felt to me like the best part of the story would have happened afterwards – dealing with her family, her friends, family services, public reaction, etc. I feel like I was denied. But then, maybe that’s the intention.

Worst part: The end.

Recommendations þþþþo

An excellent story! Lucy’s reaction and ultimately decision seem very realistic in hindsight since she was placed in an impossible situation by her mother. It’s a fascinating read.

Omololu, C.J. Dirty Little Secrets. New York: Bloomsbury, 2010.

Crazy by Hans Nolan

Pages: 348

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Real life / Social issue

Notes for parents: Contains issues of mental illness.

The Back Cover

Fifteen-year-old Jason has perfected the art of invisibility. His mother has died, his father is going crazy, and Jason is trying to hold his crumbling home together while not drawing attention to his father’s deteriorating mental condition. He can rely on no one except the characters in his head, who speak to him and offer guidance as he stumbles through life. But Jason’s well-honed habit of invisibility falls away when his sudden impulses at school finally get him noticed and he is forced to attend lunchtime counselling sessions.

Fearing exposure, Jason is hesitant to share with the three other students who join him for these lunchtime sessions – but soon his father goes missing. Turning to the others seems to be Jason’s only way out. Together, the four navigate their lives and learn to support one another, becoming a family of sorts. And when his father is committed and Jason is taken in by a foster family, he truly discovers that he cannot do everything on his own.

What the Back Cover doesn’t tell you:

Actually, the back cover tells you everything. I hate when the description gives you the entire story! So much for creating a little suspense…

What’s good?

I was with Jason every step of the way. The author does a fabulous job of creating a sympathetic character. I felt his fear and frustration and the deep love he has for his father and I laughed at the way he coped using his inner voices. All of the characters—real and imaginary—are very well developed and fit perfectly in this very emotional experience with mental illness.

Best part: Crazy Glue.

What’s not so good?

I have no complaints. The laugh track seemed a little unnecessary at times, but it wasn’t terrible.

Worst part: Laugh track, I guess.

Recommendations þþþþo

If you like emotional rides, great characters, and a hope-filled story, then this is the book for you!

Nolan, Hans. Crazy. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2010. 

Held by Edeet Ravel

Pages: 245

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: psychological thriller

Notes for parents: Contains mature themes of danger and fear and also elements of sexual behaviour.

The Back Cover

Seventeen-year-old Chloe's summer vacation in Greece comes to an abrupt end when she is suddenly blindfolded and whisked away to an unidentified location. Waking up from a drug-induced sleep, she is seized by terror and imagines the worst. After several days of utter despair, Chloe is relieved when her hostage-taker appears. His revelation that she is being held ransom for a prisoner exchange, however, does little to allay her fears. Haunted by frightening dreams, and with only her thoughts to keep her company, Chloe fights to remain calm. Will her captor ever let her go? And will she be the same person once she’s free?

What the Back Cover doesn’t tell you:

The story is less about her abduction and more about the relationship she develops with her captor. Held explores the concept of Stockholm Syndrome, a psychological phenomenon in which the hostage develops feelings of sympathy for the hostage-taker. Chloe’s isolation leads her to look forward to her captor’s visits and eventually she begins to have serious feelings for him.

What’s good?

The pace is fast and the story is riveting. At the beginning I felt Chloe’s fear and loneliness. The anxiety of her situation was palpable. I felt her relief when her captor would show up after days of her being alone. I felt like I was watching Chloe through a camera hidden in the corner of that large, empty warehouse. The hostage-taker was intriguing and eerily likeable. His motives appeared well-intentioned and at times made his horrible crime seem logical.

Best part: The ending was perfect!

What’s not so good?

Chloe’s inability to recognize how inappropriate her feelings are seems unrealistic, and her willingness to voice how she feels seems way too bold. I don’t know what I would do in Chloe’s situation, but I hope that I would at least internalized my feelings better than Chloe did. As much as this bothered me, the ending made up for it.

Worst part: Chloe’s declaration of love.

Recommendations þþþþo

Highly recommended for anyone looking for an exhilarating read about a topic rarely discussed.

Ravel, Edeet. Held. Toronto: Annick Press, 2011.

When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt

Pages: 227

Intended Audience: Tweens

Genre: Coming-of-age

Notes for parents: Contains issues concerning parental separation, death of a sibling, obesity and teasing, religious baptism, and the Vietnam war.

Other notes: National Book Award Winner (USA)

The Back Cover

Toby Wilson is having the toughest summer of his life. It’s the summer his mother leaves for good. The summer his best friend’s brother is serving in Vietnam. And the summer Zachary Beaver, the fattest boy in the world, arrives in Toby’s sleepy Texas town. While it’s a summer filled with heartache, it’s also a summer of new friendships gained and old friendships renewed. And it’s Zachary Beaver who turns the town of Antler upside down and leaves everyone, especially Toby, changed forever.

What the Back Cover doesn’t tell you:

The story takes place during the Vietnam War, so likely the late 60s or early 70s. Zachary Beaver is part of a one-man traveling “freak show.”

What’s good?

Pretty much everything. This is a coming-of-age story with affable, sympathetic characters, a simple yet unique story, a down-to-earth setting, and loads of sentiment. Not surprisingly, the book was made into a movie in 2003.

Best part: The baptism.

What’s not so good?

At times, perhaps, the story can get a little too quaint, but ultimately I think that’s part of the charm.

Worst part: None come to mind.

Recommendations þþþþo

This isn’t likely to appeal to older teens because the main characters are around 13ish, but anyone who enjoys a well-written, well-told story will appreciate this book. This one-of-a-kind story moved quickly and unfolded with unpredictability and grace.

Holt, Kimberly Willis. When Zachary Beaver Came to Town. New York: Square Fish, 1999.

The Prank by Ashley Rae Harris

Pages: 106

Intended Audience: Mature Tweens and Teens

Genre: Paranormal Suspense

Notes for parents: Some violence and death (May not be suitable for sensitive readers)

The Back Cover

Pranks make Jordan nervous. But when a group of popular kids invites her along on a series of practical jokes, she doesn’t turn them down. As the pranks begin to go horribly wrong, Jordan and her crush, Charlie, work to discover the cause of the accidents. Is the spirit of a prank victim who died twenty years earlier to blame? And can Jordan stop the final prank, or will the haunting continue?

What the Back Cover doesn’t tell you:

Nothing, really. The back cover says it all. Jordan gets pulled into participating in some pranks. Even though she knows she’s being used, she goes along in order to spend time with the cute boy, Charlie. The pranks go wrong, leading to some horrible outcomes. Jordan and Charlie try to figure out what’s behind it all.

What’s good?

The book is short and fast-paced making it ideal for a reluctant reader. The build up is well-done considering how short the actual story is. Jordan is likeable and her nemesis, Briony, is equally dislikeable. The moral of the story is pretty clear – don’t hate. And stand up to people who do hateful things.

Best part: The story of Lizzie and Chelsea.

What’s not so good?

Everything is fairly predictable. It’s impossible to really flesh out characters and build a back story in a book that’s only 106 pages so most of the story doesn’t get past the superficial stage.

Worst part: The ghost

Recommendations þþooo

It’s a great book for someone who doesn’t like to read or who has trouble reading complex stories – which is the intended audience. I don’t really recommend it for anyone looking for substance.

Harris, Ashley Rae. The Prank. Minneapolis: Darby Creek Pub., 2011.