Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova

Pages: 210

Intended Audience: Tweens and up

Genre: Graphic novel

Notes for Parents: Contains some bullying.

The Back Cover

Cardinal Rule #1 for Surviving School: Don’t get noticed by the mean kids.

Cardinal Rule #2 for Surviving School: Seek out groups with similar interest and join them.

On her first day at her new school, Penelope—Peppi—Torres reminds herself of these basics. But when she trips into a quiet boy in the hall, Jaime Thompson, she’s already broken the first rule, and the mean kids start calling her the “nerder girlfriend.” How does she handle this crisis? By shoving poor Jaime and running away!

Falling back on rule two and surrounding herself with new friends in the art club, Peppi still can’t help feeling ashamed about the way she treated Jaime. Things are already awkward enough between the two, but to make matters worse, he’s a member of her own club’s archrivals—the science club! And when the two clubs go to war, Peppi realizes that sometimes you have to break the rules to survive middle school.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

Svetlana Chmakova is an internationally published, award-winning manga author, with more than 10 published books and her work has been translated into over 13 languages. Born and raised in Russia, she moved to Canada at sixteen to finish high school and has a Classical Animation diploma from Sheridan College.

What’s good?

It’s funny. In fact, it’s hilarious! A simple plot and good pacing are the basis for this thoughtful story about friendship, awkward moments, apologies, and working together. The drawings are clean, done in muted colors, and the dialogue is genius. The plot balances depth with simplicity, promoting the importance of school involvement, and cleverly celebrating diversity. The characters are wonderful! While this graphic novel is aimed at middle school students, most people will be able to relate to the different characters and situation. Highlights include: the description of Ms. Tobins (pg. 19); Jaime’s hair; the kid obsessed with getting the word out about the dangers of sunspots; and the mug of “Student Tears.”

Best Part(s): I loved so many parts! But I’ll choose the “Design Gallery” and explanation of the drawing process found at the back of the book.

What isn’t good?

I suppose if I have to choose something, the classic plot about working together to achieve your goals makes the story a bit predictable.

Worst part: Nothing.

Recommendation ☻☻☻☻☻ (5/5)

Adorkable! Yes, that’s the perfect word for this fun and funny tale about two dueling school clubs – the art club versus the science club. The story touches on subjects such as fitting in, making friends, guilt, making amends, and so much more. This was a thoroughly entertaining, quick and easy read. Definitely recommended! 

Chmakova, Svetlana. Awkward. New York: Yen Press, 2015.

Fallout by Todd Strasser

Pages: 258

Intended Audience: Tweens and up

Genre: Speculative fiction (Alternate history)

Notes for Parents: Contains some mature scenes

The Back Cover

It’s the summer of 1962, and Scott and his friends spend their days playing baseball and thinking about girls. But the threat of nuclear war looms over everything they do, and they are haunted by the idea that they could all be dead tomorrow.

Even though the possibility of war is all anyone talks about, Scott’s dad is the only one in the neighborhood who actually prepares for the worst, building a bomb shelter to protect his family and stocking it with enough supplies to keep them alive for two critical weeks. The neighbors scoff, but then, in the middle of the night in late October, the unthinkable happens. Suddenly ten people are crammed into a shelter built for four. Ten people eating the food meant for four, breathing the air meant for four. Ten people struggling to survive—but what will await them when they eventually emerge?

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The author has a very personal connection to this story in that his family was one of those few who built a bomb shelter in the 1960s. Read the “Author’s Note” at the back of the book!

What’s good?

It’s a modern day Noah’s Ark story when Scott’s dad is ridiculed for building a bomb shelter in the backyard. But no one is laughing when the sirens sound and the bombs drop sending Scott and his family, and six other unexpected people underground, trapping them together until the radiation dissipates. The plot is simple but filled with tension and complications. The pace is quick with Scott’s narrative flipping between his innocent childhood before the sirens sound, and his horrifying new reality in the bomb shelter. This is less of an adventure and more of a character study as Scott is more disturbed by the behavior of the adults than the arrival of nuclear war. The story touches lightly, but learnedly, on many subjects including the origins of the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, racism, segregation, communism, the effects of nuclear radiation, and the senselessness of mutually assured destruction. Difficult decisions, disturbing moments, and complex problems make this a provocative and compelling story.

Best Part: The exchange between the boys and their teacher when they’re kept in at recess for bad behavior.

What isn’t good?

There are some mature scenes (like alcohol being served to minors and Ronnie’s tawdry obsessions) that ring true but don’t actually add to the story in any useful way. Scott’s friend’s nicknames are annoying, especially Why Can’t You Be Like Johnny? Mr. McGovern is too patronizing while Scott’s dad is too tolerant, though it’s hard to guess how anyone would act in such a situation. The ending was appropriate, yet felt like the beginning of something. Things were just starting to happen – and then it was over.

Worst part: Scott’s essay about why people don’t want negroes to go to college

Recommendation ☻☻☻☻☻ (5/5)

The Cold War reached its height in the 1960s when both sides (essentially the US and Russia) were heavily armed with nuclear weapons. The fear of nuclear war was so real, that schools had air raid drills, and some families built bomb shelters. While the bombs never dropped, what if they had? Fallout tells an unsettling tale of what might have happened if a nuclear war had been waged. This story offers historical insight, moral quandaries, and is an excellent character study for the middle grades. Highly recommended. 

Strasser, Todd. Fallout. New York: Scholastic, 2013.

The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller

Pages: 258

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Romance

Notes for Parents: Mild language

The Back Cover

On the outside, seventeen-year-old Madelyne Summers looks like your typical blond cheerleader—perky, popular, and dating the star quarterback. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl’s body isn’t just unknown, it’s anti-known. And she needs to keep it that way.

Summer is the only time Maddie lets her real self out to play, but when she slips up and the adorkable guy behind the local comic shop’s counter uncovers her secret, she’s busted. Before she can shake a pom-pom, Maddie’s whisked into Logan’s world of comic conventions, live-action role-playing, and first-person-shooter video games. And she loves it. But the more she denies who she really is, the deeper her lies become…and the more she risks losing Logan forever.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the author’s first novel.

What’s good?

This sweet romance was fun and quirky and has one of the best epic battle scenes I’ve read in a while. The geek factor is high, comic books are like gold, and the message is clear – be yourself, unless you can be an elven princess, then be an elven princess. The pace is even and moves well, and the plot is simple and easy to follow. The main character, Maddie, is well-drawn, and the supporting characters are interesting and likeable.

Best Part: Laowyn versus the dark fairy.

What isn’t good?

The story was extremely predictable. If it wasn’t for the comic book references and LARPing, this would have been the template for every story where a girl lies, then lies some more, there are so many lies, then her crush finds out and it’s probably over but…you know how it goes. As much as I enjoyed the battle scene, even that outcome was expected. I didn’t know what her big plan at the end was, so that was unexpected. Although I did like Maddie’s character, it was hard to be sympathetic toward a character that’s too afraid or embarrassed to be herself, and deals with it by lying to everyone around her. Is liking comic books really that bad?

Worst part: “He killed that cop on accident.”

Recommendation ☻☻☻☺☺ (3/5)

Reading this was a great change from all the heavy, emotional YA novels out there lately. It was light and entertaining, and requires very little effort. I enjoyed it despite the foreseeable outcomes. This doesn’t quite earn four checkmarks (perhaps three and a half) but this is the perfect summer read.

Miller, Leah Rae. The Summer I Became a Nerd. Fort Collins, CO: Entangled Teen, 2013.

Young Elites by Marie Lu

Pages: 355

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Notes for Parents: There are scenes of violence and mature themes

The Back Cover

A decade ago, a deadly blood fever swept through the nation. Most of the infected perished, but some survivors were left with strange markings, rumored to signify powerful gifts for those who possess them. And though their identities remain secret, this group of survivors has come to be called The Young Elites.

The Inquisition Axis seeks to destroy them. The Dagger Society aims to find them before the Inquisition Axis. And Adelina Amouteru just wants to be left alone. But two truths will soon surface.

Adelina’s powers are far from ordinary…and she is not to be crossed.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the first book in a series.

What’s good?

This is a lyrical and emotive adventure story full of secrets, betrayal, and danger. Characterization is strong, and will likely get even better as the series progresses. Adelina is a main character in chaos. She’s on the edge of good and evil and it will be interesting to see how her character develops later on. The plot is simple, but there was plenty of action, tension, and romance. There were also a few interesting twists and turns. The ending was unexpected.

Best Part: Adelina is a wonderfully flawed and troubled character; and Raffaele is my favorite.

What isn’t good?

The plot is fairly predictable, though there were a few things I didn’t see coming. The pace was inconsistent, but the slow parts were only moderately slow and the fast bits were action-packed. The world-building was minimal and the setting was confusing – a fantasy world on another planet (three moons) that takes a lot from Renaissance Italy. It felt kind of…lazy.

Worst part: The quotes at the beginning of each chapter were pointless.

Recommendation ☻☻☻☺☺ (3/5)

I gave it three checkmarks, but it’s more like three and half. This was a good introduction to what could be a great series. While the premise was a little thin, the characters drove the story and were well-drawn. I admire how the author played on the balance of power and blurred the lines between good and evil. There is a lot of potential here.

Lu, Marie. The Young Elites. New York: Speak, 2014.