Blank by Trina St. Jean

Pages: 299
Intended Audience: Teens
Genre: Real life / Trauma
Notes for Parents: There are a few mature scenes and mild coarse language.

The Back Cover

It’s all fun and games until someone loses an I.
Jessica’s life is one big question mark.
She doesn’t remember a thing about the accident that put her in a coma.
She doesn’t recognize her family and friends.
Her moods range from sadness to full-on rage.
Would she be better off running away and starting a new life?
Or should she stay where she is and accept that she may never remember her past?

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the author’s first novel.

What’s good?
So much of who we are develops from our life experiences. So who do we become when we can’t remember those experiences? This story is a fairly easy treatment of what is a very complicated issue. The main character, Jessica, as well as most of the supporting characters, struggle with what comes next after Jessica loses her memory. Short chapters and a simplified plot highlight the frustration and uncertainty that everyone feels, especially Jessica, who doesn’t even recognize the face she sees in the mirror. The characters are well-drawn. Jessica’s parents, little brother, old friends, and new friend all contribute to her efforts to get to know the person she was before – and decide if that’s who she wants to be again.
Best Part: the dog.

What isn’t good?

The story moved slowly. While nothing about the book was terrible, nothing really stood out for me either. I could sense Jessica’s frustration, but never really related to her situation. Her memory loss seemed inconsistent at times, making her situation feel less dire than what was probably intended. A lot of her weariness came from misunderstandings and impatience.
Worst part: Nothing was terrible.

Recommendation þþþoo

It was good, but not great. Again I’ll say, there was nothing bad, there just wasn’t anything overly original. She had amnesia, yet there were hints, even at the beginning when she knows her brother’s nickname, that suggests the damage won’t be permanent. The fear and frustration were palpable, but the necessary urgency wasn’t there.

St. Jean, Trina. Blank. Victoria, B.C.: Orca Book Publishers, 2015.

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

Pages: 240
Intended Audience: Tweens and up
Genre: Graphic novel
Notes for Parents: Nothing to worry about.

The Back Cover

Twelve-year-old Astrid has always done everything with her best friend Nicole. So when Astrid signs up for roller derby camp, she assumes Nicole will too. But Nicole signs up for dance camp with a new friend instead, and so begins the toughest summer of Astrid’s life.
There are bumps and bruises as Astrid learns who she is without Nicole…and what it takes to be a strong, tough roller girl.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the author’s first graphic novel for middle-grade readers.

What’s good?

This is a story about friendship, self-doubt, perseverance, and hard work. It’s witty and expressive with bold, colorful drawings and a strong main character with an indomitable spirit. Characterization is excellent, the story is gritty yet heartwarming, and the lessons are about change, sacrifice and hard work. It’s a quick and easy read with a simple plot and great storytelling. The pacing is smooth and swift and Astrid’s mom and roller derby jammer Rainbow Bite are excellent adult role-models.
Best Part: The derby names!

What isn’t good?

Wow, I can’t think of anything I didn’t like! Astrid was perfectly imperfect, a typical coming-of-age twelve-year-old who is a little whiney, a little dishonest, and extremely relateable. The artwork is bold and clear, just the way I like it, and the dialogue is expressive and funny.
Worst part: None!

Recommendation þþþþþ

This story has a “pick yourself up and dust yourself off” kind of vibe. It’s gritty without being coarse, and uplifting without being corny. It was entertaining from start to finish. Highly recommended!

Jamieson, Victoria. Roller Girl. New York: Scholastic, 2015.

A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman

Pages: 307
Intended Audience: Mature Tweens
Genre: Novel in Verse
Notes for Parents: There are some mature scenes.

The Back Cover

Veda is a prize-winning dancer, skilled in the fine art of traditional Indian Bharatanatyam.
Then she is injured in a bus accident, and her right leg must be amputated below the knee. Her dance teacher does not believe she will ever dance again.
But Veda is too passionate to abandon her dream and finds a new teacher who shares her hope. And though she must relearn even the most basic of steps, his faith in her allows her to reclaim the art form that has brought her so much joy.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The author was born in India and now lives in the United States. She is a trained oceanographer.

What’s good?

This is an emotional story told lyrically in verse about a dancer who loses her leg in an accident. It’s a beautiful portrait of a culture, a country (India), and a dance form (Bharatanatyam). While the narrative focuses on perseverance and resilience, this is also a story about Veda’s relationships with her family, her friends, and her teachers. It also develops into a sweet love story. Characterization is well down, the plot is simple, and the writing is strong.
Best Part: Veda is an inspiring character.

What isn’t good?

My only complaint is that the story moved a little slow. This was a character-driven story that relied on emotion, so the pace was a gentle flow of grief and determination rather than a heart-pounding adventure. The outcome was fairly predictable.
Worst part: Nothing was terrible.

Recommendation þþþþo

This was a simple and easy-to-read tale about a girl dealing with adversity. Rhythmic, expressive, and passionate, this story was beautifully told. There is no action or adventure, it’s a story about struggle, passion, and hard work. Readers who can relate to those things will enjoy this novel. Recommended.

Venkatraman, Padma. A Time to Dance. New York: Scholastic, 2014.

The Cat at the Wall by Deborah Ellis

Pages: 144
Intended Audience: Mature Tweens
Genre: Real life / War
Notes for Parents: Contains violence and mature themes

The Back Cover

On Israel’s West Bank, a cat sneaks into a small Palestinian house that has just been commandeered by two Israeli soldiers. The house seems empty, until the cat realizes that a little boy is hiding beneath the floorboards.
Should she help him?
After all, she’s just a cat.
Or is she?

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The author has been to Israel and Palestine more than once and observed the conflict there in person. In 2004 she released a book called Three Wishes, a collection of interviews with Palestinian and Israeli children.

 

What’s good?
The complexities of the Israel-Palestine conflict are simplified by a 13-year-old girl from America who dies and returns to the world as a cat living on the wall that divides the two countries at war. With a unique storytelling style, the plot unfolds inadvertently while Clare the cat seeks shelter, and food, and perhaps a little love. Clare is a fascinating protagonist, but difficult to like, both as a bratty girl and an apathetic cat. However, character development is key, and Clare’s growth is subtle but very well done. The pace is good, the chapters are short, and at 144 pages, it’s an especially quick read.
Best Part: Desiderata by Max Ehrmann

What isn’t good?

It’s hard to expect more from a middle-school book about the Israel-Palestine conflict. Perhaps the conflict was too simplified, and maybe the characters could have been more fleshed out, but I never felt bothered by any of it. The story was not political; it was a poignant observation that focused on the results of war rather than the reasons for it.
Worst part: There was nothing I didn’t like.

Recommendation þþþþo

The story was sweet without being sappy, and honest without being too graphic. It has conflict and emotion, but is easy to read. It doesn’t provide a whole lot of information about the actual Israel-Palestine conflict, but it does provide a window into life in a war zone. I liked it. Recommended.

Ellis, Deborah. The Cat at the Wall. Toronto: Groundwood Books, 2014.

Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature by Robin Brande

Pages: 265
Intended Audience: Teens
Genre: Drama / Romance
Notes for Parents: Contains discussions about religion versus science.

The Back Cover

Your best friend hates you.
The guy you liked hates you.
Your entire group of friends hates you.
All because you did the right thing.
Welcome to life for Mena Reece, whose year is starting off in the worst way possible. She’s been kicked out of her church group and no one will talk to her—not even her own parents. No one except for Casey, her supersmart lab partner in science class, who’s pretty funny for the most brilliant guy on earth.
And when Ms. Shepherd begins the unit on evolution, school becomes more dramatic than Mena could ever imagine as she is caught up in a controversy involving science, religion, freedom—and a heart-racing, blush-inducing, can’t-stop-thinking-about-him crush.
Now Mena’s own life is about to evolve in some amazing and unexpected ways.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the author’s first novel.

What’s good?

Mena is a strong, curious, honest, and very relatable protagonist. The story is basically about a girl who is trying to reconcile her beliefs as a Christian with what she’s learning in science class, and also with her conflicting feelings about the behavior of some of the people at her church. The plot is fairly simple, the pace is steady, and the chapters are short. The main characters, Mena and her friend Casey, are very well-drawn. It’s difficult for a story about religion versus science not to be preachy, but the author does a good job of eventually representing both sides respectfully.
Best Part: Puppies!

What isn’t good?

Hopefully people will read this story understanding that Pastor Wells and his congregation do not accurately represent the majority of Christian communities. While there are many organizations that would agree with what the fictional pastor was preaching, the actions of the congregation do not reflect those of the majority. The pejorative behavior of the church youth seemed a bit severe (although not unheard of), especially in contrast to the loving kindness of Casey’s family, and the savvy confidence of the science teacher.  
Worst part: Nothing was terrible.

Recommendation þþþþo

I enjoyed the story. It was interesting to watch the religion versus science debate and I think the ending was a win for both sides.  The light romance between the two main characters was sweet, and the puppy project was adorable. I found the behavior of the church youth a little hard to stomach, but unfortunately that’s a reality in some communities. Definitely recommended.

Brande, Robin. Evolution, Me& Other Freaks of Nature. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2007.