“Interesting Reader Society - Book Reviews by Young Adults - School Library Journal” plus 1 more

Interesting Reader Society - Book Reviews by Young Adults - School Library Journal

Posted: 04 Feb 2010 02:58 AM PST

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Interesting Reader Society -- School Library Journal, 2/3/2010

Fisher, Catherine. Incarceron. Dial. February 2010. ISBN: 978-0-8037-3396-1. Gr 7–12.

Although Claudia and Finn live in completely different worlds, the fates of these two teens are intertwined more closelythan they could ever imagine. Finn dwells in the living prison that is Incarceron, a failed experiment that was intended to be a paradise, and all he wants is to get Outside. Claudia belongs to the outside world, is stuck in an arranged marriage, and is just as much a prisoner as Finn behind the iron barriers that are her father and the Queen. Both of them will need to work together, and fast, if they want to escape.

Not too many books can take me by surprise anymore, but this one threw me a twist that made my head spin! The characters are all very distinct, and the writing style is perfectly fitting for the setting of the story. The cover was superb! The large key, embossed in the center, caught my eye as soon as I saw it, and the mixture of machine cogs and leaves fit together in a simple, but striking, motif that represents the thread of machinery versus nature that is woven through the plot.

Out of all the many things that this book had going for it, the strength of the female characters drew me in. Attia especially interested me, because she didn't let anything keep her down, and she was the one character that embodied the old adage "anything that doesn't kill you only makes you stronger." One of my few complaints about this book was that it was slightly slow at the start, and it took awhile to capture my attention.—Rachel B., age 17

Volponi, Paul. Rikers High. Viking. February 2010. ISBN: 978-0-670-01107-0. Gr 10 and up.

Martin Stokes knows what the justice system is really like. Having been on Rikers Island for five months, waiting for a court date that is continuously delayed, and facing charges for a crime he didn't even mean to commit, he has no illusions any more about the justice system. This gritty story follows Martin through finding out that his court date is yet again delayed, getting caught in the middle of a fight, his move to a new Sprung (section of jail), and finally, to the day that he has been waiting for—his day in court.

The cover reflected the mood of the book very well because it's gritty and straightforward. The most compelling aspect of the book was the depth of all of the characters. Martin has many unexplored feelings and thoughts, as do all the teachers, the court officers, and the other inmates at Rikers. Way to go for Martin—I hope that other kids like him will end up all right.—Rachel M., age 16

Leavitt, Lindsey. Princess for Hire. Hyperion. March 2010. ISBN: 978-1-4231-2192-3. Gr 7–10.

Unpopular Desi Bascombe has a playground crush on a guy named Hayden. Desi also works at a pet shop with a crazy manager, and she decides to search for another job. After seeing a classified ad for a "princess" substitute, Desi applies for the position and accepts the job. Does she have PP (Princess Potential)? It's not all tiaras and posing for the camera, she learns. Desi is faced with a choice: play by the rules, or do what she believes is right. What will a fake princess decide?

I liked the cover because it has bright colors and a picture of the powder that transforms you into a selected type of princess. The cover shows jewelry and a key chain with the Eiffel Tower on it. The best part of the book was when Desi was at the princess court to be judged on the success of her previous jobs. Desi did what she believed was right and in the end she succeeded and was allowed to advance to level two.

It could have been better. The story does not have much reality to it. That's just me though, and not every girl who reads this might feel the same way.—Audrey B., age 12

Avasthi, Swati. Split. Alfred A. Knopf. March 2010. ISBN: 978-0-375-86340-0. Gr 8 and up.

When Jace turns up in Albuquerque, NM, after a 19-hour drive with a beat-up face, $3.84 in his pocket, and a secret on his long-lost brother Christian's threshold, there are a lot of questions. Rather than answer them, Jace just tries to move on, to leave his abusive father behind him. This turns out to be much harder than anticipated. Haunted by memories of past sins and abuses, Jace must learn to live with himself and his anger, or else become like his father, the thing he fears most. Just when he thinks things might work out for him and Christian, they both have to confront their fears and go back to resolve a critical loose end.

This book focuses on a part of abuse that can get cut off—the afterwards part. What does happen after the last punch is thrown? What happens when someone won't leave? How can a person move on after making a huge transgression?

The cover was really neat with the keys because they are such small things in reality, but without them life would remain locked. The most compelling element of the book was Jace's narration. The flashbacks were horribly gripping and in the present his emotions were raw and honest, so the reader gets to see the side of him that he tries to keep hidden from those around him. There wasn't much of a resolution with Jace's and Christian's relationship, just a bit of an allusion to it at the end, so it would have been nice to get a bit of clarification with that.—Rachel M., age 16

The Interesting Reader Society (IRS—"teens, not taxes!") is a library teen advisory and reading group for kids in grades 6 to 12 sponsored by the Poudre River Public Library District in Fort Collins, CO. IRS is also one of the 15 2009–2010 national teen reading group appointees for the Teens' Top Ten/YA Galley project of the Young Adult Library Services Association.

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GREEN GUIDE

Sustainability Growing painsWelcome to the downside of marijuana farming.

Homegrown The bees pleaseLocal honeybees do their business with any plant that flowers.

Plug'd In Be an environmental groupieThe Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival is on tour, so party it up conservation style.

LOCAL STORIES

Feature Story Fast vs. foodHow the sustainable-food movement drove one busy family to the frozen-food aisle and back again.

News Cop outTwo investigators take on the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association.

News The wheels come offIn the middle of a financial crisis, Sacramento Regional Transit braces for yet more cuts.

ARTS&CULTURE

Arts & Culture Long live ZinnA close friend reflects on the life and times of the "people's" historian, Howard Zinn.

Stage Novel lovers undoneTwo novelists, no trust: It's Capital Stage's production of Fiction.

Scene & Heard Jump for countryAnd tell Mel Gibson to go back home.

Stage Reviews Old City Cemetery PlaysSN&R reviews a new production at City Theatre.

Poet's Corner Days of 1985A poem by Thomas Goff of Carmichael.

Night & Day Pick Better off punkFrom hardcore punk in the early '80s to the radio-friendly punk of Green Day, a couple authors document the long and often crazy history of Bay Area punk rock.

Night & Day Pick Look at old stuff for freeCan you make it to all 26 museums on Sacramento Museum Day? Probably not, but we dare you anyway.

Stage Pick of the Week Frankie's wayCalifornia Musical Theatre pays tribute to Frank Sinatra through song, dance and jokes.

Book Reviews Race, sex, infidelityThis novel about an affair in Berkeley's rowdy '60s uses poetry to tell it true.

Book Reviews Feed the worldWho knew wheat was passionate, intriguing and heartbreaking?

Book Reviews OK to be an assholeThis is what three guys in a basement, jokes about pube sandwiches and easy girls all mixed with rum will get you.

Ogg's World Ogg's WorldWelcome to the bizzare world of Doug Ogg.

Curtain Call All aboard!A railroad theme—and possibly a railroad venue—for next year's Local Playwright's Festival at City Theatre.

DINING

Eating Something familiarSacramento's Orphan gives a nod to Isabel's Cantina of Pacific Beach.

Smorgasbord Swanky cafeteriaMason's Restaurant is becoming … a cafeteria?

Corner Table Tea-bag the fluHina Soni never gets sick because she drinks so much green tea. Mmm.

Food Stuff GRAS is greenerEat at Green Restaurants Alliance Sacramento restaurants!

MUSIC

Music Feature The hot seatMusical Charis never rests, turning lonely Tucson bars into veritable dance halls.

Sound Advice Better than Atari shoegazeSacramento Electronica Music Festival, Midtown's TownHouse Lounge, Mochipet, the New Humans, Tycho, Dusty Brown, MothSpyEros, Homo Erectus, the MookieDJ, DJ Mupetblast, Night Night, Tha Fruitbat, Two Playa Game, Paper Pistols, Ira Skinner, Jessie Damiani, Sister Crayon, Scott Hansen, Tycho, Dusty Brown, Jessica Brown, Dimple Records, Arden Way, Mix & Burn, Dilyn Radakovitz, Beach House, '80s new wave, Victoria Legrand, Sigur Rós, Stevie Nicks.

Music Pick of the Week Different and weird without tryingDefEye & DJ Rise's Prescience.

Music Pick of the Week Thurs, Feb 4, Lonely HThis young rock quartet time traveled from the 1970s to perform classic-rock inspired tunes.

Music Pick of the Week Fri, Feb 5, CitywaterContemporary music ensemble performs unnerving, yet soothing compositions for a Furlough Friday Concert Series.

Music Pick of the Week Sun, Feb 7, Jimmy PailerSaints will win the Super Bowl, Colts sing the blues.

Music Pick of the Week Tues, Feb 9, Chris Shiflett, Tony SlyFoo Fighters meets No Use for a Name.

FILM

Film Reviews Sacramento Jewish Film FestivalJonathan Kiefer's preview of the Sacramento Jewish Film Festival.

Cinema scoped Pocket KurosawaThey sure do. I mean, they can watch The 400 Blows on their phone!

Short Reviews Edge of DarknessKiss Me Deadly it ain't.

Short Reviews When in RomeWhen in Rome, don't see When in Rome.

In The Mix - DVD/Video Last Cup: The Road to the World Series of Beer PongA film featuring unapologetic douche bags.

In The Mix - DVD/Video Michael Jackson's This Is ItJermaine and Tito were busy?

In The Mix - DVD/Video Soul PowerJeffrey Levy Hinte follows the boring formula of one song per artist.

In The Mix - DVD/Video ZombielandJesse Eisenberg and cowboy zombie-killer Woody Harrelson are a legit comedy team.

OPINIONS

Race to the Bottom I, the juryJournalist passionately pleads to perform service for Sacramento Superior Court.

Bites PG&E vs. democracyPG&E wants to put the nail in the coffin of public power in California.

Popsmart God loves footballBut the football gods frown on men kissing.

Ask Joey Dating slut or advantageous courterCasually dating multiple men at the same time isn't the same as sleeping around. Or is it?

Letters Letters for February 4, 2010Love, hate, indifferencereaders express their opinions, sometimes about each other.

Editorial Strong mayor, RIPK.J.: Drop the appeal and become a strong leader.

15 Minutes Reality in HaitiLeisa Faulkner and her organization Children's Hope are on the ground in Haiti making a difference.

Editorial Cartoon Editorial CartoonThis week's cartoon from the mind of John Kloss.

Essay Arena resistance"Land swap" would turn a public commons over to private developers.

Greenlight Nasty problemsDeputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan seeks to uproot weeds, strengthen local food systems.

Ask a Mexican Not the land of P.C. pussiesThe Mexican talks narcos, Juárez, political correctness and the original rodeo.

Cut&Paste Feeling sorry for SalingerFrom the SN&R blogs.

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Book Reviews

Thursday, February 4, 2010