The Diviners by Libba Bray

Title: The Diviners
Author: Libba Bray
Pages: 592
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780316126113
Publication Date: September 18, 2012
AR Levels: Interest Level: 9th-12th grades; Book Level: 4.8; Points: 23.0
Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7728889-the-diviners

In a nutshell: When her parents insist she leave her dull hometown and live with her Uncle Will in New York City until the drama dies down from her latest embarrassing act, flapper Evie O'Neill is beyond thrilled. Nevermind the fact that her uncle is the curator for a creepy museum of all things occult and paranormal; she's living the high life - befriending a Ziegfield girl, getting caught in speakeasies, and showing off her unique gift for divination. But something evil is brewing in Manhattan, and it goes by the name of Naughty John. Before she knows it, Evie is swept up in a string of occult murder investigations, and she might be the only one who can stop them.

I'd recommend it for grades: 10 and up (The murders are grisly, and there's some strong language too.) *Adults will love this book too!

I'd recommend it to: anyone who likes books set in the 20s or enjoys a dose of the paranormal with their murder mysteries

What I liked most about this book: The characters in this book are incredible. Evie is clever and hilarious and yet definitely flawed too. Plus, she wears AMAZING clothes. Some of my favorite parts in the book are the descriptions of the clothes. ;) Don't let that fool you though! This is not a girly book! The guys in the book are wonderful too. There's a handsome and flirty pickpocket, a brooding and intelligent museum assistant, and a jazz-loving, older-brother-type bookie. Their various stories weave in and out seamlessly, and by the end you just love them all! Even the minor characters make a huge impact whether they're spread throughout the book or only in one chapter. You connect with each character right away.

Single favorite moment (without getting spoiler-y): The scene where Evie and her friends visit a speakeasy that gets raided has such a chaotic Keystone Cops feel. The language and description are so vivid that you feel you should be running for cover too! I was so transported that I could see that bar in my head. Fabulous writing!

Star rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 0 stars is atrocious): 5 stars!

Chris's Best of 2012

Like Stefanie, I really found some great books in 2012.  Several of these were written before 2012, but I was late to the game in finding them and reading them.  It's going to be hard for 2013 to top some of these.  For more info about them, click on the title or the picture to get to the Goodread's profile for each. 

1. Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley.  Absolutely loved this one and enjoyed getting to meet and talk with John at the Louisiana Book Festival back in October.

2.  The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healey.  I've since passed this one on to my co-workers, who have admitted to reading this one aloud with gusto to their classes and to each other. 

3.  The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.  This one needs no explanation.

4.  The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson.  This one combines some of my favorite things:  London, mystery, and people from Louisiana. 

5.  Deadline by Chris Crutcher.  This book makes anger management look fun.

6.  As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth by Lynne Rae Perkins.  This is a good comedy of errors road trip book.

7.  The Book of Lost Souls by Michelle Muto.  This one reminded me of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

8.  Twelfth Grade Kills (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, Book 5) by Heather Brewer.  Another one with some "Buffy" flair; it's also the anti-Twilight.  The other books in this series were also great!

9.  Playground by 50 Cent.  This was originally a guilty pleasure that turned into a good read.

10.  Cracked by K.M. Walton.  This one manages to be gritty and Hallmark-y at the same time.

There you have it...

She Picks Her 2012 Favorites

Happy New Year, fellow readers! In the spirit of remembrance of another year gone by, I thought I'd share with you my Top 10 favorite teen/tween books of 2012 (that I read this year...not necessarily released this year). Some of these I have reviewed here already, and some I have not. If you want more info on these titles, click on the title or the cover image to go to the Goodreads link. Here's to these excellent books and here's to more great literature in 2013! Happy reading! :)

In no particular order...

1. My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher

2. Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead

3. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

4. The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

5. Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

6. Countdown by Deborah Wiles

7. Divergent and Insurgent by Veronica Roth (taking the liberty to count these as one)

 

8. Wonder by R.J. Palacio

9. The Watch that Ends the Night by Allan Wolf

10. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Tis the Season. . .

This week's question comes from the giving spirit of the Christmas season. If you could give a Christmas gift to any literary character, what would you give and to whom?

Stefanie says: I would give Ron Weasley (from Harry Potter) a brand new pair of emerald green dress robes so he doesn't have to go to the Yule Ball looking like his Great Aunt Tessie. They'll compliment his ginger hair quite nicely.

Chris says:  I would give Joss (the vampire-slaying cousin from The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod) a map to Forks, Washington.  Then, he could return the favor by ending the Twilight series. . . if you know what I mean.

My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher

Title: My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece
Author: Annabel Pitcher
Pages: 224
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780316176903
Publication Date: August 14, 2012 (originally published January 1, 2011 in the United Kingdom)
AR Levels: Interest Level: 4th-8th grades; Book Level: 5.2; Points: 9.0
Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12860626-my-sister-lives-on-the-mantelpiece

In a nutshell: Ten-year-old Jamie has twin sisters. His sister Jasmine is 15 and going through a pink hair phase, and his sister Rose was killed by a terrorist bombing five years ago and lives in an urn on the mantelpiece. Every year his dad tries to sprinkle her ashes in the ocean, but he just can't manage to do it. It's one of the many things his mom and dad argue about with the biggest one being how his mom is leaving them for another man. Jamie's dad packs up Jamie and Jas and Rose and moves them out of London into the Lake District to start afresh, or so Jamie hopes. Now he's going to a new school he hates, trying not to provoke the classroom bully/teacher's pet, and getting frustrated with how much attention his dad pays to Rose when he barely notices Jamie and Jas. That's when Jamie meets Sunya, and it's the beginning of a beautiful friendship...but not an easy one. In fact, if his dad found out, he'd go berserk.

I'd recommend it for grades: 6th and up (for language and subject matter)

I'd recommend it to: anyone dealing with grief or tough family issues...but really just anyone (It's excellent.)

What I liked most about this book: Jamie's narration is blunt, honest, funny, and heartbreaking all at the same time. You like him by the end of the very first paragraph. While this book is mainly the story of a family and how they each individually deal with their grief, it's also about love, the intense desire to be visible, the heartache of broken promises, and friendships that look past differences. This is one of the most well-written books about grief written from the perspective of a ten-year-old that I've read in a long time, and it's also one of the best books I've read all year.

Single favorite moment (without getting spoiler-y): For reasons that I won't go into (since that would be a spoiler), Jamie wears the same Spider-Man t-shirt for weeks on end, and soon it starts to smell a bit...adolescent boy-ish. In an act of sisterly love and acting as a substitute mom, Jas doesn't make him take it off but instead lovingly gives him a stick of deodorant and tells him he's starting to stink. It's a really sweet and funny moment. Their relationship is one of my other favorite parts of this book.

Star rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 0 stars is atrocious): 5 stars

He Says/She Says: Son by Lois Lowry

Title: Son
Author: Lois Lowry
Pages: 393
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
ISBN: 9780547887203
Publication Date: October 2, 2012
AR Levels: Interest Level: 6th and up, Book Level: 5.0, Points: 11.0
Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13324841-son

In a nutshell: In this final novel of The Giver quartet, we find ourselves back in Jonas' hometown and following the life of baby Gabe's Birthmother, Claire. When something goes wrong with Claire's first birthing, she is reassigned, but she can't stop thinking about her product. Before long Claire begins to learn just how strong motherly love is, and that love will send her on a quest that ties together beloved characters from the three previous novels. 

He Says:

I had mixed feelings about this book.  In some ways, I felt like Lois Lowry compromised what she created in The Giver, but Son also takes great strides to develop familiar characters even further and tie their stories together in a beautiful way.  The more I think about it after finishing it, the more I love it!

I'd recommend it for grades: 7th - 12th+.  It isn't a difficult read, but it does make more sense if you've already read the first three books.

I'd recommend it to:  Anyone who's grown up with The Giver and asked a million questions about what happened!  If you want closure for the series, you'll love this book.  

What I liked most about this book:  I really like how the story centers around the main character Claire and presents the story in three different stages of her life.  Along her journey, we learn what became of the characters from the previous books.

Single favorite moment (without getting spoiler-y):  I really like during Book One when Claire hears what occurred at the Ceremony of Twelve; this was the first time that the story from one of the other books (I won't say which one) intersects with the plot of Son.  This is also the moment that I became hooked.

Star rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 0 stars is atrocious):  4 stars.  The book obviously wasn't The Giver.  It wasn't perfect, but it came pretty close in my opinion.

She Says:

The Giver is one of my all time favorite books, but I was a bit disappointed with Gathering Blue and The Messenger. In fact, I don't hardly remember what happened in them, so I was apprehensive yet excited about reading this one. The first section was AWESOME! It's The Giver from another perspective, and a lot of characters return. Loved it. The second and third sections were pretty good too. Overall, this was my second favorite of the quartet as well.

I'd recommend it for grades: 7th grade and up (even adults will enjoy it if you grew up loving The Giver)

I'd recommend it to: fans of the series. I'm not sure if you'll enjoy it as much if you haven't read the other books...but maybe you will.

What I liked most about this book: You get to see a grown-up version of one of my favorite characters from this series. :)

Single favorite moment (without getting spoiler-y): In the second section of the book, you get to meet a whole new cast of characters, and I love most of the people in that village. There's some great characterization in that section, and your heartstrings get tugged a few times for those people.

Star rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 0 stars is atrocious): 4 stars 

Holiday book shopping for teens

Looking to buy a book as a Christmas present for that special teen/tween in your life?  Here's a list of suggestions from Random House:  http://randomhouse.tumblr.com/post/36290150038/rh-gift-guides-holiday-2012

Literary QOTW: Thanksgiving Edition

Chris and I would like to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving, and in honor of Thanksgiving, we have a very special and possibly sappy question of the week for you.

What's the one children's or teen book you're most thankful for because it had such an impact on you growing up?

Chris says:

I'm very thankful for books in general, but one stands out above the rest for me.  I could say something more high brow like A Separate Peace, something more philosophical like The Chronicles of Narnia, or something more thought-provoking like The Giver.  Instead, I'm going to say J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan.  Lots of books present readers with new worlds where characters can become whatever they want and escape their real-world problems.  The world of Neverland is one of high-flying adventures, swashbuckling pirates, and mythical mermaids and fairies.  In Neverland, time stands still and clocks are only for crocodiles.  For Peter and the Lost Boys, Neverland offers them an escape from their greatest fear--growing up to become a miserable adult.  For the rest of us, who can't live in eternal childhood, Neverland is an escape from our ordinary, mundane, run-of-the-mill lives, but it also helps us appreciate family and love, which seem to be the only things missing from such an extraordinary world.  J.M. Barrie's life and his signature book are reminders that growing up isn't all bad, as long as you take time each day to reclaim your childhood.

Stefanie says:

Okay, I came up with this question, and I'm having a hard time answering it. There were just so many books growing up that shaped who I am today and molded my reading tastes into what they are now. The first book I remember loving was The Velveteen Rabbit, and now I'm still a sucker for animal books. Where the Red Fern Grows is another favorite animal book along with Charlotte's Web. I also grew up completely drawn in by fantasy books like The Chronicles of Narnia, The Phantom Tollbooth, and The Neverending Story, and to this day fantasy is hands-down my go-to genre because of the way you can escape into fascinating magical worlds. (I've always had a crush on Peter Pan too. Guilty.) Being a complete history nerd, I had a Laura Ingalls Wilder phase and was completely obsessed with American Girl books as well, and now I sneak in a good historical fiction book every now and then because it's like having your own time machine to see what life was like in days gone by and to see how similar people are despite differences in time period. However, if I have to pick absolutely one book above all the rest that had the most impact on me, that would be Matilda by Roald Dahl. Matilda taught me that not only was it okay to be smart but it was amazingly heroic and courageous to be smart. Matilda's love of books echoed mine; neither of us could get enough of them! Matilda showed me that there's something enchanting and powerful about reading and that books have a way of making even the most difficult life situations bearable. You can go anywhere and be anyone in a book, and no one taught me that more than Matilda.

He Reads Her Pick: The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Sorry for the delay in writing this review.  I've been reading this one at school with my students during our silent reading period.  Stefanie recommended that I read this one, and I was hooked just after reading the back cover! It's about a year old, but it just came out in paperback.

Title: The Name of the Star

Author:  Maureen Johnson

Pages: 372

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

ISBN:  9780399256608

Publication Date: September 29, 2011

AR Levels: Interest Level--6th+; Book Level--4.9; Points--14

Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9802372-the-name-of-the-star

In a nutshell:  Rory Devaux is a Louisiana teenager who moves to London to attend a boarding school near the college where her parents will be teaching.  Shortly after arriving, things get interesting when a series of gruesome murders  appear to be a copy of the Jack the Ripper murders from the 1800s.  Londoners become hysterical with Rippermania, but Rory knows a little more about what's going on because she's seen the suspected murderer.  The strange part is that she's the only person who's seen him, and now he's coming for her.

I'd recommend it for grades: 7th-12th +.  This is a great book and a great start to the series!

I'd recommend it to: Anyone with an interest in England and British history and anyone with a love for a good crime thriller.

What I liked most about this book:  It didn't drag on like a lot of books, and it wasn't weighed down by awkward teenage love drama.  (Don't get me wrong, there's some in the book, but it was far from the main focus!)

Single favorite moment (without getting spoiler-y):  I love a good reference to the 90s, so I laughed quite a bit when Rory and her friends went to a Halloween party dressed as the Spice Girls, complete with a stick with a wig to represent Posh.  

Star rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 0 stars is atrocious):  5 stars, hands down!

A Girl Named Mister by Nikki Grimes

Title: A Girl Named Mister
Author: Nikki Grimes
Pages: 223
Publisher: Zondervan
ISBN: 9780310720782
Publication Date: August 6, 2010
AR Levels: Interest Level: 6th-12th grades; Book Level: 4.7; Points: 2.0
Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8266889-a-girl-named-mister

In a nutshell: This is the story of two teenaged Marys - Mary Rudine (also called Mister), a 14 year old New Yorker, and Mary, a young Jewish girl who lived long ago in Nazareth. You may think these girls have little in common, but you'd be wrong. Both bear the weight of teen pregnancy, and through a book of poems written from the Virgin Mary's perspective, Mister begins to find hope in her situation. Told in free verse, this novel does not shy away from the tough issues surrounding teen pregnancy (the ridicule, the fear, the emotional and physical pain, etc.), and yet it's incredibly beautiful at the same time.

I'd recommend it for grades: 7th-12th

I'd recommend it to: teen moms, teen dads, counselors and parents who encounter teen pregnancy, and fans of verse novels, and anyone looking for a hope-filled book to read in the Christmas season

What I liked most about this book: The parallels the author draws between the two girls are seamless and breathtaking. These two voices flow in and out wonderfully, and there are individual poems that deeply moved me (and I'm not usually a huge poetry fan). I definitely want to read more of Grimes' novels now.

Single favorite moment (without getting spoiler-y): I love the way Mister's friend Sethany learns to love Mister through her pregnancy. It's a true testament to godly friendships.

Star rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 0 stars is atrocious): 4 stars