Countdown

Deborah Wiles
Scholastic Press, 2010
377 pp. (Grades 5-8)

It's October of 1962 and eleven-year old Franny Chapman has a lot on her mind: her best friend isn't speaking to her, her older sister has left home, and the dreamy boy-next-door has moved back to town. Worse, at any minute the Soviets might drop the atomic bomb and kill them all. The First of an expected trilogy, Deborah Wiles' superb "documentary novel" of growing up during the Cold War splendidly captures the fear and innocence of the era in a brilliant combination of text and contemporary photographs. Readers of all ages will appreciate Franny's struggle to understand and balance the magnitude of what's happening in her own life and the world around her, as the Cuban Missile Crisis and the threat of the bomb loom large. Even better, its message of tolerance and the importance of communication for understanding reach beyond the pages of history. For readers eager to learn more, a historical note and book list follow the text.

The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel

Gareth Hinds
Candlewick Press, 2010
248 pp. (Grades 8 and up)

Gareth Hinds breathes new life into Homer's epic story of Odysseus' prolonged journey homeward from the Trojan War in a format that reaches out to non-traditional readers of the classics. Coupled with an abbreviated text that remains true to Homer's original, Hinds' art reflects the mood and energy of the story. He has a knack for expression, brilliantly conveying the emotions of his characters as they feel loss, anger, hopelessness, desperation, determination, and joy. Reluctant readers and lovers of the classics alike will revel in this new adaptation that reminds us why we keep reading this timeless tale of adventure and human perseverance.

Very LeFreak

Rachel Cohn
Alfred A. Knopf, 2010
305 pp. (Grades 10-12)

Veronica--"Very" for short--is the It-girl at Columbia. Constantly distracted by texting, chatting, creating playlists for every mood or occasion, and pursuing a steamy online relationship with her male equivalent, the mysterious El Virus, she finds herself on the verge of losing her scholarship and her friends. Her salvation lies in ESCAPE, a rehabilitation camp for technology addicts, where she will discover how to live, and who she really loves. Definitely a book for older teens, it offers a genuine commentary on the role technology plays in our lives, and a cautionary tale of what can happen when preferred online personas confront the real world.

As Easy as Falling Off the End of the Earth

Lynne Rae Perkins
New York: Greenwillow Books, 2010
353 pp. (Grades 6-10)

Ry steps off his train to make a phone call and strays too far. He watches, horrified, as it leaves him stranded in the middle of the Montana prairie. Thus begins Lynne Rae Perkins' novel of a haphazard journey across the United States and the Caribbean in search of home and family. With a plot that is constantly moving forward, turning, and catching the reader by surprise, the novel has great appeal for reluctant readers, while rich characterization will endear even the more sophisticated teen, boy or girl. Naysayers may criticize Ry's decision to put his faith in complete stranger, or find the ending on the impossible side of incredible, but young readers will delight in the novel's adventurous spirit and happily take the leap.

Perchance to Dream

Lisa Mantchev
New York: Feiwel & Friends, June 2010
Grades 9 and up
(Reviewed from galley)

Creative, eloquent, and full of charm and wit, the second installment in Lisa Mantchev's Theatre Illuminata series is just as enthralling as the first. Picking up where Eyes Like Stars left off, Bertie departs from the theater as the illustrious Mistress of Revels on a quest to find her father and save her beloved pirate, Nate, from the Sea Goddess. Joined again by Ariel and her host of troublesome (but delightful) faeries, Bertie will find herself on another haphazard adventure, this time unexpectedly fighting for both the men she loves. Mantchev once again impresses with an array of literary allusions that are sure to convert a few teens to the banner of English class, and manage to wow the rest with a truly unique fantasy world. Fans of the first book will not be disappointed, but newcomers to the series should definitely start with book one to avoid confusion.

Return to Sender

Julia Alvarez
New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2009
318 p. (Grades 4-7)

When a family of migrant workers from Mexico move to Vermont to help out on the Paquette's farm, eleven-year-old Tyler doesn't know what to make of the situation: Without the extra help, his family will have to sell everything; but, the Cruz family is in the United States illegally. Dual narratives told by Tyler and Mari (Mr. Cruz's eldest daughter) authentically capture the misunderstandings and prejudices surrounding the illegal immigrant experience through the lens of youthful innocence. The choice to narrate Tyler's story in third person and Mari's through a series of first-person letters is an odd one, but it succeeds in illustrating the singular experience of each. As their friendship grows, readers, too, will breach the barrier between cultures and see illegal immigrants as people rather than problems. While the novel's agenda may seem annoyingly ever-present to older teens and adults, middle readers will be drawn in by the story of friendship and come away with a lesson in empathy, as well.

When You Reach Me

Rebecca Stead
New York: Wendy Lamb Books, 2009
197 p. (Grades 4-8)

It's New York City in the 1970's and Miranda is in the sixth grade: her mother is practicing fervently to appear on "The $20,000 Pyramid" and her best friend Sal was punched in the face by another boy and won't speak to her anymore. While it at first appears to be another coming-of-age tale, Miranda's story evolves into much more as she discovers notes from a mysterious stranger who claims he is there to "save your friend's life, and my own." Her authentic voice and likability will draw readers in as they try to solve her intriguing dilemma. While the question of time travel and parallel dimensions might be a bit lofty for some younger readers, the story of friendship, loss, and growing up will be enjoyed by all. Well deserving of the 2010 Newberry Medal, Stead's homage to A Wrinkle in Time will delight readers and, better still, encourage them to question their realities.