Jillicious Reading: To All the Boys I've Loved Before

To All The Boys I've Loved Before
by Jenny Han

Summary:  Lara Jean has never really dated.  But, she has loved several boys who, unknowingly, have broken her heart.  She writes to each, pouring out her soul in letters that she never mails; all notes are kept safely in a hatbox under her bed.  Until one day the secret letters are mysteriously mailed.  Suddenly, eyes that were never meant to see the letters are exactly the ones who receive them. Overnight Lara Jean's very private love life becomes very public, and she is forced to deal with the mess. 

Thoughts:  This is a delicious novel, and I just gobbled it up.  It is a romance, but it also tackles important themes of family relationships, loss, and identity with the perfect combination of depth and humor. 

Lara Jean is the middle daughter of three who lost their mother at a young age.  The oldest, Margot, is going away to college and the family is dealing with this change.  Skilled author Jenny Han explores the complicated relationships of the sisters - their strong bond as they care for each other and their father, but also the added pressures they put on one another in the absence of their mother.  

The debacle of the mailed letters is a creative premise.  It brings different characters into Lara Jean's life, forces her to face her feelings, and allows her to begin to realize who she really is.  Han works it all adeptly, not bringing in too many past loves, and perfectly pacing the chaos with character development and self-discovery.  The boys are believable, intriguing characters, full of personality and surprises. The youngest sister, Kitty, brings additional humor and heart to the story.  The result is a delightful novel that explores what happens when one is faced with the truth and new possibilities. 

Read To All the Boys I've Loved Before if you ... 

• enjoyed Jenny Han's previous writing
• like books by Stephanie Perkins or Lindsey Leavitt
• have ever had a secret crush
• have a sister 
• have a complicated family relationship 
• wonder what would happen if your private thoughts were made public! Gasp!

Click here to read more about the hilarious Jenny Han, To All the Boys I've Loved Before, and her other novels.  

SPOILER ALERT:  Ms. Han has already announced that there will be a sequel, P.S. I Still Love You. (Thank goodness!!)   I can hardly wait, and, judging from the Good Reads page, I am not the only one.  Many other fans are feeling equally tortured having to wait until 2015 for the story to continue!  But don't visit the page until you've finished the first novel.  :) 

Jillicious Reading: The Winner's Curse

The Winner's Curse
by Marie Rutkoski

Summary: Kestrel is the daughter of the general, part of the aristocracy.  She is used to winning and to getting what she wants.  On a whim, she purchases a slave, Arin, in an auction.  It is not long before he starts to change the way Kestrel thinks, the way she sees the world, the way she feels about everything.  But Arin is not what he seems.   

Thoughts: The Winner's Curse is a completely enthralling novel. It pulled me in from the very beginning because of its originality.... a world of indulgent aristocrats, a conquered people-turned-slaves, and a society that values military strategy and prowess in combat over the arts.  

Kestrel is passionate about music, but it is not seen as a worthy pursuit of the upper class.  Her father insists that she join the military or get married, so she looks for ways to exert control in her life.  This is quickly lost when her world is turned upside down.  The novel is lush and intoxicating, pulling the reader into a world of high society, political intrigue, secrets, forbidden love, and betrayal.  Kestrel and Arin are complex, well-developed characters, both full of surprises.  I look forward to their continued story in the next two books of the trilogy.                

Read The Winner's Curse if you ...

• like books that pull you into a completely different, fully imagined new world
• liked the Incarceron series by Catherine Fisher, the Shadow and Bone series by Leigh Bardugo or For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund
  
• look for atmospheric novels with a unique feel
• enjoy stories with unexpected plot twists and turns
• love stories of star-crossed love!  :)

Click here to read more about The Winner's Trilogy and author Marie Rutkoski. 

Jillicious Reading: Grandmaster

Grandmaster
by David Klass

Summary: Freshman Daniel hasn't really found his place at school.  He doesn't seem to fit in anywhere and just tries to fly under the radar.  A mediocre player on the team's prestigious chess club, Daniel is surprised to be asked by the two senior co-captains to join them and their fathers at a weekend father-son tournament.  To his further amazement, Daniel then learns the truth. His father - a reserved, accountant - was actually a chess prodigy at the age of 16 and earned the ranking of Grandmaster.  When his father agrees to return to the game 30 years later and accompany Daniel to the tournament, the six man team is in for a weekend none of them expected.

Thoughts: Grandmaster is a fast-paced, compelling novel that keeps the reader engaged like a spy thriller or intense sports match.  I am not a chess player, and I was completely on the edge of my seat during the tournament scenes.  The book includes enough chess to satisfy those who do play, but not too much to overwhelm the novice or non-player.  What keeps the story captivating is the characters.  They are interesting, flawed and believable.  Main character Daniel is a likeable kid, and readers can relate to his desire to fit in at school.  His father is also an interesting character as he faces his past demons and reveals his former life to his son.  I really enjoyed the development of the relationship between these two as Daniel learns more about his father and starts to reorder his priorities.  I also liked the addition of Liu, a spunky girl who competes with her mother.  She brings out a different side of Daniel and adds some pluck and humor to the story.  If you see Grandmaster and expect it to be a boring book about chess, you would be grandly mistaken. 

Read Grandmaster if you  ...

• like chess
• don't like chess
• enjoy sports fiction with front-row-feeling scenes that pull you into the action and keep you on the edge of your seat
• look for young adult literature with interesting teen and adult characters 

Jillicious Healthy Bites: True Stories from the Holocaust

Stories from the Jewish Holocaust during WW II continue to captivate readers.  As difficult as it is to read about the depths of human evil reached during this time, it is also incredibly inspiring to read of those who held onto hope in horrific circumstances and ultimately survived to tell their story.  It is also so vitally important to read these narratives and remember how simply and subtly these dreadfully evil initiatives began.  

Below are three 2013 releases, two nonfiction and one fiction based on a true story, that tell the hopeful, heroic stories that came from this time of persecution: 

Odette's Secrets
by Maryann MacDonald

Odette's Secrets tells the story of a young Jewish girl living in Paris during the Nazi occupation.  Her father joins the French army, her mother joins the Resistance, and Odette is sent to the French countryside for safety.   

Throughout the frightening time, young Odette is both terrified and confused.  She fears the soldiers, worries about her father, and runs from those who bully her for her yellow star.  She also wonders about her Polish roots, her Jewish faith, and later the Christian values of the foster family that cares for her while she seeks refuge in the country.  She gets used to silently observing, keeping secrets, and hiding in plain sight.  

I never thought of what these young people must have endured as they tried to make sense of the terrifying world around them as well as their own identity.  And what extremes their parents went to for their protection!  This moving novel also shows what the survivors faced when they triumphed over their persecutors, but then tried to return to their homes and to their former lives.

Author Maryann MacDonald was deeply moved by Odette's story and asked her family permission to share her experience in a book for children.  She ultimately chose to tell the story as a first person novel-in-verse instead of a factual biography to allow a more intimate view into the young poet-to-be's thoughts and feelings.  The result is a accessible, personal narrative that immediately pulls the reader into Paris in 1942 and provides another perspective from this time.
Odette's Secrets is a selection on the 2014-2015 Texas Bluebonnet List.

 

The Boy on the Wooden Box 
by Leon Leyson

Leon Leyson was the youngest survivor on what became the world famous "Schindler's List." This memoir tells how Leyson's life went from a happy childhood to a terrible nightmare at the hand of the Nazis and their occupation of his Polish homeland.  Leon's family was forced to move to the Krakow ghetto, but through determination, luck, and ultimately the attention of the man named Oskar Schindler,  Leon, his parents and a few of his siblings' avoided placement in the horrific concentration camps. 

Constructed from Leyson's personal notes and speeches, The Boy on the Wooden Box tells of how he survived in Schindler's factory with almost nothing to eat but holding onto hope and believing in Oskar Schindler, who became his lifelong hero.  Leyson tale's is honest and reflective, but told without bitterness and hatred.  It is a powerful, moving memoir that celebrates the risks taken and the perseverance necessary to survive during this time of persecution.

 The Boy on the Wooden Box is a title on the 2014 Texas Lone Star Reading List.

The Nazi Hunters: How a Team of Spies and Survivors Captured the World's Most Notorious Nazi
by Neal Bascomb

After WWII ended, one of the highest ranking Nazi officers, Adolf Eichmann, vanished.  Believed to have eradicated over 700,000 Jews from Hungary and to have been responsible for millions of Jewish deaths, Eichmann was a prime war criminal to be brought to justice; but he had not been seen or heard of in years. Until a clue finally surfaces from a blind Argentinean man and his teenage daughter.  Then the manhunt begins. 

The Nazi Hunters tells the riveting true story of how the Eichmann case went from a desire to find the man to promising leads to dead ends to the forming of an elite team of Israeli spies to plan and execute an incredible capture.  This team - all of whom had been directly affected somehow by Eichmann's crimes - would have to secretly enter Argentina, capture Eichmann, and smuggle him out of the country and return him safely to Israel so he could be brought to justice on Israeli soil.   

Neal Bascomb has crafted a work of narrative nonfiction that expertly provides historical facts and reads like a spy novel.  I was on the edge of my seat reading this book!  It is truly fascinating.  The author does an outstanding job of introducing the young, powerful Eichmann, later showing what he has become during his years in hiding and his views of his actions, and finally showing what an impact the time with Eichmann has on his captors.  Bascomb also effectively weaves in the story of an Auschwitz survivor, Zeev Sapir. The reader meets him early in the book when he has an encounter with Eichmann; later Sapir has a chance to testify against Eichmann.  It's quite powerful to see one survivor get to face his tormenter and get to share his story with the world.  Photographs and documents are included throughout the book that add intrigue and authenticity to the captivating account. 

This is a must-read for anyone interested in WWII, Jewish and Holocaust history, narrative nonfiction, and/or page-turning tales of spying and intrigue.          

The Nazi Hunters is a title on the 2014 TAYSHAS Reading List. 

Jillicious Reading: P.S. Be Eleven

P.S. Be Eleven
by Rita Williams-Garcia

Summary:  After spending the summer of 1968 with their estranged mother, Delphine and her little sisters, Vonetta and Fern, are heading back to Brooklyn. They take with them a deeper understanding of their mother (a poet/activist), experiences with the Black Panthers, and newly discovered independence. Back home, Delphine struggles to reconcile new thoughts and perspectives with her changing family and the struggles of sixth grade. And, the only help her mother is offering is a continual reminder at the end of her letters to "Be Eleven." 

Thoughts:  I loved One Crazy Summer.  It was the perfect blend of family drama, 1960s tensions, differing

perspectives, strong female characters, and the universal struggles of growing up, all explored with humor and heart.  And now in the sequel P.S. Be Eleven, Rita Williams-Garcia completely succeeds again!  I may even like this one better than the first.  

This novel picks up right where the last ended, allowing the reader to immediately see the way the girls' summer experiences affected them and how balancing new thoughts and independent streaks is going to be a challenge at home.  As in One Crazy Summer, the story is told from the strong, honest voice of eleven-going-on-twelve-year-old Delphine.  She faces many obstacles as she tries to control her headstrong little sisters, laments being the tallest girl in her class, worries about the Valentine Dance, tries to accept that her father is dating, and seeks to understand her uncle who has returned from Vietnam a changed, melancholy man.  The story is interspersed with letters to and from her mother, Cecile; the correspondence perfectly contrasts the perspective of a woman dedicated to a cause and that of a young girl trying to figure things out, many times simply her own feelings.

One of my favorite parts is when the girls fall in love at first sight with The Jackson Five. :) Williams-Garcia perfectly depicts the thrill of being swept away by new music and celebrity infatuation.  Reading it, I was immediately a kid again falling for Sean Cassidy, listening to Da Doo Run Run over and over ("Somebody told me that her name was JILL!!")  :)

Through it all, Delphine begins to reconcile her experiences, learn from new ones, and figure out who she is in ... her family, in her class, and in the tumultuous world.  

Read P.S. Be Eleven, if you ... 

• read One Crazy Summer
• enjoy quality historical fiction
• like stories about strong, feisty girls
• struggled being the oldest sister (or the youngest ... or stuck in the middle!)  
• want to expand your views of life in the 1960s
• have ever fallen head-over-heels for a celebrity or boy band!  :)     

Click here to visit Rita Williams-Garcia's website to learn more about these books and her writing.  I hear she is working on another story about these plucky Gaither sisters... I'll be the first in line!

Jillicious Reading: The Neptune Project

The Neptune Project
by Polly Holyoke 

Summary: In one terrifying day, Nere discovers that she is a product of a scientific experiment and is meant to live the rest of her life in the ocean. Nere, and the others like her from the Neptune Project, were genetically engineered to leave the land, oppressive government control, and famines to set-up a new way of life in a colony below the sea.  Nere can't believe her mother never told her of her fate, but she has no time to think about it.  She must immediately adjust to life in the water so she can escape the soldiers, marine guard, and ocean predators that want her dead.

Thoughts: As soon as I read about this book, I was intrigued.  I am absolutely enamored with the ocean, terrified by its enormity and dangers but enamored by its beauty and sound.  When I read that Nere communicated with dolphins, I was completely hooked!  

The novel is a compelling, original adventure.... kind of a FInding Nemo for teens!  :)  I really enjoyed the relationships between Nere and the others who are part of the Project, as well as the tension created by the threats they face under the sea.  It's an interesting twist on the dystopian novel with a lot of suspense, intrigue, and character drama.    

Read The Neptune Project if you ... 

• love the ocean and/or dolphins  :) 
• are a scuba diver (or wish you were!)
• enjoy dystopian novels
• have ever felt misunderstood by your friends or family
• like adventure - on land or at sea!

Visit her website to learn more about debut author Polly Holyoke. For those of you that live in the Dallas area, Mrs. Holyoke will speak at the Parish Episcopal School Literary Festival on October 22, 2013 @ 4:00 p.m.  

Jillicious Reading: Heaven is Paved with Oreos

Heaven is Paved with Oreos
by Catherine Gilbert Murdock 

Summary: Sarah and Curtis are always together.  Not quite just friends and not quite a couple, Sarah is confused about their relationship and worried that annoying Emily Friend (AKA "Emily Enemy"!) has her sights on him. Then, Sarah has the opportunity to travel to Rome with her free-spirited grandmother. This Italian adventure brings surprise discoveries about her family and about herself.

Thoughts: I am over the moon that Catherine Gilbert Murdock has returned to realistic fiction!  In my opinion, this is where she truly shines.  I ADORED the Dairy Queen trilogy and am thrilled that she has returned to this setting with the emphasis on some different characters. 

We get to know Sarah, who made a brief appearance in the earlier books.  She is smart and honest and has an original (often hilarious!) outlook on everything.  We also meet Sarah's grandmother "Z".   She is flawed and flaky, but completely charming.  The grandmother - granddaughter trek through Rome, as told through Sarah's journal entries, is a pure delight.  Readers will be eager to visit (or revisit) this enchanting city.  Murdock's new novel is a funny, insightful celebration of love, family, second chances, and Rome! 

Read Heaven is Paved with Oreos, if you ... 

• enjoyed the Dairy Queen books 
• dream of Italian travels
• are a journaler 
• have made mistakes and are thankful for second chances
• appreciate music and/or Oreos :) 

Click here to visit Catherine Gilbert Murdock's webpage.  (Fun fact: Mrs. Murdock's sister is Elizabeth Gilbert, adult author of the popular Eat, Pray, Love.)  

Jillicious Pairing: Bomb & Shadow on the Mountain

I suggest pairing ...



Bomb 
by Steve Sheinkin

In January, I blogged about Bomb, an outstanding nonfiction book detailing all that happened around the world during the mad race to be the first nation to build an atomic bomb.  Click here to read my full post about this fascinating book.

And, be sure to keep your eye on author Steve Sheinkin, the rock star of YA nonfiction!  His well-researched, quality informational books are always highly readable and engaging.


with ...


Shadow on the Mountain 
by Margie Preus

Shadow on the Mountain tells the story of Espen, a fourteen-year-old Norwegian boy living through WWII.  When Nazi Germany invades and occupies Norway, Espen and many of his friends join the Norwegian Resistance Movement, an underground espionage and sabotage effort of Nazi operations.  Some of Espen's friends fell under the spell of the Germans and their desire to dominate the world.  But Espen, and others like him, stayed loyal to their country and risked their lives to gain and deliver intelligence. 

The novel is fast-paced, exciting, and informative. It gives the reader an authentic look at the Resistance as well as at the Norwegian people and their patriotism.  I lived in Norway for a few years when I was in middle school, so I particularly enjoyed revisiting this setting. Espen's story is based on the real-life adventures of Erling Storrusten; notes, photographs, maps, and other informative artifacts are included.     

Why this pairing works ... 

These two pair nicely as Bomb details some of the Resistance spies and covert missions tied to the atomic bomb; Shadow of the Mountain gives a broader, insider picture of what happened throughout Norway during the years of German occupation.  The Norwegian efforts during the war are not well known to many readers, and these two selections help bring a fresh, informative perspective. 

Jillicious Reading: Counting by 7s

Counting by 7s
by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Summary:  Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius.  She doesn't get along well with others and prefers to keep company with plants or with her loving, accepting parents. In addition to master gardener, Willow is also a walking medical dictionary, always ready to diagnose a medical condition whether the "patient" is ready or not. Finding comfort in nature, knowledge and counting, Willow leads a quiet but happy life.

But, then her world changes in a tragic instant.  Willow must now find a way to continue on in an unsettling existence where counting by 7s will no longer bring her the comfort she needs. 

Thoughts: Counting by 7s is a unique book about a unique girl.  I immediately fell in love with Willow Chance and her quirks; she is brilliant and funny and provides wise insight into the world.  Author Holly Goldberg Sloan tells the story of this odd but charming heroine in her distinct, lovely writing style.  It is hilarious, thought-provoking, heartbreaking, and inspiring.  The tragedy of the story ultimately becomes a triumph because of this special girl.  It reminds us of the impact one person can make on so many lives.  Counting by 7s is a powerful, inspiring novel to be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

Read Counting by 7s, if you ... 

• enjoyed Wonder (R.J. Palacio),  Mockingbird (K. Erskine), Anything but Typical (N.R. Baskin),or Out of My Mind (S. Draper). 
• read Holly Goldberg Sloan's exquisite book, I'll Be There
• like books with unique, quirky, memorable characters
• have ever felt like an outsider or a loner
• enjoy stories of kids overcoming obstacles, differences, and loss
• appreciate excellent writing 

Novelist Holly Goldberg Sloan is also a director, producer, and screenwriter.  Visit her fabulous website to learn more about her life, inspirations, and writing.

Jillicious Reading: Crime Capers

What's better than a mix of crime, espionage, high school drama, and romance? These novels have it all! 

A Girl Named Digit 

By Annabel Monaghan 

Summary: Farrah, known as 'Digit' for her superior math intelligence, tries to shed her geek-iness and really enjoy the school social scene her senior year.  Although not quite fitting in, she attempts to run with the 'in' crowd with some success.  However, her year takes a dramatic turn when she notices a series of numbers hidden in a television show.  Her mathematical mind immediately recognizes a code. The code turns out to be that of a terrorist organization planning a deadly attack; Digit suddenly finds herself in the middle of an FBI investigation, a fake kidnapping, and hours of surveillance with a very cute young FBI agent. 

Thoughts: Author Annabel Monaghan delightfully turns a far-fetched premise into a completely believable, charming novel.  Digit is a smart, endearing heroine; she has atypical intelligence but very typical teen feelings of insecurity and wanting to belong. Her honesty, wit and crush on John, the FBI agent in charge of her safety, make for a funny, entertaining adventure.  I've just learned that Disney has optioned A Girl Named Digit for a Disney Channel Movie AND there is a sequel, Double Digit, on the way; I can't wait for her next escapade! 

Also Known As

by Robin Benway

Summary:  Maggie is the daughter of spies. She has spent her life moving from place to place as her parents carry out missions of espionage to stop international crime. She has shown remarkable ability for safe-cracking, and has now been assigned her first solo spy mission! Her task involves enrolling in an elite private school in NYC to befriend the son of a criminal suspect. But, high school is not at all what this first time student expected. And neither is the target of her espionage. 

Thoughts:  Also Known As is a funny, fast-paced novel. The characters are well-developed and interesting, some realistic teens and others the cryptic cast members spy novels are made of.  Unlike Digit who is thrown into the criminal world, Maggie knows no other life; instead she is overwhelmed by the workings of high school and friendships. Robin Benway's Also Known As is a winsome romp into the worlds of international crime, East Coast private school and high school romance.   

These novels will appeal to the many fans of Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series and her Heist Society series. 

And while we're on the subject, here are a few Ally Carter notes: 
  
-Heist Society has been optioned for a movie by the producers of Pitch Perfect!  

-The Gallagher Girls comes to an end this fall in the sixth volume, United We Spy.  (Sad news, but followed with good news ... )

-Ms Carter is working on a new series called Embassy Row! I dreamed of being an ambassador when I was a kid, so I am super excited about this one.

Last criminal caper idea ...

If these plot lines sound appealing to you but you prefer your crime of the supernatural variety, be sure to check out Kiersten White's Paranormalcy series (click to view my past post on this delightful series).    






So if you are looking for some entertaining reads full of crime, capers and crushes, be sure to add these novels to your list.  They are tons of fun and will leave you itching for your own spy investigations, gadgets and gear!     

Jillicious Reading: The Dark Unwinding

The Dark Unwinding 

by Sharon Cameron 

Summary: Katharine is sent by her domineering aunt and guardian to check on the estate of an uncle she has never known. His mental state is in question, and her aunt wants to seize the estate so that the inheritance will be received by her son. Katharine arrives ready to carry out her aunt's wishes. However, she soon makes several surprising discoveries about her uncle, his estate, and herself that lead her to question her aunt's plans. 

Thoughts: After hearing this author speak at a literary event months ago, I read the first chapter of The Dark Unwinding. Then, I got sidetracked by some other books (typical behavior) and finally got back to it last week. Once I read a little further, I was completely engrossed by this Victorian world. It's written in an atmospheric gothic style and is full of intrigue, mystery, drama, and the most interesting characters! I fell in love with Uncle Tully (who seems to suffer from what we would know today as autism), the silent little Davy, and the handsome, brooding Lane. Also Katharine is a delight as she grows from dutiful, unnoticed girl to a keen, strong, lovely young lady. I am so glad I returned to this novel and eagerly await the sequel A Spark Unseen. 

Read The Dark Unwinding if you ... 

• appreciate the gothic tales of the Brontes or novels inspired by their writing 
• enjoyed Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey 
• like the Steampunk genre or might want to discover what it is!  This novel would be the perfect introduction to the genre's blend of historical settings with scientific advancements. 
• love an engrossing historical tale that sweeps you away to a completely different time and place
• enjoy reading books by promising debut authors. Ms Cameron won the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators' Sue Alexander Award for Most Promising New Work. (Honestly, I didn't know what this was until I heard The Dark Unwinding won it. But, it sounds impressive!! Now, I will be watching to see who wins each year.) 

** Be sure to read the Author's Note to learn about the real Victorian estate that inspired the novel. 

For more about this author and her writing, click here to visit her website. 

Jillicious Reading: Formerly Shark Girl

Formerly Shark Girl
by Kelly Bingham

Summary: Last year Jane lost most of her right arm in a shark attack. The devastation she experienced was intensified by the fact that by taking her hand, the shark crippled her dreams of becoming an artist. 

Now, a year later, Jane is starting her senior year.  Things are becoming more "normal," and she has worked diligently to learn to create art with her other hand. But, where should she go from here?  Should she pursue a life of nursing to help others like those who helped her?  Or, is it possible to still pursue her dream of being an artist?  And, Jane also wonders if a guy will ever see her for more than "the shark girl." 

Thoughts: I loved Shark Girl and was delighted when I heard there was a sequel on the way.  Formerly Shark Girl did not disappoint. Jane's story continues, in Kelly Bingham's lovely verse, as she celebrates progress and victories, but also struggles with decisions about her future.  I love that she reconnects with her art, exploring it in new ways, and that Max reappears with his own struggles (he is definitely a new addition to my list of literary crushes!).  Readers will relate to Jane's struggle to choose a career and to her desire to be defined by more than one incident. 

Read Formerly Shark Girl, if you ... 

• enjoyed Shark Girl
• like novels-in-verse, such as those by Sonya Sones & Lisa Schroeder 
• enjoy stories of teens on journeys of self-discovery, such as those by Sarah Dessen 
• are an art appreciator 
• are trying to (or still trying to!) figure out what you want to be when you grow up! 

Visit Ms. Bingham's website to learn more about the Shark Girl books and Kelly Bingham's writing. And if you are a fan of picture books, check out Ms. Bingham's book Z is for Moose illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky. It is a hoot! 

Jillicious Reading: Zebra Forest

Zebra Forest
by Adina Rishe Gewirtz

Summary: Annie and her brother Rew know very little about their parents, just the few things Gran has told them.  Since Gran is a master of lies, the little they know might not even be true.  Gran is getting worse, spending more and more days up in her room, frequently leaving the siblings to fend for themselves. Then ,a stranger shows up at their door.  The stranger brings answers, but these answers make Annie and Rew question everything.  

Thoughts:  Zebra Forest is a powerful little novel.  Annie B, the spunky sixth-grader at the center of the story, stole my heart immediately.  She has been forced to grow up beyond her years and has done her best to care for Rew, her mentally ill grandmother, and herself.  She longs to know about her past, her dead father, and the mother who left her when she was three.  The story takes place during the Iran Hostage Crisis which sets the perfect backdrop as Annie and Rew become trapped in their own family crisis.   

Zebra Forest explores heavy themes such as family secrets, lies, betrayal, complicated relationships, crime, and abandonment.  But, all is done adeptly and beautifully through realistic, well-developed characters and a suspenseful plot that grab and hold the reader to the hopeful end.  The classic Treasure Island, the siblings' beloved book, is used effectively as the children seek escape from their circumstances, question the world, and find the truth.  

Read Zebra Forest if you ... 

• are looking for a gripping read 
• enjoy a short novel that packs a powerful punch
• appreciate books about children dealing with tough circumstances such So B. It by Sarah Weeks and Homesick by Kate Klise
• love heroines with pluck
• like reading debut novels by exciting new authors 

  Visit Adina Rishe Gewirtz's webpage and expect more from this debut YA author!   
 

Jillicious Reading: Going Vintage

Going Vintage
by Lindsey Leavitt

Summary:  When Mallory's boyfriend cheats on her with an online girlfriend, she boldly says goodbye to Jeremy in an online post and then swears off technology.  She is motivated by a list she finds of her grandmother's goals for the year 1962.  But leading a simpler life proves to be pretty complicated ... especially when her family is making her crazy, when technology tempts her at every turn, and when the boy she can't stop thinking about as a potential "steady" is her ex's cousin.   

Thoughts:  I loved Lindsey Leavitt's Sean Griswold's Head so couldn't wait to dive into her new release; and it was a pure delight!  Mallory's story of heartbreak and soul searching is funny, touching, and inspiring.  She reminds us that technology is incredible - especially when doing research on the Industrial Revolution ;) - but can also be highly distracting and keep us from experiencing real relationships and life's simple pleasures.  Her grandmother reminds us that being a teenager is tough in any decade and an unexpected silver lining might exist in even the most difficult of experiences.  And, all the likeable characters remind us that honesty, a sense of humor, figuring out oneself, and accepting others are important in any time period.  

Read Going Vintage if you ... 

• enjoyed Sean Griswold's Head, The Breakup Bible by Melissa Kantor, or Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern
• are a Stephanie Perkins fan
• have a love hate relationship with technology
• sometimes wish you had been born in a past decade because surely it was simpler!? 
• are looking for a charming teen romance  

Visit Lindsey Leavitt's webpage to learn more about this cute, clever author and her writing. 

Jillicious Reading: The Selection

The Selection
by Kierra Cass

Summary:  America Singer is a "5," a member of one of society's lowest castes.  She is shocked when she is chosen as one of the 35 young ladies to be part of the Selection ... a chance to win the hand of Prince Maxon.  This is a life-changing opportunity for any young girl in the kingdom (and her family), particularly one in a lesser caste.  But, America is already in love.  Aspen is a "6," but she can't imagine herself with anyone else.  For her family's sake, America must at least begin the competition.  She expects to be sent home right away, but is in for a surprise.  Her future may not be quite as decided as she thought ... 

Thoughts:  I was drawn to this book as soon as I saw the cover.  It's fabulous, isn't it??  It's been in my stack for quite a while, and I brought it to the top at the recommendation of an avid 8th grade reader.  The Selection combines elements of dystopia and romance with excessive government control and high family expectations. It's a bit The Bachelor meets Matched with a dash of Divergent.  I love tough heroines like Katniss, Tris, and June (The Hunger Games, Divergent, and Legend), but did enjoy this "girlier' twist on the dystopian novel.  America is still a strong gal; she just appreciates a beautiful dress and a good pair of jeans.  ;)  This is a intriguing read, and the perfect addition to your beach bag this summer!  

Read The Selection if you... 

• enjoyed the Matched or Delirium trilogies
  
• like reality tv
• are a fan of romance novels
• like all things royal and maybe even have pictures of Lady Di and Kate Middleton in your bedroom or on a Pinterest board ;) 
• appreciate gorgeous gowns and beautiful things
• fantasize about living in a palace ... even for just a day!   

Visit Kiera Cass's webpage to read more about The Selection and the sequel The Elite, and visit her Pinterest page to see Selection inspired pins. Fabulous fun!      

Jillicious Reading: One Came Home

One Came Home

by Amy Timberlake

Summary:  When her sister goes missing and a body turns up in her sister's favorite dress, Georgie is not convinced.  She is certain that Agatha is alive and sets out on a journey to find her.  Although she is determined and quite a sharp shooter, Georgie is not prepared for all that awaits her on the Western frontier. 

Thoughts:  I thoroughly enjoyed every word of this novel.  Author Amy Timberlake's expert writing builds a loveable, plucky heroine in Georgie and sends her on an unexpected adventure that is suspenseful, humorous, and moving. The lyrical writing is to be savored; here's an example: 

Ma's grief, in particular, wore on me like sandpaper. She dragged her sorrow room to room, and I found out that viciousness nested inside me. When I saw receipts left in the till, or noted that Ma had forgotten to mark down a sale, I mentioned it. I become a fault-finding expert; bins missing their lids, eggs gone bad, a customer unattended, a boy in a fancy blue serge suit with a fist in the penny candy. I knew I shouldn't do it, but the part of me that was unredeemed spoke.

I just love that ... "the part of me that was unredeemed spoke."  What a lovely way to describe the ugliness that lives within us. I highlighted many expertly penned passages throughout this engaging mystery novel.
  

Read One Came Home if you ... 

• enjoyed True Grit
• are a fan of historical fiction
• like feisty heroines
• enjoy suspenseful mysteries
• appreciate fine writing and outstanding word choice

Click here to visit the author's website and to learn more about One Came Home and Ms. Timberlake's writing.  I eagerly await her next novel!

Jillicious Reading: Colin Fischer

Colin Fischer

by Ashley Edward Miller and Zack Stentz

Summary:  Colin Fischer has Asperger's. He can't easily read people's expressions or pick up social clues; this makes trying to navigate the new world of high school extremely challenging.  He is immediately targeted by bullies, class clowns, and cruel cliques.  

One day lunch is interrupted when a gun suddenly goes off in the school cafeteria.  Colin's main tormenter, Wayne Connelly, is blamed and suspended for the crime.  Colin isn't convinced Wayne is guilty, however, and sets out to prove his innocence.  His unique vision of the world may be the very perspective needed to see what really happened. 

Thoughts: I was drawn to this novel because it features an unlikely hero and a mystery. In developing an engaging main character and a realistic mystery, Colin Fischer completely succeeds. The text utilizes three writing devices: Colin's first person journal entries, a third person narrative, and footnotes. All blend together to offer a comprehensive perspective on the events as well as the characters' thoughts and motivations. I particularly enjoyed Colin's entries. These offered an authentic view into the Asperger's mind that allows the reader to more deeply understand the thought patterns. Colin's interactions with his family, his brother's resentment, and the teen's dealings with his peers all ring true. I found this to be an intriguing novel featuring an endearing, atypical sleuth you can't help but root for.  I hope there are many more Colin Fischer mysteries on the way!

I heard authors Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz speak at the Texas library conference this spring. What a fascinating pair of guys! These screenwriters met and bonded years ago over Star Trek and have been collaborating ever since on projects such as X-Men, Thor, and Fringe.  Colin Fischer is their first young adult novel.  I found them very interesting and look forward to seeing what they do next on the screen and in young adult literature!

Ashley E. Miller & Zack Stentz - TLA "Defining Different" Panel, 2013

Read Colin Fischer if you ... 

• are a fan of mysteries and enjoyed series like Encyclopedia Brown in your past
• enjoy novels starring differently-wired main characters
• liked The London Eye Mystery, Anything But Typical, and/or The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
• are interested in the the unique ways people tick.

Return to Me

by Justina Chen

Summary:  Nothing is going as Rebecca planned.  She selected a college across the country where she could get away from her parents.  Now her father's job is taking the whole family exactly where she is going.  And, what about Jackson, her amazing boyfriend?  Everyone knows long distance relationships don't work, right?  But before she can even really decide what to do about him, her family is shaken with news that makes Rebecca question absolutely everything.  

Thoughts:  I read an interview with author Justina Chen about the inspiration for the novel and then heard her speak about it in person at a Little, Brown dinner at ALA Midwinter.  In both interview and talk, Ms. Chen eloquently described how she went through a devastating life change but she came through it, the pain and dust ultimately transforming to beautiful stardust.  She penned Return to Me to tell a story of redemption and to remind her children (and readers!) that it is possible for good to come from the bad.  

Return to Me completely succeeds.  It is a powerful story of redemption as well as first loves, expectations, disappointments, and self-discovery.  As in North of Beautiful, Ms.Chen incorporates complex characters, complicated family relationships, the power of art, and the potential to find oneself through new experiences and travels.  This time the art is in the form of architecture (a subject I love!) and the adventure takes place in Hawaii (what's not to love?). 

Read Return to Me if you ... 

• enjoyed North of Beautiful (be watching for some former characters to make a brief appearance!) 
• have an interest in architecture
•  have experienced a painful family conflict
• enjoy stories of first love 

Visit Justina Chen's blog to learn more about Return to Me and this talented author.  

The Tragedy Paper

by Elizabeth LaBan

Summary: Duncan is disappointed when his senior dorm assignment is not only the smallest room on the hall but also the former dorm of the albino loner, Tim Macbeth.  Duncan is surprised to discover that Tim left him a collection of CDs narrating the events from last year - Tim's transfer to The Irving School, his secret romance with Vanessa (the girlfriend of the most popular guy at Irving), and the one night everyone is trying so desperately to forget. 

Thoughts:  A boarding school, a senior thesis, secrets and forbidden love ... I was sold on the premise alone, and, once I began, couldn't put it down. The Tragedy Paper is a smart teen novel that tells two parallel stories.  Duncan's senior year experiences and romance are played out alongside Tim's retelling of events from the previous year.  The alternating points of view are well-crafted and add intrigue and depth to the story.  The isolated boarding school, the cold winter, and Tim's honest narration give the novel a captivating, melancholy mood, somehow feeling both contemporary and historical. Readers will stay engaged through the end wanting to know how things ultimately play out and will likely be surprised by the outcome.  The familiar subjects of teen love, heartbreak, and the need for acceptance are freshly explored in this compelling debut novel.  

Read The Tragedy Paper if you ...

• enjoy books set in boarding schools
• like books about inspiring teachers
• are a fan of John Green
• enjoyed Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why
• have ever felt like an outsider
  
• prefer your realistic young adult fiction with some depth & intrigue
• enjoy discover exciting new authors. 

Click here to read an interview with author Elizabeth LaBan by popular adult author Jennifer Weiner. 

Jillicious Snack: 2013 Texas Bluebonnet Award Winner!

I must admit I was surprised when I heard which book won this year's Texas Bluebonnet Award.  Postcards from Camp was not one I had read and didn't seem to be one of the biggest contenders.  I hate to admit that I hadn't even noticed that it was written & illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Simms Taback!  :/  

When Postcards from Camp was announced as the winning title, I finally took the time to read it.  What a clever book!  It is composed of letters exchanged between a father and son when the son is away at camp.  Michael's first time at camp does not start well.  He sends many pleas to Dad requesting to be rescued.  :)  Dad replies with humor and encouragement; as the book progresses, Michael discovers that camp has a lot to offer after all.  

Taback's distinctive artwork adds personality and whimsey to the book.  Many of the letters are folded and placed in envelopes which readers enjoy pulling out and exploring.  The letters from both father and son are hilarious.  After finally opening this book, it is easy to see its strong kid (and grown kid!) appeal and why it was this year's Texas Bluebonnet Winner. 

Unfortunately, Simms Taback passed away in 2011 and will not know of the book's love among Texas students.  The story was inspired by his daughter's first time at camp; she will surely be touched to know that her father's legacy lives on as young readers continue to connect with his special books.  Below is the video announcement of the award which includes some words from Taback's editor (if you have trouble viewing, click here to view directly from Adobe Connect.)

In my former middle school, I purchased several of the Bluebonnet titles every year but we didn't participate in voting as a school since we just had one eligible grade.  Now that I work in a library that serves students in grades 5-8, I have the chance to become more involved in Bluebonnets again. I am excited about this and plan to be much more prepared and aware next year!  :)