Dear Anjali, I Hate that You're Dead.

Title: Dear Anjali: I Hate that You're Dead.
Author: Melissa Glenn Haber
ISBN 13: 978-1416995999
Publication Date: June 2010

Meredith's best friend dies suddenly the winter of her 13th birthday.  In this epistolary novel (one that is told through a series of letters), Meredith writes to cope with Anjali's death.  At first, her letters follow a natural progression of grief.  She denies her friends death, she is angry about her friends death, and then she accepts that her friend is dead while vowing to stay as close as they were when "it was love at first sight."  In the meantime, Meredith makes a new friend.  She and Noah Spivak, her biggest and longest crush, start spending a lot of time together.  They become friends, maybe even more than just friends, and Meredith can't believe that someone so attractive and so popular would choose her.  As she learns more about Noah, Meredith learns more about herself.  A very touching, moving story that is neither drawn out in its sadness, nor short in its joy.

Boy, Girl Die in Gangland Killings

Title: Yummy: the Last Days of a Southside Shorty
Author: G. Neri
Illustrator: Randy DuBurke
ISBN 13: 978-1584302674

This realistically illustrated novel tells the true story of Robert Sandifer, AKA Yummy.  Yummy lived in the south side of Chicago, an urban area terrorized by gangs and drugs.  At a very young age, Yummy set out to prove himself as a "tough shorty."  He began committing crimes for a tough local gang.  It wasn't long before he was going in and out of jail just like his drug addicted mom.  His father was serving a lifetime sentence in prison, and everyone had reason to believe that soon, Yummy would be too.

Then a terrible and heart-breaking thing happened.  11-year-old Yummy killed an innocent 14-year-old girl in his neighborhood.  Police didn't find him for days.  When they finally did, they found him shot to death by the gang he served. 

In a graphic novel with haunting illustrations that are true to life, Neri succeeds in telling a very disturbing but necessary story.  Told through the eyes of a young male protagonist, this story poses questions that might easily facilitate important classroom discussions.  Appropriate to young teens, Yummy explores consequence in the context of circumstance and delineates the tragic and conflated influences that have led to these, and many other senseless deaths like them.  An ALA Notable Book and a Coretta Scott King Honor book.

Naruto--the best of the shojen manga

Title: Test of the Ninja--Naruto Vol. 1

Author/Illustrator: Masashi Kishimoto

ISBN 13: 978-15669319000

Naruto is the first manga style comic book I've ever read.  It was very interesting.  I was really surprised that so much character development, emotion, and plot line could be entailed in a graphic novel format, told mostly through dialogue (both external and internal) where the characters exhibit extreme sentiments through their exaggerated facial expressions.  It was great! 

Naruto is hell bent on causing trouble.  His pranks are unscrupulous and constantly undermine his desire to become a venerable Shinobe (ninja).  Only his Master truly believes in him.  After he finally passes the test to become a ninja, Naruto earns a disciple, immediately swears him off as arch-enemy, is teamed up with the school's hottest babe and her biggest crush, and has to survive a new teacher.  Ninja academy is really tough!

Funny (very funny) Business

Title: Funny Business
Edited with a very funny forward by: Jon Scieszka
ISBN 13: 978-0061963735

This collection of short stories is hilarious.  With contributions from such greats as Christopher Paul Curtis, Eoin Colfer, Jeff Kinney and David Lubar (plus more!), I literally laughed out loud on several occassions.  My favorite stories included a kid being pushed down the stairs, another being peeled, some hot dog nipples and a joke in the cafeteria. 

Zombie Winter

Title: Zombie Winter

Author: Jonathon Strange

Publication Date: January 2011

ISBN 13: 978-1434230959

It is the depths of winter and Kane feels like the cold is sucking the life right out of him.  At first, he blames the cold for the odd behavior of his classmates and teachers, but it soon becomes evident that something powerful and evil has overtaken his school, his town, even his mom.   Hordes of zombies are out to eat his brains.  If Kane is going to survive, or save the people he loves, he must follow the directions of a spooky old hermit and destroy the hordes' ancient maker, the Zombie Queen.  A short and quick read, this book manages to evoke true fear and a tangible cold in 64 pages!

Guys Read!

URL: http://www.guysread.com/
Creator: Jon Sciezca

GuysRead, a great website, is the brain child of author Jon Ssciezca.  Actually, it's more like an online bibliography, or list of good books.  What I like Guys Read is that it lists the books in simple categories: "At least one explosion," "Funny," and "Boxer, Wrestlers, Ultimate Fighters" are just a few of the options guys can choose from.  I also like that within each category there is a wide variety of books to choose from.  From medal winners, to classics, to short easy books, guys are sure to find what they want to read!

GirlsLife.com

URL: http://www.girlslife.com/
Scope: Fashion, body, guys, family, school

If you love GL magazine, you will probably enjoy their online presence with GirlsLife.com.  My favorite section is the "blush much?" section located under the "fun stuff" tab because it contains very funny, very embarrassing, real life stories from girls.  The advise in the "tough stuff" section located under the "Life" tab is right on the money.  Most of the advise given under the "Bod" tab is appropriate for tween girls.  My only critique is that the suggestions given for issues about sex or violence presume that one has an open and honest relationship with one's parents.  Many tweens cannot turn to parents for help. Referring to professional agencies where girls could turn for help, would make this resource more valuable.  Still, I love the fashion, I love the gossip, and I really like this website!

Kenny and the Dragon

Title: Kenny and the Dragon
Author: Tony DiTerlizzi
Publication Date: August 2008
ISBN 13: 978-1416939771

In this modern retelling of The Reluctant Dragon, Kenny the rabbit must save a kind and gentle dragon from being slayed when fear and a mob mentality causes local townspeople to demand his "imminent extermination."  With sparse but beautiful illustrations, this story is perfect for anyone who has ever felt the dread of hopelessness, or utterly misunderstood.  Anyone who loves happy magical endings should also read this book!  

Dragonbreath: Curse of the Were-weiner

Title: Dragonbreath: Curse of the Were-Weiner
Author: Ursula Vernon
Publication Date: September 2010
ISBN 13: 978-0803734692

Danny Dragonbreath wakes up one morning with fearful forebodings that something is wrong.  When his best friend Wendel gets bitten by his hotdog, a were-weiner from Transylvania, Danny's inarticulate fears come to pass.  It isn't long before other kids at school begin to exhibit the same symptons as Wendel.  Danny knows it's up to him to kill the were-wiener.  Can he face his fears and save his friends? 

Vernon's illustrations are great if the conversation is, at times, a little lacking.  She is liberal in her use of neologisms and does a fair job of capturing coloquial speech.  Both funny, and a little frightening, this book might be recommended to fans of Babymouse or Captain Underpants.

Sun Ning Fai Lok! (Happy Chinese New Year!)

Title: The Star Maker
Author: Laurence Yep
Publication Date:  December 2010
ISBN 13: 978-0060253158

The year is 1953.  The place is San Francisco's Chinatown.  The story follows Artie and his Uncle Chester as they prepare for Chinese New Year with their large and colorful family.  Artie, like everyone he meets in Chinatown, loves his uncle.  That's why he can't understand why his relatives all call his Uncle Chester a baby, and a bum.  When Artie makes a promise he can't keep, it's Uncle Chester who teaches him about honor and respect by helping him to celebrate the best Chinese New Year of his life.

Partly Cloudy--Love Poems

Title: Partly Cloudy--Poems of Love and Longing
Author: Gary Soto
Publication Date: February 2009
ISBN 13: 978-0152063016

This collection of poems about young love is written and organized first from the female perspective, and then from the male.  They are fresh, honest and speak of love sans sex.  A perfect read for Valentine's Day!

Soto captures a realistic tween voice in this collection of poems.  He resists the inclination to speak of young love in the diminutive, choosing instead to give it the full weight it carries in the lives of his speakers.  "Little Puppy" acknowledges the adult tendency to erroneously dismiss first loves as inconsequential.  In "Boy Artist" Soto remind us that first loves leave an indelible mark and are essential "practice" for adulthood.

The poems in this collection express romance as it is experienced by tweens.  There is not overt sex or ramifications.  It is a good choice for  public or school library serving young teens and
tweens.

Surviving the Nightmare of Hurricane Katrina

Title: Ninth Ward

Author: Jewell Parker Rhodes
Publication Date: August, 2010
ISBN 13: 978-0316043076

Lanesha lives with her Mama Ya-Ya, a wise old midwife steeped in eclectic spirituality, in the ninth ward of New Orleans.  When clairvoyant Mama Ya-Ya foresees a great storm, Lanesha begins to prepare herself for survival.  It will take all her strength and "fortitude" to survive Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.  Is love enough to buoy Lanesha?

A poignant, and encouraging story.  Lanesha has been raised from birth by Mama Ya-Ya because when her young mother died in childbirth, her "uptown" family refused to acknowledge her.  The sadness of this rejection sticks with Lanesha and is symbolized by the languishing ghost of her pregnant mom.  For all of Lanesha's young life, this sadness has been opposed by the love and devotion shown to her by Mama Ya-Ya.  Mama Ya-Ya's love becomes a bulwark of spiritual strength for Lanesha and ultimately saves her from the "star-crossed" fate of more tragic literary characters.  At times frightening and wrenching, Rhodes' prose is beautifully written with multiple layers of meaning.  This book is essential to any library serving young teens.  A Coretta Scott King Honor book and an ALA Notable book.

Troll's Eye View--A Book of Villainous Tales

Title: Troll's Eye View: A Book of Villainous Tales
Edited by: Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling
Publication Date: April 2009
ISBN 13: 978-0142416730

This collection of stories is sure to make you laugh (can you picture Jack buzzing around like a fly until the giant falls down his own beanstalk?), and really creep you out (who ever thought eating a flower could turn a normal boy into a blood-thirsty werewolf?)!  With 15 stories from notable authors like Jane Yolen, Neil Gaiman, Garth Nix, and Nancy Farmer, it's no wonder this book is sure to please!  An ALA Notable selection.

Mirka Kills a Troll

Title: Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword
Author: Barry Deutsch
Publication Date: November 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0810984226

Wow!  Hereville is the first graphic novel I've ever read, and I must admit, I really liked it!  Mirka is an 11-year-old girl who lives with her blended Jewish family in the Orthodox town of Hereville.  When she inadvertently offends, and then protects a witch's pig, she is given the chance to take the first step towards becoming the fearless dragon slayer she envisions herself to be.  She gets to try to kill a troll! 

The illustrations in this book are of the highest caliber and do an amazing job of depicting the full spectrum of human emotions.  Two scenes, in particular, set the tone for the work.  In one image, an angel assumed to be Mirka's biological mom intercedes when Mirka's life is in danger.  She comes to Mirka at the bottom of a lake and pacifies Mirka's obstinacy in a scene that exudes peace.  In another frame, Mirka receives the Shabbat blessing from her step-mom.  Love and respect emanate from this frame.  These two pictures set the tone for the story without using any words.  A book about family, imagination, and magic, Hereville is essential to any library serving tweens!  Well done!  

Walter Dean Myers' Dream Bearer

Title: The Dream Bearer
Author: Walter Dean Myers
Pub Date: June 2003
ISBN-13: 978-0064472890

David lives in Harlem with his mom, his dad Rueben, and his older brother Tyrone.  David's 12th summer is a hard one.  His dad suffers a nervous break, his brother's starts using drugs, and his mom is so busy trying to avoid the truth, that David feels scared and alone.  When he befriends an old man who claims to be an ancient dream bearer, David begins to understand his life in the context of the African American experience, he gains courage and acceptance.  An excellent work of fiction!

Spies, Boys, and Twisted Secrets

Title: Only the Good Spy Young

Author: Ally Carter
Pub Date: June 2010

ISBN-10: 1423128206

In the fourth installment of the incredibly gripping Gallagher Girls series, Cammie Morgan, spy-in-training, is encircled in a new mystery involving her teacher, her deceased father, her school, her crush Zack, and her three best friends.  Espionage is difficult, especially when everyone she knows and loves leads the life of a spy!