Tantalize, By Cynthia Leitich Smith

Title: Tantalize
Author: Cynthia Leitich Smith
Publish Date: February 13, 2007
Publisher: Candlewick

Price: Hardcover $16.99
Pages: 336
ISBN: 0763627917
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Occult/Supernatural/Fantasy
Age Range: Young Adult

Annotation: In Austin's very first Vampire themed restaurant, there is more cooking in the kitchen the just food. A murder has taken place and Orphan Quincie is left with a plateful of mystery and dark romance.

Summary: This vampire story is a matter of taste. Literally. Orphaned Quincie Morris (a nod to Stoker’s Dracula that hopefully readers will recognize) and her Uncle Davidson have decided to re-vamp their inherited Italian restaurant to save it from the competition. Struggles ensue when her best friend (who is also a hybrid shape-shifter wolf) starts getting the blame when bodies start turning up. Including the head chef.

Evaluation: Though at first it seems like a overdone werewolf-vampire struggle complete with a tasty love-triangle, it turns out to have it’s strength in the “tasty” rather then the rest. Generally, I wasn't as impressed with the ending as I was the quirky story line that keeps you guessing like a "feast." The metaphors were delicious! The epicurean in me wanted to sink my fangs into the table of contents alone. It gave it a little edge in a market that is over-flooded with vampire tales.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Orphans, Working Teens, Empowering and, Romance, and Problem Solving

Reason this Book was Chosen: What’s on the Menu? The table of Contents! Smith delivers a vampire feast that plays on the temptations of the feast, the “drink,” and of course the delicious nature of the unknown. Teens who love to vamp it up will love this. So will teens with a culinary appreciation!

Author Website: http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/cls/cyn_books/tantalize/tantalize.html

Official Book Trailer:

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, by Chris Crutcher

Title: Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes
Author: Chris Crutcher
Publish Date: March 18, 2003
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Pages: 304

Price: Paperback $8.99
ISBN: 0060094893
Classification: Young Adult
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Range: Young Adult

Annotation: A disfigured girl and an overweight boy bear the intense and emotional scars of years bullying together. They share a biting view of the world around them until senior year surprisingly sends them into different courses.

Summary: Eric a.k.a. "Moby" and Sarah are comrades that share a common problem. Both are misfits. Eric is obese and Sarah has intense scarring from an accident that happened when she was young. After Moby joins the swimming team, he begins to loose weight his extra weight! But, he fears he might lose Sarah's friendship...
Will Sarah confront her horrific history and the emotions that go along with her abusive father?
And, will the friendship fail or grow in exhilarating and unanticipated ways?

Evaluation: A fictitious story that pulls at your heart for a place in the real world (or even your own world) as something that you can relate to. Both funny and tragic, it illustrates a friendship that will stay with you even after you leave the pages of the book. Chris Crutcher's writing is funny, straightforward and believable.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: A tool that can illustrate love, loyalty and courage during battle with obesity, bullying, disfigurement and an onslaught of other life problems

Reason this book was chosen: Though abusive parents are often dealt with in the pages of YA, not many books deal with obesity. To have Crutcher approach it, makes it a must read!

Little Brother, by Cory Doctorow

Title:Little Brother
Author:Cory Doctorow
Publish Date:April 13, 2010
Publisher:Tor Teen; 1 edition
Pages:416 pages
ISBN:0765323117
Classification:
Genre:
Age Range:Young Adult
Price: $9.99
Annotation:

Annotation: After being mistaken for being part of a horrible terrorist attack, Marcus, a.k.a “w1n5t0n,” is arrested. After being let go he finds his home turned into a post-terrorist police state.Alone and angry about what's happening, he single handedly begins to fight back.

Summary: Marcus, a.k.a “w1n5t0n,” is seventeen and already he knows how to beat his school's system. He has no problem hacking computer and dodging library detectors so he can ditch and leave school to play an ARG in the city. But when a horrible attack takes place while he's out ditching school, Marcus finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. After being brutally accused of having something to do with this attack he is finally released. But when he gets home he realizes the world around him is a VERY different place. Something worse then Marshall law has transformed his world into a fear based, rights-invading police state. And this little brother isn't going to sit by and let big brother take over!

Evaluation: Little brother is a love song to Orwell, while at the same time an interesting look at how a Canadian views American policy (or human rights in general for that matter). This book is smart, fast-paced, and at times genius. The techno-geek speak is a lesson in computers for those who don't speak HTML, but it's done in a way that doesn't loose the reader. It's a tour-de-force for Young Adult, and encourages teens to think for themselves. It's mildly violent but these times are not too graphic. Although it's very pertinent to today's political air, its also got an element of science fiction to temper the far fetched implications. A very important book by an up and coming Canadian superstar young-adult writer.

Little Brother's Website: Read for free! http://craphound.com/littlebrother/download/

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Dissent, Friends, Empowerment, Political Involvement, Post Traumatic Stress, Freedom of Speech, Human Rights

Reason this book was chosen: It's important, well-written, and unique. It looks at issues that are relatable to current political atmosphere.

It's a Kind of Funny Story, by Ned Vizzini

Title: It's a Kind of Funny Story
Author: Ned Vizzini
Publish Date: April 3, 2007
Publisher:Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 448 pages
ISBN:0142401757
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Fiction
Age Range:Young Adult
Price: $8.99

Annotation: After being accepted into a prestigious high school in Manhattan the pressure mounts and Craig becomes increasingly depressed. He checks himself into a facility after calling a suicide prevention line and he finally begins to understand himself and his talents.

Summary: Like many determined NYC teens, Craig sees being accepted into Manhattan's Executive Pre-Professional High School as the one way all exclusive ticket to the success he dreams of. Craig studies excessively to get in and that the beginning of his life spinning out of control. Once he is in he begins to feel the pressure and begins to see himself as average and maybe even not capable of being as successful as he see himself in his head. He get seriously depressed. He stops eating and sleeping and even ends up almost killing himself under the weight of the depression. The breakdown winds him up in an institution where he meets all sorts of people and begins the upward climb to rehabilitation and facing what's really crippling him.

Evaluation: I have a special place for this book. Something about the character's relatable sadness and they way he comes back from it was awesome. I heard this was being made into a movie and I can see why. You can tell it's authentic and comes from actual experience which makes it all the more endearing.

Also a realistic view of the increasing pressures of school and success in todays world.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Returning from the brink of suicide. There is a point to picking up that phone and calling for help. It's not pointless.

Reason this book was chosen: There are more teens then we think that go through recovery institutions for many things like depression, drugs, or suicide and I think its refreshing to read a story with humor and pathos and it gives hope to those with crippling depression. Sometimes a little spark is all it takes to keep fighting.

Lush, by Natasha Friend

Title: Lush

Author: Natasha Friend

Publish Date: 2007

Publisher: Scholastic

Pages: 192

ISBN: 0439853478

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Range: Teen

Price: 7.99

Annotation: Sam is 13, has an alcoholic dad, and she is having trouble dealing the whole situation. As a result she turns to an older student for advice.

Summary: 13 year old San has a dad who is an alcoholic. When he isn't drinking he is a amazing. But under the influence he is abusive. It scares Sam and her mom is in denial. Her four year old brother is young and Sam feels she needs to protect him. What is she supposed to do with her life? Sam decides to leave an anonymous note in the Library in hopes of an older girl that she admires picks it up. With this a back and forth stream of support flowers in which Sam can express her feelings about her home life, feelings, and even about her crush on a certain boy. In the return letters, Sam is forced to face the harsh realities of life.

Evaluation: Natasha Friend has a voice for teen issues and it shows in the story line, the dialogue, and the motives that drive the characters. Growing up with an alcoholic I can relate and vouch for the authenticity of her voice. Well done, I had a lot of feelings for Sam and was hopeful when she channeled some strength.

Bibliotherapuetic Usefulness: Dealing with alcoholic parents and expressing yourself.

Reason this Book was Chosen: From my own personal experiences, I can appreciate the need for a book like this. I wish I had it when I was young.

Website: http://www.natashafriend.com/

Shattering Glass, by Gail Giles

Title: Shattering Glass

Author: Gail Giles

Publish Date: August 2003

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Pages: 224pp

ISBN: 0689858000

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Realistic Fiction/Suspense

Age Range: 13 and up

Price: $7.99

Annotation: When Rob, the charismatic king of popularity in his the senior class, turns the school nerd into Prince Charming, his actions lead to unexpected violence.

Summary: Fat, clumsy Simon Glass is a total nerd and a loser. Until Rob Haynes showed up in his life, Simon is the brunt of teasing from almost everyone. Rob, a transfer with personality and charm, takes over the school easily and he has plans for Simon. Rob is setting out to make Simon a popular Prom King from his clumsy current state and Rob knows he can do it. And he does do it. Simon rises and rises on the high school popularity charts, but as he does he gets more and more confident and more and more devious and dark. As things get stickier and secrets are revealed this experiment turns deadly.

Evaluation: Once again, Gail makes the suspense and horror totally plausible and again I found myself paging through this book rapidly, stopping only now and then to mouth the words "wow" to myself. I love her perspective and I loved the tone of Shattering Glass.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Issues with Violence, Bullying, Family Issue, Friends, Incest,

Manipulation, Sexual Content, Sexual Abuse, Murder, Nerds, Peer pressure, Popularity, relationships, Violence

Reason this book was chosen: I have actually seen this agenda play out in school of turning someone from nerd to cool and was intrigued by the idea of a book about it. Also knowing the style of Giles and hearing about end I was knew that no matter what it would be a great read.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky

Title: The Perks of Being A Wallflower
Author: Stephen Chbosky
Publish Date: February 1, 1999
Publisher: MTV Books
Pages: 213
ISBN: 0671027344
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Range: Young Adult

Annotation: Perpetual Wallflower, Charlie, becomes unlikely friends with an eccentric and outgoing crowd. His friendship causes him to open up and experiment and ultimately face his introversion.

Summary: When Charlie enters his first year in high school he is a wallflower. He is the kind of kid that pictures himself in the books he reads and quietly watches others rather then becoming and experiencing what he reads and sees for himself. Making friends with both his teacher (who recognizes his intellectual depth by giving him books to read beyond his years) and schoolmates, Patrick and Samantha, Charlie begins to experience life on a new level, while simultaneously avoiding his creeping depression. This depression is a mystery to Charlie and he fights it throughout this instant cult classic until finally he has to face it.

Evaluation: This book is well written and simple, but complex in it's interpersonal relations. It reminds me of reading Catcher in the Rye for the first time and is authentic and unique. It's success in creating a wallflower tone as well as the characterization is endearing.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Molestation, Coming of Age, Becoming more Outgoing, Experiencing Life Rather then Watching It, Family Relationships, Romantic and Friendly Relationships

Reason this Book was Chosen: If I had a top Five YA book list this would be on it. It deals with many issues from coming of age and experimentation to molestation and healing. It's a charming and simple read.

Just for Fun.

Notable Music References from Perks:

Asleep by the Smiths

Vapour Trail by Ride
Scarborough Fair by Simon & Garfunkel
A Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum
Time of No Reply by Nick Drake
Dear Prudence by the Beatles
Gypsy by Suzanne Vega
Nights in White Satin by the Moody Blues
Daydream by Smashing Pumpkins
Dusk by Genisis
MLK by U2
Blackbird by the Beatles
Lanslide by Fleetwood Mac
Asleep by the Smiths

Fan Made Trailer with the Popular "Infinite" Quote:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by JK Rowling

By: J.K Rowling

Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books; 1st Edition, Book Seven (7)

Publish Date Hardcover: July 21, 2007

ISBN: 0545010225

Page #: 784 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy

Age Level: Older Teen, Younger Teen (With discretion)

Series Titles: Harry Potter

Reader's Annotation: The final tale in the famous Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. Potter finally confronts Voldemort and saves the day. Is anybody surprised?

Synopsis: Harry Potter doesn't return to Hogwarts, now under the charge of a new, darker headmaster. Is Snape friend or Foe? What will become of Harry and Ginny, and Ron and Hermione? How will Harry's psyche withstand the forces of darkness on this new wild path of combat and exclusion? In the whopping 784 page conclusion, these questions and more will be answered, but don't expect to be reading about the child-wizard, all doe eyed and innocent. This Harry has a decidedly different battle that is not only outward but inward. The building self-doubt that was planted in the earlier books threatens to take over. Sadly not all come out alive. Not a fan of the beginning Potter installments, years six and seven have won me over in shear entertainment and darkness. In the end, all that darkness comes back into the light with a bang.

Evaluation: Much to my chagrin, after managing to stay out of the whole Harry Potter phenom for quite a while (and yes, while working at a library and book store), I finally picked up the last book. I may be alone here but this is the only book I read in the series. I tried to read another after I finished this but it didn't appeal to me. However this last one had a notably darker edge and dealt with some pretty hardcore issues.

Bibliotherapuetic Usefulness: Dumbledore is a powerful gay figure, sexuality brims everywhere, bloodshed and death present itself

Why this book was chosen: This book is darker then the others. And has more depth and also, JK Rowling has admitted that the main wizard, Albus Dumbledore was in fact gay. Suddenly HP had a new audience!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's (UK: Philosopher's) Stone

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows