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:

Gossip Girl #1 (Bk. 1 in Series), Cecily Von Ziegesar

Title:Gossip Girl
Author:Cecily Von Ziegesar
Publish Date:April 1, 2002
Publisher:Poppy; 1 edition
Pages:199 pages
ISBN:0316910333
Classification:
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Range:Young Adult
Price: $7.91

Annotation: In a Manhattan upper crust Private High School being a teen takes on new meaning. Everybody has it all, plus an extra dose of dysfunction, jealously, sex, drugs, and all drama in between. And don't forget, Gossip Girl knows what you are doing. xoxo

Summary: In New York, jet-setter teens have it all, including a wealth of of problems. A narrator who spreads gossip remains unknown, while the problems keep on getting spilled. Follow super cool Serena, coming out of an expulsion and, Nate, sexy and stoned, and Blair, popular queen of their school and ex-best friend of Serena. The dish on everything is being gossiped to everyone. No secret is too precious as these spoiled and broken teens grapple with both the luxuries and the trauma of being the elite few that seems like a fairy tale on the outside.

Evaluation: This book was turned into a TV show that reigns as the most controversial teen show on TV. It's nasty (in the best way), sexual, drugs are everywhere, and the kids are so freaking spoiled it makes you feel guilty just watching it. This book (and the show for that matter) shows the downside to all the money and elite living. And it shows that even the rich have problems. The real value lies in realizing that a teen in this situation could really benefit from reading it before actually doing these things. And the bottom line is, reading it is a lot more fun then actually suffering through it!

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Gossip. Gossip. Gossip. Seem Harmless? Not so good actually...being careful what you spill is a valuable lesson.

Reason this book was chosen: The book has the effect of gossip itself once you enter it's hard to extract yourself; teens will devour this whole. The open-ended conclusion promises a follow-up. Also, it is hard to discern the book from the TV show anymore (as they are so intertwined). I liked the idea of touting a title that is just as good as the mega hit it inspired.

Website: http://www.gossipgirl.net/series/

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.