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:

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.

Paper Towns, by John Green

Title: Paper Towns
Author: John Green
Publish Date: September 22, 2009
Publisher: Speak/Penguin Young Readers Group
Pages: 320

Price: Paperback $9.99
ISBN: 014241493X
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Range: Young Adult

Annotation: When Margo shows up at Q's (short for Quentin's) window in the middle of the night she asks him to help in an all night, brilliant revenge scheme. Having a crush from afar for a LONG time, he goes along with it. But the next day she is missing, leaving behind her a ton of clues for him to find and decode.

Summary: When Margo Spiegelman calls for Quentin Jacobsen in the middle of the night at his window, she is spewing a plot of crazy revenge dressed like a secret agent. Margo’s always planned in a stye that's over the top, but until this point, she’s keeps the ninja behavior to herself. Quentin, aka Q, has always crushed on Margo from afar, so Q looks at the opportunity as a turn for the better. He follows her into a one night mission of revenge that takes them from ex-friend's houses to Sea World. But after their crusade, the next day at school, his love-from-afar-turned-potential has completely disappeared and his hopes are squashed! Though not so surprised (Margo has always been an riddle), Q finds himself in a mystery chalk full of clues. And, the best part is: they’re for Q!

Evaluation: John Green is a great author who created a relatable character. It speaks to the slight over thinker who longs to connect. Also, this books goes along with a handful of others that prove YA literature can be smart and complex. A highlight is the use of the poem "Song of Myself" by Walt Whitman.

Cool Websites in the Green World : John Green http://www.sparksflyup.com/index.php, Youtube http://www.youtube.com/vlogbrothers Nerdfighters http://nerdfighters.ning.com/

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Romance, Social Outcast, Issues with Runaways, Connecting with Others, Coming of Age, Parental Issues

Reason this book was chosen: I love when authors use literary references and have an all-over intelligent tone. John Green, award winning author for Looking for Alaska, creates a book that looks at relationship and coming of age in an insightful book with a plot driven by mystery to boot!

Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale, By Holly Black

Title:Tithe
Author:Holly Black
Publish Date:February 2, 2004
Publisher:Simon & Schuster Children's
Pages:352 pages
ISBN:0689860420
Classification:Fiction
Genre:
Age Range:Young Adult
Price:$5.43

Annotation: After finding and saving a male Fey, Kaye finds out she is more then just human. And she is asked to do the fairies a favor...

Summary: Not all fairy tales are disneyland dreams come true about fairies who live in the genial fairy hollow. Here, Kaye Fierch, a 16-year-old "Asian blonde" spends most of her days being a mother to her own wanna be rock and roll mom. When mom has murderous man troubles they go live with grandma at the Jersey shore. In the woods, Kaye meets and saves a Fey who in return grants her 3 questions. Through this she finds she is a Changeling, and is facing not only sexual awareness but who she is entirely. These fairies come with a warning! And soon Kaye finds there is a cost to playing for the mortal world and the fairy world.

Evaluation: As a fan of the fiery world, and an appreciation of the metaphor it stands for, I can she want Holly Black is trying to confront with issues of evolving sexuality, relationships and fantasy. I liked the way Black used her edgy style to deal with issues with parental issues and sexual awakening. I saw Holly Black Speak at ALA a few years back and was impressed by her understanding of the Young Adult Genre. I was always intrigued to she how she wrote but never got a chance to read her. I had her signed copy sitting on my bookshelf waiting to be read. She makes this book a fun ride if you like dark fantasy.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Issues deal with sexuality & love, parental problems, having to be the child acting as an adult, also sacrifice and accepting change

Reason this book was chosen: I chose mostly controversial, realistic fiction and wanted to have a range of choices for people who are into fantasy and fairies. I am one of those people so it was important to me to include a book that dealt with real problems and issues but had a fantastical edge.

Holly Black has an AMAZING website! http://www.blackholly.com/

Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins

Title: Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1 edition (September 1, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0439023491
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Science Fiction
Age Range: Young Adult

Series: The Hunger Games

Reader's Annotation: The sequel to the stunning Hunger Games, Catching Fires takes off where Katniss has won the Hunger Games against all odds. Now, she and Peeta should be happy. But the Capitol isn't happy with what's happened at all, and they may not let it go.

Summary: Now that Katniss and Peeta have suvived the Hunger Games they are faced with fame and even moer troubles! It's as if there hell has just begun! While trying to make sense of her feelings for Peeta, she finds herself in the middle of yet another Games. It seems as if the Capitol will do anything to repress the civil dissent that has seemed to grow around Catniss. Will the Capitol win?

Evaluation: Just as good as the first one! It's political and edgy and continue to raise great issues about facism and entertainment. Collins' writing is so engrossing you find it hard to wait for the final installment. It makes you want to turn the channel when Surviver is on the televsion!

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Dealing with Loss, Staying Strong in the Face of Adversity, Reealistic Views of Fame and Reality TV, Violence

Official Website: http://www.scholastic.com/thehungergames/

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

Boy Meets Boy, by David Levithan

Title: Boy Meets Boy
Author: David Levithan
Publish Date: May 2005
Publisher: Random House Childrens Books
Pages: 192pp
ISBN: 0375832998
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Range: 14 and up
Price: $17.99

Annotation: In boy meets boy, the boy is Paul. This boy meets another Boy, Noah. And in a town where love between boys is actually ok, Paul falls for Noah. But in Paul messes up he has to fight to get him back. And Paul isn't gonna give up.

Summary: Paul is gay and its ok in his town. Thus sets the scene for a typical love story. Boy meets girl. they fall in love. Boy looses girl. Boy wins girl back. This story is just your typical love story. Only difference? Boy meets boy.

Evaluation: The best thing about this book is the simplicity and fairytale world in which Paul lives. his town is accepting, even if his friend's town isn't, but where he lives it's ok to be gay outloud! It's your typical love story. But with a modern twist. I breezed through this bopok with a smile on my face thinking the whole time, "I bet there are two love stories going on here. One between the boys, and the other with the fantasy of hoping one day the world can be this way." And it's doesn't forget about the world today, with the Tony you meet a boy who is struggling with a very familiar plight: coming out to an unaccepting world.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Coming out to un-accepting audience, LGBTQ issues, Self-Awareness, and Self-Identity, Accepting who you are

Reason this book was chosen: A gay story that puts the "gay" back into gay!