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:

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!