Sisters

by Raina Telgemeier
PRMS hardcover 198 pages
genre: YA graphic novel memoir

Love her work! This one tells of a roadtrip with mom, Raina, little sister, and little brother. Delightful mix of humor and pathos. Wonderful artwork and storytelling. Another growing-up gem!

Stolen

by Lucy Christopher
PRMS paperback 299 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction

Again, I can't believe how long it took me to read this. Gemma is kidnapped from a major airport by a handsome young man who drugs her and takes her away to the Australian outback. I liked the camel, the rocky outcropping area, and her growing awareness of him as a human being. Didn't really care for most of the story, though. Was it "about" Stockholm syndrome? Appreciating what you have? Being more aware? Creepy people have lives, too? Not sure how I'd booktalk this . . . but I'm sure there are some readers who would thoroughly enjoy it.

The Waiting: the true story of a lost child, a lifetime of longing, and a miracle for a mother who never gave up

by Cathy LaGrow and Cindy Coloma
Hennepin County Libary hardcover 311 pages
genre: biographical

Amazing! I read a review of this book somewhere and put it on my library requests list. By the time I got it, I had mostly forgotten about it. I had tears streaming down my face for the last hundred pages . . .

Minka was a shy sixteen-year-old when she got to go on a sewing class picnic in August 1928. Used to the hard work on her stepfather's dairy farm, the picnic was a huge treat. She had even sewn a new dress to wear! Toward the end of the picnic, Minka and another quiet girl, Clara, went for a walk around the lake. The girls were accosted and raped by some older men. Neither girl told a soul . . . but Minka's mother guessed when the teenager didn't have any rags in the laundry that fall.

The story of her pregnancy, giving up her daughter for adoption, and her life until she saw her again at age 94 is stunning and worthwhile reading. I would recommend this to anyone! I would even consider buying a copy to own and re-reading it. What an amazing woman.

I love, love, love the cover pic (of Minka's actual hands holding the only photo of her with her baby Betty Jane):

The Revenge of Seven

by Pittacus Lore
personal hardcover 371 pages
genre: fantasy

It took me longer to read this than I anticipated. I like reading them in quick succession so that the story sticks together better . . . and I may go back in and write in the name of the character for each chapter. The different fonts and the "voice" aren't enough. I will impatiently wait for the next book, but was pleased with many of the surprises in this one. Ella was the best . . . and Sam's surprise at the end. Next book, please!

Two Boys Kissing

by David Levithan
read by the author
Hennepin County Library audiobook 5 discs
genre: teen realistic fiction, relationships

I couldn't even get past disc one. . . not enough of the *stories* of Craig and Harry, Peter and Neil, Avery and Ryan . . . and too much of the historical and cultural perspective on teen and young adult homosexual relationships and how much has changed in the past few decades. I know I'm not his target audience, but this just didn't appeal even from a "story" perspective. The back flap gives more info:

The Whipping Boy

by Sid Fleischman
read by Spike McClure
Hennepin County Library audiobook 2 discs
genre: YA historical fiction, adventure

Re-read / listen. Jemmy the rat-catcher's son learns to read and write when he lives in the palace. Whenever he gets a beating for the prince's misbehavior, he refuses to cry out in pain, antagonizing the prince. Jemmy values the literacy he gains more than the fine clothes and good food, but plans his escape nonetheless. When Prince "Brat" informs Jemmy that they are running away together, Jemmy goes along so that he can ditch the prince as quickly as possible. They run into nefarious criminals Hold-Your-Nose Billy (garlic eater) and Cutwater and get further and further into trouble. Prince Brat really just wants a friend and clings to Jemmy as he realizes how very disliked he is throughout the kingdom.

They run into Betsy and her dancing bear Petunia, as well as the near-sighted Captain Nips (potato seller) on their run from the villains. A delightful short novel (novella?) and a fun one to share with kids. McClure's vocal work is excellent.

Lock and Key

by Sarah Dessen
Hennepin County Library audioCD 10 discs
read by Rebecca Soler
genre: YA realistic fiction

This was a much more gripping story than I anticipated. Ruby has been living alone for a few months since her mom took off. She has been pretending that everything is "fine," even though the heat doesn't work, the cockroaches are rampant, and she has to get water from the bathroom to do any cooking in the kitchen. When social services take her away to put her in the care of her sister Cora, the seventeen-year-old decides to take off after everyone is in bed. But when she tries to jump a fence that leads to the neighbor's pool area and Roscoe the dog barks like crazy, Ruby ends up with a new definition for the word family.

Poignant, painful, and very real . . . Nate and his dad, a new classmate and her cousin Lainie, Cora and her husband Jamie, the high-strung jewelry artist who hires her, . . . this is a mature story about relationships and humans learning to trust. Soler's vocal work was stellar.

Lives of Extraordinary Women: Rulers, Rebels (and What the Neighbors Thought)

by Kathleen Krull
Illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt
PRMS hardcover 94 pages
genre: non-fiction

This was entertaining and easy reading, but not a very good source of information for history day. This would be good for someone who isn't sure about their topic choice, especially if they are interested in strong women. The info is interesting and accurate (I believe), but none of the people are written about in-depth. From Cleopatra to Elizabeth I to Rigoberta Menchu, I knew of most of the women featured, but learned about a few new ones.

The Naturals

by Jennifer Barnes
Hennepin County Library audiobook 6 discs
read by Amber Faith
genre: YA murder mystery fiction

This is like Criminal Minds with teenagers. The premise is that the FBI has a small group of "naturals" - two profilers, one who can "read" emotions, one who can analyze evidence like a computer, and one who is a natural lie detector. When Cassandra (Cassie) Hobbes joins the other teenagers, she is taken aback by her inability to hide what she is thinking and feeling. In the five years since her mother's disappearance, she has perfected the art of being "fine."

Leah - liar, sneak, gorgeous chameleon, very protective of Dean, on and off relationship with Michael
Sloan - human computer, petite, Cassie's roommate
Dean - father was a serial killer, he's the other profiler, initially wants to have nothing to do with Cassie
Michael - gorgeous, rich, can read emotions but is effective at hiding his true self

Love interests, murder cases, danger lurking around every corner. I don't want to even hint at the heart of the story because to ruin the ending would defeat the purpose of reading the book! Cassie was too much of a wimp for me, but it was a compelling story (enough that I'll read book two if/when it comes out).