Love in 5 Minutes

Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist

• by: Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
• Published by: Alfred A. Knopf
• New York, 2006
• 183 pgs.
• 4Q     4P     S

Nick, the bass player in a band, is caught in an awkward situation when his ex-girlfriend shows up at his show with her new beau.  In an effort to make her jealous, Nick asks the first girl he sees to be his girlfriend for five minutes, long enough for Tris to see them kissing and realize she wants Nick back.  Little does he know, Norah knows his ex quite well and would be pleased to do anything that would cause her distress.  Norah is not close to Tris; however, talks to her enough to realize that Nick’s a sweet, loyal, kindhearted  individual who doesn’t deserve the pain Tris causes him.  Norah decides to accept Nick’s offer and the night progresses.  They spend time stalled in Nick’s car, attending secret concerts, and living the life of New Yorkers.  Through a variety of experiences, Nick and Norah begin to grow closer together and build a bond that may just prove to last longer than they expected.  Together they decide to take a leap of faith and explore the connection.

With sequencing alternating between the narration of Nick and Norah, teens get a true glance into first date experiences and what goes through teens’ minds in this situation.  Reading a chapter from Nick’s point of the view and then looking at the next from Norah’s, gave interesting insight into each teen’s perspective.  Both teens deal with the heartache of broken relationships and life in the future.  Teens can relate to this material as they go through the process of trying to find themselves and evolving into unique individuals while still maintaining friendships and relationships.  Nick and Norah are above the drug induced crowd with whom they associate.   Instead, Nick’s love of song writing and Norah’s background of having a music executive father, draws them to clubs and events involving music.  This common background builds characterization as the main characters spark an instant connection and high energy romance.

As Nick and Norah live out their first evening together, readers will find an exciting tone that leaves them wondering what might happen next.  Teens will find themselves rooting for the new relationship between the main characters rather than the chance for them to reunite with old flames.  Readability is a bit marred by the over abundant use of profanity.  Obscenities are mentioned on each page and seemed to take away from the plot elements.  I found myself lost in these words, rather than involved in the novel.  The author seemed to use these terms to help the teens express their emotions and feelings.  However, I think this could have been done more effectively with strong adjectives and descriptions.  The situations would appeal to teen readers as many are dealing with relationship problems.  The inclusion of teen night life and entertainment qualities improved the quality of the writing while intriguing teen interests.   Experiences in this novel correspond with those of today’s young adults.  The authors accurately described detailed situations and characters, allowing readers to enter and “live” the story along with the characters.  Teens will analyze their values and their personal peer interactions.

I would recommend this title to the older teen audience due to the large use of profanity, the inclusion of sexual experiences, and teens seen using drugs and alcohol.  Alternating viewpoints and inclusion of male and female characters would prompt teen readers as well as the fact this title has recently being released as a major motion picture.

Eye appealing cover art and font appears large and bolded as it “jumps” from the page creating interest.  A black and white photo of Nick and Norah kissing would intrigue and entice teen readers to selet this book.  Love, disaster, and drama in between… What more could a teen want?

Do You Believe in Witches?

The Minister’s Daughter

• by: Julie Hearn
• Published by: Atheneum Books
• New York, 2005
• 258 pgs.
• 4Q     4P      J-S

Nell lives with her cunning grandmother while attempting to learn her healing powers.  Born on May Morning, Nell is known as a Merrybegot, and therefore, has special powers not possessed by the average villager.  When Grace, the minister’s daughter, approaches Nell to rid her body of an illegitimate child, Nell refuses as the child is a Merrybegot like herself.  Grace, furious at the healing woman’s response, arranges a devilish plot to blame her pregnancy on Nell rather than her own frolicking.  Grace and her sister, Patience, put on an unbelievable display of spitting pins, speaking in tongue and other peculiar behaviors.  With Nell visiting only days before, and Patience fully believing her sister is birthing the devil’s spawn, this plan works in Grace’s favor with troubles beginning.  The village people attempt to drown her grandmother to prove she is a witch, and Nell is sentenced to death by hanging, but miraculously is saved by the Prince, whose life she healed earlier.  Safe from the world and under the care of the Prince, Nell lives on and works to keep her identity hidden as she finds that she is the bastard child conceived by her mother from another man while being married to the minister.  Grace births her child, which is then left in the cold to die.  Found by a villager who has recently lost a child, the young boy finds a home and a family.  As for Patience, Grace, and their father, they set out for the new world and take up residence in Salem, Massachusetts.  Who are the real witches in this story?  I’m still guessing myself.

Teen readers with an interest in historical fiction will learn how the actions of one person can affect a number of lives.  Grace was so concerned about herself, she failed to consider the reprocussions of her actions.  Teens will enjoy the inclusion of witchcraft and the presence of magical creatures such as pixies as the story unfolds and leaves the reader wondering who really is practicing witchcraft.  A morbid tone becomes apparent as Grace plots against the main character and all that is important to her.  Nell and her grandmother are not treated kindly even though they try to help other villagers.  Not only are these characters looked upon negatively, but Grace’s baby is also left for dead.  The theme takes a postive turn when Nell is led to safety and the baby safe from harm.  The ending will leave readers guessing about Patience and Grace’s fate, and how their lives evolved.

The author took an interesting style by weaving in Patience’s confession some fifty years after the episodes with Nell.  Patience tells what really happened now that she is old enough to understand what was actually happening in the characters’ lives at that time.  Each character is vividly desribed allowing the reader to obtain a clear picture of their physical attributes.  The author uses dialogue and language characteristics similar to the time period in which the story takes place.  Readers get a clear picture of the characters’ lives in the 1650s by their emotions and actions.  Readability was affected by the use of vocabulary pertinent to the time frame, but not used today.  Some teens may become lost in these terms and lose sight of other plot elements. 

I enjoyed reading this novel, but found myself having to read certain parts twice to understand all that was taking place.  I felt for the characters and found myself siding with Nell rather than the other minister’s daughters.  The author possesses high quality writing skills that keep the readers’ interests and leave them guessing.  I enjoyed the inclusion of spells and potions and believe teens would find this intriguing as well.  The included plot elements and characters’ actions were relevent to the time period accurately displayed in the setting.  In reading the author’s notes, I noticed she included historical characters that are mentioned in history books.  Teens could connect what they are learning with this fictional novel. 

I recommend this novel to teen readers of any age.  Boys and girls alike might enjoy the plot; however, with the inclusion of numerous female characters, girls may be more likely to choose this pleasure read.  The cover art shows Nell’s colorful, detailed photo.  Girls might be intrigued and find themselves choosing this book.  The cover would probably deter males as nothing alludes to the fact that this book has to do with witchcraft and historical happenings.

Death Looms Near

Before I Die

• by: Jenny Downham
• Published by: Listening Library
• New York, 2007
• 7 discs (7 hrs, 10 min)
• 5Q     4p     J+     S

Sixteen year old Tessa realizes her young life is abruptly ending.  Leukemia forces her to spend most days in bed recovering from a procedure or fighting for strength.  In the days ahead, Tessa decides to go on living rather than giving into death.  With the help of her freespirited friend, Zoe, Tessa builds a list of things to experience in her last few months of life.  Her intended actions include sex, drugs, shoplifting, traveling, and driving.  As she carries out her list, she discovers other aspects more important such as getting her parents back together, falling in love, and making the final days of her life more memorable.

Readers will be intrigued with Tessa’s outlook on death and how she copes with the inevitable.  In the final chapters, Tessa describes the last ideas and images running through her mind.  Teens will find strength in Tessa’s story and see how important it is to live each day to the fullest.  Readers will reevaluate their relationships with their families as they see Tessa’s father focusing his life on caring for his daughter, and her brother attempting to make light of the situation through humor as he deals with his grief.  Evident themes include life lessons learned through grief, pain, fear, and coping with terminal illness. 

In listening to the novel’s audio version, readers can experience the Tessa’s physical actions as well as the monologue of her thoughts.  The narrator, Charlotte Parry, does an excellent job of taking on the characters’ voices and relating their thoughts and emotions while building meaningful relationships.  The sorrowful tone will leave the reader aching for Tessa and her family and friends, but somehow revived in the realization of life’s preciousness as Tessa finds peace with death.  The author’s vividly detailed style and intense descriptions of Tessa’s symptoms and disease stages give readers a true look into living life with a fatal illness and finding strength in sadness and evaluating life’s priorities.  

This novel left me teary eyed and missing Tessa.  It is difficult to read about dying characters, especially young individuals.  I found it helpful to listen to the novel with some of the vocabulary used by the author.  Hearing the words in context made the context more comprehendable and character interactions more emotional.  With the story set in England, dialect played a tremendous role in characterization.  Hearing the “voices” of the characters could hep readers develop a clear picture of each character.  Teen readers will find appeal in plot elements of which they can easily relate, such as love relationships, friendships, sibling rivalry, and dealing with parents.  Many teens wonder what it would be like to explore difficult situations. Tessa’s experiences allow readers to evaluate these implicit values for themselves.  Teen girls may be more likely to relate to the main character; however, male readers may also have questions about death and dying.  The author uses fictional characters to accurately examine life situations that could happen to any teen. 

I would recommend this title to teens ages fourteen and above.  Tessa is sixteen, so even younger teens may enjoy reading about a character somewhat older than themselves.  I would not discourage younger readers from exploring this novel; however, the death of the main character and the relationships among characters may be suitable for older audiences.  Death and dying is a hard issue to handle with teens, and this book would be an excellent fictional account giving teens insight into these tough situations.

The cover art shows Tessa looking out from a blurred black and white graphic background as she stares into the readers’ eyes, looking serious to what lies ahead.  Young readers, especially teen girls, would be drawn to this cover and intrigued to read/listen to the novel.  This book brings a whole new meaning to the saying … “Live Like You Were Dying.”

Life on Jellicoe Road

Jellicoe Road

• by: Melina Marchetta
• Published by: Harper Collins
• New York: 2006
• 419 pgs.
• 3Q     3P     J+     S

Taylor Markham, age eleven, is abandoned by her mother at the 7-Eleven on Jellicoe Road.  A young lady named Hannah drives by and saves the young child from distress.  Taylor spends the next years with Hannah and attends a private school located nearby.  At eighteen, Taylor is chosen to lead her house at school and take the responsibilities of leading the war between the Townies and Cadets  from neighboring schools.  Little does she know that everything she has experienced up to now is connected.  Hannah mysteriously disappears which possesses Taylor to delve into her past.  Previous events and relationships, including a tragic car accident, underlies Taylor’s fate which affects her future.  Taylor discovers Hannah’ memoirs about her family’s past including the whereabouts of her drug addicted mother.  Readers will feel Taylor’s struggles as she discovers her past, works to mend the present while dealing with her dying mother, falls in love and finds the joys of life on Jellicoe Road.

The novel’s theme deals with identity as Taylor tries to come to terms with abandonment while tracing her family history, making sense of the present situation and working to build relationships.  The author gives an interesting, but sometimes confusing story, as she attempts to tell two stories simultaneously.  Young readers will view the plot from Taylor’s eyes, but intermixed in this storyline, is the Hannah’s manuscript telling the details of a horrific car accident.  Readers will find an emotionally distructive tone as they follow Taylor through her reluctantance of becoming a house leader and coping with the school wars.  Taylor, lost in life, cannot understand why certain dreams occur and why people keep disappearing from her life.  As the story progresses, the plot turns more positive as Taylor pieces her life together and is reunited with her cancer ridden mother.  Not only does she uncover the secrets of the family, she also finds love.  Teens will relate with the characters and their experiences as they try to make sense of the world around them.  The author allows readers to make their own visual representations of the characters as vivid details are not given.  Although confusing at times, this book possesses high readability for a teen audience as the readers build understanding of the plot’s background.

Overall, this was not one of my favorites.  I found myself lost in the aspects of the plot and unable to make sense of the details.  I think a younger reader may become frustrated with this storyline and abandon the book.  Once the reader gets beyond the first few chapters, aspects begin to come together, but are still confusing at times.  I had a hard time understanding the inclusion of some aspects.  It would have been helpful if Hannah’s manuscript was more descriptive, and the reader had some background information before evaluating the story from Taylor’s point of view.  The quality of writing kept my attention, and the author used easily understandable vocabulary for a teen audience. 

Appealing to male and female readers, teens might enjoy the Australian setting while connecting to family and personal values explicitly addressed. I recommend this title to the high school age reader considering the plot complexity of relationships, love aspects, and actions of the characters.

The appealing book’s cover art is eye catching toward teen readers.  A brightly colored flower could symbolize Taylor’s evolving life or the flowers seen along Jellicoe Road.  This image may appeal more to the female audience and might discourage males from exploring the title.  The addition of character photos and images of the school campuses could have provided more background and caught the attention of a wider variety of readers.

Vampires in the Big City

Blue Bloods

• by: Melissa De La Cruz
• Published by: Hyperion
• New York: 2006
• 302 pgs.
• 5Q     4P     J-S

New York City is filled with more than sky scrapers and broadway shows.  Manhatten holds an elite society of people known as the Blue Bloods.  This group of people includes those of high society elite, including teens who lead a normal life until the age of 15.  Then, these teens begin to crave raw meat, notice blue veins engulfing their arms, and experience flashbacks of long ago.  Schuyler Van Alen attends private school with these individuals where she simlply doesn’t fit in.  Her mother is in a coma, so she is living with her grandmother and trying to find her individuality.  When she is asked to join the most elite committee in town and the most popular boy in school begins to look her direction, Schuyler knows life is about to change, as she discovers her vampire heritage.  Not long after, her Blue Blood classmate is found dead with all the blood drained from her body.  With the help of her friends and the resistance of her fellow elites, Schuyler will not rest until she finds who is taking the lives of her fellow committee members, destined for eternal life.  Blue Bloods, book one in a series, leaves readers with Schuyler working to figure out the mystery and deciding how she will save herself and those who mean the most.

Blue Bloods takes a new turn on teen relationships.  Those who are seen as unpopular are thrown into the elite society as they share the same vampire background.  Those having trouble fitting in will appreciate the girls’ actions as they explore guys, modeling, and a desire to thrive in high school.  The author incorporates common teen issues with vampire qualities and historical information.  She attempts to explain the lost colony of Roanoke and what role the Blue and Silver Bloods played in this historical event.  Readers will find an exciting tone as they experience the transformation from regular teen to vampire elite.  Even with the inclusion of the undead, characters are not portrayed as blood sucking monsters with gory appearances.  Teens will enjoy getting lost in the fantasy that vampires could be their classmates and they may not even realize.  Each chapter leaves the reader guessing what might happen next in terms of social relations, drama, along with mysterious deaths and disappearances of their peers.  This book will leave teens thirsting for more.

As a fairly new reader of fantasy, I enjoyed this novel.  Mimi portrayed the popular girl that many teen girls despise.  Anyone who wants to fit in and become accepted must associate with her.  Teen girls will understand this desire for popularity and get a vampire fix at the same time.  I was a little bewildered about the closeness of Mimi and her brother Jack.  Sometimes, this was a bit creepy, but became more clear in the distinction between past and present.  The author gave readers a history lesson that might encourage teens to research the Mayflower and Roanoke further.  The inclusion of the diary entries added to this plot element and helped set the scene for those who may not be familiar with this time period.  These aspects lead to a high quality of writing that hold teens’ attention and keep them asking for more.  Strength in the novel comes with the real life teen experiences mixed with fantasy of vampire lure in an uptown society.

I would recommend this title to high school age teens.  I think with the inclusion of mostly female characters and their interactions, girls are the target audience.  The plot aspects of drinking, sexual experiences, and drugs would be suitable for the older audience.

The cover art of the Manhatten skyline with an engulfing photo of a young lady wearing pearls would attract the female audience.  The highlight of teeth marks on her neck would spark their interest and encourage them to explore this title.  Teens will find enjoyment in this series and will be “dying” to read the whole series!!

Is my brother gay?

My Heartbeat

• by: Garret Freymann-Weyr
• Published by Houghton Mifflin Co.
• Boston: 2002
• 154 pgs.
• 4Q     2p     J-S

Fourteen year old Ellen enjoys a close relationship with her brother Link and his best friend, James.  Spending time with them, she never questions the bond between the two young men.  As a new school year begins, they all attend the same private Manhatten school.  Ellen’s classmate poses the question of whether Link and James are a couple.  Ellen taken aback, ponders whether to act on or simply ignore the question.  When she asks the two, an argument occurs and creates a wedge in their relationship.  Link denies the situation and gets a girlfriend.  His behavior draws James, a bisexual, and Ellen closer together creating an intimate relationship of their own.  Dealing with the emotions and actions for their parents, friends, and each other, each character deals with issues indiviually as they come to terms with life.

Told from the viewpoint of a naive girl, this story gives a sensitive outlook on homosexuality.  Ellen, growing up with these boys, never realized they may be gay.  Having a crush on James and making it known throughout the story, their relationship becomes physical.  Link never truly admits his sexuality; however, readers assume from his actions as he experiences a difficult time dealing with his feelings and relationship toward the opposite sex.  This novel shows the importance of relationships among teens in terms of their family and friends as they strive for independence, while still relying on the support of others.  Link and Ellen’s dad makes it clear his opposition toward homosexuality while constantly pushing his children to achieve perfection.  Their mother just remains lost in her work.  These teen characters strive to create relationships with their friends and make their parents understand them.  The overall tone pulls at the reader’s heart strings with attempts to relate to the characters’ actions.  Readers make their own assumptions about the characters as clear descriptions are never given.  However, through dialogue and the plot elements, teens will feel the characters’ emotions in life situations.

I enjoyed this book and feel it creates a positive read for teens coming to terms.  An average teen may not choose this novel to read for pleasure; however,  I would promote it as a fictional supplement for a discussion or research project on homosexuality.  High readability appears as the plot holds the reader’s attention and allows them to make their own point of view realizations about the characters’ actions.  Readers constantly will wonder how the story will end and even consider what outcomes lie ahead forthe characters’ future beyond the author’s ending.  This book focuses on each character trying to find themselves as an individuals, but the novel comes to an abrupt halt leaving the reader with unanswered questions.

I would recommend this title to teens twelve and older.  The vocabulary used was suitable for all audiences and easily understandable for teens.  With the mixture of male and female characters, boys and girls alike would enjoy reading this story; however, with the plot seen through the eyes of Ellen, girls may be more likely to pick up the novel.

The cover art was appealing with brightly colored and interesting drawings.  Many teens would not be intrigued with the picture of stick figures lacking detail.  The picture shows a smaller person standing in between two larger figures.  To me, this represents Ellen standing between the relationship of Link and James.  I don’t think this effectively portrays how the plot progresses and may lead teens to a misunderstanding of the book’s theme.  A more detailed photo or different approach might be more effective to catch the teen reader’s eye.

Life on My Own …

A Room on Lorelei Street

• by: Mary E. Pearson
• Published by: Henry Holt and Company
• New York: 2005
• 266 pgs.
• 4Q     4P     S

Zoe struggles to make ends meet in her not-so-average teen life.  Working as a waitress while struggling to keep up, she cares for her alcoholic mother, deals with her father’s drowning, attempts to maintain a relationship with her brother who lives with relatives, and listens to her opinionated grandmother.   With stress and overwhelming emotions, Zoe’s patience comes to an end when a teacher mispronounces her name.  Her vulger outburst in class finds her in couseling and viewed by her teacher as another teen out of control.  When her mother won’t listen or nuture her needs, Zoe decides to move out.  She rents a room from an elderly lady with whom a bond forms.  Eventually, Zoe finds her way to happiness, but not without guilt ridden lectures from her grandmother, numerous bad decisions and turmoil between her family and friends.

Young adults can relate to Zoe’s struggles and understand that life on your own can be tough, but sometimes needed, as they experience her life first hand through this realistic fiction novel.  Themes evolve around family relationships, making life choices, and independence.  With so many families dealing with economic turmoil, Zoe’s life of counting every penny rings true in young readers’ lives.  With strong, descriptive writing style,  Zoe’s strength and determination show teens the hopefulness for the future and ability to overcome adversities.  Realistically described characters allow readers to create clear pictures of their lives as they impacted the main character.  Teens feel the struggles of Zoe and life’s expectation to be the adult.  Emotions run high as readers experience Zoe’s turmoils and  triumphs as she leaves one life behind to move on to new aspirations.  The author keeps the readers’ interest with a roller coaster tone of ups and downs representing the character’s life.

Realistic situations and contemporary teen life issues draw readers to this novel and the messages it conveys.  I found it interesting that Zoe never loses sight in succeeding.  Her values lie in making the best life for herself and showing her family and teachers she can triumph over turmoil.  I didn’t always agree with Zoe’s choices, but understood those may have been in her best interest.  I also wondered why Zoe did not seek help from someone at school or from an outside agency.  It was heartbreaking to see that Zoe had no support system and was forced to face all of life’s challenges on her own.  Teen perspective may better relate to the material and understand Zoe’s decisions and behaviors.

This title would appeal to older teen readers.  With the plot depicted through the eyes of a struggling, but hopeful female young adult, girls may be more drawn to the book.

The cover art might appeal to a female reader browsing the library shelf.  A young girl sits on the edge of her bed within the perimeters of her room.  The vividly colored photo does catch the eye and this illustration could intrigue teens to wonder about this character and want to choose this novel as a pleasurable read.

Dealing with Life ….

Keesha’s House

• by: Helen Frost
• Published by: Frances Foster Books
• New York: 2003
• 116 pgs.
• 5Q      4p     J-S

Keesha’s house is not really her own.  The dwelling belongs to Joe, a once troubled teen.  Now grown, Joe opens his doors to struggling teens giving them a safe haven of refuge and time to deal with life’s problems.  The plot revolves around seven characters and their turmoil of teenage drama.  Stephanie tries to imagine life as a teenage mother, then miscarries and has more stress to face.    Jason, her boyfriend and star basketball player, finds himself torn between the love of the game and doing what’s right for the mother of his child.  Harris has left his home when his father cannot accept his son’s homosexuality. Kate, dealing with an abusive stepfather, works long hours or consumes her life in school work.  With Dontay’s parents in prison, he lives in foster care and constantly feels unloved.  Carmen strives to do the right thing, but finds herself in juvenile detention with an underage drinking problem.  Keesha, dealing with her mother’s death and the mean tendencies of her alcoholic father, has chosen to live at Joe’s and help other teens in their time of need.  Written in poetic form, these monologues show these individual characters’ lives and their interactions to find “home” again.

This poetic verse of sestinas and sonnets focuses the theme of helping teens discover their place in the world.  Teen readers will fall into the characters’ lives and understand they are not alone in their issues through the flow the characters’ thoughts.  The author’s style of poems along with adolescent dialogue and voice will draw young readers to this realistic prose that successfully protrays various  teenager lifestyles.  Though readers will feel the characters’ heartbreaks, a sense of hope and reassurance appears as each character overcomes adversity and works to find the meaning of home.  High readability appears with short poems creating a unique genre of teen literature.

This book will touch the lives of the teen audience.  The authenticity and uniqueness of each character finds plot aspects that will appeal to a wide variety of readers.  Audiences get first hand insight into true characteristics of  typical teenagers’ lives.  Accuracy carries throughout the work as teen problems evolve while finding answers and help.  Many times teens feel they don’t have a place to turn for support.  Teens may not have a house in which to escape, but they will discover the importance of self-reliance and peer relationships to relieve turmoil.  The section of the book devoted to the adults’ viewpoint creates more reader interest. 

I would recommend this title to high school students as they could relate most to life’s trials and the need for support in a time of distress.  Both male and female readers would be drawn to themes and conflicts in this text.

The intriguingcover art shows symbolism, but might not appeal to teens.  A pencil drawing of a door to Keesha’s house is placed on a bright red and orange background.  Above the door appears a storm cloud showing the turmoil of teens’ lives with a ladder aiding teens toward a safe place.  More realistic images might prove greater effectiveness in reaching the intended audience.

Help Me Become Attractive …

High School Debut:  Volume 1

• by: Kazune Kawahara
• Published by: VIZ Media
• San Francisco, CA: 2003
• 192 pgs.
• 3Q     3P     J+ (grades 7-10)     G

Haruna spends junior highyears playing softball, reading comics, and enjoying being a ”tomboy”.  Upon entering high school, new priorities evolve.  Haruna decides to put sports aside and focus her attention on finding a boyfriend.  After attending parties and hanging out at the mall, she decides boys are never going to notice her as her present self.  In reflecting on succeeding at softball through effective coaching, Haruna decides she needs a coach to help her realize what boys want and what she can do to get noticed.  After speaking with her friends, Haruna decides to solicite the help of Yoh.  Through harsh comments, shopping trips, and positive and negative interactions with guys, Haruna finds she may not be hopeless after all.  The ending brings Haruna torn between her feelings and attractions of two peers, Yoh and his best friend, Fumi.

This graphic novel may help give insight into teen relationships and creating new identities.  Teens entering high school work to gain acceptance and “fit in” in their new surroundings.  Through reading the Haruna’s experiences, young girls can see that other teens have the same dilemmas.  The actions of Yoh and Haruna bring about many emotions throughout the book.  Readers may connect to Haruna trying to be noticed by the opposite sex with Yoh’s stern advice.  Relief arrives as Yoh warms up to Haruna and helps her discover her true self, bringing a more positive tone in the end.  Each character was portrayed in vivid detail, even down to their apparel mirroring today’s teen society.  Various illustrations and well laid out pages guide young readers through Haruna’s feelings of high school experiences.  This easy to read graphic novel displays accurate teen dialogue for an age group of 13 through 16 years olds. 

Young female readers could relate to Haruna’s actions, but is a coach necessary to find one’s true identity?  The author might send the wrong message that all girls want to be popular and are worried about others’ opinions.  Do teens need to elicit a coach’s help to explore themselves as individuals?   Young girls’ values of self-esteem and acceptance explicitly shine throughout the text.  Effective writing quality meets a young teen audience’s interests by measuring high school life to a popularity contest. 

Junior high an early high school students would enjoy this novel.  The plot is geared toward the female audience with Haruna being similar in age to themselves.  Older teens might understand Haruna’s turmoils and enjoy reading about her experiences.

The manga artwork featured in the cover would appeal to a young teenage audience.  The main characters are pictured holding a heart.  Young readers might assume this story portrays love and relationships and be intrigued to choose this item as their next read.

Disappearing Travelers….

The Saga of the Bloody Benders

• by: Rick Geary
• Published by: Comicslit
• New York: 2007
• 80 pgs.
• 3Q     4p      S     G

An eccentric family has taken up residence on the Kansas plains in 1870.  Ma, Pa, John Jr., and Kate Bender claim land along a lonely trail connecting northeastern small towns and work to build a house.  The Civil War has ended, and settlers are spending numerous days moving across vast areas.  The Benders lure the travelers into their home, providing meals, groceries, and a place to stay.  However, many who visit, soon turn up missing.  As time progresses, the local townspeople wonder if the Benders may be to blame.  Suspicions and questions arise and the Benders soon pack up and leave.  Several victims come forward with stories of escaping attacks by Pa’s sledge hammer and Kate’s butcher knife.  Townsfolk visit the house and find shallow graves and blood stains scattered around the basement.  The Benders’ relationship as family members or mere aquaintances is never revealed, nor what would possess them to carry out these homicidal tendencies.  Rewards are posted for the killers’ apprehension.   Only the ghosts of the Bender “family” remain along with the museum created of their deadly deeds.

Through a graphic novel format with black and white drawings and narration from an outside spectator, young readers will see that many times things aren’t what they seem.  The case of the Benders proves this fact.  A dark, eery tone sets the scene of the murders and the sudden disappearance of the accused.  As a volume of the Treasury of Victorian Murder, the author takes the time to research this case and bring a new outlook to the story through vivid characterization and keen, suspense filled storytelling.   The author’s style further helps readers by providing background information and maps to illustrate the setting.  Based on historical facts, this read could complement curricular material.  

With graphic novel style, I had a hard time following along with the plot since no character dialogue interaction appeared, and the story tended to come to an abrupt halt.  The Benders were there, then gone, thought to be seen, but never captured.  There was no closure, which left readers guessing.  I do feel that teens would enjoy this novel, especially male readers.  Some scenes are quite graphic and might make older teen readers become more involved in learning about historical aspects.  Depending on the needs of the reader, high readability might occur while others may be disappointed.  What one views as a strength, others may see as a weakness.  For instance, teens may enjoy the opportunity to make their own assumptions on the fate of the Benders rather than having the author give an ending.  The author did research and brings historical truths and accuracies to the plot providing appropriate setting and plot elements.

I would recommend this title to grades 10 and above.  The graphic details may not be suitable for younger audiences.  

Appealing cover art encourages teen readers to choose this book.  The Benders are shown on the cover holding their weapons as if they are seemingly watching from the cover.  The vivid color drawings show appropriate details for the story.  Teens will be intrigued to open the graphic novel and enter the characters’ lives.