Hautman, Pete. Sweetblood.  Contemporary / Diabetes /Vampires

• well i first i was so exited that it say it was a vamp novel but then it wasn't so i was like sorta sad. but it amazed me cuz the book was so good that i was happy that i read it. it teaches u so much about diebetes and all the problems ppl have w/ it so u can say it sorta opens ur eyes. and the internet thing about the man that found her and everything even thought it's freaky that soemone can find u it makes u think twice b4 u go into a chat room. so this book please me even though it wasn't a vamp book. hope everyone likes it cuz i did. 4Q 5P. SS, 14.
• After having read a LOT of vampire fiction in my life, I'd still have to say that Hautman's angle of the "bloodsucking fiends" is one of the more innovative and well-researched I've ever come across. It makes quite a bit of sense. And the way it's presented - from the caustic viewpoint of an angsty not-goth... I must say, very well done. The writing style can lean a little too much toward melodrama at times, but it's still a very good read. Nice lighthearted ending too - it really appealed to me. I'd recommend "Sweetblood" to anyone with an interest in vampire novels just for the fresh approach at the origin of vampiric legend. Plus, the main character's pretty funny too. She reminds me of myself at times - all bitter and "I'm not angry!". Not a nominee - genre doesn't seem to appeal to that many people - but a good read nonetheless. 4Q 3P. JL, 17
• Defenetly an odd one. Interesting and strange. I liked the very convincing theory on vampires. 3Q 3P. Gr 12+. MH, 15.
• Everything! It's thought provoking, mature, not light-and-fluffy...Made me appreciate being a non-diabetic. 5Q 3P. Gr 10-12. SM, 15.

Hearn, Lian. Across the Nightingale Floor . Historical / Japanese *International Youth Library's White Ravens 2003

• This was just amazing. The descriptions, the storyline, the characters, the actions, betrayal, and the powers were fantastic. I was enthralled. I could not put the book down. Can't wait for the next book in the series! Very sad in the end but so fascinating nontheless. The violence was just the right amount. 5Q 5P. LS, 17.
• The thing with many books is that they transport themselves into a different time and place, but the story is to modern for it's setting. This book however was perfect, I was transported to the picturesque, and dangerous realm of the Otoshi. The plot was wonderful and it gripped me through every page, the only thing wrong with this novel is that #1 it ended to quickly, and #2 I didn't like the ending. I guess the thing with the ending is that we are so addicted to the "happily ever after" theme that when we read a book that breaks the mold, even ever so slightly, we are left with a feeling of disatifaction. i am hoping however as it did say "Book 1" on the cover that there are more coming and that those books will resolve this fault in otherwise a faultless story. 5Q 5P. MC, 14
• Although Across the Nightengale Floor had quite a few good points (excellent description, imagination, interesting characters, etc.), but I didn't really think that it came together into something truly special. 4Q 4P. Gr. 7-12+. JW, 16.
• I loved the concept of a nightingale floor in this book. It makes the book even more intriguing. The language in this book paints a very vivid picture of life among the Otori and the life of one of the Tribe. The plot of this book was very exciting and thrilling. I could hardly bear  to put the book down. The tale of Takeo's new life among the Otori and as a newly discovered member of the Tribe is a riveting story which I fully enjoyed.  5Q 5P. Gr 7-11. ES, 14.

Henkes, Kevin. Olive's Ocean. #115 Comments
    Contemporary / Summer vacation

• Olive's Ocean was a very well written though a little confusing. There was a lot of different storylines going on at the same time and at times it's hard to keep track of them all. I think a lot of people could relate to Martha's feeling when she arrives at her grandma's cottage in Cape Cod. She savours the smells, the touches, and the memories. And when it is time to go she half wants to, but half doesn't. I am not nominating this book because in some aspects it is a lot like other books that I have read, and it has a very predictable storyline. 4Q 4P. Below Gr 7. VM, 13.
• I found this a very interesting book, with a lot of emotions in it. There was a lot about how the main character Martha was feeling, what she was thinking, and I thought that that really added to the story. It was a pretty quick read, but fairly realistic. I thought the ending was quite good. At first I was dissapointed because she didn't get to see Olive's mother like she was planning on, but I think it was actually better that way. What she did was very final, and it left you thinking. 4Q 4P. Below gr 7 - Gr 9. AA, 13.
• Even though the main character is 12, this is a story people older than that could enjoy. It's very haunting and beautiful, the way it discusses Olive, and Martha's experiences and feelings ring true. 5Q 3P. Below Gr 7 - Gr 9. C, 14.

Horvath, Polly. The Canning Season.  Contemporary / Family Winner - National Book Award

• At first I thought this book sounded kind of dumb but I really got into it. I liked it because it wasn't your typical teen book. The people in this book did things different then everyone else, which was nice to read for once. All though this book is a light read and has humor it dose make a good statement on being your self. I would definitely recommend this book. I couldn't put this book down. I think younger people would like this book too. EH, 16. 5Q 4P.
• I think for grades that it should be only for grade eight, because they're old enough to read that Pen-pen and tilly's mother cut off her own head to commit suicide, and they won't have nightmares about it, but also young enough to put up with some of the annoying stuff. Bear! Bear! Bear! Honestly people. Bear! Bear! Bear! It also bugs me that we never know exactly what is on Ratchet's shoulder. She gets it removed and all is good again, but WHAT WAS IT????? 3Q 3P. CS,14.
• The Canning Season is a wonderfully quirky yet simple story of a young girl, Ratchet, who is shipped off by her seemingly uncaring mother to the backwoods of Maine to spend the summer with her aging twin relations (they are actually second cousins removed a couple of times, but Ratchet refers to them as "aunt" for simplicitie's sake). This book has the absolute ugliest cover I have ever seen, and this did deter me from reading it for a while, but once I picked it up, I was hooked. Obviously much more time was spent on the contents of this book - which are excellent - than on the cover. The characters in this book are so extreme and kooky, but they are always entertaining and heartfelt at the same time. Don't let the repulsive cover deter you and soon Ratchet, Tilly, Penpen, and the host of other characters will be near and dear to your heart too. 5Q 4P. Gr 7-11. JI, 17.

Johnson, Angela.  The First Part Last  Winner - Michael L Printz Award, Winner, Coretta Scott King Award * Top 10 BBYA Contemporary / Teen Parenthood (father)

• This book was decent. It didn't have any particularly exceptional parts, the characters were creative but lacked depth. The plot was great, easy to follow, despite jumping from past to present. It was a very easy read, and probably better suited to ages 12-14. 3Q 3P. KH, 16.
• I thought this book was well written because it was from the view of a teen. It was written with slang and basically how teens talk, so its probably easier for some people to read (instead of it being written how adults talk). It was an easy book but it was serious at the same time. It was good because it had a lot of emotion. I liked how you didnt know what happened to his girlfriend until they end, and that helped build some emotion. It could have been longer then it was. I generally found this to be a good book. 4Q 4P. Gr 7-11. JS, 15.

Johnson, Kathleen Jeffrie. Target.     Contemporary / Male Rape / Mature

• I loved this book! It deals with so many stereotypes in our society and a pretty much "unheard" of occurance, male rape. I especially loved how it dealt with the issue from the emotional side of the victim. The way it was written was amazing. 5Q 4P. Gr 8-12. CD, 17

• Rape is a very under-reported crime in general, and even more so for males, and I admire the author for tackling such a difficult subject.  As far as I know, this is the very first book to ever be published for teens on the topic of male rape and I think it's great to raise awareness. 
  I'm just a little bit unsure of who Target is (pardon the pun) targeted at.  While reading this book, when people asked me what I was reading and I told them, I recieved a lot of raised eyebrows for reading this because I am female.  And yet I can't see many guys reading this book in public for fear of being accused of being concerned about that sort of thing.
  As a side note, I found Jess very abrasive (I know that this was probably the point) and was tempted to stop reading at times to escape his character (probably not the point).  Jess's character is a walking super concentration of predjudice and I kind of wish that his character had had a change of heart.
  I would have also liked to see some more resolution of Grady's eating disorder and general anxiety, but I guess the author wanted to stay away from putting his therapy and such in the book. 4Q 2P. Gr 10-12+. JI, 17.

• I think the cover should be less read and more picture. This was my favorite book of the three I read. The characters were awesomely written and very detailed. When i was reading it, they seemed like real people. I liked how all of the characters personalities were so different, like Pearl and Gwendolyn, and Jess and Grady. This book was good because it showed how caring people can be and how accepting they can be, even if they barely know someone. It also showed how mean and cruel people can be, like when Gwendolyn was going to write in the paper about what happened to Grady. I really liked reading this book because it made me not want to stop reading it. I cant remember reading another book like this one, that deals with this subject and I think that because there are few books on this topic is one of the reasons it is so good. Is it easy to read but it is for an older group of people and I also liked that about it. 5Q 5P. Gr 10-11. JS, 15.
• While this was a quick read, it was a genuinely fascinating. The way the emotions were depicted was great. the characters felt very real, especially Grady. The books only downfall was the racial bit. Of course, it is a book from the States and the view of black vs. White is...well, viewed all too often as black vs. White. This gave the book a feel of being older, maybe from the seventies, although it was cleary set in the here and now.
  Still...a good book and very impactual. One of the better ones I've read as of late. 4Q 4P. Gr 10-12+. K, 18.

Juby, Susan. Alice, I Think     Contemporary  / Epistolary

• Extremely broad range of appeal. Funny, sarcastic, and definitely something of a slap in the face. Story is easy to follow, and the characters lovable. Alice reminds me of a lot of gifted students I know. The book sort of sucks you in. The ending seems a bit contrived, but looking at it, I couldn't see any other way to tie it all together. Seems open and primed towards a sequel. 4Q 4P. JL, 16.
• This book was phenominal! I loved the character Alice so much. I was sad when I finished the last page because I realised how absorbed in her life I had become. This is definately the best book I have read in a really long time. I espically loved the state of mind that the author put the reader in. It was amazing! 5Q 5P. KH, 15.
• The main character was believable and delightful. From her antics in the bookstore to her antics in a classroom, I felt like she was real. She was frustrating at times, her antisocial breeding from being homeschooled showing through, but always entertaining. The descriptions and other characters created vivid imagery. I love this book! 5Q 4P. KH, 18.
• Alice is quite possibly the most disturbed character that I have ever read about. I had no idea that, even in an author's imagination, someone that screwed up could possibly exist. Perhaps it's her fashion choices- I have been accused of caring too much about clothing- but I cannot fathom the depths of her maladjusted personality. Which isn't to say that this wasn't an excellent book- it was. Although the ending is choppy, Alice is a well drawn character, and her 'unique' perspective puts an interesting twist on events (how many other people would find something pleasant in being beaten up?)
  Juby's description of small-town life is interesting, if not accurate (I lived near Smithers, where the novel takes place, I know. Although many people were... special... I don't think that a town that small could support that large a population of ageing hippies). The book was creative, funny, and interesting- all in all, a fabulous book that I would reccomend to anyone. 4Q 4P. JW, 15.
• Hard to relate to Alice at first: she seems cold and angry, her "life goals" stupid, but you get to know her and her situations become hilarious. Certainly rooting for her and her new BF! 5Q 4P. JN, 16.
• It was pretty cool at first, extremely. funny. Then I started to wonder how wierd this girl truly was and the book lost its appeal. It dragged on. The one good thing that came out of it? Weird girl meets weird boy. I thought that was cute. 4Q 4P. LS, 17.
• Hilarious. Alice has a very unique, witty and extremely humorous way of looking at everything around her. You will laugh out loud (I guarantee it, and it may embarass you). The characters are great, the plot's funny - I want the sequel NOW! This is definitely the funniest nominee yet.  5Q 5P. C, 14.
• This is definitely the funniest book that I've read in a while. Between Alice's bad haircut and bizarre fashion sense, her nutty boyfriend and her experiences at a first job, she is quite possibly the strangest character I have read about. And yet, that's what makes her so loveable. In all her weirdness, people can stil relate to her. Who hasn't felt like a misfit at one time or another? Alice is comforting because if there really are people like her out there, them I'm not so weird after all. 5Q 4P. Gr 7-11. JI, 17.
• This is one of funniest books I have ever read. I couldn't stop reading it. Because Alice and I are both homeschooled I found that I could relate to her life. There was some insider homeschool words like unschool which I don't think kids who are in the public system would know or understand and these homeschool words might just confuse or bore them. This book was a light read. It was enjoyable, humorous and original. I would love to read more books by this author. 4Q 3P. Gr 7-11. EH, 16.
• I didn't like the book very much. I've tried, and failed, to finish it. I'm somewhere around page thirty. I don't like the character, I think she's shallow. And she has a sort of cynical sarcasm that I don't like. And personally, I don't think the book was written very well. I've read a book where I hated the story, but couldn't put the book down, the author was so good. But my friends loved the book, and most people I've talked to liked it, so you'll have to read it and decide for yourself. 3Q 4P. Gr 7-11. HO, 15

Koja, Kathy. Buddha Boy.  Contemporary

• This is a very short and simple, but nice story. I enjoyed all the descriptions of the art, especially Jinsen's sketch book. The style of the writing bothered me a little bit, it seemed a bit hurried, like the author had just written whatever came to mind without proper sentences, like how it says 'and' or 'but' before anyone talks. Overall the book had a nice message, I think it's best for readers around age 11-14. 3Q 4P. BM, 15.
• This book is better for a younger age group. It basically doesn't have much content. The characters are not very deep but they have interesting factors which makes the book readable. 3Q 3P. Below gr 7-gr 9. KH, 16.
• Although this book was well written, came with a moral and an absorbing story that leaves the reader with a bit of guilt and reflection on whether you're being the best person you could be, I found it fairly average. It did not particularly stand out from the crowd. The parts about Buddha Boy's art were interesting. Even though the characters seemed black and white, they had other dimensions. 3Q 4P. C, 14

Korman, Gordon. Jake, Reinvented   Contemporary / Retelling of Great Gatsby

• this is all about one guy trying to fit in but taking it too far. he throws parties every friday, each getting bigger and noisier and more dangerous. he's obsessed with one girl and is willing to do whatever it takes to get her. he calls everyone "baby". "hey baby". in the end, his short-term popularity works out the way it should. have...................... 4Q 4P. Gr 7-11. DW,14.
• This book is just one big, swirling haze as the plot travels from one wild party to the next. Perhaps it would be appealing to those who like to party, but for quiet, stay at home types (like myself), the plot seems to be lacking in spots and is held up weakly by the descriptions of loud music and the crush of people on the dance floor. The book does however, does share vital plot lines with the great American novel, The Great Gatsby. 3Q 3P. JI, 17.

Lowachee, Karin. Burndive.  Science Fiction

Mackler, Carolyn. The The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things. Printz Honor Book

Maynard, Joyce. The Usual Rules.  Top 10 BBYA Contemporary / 9/11

• It was an excellent book because it wasn't pumped out immedietly after september eleventh and it didn't follow the life of an adult (Fireman, policeman, some prominent person). The only beef I could have with it was that it dragged a lot. Like she wanted to make it longer so she popped in filler here and there. Cut it down a bit and it could be perfect. The emotions were good and the way the girl was written made me remember what it felt like to be 14. I don't always get what adults are trying to do when they have moments with girls and boys. i don't know any one who would have let a guy they barely knew feel them up, no matter how much they were grieving. 4Q 3P. KH, 18
• How many people in this book have had babies then given them away? [ed censor] How many people die? [ed censor] Are we seeing repetitious themes here? I think I fell in love with Todd, though, any guy who skateboards and is sensitive is too good to pass. For some strange reason when he finds his brother it reminds me of Hope Was Here, don't ask me why. Maybe Joyce Maynard portrayed Sept. 11 well, I'm just too young to realize it. Besides the fact everything just drags on, it drives me nuts that no quotation marks are used. Some points in here are not bad, but they're repeated and repeated and repeated. Then it just gets tiresome. 1Q 2P. CS, 14.
• First things first: quotation marks make life easier. Honestly, I didn't finish the book. While the idea behind it was truly amazing, I thought it was poorly delivered. I didn't enjoy the style of writing very much. 2Q 3P. CD, 17.
• I thought that 'The Usual Rules' was a very excellent book. The writing was well done, and it was definately not boring. The one thing that I didn't like about 'The Usual Rules' is that it was a little confusing at time; there was many different plots going on at the same time. This does make the book more realistic, but also more difficult to understand. I think Joyce Maynard should've just cut out some of the separate little problems, and made the book shorter; I would have enjoyed it more if it was more simple and shorter. I liked that this story was about a child, and not about a fireman or other adult; it gave a different, and interesting view. 4Q 4P. VM, 13
• This is a pretty sensitive topic for a lot of people, so Joyce Maynard was very brave to write this kind of story. The idea was interesting, and you want to keep reading it, there are no slow parts. I liked the references to other books within this book. There were so many characters in this book, which was ok, because they were all very interesting people, but the fact that they all had such horrible things happening to them got to be a bit much after a while. So many people dying and running away and giving up their babies, it's too much to put into one book. It seemed like she didn't want any of the characters to be happy, especially when she (killed Todd's brother just after he found him), did that really need to happen?? Also, quotation marks are good. I don't see the point in not using them. 4Q 4P. Gr 7-11. BM, 15.
• I didn't finish... It took a long time to get to the point. I thought it was uniquely written - no quotations or 'dialogue' but sometimes hard to follow. Hard to carry around - so large! 4Q 3P. Gr 6-7.SM, 15.

McNamee, Graham. Acceleration.   Edgar Award Nominee, Best YA Mystery    Contemporary / serial killer mystery

• This book was awesome! I loved the way the author kept you guessing till the end.
  Graham did an excellent job of describing the book, so it leaves you with a good picture of what the characters and setting looks like.
  The way the writing goes from one character's thoughts to the diary entrees is a great way to compare the characters and to see what they think about certain situations. 4Q 4P. CM, 12
• The plot was good, not original, but a well done version of an old idea. The character development was good, and the description of the heatywave madee you feel it. You could just imagine the feeling of sweatiness and the heat rising off of the cement.  Error: They used Farenheit at the beggining. Which is funny, consideign that they live in Toronto. The thing with the boys girlfriend seemed redundant. Like they'd thrown that in there because, well, there has to be a love interest. The main characters past was good though. it accounted for why he wouldn't want to go to the police and why he took on the case. 4Q 3P. Gr. 7-9. KH, 18.
• This was a fairly good book, and although it was written at a low reading level, it was still enjoyable to read.  The plot was mainly uncomplicated.  Although it was entertaining, it did not have any unexpected or overly exiting twists in it.  On the plus side, all loose ends were tied, and I did not feel that there were any missing components (such as unsolved problems or unanswered questions).  I would say that this book is best suited for people in grades 8 to 10, mainly because it is at a fairly simple reading level but has some mature language and themes which some people may find offensive or frightening.  The book is very realistic, dealing with a psychopathic killer-to-be.  It is set in Toronto and based upon events which could possibly happen in today's society. 4Q 3P. Gr 7-11. DS, 17.
• I didn't finish this book as I can't take the graphic, horrific detail of the story. Just like I can't stomach CSI or Tru Calling. I can't take the psychological twistedness of this novel. 3Q 4P. SM, 16.
• The thing I like about this book is the suspense and the way that the book is set up. It makes it seem as though you are helping to solve it. 4Q 4P. AM, 14.
• This book started off with a pretty interesting story line about a young man who works in the Toronto subway's lost and found department and comes across the psychotic diary of what seems to be a serial killer. This could have been a pretty excelent book, but the ending of this book just kind of falls of and dies. This one could definitely appeal to younger teen boys. 4Q 4P. Gr 7-11. JI, 17.

Meyer, L. A. Bloody Jack: Being an Account of Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy  Historical

• I thought this book was really good but i think it is a little to fictional to have Jacky/Mary float away in a kite and land on an island and then be found by the same people who lost her. i think that's a bit to far-fetched for me. Also i don't think she should have ended up in a girl's school in Boston, i think she [ed censor...]. i don't really like the ending. 4Q 4P. SC, 12.
• Bloody Jack was rich in historical detail and naval terminology, but managed to go beyond these to develop an excellent story. Mary (a.k.a. Jacky) was a unique and appealing character, and her matter-of-fact recounting of her experiences and feelings was spellbinding. Although the lower-class diction used at the beginning of the book was distracting, it conveyed a sense of Mary’s origins, and her motivations for singing onto a naval ship as one of the ship’s “boys”. The story was fast-paced and interesting, and the ending satisfying. This book must have taken an appalling amount of time to research- everything is detailed and fits within the historical context of the piece, from language to port culture, to the precise method used to pierce sailors’ ears. 4Q 5P. JW, 15.
• It was swashbuckling fun! But the end was too sudden. It left you hungry for more. The whole story was so exciting and the sprinkling of humour was just right. He had better write a second one! 5Q 5P. KH, 18.
• Overall this book was good, but the street talk as being her whole voice in the story was a little off, sure it got the message across that she wasn't exactly noble, but all the same it was annoying. There were also things that heppened that were kind of unbelievable... like I've heard of coincidence, but this takes it a bit too far. I couldn't put it down, but I wouldn't... really... recomend it for the prize. 3Q 3P. MC, 14.
• This book was so much fun to read! Mary/Jacky is a great main character that everyone will love. I loved all the young characters; Jacky's friends from her gang and all the ship's boys. Bloody Jack has a lot of adventure and excitement, humor, suspense, and romance. The salty sailors were very entertaining. 5Q 4P. BM, 15
• I liked the historical detail, the secrecy and the main character in general. It was a little depressing but it was a refreshing look into the past through the eyes of a British child. The language at first was a tad difficult to follow but you get used to it. Overall it was quite nice. 4Q 4P. LS, 17
• This book was incredible. The way the author wrote this book to suit the character's grammer and english was unlike anything I've seen in books. example : "Sir" I yells with all me might "I can read". The things the character goes through to make her a stronger and more defined person is captivating. It is clear in the book that the author is well informed when it comes to knowledge about the ship and the way it is sailed.It feels as if your actually on the HMS Dolphin. This is more of a book for females and the author makes you feel very close to Jacky. I also admire that the author, although being male, has chosen to write about a female and her adventures in the world of men. It is very inspiring and often brings a tear to your eye when you read of all the things she goes through. This book definitely deserves a sequel. 5Q 4P. Below Gr 7-Gr 11. SJ, 14.
• This book is the type that almost everyone could read. Anyone of almost any age group and gender, which I really liked. The whole atmosphere the book described was the kind that anyone would find interesting. The characters were hilarious, and well thought out. 5Q 5P. Gr 7-11. KH, 15.

Murray, Jaye. Bottled Up  Contemporary

• Bottled Up is an excellent novel, portraying the son of an alcoholic and his little brother. I think this book is fantastic because it not only shows the effect of a father on his son, but the effect of a boy on his younger brother. Pip's way of dealing with his fathers drinking and beating is simple; skip school, drink, and smoke marijuana. Pip's younger brother Mikey, on the other hand, has an entirely different approach. Instead of causing trouble, he tries hard in school, ask countless questions about M&M's, and pretends that he has a perfectly normal family. This story shows what a person can change, if they really set their mind to it. 4Q 3P. VM, 13.
• This book was awesome. It dealt with alcoholism and teenage narcotics problems so honestly, without the super sappy ending. 4Q 4P. Gr 8 - Adult. CD, 17.

Myracle, Lauren. Kissing Kate.  Contemporary / High School / Relationships

•  I really enjoyed this book, but I could be a bit biased because, well, I've been through almost the same experience as the main character Lissa. This book is touching and sweet. The sub-plot of Beth being almost forced by her peers to grow up too fast is so true and I see the same thing happening to my own younger sisters. This book is probably a nice read for most teens, but is especially touching to those who have Kissed Kate. 4Q 4P. JI, 17.
• This was a tedious read. It could have been a lot more concise. It had the feel of something overedited. The feelings of the main character were too constant, dragging us through the muck in a most tiring way. The resolution came too late. 2Q 2P. KH, 18.
• This book was hard to read. It was a great story and the characters were decently written but the basic writing style seemed scattered. Compared to other books of similar subject matter this one was original. This book looked at different aspects of lesbian relationships, and coming to terms with sexuality. Overall it wasn’t a waste of time, but also it wasn’t exceptional. 4Q 3P. KH, 16
• Kissing Kate was a fairly well written book, but now exceptional. The characters in Kissing Kate were very well developed and realistic. I thought the bits about lucid dreams were very interesting, but other than that I didn't think this ook was anything particularly special. Somehow, I got the feeling that the story could've been better if one of the secondary characters was the main character instead. 4Q 3P. VM, 13.
• I liked this book, but it wasn't one of my favourites. It was a little different, and not my regular type of books. I wish they had talked about Kate and Lissa before the kiss, so you could get an idea of what their relationship was like. Overall it was a pretty good read. 3Q 3P. Gr 7-11. LW, 14.

• This would be an awesome resource for learning about apartheid. It made it very personal and easy to understand. The writing was unique in each separate story. Nothing came off as repetitive. 5Q 5P. KH, 17

Osa, Nancy.  Cuba 15.   Contemporary / Coming of Age

• This was a fun book with a nice glimpse of Cuban culture. Kind of what last years "Born Confused" was trying to be, but 10 times better. The story is filled with comical cultural characters that are vivid and fun. I did find myself getting a bit lost with the Spanish and Spanglish at times - a glossary would have been nice - but I think I got the general point. Overall, a very fun read. 4Q 4P. JI, 17.
• Cuba 15 is a very funny, interesting and informative book. I haven't really read many books about people from Cuba, or about spanish; so it was different and unique. I thought it was really great to learn about a quinceanero (a fifteenth-year coming-of-age ceremony traditionally held for girls in Latin American countries). I think a lot of people would be able to relate to the main character (Violet Paz). She's sometimes embarrassed of her heritage, but at the same time very proud. This book kind of reminds me of the movie 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding', but is a lot more realistic. I would reccomend this book because it is very cheerful, humorous, and factual. 4Q 4P. VM, 13.
• I thought this was a pretty good book overall. I think that a lot of people (girls, actually) could relate to a lot of the things that Violet Paz (the main character) is going through, is feeling, thinking, etc. This was a very interesting theme, I had never read any books on Cuba before. I think the author did a really good job on everything. 4Q 4P. Gr 7-11. AA, 13.
• I didn't like how there were Spanish words placed in some places, it got annoying to read. I loved all the charactrs though, it was a perfect family, they were all so funny & unique. I thought it was great how competitive they were at dominoes, I have never pictured dominoes as a competitive game. 4Q 3P. Gr 6-7. EW, 14.

Parker, Jeff. The Interman  Graphic Novel

• This was like reading James Bond or 'Bourne Identity.' It was quite exciting. The twist at the end was really well done, a classic spy novel move. 5Q 5P. KH, 18.
• Fun, fairly intelligent, and a throwback to oldschool adventure stories. Reads well and holds your interest. Not my personal favorite in art styles, but commendable. May be hard to follow for younger readers and a bit cheesy at times, but still enjoyable. 4Q 3P. Below gr 7 - gr 12+. JL, 17.
• It's hard to write a review on this book as it is different than any other book I have read. This is the first graphic novel I have read and I liked the pictures. It made it a change from what I normally read. I found some parts of the book hard to understand. Sometimes I didn't know who was who or really what was going on as I had to read and look at the pictures. This book was fun. I liked the story line. I am not going to nominate this book because I think it should be part of a different category. I don't think that it should be compared against novels. 3Q 4P EH, 16.
• This the best graphic novel I have read so far. The story is gripping (and complete within the one volume, which scores points with me) and the characters everyday people and extraordinary superpowers at once. Imagine a man with the ablity to adapt to any situation he might come across. Sound cool? Then add in a bit of government conspiracy and coverup, spies, and some attractive characters and exotic locales to illustrate the graphic novel and you have a one very exciting book. 5Q 4P. JI, 18

Pattou, Edith. East . Top 10 BBYA Fractured Fairytale / East of the Sun, West of the Moon.

• I thought this book had a very compelling plot line. The story of Rose, the northborn child, her stay with the white bear and her journey east of the sun and west of the moon to find the bear is very lovable and and interesting. The jumping viewpoints make this book refreshing to read  and gives extra background to the main storyline. The changes of view could make it difficult to read for yuonger readers but it makes the book more interesting as a result. The journal entries give it a very personal feeling. It gave me a nice change from most books I read. 5Q 4P. Gr 7-9. ES, 14.

Peck, Richard. The River Between Us .     Historical / US Civil War Nominee - National Book Award

• A beautifully crafted story with a vivid setting and characters. It is a fascinating and original look at another aspect of the Civil War. I found the first 40 pages slow and slightly boring, but once it got going I was hooked. This book will be appreciated by historical fiction readers, and those who like character driven novels, but people who usually enjoy more fast paced books will probably be bored and disappointed. 5Q 3P. C, 14.

Pierce, Tamora. Trickster's Choice     Fantasy

• I think that everything Tamora Pierce has published is fabulous, and Trickster's Choice is no exception. The reader gets to follow the adventures of Alanna's daughter Alianne, who has been enslaved and sent to the Copper Isles. She is a wonderful character in her own right, and although we learn about developments in the lives of the characters in Pierce's previous Tortall novels, they don't take over the plot. The action is exciting, the plot is detailed, and the scope of Pierce's Tortall books is expanded immensley. 5Q 5P. JW, 16.
• It's been years since I last read the first books of this series and reading this I realized that it was alright to have forgotten what they were about. You don't need previous knowledge of Alanna to enjoy, understand and come into Aly's world. Since she went under cover, most of the people didn't know Alanna. I was amazed at the detail, plot twists and length and character development. I felt I really got to know Aly, and could feel the emotions she was feeling in the situations and cheered when she triumphed. I read it straight through and loved every bit of it. 5Q 5P. LS, 18.
• Tamora Pierce has written a lot of great books and Trickster’s Choice lives up to what came before.
  This is the story of Alianne (known as Aly), daughter of the legendary Lioness Alanna, as she begins her adventures at age 16. Those who are familiar with The Song of the Lioness, The Immortals, or The Protector of the Small quartets will find much loved characters being mentioned and small plot details dug up from the past. However, those who are not familiar with Tamora Pierce’s previous novels (or those who read them but have since found that the details are fuzzy) will be filled in along the way.
  Aly finds herself away from home, enslaved, and occupied by protecting the daughters of an exiled duke for a summer in a wager from the trickster god. She enlists the help of local slaves, servants, and crows and before long, she finds herself more and more entangled in the lives of the people she has sworn to protect for a summer. Strategy and adventures follow as she discovers spies in their midst and tries her best to prepare for the impending danger.
  Over all, Tricksters Choices is an exciting continuation of the lioness saga. This book left me wanting more, but with any luck, Aly’s adventure will continue on over many more books as Tamora Pierce’s unending creativity continues.5Q 4P. JI, 17
• It was fantastic, all her books are fantastic! Just AMAZING!!! 5Q 5P. Gr 12+ E, 14.
• The book was great it was a very interesting novel to read as to the adventure/action that was mixed in with the hint of romance and the humour that was also added. This is a novel that should be recommended and ackownledged to a wide age group. 5Q 5P. [All grades.] DT, 12.
• Trickster's Choise is Tamora Pierce's best book yet. It's about the daughter of Alanna of Pirate's Swoop and Olau, the heroine of the Song of the Lioness quartet, yet Aly is nothing like Alanna. Aly uses her head acting like a spy in the Copper Isles to help put a raka queen back on the throne. The book's full of suspense, and is very well written. 5Q 5P. Gr 7-11. DS, 14.
• It was well written with fantastically real and well developed characters, such as the crow-man Nawat. It delves into politics well, so entertains older audiences (Aly, the main character, is trying to keep a family alive that will be the figurehead of a revolution of the opressed slave class against their cruel masters) but it also has an easy to follow plot for younger readers.
  The land and culture of the Copper Isles is diverse and rich, feeding the imagination and the interference of the Trickster God Kyprioth adds interesting commentaries as Aly prepares for war.
  It has sufficient backflashes as Aly is allowed to witness significant events in Tortall (her home- she was captured and sold as a slave) to entertain previous Pierce fans, and depicts the complicated relationship between mother and daughter very well. It also shows the growing up and difficulties faced by youth (Aly is 16 and expected to know what she wants to do in her life) as her parents forbid her to become a spy. It's a wonderful example of a daughter trying to prove herself to overprotective parents and shows the relationships between mother, father and their children very well.
  And excellent romp in the world of Tamora Pierce with vivid charcaters, events, motives and times. Unpredicticality is Pierce's middle name, and precisely who is the traitor and why Kyprioth is interferring keeps the reader (and Aly) guessing to the very end. I can't wait for the next book!!! 5Q 5P. Gr 7-9. ND,16.
• The way Tamora Pierce writes with such passion truely shows in her books. This is the latest in her Tortall series, and it was well worth the wait for it to come out. It has strategy and planning, romance and adventure, all the things I could want in a book. I have been reading her books since I was ten years old, and they have given me the drive to work harder in writing. She is a great role model for me, and, I think, for other girls. 5Q 4P. Below Gr 7-Gr 12+AG,13.

Pratchett, Terry. Wee Free Men: A Story of Discworld.     Fantasy / Humour

• Funny as always - Terry Pratchett always produces high quality observational humor, as well as astute looks at basic human nature. The Discworld is always an interesting fantasy world in which to foray, and I think "The Wee Free Men" would be a fun read for practically all ages. Though a touch lighter in tone than most others of his work (as it is aimed for a younger audience), it still has appropriate levels of depth and meaning for those looking for it. Now, I may be biased, as I consider near all Pratchett's work to be genius, but I would definitely nominate this novel for BBYA. The Nac Mac Feegle are something I feel everyone should experience at least once in their lives. 5Q 4P. JL, 17
• What really struck me about this book was how at the end of every chapter the story seems to continue on by stating that “it was all a dream” or “she entered a dream”. While this tactic can be used occasionally in good story telling, and I understand that the queen controls dreams and the like, it still becomes tedious and predictable if over used.
  Something else that I couldn’t help noting was the strange maturity of our 9-year-old heroine. She seems unrealistically logical and has a strangely developed view of the world compared to all of the 9-year-olds I have ever known. To me, it would have made more sense to make her 12 or so. That way, she still would have been precocious, but not unbelievably so. Having a child that reads the dictionary for fun and uses big words is common place enough, but having a child who’s skills and thought processes are like that of someone much older seems contrived to me. Usually, young readers read book about people 2 or 3 years older than they are - yet this is obviously not a book for 6 and 7 year olds.
  But I haven’t really said what I thought of the story overall. I guess that’s because there’s not a lot to say. It’s a middle of the road kind of book. It’s not particularly exciting. It’s not overly boring. So, while you wouldn’t be wasting your time reading it, there are a still lot of better books out there. 3Q 3P. JI, 17
• I loved the Nac Mac Feegles, they were so funny! I loved the way they talked, they were great characters. I also liked how we found out about Granny Aching through Tiffany's memory. This book had a great plot, awesome characters & it was really well written. 5Q 3P. EW, 14.Gr 6-9.
• Being a HUGE Terry Pratchet fan, I was not disspointed. Though this book (Based on Discworld) seems to be aimed towards a younger crowd, it will most definitely be enjoyable for all ages. Sprinkled with classic Terry Pratchet wit, Wee Free Men is entertaining byond all belief. Some advice though, this book shouldn't be read on an airplane as you will laugh out loud and thus, recieve odd looks from those sitting beside you. 5Q 5P. Gr 7-12+. KH, 18.
• I have always been a huge fan of Terry Pratchett. His work delights me again and again and while this particular piece of writing was meant for a younger crowd, it will delight you, no matter your age. Very often while reading it I wished my family was gathered around as I read it out loud. It was just one of those books. The characters are delightful and the humour broad enough to appeal to all tastes. i love the Wee Free Men and whole-heartedly believe in their existance. 5Q 5P. Below Gr 7 – Gr 12+. K, 17.

Rapp, Adam. 33 Snowfish . Top 10 BBYA Contemporary / Kidnapping

• I can understand that the author was tryign to emphasize how racist Curtis was but the swearing became excessive to the point where it took away from the writing. Although the underlining meaning was disturbingly intriguing, it could have been written differently. I do not recommend this to anyone under 18. There are sexual themes, language, violence etc. If it was turned into a movie it would flop. Though weird and strange can sometimes be good this was too out there and it worked against him. 1Q 1P. LS, 17.
• I disliked this book very much. It was very hard to get into and in the end I couldn't get into it. I hope no one reads it. Ever. 1Q 1P. TC, 13.
• Normally, I'm not the type of person to start a book and not finish it. Maybe I should have read the dust cover more carefully and noticed that one of the main characters is called "Boobie". Maybe that should have tipped me off to what a terrible book this is. Maybe I don't really have the right to judge this book as I could only make it 6 pages in. That on it's own should tell you something.
  Don't be fooled by the pretty cover - I smell a bonfire coming! 1Q 1P. JI, 17.
• Buh? This was an insanely weird piece of writing. Firstly, anyone who thinks it's realistic smokes crack. It was like a sci fi coming of age but not book. Pinpointing the time it was supposed to be occuring in was weird enough. Gatorade makes you think current, but the way the kids talked 9Old slang and such) and the situation they were all in, seemed like the 194o's maybe.
  This was a truly terrible piece of writing. It was annoying to read and irritating knowing that some people actually think this book is worthy of exsisting. 1Q 1P Gr 10-11. KH, 18.
• This book is garbage. 33 Snowfish disturbed me in a way no other book has. I picked this book up because the cover is beautiful but the content of this book is not at all beautiful. Page 10 is all I read up to so maybe its not fair for me to have an opinion but never the less I will tell you how much I disliked this book. Where to start? I guess I'll begin with the language in this book. The first 10 pages alone where filled with more swears and dirty words than I prefer to hear in a year. Slang was used to much in this book. Most of the time I had no idea what they where talking about so I just guessed. This book was just creepy. I did not like reading about a little boy living in some scary mans house and sleeping on a smelly mattress or a bunch of messed up teenagers. I enjoy reading books that are uplifting not degrading. This book was just way to wired. Every single line of this book had something disturbing in it. I disliked this book so much I wrote a letter to the author expressing my feelings. This is the worst book I have ever read. 1Q 1P. Gr 12+. EH, 16.
• I picked this book out because I love the cover. I didn't like the story very much though. Everything in this book was so sad and ugly, it was hard to read but I did read the whole thing. The reviews on the back cover are somewhat true when they say the book is brutal and hiddeously ugly, but I wouldn't say the book is brilliant. It is definately unique. Some of the writing was pretty interesting, but they way Custis swears and makes so many racist comments kind of ruined it. I might read other books by this author because I liked the way some parts were written, but the subject matter in this book is so horrible that it just wasn't enjoyable to read. 3Q 1P. Gr 10-12+. BM, 15

Rees, Celia. Pirates!    Historical / epistolary

• I have read an early readers copy of the book and I found it amazing. I could picture the nervosness of Nancy, a rich merchant's daughter, as she fought her first battle as a Pirate. I could smell the tar on the ship and I could ffeel William kissing her, so vivid was the description of everything. I really sujest reading this book to everyone. 5Q 4P. KS, 14.
• Pirates! was an entertaining story, and was excellently written. Though the whole 'wealthy girl goes off and has adventures with unsavoury sorts' genre has been overdone, I felt that Rees offered a new, sensitively-written take on female pirate stories. The characters were interesting and enjoyable, and their adventures were fascinating and written with realism. The villain of the story, 'the Brazillian' was a bit overdone, but I thought that, overall, Pirates! was an excellent read. 4Q 4P. Gr 7-12+. JW, 16.
• I really enjoyed this book. I thought the 99.9% of pirates were male with the exception of 1 but after reading this book, i'm guessing that there probably were alot more. 4Q 3P. Gr 7-11. AR, 15.
• There's a lot that happens, but in the end, everything is wound togeher very well. I was disapointed when I was on the last pages, I felt there had to be more, it was so good! It's a bit repetitive, Minerva and Nancy switching between man and woman, them running into Gramham and Broom again, but in the same sense, it's different, becauue the life of a pirate is unpredictable. When does the sequel come out????? 5Q 5P. CS, 14.

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix.     Fantasy

• Well I don't think anyone should have doubts about this book doing well! I have throughly read every single Harry Potter book (about 6 times each) and thought this one was the best. J.K. Rowling's writing seems to have improved with every book, and this one definatly had the most action. I personally didn't like part of the ending... but in someways, the death resulted in growth in Harry's character. I loved all of the action, especially since there was alot at the beginning. Also, I found Harry's shorter time period at the Dursley's was more effective. 5Q 5P. LW, 14.
• mg omg this is the best book out of all 5 pf them. this book will make feel every emotion when u read it. jk rowling made something that was good even better. she took the story of this boy up a level. i couldn't put this book down till i finish it. even though it was 766 pages i wan it more cuz it was so good. and i knoe if this book doesn't win awards ppl r gonna b mad cuz this book is beyond amzing. 5Q 5P. SS,14.
• Well I don't think anyone should have doubts about this book doing well! I have throughly read every single Harry Potter book (about 6 times each) and thought this one was the best. J.K. Rowling's writing seems to have improved with every book, and this one definatly had the most action. I personally didn't like part of the ending... but in someways, the death resulted in growth in Harry's character. I loved all of the action, especially since there was alot at the beginning. Also, I found Harry's shorter time period at the Dursley's was more effective. 5Q 5P. LW, 14.
• Awesome, but what else could it be? I am a huge Harry Potter fan and this one did not disappoint. Great character development, exciting plot, a character you love to hate (Umbridge). The death scene wasn't as good or moving as I was expecting and Dumbledore's big revelation was a big letdown. but overall it was great. 5Q 5P. C, 13.
• well of COURSE this book was good. why wood there hav been ppl waiting outside of chapters overnight for it otherwise?
  its funny but doesnt hav much romance. well its like for kids sooo i gues thats wut i shood expect. anyway i cant wait til the last book comes out because im sick of these ppl who read the books 10 times over. its just SADDDDDD. theyre embarassing themselves. this book was very well written, but i wouldnt read it 10 times. its just a book. 5Q 5P. DW, 14.
• There's not much to say. It was a great book (but if it was anything else, would it be J.K. Rowling?). The usual considerations for sequels don't really apply (mostly the stand alone rule - if you can't read the book without reading the previous ones in the series, it's not good enough to be BBYA) because EVERYONE HAS READ HARRY POTTER. It's taking over the world. Dun. dun. dun. (ominious music in the background) 5Q 5P. Gr 7-11. JI, 17.