Eighth Grade Bites: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod #1, by Heather Brewer

This is a really refreshing story of an adolescent vampire, Vladimir, who is living with his human aunt and attending a human junior high school.   It is a engaging read and offers a humorous look at a vampire surrounded by normies.    Brewer keeps the reading going by adding a substitute teacher who appears to be possibly a dangerous "special powers" being.  Readers want to continue reading to see if Mr. Otis is good or bad guy and to solve the mystery of his vampire father's life and death.

Unfortunately this book seems to be out of print.  It is still possible to get the boxed set.  I listened to it thanks to our library's audio book collection.  There are graphic novels based on this book available.

The school library reviewer was not necessarily been kind to Brewer in his review of this first book, however Publisher's Weekly and Kirkus were more kind.  My sense is that many junior high/middle school students would enjoy it.  The humor will appeal to many of them.  It is relatively uncomplicated, but offers an interesting look at a different interpretation of vampires within human society.  I see great possibilities of contrasting the characterization of Vlad in this book and juxtaposing it with vampires in Twilight, Team Human,or The Mortal Instruments.  I offers rich possibilities for exploration of both character development and mood/tone within literature.

As a devoted vampire literature reader, I also appreciate the many allusions to the traditions of vampire literature.  Thus, it creates an opportunity to introduce students to a large literary community and literary analysis.

Peak, by Roland Smith

Everest! What would lead a 14-year-old to Everest by surprise? Smith's story follows Peak Marcello, the son of two "rock rats" from his illegal skyscraper climbing in New York City to Everest. Most of the story is about the attempt at Everest, but there are also several other story lines with in the book including: political relations between China and Nepal, the relationships of climbers and sherpas, family dynamics, sensationalism in the news business and coming of age.

Smith always tells a good story and this one is particularly strong. It kept me up well past my bed-time to finish reading and I had trouble sleeping afterward. (Or it may have just been my biorhythms--who knows.) Although I am not a rock climber I have plenty of exposure to them (my daughter works at REI and there are many climbers in the area where I live). I've also read Into Thin Air, by Jon Krakauer another book about the various factors around the current craze of guided trips to Everest. I believe both have significant questions about the wisdom of continuing to allow this sort of activity.

Smith's webpage is a great resource, but I am having trouble accessing its content today. I had hoped to gather some information about his research for this book. I know Smith has been around the world and experienced many of the situations (or at least nuggets of them) that he writes about. I wanted to know more about how he researched this book. I'll try his site again later. www.rolandsmith.com

This will be a great read for any

Witch's Business, by Diana Wynne Jones

I am a great fan of Jones books.  Particularly I think The Dark a Lord of Derkholm and the Year of the Griffin are wonderful books for readers who enjoyed the Harry Potter series.  Jones has a wonderful sense of humor and makes fantasy quite believable.In some ways I prefer her take on schools and the politics surrounding them to that of J.K. Rowling. I also appreciate the way that Jones shows in her book the ways that adolescents can break through boundaries of status and social group to achieve a shared goal.

Jones is a British author and sometimes her language and colloquialisms are a little bit challenging for American readers.  But her understanding of the interests and lives of young adolescents make any struggles worthwhile. This is a reissue of her first novel and is currently out of print, but still available through a variety of online booksellers. This is the second time that I have been able to read a first book from a popular author. (The other was Patricia Briggs.) It's fascinating to see how their craft improves over time.  I would love to be able to use the use in an author study unit with adolescents to show stronger vs. weaker writing. It would take some considerable time which, unfortunately, is not typically available in classrooms due to pressures from standardized tests and district curriculum mandates.

Mastiff: Beka Cooper Series # 3, by Tamora Pierce (2011)

I have long been a fan of Tamora Pierce's work.  The Beka Cooper series is a particular favorite.  Over the series of books Beka works her way up through the "police" system in the land of Tortall.  Readers will have to be able to tolerate some ambiguity.   Even as a long-time reader of Pierce's books, I found myself having to "wait for it" in some of the references.  In this book Beka and her police colleagues have to rush to their Lord's call on a mysterious and highly secretive mission.  It's a sort of "Mission Impossible" set in Pierce's fantasy land of Tortall.

I read Mastiff using the "read for free" option on my ebook reader.  That meant I had to go to the bookstore regularly to work my way through the book.  I'm getting to know the staff at the local store quite well.  I found myself scheduling an hour of time each and every day so that I could finish the book.

In this book Beka not only has to "save the day" but she also has to contend with several personal losses (I'm not going to be a spoiler here).  Overall this in one of the most satisfying books I've read in the YA fantasy genre in a long time.

Son of Neptune, by Rick Riordan

I am still feeling compelled to read this series.  In this latest book featuring Percy Jackson Riordan has told yet another story with enough plot twists and action to keep readers going.  I especially appreciated his humor in this book.  Riordan has managed to merge contemporary culture, particularly consumerism, with Roman and Greek gods and myths.  I think it can be used to help readers understand the role that these myths played in ancient cultures.

 Recently, with several co-authors, I published an article for teachers on using YA Literature and appropriate nonfiction to make the required study of The Odyssey something that is more engaging to ninth graders.  The various Percy Jackson  books were a large part of this.  (Along with Michael Scott's Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series.  Having these familiar and well loved books help young adults understand why their schools place such emphasis on The Odyssey and other classic works. 

I look forward to Riordan's next book in this series. 

The Climb & The Summit, by Gordon Korman

These are the last two books in a three book series Everest. They completely captured my attention. I stayed up late to finish and delayed doing other work. These are going to be sure-fire hits with young adolescent readers. They also provide some launching off points to look at Tibet, Nepal, mountaineering, commercial sports corporations, and ethics. I recommend the series strongly.

Wizards of the Game, by David Lubar (2003)

I picked this up because it appeared on a list of recommended books about gaming. I'll have to change the search to video-gaming. The plot of this book centers around the older version of gaming involving cards and face-to-face activities. The main character, Mercer, is an 8th grader. He is totally absorbed in a game similar to dungeons and dragons.

He persuades the school authorities to have a gaming fund raiser. One of the other students on the planning team is a conservative Christian who begins a political/religious initiative to ban the game on school grounds based on the idea that it is devil/demon worship.

Meanwhile, Mercer begins to attract a following of homeless folks who believe themselves to be wizards. At the end Mercer ends up having to deal with all these various special interest groups.

Lubar has written an accessible book that will prompt deep thinking about conservative Christian pressures, gaming, and our perceptions of reality. Even though it wasn't really what I was looking for, I will include it in my recommended reading list. It does deserve a warning. There are some parents who would object to its treatment of "demonic influences on children" and apparent questioning of religious groups. With that warning, I think there are a lot of 6th & 7th graders who would really enjoy the book. Some older students with reading delays would also find it enjoyable. Although I don't see as many students playing the card-based fantasy games any longer, I think they will find the premise compatible with the video games they play.

The Contest, by Gordon Korman, 2002

This started a bit slowly for me. It begins with a contest to climb Everest that Dominic Alexis is determined to win. The adventure is for a famous mountaineer to guide a team of teens to the top of Everest, the youngest climbing team ever. Dom's older brother, Chris has already been accepted into the training camp by virtue of his status as a climber. Dom wins inclusion in the camp by finding the letters spelling out EVEREST in a contest sponsored by a sports bar/drink manufacturer.

The first part of the book is all about picking the four teens who will climb from the initial pool of ten. Lots of drama, some climbing. But, when the finalists have training run in Alaska the adventure begins. I was reading sort of complacently--teen drama etc. I was planning to take a bit of a nap part way through.

Then I hit the Alaska climb. I don't know if Korman's descriptions of climbing strategies is accurate, but they sure are thrilling. I will be reading the next two books in the series.

Book one in Korman's Everest series. Lexile 690, Ages 9-12.

The Malifex, By Steve Alton 2002

I've long been a passionate reader of anything related to King Arthur and especially Merlin. This book takes the Arthurian legend into the present with new heroes and wizards. The main character, Sam, a notable gamer, turns out to be the new Arthur. With his supporting wizard, Amergin.

The plot is engaging and the characters are relatively well developed. It helps a lot to have background knowledge about the Arthurian legends, the British countryside, and things magical. Students who have read The Hobbit, and watched or reading the Lord of the Rings trilogy will feel comfortable with the necessary background knowledge. There is a second book with the same characters available The Firehills.

I had picked this up as a book I might recommend to gamers. It is a possibility, but the video gaming plot threads are minimal. Gamers who like the magical themed games or LOTR game will find the book engaging.

The book is recommended primarily for grades 5-8 and I agree with that. The readability estimates by Perma-Bound are around mid-5th grade. The main character's age is not made explicit. However, he is old enough to have a romantic interest in his companion in adventure--Charly (Charlotte).

Gamer Girl, by Mari Mancusi

This 2008 book was recognized by YALSA as a "quick pick for reluctant readers." I expect that this is a good designation. The book is recommended for grades 6-10 although I expect 9 & 10 are a bit of a stretch. The plot is pretty predictable, although I am drawn to the main character. She has more gray areas than you would expect with a predictable, quick read, designed to appeal to gamers, Manga fans, and Goths. I will be recommending it to many 6th-8th graders who are drawn to these topics. It's an easy read, but deals sensitively with a variety of issues that many pre-teens and teens have to face: moving schools, divorce, bullies, cliques, Manga, isolation, and video games.

I also think I will be picking up one of Mancusi's vampire books to see if they are well written and appealing. I've been using my Nook to read new releases an hour a day at Barnes and Noble. I often sit in chairs that face the new YA and SciFi sections. Vampire fiction completely dominates the shelves. Right now I'm reading the new Sookie Stackhouse vampire book (the series upon which True Blood is based). For almost a year now I've been complaining about how much vampire fiction I'm having to read. It looks like I'm going to have to get used to it. Hopefully Mancusi will add an interesting twist--maybe a gamer vampire!

Gilda Joyce: Psychic Investigator, by Jennifer Allison

This and Surviving the Applewhites are books I picked up to read as part of a unit on humor. Gilda Joyce is an amusing novel that I would recommend to young adults, but not one that I am going to suggest as a book for shared readings or literature discussion groups. Maybe I'm just getting an overdose of fantasy, but I found Gilda a little to "psychic" and predictable.

We have the dead parent, a trip away from adult supervision, and adolescent "detective" work. There were amusing episodes, but I was not completely engaged. Perhaps my problem was that I listened to this instead of reading it. Kirkus and Booklist both gave it quite positive reviews. This is a research study waiting to happen! Does listening to audio books create a different "read" of a book than when the reader is tied to paper or their Nook/Kindle/e-reader and perhaps more focused on the content.

This might be a good exploratory study--check back and I'll edit this post once I know

Fablehaven: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary, by Brandon Mull

I have enjoyed the Fablehaven series and am delighted the Mull can continue the series with continued high quality. In this book Kendra is sent with a team to get a key to the next artifact (this is important in the overall series). The plot takes us outside of the New York sanctuary that is cared for by her grandparents.

If you are unfamiliar with the Fablehaven series, the important plot device is that there are magical creatures still living in the world, but they are primarily kept in "invisible" sanctuaries around the world. Kendra and Seth Sorenson (brother and sister) appear to be the likely successors as caretakers of the Fablehaven sanctuary currently managed by their grandparents. Of course, the forces of evil are trying to upset the balance of this arrangement. Kendra, Seth and others at Fablehaven are instrumental in fighting these forces of evil.

Back to Dragon Sanctuary... Of course, as per the title we are looking at a sanctuary for dragons in this book. Mull continues to engage the reader with plot and character twists that surprise the reader and will motivate almost all to continue reading.

The Death Collector by Justin Richards (2006)

This period techno-thriller from the Victorian Era is not one that really grabbed me. Perhaps because I listened to in on cd rather than read it in paper. Richards is quite a prolific YA author and writes collaboratively with Jack Higgins. He has also authored a series, The Invisible Detective. Others have a much more favorable opinion of the book than I. I got good reviews from Kirkus and The School Library Journal. I may need to sit down with a paper copy and see if audio/print really does make a difference.

For younger adolescents there is some interesting horror in the plot--Zombies and reanimation. I will revise this review if I find the paper copy produces a different response.

The Supernaturalist, by Eoin Colfer

Colfer is know for his series, Artemis Fowl. He has a number of other YA books using a variety of settings and themes. This is a science fiction/future distopia book. It's peopled with Mad Max automobile undergrounds, mad scientists, pollution, genetic experiments, and evil corporations.I had some difficulty getting into the book and may have put it down if I hadn't been listening to it in the car. The supernaturalists are a small group of young adults and children working together to protect the world from some sort of supernatural beings that seem to "steal" the life from wounded or ill people. These beings are invisible to almost all, except some who have had near death experiences or some of the genetically modified citizens.

However, as I listened further I became more interested. I don't think I would use it as a whole class novel, but I would recommend it to sci-fi readers.

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

I've seen these at the book store for a while but haven't picked one up. Since my son has matured I find I'm not reading as much fantasy. This was a perfect blend of possible and fantastic. The premise is that there are preserves throughout the world in which all the fantastic and magical creatures are kept for their own safety and for the safety of the human residents of the earth. Kendra and Seth end up in Fablehaven because their parents have to attend a funeral/cruise (their maternal grandmother's final bequest to her children--by the way a great idea!).

The grandparents are the guardians of Fablehaven. Their parents do not know of the nature of this preserve. The story is well crafted and an excellent balance of kid adventure and adult mentoring of kids. I strongly recommend the book. Lexile is 700. Recommended for older kids (I agree).

Wolf Stalker, by Gloria Skurzynski and Alane Ferguson

This is one of a series of "National Parks Mysteries" by Skurzynski and Ferguson. I chose it because, not only is it the first of the series, it also is set on the border of Idaho and Wyoming. Overall I was just a little disappointed. I had hoped for more science and perhaps even a stronger mystery. It is very readable and I think young adolescents will enjoy it. With its nearly local context readers in Idaho are likely to enjoy it for the local flavor. (Skurzynski lives in Boise.) There may be some who are anti-wolf reintroduction. This book is clearly on the pro-reintroduction side.

Coraline, by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Dave McKean (2002)

After reading The Graveyard Book and American Gods I had planned to read the complete works of Neil Gaiman. I found this book engaging, but not necessarily one that I find compelling enough to recommend to others.

The market for this book is probably upper elementary. It's marked as 9-12 years old with a Lexile score of 740 (approximately 5th grade). I need to check with some 5th graders about their reaction to the book. It has been made into a film just this year. I didn't hear much buzz about the movie--perhaps it wasn't much of a hit. But, I've been preoccupied with work so I may just have missed it.

I can understand why it may not have been a big favorite of parents and kids. I found the plot and characters too "dark" for kids in this age-range. I would be afraid that my child would have nightmares after reading or viewing this. Overall the message/theme of the book is positive, but the landscapes and tone are too dark for me to want to recommend to younger readers. I don't necessarily see middle school/junior high students being drawn to this. But, I may be mistaken.

I have 2 more Gaiman books on my stack. I began Anansi Boys but turned instead to a Jeffery Deaver book for my next read. We'll see if I return to reading Gaiman--after finishing Deaver I picked up Lisa Lutz, The Spellman Files, as something a bit lighter. I need some comedy and humor in my life right now.

Inkspell and Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke

Funke's recognition as a fantasy writer is well deserved. I have greatly enjoyed the entire Inkheart trilogy. The series' exploration of the power and possibilities of the printed word especially speak to me as a reader and writer. At the present moment I am having to devote more time in my professional life to writing and publishing. Funke's side-story of the pleasures and frustrations of the author's craft speaks loudly to me. Her mirror worlds of fantasy will appeal to a wide range of readers and will secure her spot in children's and young adult literature.

All three books present a challenge to younger readers in their length alone. Yet, readers willing to take on the Harry Potter saga will be able to handle this series. I believe that the books are complex enough to engage a wide range of ages and readers. It encouraged me that the first book has already been accepted by the commercial film industry. It was the feature film on a flight I took to Ecuador this summer. I didn't really follow the film, but plan to view it at home soon.

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey

Trenton_Lee_Stewart

This is the second in the series. The Society is established in England and has four amazing children with unusual abilities who have to work together to save the world/day. I enjoyed the first one well enough that I'm reading the second.

It reminds me somewhat of Diane Duanne's Wizard series (So You Want to be a Wizard, etc...)