Interesting Link - Review of The Green Teen by Jenn Savedge

A Little Greener Every Day, a blog I follow, has published a review of The Green Teen by Jenn Savedge. It sounds like an interesting read for teens looking to become more environmentally responsible with tips on things like becoming less wasteful when packing lunch. I especially like the idea that, "All of the tips and advice are things that teens really do have control over - it's all advice about what they can do, not what they can convince their parents to do." I think it's definitely worth a look!

Interview with Christopher Paolini

The Borders Book Club currently features an interview with Christopher Paolini, author of the Inheritance trilogy. Paolini made waves when he wrote Eragon, the first book in the series, at the age of 15. The interview is nearly an hour long, although it is divided into chapters, so you can also watch a clip related to a specific topic, such as his homeschooling experience. What's the occasion for this interview? On September 20, he will release Brisingr, the final book in the trilogy. A hardcover box set of Eragon, Eldest, and Brisingr will also be made available at this time. If you're a diehard fan of the books, check out the countdown on the Borders Book Club page, and get ready for your local midnight release parties.

Where does YA belong?

I just came across "What is YA and Where Should We Put It?" at c.k. blogs. It raises an interesting question about where we draw the line between books for older teens and books for adults. I also like the suggestion that books with "cross-over appeal" should be shelved closer to the adult fiction section in bookstores than the picture books they so often end up next to. I think it would be great to see this happen so that great books could find a larger audience regardless of whether the main characters are fifteen or fifty.

Quick Book Review - Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers

I've just read a very inventive book. Life on the Refrigerator Doors is told entirely through notes left by a mother and daughter as they struggle to communicate. The title comes from the idea that they're leaving these notes for each other on the refrigerator door as they cross paths. Claire is fifteen and dealing with normal teenage things like studying with friends and spending time with her new boyfriend while her mom is a doctor working odd hours. What starts out as mundane messages about what to pick up from the store and Claire eating dinner with her friend Emma shifts when Claire's mom faces a health crisis. I think part of the appeal comes from the fact that these notes seemed like they could have been plucked from the lives of any busy family. The feelings expressed in just a few words are always realistic. It's really quite a touching story, and it's a quick and easy read because of the format. I think it would be a great book for teens and their moms to read together.

Thoughts on Kare Kano

Well, several months after first writing this review of Kare Kano, I've finished the entire series. At the end of volume 21, I felt much the same way I did after reading the first two volumes (See this post for my past thoughts). The characters continued to do things that annoyed me. (I hesitate to go into specifics because the examples that come to mind are huge spoilers for people who might want to read the books.) Yet in spite of this, I was still compelled to read more and find out what happened to them.

One thing I really appreciated about the series was the feeling that it told a complete story. The final volume even had a "where are they now" chapter set sixteen years after their high school graduation. However, even this chapter included one of those "I hate what this character is doing" moments that perpetually kept me from enjoying the series as much as I could have.

Another positive aspect of the series was the overall message about the redemptive power of love. The supporting cast could also really shine, providing just the right touch of drama or comedy in key moments.

Despite my mixed feelings about the series, I would still recommend readers give it a try to see if it's to their liking.

Quick Book Review - American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

An award-winning graphic novel, American Born Chinese offers a realistic portrayal of the life of a young boy of Chinese descent. Parallel stories play with the idea of Chinese stereotypes and retell a folktale relevant to the theme of being happy with your true self. The three pieces come together at the end in a surprising way, and the result is a powerful book.

Quick Book Review - The Dreaming by Queenie Chan

Amber and Jeanie are twin sisters accepted into their aunt's exclusive boarding school. But strange things abound. They must pretend to be sisters born a year apart because the Vice-Principal won't let twins attend the school, a strange darkness engulfs the grounds each night, and the girls are constantly plagued by the dreams of trees dripping blood. However, when one of their friends disappears in the middle of the night, things go from strange to downright terrifying. The dark lines of the manga art style are especially well-suited to conveying the bleak and creepy setting. I thought The Dreaming did a great job of building a scary atmosphere, and it ended on a classic cliffhanger sure to make you seek out the next volume.

Quick Book Review - Boy Kills Man By Matt Whyman

When I first saw the title, I thought this book would be about a school shooting or something of that sort. It's actually about young assassins in Colombia, a life that the author assures us is based on reality. Sonny and his best friend Alberto have grown up together for nearly all of their 13 years. When Alberto begins to take jobs from a local crime lord, Sonny wants a part of the lifestyle - the money and the power - even as he sees the toll it takes on his friend. I've been trying to think of the right word to describe the overall effect of Boy Kills Man, and "unsettling" is the best I can come up with.

Coming soon…

Look for a number of new reviews on All Info About Teen Reading soon. I've finally made it through a backlog of review copies, which means more great recommendations for you!

Quick Book Review - Born to Rock by Gordon Korman

I've always been a fan of Gordon Korman, and I was excited to find his newest book at the library a few weeks ago. (Now, Born to Rock really wasn't that new; it came out in 2006. I guess I just missed out on the release.)

Straight-laced Leo is shocked to find out that his long-lost biological father may actually be one of the grandfathers of punk rock. He's horrified until a chain of events leaves him looking for a new source of college funding. Will a summer on the road with his new dad lead to some parental financial support? Will he even be alive after a summer of punk rock touring? Born to Rock brought the humor I've come to expect from a Gordon Korman book, but it also had a serious side that I thought added depth to the story. I definitely recommend it.

Teen Book Review - Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

Laurie Halse Anderson, author of Speak and Fever 1793, is back with Twisted.

Tyler Miller returns to school in the fall of his senior year torn between his bullied past and his new "bad boy" reputation. At a wild weekend party, a difficult choice sets into motion a school-wide scandal. A great book, sometimes touching, sometimes heartbreaking, and often hilarious, sure to become one of the top teen books of 2007

Teen book buying reaches new levels

A week and a half ago, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer published an interesing article about the number of teens buying books. It seems that a large teen population and a surge in the quality of young adult literature have combined to create unprecedented levels of teen book buying and library use. It's certainly good news for those of us who value reading and teen books.

Quick Book Review - La Línea by Ann Jaramillo

Yesterday, I had the chance to read La Línea by Ann Jaramillo, and I highly recommend it. The book is on a highly topical subject - illegal immigration to the United States. However, La Línea doesn't speak to the current political debates on the topic. It follows two young teens as they head for la línea, the border, from their home in San Jacinto. They want to be reunited with their mother and father who went north years before in search of better opportunities. The author says she was inspired by her own ESL middle school students, many of whom had to go through similar experiences to make it to the U.S. It's a short but powerful work.

Teen Reading Organization - ALAN

The Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of NCTE (ALAN) is a leading group dedicated to promoting young adult literature. Visit the group's website for interviews, book reviews, and news.

Teen Book Reviews

On occasion, I write teen book reviews for other sites, and I wanted to share some of these great books with AIA Teen Reading visitors. Visit my list of non-AIA teen book reviews for more great reading.

Book Review - Gossip Girl

Dive into the fabulous high-class world of New York's most elite teenagers in this popular series. The Gossip Girl books are practically the definition of a guilty pleasure, but I still love them. I do feel, however, that the series has dragged on a bit past its prime in the most recent installments. That still hasn't stopped me from reading them, though.

Book Review - Seven Daughters and Seven Sons

Seven Daughters and Seven Sons by Barbara Cohen and Bahija Lovejoy is a novel about one young woman's quest for acceptance in the historic Middle East. It is a good book that has never gotten much attention, as far as I am aware. I picked it up after attending a session at a social studies conference on incorporating more information about the Middle East in the classroom. It's interesting in its own right, but it would also make a great cross-curricular piece in conjunction with a study of the history and cultures of the Middle East. I find I tend to think about this book in teacher terms because I first learned about it in an educational context, but from a pure reader standpoint, I thought it was a good coming-of-age tale if you're interested in historical fiction.

Author Profile - The Poetry of Sonya Sones

When you think of poetry, what do you normally think of? Do you think of it telling a story? Probably not. While much of the poetry we come across concerns itself with creating a single image or communicating a specific feeling, there are authors out there who use their skill with poetic verse to create a larger story.

Sonya Sones is one of these talented authors who have perfected the art of creating a novel out of poetry. Give her a try, even if you think you don't normally enjoy poetry.

Something for the Younger Teens

Middle School: How To Deal by Sarah Miller, Alex Stikeleather, Sara Borden, Maria Valladares and Miriam Yelton
Learn the ins and outs of middle school with five girls who have lived through it, and lived to tell the tale.

Author Profile - The Books of Gordon Korman

From This Can’t Be Happening at MacDonald Hall to Son of the Mob, Gordon Korman has been making me laugh for years. I also always enjoyed the fact that he was first published when he was a teenager. Read more about Gordan Korman's books at All Info About Teen Reading.