Genre: Printz Award Winner

Ratings: 5Q 4P

This graphic novel creatively intertwines three stories of Chinese American culture and life, told in alternating chapters. One story is that of Jin Wang, a first generation Chinese American, who is just trying to make it through junior high.   Jin is sometimes picked on at school because of his ethnicity. He manages to successfully score a date with his crush, only to be told by her friend that he shouldn’t ask her out again, because she needs to be careful of who she hangs out with. The second story is that of  the Monkey-King, a monkey who sets out to be a master of Kung Fu  in an attempt to lose his “monkey-ness.”  The last is the story of Chin-Kee, a character who epitomizes the Chinese stereotype and is constantly embarrassing his white American cousin Danny.  In the last chapters of the book the three stories come together to form one story, a story in which Jin realizes he is who is:  a Chinese American.  This is ultimately a story of not being afraid to be who are, and learning to embrace your cultural heritage, even in the face of racism. Despite it’s seeming simplicity, this quick, easy read deals powerfully with the deep and complex issues of racism in America. As a graphic novel, the fun, vibrant, and often times humorous illustrations both effectively contrast and compliment the serious topics discussed, encouraging readers to really think about what’s happening.

Others should enjoy reading this story as much as I did. It is entertaining, cleverly written, and filled with fun, colorful, and creative illustrations.  The coming together of three stories is a pleasant surprise that adds a new and unexpected dimension to the story. That is the charm of this book, it looks so simple but is full of so much depth.  The story of the monkey king introduces readers to a traditional Chinese fable, exposing readers to the culture and values of Chinese Americans, while the story of Jin reveals the struggles first generation Americans endure, and Chin-Kee…. well, that story does something fascinating. Chin-Kee is absolutely hilarious. It’s not because the stereotypes are funny, but  rather through the story and illustrations, the author is able to reveal just how outrageous and inappropriate American  stereotypes of Chinese are that their utter ridiculousness becomes funny. The strength of American Born Chinese  is that the author is able to both subvert and appropriate those stereotypes, and at the same time show just how hurtful they are.  Youth will be drawn to that artwork in this story, as it is looks similar to popular cartoons that appeal to this generation.  They will also likely be drawn to the themes of fitting in.

Age Recommendation: Junior High/ Senior High. This story deals with topics like fitting in and, beginning to date, which young teens will easily relate to. The Illustrations will also appeal to a younger generation. But there is something to gain in this book that also makes it appropriate for senior high school students as well.

Cover Art: The cover art of this  book features traditional brilliant Chinese colors, with of bright yellow background and bright red text. There is an illustration of a young boy, holding a transformer. The art is appealing to teens because it is bright and vibrant, and easily catches the eye. The image of the young boy, of whom we only see half a face, captures curiosity.  However it is the image of a little boy’s face, which may cause teens to think it is a book for kids.

Steve Harmon is a 16 year old African American boy. He is a student, likes film, and wants to appear tough to the older Harlem boys in his neighborhood.  He is also on trial for felony murder. He is accused of being the lookout in a drug store robbery that left the clerk dead. Steve, the narrator, takes us through the whole trial from his perspective. Steven feels that he isn’t living in reality, and that his life feels more like a movie. So he decides to record his trial in his notebook in movie script format. Most of the book is written in this script format. Occasionally Steve records his thoughts as though writing in a journal. Steve’s movie script details all of the court proceedings, from opening arguments and questioning of witnesses, to closing arguments and finally, his verdict of innocence. The script format that Myers chose to write the story is unique, but some readers may not enjoy it. Younger readers may have difficult with the court Jargon. The style of writing will not appeal to all readers. Teen readers might like this new way of storytelling the book offers, others may just find it difficult or annoying.  I personally liked the format. It adds a surreal aspect to the story, as if, like Steve wants it to be, the trial is not reality.  But by pairing this with Steve’s his journal entries, Myers always bring us back to the tough, serious reality that Steve is a human being whose life is on the line.  Myers does an excellent job of telling the story. He provides us with the perspective of a 16 year old, all while making the trial and dialogue of the lawyers extremely accurate and realistic. He also builds suspense as we await the verdict of Steve, making this a book hard to put down.

Myers offers an interesting and complex book that asks readers to examine perspective, truth, and people’s motivations for their actions. This is the strength of Myer’s writing. We don’t really get to know Steve Harmon as a character. Through the trial we get the evidence for and against him. From Steve, we only get what he offers readers about himself. Through his personal observations, we know how scared, frightened, and anxious Steve is about his future. Myers never takes readers to the night of that robbery to reveal what really happened. We don’t know who is lying and who is telling the truth. Myers leaves it up to the readers’ to judge the character, and the events, just as the jury does. The movie format adds another layer to the truth in this story. Is Steve’s script accurate? Did he edit anything out? Did it really end the way Steve says it ends? Through this book, Myers asks readers to be jury, and shows teens how much more complex the court system is than it may appear to be. Making a decision about someone’s guilt is never black or white.

Age Recommendation: Junior High/ Senior High

Cover Art: The cover depicts Steve’s mug shot with an orange background. The bright vivid color catches the eye. The image of Steve, a young black male looks out at readers from the cover, inviting teens to learn more about who he is.

Symone loves Antarctica. Everything about it, from the cold to the ice to the snow. She’s obsessed. She is also in love with Titus Oates, a South Pole explorer who died ninety years ago. Sym talks with daily in her head.  Her father has passed away, but fourteen-year-old Sym has a caring uncle, Victor, a fellow obsessed Artic lover and long time friend of her father. Victor takes Sym and her mom on vacation to Paris. But her mother “looses” her passport before they board the train, and the next thing Sym knows she and her uncle are headed south to Antarctica. Symone learns that Victor is searching for something called Symme’s hole, an entrance into another habitable world inside the earth. It’s a discovery that is sure to make him famous.  What follows is a series of betrayals, revelation of secrets, and an intense struggle for survival as Sym slowly learns what her uncle really is. Sym, whose name turns out not to be such a coincidence with Symme’s hole, discovers that her uncle Victor’s  life long quest was what left her hard of hearning as a baby, her father (and several others) murdered by him, and she in a desperate attempt to survive lost in the middle of the white darkness of Antarctica.

This is a story very different from most others that I have read for young adults. Symone faces some issues that all teens face, and others that no one will ever face.  McCaughrean is an extremely talented writer. This is evident in the lyrical language, metaphors, and descriptions she uses that pull the reader in. She expertly weaves historic fact into a seamless fictional story.  The story is told as Sym’s stream of consciousness. Sym, as we discover early on, is a bit mentally off, and this is evident in the way she narrates the story. At times it makes the story very difficult to follow and understand. I reread sections several times trying to get a handle on what was happening. I always felt ad though I was in s ablur while readeing it. Some teens may find this book  difficult to read. Despite this, I liked the way it was written. This style of writing revealed so much about Sym and her character. The pacing in the story is a bit slow, and at times the struggles Sym endures seem to be never ending. Teen readers may become bored with the lack of action and the continual descriptions of what else….snow and ice. There is not a whole lot that young readers, or any reader for that matter will relate to in this book.  The plot, writing, and slow revealing of secrets is what will pull readers in. I personally really enjoyed the journey of discovery that McCaughrean took me on, but others may not. This isn’t the book for everyone, but it is, nonetheless an excellent piece of literature in my view.

Age Recommendation: Senior high. An older audience may best appreciate the complexities in this story.

Cover Art: The book cover is white, with the pale, blue eyed image of girl’s face looking out at the reader. The face is very pretty and will attract both boys and girls. Her face is expressionless, but her eyes have an intensity that may make the reader want to know more about this girl and who she is.

On Bobby’s sixteenth birthday, he finds his girlfriend Nia waiting for him on his stoop. She has more than a birthday wish for him; she’s pregnant.  Johnson alternates between telling the story of Bobby’s present and past life. At present he is a father, taking care of his newborn Feather. The past tells Bobby’s story of how he became a father, how he and Nia faced telling their parents, and the making a decision to keep the baby or give it up for adoption. Suddenly, Nia falls ill and is left in a comma. Bobby makes the choice to keep and take care of his baby on his own. His life will never be the same.

In The First Part Last, Johnson offers a look at the difficulties of being a teen parent from the perspective of the father. Bobby is filled with love for his daughter, but also of fear of taking care of her, and of frustration in having his childhood cut short. The situation Johnson presents is realistic. Johnson does an excellent job of making the dialogue and actions of the characters seem natural. Bobby and his friends talk and act like real life teenagers. Teens will easily relate to the characters in the story. Male teens, typically not the focus of a novel about teenage pregnancy, may be interested to hear a male perspective.  In addition to making the story realistic, Johnson gets readers to feel the range of emotions Bobby feels. Readers come to really connect with and understand Bobby, and in the process learn what being a teen parent might be like. What I appreciate most about Johnson’s book is that she really makes this a story about being a teenage father. Johnson takes readers through all the ups and downs of this, from feeding and crying all night to the love a parent feels for his or her child. This is not a story about sex, and it’s not a story about weather having sex is right or wrong. She implies neither. This is a story about love and responsibility. It’s a story about being a good dad.  I think this lesson that Johnson imparts is an important one, given the lack of fathers in many childrens’ lives because of situations like this.

Age Recommendation: Junior/ Senior High. This is a mature theme, but there is nothing sexually explicit.

Cover Art: On this cover, a young African American male sits holding a baby wrapped in pink. The pink captures the eye right away. The young boy is looking not at the baby, but into the distance, and he looks scared. Teens will easily be able to pick up that this is a story about teen parents, a topic that appeals to many teens.

Genre: Printz Award Winner

Ratings: 3Q 4P

Daisy is a fifteen-year-old girl being shipped off from New York to live with her cousins in England, per the request of her new stepmother. When Daisy gets to England she meets her cousins- Osbert, Isaac, Edmond, and young Piper -for the first time.  Then, when her Aunt is away on business, a war breaks out.  Daisy and Edmond, living free of parental control, suddenly find themselves in an illicit relationship with each other. Their days of freedom come to an end when the British army sequesters the house and separates the family. Daisy and Edmond promise to find one another somehow. Daisy and Piper witness terrible events of meaningless death and war as they spend months trying to survive on their own, and find the other half of their family. At last, the occupation ends and Daisy’s father brings her home to safety. When Daisy is reunited with her family years later, Edmond has been shattered by what he has seen in the war. It takes time, and Daisy’s love, to at last bring him back. This is a serious story about love and hope. The bonds the author creates between the characters are what drive this story, not the plot, nor the tales of war. Rosoff allows readers to feel the despair of being separated from the ones you love, and how this is can be driving force in times of crises. In fact, love, it would seem to Rosoff, no matter what kind, is the only thing that really matters in life. Readers will find themselves sincerely hoping that Daisy is reunited with Edmond, even if they are in an illicit relationship. The story is written from Daisy’s perspective through her stream of consciousness. I personally found the run on scentences difficult to follow. I had to pause and re-read sentences again to understand what was happening. This may turn some readers off. Others may like the personal, intimate, feeling it creates.  It was, however, realistic, and easily seemed the way a young girl might talk. Teens might relate to this style of writing.

This is a complex book, as are my feelings towards it. I certainly didn’t dislike it, but there are some things about it that I didn’t like. It is never revealed who the war is between. All we know is that there is an enemy and an occupation. Rosoff may be trying to focus more on her characters experience of the war rather than the war itself, or perhaps she was trying to make it feel as if war can happen to anyone. But I found it bothersome that I didn’t know more about the war, and made the story less realistic to me.  There is also incest in the story, as a sexual relationship develops between cousins. I’m not personally bothered by the presence of incest, but I’m not sure if I feel it really fits the story in the way that it plays out. The relationship develops before the war really begins to touch their lives. I think it would have been more realistic and effective if it developed out of a need to be close to one another in the face of war. Some teens may shy away from a story about incest and be uncomfortable with the topic. Others might be very interested and intrigued to read about a such a taboo subject. I could see how it would both appeal, and not appeal to teens.

Age Recommendation: Senior High. This story deals with mature content of incest and war that younger readers may not be mature enough to appropriate handle.

Cover Art: The book cover is an image of a farmhouse at night. The image stands out against the dark background. However the image is not very intriguing, nor does it speak much to what the story is about.  In fact, the house is kind of cute, and the story is anything but cute. It may attract teen girls.

This unique non-fiction graphic novel takes readers on an illustrated exploration of the constitution. It discusses how and why and the document was originally formed; it explains the three branches of the government and how they work together; and it outlines and explains each of the articles in the both the constitution and the bill of rights. The best thing about this book is that it puts everything into historical context, making the constitution easier to understand. For each section of the constitution there is an explanation for why the government felt the article important, what it means for citizens and how they are affected by it, and how history has been shaped by the presence of that article. In simple, easy to understand language the writers have helped tell the story of how we got where we are today as a nation by following or changing the constitution. The illustrations add a visual element that enhances readers understanding and comprehension.

Probably no teen will ever be so excited to learn about the constitution that they pick up this book on their own. But, every teen has to take government. Every teen has to memorize the articles of the constitution. The appeal of this book to teens will be that it’s a much more fun and entertaining way to learn about government when you have to anyway. In addition, having the information put into historical context helps readers remember it better. I definitely learned new things about the constitution as I read this book, and I was able to better appreciate how the constitution affects my own life.  It really brought the document to life. The only weakness of this book is that some of the illustrations are a bit odd. For example, to represent the executive branch, the illustrator has drawn a man with the white house as his head. I thought this was just weird. Teens might not be drawn to this either.

Age Recommendation: Junior/Senior High

Cover Art: The bottom of the cover depicts an illustrated  image of all kinds of people of varying ethnicity in line to sign the constitution, while the top depicts red and blue stripes. It certainly looks patriotic. It doesn’t at all look like a textbook. The lettering, stripes, and illustration make it appear edgy. I think the illustrator has done a great job of making this academic subject look appealing to teens.

This graphic novel is a historical fiction story about the Russian space program, and the first living animal to enter space– a dog named Laika.  Laika is an abandoned pup living o in the streets of Russia when she is captured by animal control.  She is then chosen to be one of the dogs that the Russian space program performs tests on. Everyone sees that Laika is special, and Animal Technician Yelena forms a bond with her.  Then, after the successful launch of Sputnik I, the Prime Mister requests that the space program launch Sputnik II in time to honor of the 40th anniversary of the revolution. This time with a living organism. After much testing Laika is the chosen living organism. There is no time to prepare a means of return, so Laika is sacrificed in the name of science. Abadzis tells a very touching and bitter sweet story about this brave little dog. He weaves together connections between characters and events that make a solid, well thought out tale. He gives Laika a sense of voice and character, and readers come to care about her immensely. In the end, Abadzis imparts to his readers a sense that ALL life, human or not, should be valued.

I found this book , though so simple, to be full of emotion. The storyboard and manner in which events are depicted at times greatly enhance the emotional impact of the story. (At the end I had tears in my eyes!) However, overall I did not care for the illustrations. I personally did not like the way Abadzis illustrated the faces of the characters. They were very harsh and at times un-human looking. This made it difficult to appreciate the emotions being shown by the characters.  What I found most intriguing was that Abadzis took care to tell the true story of Laika. Although at the time the Russian Government claimed she survived for days and had a peaceful death, in reality she died quickly from heat exhaustion. I feel that younger teens who really like animals would find this story appealing. Teens interested in history or space would also probably enjoy this story. This isn’t a book for someone who is looking for something that speaks to the teen experience.

Age recommendation: Middle School/Junior High

Cover Art: The cover shows the very cute drawn mage of a dog in the snow, with a shuttle launching behind it. The colors are not bright but they are bold. Younger teens who like animals would definitely be drawn to the cover.

Greg has started keeping a journal.  Cause his mom is making him. He’s a typical middle school boy whose chief concern is thinking only of himself.  In his journal Greg writes down the events of the day, his thoughts, and some snappy line drawings to best illustrate the situations he gets in. He chases little kids with worms, joins the safety patrol to get out of forty minutes of Algebra, gets grounded for torturing his little bother, gets the worst Christmas presents ever, and his best friend Rowdy is pretty much only good for playing video games. Then one day, Greg lets Rowdy take the blame for something he did. It nearly ends their friendship. Luckily, Greg is able to stop being selfish for just long enough to stand up for Rowdy and make it up to him.

Kinney’s writing and cartoons in Diary of a Wimpy Kid are pricelessly hilarious. What I like so much about this book is that Greg’s actions seem like entirely plausible things a young middle school boy would do. Kinney has tapped into the mind of young boys, and they will most certainly get a kick out of reading this book. Each diary entry is a little vignette about Greg’s life. The cartoons Kinney includes in nearly every entry fantastically compliment the story and add so much to its humor and quality. They are  simple line drawings that are easy to read and take in.  Kenny writes in a relaxed, non-formal, and easy to read manner that should appeal to young teens. The format of short journal entries, each working independently and together as a whole, make it read like a compilation of short stories. This may be very attractive to readers who may have a shorter attention span.  The unique look of the book itself should be appealing to teens.  It looks like a real journal, with lines on the paper, printed in a font that resembles handwriting. As a 23 year old female, I personally loved this book at thought it was hilarious, clever, and 100 percent entertaining. I can only imagine how much a 12 year old boy would love it.

Age Recommendation: Middle School. The humor in this book is probably best enjoyed by this age group.

Cover Art: The cover is a cartoon line drawing of Greg, looking slumped over and frowning, indicating how miserable his middle school life is. The posture and image of the character are humorous. Kinney has created a distinct look for his character, and any kid that ‘s familiar with the series will immediately recognize it.

Young Alex Rider’s uncle and guardian, Ian, was recently killed in a car accident. Alex never really knew his parents, and his uncle was always busy working for the bank. But when Alex’s uncle Ian dies, his things are repossessed and strange men attend the funeral. Alex starts to wonder about his uncle, and if he really was a banker. Soon Alex discovers his uncle was a spy, and that Ian had secretly been grooming Alex to become one as well. The agency Alex’s uncle worked for offers him a job. He is to spy on computer genius Darrius Sayle, who is planning to place a model of his new super computer “Stormbreaker” in every school in the U.K.  Alex soon learns that the Stormbreaker’s true purpose is to release a deadly virus, and he must do everything in his power to stop it.

This is an intriguing story with non-stop action from the beginning. The plot will certainly appeal to teen boys- who doesn’t want to be a teenage spy, play with cool gadgets, and drive fancy cars all while saving the world? Unfortunately, while the story itself is very interesting, the graphic adaptation is lacking in the substance and quality writing that it needs to make this a good story. The pacing is rushed, things are reveled to quickly, and the dialogue and characters underdeveloped. The illustrations, on the other hand are very well done. They are bright, colorful, and have an anime quality that many younger boys will find appealing. They carefully depict the action of the story, using uniquely shaped panels to imply action, provide close-ups, and create suspense. This is a fun, easy read, but I’m sure the 2000 novel is a more quality read than this graphic adaptation.

Age recommendation: Middle School

Cover Art: The cover is bright red with the cartoon imge of Alex Rider, looking serious and ready to fight.  The cover indicates that the book will be action packed. It has an anime quality that will appeal to teens interested in this genre.

Jonas lives in a perfect world. It’s a Utopian community where everything is orderly, everything is predictable, everything is safe, everyone is honest, and there is no pain. And there is no pain because there are no choices and no feelings. Those living in this perfect community are placed with a spouse, chosen by the elders. They are placed with children, one boy and one girl each, also chosen by the elders. Careers are chosen by the elders. They must take a pill that suppresses sexual feelings. And when they become old, they are “released,” or killed.  At 12, Jonas anxiously awaits to learn what career has been chosen for him. He is given the honor of becoming the community “Receiver.”  He will meet with elder called “The Giver,” and this man will transfer to him all the memories of generations past. This way, the community may rely on the receiver for wisdom without having to carry painful memories themselves.  As Jonas begins to receive the memories he begins to change. He can see color. He can feel feelings, both wonderful ones like love and terrible ones like pain. Jonas likes feeling and experiencing all the world has to offer. He likes it much more than living in his safe community. Together, The Giver and Jonas plan an escape that will restore the capacity to feel to all the community members.

Lowry has written a 1984 of sorts  for a younger audience. While this theme of government control and suppression has been prevalent in literature for sometime, it has not, it seems to me, been present in children’s literature. Lowry introduces young readers to the idea that government and authority may not always have the right answers. She does it in a way that uses easy to read language and an easy to follow plot. She also is careful to build a sense mystery and suspense by slowly revealing certain aspects of Jonas’ character, and certain aspects of how the community is run. For example, we know that Jonas has an ability to see things, something others can’t see. We eventually learn, to our surprise, that this thing is color. Lowry keeps readers interested this way. She also makes Jonas a believable twelve year old boy. His dialogue and thought process are easy for younger readers to understand and relate to.  Jonas’ character may not appeal to older readers, who want to relate to an older main character.

Age Recommendation: Middle School

Cover Art: A black and white photo of an elderly man’s face, worn with wrinkles and a long beard looks longingly at a small image of trees. The face seems to hold pain and mystery. The face is very appealing to me. I look at it and want to know more about this man who seems gentle but pained. The black and white makes sense given that color plays an important role in the story.