Reporter's Review: Lucky Breaks, by Susan Patron

Atheneum, 2009
Overall Grade: B

Lucky is about to celebrate her eleventh birthday—when, she anticipates, she will become intrepid. But her intrepidness is not challenged until a girl named Paloma comes to town…and Lucky promises that she won’t get them into any trouble. In trouble and out of it, Lucky learns the value of friends, the meaning of family, and other small lessons with big meanings.
Lucky Breaks was a sweet, easy-to read story, with absolutely adorable, huggable characters. It is, however, a book for readers who shy away from plot—not until page 125 does any conflict develop, and it is quickly resolved with a few heartfelt conversations. Lucky’s voice is unique, but one wonders if it wouldn’t be more so with use of first-person-narration; often the author’s voice steps in, sounding very adult, and distracting the reader from the story.

Literary Quality: B
Plot: B-
Voice: A-
Originality: A-
Descriptive Ability: A+
Humor: n/a
Illustrations: n/a
Believability of Characters: A
Believability of Situations: A
Overall Reading Enjoyment: B-

Possibly objectionable topics*: language , including: one mild curse, mention of a male body part (should we say, again?), and bathroom humor referring to a burro.

Reporter's Review: Princess of the Midnight Ball, by Jessica Day George

Bloomsbury, 2009 (published in Britain in 2008)
Overall Grade: A-

Galen is a young, parentless soldier returning from a recently-ended war to work as a palace gardener, and Rose is the eldest of twelve motherless princesses under a curse. Coincidentally (or maybe not), after the two meet, their lives begin to be filled with excitement and danger; the sorcerer king who has cursed the princesses to dance with his half-human sons every third night grows more demanding, the princesses’ father grows more worried, and a witch-hunter with a lust for hangings grows more suspicious. Galen determines to save Rose and her sisters, though others have tried and died. But they weren’t Galen, and they didn’t have his help: a little magic, a lot of ingenuity, and a heart full of true love.
Jessica Day George’s Princess of the Midnight Ball is an exciting retelling of the Brothers Grimm’s The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Perhaps because the original story already has so much depth and completeness, George’s plot is not as original or clever as some other recent masterful fairy tale retellings. However, it is a beautiful rendition of an already beautiful folk tale, and the characters are given personalities that make the story personal as well as intriguing.

Literary Quality: A-
Plot: B+
Voice: A-
Originality: B+
Descriptive Ability: A
Humor: n/a
Illustrations: n/a
Believability of Characters: A
Believability of Situations: A
Overall Reading Enjoyment: A

Possibly objectionable topics*: sorcery and curses

Reporter's Review: Soldier's Secret, by Sheila Solomon Klass

Henry Holt, March 2009
Overall Grade: A-

Deborah Sampson never had any desire to be a man; but when her family abandons her and her country needs her, she determines to do everything she can to be able to fight like a man. She enlists in the army to support General Washington in the War for Independence, disguising herself and battling as a young man—and fooling everyone for over a year.
In Soldier’s Secret, Sheila Solomon Klass does an admirable job of translating Deborah’s true story to an entertaining and accessible novel for young readers. She brings historical details vividly to life, and will give readers an understanding of colonial life they will be hard-pressed to find elsewhere, illuminating the daily lives both of a woman and of a soldier.

Literary Quality: A-
Plot: A-
Voice: A+
Originality: B
Descriptive Ability: A-
Humor: n/a
Illustrations: n/a
Believability of Characters: A
Believability of Situations: B+ (The romance plot seems, at times, unbelievable)
Overall Reading Enjoyment: A

Possibly objectionable topics*: mild language; some mention of inappropriate behavior mentioned among soldiers; frank discussion of feminine topics related to Deborah’s disguising herself as a man; war-related violence.

Reporter's Review: The Season, by Sarah MacLean

Scholastic, 2009
Overall Grade: B

Seventeen-year-old Lady Alexandra Stafford (a.k.a. Alex) wants nothing to do with the demands of her first London Season in Regency England—in particular she wants nothing of what her mother sees as the primary point of the season: finding a husband. She is sure she will be bored to death by the countless young earls and dukes who care for nothing but her title and her good looks. However, the season turns out to be anything but boring as she faces some dangerous prospects: discovering a traitorous spy, solving a murder, and finding true love.
Sarah MacLean has a clear eye for unfolding both plot and a love story, and The Season was both exciting and romantic. It never felt completely true to the era—the language often seemed modern and the main characters’ ideas and ideals at times seemed imposed upon them by a member of the modern world.
However, the intriguing plot and clear voice made the story quite enjoyable—and if you love lush descriptions of period dresses, you should read The Season at least once.

Literary Quality: B
Plot: A
Voice: A
Originality: B
Descriptive Ability: A-
Humor: B
Illustrations: n/a
Believability of Characters: C
Believability of Situations: B
Overall Reading Enjoyment: B

Possibly objectionable topics*: mild language; kissing (but this is Regency England we’re talking about…you don’t really have to worry); some violence and possibly scary political intrigue

Reporter's Review: A Kiss in Time, by Alex Flinn

Harper Teen, 2009
Overall Grade: B

When Princess Talia meets her fate and touches a spindle on the eve of her sixteenth birthday, she falls into a deep sleep—like, 300 years deep. She wakes up to the kiss of a seventeen-year-old American tourist Jack—and he’s the only person more surprised than she is. When her father blames her for the country’s deplorable state, Talia flees with Jack to America, to face his fears, fight against the dangerous fairy who cursed her, and find love along the way.
A Kiss in Time was a creatively thought-out story, with many humorous moments and some good points made from something as small as the ridiculous societal views of beauty to something as grand as the universality of love or the power of forgiveness. Unfortunately, much of the character development didn’t ring true, particularly in the case of the male protagonist, Jack. It often felt as though in an attempt to create a “realistic modern guy,” Ms Flinn reverted to the stereotypical romantic-chick-flick version of a guy who has a lot of growing up to do. It was hard to believe that someone with such a depraved nature as Jack begins with could actually develop into a chivalrous, selfless young man by the end—and, frankly, portraying him as better than the average guy was rather insulting to young men in general. However, the story can be enjoyed for its interesting plot and funny depiction of what would happen if two cultures, three centuries apart, suddenly converged.

Literary Quality: B
Plot: A
Voice: B
Originality: A
Descriptive Ability: B
Humor: A-
Illustrations: n/a
Believability of Characters: C
Believability of Situations: B
Overall Reading Enjoyment: B

Possibly objectionable topics*: kissing (not intense); inappropriate touching (viewed as wrong); underage drinking (viewed as normal); mild language; objectification of women

Reporter's Review: Just One Wish, by Janette Rallison

Publishing house/date: Putnam, 2009
Overall Grade: B+/A-

Annika Truman has to do something when her six-year-old little brother faces a surgery for a brain tumor—she is used to being the best at everything she does, knowing just how to read people and get what she wants. Her problem: you can’t read God. When he doesn’t answer her prayers the way she wants, she takes matters into her own hands—matters involving a pretend genie, an almost impossible wish, a snake, some bunnies the LA Lakers…and getting the famous TV star who plays Robin Hood, her brother’s hero, to visit him. Through the course of a Hollywood-worthy (and very crazy) adventure, she learns that sometimes it’s only when you lose control and things go wrong that you can find life’s most valuable treasures.
Just One Wish was a quick, entertaining read that is nonetheless very poignant and thought-provoking. While the situations are often a little too ridiculous to be believable (if you stop and think about them), the characters are vivid and true to life, providing a nice balance and depth to what would otherwise be a typical teen plot.

Literary Quality: B
Plot: A-
Voice: A
Originality: B
Descriptive Ability: A-
Humor: A
Illustrations: n/a
Believability of Characters: A+
Believability of Situations: B
Overall Reading Enjoyment: A

Possibly objectionable topics*: character suffering from cancer and facing possible death; kissing; very vague innuendos

Special Topic: “Yolenisms,” she said with a sigh, “Yolenisms.”

What is a Yolenism, you ask?
Since time immemorial, authors have been plagued with the near-impossible task of toeing the line between true drama and melodrama. To put it simply: Not enough drama = boring. Too much = sap.
Perhaps the most difficult place in a book to create and maintain drama is the dreaded chapter ending, extended to the even more dreaded book ending. Those last few lines before “THE END”—they have to be meaningful, send shivers down the reader’s spine, leave us sighing with satisfaction at the perfect conclusion.
Unfortunately, when faced with this hurdle, even some of the most-respected authors have fallen into a trap: the repeated phrase trap, which simulates the feeling of drama without actually creating any. For example: “Can you end this chapter dramatically, author?” “I can try,” she said, gritting her teeth with determination. “I can try.”
If you pay attention, you’ll be surprised how often you see this pattern emerging in books and movies—as mentioned, pay close attention to the end of dramatic scenes. And you’ll be more surprised by how little you see it in real life. Like, probably, never. (Unless you count those English professors who go around in patched tweed jackets as real life…you might hear it from them…)
Calling the repeated-phrase-trap a Yolenism is a little nod to a very well-known author who is herself susceptible to this pitfall…her early books, in particular, are full of examples and will provide a nice smile on a rainy day if you go looking for them. It’s somehow encouraging that someone that famous and prolific can still make mistakes—so take heart, my friend.
Take heart.

Reporter's Review: The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg, by Rodman Philbrick

Overall Grade: B
Blue Sky Press, 2009

Well, it seems war is a popular theme for children’s books in 2009, and Rodman Philbrick’s The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg is waving the flag on the Civil War front. The title character is a twelve-year-old orphan living with his older brother and cruel uncle-in-law in a little town in Maine. But when his brother is illegally sold as a replacement for a rich draftee to the Union Army, Homer must rise to the occasion and be the man of the family. He runs away to save his brother, and there his adventures begin.
While Homer’s adventures are worthy of a Mark Twain short story (perhaps we could throw in a couple jumping frogs?), they are nonetheless moving. The horrors of the Civil War are related with laudable attention to the sensibilities of the time and the narrator’s unique personal voice.
Note must be made that while this was certainly a thoroughly researched historical novel, it does contain one or two glaring anachronisms in speech. In addition, the dialect is perhaps a little overdone at times, and the author seems slightly prone to use of overdramatic phrases. Nonetheless, a very entertaining and enjoyable read that is sure to be devoured by boys and girls alike.

Literary Quality: B
Plot: A-
Voice: A-
Originality: B
Descriptive Ability: A
Humor: A
Illustrations: n/a (Although the cover…! Our condolences to the author…)
Believability of Characters: B+
Believability of Situations: B-
Overall Reading Enjoyment: B

Possibly objectionable topics*: many gory war details; child abuse/neglect

What should I read? Help me!

I'm having a hard time finding new books (published in 2009) that meet the following criteria:
1) I haven't read it already!
2) It's YA or Middle Grade
3) My library system actually has a copy!
Either way, I seem to be having a hard time finding any lists of new books, so until I can get to a big bookstore...can anyone recommend good titles?
Please?
And does anyone know any sites that list new releases? I've kind of gotten stuck looking at Newbery and Printz prediction sites, most of which don't really get buzzing until later in the year.

Reporter's Review: Heart of a Shepherd, by Rosanne Parry

Overall Grade: A
Random House, January 2009

Ignatius (known as “Brother”) Alderman is twelve years old and the youngest of five brothers who work on a cattle ranch with their father and grandparents. Brother has never been quite the same as his brothers—three of whom are in the military (like their dad) and all of whom are tougher ranchers than Brother thinks he will ever be. But when his dad’s army reserve unit is deployed to Iraq, Brother is left to be the man of the house with all his brothers away with army training or college or military high school. He handles the conflicts and dramas of ranch life with courage and hope, and eventually finds his calling in an unlikely way.
Heart of a Shepherd was a believable, moving story told by a talented new author who brings grace and tangibility to her words. Rosanne Parry brings the experience of a young rancher to life so realistically that as a reader you can practically smell the horse sweat and see the stars in a clear mountain sky. This story is full of drama and emotion, handling difficult issues with a sensitive and credible touch.

Literary Quality: A
Plot: A
Voice: A
Originality: B
Descriptive Ability: A
Humor: n/a
Illustrations: n/a
Believability of Characters: A+
Believability of Situations: A+
Overall Reading Enjoyment: A+

Possibly objectionable topics*: injury of secondary character in a war, death of secondary character

Reporter's Review: Peace, Locomotion, by Jacqueline Woodson

Overall Grade: B
Putnam, 2009

Lonnie Collins Motion (a.k.a. Locomotion) lives in a foster home with a kind woman named Miss Edna and her older son Rodney—they wait anxiously for news of the other son, Jenkins, who is away fighting in Iraq. Locomotion writes daily to his little sister Lili in her own foster home, telling her of his longing for Peace and of the difficulties at his home when Jenkins returns depressed, panicky, and missing one leg.
Being unfamiliar with the first book about Locomotion puts us at a disadvantage to review this one—but reviewing it as a literary whole on its own, it wasn’t particularly impressive. So many wonderful things have been said about Ms. Woodson’s writing that the plot, style, and overall character development in this book were disappointing. It was okay, mind you, just not the stunning piece of literature we expected. The plot was very predictable and often borderline unbelievable and it was hard to picture the main character as a real twelve-year-old boy.
Finally, it was bothersome to see the one-sided view the author presented of the war. While war is certainly always an evil, it hardly seems fair to use such didactic phrases as “nobody should be over there fighting,” or, “it wasn’t a good war…we didn’t need to be in it but we were” without presenting any alternate viewpoint. Really, there’s no such thing as a good war, is there? And no one wants to see people get hurt and die in battle. But many Americans, many soldiers especially, believe that we do “need to be in it” and are fighting for that conviction to get them through the horrors of their daily life. To completely overlook this or any alternate point of view seemed unbalanced and read almost as propaganda, even to someone who generally agrees with the author’s opinion.

Literary Quality: B
Plot: C
Voice: A-
Originality: B
Descriptive Ability: A
Humor: n/a
Illustrations: n/a
Believability of Characters: B
Believability of Situations: B
Overall Reading Enjoyment: B

Possibly objectionable topics*: mild language, injury of secondary character in a war