Reading Abounds

Title: Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow Author: Susan Campbell Bartoletti Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 137945 Description: Gives voice to the youth of Europe who were faced with choosing between indoctrination into the Nazi party or being targeted as undesirables and how they dealt with the consequences at the end of WWII. ***Newberry Honor Book*** Rubric Rating: Level 3: Laud It Why I Read It: I like books about history and this seemed like a good nonfiction book about this time period.  On quick scan it didn't seem to dense or overwhelming. Lori's Notes: Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler's Shadow is an amazing non-fiction account of 12 children and teens living in Germany during the indoctrination of the Hitler Youth and the rise of Adolf Hitler.  As a student one learns about the causes of war, dates of significant battles, and the horrible tragedy that is the aftermath.  One is often left to wonder how such tyrants gain power in a civilize...

Title: The Game (Previously Titled: Invitation to the Game) Author: Monica Hughes Perma-Bound Cat#: 157695 Description: An adventure/survival story set in the future as teenagers are either assigned jobs or unemployed status when they graduate from high school. *** Canadian *** Rubric Rating: Level 2: Like It Why I Read It: I was looking for a dystopian novel by a Canadian and this book was enticing.  I also read some of Hughes' other books and quite liked them. Lori's Notes:  After being educated in a government school, Lisse and seven of her friends end up as "unemployeds" living in an inhospitable "DA" (designated area).  When they hear about "the game" they do everything they can to get invited.  A good read but further explanation as to some of the book's issues would have gone a long way, for example: Why couldn't the government get rid of the robots after the population rebounded?  Despite the number of questions I h...

Title: Breaking Stalin's Nose Author: Eugene Yelchin Perma-Bound Cat#: 56148 Description: 10-year-old Sasha is painfully disillusioned about life in Stalinist Russia when his father -- the best Communist he knows -- is arrested. Rubric Rating: Level 4: Love it Why I Read It: The trim size of this book was smaller than normal and a quick flip through the book made it look like a quick read. Lori's Notes: A fantastic and fast-paced read taking place over just two days.  10-year-old Sasha's story begins with his letter to Stalin extolling the ruler's leadership. However, when his father is arrested (because his neighbour wants their larger apartment) Sasha sees communism as something entirely different.  The treatment of the children, once ostracized by the communist regime, is awful and their treatment by teachers and other students disgraceful.  A heart-wrenching story made more powerful through the use of graphite illustrations throughout the text. Re...

Title: Little Brother Author: Cory Doctorow Perma-Bound Cat #: 26651 Description: After being interrogated for days by the Department of Homeland Security in the aftermath of a major terrorist attack on San Francisco, California, seventeen-year-old Marcus, released into what is now a police state, decides to use his expertise in computer hacking to set things right. ***Canadian*** Rubric Rating: Level 3: Laud it Why I Read It: This book was recommended by an associate. The cover didn't really appeal to me, so I may not have picked it up on my own. Lori's Notes:   Set in the near future, Marcus and his friends; Darryl, "Van," and "Jolu," skip school to participate in the geo-game "Harajuku Fun Madness."  Unfortunately, the teens find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time - the vicinity of a terrorist attack.  To make matters worse, while trying to get into a fall-out shelter, Darryl is stabbed by someone in the crowd.  I...

Title: Egghead Author: Caroline Pignat Perma-Bound Cat#: 33352 Description: Three teens struggle to find their way through life with a bully. ***Canadian*** Rubric Rating: Love 4: Love it. Why I Read It: I was looking for some books with Bullying as the main theme and this was by a Canadian. Lori's Notes: Freshman year in high school is not easy for anybody - but it's even worse when you have to put up with a bully, or you're best friends with a bully, or you stand up to a bully.  Devan is Shane's best friend and Shane is a bully.  Devan understands the difficult home life Shane has and knows that he needs a friend to tell him right from wrong.  William is the kid who's just a little bit odd, nicknamed "egghead" by Shane, William just tries to get through school without getting in anybody's way.  And then there's Katie, she likes Devan but doesn't know how he can be friends with someone like Shane.  She's friends with Will...

Title: Fat Vampire: A Never Coming of Age Story Author: Adam Rex Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 44352 Description: After being bitten by a vampire, not only is fifteen-year-old Doug doomed eternally to be fat, but now he must also save himself from the desperate host of a public-access-cable vampire-hunting television show that is on the verge of cancellation. Rubric Rating: Level 1: Leave It Why I Read It: This was all title and cover.  I thought the cover image was fabulous and I was piqued by the humour of the title. Lori's Notes:  Doug is a vampire.  But he isn't the typically good-looking, mesmerizing, adaptable vampire.  He's a socially awkward, geeky, fat vampire.  He is an overweight social misfit who just wants to fit in.  Becoming a vampire just further emphasizes how out of place he is at school and even within his own social group. Sejal, a foreign exchange student (and Doug's crush) exemplifies this same idea having been diagnosed as ...

Title: The Death-Defying Pepper Roux Author:  Geraldine McCaughrean Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 41126 Description: Having been raised believing he will die before he reaches the age of fourteen, Pepper Roux runs away on his fourteenth birthday in an attempt to elude his fate, assumes another identity, and continues to try to outrun death, no matter the consequences. Rubric Rating: Level 2: Like it Why I Read It: Looking for a book that would appeal to a boy who is a good reader. Lori's Notes: Pepper Roux believes that he will die at the age of fourteen - a prophecy given him by his Aunt Mireille (his jealous spinster aunt who seems to have no redeeming qualities despite her strict adherence to religion).  His parents have raised him but have not become attached to him fearing his early death.  Pepper has not been given very much education but he is a well-mannered, clever young man. Seeking to outwit the angels he thinks are "out to get him," Pepper slips int...

Title: The One and Only Ivan Author: Katherine Applegate (Illustrations by Patricia Castelao) Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 57635 Description: Based on a true story, the book tells of Ivan, a captive gorilla who uses art to bridge the gap between his cage and the outside world. 2013 Newberry Award Winner Rubric Rating: Level 4: Love it Why I Read It: That cover is just adorable.  A quick flip put this book on the top of my reading pile. Lori's Notes: Ivan, a silverback gorilla, lives in a mall zoo with several other animals.  When a young elephant, Ruby, arrives to help increase traffic (and therefore sales) to the mall, Ivan becomes her surrogate guardian.  Not able to communicate effectively with the humans around him, Ivan uses art to help rescue Ruby and in turn himself.  The cast of characters is rounded out with matronly elephant Stella, Bob the stray dog, and Julia the caretaker's daughter who is a kindred artist.  A fantastic fast read. ...

Title: I Am Not a Serial Killer Series:  John Cleaver (Vol. 1) Author: Dan Wells Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 52522 Description: John Wayne Cleaver keeps his obsession with serial killers in check by a set of rigid rules  that he lives by, hoping to prevent himself from committing murder, but when a body turns up behind a laundromat, John must confront a danger outside himself. Rubric Rating: Level 1: Leave It Why I Read It: I'm a fan of mystery novels and this cover was intriguing. Lori's Notes: This book started out really well for me.  The story would have been fantastic and would have earned a level 3 if it hadn't strayed out of the realm of realism.  John Wayne is obsessed with serial killers and thinks he could be one.   He lives in a mortuary with his mother and helps out in preparing the bodies for the funerals.  The family is dysfunctional and I actually liked the dispassion of emotion from John.  He is amazingly cool and calculati...

Title:   The Graveyard Book Author:   Neil Gaiman  (Illustrations by Dave McKean) Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 27007 Description:   Nobody Owens is a normal boy, except that he has been raised by ghosts and other denizens of the graveyard. 2009 Newberry Award Winner 2009 Carnegie Medal Winner Rubric Rating:   Level 4: Love it Why I Read It: I read the first chapter of this novel while standing at a display and couldn't put it down.   Lori's Notes:  After his parents are murdered, "Nobody Owens" is raised in a graveyard by a curious lot of spectres.  You find three different types of character in this novel: the living, the dead, and the undead.  The archetypes of ghosts, vampires, and werewolves are inverted as they become the protectors of this young human boy.  They are not monsters to be feared but Nobody's "Honour Guard" his protectors, teachers, and friends.  The "man Jack", w...