STACKED

books

Display This: A Romp through Europe

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We’re still making our way across the globe, and after stops in the Middle East and in Australia and New Zealand, we’re going to Europe this week. There are so many books that fit — pages worth, in fact — so I’m limiting it down quite a bit to stuff that’s fairly current and primarily not historical fiction. It seems as though most books set in European countries is historical, so it’s impossible to avoid it and it does, without question, have appeal to readers. To further limit my choices, I’m using three books to any given country, since some countries like England and France could be displays all their own. I’ll tell you which country the book’s set in, and as always, I welcome your suggestion for countries that aren’t represented. And if you’d like more books set in Europe, drop a line — I can share my length list with you.

Without further ado:

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins (France): Anna’s got it fine at home, but her dad thinks she needs a new adventure and sends her overseas for her senior year of high school to the city of lights. Anna might be the only person in the world not thrilled to be spending a year in Paris, but a little romance might change her mind.

No and Me by Delphine de Vigan (France): Lou, who lives in Paris, is an extremely intelligent and slightly OCD girl whose school project on homelessness ends up making a huge impression on not just her assignment, but on her life as a whole.

Finding Lubchenko by Michael Simmons (France): Evan’s been commissioned on a fast-paced, action-packed adventure in Paris to find a murderer.

The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti (Germany): When the Nazis begin outlawing anything that’s not issued by them, one brave boy listens to an illegal radio and begins sharing the real news with other German citizens.

Ashes by Kathryn Lasky (Germany): Another story similar to Bartoletti’s about the rise of power of the Nazis and the loss of rights of the German citizens. This time, the story focuses on 13-year-old Gabriella and the loss of her freedom to read what she wishes.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (Germany): A story of the Nazi uprising told through the eyes of Death. A modern classic.

Spain or Shine by Michelle Jellen (Spain): Another entry into the Students Across the Seven Seas series (which include books that do take place in a number of European countries). Elana feels like she’s the lost child among her three overachieving siblings, but a semester in Spain might make her understand who she is a little bit better and understand the role she plays in her family.

Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd (Ireland): This historical mystery takes place in 1981, during the height of troubles in Ireland and Fergus loses his ability to concentrate on school exams with the discovery of a dead girl’s body and his imprisoned brother’s hunger strike.

Why I Let My Hair Grow Out by MaryRose Wood (Ireland): Morgan’s boyfriend dumps her on the last day of school and to cheer herself up, she dies her hair orange and chops it all off. Her parents freak, and rather than ground her, they send her away to Ireland for the summer. During her time in Ireland, she learns a lot about herself and even a little bit about love.

Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison (England): The hilarious first installment of the diary of 14-year-old Georgia Nicholson, wherein she talks about her nose, her cat, and a boy who makes her gaga.

The Knife That Killed Me by Anthony McGowan (England): Paul’s been given a mission by his school’s biggest bully, Roth. When this mission insights a fight, Paul wants nothing to do with it, but he discovers he’s in deep — but he’s also the one with immense power.

The Agency: A Spy in the House by Y. S. Lee (England): Mary Quinn, rescued from an orphanage, is sent to spy school to learn the tricks of the trade. Bonus: this one’s set in Victorian London.

A Golden Web by Barbara Quick (Italy): Alessandra needs to escape the year-long imprisonment her stepmother has placed her under, but being a teen girl in 14th century Italy makes this a little challenging. But using her intelligence to guide her, she does more than simply escape. Based on the true story of anatomist Alessandra Giliani.

Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson (Italy): Clio’s not interested in being stuck on a boat in the Mediterranean during her summer, but this vacation might be one that has a huge impact on the future of her life. Oh, and there is a little romance, too.

Duchessina by Caroline Meyer (Italy): A fictional story of the life of Catherine de Medici. Even though she grew up in a wealthy family, her life was far from easy, especially when she becomes engaged to an aloof and cold boy.

Tamar by Mal Peet (Netherlands): This story about the discovery of one’s heritage begins with a box to teen Tamar, who searches through it and through her country to learn about her grandfather, who played a big role in World War II.

Swede Dreams by Eva Apelquist (Sweden): Another entry in the Students Across the Seven Seas series, this time set in Sweden. Calista’s time in Sweden promises to be exciting, especially since she can finally escape the constant piano playing noise of her cousin Suzanne. Calista’s interested in boys, but the one with whom she’s spending a lot of time with may be the one causing the most trouble.

Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli (Poland): Set in Nazi-occupied Warsaw, this story follows a boy who desires little more than to grow up to become a Nazi. But when he understands the atrocities imparted upon the Jewish people by the Nazis, he might have a change of heart.

iDrakula by Bekka Black (Romania): This modern day take on Dracula not only takes the vampire trope to a different level, but it also incorporates plenty of text messages, emails, and more atypical story telling devices.

The Musician’s Daughter by Suzanne Dunlap (Austria): This historical mystery follows 15-year-old Theresa Maria in the aftermath of discovering her father dead on Christmas and his violin missing. Murder, romance, and music permeate this novel.

The Water Song by Suzanne Weyn (Belgium): A retelling of The Frog Prince.

A Field Guide for Heartbreakers by Kristen Tracey (Czech Republic): Dessy and Veronica end up in Prague with two very different missions — Dessy wants to dive head first into the creative writing workshop they signed up for while Veronica wants to dive head first into European boys. Who ends up ahead?

Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick (Finland): A knock on the door of 15-year-old Sig’s home reveals Wolff — a guy who has some unfinished business with Sig’s father. But the thing is, Sig’s father’s dead and the truth is that Sig may be the one with some unfinished business.

Goddess Boot Camp by Tera Lynn Childs (Greece): So not necessarily set in Greece, this story is the second in the series by Childs that sets Greek mythology in high school. If anyone has any suggestions for books set in Greece, share ’em. Lots of mythology, little set in the country itself.

Thief Eyes by Janni Lee Simner (Iceland): 16-year-old Haley’s mother’s disappeared, and she convinces her father they should go to Iceland to heal from the loss. During the healing, Haley meets a mysterious and gorgeous boy, as well as unravels a saga much deeper than she can imagine.

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetyas (Lithuania): A powerful story that begins in Lithuania and follows a family torn apart during World War II. Lina, her mother, and her brother are separated from their father, and sent to a labor camp in Siberia by Stalin while her father lives in a prison camp. It’s a little known story — thanks Rachel, for clarifying, since I haven’t read this one yet!

Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison (Switzerland): In this story that transforms a “Beast” into a “Beauty,” Beth’s chosen to travel with her choir to Switzerland, where she meets a guy who causes her to question her best friend at home.

Display This: The Middle East

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Continuing with the theme of books set in foreign places, I thought today I’d showcase a few books that take place somewhere totally foreign to most Americans: the Middle East. In my research, I found few books set here that aren’t war related, and it makes me think that that could be a worthwhile niche for a writer. I’d love to read stories about the normal lives of teens in these countries that we really know so little about beyond what our own media tells us.

Again, I’ve limited the books to more recent publications, to one book per author (as some have more than one pertinent title), and to books that are readily available for purchase in the states via store and jobbers. The stories take place primarily in the country, though I’ve made one exception you’ll see shortly. I’ve limited to (mostly) fictional titles with teen appeal or published specifically for that audience.

You’re welcome to borrow my list, and please, if you know any other titles that fit, leave a comment!

Beneath My Mother’s Feet by Amjed Qamar: In Pakistan, 14-year-old Nazia knows she’ll be marrying her cousin Salman and living the traditional lifestyle. She doesn’t have real agency or choice in her life until her father’s injured in an accident and she and her mother must abandon whatever futures they may have had and instead work to bring in an income. Suddenly, Nazia discovers she may be able to do more with her life than she ever thought before.

Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind by Suzanne Fisher Staples: Set in Pakistan, this older (but repackaged) title shares the story of Shabanu and her sister, who are to be married off to a pair of brothers as soon as they’re of the marrying age. But Shabanu loses her future husband and is instead promised to a wealthy landowner instead, and it’s then that family secrets and feuds unravel.

The Sandfish by Maha Gargash: Set in the 1950s, this is the story of 17-year-old Noora who is a fiercely independent woman in the Arabian Peninsula (modern day United Arab Emirates) — something completely against the norms of society. After the death of her mother and the threat of an arranged marriage, she flees. But it doesn’t end well: now she’s back and has become the third wife to an older man. It only gets worse from here when secrets and heartbreak abound.

Where the Streets Had a Name by Randa Abdel-Fattah: 13-year-old Hayaat is driven to return to her grandmother’s ancestral home in Jerusalem in order to collect soil that she believes will save Sitti Zeynab’s life. The problem is the wall dividing the West Bank and the soldiers with their checkpoints, curfews, and other road blocks that won’t permit her to return to the family’s old home. How will they get around it, and what will happen if they do?

Thura’s Diary: My Life in Wartime Iraq by Thura al-Windawi: In this translated diary of a 19-year-old girl during 2003, the year when the war between the US and Iraq raged and Hussein was the enemy to both sides. It’s drawn comparisons to Diary of Anne Frank, and it looks at both sides of the enemy lines.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini: Set in Afghanistan, this is a story about a young wealthy boy who becomes friends with his father’s servant. It’s one rich in Afghan history, both socially and politically. Although originally marketed for adults, it has great teen appeal and of course, there’s a film version as well.

Beast by Donna Jo Napoli: Although this book is not set in the middle east, I wanted to include it because it’s the Persian story of Beauty and the Beast.

Persepolis by Mariane Satrapi: This pair of graphic novels tell the story of Satrapi’s childhood growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. What makes this set of books a knockout is that it’s less about the war and more about her life in Iran. There’s a lot of challenges for Satrapi, including those involving her education and the transition from child to adolescent.

Cry of the Giraffe by Judie Oron: Based on a true story, this is the story of young Ethiopian Jewish trying to make their way back to their ancestral homeland of Israel.

Thunder Over Kandahar by Sharon E. McKay: Tamanna and Yasmine, best friends, are excited to find out their small Afghan town will be getting a school. But it takes little time before their safety and education are put on the line — the Taliban has arrived in town and they threaten to destroy the school and execute the teachers and students. When they find out that Yasmine’s family is Western educated, things only get worse, and the two girls must flee their homes. But what happens if they get separated in the vast mountains of Afghanistan in their quest for freedom?

Sphinx’s Princess by Esther Friesner: Set in Egypt, this story blends real history with a little mythology. Nefertiti is a commoner, but she’s always managed to find herself in interesting situations; not only that, she’s beautiful. Her aunt, Queen Tiye, wants to use this girl to make sure she can keep the power she has in royal society, but when Nefertiti leaves her life as a commoner to enter elite society, she wields plenty more power than she — or the queen — ever could imagine.

Alphabet of Dreams by Susan Fletcher: This historical story is set in Persia (Iran) and follows street beggers Mitra and her little brother Babak. Although they seem like your typical poor, they’re actually the children of wealth and royalty, but their father’s death after a poorly plotted attempt to attack King Phraates means they’ve been exiled. Mitra, though, holds out hope one day they may regain their status in society.

Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick: Matt wakes up in an army hospital in Iraq with a purple heart — the symbol given to heroes. But he doesn’t feel like one remembering that he earned it by taking the life of someone else. A story of war and what it means to be a hero.

How to Ruin a Summer Vacation by Simone Elkeles: When Amy’s estranged father shows up in her life again, she can’t say she’s excited. But it’s made worse when she finds out that she’ll be spending the summer in Israel, away from her best friend, her boyfriend, and even air conditioning.

Display This: Australia and New Zealand

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I wanted to try something a little different for the next couple of months, as we head into the prime of summer reading season prep and planning for librarians. The Cooperative Summer Library Programming theme this year is about world travel, and one of the things I’ve been working on is creating book lists and ideas of stories set in countries outside the U.S. So for our next few Display This posts, we’ll treat you to books that are set in other countries. A couple of notes: these will be limited to books easily found through book jobbers or in book stores, and they are stories which actually take place in the country. I’ve also purposely chosen to include only one title per author, the first book in a series, and I’ve left off authors who may reside in a given country but do not write with a specific setting in mind.

As we travel the world in young adult books, feel free to offer any suggestions you have for additional titles. Likewise, you may replicate this book list as you’d like; just give STACKED credit for creating it.

Let’s start with one of my favorite parts of the world to read about: Australia and New Zealand.

A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley: This Sarah Dessen read alike is a story of friendship and a story of romance. Charlie Duskin, our main character, might also have quite a career in music ahead of her. My full review of this title is here.

Pink by Lili Wilkinson: Ava’s got a chance to reinvent herself, but as she discovers, hiding who she really is puts her in strange situations. She can’t avoid who she is. A great book for readers looking for a LGBTQ book or for readers looking for a book about being true to who you are, no matter what.

Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden (series): A story of survival set after a camping trip among a tight-knit group of friends. This thrilling adventure story will appeal to readers who like fast-paced, action stories or those who want to see the “original” Hunger Games.

A Small Free Kiss in the Dark by Glenda Millard: Australia has dystopia down with this book about a rag tag group of people who are the only survivors left in the world. They must rely on one another, but then things take a turn for the dark.

Up Over Down Under by Micol Ostow and Noah Harlan (S.A.S.S. series): One student goes to Australia and one student goes to America in this installment of the Sisters Across the Seven Seas series. Looking for a clean read for your teens that’s fun and still has romance and adventure? This is a great choice.

Cold Skin by Steven Herrick: In this novel-in-verse, Eddie finds his boring town at the center of a mystery when a girl turns up dead in the local river. Could he be a suspect or is he the one who will unravel the dark secrets lurking in town?

Stolen by Lucy Christopher: A story about a guy who takes his love for a girl a little too far. Of course, you can read my actual review right here.

The Winds of Heaven by Judith Clarke: Clementine and Fan are cousins, but they promise at the end of their summer together to become best friends. Clementine thinks Fan has it all, but the truth is, Fan is lost and searching for something to make her happy.

Beatle Meets Destiny by Gabrielle Williams: Your name happens to be John Lennon and you happen to fall head over heels with a girl named Destiny. Your only problem now is your girlfriend. . . who isn’t Destiny.

Butterfly by Sonya Hartnett: This quiet novel explores what it’s like for Plum Coyle to finally come of age and the value and importance of people and things in one’s life.

The Convicts by Iain Lawrence (series): Tom seeks revenge for his father’s unfair imprisonment in London, but as a result, he’s sent to Australia and being convicted of murder. But there’s much more to await him when he arrives down under.

The Crimes and Punishment of Miss Payne by Barry Jonsberg: Calma and Kiffo know from the second they see Miss Payne enter their classroom, they don’t like her. So they’re going to get revenge, and when they begin their stalking, they learn there’s something much more sinister about their teacher than they ever suspected.

Rose by Any Other Name by Maureen McCarthy: Rose’s life is crumbling all around her. At first, she had it all, but it takes little time for things to change. She’s ready to run away, but she is stopped before she can get too far. A snarky character and a twisting plot will resonate with readers.

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta: A little mystery, a little intrigue, and a whole lot of questions arise over the course of this novel about discovering one’s roots. Also: you might know this book because it won a Printz award.

Does My Head Look Big in This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah: When Amal decides to begin wearing the traditional hijab, she’s suddenly finding herself in a very different spot in school. Can she fit in at school and follow the beliefs she has?

The Year of Secret Assignments by Jaclyn Moriarty (series): Letters, diaries, and journal entries plot this story of three girls who become pen pals with three boys over the course of a school year.

Singing the Dogstar Blues by Alison Goodman: This science fiction is set in a futuristic Australia and follows a group of time-traveling students (and maybe even an alien).

Guarian of the Dead by Karen Healey: A fantasy novel set in and near a New Zealand boarding school that plays upon a number of the Maori legend, mythology, and lure.

The 10 p.m. Question by Kate de Goldi: This quirky novel follows 13-year-old Frankie who has a billion questions about the world and few answers. Most people don’t take him seriously, except his mother — and it’s his mother he has his most worrying question about. Enter a girl who has as many questions and may have an answer to the one he can’t ask the person he trusts most in the world.

Violence 101 by Denise Wright: Hamish’s anger problems land him in a home for troubled youth. But when he arrives at his new residence, a series of events cause him to divert his attitude about everything and dive head first into a rescue mission to save someone in an area where two soldiers have already lost their lives.

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Of course, this is just a sample of what’s available. Many of these authors have additional books that fall into these settings, so those are also worth checking out. Additionally, if you’re able to purchase books outside a jobber or are looking to expand your foreign fiction for teens, there are a number of book sellers in Australia willing to send books overseas — Adele at Persnickety Snark has posted links to a number of those sellers here. If you don’t know where to begin, a few titles looking interesting to me and that have gotten some good reviews and acclaim from other readers include Kirsty Eagar’s Raw Blue, Fiona Wood’s Six Impossible Things, and Cath Crowley’s Graffiti Moon.

Display This: Prom

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It’s early to be thinking about it, but actually, according to The Numerati by Stephen Baker*, Prom Madness begins in January. Dress sales surge at this time of the year. Might be worth considering getting your kids geared up for the trials and tribulations that come with what is heralded as one of the landmark high school events: Prom.

There’s been a surge of prom books lately, so here’s a taste of what’s new and what’s classic in the world of prom lit.

Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg: A remake of the Jane Austen classic Pride and prejudice set in high school and prom plays a big part in the making or breaking of a romance.

Will Work for Prom Dress by Aimee Ferris: This one’s about a girl who has to — you guess it — work to make the money to get her dress. Bonus for Ferris’s book is this rockin’ website where different authors have shared their prom photos and stories. I sense this has potential for additional displays.

Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson: Even though Ashley has no interest in attending prom, she might end up being the one coordinating the whole thing, whether she likes it or not.

Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress by Tina Ferrero: Nicolette was dumped before prom and now all she has to show for it is a dress. What’s a girl to do?

Prom Anonymous by Blake Nelson: Chloe’s going to prom, even though she doesn’t have a date. Will things with her best friends make this a most memorable night for good reasons or bad ones?

Prom Kings and Drama Queens by Dorian Cirrone: Can Emily channel the energy and power of a hurricane sharing her name her senior year of high school? She’ll sure give it a shot. And maybe she’ll finally get a chance with her biggest crush.

21 Proms: This collection of stories share the highs and lows of prom night. It’s by a ton of big name authors.

Prom Nights from Hell: Another collection of short stories, but this one is much less on the realistic dramas of prom and more on the horror and paranormal prom tales.

Prom Dates from Hell by Rosemary Clement-Moore: This installment of the Maggie Quinn series showcases girl wonder battling the evils of high school prom.

Once Upon a Prom series by Jeanine Le Ny: This is a three book series that tells the story of prom from three different girls’ perspectives. And here’s an awesome display idea — when you stack the three books, you have a whole girl (book 2 is her body and book 3 are her shoes). Get your display set up a little differently with this one.

Perfectly Dateless by Kristin Billerbeck: Daisy’s got a countdown of the days left till prom. But with her parents’ strict rules about not dating, will she even get to go? This is a clean read and I believe has a bit of a Christian bent, too, for those who enjoy that genre.

Fat Hoochie Prom Queen by Nico Medina: An all-out brawl-out for who gets to be queen of the prom.

How I Created My Perfect Prom Date by Todd Strasser: This is an alternating perspective story, told through the eyes of the newly popular Nicole and her prom-date-to-be (maybe!) Chase.

Prom Crashers by Erin Downing: Emily falls in love with Ethan. . .then promptly loses his phone number and can’t track him down. She and a group of her friends get busy seeking him out — on prom night of all nights!

This is just a sampling of the number of prom books out there. If you know of any others, share them in the comments. I’d love to see more books with this theme that talk about alternates to prom in a positive light — for the girls and guys who purposely choose not to attend prom and don’t regret it. And maybe those who got a lot of flack about it, too.

* I’ve mentioned how I read a lot of non-fiction, right? And a lot of it is super niche? This one is about numbers and statistics. And I LOVED every bit of it.

Display This: War’s a Hard Road to Travel

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This week, we celebrate Veteran’s Day in the U.S., and what better way to remind teens that what may seem quite removed from them is, in fact, a reality of their lives than with a display of teen fiction about other young people serving or affected by war in some manner. These books focus on contemporary war and the issues therein.

If you have suggestions of other similar titles, share them in the comments and I’ll add them to the display. I am eager for your input on this one because I believe there is a real dearth in this direction, and there is essentially nothing told on contemporary war set abroad or from the foreign perspective. There is also nothing, to my knowledge, featuring a female in the battlefield. I’m not looking for memoirs akin to A Long Way Gone, which are, in my mind, a separate genre all together. Lend me your brains!

Ghosts of War by Ryan Smithson: A memoir of a 19-year-old solider, who made the decision to enter the military after watching the destruction in the wake of 9/11. A take on the reality of serving today, and it’s told through the eyes of a young person to young people.

Things a Brother Knows by Dana Reinhart: When Levi’s brother Boaz returns from a war in a far away country, he is not the same person he was before. This story explores survivor’s guilt and the return to home life for a solider, as well as the adjustments a family makes in the aftermath.

Gigged by Heath Gibson: ROTC cadet J.T. is determined to follow in the footsteps of his father who fought in the Gulf War, but will his living situation and those around him make this dream a reality or unreachable?

Back Home by Julia Keller: Rachel’s dad is back from the war, but he is far from the man she knew before he went. This story is a deeply touching look at post traumatic stress disorder from the perspective of the daughter, and it’s one that in my book talks the kids have been drawn to.

Sunrise over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers: Although Robin’s parents hope he chooses to go to college, his heart is on joining the military. When his unit is deployed, Robin may have to learn to trust people more readily than he’s willing to.

Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick: Matt wakes up in an Army hospital with a Purple Heart pinned to his shirt and the memories of a young Iraqi boy and the weight of guilt may make the honor meaningless to him.

Heart of a Shepherd by Rosanne Parry: 11-year-old Brother has to take responsibilities of ranching and livestock at his Oregon home when his father and brother are called to war. This middle grade novel explores faith, war, and the challenges of being the child of a military family.

Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins: While this story takes place in Burma during one of their wars, including it in a display will heighten the reality of war and military service to today’s teens in America. This is what happens when youth don’t have the opportunities to option out of service.