STACKED

books

What to Buy Your Boy

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So now that you know why boys don’t read (and how they do), here’s a quick list of some titles that would be knockout choices for holiday gifts for boys in middle through high school:

Alive in the Killing Fields: Surviving the Khmer Rouge Genocide is a work of non-fiction by Nawuth Keat about his time as a child in war-town Cambodia. It sounds reminiscent of A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, which is another work of non-fiction about growing up in war torn Sierra Leone. What’s appealing about these titles? In both cases, the main character — a real person — sees a problem and acts upon it (or is acted upon, as the case may be). There’s war, there’s action, and there’s a gripping story.


Guardian Of The Spirit (Moribito)by Nahoko Uehashi is a graphic novel but is part of a series that’s laden with mythology and thus more similar to manga. There’s swords, action, and great graphics that’ll keep boys plowing through. And hey, when they finish this one, there are more in the series.

I’ll admit this is a riskier choice, simply because it’s not your standard Gordon Korman book. But either way, it was one of my favorite reads lately. Pop is a story about Marcus, a football player who’s just transferred schools and is having a hard time having the new team give him respect. He decides to take up practicing at the local park, where he meets an old man who is quite a prankster. Turns out that guy is the father of Troy Popovich, football team quarterback and he has a major mental health issue — so Marcus takes it upon himself to connect Charlie with his past and his present. This book has sports and has a character who sees a problem and tackles it full on. Oh, and it’s funny!


Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman is all fantasy. In this story, 12-year-old boys have the opportunity to become an apprentice of the Dragoneyes — men who harness the power of the 12 energy dragons. But there’s a twist this time, with a girl perhaps being chosen instead of a boy. This one’s got a lot of myth and action and a proposed sequel in the works.

I’ve mentioned both of these series before, but it’s not going to hurt to repeat them. Darren Shan is a wildly popular horror writer for both the middle and high school grade boys.

Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare will appeal to the younger set. This book series was just made into a film, too, which will come out after the holidays. But you know, there is also Cirque Du Freak: The Manga . So if they read the books, maybe the manga will appeal to them, too.

Of if they’ve finished that series or are more in the high school set, you should give them The Demonata #1: Lord Loss: Book 1 in the Demonata series. The ninth book in this series just came out, so there is plenty of reading here.

And lastly, here’s something you probably won’t see from me again simply because I am a Very Biased Person and as a librarian, I am willing to admit it. But here it is. I’m going to recommend James Patterson’s Maximum Ride Series. This is a book with adventure and science fiction, both of which have mega boy appeal. But here’s my other reason for recommending Patterson’s teen series — it’s a gateway. Maximum Ride also is a graphic novel series. Two ways to read it.

Oh did I say he was a gateway? Well, he is. He also has another popular teen series called Daniel X. Finished that one already? Well, there’s a new series coming out sure to appeal to boys, too, as well as those who are obsessed with the paranormal: Witch & Wizard. The first book came out this last Tuesday. When those books are finished, Patterson’s got an entire world of adult fiction that more sophisticated readers can dive into (some are a little more risque than others, and some are perfectly suitable). Know why else Patterson’s a gateway? He’ll get kids interested in reading books like Patterson’s, which will open up their worlds to new authors and adventures. As much as he annoys me as a librarian (he’s a shelf hog), he does something for readers and for reading.

There you have it — a short list of books sure to please the boys you are still looking to buy for. Remember to check out Michael Sullivan’s website, too, for more recommendations.

And as promised, here’s a quick bibliography of the research for this series of posts based on Sullivan’s program:

Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman

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Have you ever read a book that, while you’re reading it, you can see how the movie would be filmed perfectly? Not only that, you’re able to pretty much cast it, as well?

Welcome to Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Materials
by Rosalind Wiseman, set to be published in early January of 2010. Does that name ring a bell at all? Aside from this earlier post by Kim, which I’ll get to in a minute, this is the same author who wrote the book Queen Bees and Wannabes, a non-fiction title that was the basis for the hit film Mean Girls starring Lindsay Lohan.

I think that Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials could go in the same direction, and I think that it would also be a hit!

Wiseman’s story follows high school freshman Charlie Healey (whose real name is Charlotte) as she navigates the tricky waters of fitting in, making friends, and figuring out exactly who she is. Charlie’s going to a new high school — one that is just outside her old district — in order to avoid Lauren and Ally, who made her last year in middle school miserable. They got her in huge trouble on a class trip to Washington D.C., with a punishment of not only being suspended from school for a bit, but she also lost the trust of Nidhi, a girl who she really wanted to bond with. What Charlie doesn’t acknowledge is that she’s really going to this high school because she’s intelligent and talented; the new high schooler’s perspective’s a bit different than that of readers, her peers, and the adults in her life.

When Charlie gets to school for orientation, though, she meets and befriends Sydney right away, who is the type of girl you want to hate: tall, thin, beautiful, and genuine. Charlie’s excited to make a friend so quickly, and as we learn, it’s a friendship based on more than adoration. Oh, and that same day she meets Will, who had been one of her best friends for a long time and had moved away. Throughout the book, their relationship develops stronger than when they were friends at a younger age, and this relationship will be tested in many ways throughout their freshman year.

It’s at this point you’re probably thinking this is all set up for the Mean Girls scenario, right? But you’d be wrong. This time, it’s the boys who are mean to one another, and it centers on the ideas around hazing and initiation. Charlie is witness to an awful incident near the end of her freshman year that leaves an innocent person injured, and she must make the decision whether to let it go or to test these relationships she’s built and rebuilt through that tumultuous year. Add in a subplot of reconnecting with Nidhi, becoming a strong writer for the high school’s newspaper, and a fast-paced, engaging writing style, and it’s no surprise that this is the sort of book that will fly off shelves. Wiseman’s entrance into the growing world of young adult literature is certainly a welcome one!

Before delving into what makes this book such a great one, let me step back and critique some issues I had. First and foremost, the new cover is deceptive and is a VERY poor choice. The initial cover — the one my galley has — is the black cover with red bomb. It doesn’t tell you anything about the story, and I think this is important, since this is the sort of story that unwraps itself and doesn’t lend to an easy “telling” on the cover. The new cover, as seen here, pictures a very thin girl kissing a boy. Kissing might be an understatement, even.

There was no making out in this book. There were no girls ogling over boys nor boys ogling over girls. In fact, this was a very clean read through and through; in the instances where crushes or dates were brought up, they were very realistic, awkward, and there was never one mention of their sex drives. I would feel 100% comfortable handing this sort of title to those who don’t want a book that will make them blush, and it’s the sort of books parents wouldn’t mind having a kid read.

But you know? This cover says EXACTLY the opposite. How am I supposed to sell the merits based on a cover that clearly suggests otherwise? Oh, and Charlie makes clear in her prologue that she’s not a stick thin, hair-model type girl. So why is his cover that way?

Back to the good, though.

Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials delves into a topic that really isn’t covered much: boys as the “mean girls.” Throughout the story, we see how boys are mean to one another and mean to girls in a way that is absolutely realistic. There is the picking on, then there’s the tormenting verbally or physically (in this instance, there’s a scene where a group of boys intentionally clap through a class presentation given by Sydney which makes all her hard work look worthless), then there’s the outright harassment and pain infliction. Besides there being retribution for these actions, there’s a lot in the way of discussing what power and influence do in terms of getting people out of trouble for their own actions.

Wiseman, in her end note, talks about how this was a tough book to write and thanked a class of students who helped her edit it. It shows: this book is put together so well and so realistically; I was able to put myself right back into my freshman year of high school and live so many of the same moments that Charlie did. Wiseman’s writing style is smooth and lively. This is a book that teens will relate to — there’s crushing, there’s involvement, there’s sports and discussion of sports in ways that don’t put it down or make it the be-all-end-all of high school, there’s praise of intelligence and confidence, and there’s good kids. You know what else this book has that makes it a knock out?

Good parents.

Almost all of the kids in this story have strong parents who are good influences in their lives, and the kids who don’t, well, you see what happens. Wiseman achieves something here that is rare: good, realistic, dependable parents who the kids actually have relationships with. Another element important to mention is that Charlie is keen to seeing discrimination and understanding enough to know it’s bad without moralizing or making it a crusade. Nidhi is Indian and Hindu, and it’s this fact that causes a lot of the problems arising between Charlie and former friends Ally and Lauren. Wiseman is really spot on with this issue, as she is also spot on with pop culture references that won’t necessarily date this book.

There’s been much buzz lately about books being picked up for film, but I certainly hope this one does. There is plenty of action, great dialog, compelling and realistic characters, and many wonderful messages about being happy with who you are. Charlie is a winning character, and I think that so many teens will find themselves rooting for her the entire time, since they can see bits and pieces of themselves in her. This is a clean read, with a lot to latch on to. Although there is more to enjoy in this book, I think it’s one that will generate a lot of discussion and lend itself easily to a book group.

Here’s a classic high school story in the making!

* Obviously, the publisher was kind enough to send an ARC for me. There was no expectation of a review, much less a positive one.

2010 Morris Nominees

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The Shortlist for the 2010 Morris Award was announced several days ago. In case you are unfamiliar with the Morris Award, it is in its second year and honors a young adult novel written by a newly-published author. This is one of those awards I get very excited about, because it means I am guaranteed to read a number of well-written books by someone I had never read (or possibly even heard about) before.

Last year, I only read two of the nominees: A Curse Dark as Gold, by Elizabeth C. Bunce, and Graceling, by Kristin Cashore. I loved Graceling but just felt that Curse was too slow for my tastes. Because the awards committee doesn’t take my opinion into consideration, though, Curse won the award. I’m not bitter – I know a lot of people who loved it. This year, I hope to read all five of the nominees before the winner is announced on January 18 at ALA Midwinter in Boston. We’ll see if I succeed.

Ash, by Malinda Lo
This one has been on my to-read list since I discovered it’s a retelling of Cinderella with a GBLT twist (and plenty of magic).

Beautiful Creatures, by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
A huge doorstopper of a book advertised as a Southern gothic thriller with plenty of mystery and romance. Normally right up my alley, but I confess the length (626 pages!) is daunting.

The Everafter, by Amy Huntley
The book that has (in my opinion) the most unique concept of those on the list: Teenage Maddy has died, and she finds herself in a place filled with glowing objects from her life. Upon touching these objects, she is able to re-experience parts of that life and in the process unravel the mystery of her death.

Flash Burnout, by LK Madigan
It’s difficult for me to determine what this book is about – most blurbs describe it as a book about a teenage boy with a complicated life that involves juggling two girls: a friend and a girlfriend. Probably the one I’m least excited about.

Hold Still, by Nina LaCour
Kelly read and reviewed this book about teen suicide a few weeks ago.

What do you think of the list? Had you heard of most of these books before the shortlist was announced? I’m actually quite surprised that I had – that was not the case last year.

Double Take, Part XVII

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What I like about this double take is how complimentary the two books would be!

Ending Violence in Teen Dating Relationships by Al Miles is a non-fiction title published by Augsburg Books in April 2005.

Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles — the paperback edition — was published in April 2007 by Flux. Although this isn’t a book about teen dating violence, I think that readers of this title might also be interested readers in the other one (and vice versa).

It’s the same stock image, just cropped differently and with a lighter treatment. When I stumbled across the first book, I instantly identified it as the same image on Elkeles’s title. In both cases, I think the cover is a perfect fit, and I love the wider focus on Leaving Paradise.

What do you think? I actually think the double take here is kind of a cool one.

Where have all the fat girls gone?

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I’ve got a beef with young adult fiction right now, and it’s this — for all we try to do to promote body acceptance, we sure don’t like to show that in our covers. When was the last time you saw a fat girl (or boy – I’m inclusive here) being portrayed in a realistic manner on a cover? I’m loose in defining realistic, too. I just don’t want them being the villain or being the one belittled. Think about all of the covers you see: they’re ALL thin. Every. Last. One. Of. Them. Even if the book doesn’t talk about the weight or shape of a character, the cover makes him/her thin.

Let me give you a little illustration. We can thank the hard-working ALA “Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults” committee for compiling a list of books about body acceptance. I have taken that list and generated a gallery of those covers. For simplicity’s sake and for the sake of not needing to be politically correct here, I am using the term “fat.”

Tell me the trend you see:

Food. There is no fat girl here. The girl in the story is fat.

A rear shot of a boy with his shirt puffed out. We don’t know if he’s fat or not because we don’t see a whole body.

More food and still no fat girl.

Oh, a warning not to eat food. Still no fat girl.

I don’t even know what to say. To be fair, this is an older book with a cover that reflects the art trends of that time. But really? She looks goofy and she’s eating a cookie. You don’t see her body. She’s a floating head. And the skeleton below? Eesh.

2/11/10 Edit: I compiled this post not having read all of these titles. The ones I didn’t read, I tried to glean a sense of the theme from the ALA list. Fat Chance isn’t in the same league as the other titles on this list, but I think that there’s still something to be said for this cover and the EATING aspect. Plus, she has a fat face.

Isn’t this a book where she’s PROUD of being who she is? We get shoes and part of her legs. We don’t know she’s fat.

She’s got a pretty face, but we don’t see that. We see a scale and her feet. Where’s her pretty face and “atrocious body?” I know that the pretty face is meant as something else, but taken in context with the cover, it gives a different impression.

When I pulled this one up, I got excited because we see a fat body! There’s no face though, and quite frankly, she looks goofy and vilified, doesn’t she? Her stance is defensive and unapproachable while the skinny girl next to her is jovial and approachable.

Ahh, we get not only food on this one, but a skinny girl. This is about plus sized modeling and yet, there’s nothing to show that off.

This one, we get a face (which is thin) and a girl in black to cover her “fat.” I don’t think she’s fat at all.

We’re almost there now, except I’d hardly call this fat, either. And we see only her stomach that she’s pinching to make a “fat roll.” Where’s her face? How come we don’t get a full body shot so we can determine she’s really and truly fat?

This butt is curvy — also known as NORMAL. I like this cover, but again, it’s a part of a body rather than a whole person.

Apparently, Lara is so large they couldn’t bear putting an image of a person on the cover. It’s just a shirt dress floating in the wind (thin as air, right?).

I know she’s fat in this one, too, but why isn’t she there? I think that’s a book or something, but regardless, it’s a perfect hour glass shape.

We want good role models for girls to love who they are, but what do we see on every cover? Thin girls or fat girls looking goofy. Why can’t fat girls (and boys!) be on covers like their thin counterparts?

I’m sure you can’t forget the Liar controversy, where the cover featured a white girl when the main character was clearly not white. Why is it we put thin on the cover when the character isn’t (and in some cases is JUST ALRIGHT WITH THAT?).

So I want you to tell me: why can’t we do this? Can you find me a cover with a fat girl who is — how do I say this — a normal, every day person? We know our world isn’t full of perfect bodies and we know we want people to come to love who they are, but if we can’t see it in the world (especially in books that are meant to highlight these said issues) how can we make people believe they are ok?

Edit 9/30/11: This post has generated a lot of discussion recently, and I wanted to lead you to a few follow up posts I’ve written on this subject here and here.