The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Review 12 (EC)

Brashares, Ann. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Random House Children's Books: 2004. Print

Annotation: A sweet, summer coming-of-age story. A story about the bond of friendship.



Justification for Nomination: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is a necessary read for young women. In our ever increasingly digital world, where technological advances in communication have the ability to simultaneously and instantly connect as well as distance is from face-to-face conversation, this book has value.

Author Ann Brashers depicts these unique individuals and their adventures while in possession of the "magical" pants in very fun and interesting way. Each character comes alive in their dynamic depictions.

The level of friendship-the trials and tribulations they experience as an intimate community- serves as a wonderful model for young women. The healthy, supportive friendships are refreshing without feeling fake or forced.

I recommend this book to middle and high-school age women; and I would nominate it for a Mock Printz as well.

Genre: Coming of Age

Jacob Have I Loved

Review 11 (EC)

Paterson, Katherine. Jacob Have I Loved. New York: Harper Collins, 1980. Print.

Annotation: A young girl's story about finding her place in the world.

Justification for Rejection: One of the biggest draws I have to this book is to its sense of fun and adventure. The protagonist, Louise Bradshaw, or Wheeze, as she is nick-named, has plenty of unique characters surrounding her, and with whom she interacts as she tries to figure out who she is and how she fits in the large-scheme of the world.

From crab fishing, to roaming around the bay-town, to meeting who they believe to be a German spy, Wheeze and her buddy 'Call make the best of their summer days with endless imaginations.

Author, Katherine Paterson does a wonderful job of crafting the characters and plot. Although I might not laud how dynamic the characters are, there is an appeal in their constancy and semi-predictable nature.

There are bits of humor as well as seriousness that balance quite well in this book.

Although I feel this book has many things going for it, it was a fun read. I feel it lacked to reach a certain level to merit my nomination for the Printz Award.



Genre: Coming of Age, Historical Fiction

First French Kiss and other Traumas

Review 10

Bagdasarian, Adam. First French Kiss and other Traumas. Sunburst: 2002. Print.

Annotation: Episodes of youth traumas we all get over...eventually.

Justification for Rejection: If there ever was a book to be described as "short and sweet", First French Kiss is it. Bagdasarian gives us short, sweet, funny, painful descriptions of childhood events. He recounts childhood memories from moving to a new house, his disillusionment with owning his very own gumball machine, to yes, his first make-out session.

The vignettes offer vivid detail with balance of pain and humor. The stories are quite resonant with a wide reading audience--regardless of age or gender.

Although the book offers bits and sparks of humor and emotion, for the most part, it falls flat. The language often feels to simple, and boring. The randomness of the stories is also disruptive. Understood, memory does not work in an entirely linear fashion; however, this is where the craft of editing comes in to "save the day". I feel this book could have benefited from a little more structure or storyline.

Perhaps this book offers exactly what you are looking for if that is a light, quick read, where you can pick and choose chapter titles that interest you. Although, even those, I'm afraid, don't succeed in grabbing much attention.

Like I said: a short, sweet read; not a Printz book.

Genre: Humor

Looking for Alaska

Review 9

Green, John. Looking for Alaska. New York: Dutton Books, 2005. Print.

Annotation: A smart, philosophical teenage journey.





Justification for Rejection: Green's characters sound very authentic and the adventures they take part in are quite fun. The book is a quick read, chaptered in terms of "number of days before" and "number of days after" works to make the book a quick read, as one wants to know what the event is, what leads up to it and what happens after, very crafty on Green's part.

The writing style is crisp, and fresh.

The teen figures present a range of characters from "normal" to "wild" and they do encounter relevant developmental themes of friendship, love, as well as the great quest to finding out "who they are".

I feel the novel, although glittered with philosophical nuggets, failed to make an especially compelling impression to be nominated for a Mock Printz Award.

Genre: Printz, Coming of Age, Realistic/Edgy

The Lovely Bones

Review 8

Sebold, Alice. The Lovely Bones. New York: Little Brown and Company, 2000. Print.

Annotation: Thirteen year-old Susie Salmon tells the story of her after-life and her family's coping with Susie's murder.


Justification for Nomination: Sebold craftily weaves together the story of Susie Salmon's death and afterlife with that of her living family's grieving process. Infused with bits of mystery, periods of intense grief, as well as family love and hope, Lovely Bones, as you can see by the genre descriptor, is difficult to categorize.

The narrator, Susie Salmon tells the story from her home in heaven, with an omniscient perspective. She is able to still observe all that goes on on Earth, including her family and their dealing with Susie's death and the capture of her murderer.

What is so fascinating about the novel is how it puts into perspective, the nature of dealing with such a horrific thing. Amidst the pain felt by the characters, there is a pervasive sense of hope. What keeps Susie "alive" is the fact that she is the narrator, the one telling the story of what happens after her death.

The novel deals with unarguably mature themes: rape, murder, death, grief, sex...However what keeps the novel accessible to young adult readers is that the narrator is a young teen-age girl. This keeps the language accessible, and the perspective relevant for young adult readers. What may be beneficial in terms of digesting the novel would an adult figure with which to discuss the adult themes within.

On several levels, the novel impresses-the language and writing style, the interwoven story-line, authentic, dimensional characters, strongly emotional themes. I strongly support its nomination for the Mock Printz Award.

Genre: Challenged/Censored, Coming of Age, Adult Books for Young Adults, Realistic/Edgy

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

Review 7

Cohn, Rachel, David Levithan. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. Print.

Annotation: Doused in expletives and hard-core punk rock music scenes, a quirky romance stands out among the mass of non-conducive-to-romance situations.


Justification for Nomination: A modern love adventure between two punk-rock enthusiast teens, with similar help-me-get-over-my-ex syndromes proves to be surprisingly romantic, despite unlikely "first spark" in their relationship.

In his attempt to avoid his ex-girlfriend at a punk-rock concert, Nick turns to the girl next to him and asks if she will be his girlfriend for the next five minutes, and make out with him. The girl next to him, Norah, in a mutual effort to avoid the same girl she dislikes for her own reasons, agrees to the idea by pulling Nick to her face. Thus, the relationship begins.

From page one, Nick and Norah wraps you into the fast-paced, intense, music-filled plot. The chapters alternate by being told from the perspective of Nick and Norah. This is a unique story-telling feature that I found highly effective. The readers gets the love-story from both sides of the developing relationship. Although I had reservations with this, thinking I would be hearing the story told twice over, Nick and Norah's version are unique enough to their interpretation of the situations. In fact, this adds to the pacing of the book, as the reader is eager to know how the other party feels about what just happened.

Additionally, the situational and emotional tension make the story an adventurous, fast-paced read. Despite the dirty, smelly punk-rock scene clubs, drunken friends and flipant relationships surrounding them, Nick and Norah maintain a mutual spark of interest in one another that drives them to continue getting to know each other.

I feel the novel may be discredited based on some of the language and some potentially controversial situations. Most of the characters swear and on some pages, profusely. Personally, I believe the language in this novel is particularly authentic, representative of modern teenagers. If I felt the expletives were used for the sake of using them, I may have felt different in terms of my nomination. The same goes for the drunk scenes and minor drug references. What may present itself redeemingly is the fact that the main characters, Nick and Norah, refer to themselves as straight-edge, meaning they don't particularly drink/smoke. The authenticity, along with the overriding romantic, optimistic tone complement the bitter tones.

The novel is a fun, fast-paced read that many modern readers will enjoy, especially those with passion for music and interest in the punk-rock scene. The romance is bitter-sweet, optimistic yet real. It touches on a number of key developmental issues when it comes to figuring out who one is and how one grows in a romantic relationship

Genre: Edgy/Romance

The Body of Christopher Creed

Review 6

Plum-Ucci, Carol. The Body of Christopher Creed. San Diego: Hartcourt, INC., 2000. Print.

Annotation: The townspeople of Steepleton are convinced that Christopher Creed either ran away from home, or is dead. Feeling the guilt of having contributed to the ridicule Creed suffered, Torey Adams and "friends" set out to solve the mystery of where the body of Christopher Creed is.

Justification for Nomination: The Body of Christopher Creed is an excellent example of the young adult mystery genre done well. It contains several elements, from effective story-telling techniques- to effective, relevant depictions of nuanced, complex young adult developmental issues.

Plum-Ucci creates multi-dimensional characters that grow through the course of the story. The reader becomes invested in their growth and interested in the next-step in solving the mystery of the death or disappearance of Christopher Creed. The teen vernacular is used effectively, creating authentic characters in both male and female characters. What is a bonus to the authentically portrayed teenage protagonists is the role of adults in the story. It is typical, in young adult mystery or thriller novels for adults to be presented as either aloof, neglecting or somehow unable to help the teen mystery solvers. Although characters like Chief Bowen and Mrs. Creed, for example are depicted more along these lines, this is not entirely the case for other adults like Torey's District Attorney mother. She acts as bridge between the teens and the adult world they slip in and out of throughout the novel.

As the 16-year old protagonist, Torey Adams courses through the journey of figuring out what happened to the high-school outcast, Christopher Creed, Adams' character grows tremendously from the mature situation he choses to be a part of. From figuring out what true friendship and loyalty are, to learning how to deal with mature situation in an adult manner, and understanding the world from an adult perspective, Torey is a multi-dimensional character who examines many strongly relevant developmental issues.

Overall, this novel is a captivating read and an excellent example of YA mystery for older middle school and younger high school students.

Genre: Mystery, Printz Honor 2002

When Zachary Beaver Came to Town

Review 5

Willis Holt, Kimberley. When Zachary Beaver Came to Town. New York: Dell Yearling, 1999. Print.

Annotation: In 1971, "the fattest boy in the world" visits the small town of Antler, Texas, making a lasting impression on the whole town.



Justification for Nomination: Set in the small town of Antler, Texas,"where nothing happens", the coming of age story of 13 year-old Toby, accompanied by his best friend Cal unfolds. It is the summer of 1971 and Toby and his friend of the same age embark on one adventure after another in the hot, Texas weather. One day, a traveling circus sideshow, featuring "The Fattest Boy in the World", its only act, rolls into town, creating an impact on the boys as well the other townspeople will never forget.

Although this particular novel did not work as closely with major historical time-markers as I anticipated for a historical fiction text, it worked in other nuanced levels to contextualize its specific place and time. The handful of references to the Vietnam war, at times explicitly, but most often implicitly surface with references to Cal's older brother Wayne, serving in the war. In addition, what works to create the sense of a specific time and place are the characters of Antler and the strong sense of community depicted through their interactions.

Kimberly Willis Holt creates memorable, endearing characters that drive the story. After reading the novel, one feels as if they would recognize a Toby or a Cal, or Miss Myrtle Mae or Sheriff Levi and his riding dog, Duke personally. The adventures of Toby and Cal and their run-ins with other townspeople give the story a fast, yet comfortable pace.

In addition to the craftily portrayed characters and plot, this novel resonates with the modern young adult reader with its endearing coming of age story that seems so deeply embedded in the summer of 1971 in Antler, Texas. The issues of how to deal with a dissolving family relationship, loyalty to friends and empathy with those who seem "different" are all depicted tactfully in the novel, making it an exemplary candidate for Mock Printz award


Genre: Historical Fiction, Coming of Age

Restless Spirit: The Life and Work of Dorthea Lange

Review Four

Partridge, Elizabeth. Restless Spirit: The Life and Work of Dorthea Lange. New York: Penguin Putnam. 1998. Print.

Annotation: The biography of the woman who photographed the famous portrait, Migrant Mother.


Justification for Rejection: It is always enlightening to know the back story behind to a widely known piece of art. And to know the story behind a piece art, one needs to know the story of its crafter. The Restless Spirit: The Life and Work of Dorthea Lange is a rich story, filled with a wide spectrum of characters, contributing to moments of adventurous excitement as well as disillusion in Lange's life.

Restless Spirit roughly follows a linear chronology of Dorthea Lange's life. The story opens with one of the most significant days in Lange's photographic career-the day she decided to follow her gut and photograph migrant farmers of a desolate pea farm off the beaten path. It was at this farm Lange captured the image of the Migrant Mother.

What gives Elizabeth Partridge's rendition of Lange's life an interesting edge is that her father worked closely with Lange as her photographic assistant. This acts as a double-edged tool for Partridge in that it provides her with accurate, accessible primary knowledge of Dorthea's life and work. By the same token, however, there are times where the author inserts small bits of personal commentary that feel slightly over-extended for the purposes of a biography. On the other hand, the direct quotes from Lange dispersed throughout the text work to the author's advantage. They mingle well with the biographic description and quick anecdotes of Lange's family life and career, providing an effective authenticity.

The design and format of the book are elegant, clean and the photos are clearly captioned and placed well, enhancing the context of the story.

Although it seems that the life of Dorthea Lange would provide immense possibilities for portraying such an interesting life filled with tension and adventure, the narrative seems to fall flat at times. In addition to this, there is the occasional phrase that comes off as slightly condescending or hyperbolic. In the attempt to direct the novel to a young audience, the language and level of vocabulary feels inconsistent to point of being problematic to the reading experience.

Overall, the story is an interesting read, providing vivid snapshots of Lange's life and work. The narrative also addresses relevant young adult issues like overcoming adversity and pursuing one's dream; Lange passion and activism make her a strong female role model as well. The photography is beautiful and works well with the rest of the text. Unfortunately, the inconsistency with language and vocabulary are enough to distract from the reading experience, thus meriting my nomination for a rejection.


Genre: Non-fiction; biography

Stuck in Neutral

Review Three

Trueman, Harry. Stuck in Neutral. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 2000. Print.

Annotation: The story of how a 14 year-old boy with cerebral palsy is convinced that his father intends to kill him.

Justification for Nomination: What a fantastic introduction to the genre of Realistic Fiction for Young Adult readers! This book has numerous elements making it a strong, well-rounded nominee for a Mock Printz Award.

Stuck in Neutral, by Terry Trueman, is told from the perspective of a 14 year-old boy named Shawn McDaniel. Shawn has a severe case of cerebral palsy, a condition that allows him zero control over any of his bodily functions, from ability to speak, to eating or going to bathroom, to the simple ability to focus his eyes in one area. On top of his inability to control any of his bodily functions, Shawn suffers from intense, out-of-body-like seizures. Although Shawn has no control over his bodily functions, he is able to hear, comprehend and even remember just about everything he hears. Imagine living in this world: one where you are able to absorb what is going on around you, but completely unable to interact, much less evidence this to others.

This dilemma is the main driving force in in the 114-page novel. At the heart of the story is the classic young adult question of "Who am I?" and "How do I relate to society?". Shawn reevaluates his self-worth through the context of a range of relationships: from his family who understand and love him, to his father and other strangers who truly do not understand Shawn's condition.

Trueman's accessible writing style works on many levels. He creates an an authentic teenage-boy voice, using appropriate colloquialisms in the right places, making the voice believable. At the same time, Trueman is able to communicate mature ideas of self-reflection and self-evaluation in terms of the world outside the self. Trueman sparks insightful, philosophical questioning of what happiness and love are. He masterfully ignites evaluation of mature themes for the young adult audience.

The father of a son who suffers from the same condition as the protagonist, Trueman presents an authentic, enlightening, and fresh character in his portrayal of Shawn McDaniel.

Overall, the novel works well for the middle to early high-school level reader to experience a unique story that deals with timelessly resonant themes of the value of family, happiness, love and the impact of society on the individual (and vice a versa). The hints of ambiguity throughout and especially the unanswered ending make this book a wonderful example of how Realistic Fiction can work to prompt deep, philosophical thought for our young readers who deserve the credit for having the capability to discuss this kind of real-world dilemma.



Genre: Realistic Fiction; Printz Honor Book, 2001

Out of the Dust

Review Two

Hesse, Karen. Out of the Dust. New York: Scholastic Press, 1997. Print.

Annotation: The American Dust Bowl, Personified: One Family's Story of Perseverance.




Justification for Nomination: Out of the Dust chronicles a two-year span from 1934 to 1935 in a dusty Oklahoma town, affected by the Great Depression. Written from the perspective a 14 year-old girl, experiences living in the vein of Coming of Age are strongly present. The short, dense poems are exquisitely vivid. Hesse create a powerful portrait of one family's struggle for survival during a trying period of American history.

Presented in first-person, the young, female coming of age story facilitates many significant aspects of young adult developmental issues. From the loss of innocence, to simple day-to-day growing pains and efforts to assert an adult identity are especially resonant with a young adult audience.

Through her wonderfully nuanced craft, Hesse succeeds in capturing a range of intimate experiences and emotions endured by 14 year-old Billie Jo and her small family. The dry, desolate landscape of middle-America is juxtaposed with ordinary day-to-day moments which, in their distilled presentation become magical.

The language, although dense at times, is quite accessible, captivating and tactfully distills the story to its essence.

Out of the Dust is a wonderful text to introduce young adult readers to poetry and the history of the American Dust Bowl. The novel could work well in a high school history class as companion to the more dense nature of history textbooks. Although the story is definitely pinned in a specific time in American history, the coming of age themes addressed in the novel are classically resonant with young adult readers making a strong candidate for a Mock Printz Award.

Genre: Verse Novel; Newberry Award recipient 1998

Your Own, Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath

Review One

Hemphill, Stephanie. Your Own, Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath. Knopf Books for Young Readers 2007

Annotation: Love, depression, the mundane and manic- visions of Sylvia Plath presented in verse.


Justification for Rejection: Imaginative, creative, stretches the the mind to think poetically, it explores the life and identity of a creative individual, and even amidst the tragedy surrounding Plath, the novel ends on an uplifting note. Although it hits many of the high notes of a great piece of literature for young adults-it is questionable if it merits a nomination for a Mock Printz.

Hemphill's poetry is accessible as it is passionate and emotive. The much needed annotations help in filling in the holes of who exactly Svylvia Plath was; without them the reader is left in the dark. The most pressing hurdle keeping the novel from a nomination for justification is its format. Now, depending on the function you wish a text to serve, you may disagree with me here entirely. The length of the novel may be problematic for today's readers who want the thrill now, not tomorrow and certainly not a month from now. This type of immediacy goes opposite the grain of poetry, which some say only begins to sink in after the third, fourth, fifth...reading. The problem is not only the issue of instant gratification, but a lacking ability for a clear, strong young adult connection. Although themes relevant to a young audience such as identity and self-discovery are present, and it works wonderfully to inspire creativity, it lacks in its ability to make a strong connection to the YA audience. The book may be an excellent read for those with mastered poetry skills and a deal of knowledge of Plath's biography; but it is not a book for a Mock Printz.

Genre: Verse Novel; Printz Honor Book, 2007