Reckless by Cornelia Funke

Funke, Cornelia. Reckless. 1st paperback. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company, 2010.  ISBN 978 0316 056076 $8.99. 394 pages

Genre: Fantasy, action, fairytale

Snap n' Read booktalk:

 Ever since their father disappeared, Jacob Reckless has been escaping into the Mirror World where fairy tales are brutally real and even the trees are lethal but no matter what excitement, fame, or treasure Jacob finds there he always returns to his little brother, Will.  Things quickly go wrong when Will follows him one day and falls under a dark spell. Can Jacob save his brother in time?  From page 61:

  The voices of the will-o'-the wisps filled the air like the hum of bees. The raven cawed somewhere in the trees.  But Clara was listening for another sound: the sharp snipping that haddarkened Jacob's face with worry and had made him go back to the forest.  What was waiting out there, turning even the house of a child-eater into a safe haven?[read quickly & dramatically] Snip-Snap.  There it was again. Like the snapping of metallic teeth. [pause]  Clara backed away from the fence.  Long shadows were growing toward the house, and she felt the same fear as a child when she was alone and heard steps in the hallway.She should have told Will what his brother was planning.  He would never forgive her if Jacob didn't come back.He would come back.[pause]He had to come back.[pause and then read slowly]They'd never find their way home without him.

 

Check out more here from the book's website!

Alice in the Country of Hearts, Vol 1-3 by QuinRose

QuinRose. Alice in the Country of Hearts, Vol. 1. NewYork, NY:Yen Press, 2012.

ISBN 978-0316212694  $18.99  370 pages. Rated: Older Teen

QuinRose. Alice in the Country of Hearts, Vol. 2. NewYork, NY:Yen Press, 2012.

ISBN 978-0316212687  $18.99  370 pages. Rated: Older Teen

QuinRose. Alice in the Country of Hearts, Vol. 3. NewYork, NY:Yen Press, 2012.

ISBN 978-0316212724   $18.99  364 pages. Rated: Older Teen

Genre: manga, romance, fantasy, shojo, harem, gaming

Summary:

Based on an otome game (dating simulation), this series is an adaptation of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland.  Alice Liddel is kidnapped by a handsome man with bunny ears and is tricked into the "game." With each person she meets a vial fills with potion and when its filled completely she can go back to her sister.  In Wonderland, the characters or role players fight with guns as life has little value here and Alice is different than the rest. She has a great sense of responsibility and values life and especially those of her friends. As the story progresses, Alice slowly starts to alter those around her as she gets closer to earning her way back home. 

Pros: 

Shrek wold love this series as like an onion there are so many layers here.  First there is the story itself which is engaging and the artwork Soumei Hoshino is beautifully drawn.  The mini-posters/artwork in each volume is scrumptious! Then we have the adaptation of a hugely popular theme -Alice in Wonderland- that gives you a taste of Japanese otaku (overzealous fan).  There is a lot going in the three omnibus volumes that support multiple readings and discoveries.

Cons:  

The books stand well on their own but the ending is weak and rushed leaving some loose ends that can be answered on this spoiler thread here where the reason for 12 characters are explained (each represents a time/hour) and other interesting info from the game.  There are also other versions or character endings to this series but I didn't enjoy them as much as I felt fan service was more the focus there than any actual story.  Speaking of, fans of the original work may find an incubus coughing up blood representing the Caterpillar and violent and twisted twins a little hard to fathom.  I think it's fun but to each his own! 

Want to try a dating sim game on your own? Check out My Candy Love & find game titles from Amazon. I recommend Princess Debut (NDS) and Habuki (PSP).

Getting It by Alex Sanchez

Sanchez, Alex. Getting It. New York: Simon Pulse, 2006.  

ISBN13 978-1416908982 $9.99 210 pages  Ages 12 & up

Genre: LGBTQ, school life, slice of life, coming of age

    How far would you go to get the girl of your dreams? In the aftermath of his parent's divorce,  it's not just about getting laid for Carlos Amoroso -though not being the only one still holding his V-card would be a huge relief - but getting his crush Roxy to finally notice him.   He'll try anything including a crazy idea of getting pointers from the gay guy when he sees how easily Sal talks and acts with girls.  The two strike a deal where Sal helps Carlos clean up to catch Roxy's eye and Carlos in turns helps him start the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) at school. Carlos and Sal might not seem to have that much in common at first but soon Carlos starts learning more from Sal than he ever expected. 

"I'm not sure why they don't make more of these books available to us at school. It just makes kids more curious to read it." -Ronnie, 19

 

Hate List by Jennifer Brown

Brown, Jennifer. Hate List.  Little, Brown and Company, 2009. 

ISBN 978-0316041447, $14.99 405 pages. Ages 15 & up.

Genre: drama, realistic fiction

Awards:

ALA Best Book for Young Adults
VOYA "Perfect Ten" 
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Michigan Library Association's Thumbs Up! Award
Louisiana Teen Readers Choice award
2012 Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Award
Honorable mention for the 2011 Arkansas Teen Book Award

   Valerie Leftman's imperfect life included arguing parents and abusive bullies for classmates and teachers but at least she had her boyfriend, Nick.  He was romantic sometimes and loved reading Shakespeare.  It was with Nick she was able to escape and share her miseries with in things like the "Hate List" where they listed people in school that were just cruel or simply annoying.  Life wasn't wonderful but it was bearable.  At least that was the way she thought before May 2, 2008 when Nick brought a gun to school and started a rampage that would end with him taking his own life after killing and hurting so many others on the now infamous list.  Valerie slowly recovers from her own wound received from trying to save another student but the mental wounds are much harder to heal as she is forced to examine questions she doesn't know how to answer. Should she have known what Nick was planning?  Should she have died too like others say?  Was what happened that day her fault?  

I highly recommend that you browse the author's website and check-out her other works too.

Cactus's Secret by Nana Haruta

Haruta, Nana. Cactus's Secret, Vol. 1. San Fransico: Viz Media, LLC., 2010.
ISBN 978-1421531892 192 pages $9.99 Rated: Teen
Genre: manga/graphic novel, shojo, school life, romance, comedy, drama

Summary:
Miku has had a crush on her classmate Kyohei since middle school. Despite dropping clues and throwing her feelings at him, Kyohei is clueless and is puzzled why Miku is so very prickly with him. In this volume, Miku involves giving chocolates to her crush on Valentine's Day.  Ever helpful, Kyohei offers to let her practice on him.  Later on Miku learns about Minase, a girl from Kyohei's past, making Miku seriously wonder if her feelings will ever be noticed by Kyohei.

Pros: This is a cute series that manages to be unique in a frankly competitive field.  I can easily name ten series similar to this one but still Cactus's Secret stands out.  It has great humor and Miku is so very likable and while clueless Kyohei is a really nice guy. It's hard not to root for this mismatched pair.

Cons: If you weren't a fan of sparkly and flowered backgrounds before, this is probably not the series that will convert you.  There are a lot of cliché shojo moments such as the valentine's homemade chocolates, the graduation confession, etc.

Naruto Vol 1 (3-1 Version) by Masashi Kishimoto

Kishimoto, Masashi. Naruto, Vol 1. 3-1 Edition. San Francisco: Viv Media, 2011.
ISBN 978-1421539898 600 pages $14.99
Rated: Teen
Genre: manga, action, comedy, martial arts, shounen, fantasy, supernatural

Awards:
First manga to win a Quill Award for "Best Graphic Novel" in 2006.

Summary:

Maybe it’s because he grew up without parents or perhaps it’s that the nine-tailed fox demon that destroyed the village years ago is sealed inside him? Whatever the reason,  Naruto is the town troublemaker and class clown.  He also may be the worst student at ninja school but he’s determined to be Hokage one day and lead all the ninja villages together.  He has a long way to go but with help  from new friends along the way he might surprise everyone including himself.

Pros: Perhaps the highest selling manga and anime since Pokemon, Naruto is known to have elements for everyone to enjoy. In this collection we start at the very beginning of an epic journey where our knuckle-headed ninja learns what it takes to give it your all and being part of a team.

Cons:  This series started in 1999. Needless to say the recent volumes have a formula to it: meet enemy->get stronger & closer to goals.  It's not necessarily a bad read as its full of action and amazing moments but I'm going to argue that the earlier volumes (pre:Shippuden) are a better read for story content and development. Also a 600-page paperback isn't the best purchase for longevity but at $14.99 it's almost like getting the 3rd volume for free. 

Also, check out the art books, video games, and the especially the anime of this series.  There are also a lot of fan fictions out there too.

Did I mention the awesome action figures?!

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG!" -Minko-kun (from gaiaonline.com), age 14

"I liked how Naruto grows up from being the Leaf Village idiot to becoming the town's hero.  Let's go, Naruto!" 
-Garrett, age 13

The Rose That Grew From Concrete by Tupac Shakur

Shakur, Tupac. The Rose That Grew From Concrete. New York, NY: MTV/Pocket Books, 1999.

176 pages ISBN 978-0671028459 $9.99

Genre, Autobiography, Poetry

This posthumous collection of poems comes from a personal journal that the rap artist created in his late teens (1989-91). The book has 4 different chapter or sections with copies of the artist’s hand-written works –full of errors and doodles - on one side and the typed version on the opposite page. The volume could certainly be of interest to reluctant readers, aspiring artists, and those with difficult and relatable histories.

When reading the poems, the first thing that struck me was the beat/rhythm of it. For example, “In the event of my Demise/when my heart can beat no more/I Hope I Die For A Principle/or A Belief that I had Lived 4” (“In the Event of My Demise” p. 150) it was exceedingly difficult not to fall into the hypnotic cadence of it and even imagining the author performing it. The other thing that struck is his sensitivity and intelligence as the poems explored a wide range of topics from child loss to Lady Liberty.

I have mixed feelings about adding this to a YA collection. Contextually, this book is brilliant. It gives a clear and focused snapshot of who the author was, his music inspiration, and his emotions and passions during his teen years.As a stand-alone volume, the poetry of a 19-year feels more like flawed and lyrical reporting and perhaps a failing on my part but I was neither inspired nor moved when I separated the context –what I know of his life and tragedies – from the actual work. A rose in concrete is a bizarre image if you don’t know who the walking rose is. As an autobiography, the collection falls short of encompassing his rise and the turbulence he encountered before his murder. It is not The Diary of Anne Frank due to its lack of information and detail as some poems such as “Liberty Needs Glasses” require contextual and cultural understanding in order to decipher it. If budget, possible interest, and space were an issue I would most likely forgo this title despite its potential.

Here's an interview from Youtube featuring Tupac. 

Witch & Wizard by James Patterson; Art by Svetlana Chmakova

Patterson, James. Witch & Wizard, Vol. 1. New York:Yen Press, 2011.

ISBN 978-0316204064 259 pages  $12.99

Genre: Manga/Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Thriller
Rated: Teen

Annotation: 

     The Allgood siblings lives get overturned as they are accused of being a wizard and a witch.  Perhaps the crazy part of it all is that Whit and Wisty never knew!  In the confusion and madness of a police raid more mysteries are discovered than answered as their powers are awakened.  The two are quickly thrown into several challenges and unknowns as they finally discover how to use their new gifts and what this new life means for them and the ones they love.

Pros:  James Patterson, the author of Maximum Ride, and Dramacon’s Svetlana Chmakova together in one volume!?  It’s a win-win as the artwork is fun and clean and the story is fast-paced with lots of action sequences.  Patterson's awarded series is exciting enough that you might just forgive Svetlana for not currently continuing her Nightschool series.

Cons:  This is considered an OEL (original English language) manga.  Typically in the publishing world, that means you’ll have to wait a little longer for the next release to be published.  Worth it but when you are used to 4+ volumes a year one tends to get spoiled. In terms of storyline, the plot is a bit fantastic and I thought the trial and hospital scenes to be a bit much.  Overall, this series is an easy recommendation.

If you like the series, you can check out updates from the series at Yen Press or pick up the ALA reading poster and bookmarks here.

Dragon Girl, Vol 1-2 by Toru Fujeida

Fujeida, Toru. Dragon Girl, Vol. 1  Yen Press, 2010.

ISBN 978-0759531673 496 pages $20.99 

Fujeida, Toru. Dragon Girl, Vol. 2  Yen Press, 2010.

ISBN 978-1421523477 494 pages $20.99

Genre: manga/graphic novel, shoujo, romance, school life, gender bender

  

   

Summary:

Ever since she was little, Rinna wanted to be a team cheer captain like her father, the greatest, fiercest captain of the Shoryu Senior High cheer squad.  She finally gets her chance when the all-boy school goes co-ed but the current team captain won’t let girls join.  What will Rinna to do?  Why challenge him of course!  Thus the beginning of a story about friendship, romance, and lots of school spirit.

Pros

The artwork in this series is clean and well-rendered which is great since it let’s you get to the heart of the story. I really appreciate that  despite some typical plot twists you don’t really know who Rinna ends with up until near the story end.  The story is nicely paced with solid characters. This 2 volume series is complete so no waiting years and years for it to develop.

Cons – It’s only 2 volumes long!  lol I have to admit wanting more is not usually a con but the story read quickly leaving a somewhat shallow feeling at times due to the size.  I ended the series craving more.  Luckily, I can also recommend Oyayubihime Infinity by the same mangaka. The other issue I had is the price.  In comparison,  $42 for 5 volumes (nearly 1000 pages)  worth is a bargain but ouch!