Title: Swimming to Chicago Author: David-Matthew Barnes ISBN: 9781602825727 Publisher:Bold Strokes Publisher Copyright Year: 2010 Reading Level: 8th grade and up Themes:grief, gay romance, coming out, gay life, friendship, parent/ child relationships, gay teens Awards: this book was a finalist for ALA's Rainbow Book Award
Thumbs Up or Down?: Thumbs Up! I liked it! Book Trailer:
My Summary: This was a book which chronicled the coming out and first love a character named Alex. In the beginning Alex's mother commits suicide and so his coming out is complicated by his dealing with the loss of his mother. Dealing with his feelings, his best friend, disconnected father and a general feeling of not belonging are among some of the problems he faces in this book. Robby comes into the story and ends up being Alex's love interest. Robby is a fragile boy who was constantly beat up and picked on at his last school because he was gay. The two boys meet and fall almost instantly in love. There are a few sub-plots in the book that build up to an interesting climax. It's a bittersweet ending in this book My Review: I really enjoyed this book the characters are really well-developed and the book is presented in a different format than most where the "chapters" are split up into vignettes for the different characters in the book. I was not surprised to find out that David-Matthew Barnes is also a playwright, being a theatre student I found his division of the book to be very monologue-esque. Though in this case with each new chapter about a character we have a lot more definition of who they are. This was a pretty quick read and I felt it flowed rather nicely. I would recommend this book to friends!
Title: Baby's In Black Author: Arne Bellstorf ISBN: 9781596437715 Publisher: First Second Copyright Year: 2012 Reading Level: Grade 7 and up Themes:Graphic novel, The Beatles, Music, Music History, 1960's, 1960's music, Stuart Sutcliffe, Astrid Kirchherr, the fifth Beatle, Germany, romance Awards: None that I am aware of Thumbs Up or Down?: Thumbs Up! Yay for non-fiction graphic novels! Book Trailer: I wasn't able to find a book trailer (or well one that was in English) but I found a book talk with the author about this book I hope you enjoy.
My Summary: This book was originally printed in German. It is a graphic novel that depicts the history of the Beatles and their involvement with Astrid Kirchherr, who propelled the Beatles music career to the iconic music legends that they became. It takes place during the bands tougher years in Hamburg, Germany, often referred to as the early years. The story includes the fifth Beatle, Stuart Sutcliffe.Story is presented in the form of a romance which might make this book appeal to boys or girls. My Review: From what I have read about this book I understand it to be a pretty true account. I personally enjoyed it because I love the Beatles and I love reading about history, it's true, I usually read non-fiction. Though I am not a huge fan of graphic novels this one was able to hold my interest through the entire books. The only thing I thought a parent might not like about this book are the depictions of drinking and smoking. I think drinking is probably something that has long been thought of as synonymous with the rock and roll industry. As for the smoking I believe it is a true depiction of a time when people more commonly smoked and should be thought of as nothing more than period aesthetic. Overall a quick entertaining read that taught me a little about the Beatles I didn't know
Title: Everything You Need to Know to Survive the Apocalypse Author: Lucas Klauss ISBN: 978144243886 Publisher: Simon Pulse Copyright Year: 2012 Reading Level: Themes: religion, faith, romance, comedy, high school, humor, church, soul-searching, parent death, parent/ child relations, coming of age Awards: None that I could find
Thumbs up or down?: Thumbs Up
Book Trailer:
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My Summary: This is a coming of age story that follows a young teen named Phillip as he is growing up and dealing with the dramas of life. High school is hard enough but Phillip is dealing with the loss of his mother while dealing with his atheist father. Not only is his home life difficult but at school his coach for the cross country team is riding him hard and he ends up being asked out by the girl of his dreams. Little does Phillip know that he has been asked to a church youth group activity. This book shows the struggles of a young adult dealing with faith, romance, a home life and school life. My Review: I enjoyed this book and thought the dialog was well written. Though I originally chose this book because I thought it would be nestled among the zombie genre that seems to be popular right now I found that the book wasn't really about the apocalypse at all but about the journey of a young man and his struggles with life. I thought the author did an excellent job of intertwining humor in with a religious turmoil experienced by a boy. The book resonated a great deal with me as I know at that age I questioned my faith in God and I had a hard time with it. I think the book gives a unique perspective and offers a slice of life about how Phillip deals with his faith. I found the characters to be well developed and that they had good measures of reality to them. Overall a fun read with some serious overtones due to religion.
Title: Code Name Verity Author: Elizabeth Wein ISBN: 9781423152194 Publisher: Hyperion Books Copyright Year: 2012 Publishing City: New York Reading Level: Grades 6 and up
Themes:World War II, Britain, Spies, Friendship, Occupied France, confessions, Nazi Occupation Awards: 2013 Michael L. Printz honor book, shortlisted for Carnegie Medal, 2013 Golden Kite Honor, 2013 Edgar Allan Poe Award for best YA Novel Thumbs Up or Down?: Thumbs up! I really liked this book! Book Trailer:
My Summary: This is the story of two women who meet during World War II. One is a pilot and the other is a spy. During their flight they crash land in occupied France and one is captured by the Gestapo. She is forced with a choice: Reveal the secrets of the mission or be tortured and ultimately put to death for her silence. She decides to do the latter, but it isn't exactly what the Nazi's are expecting. Through her confession she tells the story of how two women became friends and set out on an impossible mission.You will have to read the story to see if the two women are reunited and if Maddie, the spy will survive.
My Review: I really enjoyed this book because I love stories about World War II! I love all of the little details that the author includes to illustrate the world these two women are existing in.The characters are well developed and there is a lot of action that kept me interested as a reader.The details of the women's friendship is touching and attaches the reader to the characters. I enjoy stories of this kind where we hear a well-known story from a different point of view. Just as the novel, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, showed us the Holocaust from a child's perspective we now see a World War II perspective from a woman's point of view. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and patrons!
