Alive in the Killing Fields : Surviving the Khmer Rouge Genocide

by Nawuth Keat
At age nine, Keat was rousted from his bed by Khmer Rouge soldiers. After savagely murdering most of his family, they shot him three times and left him for dead. Miraculously, he survived, only to spend the next few years fighting for his life and running from the Khmer Rouge along with his remaining family members. Eventually, he and his siblings made their way to a refugee camp where his older sister bought his freedom. In this memoir, written with the assistance of his college professor, Keat paints a poignant portrait of life as a child in Cambodia in the 1970s. His skills, cunning, and sheer will to survive enabled him to endure devastating occurrences and difficult living conditions. The story is not for the faint of heart, as suffering torture at the hands of soldiers, subsisting solely off of rice chaff, and being forced to sleep among human remains are only some of the atrocities he suffered. Keat's story is compelling and concise, and readers will find themselves invested in his eventual escape.

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How Beautiful the Ordinary : Twelve Stories of Identity

by Cart, Michael
This collection's refreshing perspective-that gay, lesbian, and transgendered lives simply are, as Cart states in the introduction, "as wonderfully various, diverse, and gloriously complex as any other lives,"-distinguishes it. Twelve acclaimed authors contribute stories ranging from sweet and nostalgic to lyrical and desperate, capturing the blissful/painful process of self-discovery. Highlights include Margo Lanagan's retelling of "The Highwayman" from a voyeuristic stable boy's point of view and Gregory Maguire's story told from different points in time, in which an 18-year-old Iranian-American boy discovers the impact a summer of accidental love can have on his entire life. The formats and settings of the stories are as varied as the characters. Graphic novelist Ariel Schrag's "San Francisco Dyke March" gives funny tourist observations, and in "Happily Ever After," Eric Shanower illustrates how love, not genies, fixes troubled relationships. William Sleator's compelling Thai character finds a dangerous love. Francesca Lia Block, David Levithan, and Emma Donoghue customize the epistolary story. Julie Anne Peters skillfully voices two teen girls' trepidation and ecstasy during their first sexual encounter. Ron Koertge's "My Life as a Dog" is an ingenious metaphor for coming out, and in "Trev" Jacqueline Woodson gently allows Trev to accept his gender identity. This collection, with some detailed sexual descriptions, is sure to find its intended teen audience.

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The blockbuster "New York Times"-bestselling companion guide, fully revised and updated, now includes a wealth of new material, with analysis and revelations from the films, including the upcoming sequel, "New Moon," and more

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GLBTQ: THE SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR QUEER AND QUESTIONING TEENS

Huegel has written an indispensable guide for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning teens, as well as for their straight peers and parents. In 11 candid, fact-filled, nonjudgmental chapters, she covers every aspect of being GLBTQ-- from coming out to homophobia, from religion and culture to sex and sexuality. She devotes an entire chapter to transgender teens, a group that is often ignored or misunderstood. The tone is always supportive and matter-of-fact, Huegel's recommendations are sensible and practical, and apposite quotations from young people who have been there enrich the text. The book, designed for browsing, also contains an extraordinary number of references to additional resources--many of them online--as well as a glossary and a bibliography. One of the best one-volume sources of information available about being GLBTQ

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The Pain Tree: And Other Teenage Angst-Ridden Poetry

An accessible and visually appealing collection of poetry culled from teen Web sites and magazines. Throughout the 25 selections, the young people address a wide range of emotions while coping with the trials of growing up, sometimes under less than ideal circumstances. The poetry is timely and timeless, but uneven in quality. Some selections are well-written expressions of adolescent experience and frustration, while others show less inspiration and are not as convincing in their imagery. The accompanying paintings, both colorful and creative, are abstract rather than exact representations of the narratives associated with them. While some selections are suitable for reading aloud, the majority are introspective accounts of personal experiences.

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Starred Review. Gr 9 Up–Karl Shoemaker, in group therapy at school since fourth grade, turns a new leaf on the first day of senior year, 1973. His goal is to be normal and avoid therapy while still keeping his friends, who are all part of the Madman Underground. Karl's widowed mother is an alcoholic, hippie, conspiracy-theorist slut who steals his earnings (he has five jobs) for benders. At one time or another, most Madmen are locked out of their houses by drunk or absent parents, or don't go home to avoid getting beaten, or felt up. They depend on one another's hospitality by way of empty basements, open windows, and unlocked cars. Barnes writes with amazing ease and clarity. He has a light, immediate feel for character, and the ensemble of Madmen, teachers, parents, and crotchety townspeople is distinct and fully formed. Dialogue between Karl and this motley crew is mostly hilarious, expletive laden, and consistently flawless. Karl's conversations with Marti, the newest Madman, are among the most heart-melting in teen literature. Barnes's descriptions of small-town Ohio defy the usual pitfalls of the back-when-the-author-was-a-teen setting–Lightsburg is so believably backward it seems timeless. While a moral dilemma may seem an underwhelming plot device, Karl's psychological journey is consistently gripping. His narration is so easy and engaging, so sweet and funny, so astonishingly truthful that teens will rip through these 500-plus pages and want more.

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Starred Review. Gr 9 Up—Smithson experienced the events of 9/11 while in high school and responded by enlisting in the Army Reserve after graduation. He married his high school sweetheart before being deployed to Iraq. Once there, he worked as an equipment operator in an equipment platoon, and while mortar fire was a regular occurrence, the missions he describes were all about bulldozing berms, filling craters created by IEDs, and convoying lumber. Some of the author's most poignant passages are his descriptions of interactions with Iraqi children. Where he was expecting rock-throwing, he encountered barefoot, dirty children grateful for the water the soldiers gave them. It is these children and the villagers he met that help explain for him the purpose of the war. The book ends with Smithson's return home, his almost magical escape from night terrors, and his work with children in his own hometown. Writing proves to be his therapy for PTSD. There are mixed metaphors aplenty, crude and morbid humor, and other evidence of a young author, but it all works together to create a tough but powerful look at one man's experience.—

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The Forest of Hands and Teeth

Through twists and turns of fate, orphaned Mary seeks knowledge of life, love, and especially what lies beyond her walled village and the surrounding forest, where dwell the unconsecrated, aggressive flesh-eating people who were once dead.

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Circuit-bending : build your own alien instruments

Here's a book on the latest craze!

Start turning throw-away audio electronics into magical music engines and discover a freedom of expression that comes straight from your dreams. All you need to know about electronics is how to solder—an how to read these instructions from the guy who accidentally started it all. Limitations? Only your imagination.
Inside you'll find detailed instructions for turning ANY circuit you find into an alien music engine overnight, along with never before revealed secrets to bent instruments.

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Tricks

The newest book from teen- favorite Ellen Hopkins!

Hopkins again tackles a serious societal problem, this time focusing on teen prostitution. Fans of her work will recognize both her signature free verses and the gritty details she weaves within them. Newcomers, however, may be shocked by the graphic depictions of five struggling teens who find themselves turning tricks (one realizes her mother has sold her for a good time with a stranger, while another recounts pretending to enjoy... deviant sex to earn the trust of a guard at an ultra-strict religious rehabilitation camp). Some plotting seems clichéd, such as the story of a preacher's daughter from Idaho, whose mother banishes her to the Tears of Zion camp after catching her with her boyfriend. While each story unfolds slowly, readers will understand the protagonists' desperation as well as their complete powerlessness once their descents have begun. Each story is unique (one teen needs money, another was thrown out because of his sexuality, still another was simply looking for love from the wrong person); while readers may connect with some characters more than others, they will long remember each painful story. Ages 14–up

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Everything Is Fine

by Ann Dee Ellis
Mazzy is fine. Her severely depressed, almost catatonic mother is fine—as long as Mazzy takes care of her and keeps neighbors and family-services investigators away. Her absent ESPN-host father is fine, though he's been gone a while and Mazzy doesn't feel like returning his calls. And the summer will be fine, as long as she can keep hanging out with Colby, her neighbor, and pursue her art. In spare prose verging on free verse, Mazzy tells her story, of her daily routines without parents, of her occasional interactions with neighbors—and of the tragic accident that recently killed her young sister and led to her family's breakdown. Ellis impressively captures the voice of a sardonic, damaged, but surviving adolescent girl. Secondary characters are fleshed out well through Mazzy's pointed descriptions and snappy dialogue, and Colby shines with humor and a personality that rings true. Readers are given glimpses into the family Mazzy used to have, and the girl she once was. Although the ending seems hasty and perhaps unrealistically optimistic, Ellis has created a unique snapshot of family tragedy that's refreshingly devoid of melodrama.—

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No such thing as the real world : stories about growing up and getting a life

Six award-winning young adult authors present short stories featuring teens who have to face the "real world" for the first time.

"The Projection" is a mind-blowing drama set in improvisational theater. The emotionally charged situation shifts to a complex illusion of what is real and what is an act. A staged relationship is played out and a mind game is replayed, unwound, and rewound in the present, past, and future. An Na's "Complication" is a disturbing story of a rape victim and single mother's scheme to target and extort money from her attacker's relative. Trying to redeem his brother's crime by showing tenderness and concern, the good brother strives toward resolution, but Fay has her own ideas and needs to be free. Beth Kephart's "The Longest Distance" addresses the deceased's best friend and teen suicide. The narrator is sad, confused, and desperate to answer the age-old question, "Why?" Other contributors include K. L. Going, Chris Lynch, and Jacqueline Woodson. This unique collection will challenge students' intellect and have them questioning their own decision-making skills. A fine balance is straddled between sophisticated prose and authentic teen voices, uninhibited and peppered with profanity - School Library Journal Review


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Living Dead Girl

Starred Review. Fans of Scott's YA romances Perfect You or Bloom may be unprepared for the unrelieved terror within this chilling novel, about a 15-year-old girl who has spent the last five years being abused by a kidnapper named Ray and is kept powerless by Ray's promise to harm her family if she makes one false move. The narrator knows she is the second of the girls Ray has abducted and renamed Alice; Ray killed the first when she outgrew her childlike body at 15, and now Alice half-hopes her own demise is approaching (I think of the knife in the kitchen, of the bridges I've seen from the bus... but the thing about hearts is that they always want to keep beating). Ray, however, has an even more sinister plan: he orders Alice to find a new girl, then train her to Ray's tastes. Scott's prose is spare and damning, relying on suggestive details and their impact on Alice to convey the unimaginable violence she repeatedly experiences. Disturbing but fascinating, the book exerts an inescapable grip on readers—like Alice, they have virtually no choice but to continue until the conclusion sets them free. Ages 16–up. Publisher Weekly Review

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Flirtin' with the monster : your favourite authors on Ellen Hopkins' Crank and Glass

Crank and Glass have always been more than just stories. Join their author Ellen Hopkins and a host of other writers as they delve deep into Kristina's story, from the straight truth on the physical effects of methamphetamine addiction to the psychological consequences of keeping secrets (and how Hopkins' books have encouraged so many teens to reveal theirs).


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Starred Review. Chaltas's novel of poems marks an intensely powerful debut. Anke and her older siblings, Darren and Yaicha, may appear typical teenagers in public, but their home life is dominated by their father. Though he is verbally, physically and sexually abusive to her brother and sister, Anke seems beyond his notice (with a sick/ acidic/ burbling/ bile/ i want what they have/ as horrible/ curdling/ vile/ as it is/ darren and yaicha/ get more/ than/ me). The distance between the family members—separated by their silence—is palpable, as is Anke's growing sense of strength, partly due to her participation in volleyball at school (My lungs are claiming expanding territory./ This is my voice./ This is MY BALL). Though the pace is quick, tension builds slowly, almost agonizingly, as acts of abuse collect (a large bruise glimpsed on Darren's torso, muffled sounds from Yaicha's room that can't be tuned out). Readers will recognize the inevitability of an explosive confrontation, but the particulars will still shock. Incendiary, devastating, yet—in total—offering empowerment and hope, Chaltas's poems leave an indelible mark.

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Burningham's humorous text and personal approach will make readers feel like an older sister or cousin is chatting with them. The author uses celebrity quotes alongside quotes from real teens culled from the MySpace polling research she conducted for this book. From basics to boy friend vs. boyfriend to first dates and breakups, the text covers all points in between. Burningham's focus is on giving girls confidence to navigate the dating experience successfully. The chapter entitled "You Wear the Pants: Setting Your Boundaries," which deals with the physical side of dating relationships, is particularly good. The author doesn't belabor the point or make suggestions for what that boundary might be but rather empowers readers throughout to make decisions for themselves. The open layout and Smith's line drawings are also standouts. Well-written and smart, Boyology is a strong addition to books about relationships. - School Library Journal Review

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Ask CosmoGIRL! About Beauty

Skin, hair, teeth, nails: every CosmoGIRL! has a question about how to keep them healthy and great-looking. It’s all here, in the latest Ask CosmoGIRL! guide. Every page is filled with invaluable advice for taming tresses, creating lush lashes and fuller-looking lips, shaping brows that wow, and getting a smoother, more even complexion. Top makeup artists and hairstylists offer their smartest tips, and the book’s multicultural approach addresses the concerns of all girls. Plus, this is one book that understands beauty isn’t just about keeping up appearances: it’s about taking care of yourself and staying safe, too. There is crucial information on the dangers of tanning, the negative effects of certain cosmetic regimens, and when it’s best to get professional help.

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Love, Ghosts & Facial Hair

From Booklist*Starred Review* In publishing these novels by an Australian poet as original paperbacks, Simon Pulse combines the slick packaging of series fiction with rich, layered verse reminiscent of works such as Sonya Sones' Stop Pretending (1999). The narrative rotates among several characters, but the primary speaker is Jack, who is 16 at the start of Love, Ghosts, & Facial Hair. Jack is an aspiring poet who falls in love with another soulful teenager, Annabel. Their intense connection, as cerebral as it is lustily sexual, soothes Jack's grief over the loss of his mother seven years earlier, a loss Herrick captures in shifting, raw emotion--from nihilistic bitterness ("They said it was a harmless lump / it wasn't") to brooding melancholy ("There's a ghost in our house / in Mum's / red evening dress"). A Place Like Thi s follows Jack and Annabel on a postgraduation road trip, tapping into a Kerouacian fantasy that will resonate with many teens. This novel lacks the immediacy of the family tragedy found at the heart of Love, focusing instead on the pregnant, 16-year-old daughter of the apple farmer who gives Jack and Annabel a job. Both books, however, speak with sincerity and sensitivity to the "quiet revolution in every family." Billed as "companion novels," this pairing evidently does not represent the beginning of a Jack-and-Annabel franchise, though YAs touched by the couple's sweet, redemptive relationship may wish it were otherwise.


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Carter Finally Gets It

Booklist Reviews 2008 November #2
Crawford expertly channels his inner 14-year-old for this pitch-perfect comedy about girls, football, girls, swimming, girls, drama club, and girls. Freshman Will Carter is googly-eyed over everything about high school (did we mention the girls?), and his ADD just makes it worse—no matter what s going on, it only takes seconds for his imagination to devolve into fantasies about G-strings, exposed navels, and “tig ol biddies.” His toughest challenges quickly reveal themselves: gynormous athletes wanting to flatten him, friends intent on humiliating him, and Abby, the no-longer-fat drill-team hottie who seems to get a real charge out of slapping him in public. There s barely a plot to speak of, and Crawford relies heavily on stock social situations. But his stream-of-consciousness, first-person narrative flails around in an excellent imitation of a freshman, complete with volume changes, dumb jokes, and sudden flashes of elation and despair. Occasionally poignant and frequently hilarious, this will amuse scads of male readers.

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Kirkus Reviews 2009 March #2
Popular, beautiful slacker Liam spends the majority of his time partying and chasing girls instead of focusing on his studies. To keep him in check, his dad kicks him out of the house and ships him off to live with his gay glam-rocking uncle. Bad hair, tights, bitchy neighbors, reality checks and fashion shows ensue. Going's latest flows easily with smooth, realistic dialogue and reads like a coming-out story for straight guys. This innovative, out-of-the-box approach juxtaposes stereotypes, received values, parental roles and masculinity in a jarringly fun and approachable manner that marks a triumphant left-turn for the genre. Cloaked as a story of tough love, this is actually a psychological exploration of the impact of parental expectations versus the dreams of their children. Nothing earned comes easy, however, and Liam finds that he does need to switch some of the gears inside his head, but he's not as big of a screw-up as his parents make him out to be. Moreover, trouble does follow him wherever he goes, but avoiding it is easier when you've got the right kind of support.

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Kirkus Reviews 2009 March #2
In the well-heeled, hardly diverse suburbs of Reno, Nev., Jory Michaels has two big goals for the summer before senior year: to earn enough money to get the petite nose she's always wanted and to lose her virginity. Significant obstacles to each: She's a somewhat clumsy driver, so her job driving a bakery delivery van has its limits, and she's a good-natured girl looking for a romantic connection with a boy, not just a physical encounter. Jory's longtime crush is finally paying attention to her, but it turns out he is struggling with hiding his gay identity from his father. Another boy's aggressive approach is off-putting even as Jory's encounter with his unzipped shorts is cringingly funny. Several missed opportunities with a third and most likely lad have a sweetly comic dimension, while Jory's first experiences with drinking demonstrate without didacticism the downside of impaired socializing. Complex, likable, believable characters and a fresh, appealing fictional voice pull together this very agreeable summer romance.
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Dope Sick

Publishers Weekely
Starred Review. Using both harsh realism and a dose of the fantastic, Myers (Game) introduces an inner-city teen in the jaws of a crisis: 17-year-old Lil J is holed up in an abandoned building, believed to have shot an undercover cop in a drug bust, while police officers assemble in the street below. As he searches for a way out, Lil J is stopped by Kelly, an eerily calm vagrant who invites him to cop a squat and check yourself out on the tube. Kelly's TV not only plays scenes from Lil J's life but projects what will happen if he sticks with his current plan: suicide. Shocked, Lil J considers Kelly's question, If you could take back one thing you did... what would it be? Aided by Kelly's TV, Lil J revisits pivotal moments and wrestles with his fate. As expected, Myers uses street-style lingo to cover Lil J's sorry history of drug use, jail time, irresponsible fatherhood and his own childhood grief. A didn't-see-that-coming ending wraps up the story on a note of well-earned hope and will leave readers with plenty to think about.

The Complete Book of Hairstyling

A reviewer on Amazon says "This book is great! Its a combination of his 4 books (Vacation, City, Big Date and Big Day Hair). The pictures are beautiful, the writing is simple and there is pretty much everything you need to know about hairstyling in one book. Everything is broken down into easy to follow steps and tells you what you need before you start."

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Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side

PW Reviews 2009 January
Down-to-earth mathlete Jessica Packwood is completely horrified when, a few months shy of her 18th birthday, a Romanian named Lucius Vladescu shows up on her doorstep, claiming that he and she are vampire royalty betrothed to each other since infancy—what’s worse, her adoptive parents verify the betrothal story and explain that her birth parents identified themselves as vampires, too. Fantaskey makes this premise work by playing up its absurdities without laughing at them, endowing Jessica with a coolly ironic sensibility and Lucius with old-world snobberies that Jessica’s girlfriends find irresistible. Jessica’s laidback parents serve as foils for imperious Lucius (“Can I ever again be happy in our soaring Gothic castle after walking the halls of Woodrow Wilson High School, a literal ode to linoleum?” he asks sarcastically); a scene at a steakhouse where the vegan Packwoods meet the carnivorous Vladescus is first-rate comedy. The romance sizzles, the plot develops ingeniously and suspensefully, and the satire sings.

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Teens Cook Dessert

VOYA Reviews 2006 August
What better way to teach teenagers how to cook than by starting with desserts? The authors of Teens Cook (Ten Speed Press, 2004/VOYA December 2004), create another delightful compilation of recipes for teens to try out. They start out with the all-around favorites, like classic chocolate chip cookies. There are holiday recipes for Halloween dirt pie, complete with cookie tombstones and gummy worms that seem to crawl out of the chocolate "earth." The final chapter has fancy foods like vanilla soufflé with chocolate sauce or fresh raspberry napoleons. (Are you hungry yet?) Not only do the recipes sound delicious, they look delicious in glossy color pictures. This book is a beauty just to look through, but it will make one's sugar-craving levels rise. The instructions are easy to understand, but often crammed into one or two large paragraphs. Beginning cooks will need some guidance when it comes to the terminology and techniques used. For a teen who already knows a little about the kitchen, this book will be a delight. There are tons of handy sidebars filled with helpful cooking advice or neat historical facts. This book is a must for any library with teens who have the slightest interest in making their own sweets.-

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Hardwear: Jewelry from a Toolbox

SLJ Reviews 2006 October
Adult/High School This book is a strong entry in the DIY genre. The projects and accessories are all made almost entirely from inexpensive items one can buy in a hardware store. Each chapter focuses on a different type: washers, rope, metal connectors, nuts, vinyl, plastic, and rubber. Materials lists are complete with illustrations, and the clear instructions are numbered and illustrated. Finished products are modeled in fashion-forward color photographs.

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Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, Jawed Karim : YouTube creators

If you're looking for an inspirational biography, pick up this new one about the three young creators of YouTube.

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North of Beautiful

Booklist Reviews 2009 February #2

*Starred Review* Sixteen-year-old Terra seems to be a typical high-achieving high-school student. Under her heavy makeup, though, she hides a port-wine colored birthmark on her cheek that makes her feel like an outsider. During yet another attempt to remove the birthmark, Terra runs into Jacob, a gorgeous Goth with a cleft-palette scar. That encounter initiates a transformation in both Terra and her subservient mother. Headley has written an exquisite book that explores the difference between physical and true beauty. Copyright 2009 Booklist Reviews

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Super Horoscope 2009- All 12 Months

The Teen Room now has copies of Super Horoscopes 2009 for all 12 astrological signs ready for you to check out. A reviewer from Amazon gives this series 5 stars and says "It's all in interpretation; and this author has always done that well. One of the best book on personal astrology predictions. I used it since I was 20; now my kids who are in their teens also use this. "

Books include:
- Detailed yearly and daily forecasts
- Rising signs
- Lucky numbers
- The cusp-born 1900-2010
- Signs of the Zodiac
- Character analysis
- Love, romance, and marriage compatibility guide
- Moon tables
- Planting and fishing guides
- Influence of the moon and planets

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Need

VOYA Reviews 2008 December
When Zara shuts down after the sudden death of her stepfather, her mother sends Zara to live in Bedford, Maine, with his mother. Zara finds that she is not only unaccustomed to the cold temperature and ice but also not used to life in a small town where everyone knows everyone else's story. As Zara begins to make friends, she discovers that many unusual things have been happening lately, from strange accidents, boys going missing, and gold glitter on the ground to a tall, pale guy who seems to be following her. Things in Bedford are actually a whole lot more strange and far creepier than Zara could ever have imagined. The woods around Bedford are populated by pixies and the King-without a queen-is no longer able to control his powerful need or his subjects Jones masterfully blends paranormal fantasy, suspense, and romance to craft a new supernatural tale that is certain to appeal to fans of dark urban fantasy like Marr's Wicked Lovely (HarperTeen, 2007/VOYA June 2007) and paranormal romances like Meyer's Twilight books. A likeable cast of engaging and interesting characters combines with a plot that grabs readers and refuses to let go. At times slightly predictable, there are enough surprises to keep readers guessing and a creepiness factor that will keep them on the edges of their seats. This book is an essential purchase for any library whose teens devour the supernatural and a must-read for any young reader who is ready to move beyond faeries and vampires.

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I did it without thinking : true stories about impulsive decisions that changed lives

I Did It deals with mainly negative actions (crime, pregnancy, dropping out, gossiping, body art), but then awkwardly switches gears toward some positive acts including saving lives, resisting drugs, and doing charity work. Sisters and Brothers flows well, covering the effects of birth order, the importance of siblings, and issues involved with step, half, foster, and adopted siblings, and being an only child. Each book has excellent black-and-white photographs of a diverse array of teens.

VOYA Reviews 2008 June
An amalgam of familiar Shakespearean plot elements, character names, and devices make up this delightful, light, and romantic read. Kate has sworn off love after being dumped by her boyfriend. She heads to Verona for the summer for an intensive institute on Romeo and Juliet. There she meets Giacomo, a boy she immediately dislikes and who happens to be the son of her father's arch-rival Shakespearean scholar. When the two discover that other students are plotting a trick to make them fall in love, Kate and Giacomo decide to turn the tables and stage a romance. The other four participants in the seminar also find themselves smitten during their time at the institute, with most subplot emphasis on the boys trying to figure out how to woo and win the affection of the girls. In true Shakespearean fashion, the couples overcome romantic obstacles and find their way to each other. The chapter titles are each given act and scene designations to keep the structure of a play. Following the formula of a Shakespearean comedy, the novel ends with a grand ball where misunderstandings are resolved and couples are revealed in a magical evening. Readers with knowledge of Shakespeare's works will be reminded of various plays as they read; however, readers who do not catch the allusions and nods to the plays will still enjoy the story.

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The Pocket Paper Engineer

VOYA Reviews 2006 February
Would-be architects and engineers will enjoy this introduction to the art of making pop-ups. Unlike many books on the subject, this one does not offer elaborate projects. Instead Barton explains the mechanics behind basic forms and techniques. Although today pop-ups and "movables" are often associated with children's books, the author points out that as early as the fifteenth century, such constructions were used in scientific texts for fields like astronomy and human anatomy. Included in the spiral-bound volume are simple but sophisticated projects that can be cut out and constructed, designed so that "the beauty of their underlying geometries can be readily comprehended and appreciated." Judging from this promising beginning, readers who work through them patiently will be able not only to construct pop-ups but to understand the principles underlying their constructions.

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War Is...Soldiers, Survivors and Storytellers Talk About War

Aronson and Campbell have collected an outstanding array of essays, interviews, blog posts, articles, song lyrics, short stories, and letters from people directly involved in war. The book is broken into sections called "Deciding About War," "Experiencing War," and "The Aftermath of War." A former soldier writes an open letter to young enlistees, hoping they will scrutinize their reasons for joining up. The U.S. military recruitment contract is minutely examined by a high school social studies teacher. World War II reporter Ernie Pyle's articles on D-Day are reprinted. An essay about women soldiers who served in Iraq is excerpted from Helen Benedict's forthcoming book, The Lonely Soldier. And a memoir by poet Fumiko Miura, survivor of the atomic bomb at Nagasaki, is included. The volume closes with a short play and a short story about the aftereffects of war. The editors make it plain that they are antiwar, but they have made an effort to convey a variety of experiences. Overall, however, war is shown to be brutal, life-changing (not for the better), and ongoing. Aronson notes that humans have gone to war for all of recorded history and show no signs of stopping now. Many books about war for young people make it seem glamorous, exciting, and noble. This powerful collection shows its inglorious, perhaps more realistic side.— SLJ Reviews 2008 November

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Write Naked

An ancient black Royal typewriter seems to beckon sixteen-year-old Victor from a yard sale in his small Vermont town. Assured by the man who gives it to him that there is a story in it, Victor finds himself lugging the heavy typewriter on his bicycle and by foot to his uncle's cabin hidden in the woods. He likes to stay under the radar, and working on the old Royal in the hideaway seems the perfect way to express himself without being watched. He had seen a drawing of a bearded man wearing only wire-rim glasses and declaring that being naked is the way to write. In the privacy of the cabin, Victor tries it, and sure enough, words flow out of him. But then the face of a girl appears at the window. Home-schooled Rose Anna knows the woods and has been writing her eco-fable about a newt with a gold fountain pen from her grandmother. Later she and Victor agree to meet at the cabin to write and to read each other's work. Awakened to the connection between them, Victor is transformed by the sudden clarity of first love. The converging personal journeys of two thoughtful young people unfold beautifully in Victor's quirky but honest voice and in Rose Anna's self-revealing fable. The engagingly youthful narration is authentic yet rich with sensual detail and figurative language-the Royal is like a Model T waiting to take someone for a ride. Young adult readers will not want to put down this exceptional debut novel.-VOYA Reviews 2008 June

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The Military and Teens

VOYA Reviews December 2008
Individual chapters discuss various facets of military service, from basic training experiences to veteran concerns. More philosophical issues are covered as well, including discussions about the nature of patriotism and the affects of propaganda. Both liberal and conservative viewpoints are represented in most examples. Other chapters discuss military careers; racial, ethnic, and gender barriers; conscientious objectors; peace movements; and war zone experiences. Insets offer random facts about the military and sidebars offer quotes. With the pros and cons spelled out for each topic, teens will find this book useful for school assignments. Overall the information is useful and timely.

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VOYA Reviews 2008 August
This slim volume holds secrets almost too intimate to share, emotions too raw to expose, leaving the reader feeling clandestine. Once spread, its pages reveal tortured, timeless poetry, yearning hearts, broken spirits, and emotions on overload. Brutally honest, achingly tender, these glimpses of love through poetry are erotic, sibilant, and sexy. Relationships range from heterosexual to homosexual and bisexual attraction. Line after line emerges as eloquent and memorable. "To all the males whose hearts have been impaled by the spikes of my high heels." begins Amy Collier in "Apologies." "I never thought any of us would die this way" mourns Zachary Boehler in "Aside." Elichia Owens describes a girl who "holds a cigarette and a baby with the same tenderness." Katie Chow airs her jealousy in "Deceleration" "I will be the fifth wheel on your automobile. The brakes on your bicycle built for two. Oh, I'll get in the way so you're never alone." Without exception, each piece speaks with the same honesty and emotional clarity. Eloquent and evocative, this anthology deserves a place on every high school and public library shelf. These verses may prompt controversy, denial that those so young can speak with such authority and familiarity about the intimacy they share, but to refuse them exposure rejects the very essence of youth and love.

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Mummies

SLJ Reviews 2009 January - Starting off with perhaps the most famous mummy of all, King Tut, this serious yet engaging study goes well beyond familiar territory. Woog discusses how powdered Egyptian mummies were used as medicine in Europe from the Middle Ages into the 19th century. Many bog mummies of Northern Europe show signs of having been murdered or ritually sacrificed. The author also reports that there are 8000 mummies on display (many of them posed) in Sicily. Ancient Caucasian mummies have been found in the remote northwest part of China. There were self-mummifying monks in old Japan. And the process of self-mummification is explained in gruesome detail. Many experts are quoted throughout the readable text. Engaging photographs, some grisly, complement the subject. This often grim, always interesting read is perfect for reports or general reading.

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Juvenile Court: A Judge's Guide For Young Adults and Their Parents

The juvenile criminal justice system can be bewildering to minors and their caregivers; most people have little or no experience with the court system and can be overwhelmed by the frightening and complicated process. This guidebook does not replace the advice and counsel of an experienced lawyer, but it can help ease the anxiety of teens and their parents.

Krygier provides an overview of the entire juvenile criminal justice process, from the initial police detainment through court appearances and sentencing. She gives specific advice on how to best make one's case to the court. For example, bringing certain documents to your hearing, such as character references, can help the judge be favorably disposed. The book even features a glossary of legal terms and an appendix of the types of documents the reader can expect to encounter in the juvenile court process. Tips on preparing for court hearings and eye-opening excerpts from actual letters written to the court by teens about their personal experiences in the system are invaluable. Presented in a straightforward and crisp manner, this is a cru-cial reference guide; but it can also serve to warn youths, and their parents, about the consequences of breaking the law.

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