The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Setterfield, Diane. 2006. The Thirteenth Tale. New York: Atria Books.

Summary

British writer Vida Winter, one of the most prolific and popular authors in the Western world, is also one of the most enigmatic. In the sixty years of her writing career, she has spun story after story about her own life during interviews, all of them fantastic but untrue. Adding to her mystery is the Thirteenth Tale. One of her early books, a collection of short stories titled Thirteen Tales of Change and Desperation, contained only twelve tales. Later editions were published simply as Tales of Change and Desperation, leaving fans wondering about the mysterious thirteenth tale. Now, Vida is in her eighties, and has summoned amateur biographer Margaret Lea to her estate on the moors of Yorkshire to write her story, presumably the true one, but as this story within the story unfolds, it seems stranger than fiction. Is this the Thirteenth Tale? Meanwhile, writing Vida's story forces Margaret to face her own past.

Critical Analysis (OR WHY YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK--THE SCHOLARLY VERSION)

Setterfield pays homage to the gothic novel in The Thirteenth Tale, a superbly plotted book that offers readers mystery and suprising twists.

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga

Lyga, Barry. 2006. The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0618723927.

Summary

Fifteen-year-old Fanboy is a "geek" who is an outcast at school, bullied by the popular kids and the jocks. On top of everything else, his mom and his stepfather, whom he calls the Step-Fascist, are awaiting the arrival of the "alien life form," Fanboy's half-sibling. He keeps a list of those who target him and spends the rest of his time involved with his passion: graphic novels. Not only does he enjoy reading them, but he is secretly writing one, as well. Then he meets Kyra, a.k.a. Goth Girl, an edgy, rebellious girl who loves comics, too, and who hates the jocks as much as he does, and they strike up a friendship. Goth Girl shows him how to stand up for himself and accept himself for who he is.

Critical Analysis (or WHY YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK--THE SCHOLARLY VERSION)

Barry Lyga's debut novel firmly establishes him as a writer to watch. With subtle humor, quiet intensity, and a deeply intimate honesty, Lyga addresses the issue of being different and being constantly tortured by school bullies while at the same time searching for the greatness within one's self. The characterization paints an authentic picture of confused teenagers trying to find themselves. Kyra's smoking, fast-driving, and foul-mouth cover her own issues as surely as Fanboy's behavior cover his. The pain is almost tangible as the socially awkward and insecure Fanboy finds the courage to rise above the constant beating down of his spirit. His intelligence, humor, sarcasm, and creativity make Fanboy a character everyone will want to know.

Reviews

School Library Journal (starred review)--"Though he toys with such concepts as teen suicide and Columbine-like violence, the novel never turns tragic. His love of comics carries over into all three teen characters, breathing animation into a potentially sad but often funny story. This is a great bridge book for teens who already like graphic novels."

Children's Literature--"Barry Lyga perfectly captures teen angst and ironic humor in this gritty portrayal of the life of a teenage geek. Fanboy's voice manages to be truly original and, at the same time, speaks to everyone who ever felt like a geek, even for a moment."

VOYA--"The book captures the joys, the troubles, and the aloneness that one can and often does feel as an adolescent. Teens will gobble it up and wait eagerly for Lyga's next title."

KLIATT--"Dark at times yet often wryly funny, this is a penetrating and convincing look inside high school life."

WHY YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK--THE REGUALR VERSION

Um, what else can I say? You have to read this one! You'll laugh out loud, but at times, you'll feel that burn behind your eyes that means you probably need a tissue. Again, girls and boys will like Fanboy and Goth Girl, but guys, here's another one that's especially good for you.

IF YOU LIKED THIS BOOK, YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

Well, it's newly published: Barry Lyga's next book is awesome, too. It's called BOY TOY and here's the book description from the cover:

Josh Mendel has a secret. Unfortunately, everyone knows what it is. Five years ago, Josh's life changed. Drastically. And everyone in his school, his town-seems like the world-thinks they understand. But they don't-they can't. And now, about to graduate from high school, Josh is still trying to sort through the pieces. First there's Rachel, the girl he thought he'd lost years ago. She's back, and she's determined to be part of his life, whether he wants her there or not. Then there are college decisions to make, and the toughest baseball game of his life coming up, and a coach who won't stop pushing Josh all the way to the brink. And then there's Eve. Her return brings with it all the memories of Josh's past. It's time for Josh to face the truth about what happened. If only he knew what the truth was...

This book made me forget I was reading....

You can order it from Amazon.

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

Bibliography

Anderson, Laurie Halse. 2007. Twisted. New York: Viking Juvenile. ISBN 0670061018.

Summary

High school senior Tyler Miller spent the summer doing community service after committing "The Foul Deed," and hard labor community service at that. The benefit is that it beefed up his muscles, so he returns to school in the fall transformed from a skinny dweeb "Nerd Boy" to a buff god. This seems to be his lucky year as the girl of his dreams, popular rich-girl Bethany Milbury, appears to take a liking to him. Things aren't as great as they seem, though. He still has a verbally abusive father--whose boss just happens to be Bethany's dad--and then something happens at a party he and Bethany attend that turns her against him. Soon after, the whole school turns against him after he is accused of a vile act he didn't commit.

Critical Analysis (or WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT--THE SCHOLARLY VERSION)

Anderson lives up to the expectation she set with her acclaimed novel Speak. Once again, she addresses difficult teen issues like fitting in, lust, academic pressure, identity, and personal integrity, this time with a male protagonist. In first-person narrative, she gives Tyler an amazingly authentic teen voice. He's witty and sometimes sarcastic, but always worth listening to. As the story unfolds and he learns that sometimes what people think is more important than reality, and that life is not always as simple as "doing the right thing," his voice darkens with his despair. In Tyler, Anderson creates a complex, dynamic character who is likeable despite his imperfections. He makes poor choices and sometimes does things for the wrong reasons, but ultimately, he overcomes his despair and matures into someone whose integrity we respect.

Anderson has a gift for getting into the teen mind and portraying adolescence in all its glory AND its raw pain.

Reviews

School Library Journal--"Once again, Anderson's taut, confident writing will cause this story to linger long after the book is set down."

Booklist--"What works well here is the frank, on-target humor ("I was a zit on the butt of the student body"), the taut pacing, and the small moments, recounted in Tyler's first-person voice, that illuminate his emotional anguish. Writing for the first time from a male perspective, Anderson skillfully explores identity and power struggles that all young people will recognize."

Publisher's Weekly--"This dark comedy gives a chillingly accurate portrayal of the high-school social scene, in which morals, perceptions and conceptions of truth are continually being challenged. Tyler may not gain hero status with his peers, but readers will respect his integrity, which outshines his mistakes."

VOYA--"Tyler faces issues that are both universal and original, from overwhelming lust and an overloaded school schedule to complex notions of manhood. The way he handles himself will have readers both cringing and cheering. This compelling novel of growth and maturity will be eagerly received by readers awaiting another story from this talented author."

WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT--THE REGULAR VERSION

This book rocks! Tyler is funny and the problems he faces are familiar. He's going through the agony of growing up, just like the rest of us. He's a dork, and wants to fit in, just like the rest of us. He has "most embarrassing moments," just like the rest of us. And he goofs up all the time, just like the rest of us. Even when he does the right thing, he gets in trouble! Yeesh! The important thing, though, is that he shows us that there is a light at the end of the tunnel if we have the right attitude. We can't control situations, but we CAN control how we respond to them. Everyone will like this book, but it's especially good for guys (since it seems like so much of the good teen lit out there is written for girls).

IF YOU LIKED THIS BOOK, YOU MIGHT ALSO WANT TO READ:

*Other books by Laurie Halse Anderson (Halse rhymes with "waltz.")

SPEAK. When Melinda Sordino's friends discover she called the police to quiet a party, they ostracize her, turning her into an outcast -- even among kids she barely knows. But even worse than the harsh conformity of high-school cliques is a secret that you have to hide.

CATALYST. Eighteen-year-old Kate, who sometimes chafes at being a preacher's daughter, finds herself losing control in her senior year as she faces difficult neighbors, the possibility that she may not be accepted by the college of her choice, and an unexpected death.

*Other good books for guys:

Sones, Sonya. WHAT MY GIRLFRIEND DOESN'T KNOW. This is a verse novel (that means it's written in poetry), but don't let that scare you. You'll forget you're reading poetry before you've even finished the first page. Here, I'll show you. This excerpt is from the inside front cover:

My name is Robin.

This book is about me.

It tells the story of what happens

when after almost 15 pathetic years of loserdom,

the girl of my dreams finally falls for me.

That seems like it would be

a good thing, right?

Only it turns out to be

a lot more complicated than that

Because I'm not gonna lie to you --

there are naked women involved.

Four of them, to be exact.

Though not in the way you might think.

Don't get me wrong -- my girlfriend's amazing.

But the way things have been going lately,

I'm starting to believe that the only thing worse

than not getting what you want,

is getting it.

(See, I told you it's good!)

Sonnenblick, Jordan. NOTES FROM THE MIDNIGHT DRIVER. 16-year-old Alex decides to get even. His parents are separated, his father is dating his former third-grade teacher, and being 16 isn't easy, especially when it comes to girls. Instead of revenge though, Alex ends up in trouble with the law and is ordered to do community service at a senior center where he is assigned to Solomon Lewis, a "difficult" senior with a lot of gusto, advice for Alex, and a puzzling (yet colorful) Yiddish vocabulary. Eventually, the pair learn to deal with their past and each other in ways that are humorous, entertaining, and life-changing.

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Bibliography

Haddix, Margaret Peterson. 1998. Among the Hidden. New York: Simon and Shuster Books for Young Readers.

Summary

Twelve year-old Luke is an illegal third child in a society where the Population Police only allow each family two children. He must always hide, never allowed outside, living in isolation for the entire twelve years of his life until one day he sees a child's face in a window of the house next door--a house where he knows two other children already live. Could the person he'd seen be another "shadow child" like he is?

Critical Analysis

Margaret Peterson Haddix has a created a dystopic-but-fascinating future society where individual freedoms are smashed under the thumb of a totalitarian government. Readers will be hooked by Luke's situation as a shadow child, and further, the dilemma he faces after discovering another third child. He has hope for a friend, finally, but for that to happen, he must risk of exposing himself. Haddix skillfully builds suspense, leaving readers to wonder about Luke's safety, and if eventually, there is hope that he may have the opportunity to lead a life worth living.

Reviews

Publisher's Weekly--"...the unsettling, thought-provoking premise should suffice to keep readers hooked."

School Library Journal--"Readers will be captivated by Luke's predicament and his reactions to it."

WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT--THE BASIC VERSION:

It's difficult for me to imagine a life like the one Luke must live. As I read, it made me think about all the freedoms that I take for granted. Reading about what life is like for him was fascinating to me, even though I found myself angry at the society he lives in. I couldn't wait to see what actions Luke might take to change his situation. There has to be hope, right? This story is really compelling because it makes you think about what it would be like to live like this and wonder how you would react in the same situation.

IF YOU LIKED THIS BOOK, YOU MIGHT ALSO WANT TO READ:

(You're in luck! This book is the first in a series about shadow children. Woo hoo!)

*Other books in the Shadow Children Series

AMONG THE IMPOSTERS. This one continues Luke's story with his entering a boarding school under an assumed name.

AMONG THE BETRAYED. Thirteen-year-old Nina is imprisoned by the Population Police, who give her the option of helping them identify illegal "third-born" children, or facing death.

AMONG THE BARONS. In a future world of false identities, government lies, and death threats, Luke feels drawn to the younger brother of the boy whose name Luke has taken.

*Other books about dystopic societies (which means "something's not quite right...")

Yay! Another series! The Books of Ember series:

DuPrau, Jeanne. CITY OF EMBER. In the year 241, twelve-year-old Lina trades jobs on Assignment Day to be a Messenger to run to new places in her decaying but beloved city, perhaps even to glimpse Unknown Regions.

_____. THE PEOPLE OF SPARKS. Having escaped to the Unknown Regions, Lina and the others seek help from the village people of Sparks.

_____. THE PROPHET OF YONWOOD. This one's a prequel, which means that it comes after City of Ember, but the story actually takes place BEFORE. In The Prophet of Yonwood, it's fifty years before the settlement of Ember. Interesting.

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

2006 National Book Award Finalist--Young People's Literature
2006 Printz Honor Book

Bibliography
Yang, Gene Luen. 2006. American Born Chinese. New York: First Second. ISBN 1596431520.

Summary
American Born Chinese is a graphic novel comprised of three separate story lines: the Monkey King of Chinese folk legend who aspires to shed his primate status and become a god; Jin Wang, a Chinese-American boy who just wants to fit in with the American kids in his predominantly white middle school; and Danny, the blonde, blue-eyed, football-playing teenaged boy who is terribly embarrassed and ashamed of his Chinese cousin Chin-Kee, a deliberately exaggerated negative stereotype of Chinese people. In the end, all three stories merge in a surprising and delightful way.

Critical Analysis
Yang skillfully blends pain and humor into this tale about accepting who you are and being comfortable in your own skin. American Born Chinese tackles the heavy issues of racism and self-identity with deceptive simplicity. The moral of the story is obvious, but it's not preachy. Beautifully colored illustrations capture the emotions each of the characters experiences and really add to the overall portrayal of the story. The lines are clean with lots of white space around the drawings, focusing readers' attention on the important details that add meaning.

Even though American Born Chinese speaks specifically to Asians, anybody who has ever wished he or she could be someone else or wake up with a new body will recognize themselves and identify with this book.

Reviews

School Library Journal (starred review)--"[Three] stories converge into a satisfying coming-of-age novel that aptly blends traditional Chinese fables and legends with bathroom humor, action figures, and playground politics."

Booklist--"Yang helps the humor shine by using his art to exaggerate or contradict the words, creating a synthesis that marks an accomplished graphic storyteller."

Voya--"This graphic novel could be especially cathartic for teens and adults of Asian descent, but people of any ethnicity would find themselves reflected in the universal themes of self-acceptance, peer pressure, and racial tensions."

Why you should read it--the basic version:

The story is fun, even though it has an important message. The pictures often "say" the opposite of what the words say, and this irony actually says a lot more than just pictures or just words can say. It's a cool partnership of text and drawings. At times, you'll laugh out loud, like when Jin takes his crush on a date for the first time and worries about the sweat in his pits. His solution leads to a potentially REALLY embarrassing situation. And the way the stories all tie together in the end is very cool. I knew the stories were supposed to come together in the end, but as I read, I couldn't figure out HOW they could possibly be related. Then end surprised me.

IF YOU LIKED THIS BOOK, YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ:

*Other books by Gene Luen Yang:

GORDON YAMAMOTO AND THE KING OF THE GEEKS. The first comic Yang ever did as an adult. Tale of a dim-witted but lovable high school student who learns an important lesson on life after getting something unexpectedly lodged up his nostril. How can you resist a book with a guy picking his nose on the cover?

LOYOLA CHIN AND THE SAN PELIGRAN ORDER. A story about Gordon's crush, a Chinese-American girl who controls her dreams by eating certain foods before she goes to sleep.

Or check out Gene Yang's website, http://www.humblecomics.com/index.htm, to find out more about his mini-comics, how he came about writing his books, or just about him.

Wolff, Virginia Euwer. 2001. True Believer. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Fifteen-year-old LaVaughn is growing up, and in the process, she must deal with her crush on Jody, the boy who lives three floors below her; her mother's new dating situation; growing away from her friends; and working toward getting out of her squalid apartment and the housing projects.

A National Book Award winner and Michael L. Printz honor book, True Believer is the second book in Virginia Euwer Wolff's Make Lemonade trilogy about spunky urban teenager LaVaughn, whose story she tells in powerful first-person, free verse poetry.

LaVaughn is a richly developed character: sensitive yet strong, bright yet confused. Amid concerns about sexuality, she and her friends Myrtle and Annie vow to save themselves for their "right husband / when he comes along." The life-long friends begin to grow apart, however, when Myrtle and Annie join the Cross Your Legs for Jesus club and LaVaughn does not: "And Cross Your Legs for Jesus seems like a good idea at first. / But it doesn't feel right / when I think about it."Instead, LaVaughn decides to trust her own common sense and her plan to go to college, which drives her determination to stay away from the dream-killer of possible pregnancy or worse.

She knows that college is her only hope of escaping the poverty and violence that define her current lifestyle. However, her focus is tested when Jody, a boy from her past, moves back into the projects. "He is suddenly beautiful," she says. He makes "my heart too loud for comfort / and my brain not so level either." Meanwhile, she's placed on a more rigorous academic track at school, which separates her even further from her friends, and her mother begins dating for the first time since LaVaughn's father's death when she was a baby.

Through LaVaughn's candid reflections, Wolff creates a strong sense of voice and shows us the innermost doubts and fears of adolescents, thoughts that most young people keep deeply hidden but that everyone has had. The art of her poetry is her ability to put words together in surprising and refreshing ways. My favorite phrases include "My throat was full of heartbeat," "In gym, Myrtle & Annie were so sideways to me, / their private looks detoured around me," and "my whole body went twang."

With a subtle but clever substitution, Wolff highlights LaVaughn's isolation from her friends stylistically by always replacing the conjunction "and" with an ampersand when referring to Myrtle and Annie: "Me and Myrtle & Annie could say 1,000 examples." They become inextricably tied together by the ampersand, leaving LaVaughn disconnected from the friendship.

True Believer is a poignant coming-of-age verse novel with a hopeful message about succeeding despite the odds. Some sensitive subject matter makes this book most appropriate for high school and upper junior high/middle school grades.

Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy

Bibliography

Sones, Sonya. 1999. STOP PRETENDING: WHAT HAPPENED WHEN MY BIG SISTER WHEN CRAZY. New York: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 0060283874.

Summary

Thirteen year-old Cookie's older sister has a mental breakdown, throwing her life into a tailspin as she must deal with life without her friend and confidante. In the end, she and her family find the middle ground where they can accept her sister's illness, move beyond it, and even find recovery.

Critical Analysis

Told in a series of brief free-verse poems, STOP PRETENDING: WHAT HAPPENED WHEN MY BIG SISTER WENT CRAZY packs a powerful punch of huge emotion. Each poem is another kick in the gut.

Adolescents will identify with the doubts and fears the protagonist faces. She misses her sister as she used to be. She's afraid of her friends' reactions if they find out about her sister. She fears that since her sister went from normal to crazy so unexpectedly, it could happen to her, too.

Through straightforward yet vivid language, Sones gets to the core of human experience, those moments so universal, we all have them, yet so private, we feel we are the only ones to experience it: "there's/ this golden moment/ when the sun/ licks through the gauze/ fluttering at my window/ warming my eyelids to opening/ this golden moment/ when I'm not yet awake enough/ to remember/ that there are things/ I would rather/ forget." Readers will say to themselves, "Yes! I know exactly what she means!"

The poetry itself is unintimidating and serves the story well. Sones effectively conveys abstract emotions through concrete imagery and easily understood figurative language ("I blink/ and there you suddenly are/ inhabiting your eyes again/ and I'm feeling all lit up/ like a jar filled/ with a thousand fireflies"), allowing insight into a very difficult topic without the deeply couched meaning that often keeps readers away from poetry.

Review Excerpts

School Library Journal--"An unpretentious, accessible book that could provide entry points for a discussion about mental illness - its stigma, its realities, and its effect on family members."

Kirkus--"Individually, the poems appear simple and unremarkable, snapshot portraits of two sisters, a family, unfaithful friends, and a sweet first love. Collected they take on life and movement, the individual frames of a movie that in the unspooling become animated..."

Booklist (starred review)-- "The poems - some as short as five lines, none longer than three pages - have a cumulative emotional power that creeps up on the reader..."

Connections

*This book is sure to open up discussion about various topics: mental illness, being shunned by friends, what it's like when parents fight, and sibling relationships, to name a few.*

Other verse novels by Sonya Sones:

WHAT MY MOTHER DOESN'T KNOW. ISBN 0689855532. Adolescent Sophie is not boy crazy, just confused, and trying to figure out the difference between love and lust.

ONE OF THOSE HIDEOUS BOOKS WHERE THE MOTHER DIES. ISBN 1416907882. Ruby's mother dies and she must move 3000 miles away from her friends and boyfriend to Los Angeles to live with her father, who divorced her mother before she was even born and whom she despises.

*Verse novels by other authors:

Carvell, Marlene. WHO WILL TELL MY BROTHER? ISBN 0786816570.

Creech, Sharon. LOVE THAT DOG. ISBN 0064409597.

Hesse, Karen. OUT OF THE DUST. ISBN 0590371258.

Johnson, Lindsay Lee. SOUL MOON SOUP. ISBN 1886910871.

Wolff, Virginia Euwer. MAKE LEMONADE and its sequel TRUE BELIEVER.

An American Plague by Jim Murphy

NCTE Orbis Pictus Award

2004 Robert J. Sibert Informational Book Award

2004 Newbery Honor Book Award

Bibliography

Murphy, Jim. 2003. AN AMERICAN PLAGUE: THE TRUE AND TERRIFYING STORY OF THE YELLOW FEVER EPIDEMIC OF 1793. New York: Clarion Books.

Summary

In 1793, a killer holds Philadelphia hostage. It is yellow fever. In the heat and the humidity of late summer, the fever flourishes, but no one knows what is causing it or how to stop it. While half the residents flee and those who stay die by the dozens daily, the city flounders.

Critical Analysis

Based on numerous primary sources, Murphy's account is well-researched and well-written. Without sacrificing accuracy, he recreates the horror of 1793 Philadelphia through narrative rich with imagery that transports readers back in time: "Dead fish and gooey vegetable matter were exposed and rotted, while swarms of insects droned in the heavy, humid air." First-hand accounts blend perfectly with Murphy's text to emphasize the humanity of the victims and make them real for readers, rather than just a list of names.

In addition to the compelling text, AN AMERICAN PLAGUE is full of pictures that help readers imagine what the city was like back then, including contemporary portraits of key people, facsimiles of newspaper articles of the time, engravings of Philadelphia prior to the fever, and a map of 1793 Philadelphia.

Murphy provides an extensive bibliography in the back, arranged by subject, to facilitate readers' researching further the aspects they want to know more about, and an index for finding information quickly.

Review Excerpts

The Washington Post--"Nobody does juvenile nonfiction better than Murphy."

Kirkus Reviews -- "A mesmerizing, macabre account that will make readers happy they live in the 21st century. Powerful, evocative prose carries the compelling subject matter. Stellar."

School Library Journal -- "Murphy chronicles this frightening time with solid research and a flair for weaving facts into fascinating stories."

Connections

*FictionAnderson, Laurie Halse. 2002. FEVER, 1793. ISBN 0689848919. Historical novel based on the actual yellow fever epidemic of 1793.

*Other historical nonfiction by Jim Murphy:

Murphy, Jim. 2000. BLIZZARD: THE STORM THAT CHANGED AMERICA. ISBN 0590673092. The blizzard that hit the northeast in 1888.

_____. 1995. THE GREAT FIRE. ISBN 0590472674. The fire that almost destroyed Chicago in 1871.

Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman

Newbery Honor Book

Bibliography

Cushman, Karen. 1995. CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY. New York: Harper Collins Children's Books. ISBN 0064405842.

Summary

Thirteen year-old Catherine's father wants to marry her off to the highest bidder, but this medieval English teenager will have none of it. High-spirited and independent, Catherine rebels against the submissive, domestic role she is expected to take as a gentlewoman.

Critical Analysis

Catherine complains in her first diary entry, “I am commanded to write an account of my days: I am bit by fleas and plagued by family. That is all there is to say.”

Karen Cushman provides a brilliant introduction to Catherine, whose older brother, she reveals in a subsequent entry, commands her to keep a journal in the hopes it will cause her to be “less childish and more learned.” Although she resents the assignment, she sticks with it, if for no other reason than it keeps her from the “foolish boredom of spinning.” As she chronicles her daily routines, worries, disappointments, and pleasures, Catherine develops from a sullen, rebellious teenager into a young lady with new insights, while at the same time giving an inadvertent, closest-thing-to-time-travel experience to modern readers.

Cushman seamlessly blends authentic details about the food, hygiene, medical practices, daily circumstances, customs, and beliefs of the times into the story. She follows her narrative with historical notes about medieval England and a list of recommended books for young readers who want to know more about the period.

Review Excerpts

School Library Journal--"Superb historical fiction."

Kirkus Reviews-- "The period has rarely been presented for young people with such authenticity; the exotic details will intrigue readers while they relate more closely to Birdy's yen for independence and her sensibilities toward the downtrodden."

If you liked this book, you might also want to take a look at these:

*Nonfiction books about medieval England/Europe:

By Joseph and Frances Gies:

DAILY LIFE IN MEDIEVAL TIMES. ISBN 0760759138.

LIFE IN A MEDIEVAL CITY. ISBN 0060908807.

LIFE IN A MEDIEVAL VILLAGE. ISBN 0060920467.

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY IN THE MIDDLE AGES. ISBN 0060914688.

WOMEN IN THE MIDDLE AGES. ISBN 0060923040.

Cosman, Madeleine Pelner. FABULOUS FEASTS: MEDIEVAL COOKERY AND CEREMONY. ISBN 080760898X.

Newman, Paul B. DAILY LIFE IN THE MIDDLE AGES. ISBN 0786408979.

*Historical fiction set in medieval England/Europe:

de Angeli, Marguerite. THE DOOR IN THE WALL. ISBN 0440402832. (Newbery Award) Cushman, Karen. THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE. ISBN 006440630X. (Newbery Award) Konigsberg, E. L. A PROUD TASTE FOR SCARLET AND MINIVER. ISBN 068984624X .

*Other books by Karen Cushman:

THE BALLAD OF LUCY WHIPPLE. ISBN 0064406849. (American Gold Rush)

THE LOUD SILENCE OF FRANCINE GREEN. ISBN 0618504559. (1949 Los Angeles)

MATILDA BONE. ISBN 0440418224. (Medieval England)

THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE. ISBN 006440630X. (Newbery Award)

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

2005 Michael L. Printz YA Award

Bibliography

Rosoff, Meg. 2006. HOW I LIVE NOW. New York: Random House Children's Books. ISBN 0553376055.

Summary

Escaping her widowed father and his new bride, fifteen year-old Daisy goes to England to stay with her aunt and cousins, whom she has never met. She falls in love with their farm outside London and with her cousins, too--especially Edmond, with whom she develops a special bond. Not long after she arrives, though, terrorists bomb London. Unfortunately, Aunt Penn is away on business at the time and can't get back to the children, leaving them alone on the farm to fend for themselves.

At first, the children are far removed from the war, enjoying their adult-free time with little difficulty. But soon, the war finds them as soldiers arrive at the farm and split the cousins up, sending the girls to a holding camp and the boys somewhere else. Daisy vows to find Edmond. She and her cousin Piper manage to break away and set off on a perilous cross-country trek to search for him. In the end, they are reunited, but the reunion is shockingly bittersweet.

Critical Analysis

Told in first person, conversational narration, HOW I LIVE NOW gives us an intensely personal look at events through Daisy's candid eyes. Contrary to realistic children's and young adult literature published prior to the 1960s, which usually does not portray negative aspects of society, more recent publications have addressed issues such as divorce, sexuality, homelessness, mental and physical illness, and violence. Rosoff adheres to the trend and addresses the less-than-perfect aspects of Daisy's life. Like so many of today's teenagers, Daisy is confronted with tough issues: her mother's death, her father's remarrying, a "wicked" stepmother--one who is pregnant, no less--and anorexia. She's vulnerable to romance, and like a typical teenager, is drawn to the forbidden; in this case, a questionable relationship with her cousin Edmond, which she calls "the world's most inappropriate case of sexual obsession."

Rosoff reveals Daisy's character through a strong, consistent voice, and while some readers may find the long sentences and unorthodox punctuation frustrating, they reflect Daisy's personality and state-of-mind. Over the course of the novel, Daisy transforms from a selfish adolescent into a young woman who faces conflict rather than running from it. She learns compassion, responsibility (to herself and others), and perseverance in the face of fear and adversity. The lessons she learns are embedded neatly in the story for readers to discover rather than overtly thrown in their faces.

Review Excerpts

Publisher's Weekly (starred)--"This riveting first novel paints a frighteningly realistic picture of a world war breaking out in the 21st century . . . Readers will emerge from the rubble much shaken, a little wiser, and with perhaps a greater sense of humanity.

"The Horn Book (starred)--“A winning combination of acerbic commentary, innocence, and sober vision. . . . Hilarious, lyrical, and compassionate."