Book of a Thousand Days

by Shannon Hale

This beautifully written, lyrical novel is based on a lesser-known Grimm Brothers fairy tale. Though the plot is engaging, and the characters appealing, it's the language that drew me through the story. Book of a Thousand Days reads more like poetry or a song, than like prose. It has more striking similes than I can remember encountering in a novel before. Phrases like "his soul slipped back inside, curled up like a cat in his chest, and purred to be home," and "I was under the stars like a fish is under water," and "in a few months' time winter would whack us dead like a yak's tail slaps a fly," run all through the text. Since Dashti, a peasant girl and the main character of the story, has learned to sing all the healing songs from her mother, the lilting quality of the language perfectly complements the events of the plot. And healing is one of the main themes--healing of body and soul. This is a story full of cruelty, privation, and destruction, yet Dashti's songs keep the tone light and hopeful. The structure of this book is in Dashti's diary entries as she and her mistress Saren are bricked up in a tower by Saren's father for seven years, without light or fresh air, because she wouldn't agree to marry the man her father had chosen for her. After half that time, they manage to break themselves out, only to find that the lady's home city has been utterly destroyed by the man she was to marry. They travel on to the city of Khan Tegus, the ruler of a neighboring kingdom, and the man Saren wants to marry. There they find work in the palace kitchen, and Dashti waits for an opportunity to make Saren's presence known to Tegus. Though Dashti is allowed to sing her songs of healing to the khan, Saren is too afraid to reveal herself, and Dashti falls in love with Tegus herself. In the end, both Saren and Dashti gain happiness through separate acts of bravery. And everyone lived happily ever after. --reviewed by Dail Sams

Me, the Missing, and the Dead

by Jenny Valentine

An amazine first novel by Valentine, Me, the Missing and the Dead, has a clever plot, well-developed, dynamic characters, and a surprise ending. What more could you want? Here's the story: Peter Swain, the father of our narrator, Lucas, disappeared without a trace five years ago. His wife and three children don't know if he's alive or dead. They just know he never came home one day. Lucas feels like he's the only one who cares, who is trying to keep his father's memory alive. In a seemingly unrelated event, Lucas wanders into a cab company early one morning to catch a cab home, and notices an urn sitting up on a shelf. It contains the ashes of Violet Park, and she and her urn were left in a cab five years ago and never claimed. For some reason, that makes Lucas really sad, and he is determined to take possession of Violet's ashes and sprinkle them in a nice place. He just can't rest until he's done it; it seems that Violet is calling to him. With the help of his grandmother, Lucas claims the ashes and begins doing research on Violet Park. She was a noted pianist, in several movies, and craziest of all, she had known his dad. Lucas begins to wonder if there is a connection between Violet's death and his father's disappearance. On this year's Tayshas list, Me, the Missing, and the Dead is a great novel about seeking the truth and learning when to let go. Highly recommended.

--reviewed by Dail Sams

hush: an Irish princess' tale

by Donna Jo Napoli

In hush, Napoli has created a haunting tale based on an ancient Irish folk story about a princess named Melkorka. Melkorka is beautiful and haughty, used to being waited upon and to looking down on those who serve her. A brutal attack in which her older brother's hand is severed, causes their mother to send Melkorka and her little sister, Brigid, away for safety. Along the way, the girls are abducted by slave traders, and very quickly learn what they must do to survive. Melkorka deals with her situation by becoming mute. She reminds herself continually of some of her mother's last words to her--"hush Melkorka, hush." Her lack of speech, causes her captors to be curious and even afraid of her which protects her from unwanted attention. Eventually Melkorka is sold to a man who treats her well, though he uses her as a concubine. However, as a slave, she has no rights and virtually no chance of ever returning home.

This story gives a grim picture of life in 900 A.D. British Isles. Raiding Vikings cause constant fear, and there is unrelenting work for the common people just to maintain the barest necessities of life. Napoli has once again given us a realistic picture of ancient life, and a strong character in Melkorka who changes from a spoiled princess to a compassionate, capable survivor. A great historical read on this year's Tayshas list. --reviewed by Dail Sams

TEEN, INC. by Stefan Petrucha

For most teens, having two parents to answer to, is more than enough. Just imagine if you had a whole corporation in charge of your life? What if you had to attend board meetings to discuss your dating life? Meet 14 year-old Jaiden Beale, NECorp's adopted "son." When a NECorp product accident killed his parents when he was three weeks old, the company decided to settle 40 million dollars on him and to take care of him until he reaches adulthood. Since Jaiden has no other relatives, he doesn't remember his parents, and the company buys him lots of cool electronic gadgets, Jaiden really has no reason to resist the arrangement. He did have to push his management team to allow him to attend public school after years of private tutors. And the whole power meeting on potential dates was too much to bear, but it was not until he learns from Jenny, a classmate, that NECorp is dangerously polluting the local water supply with mercury, that he starts questioning his loyalty to the company. A series of bizarre incidents and teen pranks follow which lead to NECorp having to clean up its act and Jaiden being faced with some decisions about his future.

Teen, Inc. is an entertaining and highly readable story, but I found it a little confusing. The author couldn't seem to make up his mind if he was writing a comedy or a serious novel about pollution and corrupt business practices. And the basis for the story and several goings-on within the plot just weren't believable. However, Jaiden is a totally normal and likable character, in spite of his strange "home" life, so many students will enjoy reading Teen, Inc. --reviewed by Dail Sams

The

Hunger Games

by Suzanne Collins

It's Reaping Day again in Panem, and every person in each of the 12 districts is required by the government to dress in his or her best clothes and appear in the city square for the lottery. Two teenagers from each of the districts, one boy and one girl, will be chosen for the annual Hunger Games, a contest among the 24 teenagers from all the districts, televised across the country. The Hunger Games, is just one way that the Capitol wields its power over its citizens, for everyone is afraid their child, or their friend, will be chosen, and no one is powerful enough to resist. This year, 12--year-old Prim is chosen, but her older sister, Katniss immediately volunteers to take her place. Katniss and Peeta, the baker's son, leave that day for the Capitol, a place of unimaginable luxury, where they, along with the other contestants from the other districts are pampered and fed and coached for days before the games begin. But none of the riches they are given can really ease the terror of what they will encounter when the Hunger Games commence. For the Hunger Games is a challenge to the death, and only one teen can be the victor!

This dystopian novel is reminiscent of Shirley Jackson's story, The Lottery, with elements of Big Brother in Orwell's 1984. Panem is a frightening future North America, the land area vastly reduced because of global warming, flooding, natural disasters, and war. But the main characters are strong, appealing survivors, and the action runs the gamut from sweet and touching acts of selflessness to brutal savagery, with the government being the true bad guy. I loved this book! It has everything a good read should have, and the best thing of all is that the sequel , Catching Fire, is due out in September. The Hunger Games is on this year's American Library Association's Top Ten best books for young adults, and the 2009-2010 Texas Tayshas list. --reviewed by Dail Sams

Black & White and Dead All Over

by John Darnton

It's bad enough that the New York Globe is struggling with decreasing circulation and advertising while its readership increasingly depends on the Internet for its news. But the Globe is really in trouble when one of its most hated editors is murdered and his bleeding body deposited on the floor of the main newsroom, with a stake through his chest. Ace reporter Jude Hurley is given the assignment to cover the murder, teaming up with NYPD detective, Priscilla Bollingsworth. They are obviously dealing with a clever murderer because two weeks pass with little real evidence and few clues coming to light, while two more Globe reporters are murdered in ever more gruesome ways. The ambitions and petty jealousies of editors and reporters at the Globe put nearly everyone under suspicion and make for a smart, suspenseful story by Pulitzer-prize winning journalist, John Darnton. This great read will be available at the LHS library this fall.

---reviewed by Dail Sams

SLAM by Nick Hornby

Sam is a normal 15-year-old boy whose life has finally hit a great spot. He has a decent relationship with his single mom, his art teacher has encouraged him to go to college in graphic design, he has learned some great skateboarding moves, and he has a beautiful girlfriend. World-famous skateboarder Tony Hawk is Sam's hero and the source of his best advice, in the form of quotes from Hawk's autobiography, which Sam has read about a thousand times. But all it takes is one 5-minute slip in judgment, and his life is changed forever. He receives a slam against the wall, in a big way. When he finds out his girlfriend is pregnant, all he thinks about doing is running away, but in the end, Sam does the only thing he can do. He decides to be responsible and does some major growing up. Sam is a funny and oddly endearing character, and Hornby, an English author, has written a realistic novel about teenage fatherhood, and the importance of taking responsiblilty for our mistakes. Three of Nick Hornby's books have been made into major motion pictures. Find out more about him on his official website, http://www.nicksbooks.com/index.php/archives/category/news/. Read Slam, on this year's Tayshas list. --reviewed by Dail Sams

What I Saw and How I Lied

by Judy Blundell

This is a classic coming of age story set in post-World War II Palm Beach, Florida. Evie and her mom and step-father, just home from the war, leave their New Jersey home for a celebratory trip to Palm Beach. Evie, nearly 16, believes herself to be a plain, awkward girl, and constantly compares herself to her knock-out gorgeous mother Beverly. But while in Florida, Evie falls for a handsome GI who shows up to see her step-father Joe. Peter is friendly and kind to Evie, and she begins to believe that she can make Peter see her own beauty. It is obvious that there is tension between Joe and Peter for reasons that Evie can't quite understand. Evie is naive and inexperienced and completely misreads what is going on right under her nose. When Peter is mysteriously killed in a boating accident with her parents, and Joe comes under suspicion, Evie learns that she has never really known the people who are closest to her. In the period of a few days, she grows up, learns some of the truth and realizes what she has to do to protect her world. Evie Spooner will never be the same again. What I Saw and How I Lied is the 2009 National Book Award Winner. --reviewed by Dail Sams

The London Eye Mystery

by Siobhan Dowd

The London Eye is one of the most recognizable landmarks of London. Perched on the edge of the Thames, it is an enormous Ferris wheel-looking thing, only not, because you can't see the wheel turning. It goes so slowly, it takes 30 minutes for the wheel to to make one complete revolution, and on a clear day, those who ride can see all over London. Ted, the narrator of this book, and Kat, his not-always friendly sister, take their cousin Salim to ride the Eye, when he makes a visit to London. Since a strange man offered them a free ticket, and Kat and Ted had already ridden the Eye before, they decided to let Salim ride by himself, while they waited for him below. Keeping their eye on the capsule Salim had entered, they waited for 30 minutes till it came back around. And when it did, Salim did not emerge from the capsule. Ted and Kat waited for the next capsules, then started frantically searching all around the area, but Salim had disappeared. The next day the police are called in, and soon Salim's parents decide to make an appeal on TV. All the while Ted and Kat are doing their own investigation and coming up with their own sometimes hilarious theories. Ted, our narrator, has Asperger's Syndrome, which means his brain works a little differently than most people's. It also means he is very literal, which leads to some pretty funny explanations on his part. But it also means that he is very helpful in the investigation, because he looks at the situation from a very unique perspective. While doing their best to find Salim, Kat and Ted become better friends, and both of them do some growing up. The London Eye Mystery is a serious story, because Salim could really be in danger, but Ted's funny commentary, keeps the story light. A fun, quick read, and on this year's Texas Lone Star list. ~reviewed by Dail Sams

Sundays at Tiffanys

By James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet

I heard a radio interview with internationally known author James Patterson the other day on my way home from school. Amazingly, he has nine, yes nine, books coming out this year. He manages this by having co-authors. Such is the case with Sundays at Tiffanys, a tender love story, reminiscent of Nicholas Sparks. Jane Margaux is the 8-year-old daughter of an inattentive single mom, Vivienne, a hard-nosed, ever busy Broadway producer. Jane survives because she has an imaginary friend named Michael. Michael is a grown man whose job it is to befriend needy children. We are never quite sure if he's ghost or angel, but whatever he is, he takes very good care of Jane until she turns 9 years old, when he has to leave her. That's the rule. Michael can only stay until the child's ninth birthday, because after that, she can manage on her own. He endures these excruciatingly difficult leave-takings because the children he loves and leaves forget him almost immediately. Even for Michael, the memories of his children become very fuzzy. But Jane is special, and she never forgets Michael, and he doesn't forget her.

Fast forward 20 years, and Michael is back in NYC. One day he sees Jane, who is still being walked all over by one who should love her. To his astonishment, she recognizes him. This is a modern-day fairy tale, so it is not hard to imagine where this story goes. Though Sundays at Tiffany's holds few surprises, it is still a satisfying read for those of us who love happily ever afters.

--reviewed by Dail Sams