23. Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler's Shadow by Susan Campbell Bartoletti (Scholastic, 2005)

BOOK: NONFICTION (ages 10-16)

Brief Description: Hitler Youth chronicles the lives of twelve German young people and their participation in or resistance to Hitler's controversial use of children to further his ideology. The accounts are disturbing yet hopeful as readers learn of featured childrens' feelings about their involvement in the Hitler Youth following WWII . What many youth believed was a fun group to belong to eventually learned the truth about the Fuhrer. Firsthand accounts make this book incredibly compelling; photographs complete the horrific visuals of Nazi Germany and the man who changed Germany forever.

Awards: Carolyn W. Field Award, 2006; John Newbery Medal, 2006; Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children, 2006; Parent's Choice Award, 2005; Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal, 2006

Personal Opinion: I have resisted reading this book for some time as my own spouse is German. In fact, a much loved step-mother was a "Hitler Youth" and she cherishes the time she spent in the group having felt a strong sense of belonging. Like many of the youth featured in the book, she was in denial over the true actions being reported about Adolf Hitler. I found the book to be incredibly difficult to read as the content was often beyond human comprehension in the horrors it portrayed, and yet, I found myself racing to the end to see how these people could have come to terms with the part they played, probably unknowingly, in one of the world's most grisly and shocking stories. In short, I truly couldn't put the book down even as I was repelled by its contents. I'm quite interested to read the many books written by the people portrayed here; nearly all whom survived have told their own stories. A truly outstanding book.

Programming/Curriculum: Tweens will be engrossed in this book about kids near to their own age; it should be essential reading material for the study of WWII and the holocaust, and would make an excellent book club discussion book as well, but graphic portrayals may be difficult for some readers, so the book should be focused on the upper age group of tweens.

22. American Girl Magazine, July/August 2011

MAGAZINE (ages 8-13)

Brief Description: This colorful publication is beautifully designed. Included are recipes, fashion and hair tips, crafts, quizzes, and a short story with a message, but a great deal of the content is generated by readers through drawings, life stories, and true stories of good deeds. This particular issue included a fold-out poster of fun cartoons to color. Of course, there is an entire story centered around "doll fun" in which American Girl dolls are pictured on a camping trip. Adorable cut-out posters of animals are featured at the end of the publication as well as a "Help!" column in which readers request assistance for problems. The only advertisements were two pages on the inside covers for American Girl magazine itself, and American Girl's online store of doll/kid-matching dresses. Ages of readers ranged from 9 - 13.

Awards: Recommended Award, Parent's Choice, 2011

Personal Opinion: My library has carried this publication for many years, yet I have never cracked the cover! I found it beautifully photographed and written, although it seemed a bit much to have fashion tips, but that's probably just me. The stories were well written, and the interactive games and quizzes were pretty fun. I would have enjoyed coloring the poster insert, and I think I'll be trying a few of the simple recipes for library programming. I would definitely recommend this to patrons.

Programming/Curriculum: It might be fun to center a weekly craft activity on the crafts provided in the magazine; from scrapbook paper beads, to simple no-cook snacks, this publication could easily support a weekly craft activity for kids.

21. Wereling by Steve Feasey (Feiwel & Friends, 2010)

BOOK: HORROR (ages 11-16)

Brief Description: Orphan Trey LaPorte wakes up one morning to find his room in the care home completely trashed - including his brand new and highly adored pair of trainers. Nothing makes sense as he tries to defend himself to the nasty sadistic director of the care home, when he is told he has a visitor. A man purporting to be his uncle comes to claim him and uses strange powers to control the director, but they still have to steal away in his "uncle" Lucien's Lexis to a luxury apartment in London. So begins the story of Trey, who discovers that he is a werewolf. He learns the true cause of death for his parents and must put his trust in a man he's never met, and who is a vampire, for forces are conspiring to destroy Trey even as he is whisked to safety. Readers are set up for the next in the series as one situation ends, but another looms on the horizon.

Awards: None

Personal Opinion: I've put off reading this title, but found it refreshingly interesting and lacking in the romantic vampire images portrayed in much of contemporary teen fiction. While there is an element of romance present, the character development and originality of the story kept me interested. Trey is a likable guy about whom I came to care quite a bit. His love interest, Lucien's daughter and part vampire, is charming as well.

Programming/Curriculum: With all the hype over vampires and other supernatural beings, this book would be perfect to include in a supernatural book club. In a classroom, it may bring an element of interest in the study of mythology and legend, particularly of supernatural beasts and possibly a comparison of werewolves in different stories.

20. The Clock Without a Face by Scott Teplin, Mac Barnett & Eli Horowitz (McSweeney's, 2010)

BOOK: MYSTERY (ages 9-12)

Brief Description: This unusually shaped over-sized board book is intended for kids in grades 4 - 6. In the first section, readers are introduced to the two detectives who will solve the case - Dodge, the detective, and Gus Twintig, his sidekick who acts as the narrator. We never actually see these two characters, and are only given a single portrait of the inhabitants of the Turnky Towers apartment building at 23 Glyph Street. What we do get is a cut away view of each floor of the apartment, and each drawing is wonderfully intricate and unique. The mystery? Mr. Turnkey has been robbed; a beautiful clock with emerald stones to mark the numbers have been stolen, and in fact, each resident has had something stolen as well. Beginning on the top floor, with the claim that the mystery would be solved by the time they reached the first floor, the detective team interviews the residents. It's up to the reader to observe the drawings carefully for clues. At the book's conclusion, readers are met with the further mystery of where to find the buried numbers from the clock.

Awards: None

Personal Opinion: I don't have the patience for this sort of book, but problem-solving kids will love the intricate drawings and clues left on each of the floors. I liked the unusual presentation, though - board book, interesting shape (but tricky for library shelves!!). I think I've had enough with the first one, though, and won't hurry to read the next release.

Curriculum/Programming: This is a quick read which would be great to pair with a longer mystery in a literature circle. A library program might be designed around the mystery with a discussion group checking out the images on a big screen and figuring out what each floor has to offer in the way of clues. A mystery reenactment night at the library would be fun to incorporate with this book as well.

19. Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce (Walden Pond Press, 2010)

BOOK: HUMOR (ages 9-12)

Brief Description: Liam Digby is thirteen years old. Because he is extraordinarily tall for his age, and even has facial hair, he is often mistaken for an adult. Through a series of bizarre events, Liam and his friend Florida pose as father and daughter after winning a trip to Infinity Park, and end up going to space. When the mission goes wrong, will the kids and Florida's "dad," armed with a copy of How to Talk to Teens, be able to get back to earth?

Awards: Guardian Award - 2008 shortlist; Carnegie Medal - 2009 shortlist

Personal Opinion: This hilarious romp through space had me laughing out loud. What Cottrell Boyce does best is pair humor with a serious poignancy that touches the heart. While I really enjoyed the book, I must say that his book Framed still holds its first place spot on my list. Portions of the book reminded me of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; kids with parents win a prize, and their strange relationships and focus come through. Characters in the story are particularly well drawn, exhibiting their quirks throughout the story to great effect. I thought Liam did, in fact, make a great dad as he used all his resources, including his love of the video game World of Warcraft, to see him through dealing with the kids and getting a rocket gone astray back to Earth.

Curriculum/Programming: This book would be a great supplement to both a science class on astronomy and a math course. Use it also in a home economics class to discuss family relationships and the roles a dad has in the family; compare Liam's fathering skills those of real dads.

18. Matched by Ally Condie (Dutton Juvenile, 2010)

BOOK: ROMANCE/DYSTOPIA (ages 14-18)

Brief Description: In a seemingly Utopian society, all is not as it appears. Sure, citizens are "happy" and trouble-free and guided by statistics kept by the Society, but they're also unable to made any decisions in their own lives. Meet 16-year-old Cassia, who will be attending her Matching Banquet, where she'll meet the boy who will be her life partner, chosen by the Society, of course. Something goes wrong, however, and two faces appear, both of whom she knows, another strange occurrence in this future world. Cassia slowly begins to find a streak of rebellion within herself, partially with the help of her grandfather who leaves her an artifact with a big secret. Also, she develops feelings for the second of the boys who appear on the screen; definitely not acceptable by the Officials, as this is not her chosen match. How far will Cassia go to attain her own dreams and possibly risk the lives of her family and friends?

Awards: Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books; Kirkus Book Review Stars; YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults

Personal Opinion: I really enjoy the dystopian fiction genre, but this just fell flat for me. Aside from the short choppy sentence structure and lackluster pacing, the entire plot just never seemed to really develop. Characters were not drawn well - perhaps deliberately as the citizens in the Society are not permitted to be too distinct? I'm not too sure. Part romance, part attempt at suspenseful dystopia, I just never really cared about the characters and found myself engaged only a few times in heated moments - the tension simply never materialized into good suspense; I just kept waiting for something to happen, and when it did, my only thought was "so what?" After reading a few published reviews, I just don't see what all the hoopla is about; everyone is absolutely gaga over this book, but not me. I even read one that compared the book to The Hunger Games, but I'm insulted over this comparison; The Hunger Games is far superior to this ho-hum book.

Curriculum/Programming: This genre seems quite popular with middle school students, so I would like to create a book club of dystopian lit for the school year. I think I'll try it this September; there's no lack of books being published in this genre! Students might also read The Giver and compare and contrast the dystopian societies presented in each novel.

17. Bone: Out From Boneville by Jeff Smith (Scholastic, 2005)

GRAPHIC NOVEL (ages 9-12)

Brief Description: Three bone cousins from the town of Boneville, Fone Bone, Phoney Bone and Smiley Bone, are on the run, banished from Boneville. They become separated and face mysterious dangers including rat creatures with large red eyes. Luckily, they are saved by Thorn, a lovely human, and her grandmother. The end of volume 1 leaves the reader hanging, and, presumably, wanting more. The mystery of the cloaked figure, though, does add an element of mystery and suspense.

Awards: Several Eisner and Harvey Awards

Personal Opinion: Not too crazy about this sometimes silly, but largely dark and fantastic story of the Bone cousins. I just couldn't relate to the characters, wasn't crazy about the art work, and just didn't care about the story! The only real intrigue, for me, anyway, was the cloaked figure - who is it? why is he/she pursuing the Bone cousins? With that said, this first volume is hugely popular in my library where it circulates constantly.

Curriculum/Programming: This would be a great supplement to an art class on manga and other graphic novel drawing; I think the style, which is simple, may be easily adopted and copied by kids. Another idea might be to have kids create their own continuation of this story describing who the cloaked figure is and what role he or she plays in the story.