The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau, 2003
In the year 241, 12-year-old Lina trades jobs on Assignment Day to be a messenger, to run to new places in her beloved but decaying city, perhaps even to glimpse Unknown Regions. When she discovers a half-chewed message that looks like instructions, she knows she has to solve the mystery. When she sees “pipewo” she involves Doon, a friend from school who works in the pipeworks.
After seeing the new movie, I had to reread this book. The movie was OK, but I remember the book being fantastic. Where did the movie people go wrong? Was it not as good just because I already knew they were underground? After rereading the book, I think not. Even though I know they are underground, experiencing their excitement of discovering “moving light” for the first time, and the meaning of “boat” is thrilling. The movie cheapens this excitement with standard action-movie antics. Capturing the wonderment of seeing a sunrise for the first time is probably what the movie does best. The book, on the other hand, is well written and peopled with fascinating, original characters and a true spirit of discovery and rebirth.
Zen and the Art of Faking It by Jordan Sonnenblick, 2007When 13-year-old San Lee moves to a new town and school for the umpteenth time, he is looking for a way to stand out when his knowledge of Zen Buddhism, gained in his previous school, provides the answer -- and the need to quickly become a convincing Zen master.
Other tags: basketball; Pennsylvania; small community; Woody Guthrie; dad in prison for fraud; lying; Asian-American adoptee; soup kitchen; library research; step-brother; school story; identity.
The most unfortunate thing about this book is the cover. The kid standing on his head seems about ten, which I know will turn off middle-schoolers. The story itself is funny. I enjoy Sonnenblick’s blend of humor and growth.
Dear Jo: The story of losing Leah and searching for hope by Christina Kilbourne, 2007
Written in the form of a journal, Maxine is depressed and scared. Her best friend has gone missing and she feels responsible and has survivor’s guilt. It could have just as easily been her. She enjoyed chatting and flirting and telling white lies online just as much as Leah. Now she sees a psychologist, avoids her friends, and is failing her classes. When the opportunity comes to help the police in the investigation, Max is scared but determined to do all she can. Leah wouldn’t have done anything less.
This story covers some serious subject matter, such as online predators and child exploitation, in a realistic and tasteful manner. The protagonist seems older than her supposed 12 years, but otherwise, the voice is believable. I didn’t love the story – it is a bit predictable – but it is completely grabbing my 13-year-old’s attention.
Hot Lunch by Alex Bradley, 2007
When she refuses to work with her assigned partner on an English assignment, Molly initially becomes enemies with Cassie, which escalates to a food fight, for which the consequence is forced work time in the lunch room. When their pranks behind the counter lead to the manager’s resignation, the principal makes them take charge of the lunch room. They must work there and provide the students with lunch indefinitely, unless the students think their lunches are better than those provided under the original manager for an entire week.
Written in first-person, Molly - a blue-haired, earphone-without-ipod-wearing, alternative-high-school-attending girl, tells her story of finding friendship with funny wit and attitude. The development of true friendship, appreciation for food, and true self-awareness is genuine and thoroughly enjoyable. I laughed out loud several times.
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