Biography/Non-Fiction (1) Steve Jobs The Man Who Thought Different

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12969593-steve-jobs

Blumenthal, K. (2012). Steve Jobs The Man Who Thought Different. New York, NY:  Feiwel and Friends.
ISBN-13:  9781250015570
Format:  Hardcover
Cost:  $16.99

Annotation:  Steve Jobs was a complicated genius who changed the world with his technology ideas and innovations. Form the beginning of his life as an adopted child through to the end of his life when he died from cancer on October 5, 2011, this story provides a front row seat to the highs, lows, and creative perfectionism that drove this remarkable man's life.

Awards:  YALSA-ALA Excellence in Young Adult Nonfiction Finalist.

Mini Book Review:  This biography follows the life of Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple Computers, and the man behind the success of Pixar, the IPod, and the IPhone. From his humble beginnings as an adopted child, through his life as a wealthy powerful CEO, and to his death from cancer at the age of 56, this story explores the mind and difficult personality of a man who changed the world with his technology ideas. Learning from his adopted father the value of good quality work, perfectionism and attention to details became the driving force that pushed him on to great things. Steve could be charming or volatile and these characteristics shaped the journey of his life. Some people loved him and some people hated him, but all can agree that he was one of the most creative geniuses and visionaries of our time.

Steve Jobs The Man Who Thought Different is a fascinating, easy to read non-fiction book that young adult readers of all ages will enjoy. I would highly recommend reading this book as it is full of pictures and interesting side notes and facts that help the reader really grasp the full spectrum of the life of Steve and his impact on the computer world. Additionally, an easy to read time line, glossary, bibliography, and notes section at the back of the book will not only help with reading the book, but provides information that will help to explore the topic even further. This book would fit well in both the young adult collection of a school or public library, as well as an adult collection in a public library. In fact, I found a copy in both sections in my public library! This book would be a good fit for patrons from the ages of 12 and up.

Available Formats:  Paperback, Hardcover, Kindle Edition, Audible Audio Edition, Preloaded Digital Audio Player

Quote:  From p. 255:

"In November 2009, Fortune named him "CEO of the Decade" saying the past decade in business belongs to Jobs." Calling him "a showman, a born salesman, a magician who creates a famed reality-distortion field, [and] a tyrannical perfectionist," the magazine noted that in ten years, "he has radically and lucratively reordered three markets - music, movies, and mobile telephones - and his impact on his original industry, computing, has only grown." No wonder, it said he was a worldwide celebrity."

Multimedia:  Here's a video of my mini book review:

Extra! Extra! Here's a book trailer about Steve Jobs The Man Who Thought Different:

Historical Fiction (1) The Book Thief

https://www.overdrive.com/media/347660/the-book-thief

Zusak, M. (2005). The book thief. New York: NY:  Alfred A. Knopf.
ISBN-13:  9780385754729
Format:  Paperback
Cost:  $12.99

Awards:  2006 Horn Book Fanfare
2006 Kirkus Reviews Editors' Choice Award
2006 School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
2006 Daniel Elliott Peace Award
2006 Publishers Weekly Best Children Book of the Year
2006 Booklist Children Editors' Choice
2007 American Library Association's Best Books for Young Adults
2007 Michael L. Printz Honor Book
2007 Book Sense Book of the Year (Indie's choice)
National Jewish Book Award
2014 Edwards Award

Annotation:  Growing up in Nazi Germany during WWII, Liesel Meminger learns the power of words can get her through the extreme highs and lows of life. The human spirit of survival is victorious through the most difficult of circumstances.

Mini Book Review:  Death narrates this intense historical fiction novel about the life and survival of Liesel Meminger, a young German girl growing up in Nazi Germany during WWII. After finding a stolen book under Liesel's mattress, her foster Father, Hans Hubberman, teaches Liesel how to read which helps her deal with loss, love, abandonment, sacrifice, death, survival, and courage throughout her lifetime. Her unlikely friendship with Max, the son of a Jewish friend Hans is indebted to help hide in their basement, thrives as they share their struggles and difficulties with each other. While the inevitable death and destruction of war destroys the majority of Liesel's family and friends, Death questions how life can be so horrible and wonderful at the same time.

The Book Thief is a heavy, long fiction novel about a difficult, tragic time period in history, focused on the life of a young German teenager. Death's perspective is deeply philosophical and the story creates extremely emotional responses even thought it is peppered throughout with lighter moments. I would highly recommend reading this book as the theme of the human spirit of survival in the face of extreme opposition is applauded. This book is well suited for both a young adult library collection in a school, public, or personal library as well as in the adult fiction collection in a public or personal library. It would be a good fit for both young adults and adults alike. 

Available Formats:  Hardcover, Paperback, Audio CD, Audible Audio Edition, Kindle, Video

Quote:  On the power of words from page 147:

"Once, words had rendered Liesel useless, but now, when she sat on the floor, with the mayor's wife at her husband's desk, she felt an innate sense of power. It happened every time she deciphered a new word or pieced together a sentence. She was a girl. In Nazi Germany. How fitting that she was discovering the power of words."

Multimedia:  Here's a video of my mini book review: 

Extra! Extra! Did you know a movie based on the book came out in 2013? Check out the movie trailer here:

Classic Fiction (1) Buried Onions

Image from Scholastic

Soto, G. (1997). Buried onions. San Diego, CA:  Harcourt, Brace & Company.
ISBN-13:  9780152013332
Format:  Hardcover
Cost: $17.00

Annotation:  Life is difficult growing up in a Mexican/American neighborhood. Eddie will need to be tough to overcome the comparative tears of sadness created by the buried onions.

Awards:  None

Mini Book Review:  In a Mexican /American neighborhood in Fresno, CA, 19-year-old Eddie, a Hispanic teen, is having a hard time avoiding violence and death. His cousin Jesús was violently killed and Eddie's friends and family want him to exact revenge. Eddie tries to stay clear of conflicts and find work, but he is constantly confronted with frustrations and major setbacks. It is difficult for Eddie to determine who his friends and enemies are, and the comparative analogy of such a difficult and depressing life is of a giant onion buried under the city that causes tears of sadness. While it was written in 1997, it is quite relevant in terms of the multi-cultural issues faced in today's world.

Available Formats:  Hardcover, Paperback, Audio, Audio Cassette

Quote:  Taken from page 2:

"The sun was climbing over the trees of City College and soon the black asphalt would shimmer with vapors. I had a theory about those vapors, which were not released by the sun's heat but by a huge onion buried under the city. This onion made us cry. Tears leapt from our eyelashes and stained our faces. Babies in strollers pinched up their faces and wailed for no reason. Perhaps as practice for the coming years. I thought about the giant onion, the remarkable bulb of sadness."

Multimedia:  Here's a video of my mini review of the book:

 

Extra! Extra!  Did you know Gary Soto is an award winning author and writes poetry? If you want to find out more about Mr. Soto, check out his website here:  http://www.garysoto.com/index.html.