Multicultural Fiction (1) The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

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Alexie, S. & Forney, E., Illustrator. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time indian. New York, NY:  Little, Brown, and Company.
ISBN-13:  9780316013697
Format:  Paperback
Cost:  $8.99

Annotation:  14-year-old Arnold Spirit Jr. (Junior) is a gifted artist growing up on an Indian reservation in Spokane, Washington. Determined to escape from the poor, alcoholic despondency of the reservation and become a famous cartoonist, he leaves his school to attend a public school far from the reservation and finds it difficult to balance the red Indian world and the white public school world.

Awards:  2007 National Book Awards for Young People's Literature
2007 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award
2007 School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
2008 American Indian Youth Literature Award for Best Young Adult Book
2009 Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audio book Production Honor
2010 American Indian Library Association Award

Booktalk:  This coming of age story is filled with drawings, cartoons, and art that wonderfully reflect the thoughts and feelings of Arnold Spirit, Jr. a.k.a. Junior, a quirky, unusual looking 14-year-old Indian trying to figure out his identity, and desperately wanting to escape the helplessly poor and self-destructive lifestyle that seems to prevail on the Indian reservation:

                                         Image © Sherman Alexie, Ellen Forney, Illustrator

Rowdy is Junior's frenemy protector:

                                         Image © Sherman Alexie, Ellen Forney, Illustrator

But when Junior decides to go to the white public school far away, the friendship is strained:

                                         Image © Sherman Alexie, Ellen Forney, Illustrator

Junior is considered a traitor by the Indians and doesn't quite fit in at the public school. These two worlds are difficult to balance:

                                         Image © Sherman Alexie, Ellen Forney, Illustrator

And when tragedy strikes Junior close to home, he reflects on who he is and what he needs to do to become successful in life. Read this humorous, dark, tragic yet hopeful story of a boy just trying to survive in the middle of two very different worlds.

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

Quote:  Taken from page 217:

"I wept and wept and wept because I knew that I was never going to drink and because I was never going to kill myself and because I was going to have a better life out in the white world. I realized that I might be a lonely Indian boy, but I was not alone in my loneliness. There were millions of other Americans who had left their birthplaces in search of a dream. I realized that, sure, I was a Spokane Indian. I belonged to that tribe. But I also belonged to the tribe of American immigrants."

Multimedia:  In 2007, Mr. Alexie read a portion of his book and did a radio interview with NPR. You can listen to it here:  http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14586575.

Extra! Extra!  Check out The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian on Tumblr here:  https://www.tumblr.com/search/the-absolutely-true-diary-of-a-part-time-indian.

Graphic Novel (1) AYA

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Abouet, M. & Oubrerie, C. (2007). Aya. Montreal, Quebec, Canada:  Drawn & Quarterly.
ISBN-13:  9781894937900
Format:  Hardcover
Cost:  $19.95

Annotation:  This fictional graphic novel takes place in Yopougon, or Yop City, on the Ivory Coast of Africa, during the 1970's. Follow the ups and downs of life of 19-year-old Aya, her family, and friends as they work, go to school, enjoy the night-life, have domestic squabbles, and gossip about each other.

Awards:  2006 Best First album, Angoulê International Comics Festival

Booktalk:  The dynamic, warm colors of the drawings in this graphic fiction novel transport the reader to the lively and active Yop City on the Ivory Coast of Africa in the 1970's. An included preface helps the reader understand the culture and history of the story:

                                  Image © Marguerite Abouet, Clément Oubrerie (Illustrator)

And a glossary and useful information about the clothes and food of the culture is found at the back of the book:

                                   Image © Marguerite Abouet, Clément Oubrerie (Illustrator)

Aya, a smart and wise 19-year-old, introduces us to her family and friends, Adjoua and Bintou, and their families and friends:

                                     Image © Marguerite Abouet, Clément Oubrerie (Illustrator)

Life is busy in Yop City, with school and work, but Adjoua and others find time to dance at the disco:

                                  Image © Marguerite Abouet, Clément Oubrerie (Illustrator)

And hook-up in the market square under the stars at night:

                                  Image © Marguerite Abouet, Clément Oubrerie (Illustrator)

Unfortunately, secret connections have a way of becoming uncovered, and when Adjoua finds out she's pregnant with Moussa's baby, there are a lot of issues to be resolved. Moussa is the son of a prominent businessman and Bintou's boyfriend, and Adjoua's father is a working-class journalist:

                                   Image © Marguerite Abouet, Clément Oubrerie (Illustrator)

Will there be a wedding? Read the first book in this trilogy and find out!

Available Formats:  Hardcover

Quote:  Taken from page 84, Bintou confronts Aya about Adjoua:

Bintou:  "Did you know about Adjoua's wedding?"
Aya:  "All of Yopougon knows."
Bintou:  "How could she do this to me?"
Aya:  "Bintou, love is unpredictable. It was an accident, you know."

Multimedia:  Find out more about Marguerite Abouet, the author of Aya here:  http://thebrownbookshelf.com/2010/01/31/marguerite-abouet/.

Extra! Extra!  Did you know Clément Oubrerie, the illustrator for Aya, is Marguerite Abouet's husband? What a talented couple! Check out some pictures from Aya on the publisher's website as well as an excerpt from the book here:  https://www.drawnandquarterly.com/aya.

Science Fiction (8 of 9) Ready Player One

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Cline, E. (2011). Ready player one. New York, NY:  Crown Publishers.
ISBN-13:  978030887436
Format:  Hardcover
Cost:  $24.00

Annotation:  In the year 2044, high school senior Wade Watts is poor with only one living relative, and like millions of others, spends most of his time in the OASIS, a virtual world created by James Halliday, who, after his death, left puzzles pertaining to 80's trivia to be solved. Wade's whole life has been spent in the virtual world, totally dedicated to the quest of solving all the puzzles, as the winner controls the OASIS and becomes wealthy beyond imagination.

Awards:  2012 Prometheus Award for Best Novel
2012 ALA Alex Award

Mini Book Review:  James Halliday created the OASIS, a virtual world in which people live, work, go to school, and play in the year 2044. Mr. Halliday was quirky, loved 80's trivia, and upon his death, left an impossible puzzle contest for one lucky winner to win the lottery ticket, control the OASIS, and become extremely wealthy. Many people have tried to solve the puzzle for many years, but when high school senior Wade Watts (Parzival in the virtual world), by chance, solves the first puzzle, he opens the door to the onslaught of thousands of puzzle hunters who are willing to kill to win the ultimate prize. Follow Wade on his quest for the ultimate prize, meet his virtual friends and fellow hunters, Art3mis (possible love interest), Aech, Daito, and Shoto, the evil Nolan Sorrento, corporate fiend who will kill anyone that gets in his way, enjoy massive amounts of 80's trivia, and discover what secrets the virtual world conceals from reality.

I highly recommend this exciting adventure quest through an amazingly descriptive virtual reality world. While many people escape into this fake world because reality is so discouraging and ugly, Mr. Cline points out through his story that one can't enjoy life virtually and that real happiness can only be found in the real world. This lesson is extremely relevant in relation to our high tech world and how many hours we waste, I mean spend on computers and playing computer games. This book would be a great addition to a young adult and adult fiction collection in a public or personal library, and a young adult fiction collection in a school library. This book is appropriate for ages 12 and up but be forewarned, it is a long novel. Additionally, older adults will enjoy the nostalgia of the 80's trivia!

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

Quote:  Taken from page 364, advice from the virtual avatar Halliday:

"I need to tell you one last thing before I go. Something I didn't figure out for myself until it was already too late." He led me over to the window and motioned out at the landscape stretching out beyond it. "I created the OASIS because I never felt at home in the real world. I didn't know how to connect with people there. I was afraid for all of my life. Right up until I knew it was ending. That was when I realized, as terrifying and painful as reality can be, it's also the only place where you can find true happiness. Because reality is real."

Multimedia:  Here is an interview with author Ernest Cline, about the book Ready Player One:

(Disclaimer to video, please note this video was from 2011, so the book signings at the end have already taken place!)
 Extra! Extra! Once you read Ready Player One, you will be ready to test your knowledge with a quiz game about the story! You can take the quiz here: http://www.shmoop.com/ready-player-one/setting-quiz.html

Science Fiction (4 of 9) Divergent

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Roth, V. (2011). Divergent. New York, NY:  Katherine Tegen Books an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
ISBN-13:  9780062024039
Format:  Paperback
Cost:  $9.99

Annotation:  In this first book of the Divergent Trilogy, Beatrice "Tris" Potter is part of the selfless Abnegation faction, one of five different groups that the people of the post apocalypse society are divided into. Beatrice's aptitude test indicates she is divergent (a rare and dangerous state), but on Choosing Day she moves to the fearless Dauntless faction, which will not only change her life forever but will inevitably alter the dystopian community she lives in.

Awards:  2011 Goodreads Choice Awards Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction
2011 Goodreads Choice Awards Favorite Book

Mini Book Review:  In post-apocalyptic Chicago, 16-year-old Beatrice Prior and her family belong to the selfless Abnegation faction. On Choosing Day, Beatrice moves to the fearless Dauntless faction, the group she's always admired. Beatrice's aptitude test revealed she was divergent, retaining characteristics of all factions, which is dangerous because they are a threat to the ruling powers. The initiation process into Dauntless is brutal, difficult, and dangerous, but Tris (Beatrice's new Dauntless name), with the help of Four, her trainer, love interest, and fellow secret divergent, passes, only to discover the Dauntless are being controlled and manipulated by a group of people who want to take over and rule. A battle takes place, and Tris and Four will need courage and strength to stop the take over and face their uncertain future.

This extremely long novel is a great book, but it is not for the faint of heart due to the violence of the initiation process, but the concepts of love, strength, loyalty, and overcoming one's fears makes reading the story well worth the effort. Ms. Roth creates a fascinating world, and her ability to draw one into the story will keep you interested to the very end. Due to the length of the book and the violence, I would recommend this book to an older YA audience. It would be a great addition to a school, young adult, and adult library collection.

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

Quote:  Taken from pages 441, 442:

"Every faction conditions its members to think and act a certain way. And most people do it. For most people, it's not hard to learn, to find a pattern of thought that works and stay that way." "But our minds move in a dozen different directions. We can't be confined to one way of thinking, and that terrifies our leaders. It means we can't be controlled. And it means that no matter what they do, we will always cause trouble for them."

Multimedia:  Check out this great podcast interview of Veronica Roth, the author of Divergent, here:  https://soundcloud.com/harperaudiopresents/14-veronica-roth.

A movie based on the novel, Divergent, came out in 2014. Check out the movie trailer here:

Extra! Extra!  Could you be a Divergent? Check out this Divergent Aptitude Test, and see what your results are!  http://divergentthemovie.com/aptitudetest.

Horror Fiction (1) On Fire:  A Teen Wolf Novel

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Holder, N. (2012). On fire:  A teen wolf novel. New York, NY:  Gallery Books.
ISBN-13:  9781451674477
Format:  Paperback
Cost:  $11.00

Annotation:  When Scott McCall, a normal teenage guy, was bitten by an Alpha werewolf, his life was changed forever. Will he be able to balance his two worlds, not become a killer, and keep his secret from Allison, her father and family, who's sole purpose is to track and kill werewolves?

Awards:  None

Booktalk:  Would you be able to hide being a werewolf from all you friends and family? An Alpha werewolf bit high school student Scott McCall, and his life was changed forever. In this extension of MTV's hit TV series, Teen Wolf, Scott finds himself in the woods with his girlfriend, Allison Argent, looking for his missing classmate, fellow Lacrosse player and nemesis, Jackson Whitmire. They are not alone. The Alpha wolf is tracking Scott, and Scott has to control morphing into the wolf in front of Allison, the daughter of a father who's secret mission is to track and kill werewolves. Can Scott keep his secret and hold it together long enough to find his lost classmate?

Available Formats:  Paperback, Kindle

Quote:  Taken from page 224:

"Through the hazy smoke above them Scott sensed the werewolf that had bitten him. The monster that had changed his life and was trying to force him into even more extreme changes. His waking, walking nightmare. Scott felt as if he had been plunged into ice, and he shivered, hard. The wolf inside Scott howled crisis, menace, threat; but it also cried pack, belonging, Alpha."

Multimedia:  Nancy Holder, the author of On Fire:  A Teen Wolf Novel, is a New York Time's bestselling author. Check out this interview of her, right when the book was about to be released:
http://enchantedinkpot.blogspot.com/2012/06/interview-nancy-holder-teen-wolf-novel.html.

Extra! Extra!  Did you know, this novel is based on and continues the very popular MTV series, Teen Wolf? Here is a trailer for the book:

Science Fiction (1 of 9) Ender's Game

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Card, O. S. (1991). Ender's game. New York, NY:  Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.
ISBN 13:  9780312932084
Format:  Hardcover
Cost:  $24.95

Annotation:  Earth is threatened by Buggers, an alien race, and the only hope of destroying the enemy lies with young genetically engineered Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, a genius at simulated war games. But, the earthly battle is not the only battle going on when Ender discovers his compassion for the very enemy he fought.

Awards:  1985 Nebula Award for Best Novel
1986 Hugo Award for Best Novel

Mini Book Review:  Young, genetically engineered Andrew "Ender" Wiggin is the only hope of saving the earth from the Buggers, an alien race that attacked the earth before and threatens to do it again. Ender has the perfect blend of violence, like his brother Peter, and compassion, like his sister Valentine, to become the ultimate general and destroy the enemy. With the help of Colonel Graff, Mazer Rackham, his fellow soldiers, and his amazing talent at simulated war games, victory is achieved. Unfortunately for Ender, the internal battle rages on as he struggles with the emerging compassion he feels for the very enemy he destroyed. Can Ender find peace by becoming, "the speaker for the dead?"

I would highly recommend this well-written award winning novel that is the first in a series. Ender's struggle with the burden of leadership, how he comes to terms with who he is, the consequences of war, and the necessity for compassion are all relevant topics for the world we live in today. These subjects transcend age limitations and children from ages 12 and up would enjoy it. I found this book in both the adult fiction and young adult fiction sections of my public library. Additionally, it should be in all school libraries, and your personal libraries!

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

Teen Quote:  17 year old Liz I. reads science fiction, but really likes Fantasy and Horror books. She reads almost everyday and is active with social media with her presence on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and Snapchat. Her favorite social media is Tumblr. This is what she thought of Ender's Game:

"I read Ender's Game two years ago because the film was coming out and it scared me slightly because it's about an 8 year old boy who kills a lot of people essentially. It's one of those books you read because everyone reads it but every second of the adventure he went through we as readers follow and I don't know if it's just me, but I want to go in a zero gravity battle room. It explored creative ideas I haven't seen before."

Multimedia:  The author, Orson Scott Card, does not give many interviews. Check out this rare interview from Wired here:  http://www.wired.com/2013/10/cardqa/.

Orson Scott Card also has an amazing website! Check it out here:  http://www.hatrack.com/

Extra! Extra!  Did you know that in 2013, there was a movied based on the book Ender's Game?  Check out the movie trailer here: