Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

Patterson, James. Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment.
Little, Brown and Company. 2005.
ISBN: 9780316067959
$7.99. Paperback. 464 pages.

Readers Annotation
Maximum Ride is a girl with wings on a mission to save her flock from the scientists at the Institute.

Plot Summary
Maximum Ride is a genetically enhanced 14-year-old. She and five others escaped from the Institute with help from a sympathetic scientist named Jeb. Max and her flock all have wings and can fly. As they travel around trying to remain incognito, they begin to experience newfound supernatural talents. Mutant wolf men called the Erasures hunt the children relentlessly. They discover along the way that Jeb, the man they thought of as a father figure, and who helped them escape is responsible for hunting them with the Erasures. As the flock tries to find their reason for being, one of them is captured. Little Angel, only 6-years-old is returned to the institute. The kids rescue Angel, and set off on adventure after adventure, where they are nearly caught each time, but manage to escape. In the meantime, Max develops a little voice in her head that tells her what the gang should be doing. It tells her that she should be focused on saving the world and not locating the parents of the flock.

Critical Evaluation
This series is extremely popular with younger young adult readers. The book is thick, and the chapters are broken down into tiny chunks (think short attention spans). There is little character development. The book is all about action. There is so much action that scenes become redundant, and seem to be repeating. At one point I though I was rereading the same chapter. While the idea behind the book is entertaining (kids with wings), the prose is limited. Some critics have said that the book reminded them of a video game. Maybe this is true, but it reminded me of those two-minute stories that you can read in one sitting while on the toilet. I’m not really sure what my young friends see in this series of books, but I know that I won’t get suckered into reading another one.

Information about the author
James Patterson is a prolific writer that has had many books on the NY Times Best Sellers list. You can find out more about his many adult series, and the Maximum Ride series on his website at http://www.jamespatterson.com/index.php.

Genre
Science fiction, fantasy, action, adventure

Curriculum ties
None

Challenge Issues
Violence

Challenge defense ideas
· Become familiar with the book and its content.
· Refer to the collection development policy of the library.
· Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Angel-Experiment-Maximum-Ride-Book/dp/0316067954/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260260450&sr=1-1
· Try to get reviews of the book from teens that have read it.

Booktalking Ideas
I will not booktalk this novel because I do not like it.

Reading Level/Age
Young adult

Why I included this title
Recommended by a teen.

Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison

Harrison, Kim. Once Dead, Twice Shy 
(Madison Avery, Book 1).
HarperCollins. 2009.
ISBN: 9780061718167
16.99. Hardcover. 240 pages.

Readers Annotation
Madison Avery went to the prom and died – sort of.

Plot Summary
When Madison Avery left the prom with a handsome stranger she doesn’t expect to die.  Before he could stab her with his sword she steals his amulet and gets away.  She discovers that although her body is dead and missing she still exists. Now she’s stuck in between life and death. Not really dead, but certainly not alive. As long as she carries the amulet she appears to be living so she continues to go to school. After all she’ll have to get a job someday. She doesn’t know why the dark reaper tried to kill her, and she isn’t going to sit around trying to figure it out. When the story begins Madison is already in training with Barnabas, to be a light reaper. Light reapers are the good guys who try to prevent the killings of the dark reapers. Madison has taken the amulet of the dark timekeeper Kairos. The timekeepers have the ability to move through the time stream. One is dark, the other light. It’s all about balance in the cosmos. Overseeing the reapers are the Seraphs, a high order of angels. Madison is also protected by a guardian angel named Grace, and she has a cute new boyfriend named Josh. If she can figure out why Kairos wants her truly dead, she might just have a chance of staying alive.

Critical Evaluation
Although she doesn’t admit it, it seems as if Harrison has been influenced by the cable television show Dead Like Me. With her usual joyfulness Harrison has created a world where grim reapers and guardian angels really exist. Yet unlike her Hallows series, this novel could have used a little more time in editing. There are plot holes, but Harrison is known to employ them in future storylines. Plus, the novel bogs down in several places. It’s almost as if she has left off writing the novel, come back to it and forget where she was. It is confusing. This is her first young adult novel and claims to be the first book in a series. We can only hope the future novels have more clarity.

Information about the author
Kim Harrison is the author of The Hallows series of books. You can find out more about her on her website at http://www.kimharrison.net/index.html.

Genre
Fantasy, horror, teen dating

Curriculum ties
None

Challenge Issues
None (the violence is very mild).

Challenge defense ideas
There are no apparent challenge issues associated with this book. In the case that a challenge comes up, there are some things that you can do to start. You could read the book and become familiar with the content. Refer to the library collection development policy, and get reviews from reputable sources and teens that have read the book. You can find out more about this book on Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/Once-Dead-Twice-Madison-Avery/dp/0061718165/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260231309&sr=1-1

Booktalking Ideas
1. Talk about how Madison becomes a reaper trainee.
2. Talk about her relationship with Josh.

Reading Level/Age
Young adult, ages 15 and up.

Why I included this title
The is the first YA novel by Harrison, and I am a fan of her Hallows series.

Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton

Hamilton, Laurell K. Guilty Pleasures.
Berkley Trade. 2002.
ISBN 978-425197547
$15.00. Paperback. 368 pages.

Readers Annotation
Anita Blake, animator and vampire executioner is called upon by the Master of the City to uncover the person murdering vampires.

Plot Summary
Anita Blake works for Animators, Inc. and raises zombies out of graves for a living. She is also a state sanctioned vampire executioner. The local Master of the City, Nikolaos wants to hire Anita to investigate who is murdering the most powerful vampires in St. Louis. Anita refuses and is later coerced into working for the vampires. Jean-Claude, a vampire who works for Nikolaos, and manager of the all male strip club Guilty Pleasures works with Anita. When Anita is nearly killed during her first meeting with Nikolaos, a very old vampire in the body of a young girl, Jean-Claude saves her by sharing some of his life force. This gives Anita the first vampire mark. Nikolaos introduces another animator to Anita. His name is Zachary. Anita knows that something is just not right with Zachary, but she can’t fathom what it is. Meanwhile, Edward another vampire executioner shows up at Anita’s apartment. He has been hired to execute the current Master of the City. Anita meets a number of supernatural beings including the king of the wererats.  Ultimately, Anita discovers that Zachary is a zombie who is only alive through gris-gris magic. Anita, along with Edward, kills Nikolaos, and Zachary who is responsible for the murders. In doing so Jean-Claude becomes the new Master of the City of St. Louis. Anita is on her way to becoming his human servant.

Critical Evaluation
In this debut novel, author Laurell K. Hamilton introduced a set of fabulous characters. Anita, is charismatic and at the start of her career. Hamilton embued her character with a snarky sense of humor, and an unknown power that continues to grow with the series. Jean-Claude, is smart, sexy and 300 years old. It becomes clear in later novels that although he is a Master Vampire, he is no master to Anita. Edward, the sociopathic killer is scary good at his job. Anita learns how to kill efficiently and effectively from him. The storyline is original. In Anita’s world, supernatural beings are out, and living with the humans. The novel is smart, funny, sexy, and a good read. I would recommend this novel to older young adults (17 an up) who have read YA vampire series and want more vampire-themed books. I would not however, recommend the novels from #4 on, because they include graphic sex. This novel does not include scenes of graphic sex, but is has a great deal of violence. It is not for the squeamish. Young adults who read this novel should not expect the romance of Twilight or its sequels.

Information about the author
Laurell K. Hamilton has been writing since she was a child. She had difficulty selling this novel because no one knew what genre it should fall into. She is consistently on the New York Times Bestseller list. There are currently 16 books in the series. You can find out more about her at http://www.laurellkhamilton.org/index.php.

Genre
Paranormal thriller, horror, fantasy.

Curriculum ties
None

Challenge Issues
Violence.

Challenge defense ideas
· Become familiar with the book and its contents.
· Refer to the collection development policy of the library.
· Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Guilty-Pleasures-Anita-Vampire-Hunter/dp/0425197549/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260155655&sr=1-2
· Try to get reviews of the book from teens that have read it.

Booktalking Ideas
1. Discuss Anita’s ability to raise the dead.
2. Talk about her work with the police in uncovering supernatural crimes.

Reading Level/Age
Adult crossover.

Why I included this title
This is the first book in one of my favorite vampire series.

Fade by Lisa McMann

McMann, Lisa. Fade.
Simon Pulse. 2009.
ISBN 978416953586
$15.99. Hardcover. 256 pages

Readers Annotation
Dream catcher Janie and her boyfriend/partner Cabel try to uncover a sexual predator at Fieldridge High School.

Plot Summary
In this second book of the series, dream catcher Janie and her partner/boyfriend Cabel are assigned to a new case. They are investigating a possible sex offender at their high school. At first, Cabe doesn’t want Janie on the case, but when she accepts it he is forced to work with her. When Janie begins falling into the dreams of her classmate Stacey, she knows that she is on the right track. Stacey dreams of being sexually assaulted by a man she can’t identify. Janie is helping but her gift is taking its toll on her health. She realizes that she is slowly losing her sight and her hands are becoming crippled. Soon she can no longer drive. When Martha Stubin’s files come into Janie’s hands she discovers more about her gift – she will go blind, she will be crippled, but she will also be able to help people. As the case progresses, Janie discovers that there are multiple offenders. Invited to a house party by one of the teachers involved Janie is drugged with GHB. Although drugged Janie is able to protect herself, and get enough evidence to arrest all three men. Cabel and Janie have more love-angst-filled moments together. They are finally able to go on their first date together. As this story ends the pair are finally graduating from high school.

Critical Evaluation
Fade is written in the same style as Wake. Each chapter is broken down by date and time, giving a clear timeline of events. Much of the book is written in short clipped sentences, and sometimes sentence fragments. This book is grittier than the last. The subject matter is more adult in nature as it deals with themes of sex and sexual violence. As Cabe and Janie explore their love through sex, the author is not explicit, but it is an important and realistic aspect of their growing relationship. The chapters of the book that deal with the discovery and arrest of the perpetrators are realistic. Looking through Janie’s drug induced stupor is disturbing. It left this reader clenched in fear for her safety. The story does end well, with Cabe and Janie again facing unexpected aspects of their relationship, but finding a way through it to each other.

Information about the author
Lisa McMann currently lives in Arizona. She was born of February 27, but won’t divulge her year of birth. She got the idea for Wake from a dream. You can find out more about Lisa McMann on her website at http://lisamcmann.com/ or on her blog at http://lisamcmann.blogspot.com/.

Genre
Paranormal Fiction. Mystery.

Curriculum ties
None

Challenge Issues
Sex and Violence

Challenge defense ideas
· Become familiar with the book and its content.
· Refer to the collection development policy of the library.
· Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Fade-Lisa-McMann/dp/1416974482/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258251914&sr=1-1
· Try to get reviews of the book from teens that have read it.

Booktalking Ideas
1.  Discuss Janie and Cabel’s next case (sexual predator on campus).
2.  Talk about Janie and Cabel’s relationship and how it continues to develop.
3. Talk about Janie’s discovery of the effects of her curse.

Reading Level/Age
Young adult. Ages 15 and up.

Why I included this title
This is the second book in a series that I really like, and the first book (Wake) made the 2009 Top 10 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers.

Wake by Lisa McMann

McMann, Lisa. Wake.
Simon Pulse. 2008.
ISBN 9781416953579
$8.99. Paperback. 224 pages.

Readers Annotation
17-year-old Janie keeps getting sucked into other people’s dreams, and she can’t control when or where it happens.

Plot Summary
Janie Hannagan falls into other people’s dreams. This happens whenever she is near someone who is sleeping. She has seen her share of naked-in-front-of-a-crowd dreams, falling dreams, and sex dreams. She can’t tell anyone about her curse, but when she falls into classmate Cabel Strumheller’s dreams he begins to figure out what is happening. As their relationship develops Janie tells Cabel that it is driving her crazy. Janie and Cabel’s relationship is uneasy because he doesn’t tell Janie the truth about his life or work. Janie’s job at a convalescent hospital helps pay her bills, but can also cause problems when patient’s dream. When she meets Martha Stubin, a patient, she is drawn to her. Since Martha is blind, Janie spends time reading to her. When Mrs. Stubin dies she leaves Janie some money to help pay for college. She also calls Janie a “catcher.” This is the first time Janie has ever had a name for her ability, and it is the first time she meets someone who shares her talent. Janie blames Cabel for many things. It is not until he forces her to meet his boss, police captain Fran Komisky, that he is able to tell Janie everything.  Cabel has been working undercover to crack a drug ring. Captain Komisky knows about Martha Stubin, and she offers Janie a job working with Cabel. As Janie continues to work with the police she also learns about lucid dreaming. Through lucid dreaming she is able to help people through her dreams. As the book ends, Martha Stubin visits Janie in her dreams. Mrs. Stubin tells Janie that she will come to Janie in her dreams to teach her how to be a better dream-catcher.

Critical Evaluation
Wake is an original work of fantasy fiction that is like no other. Each chapter is broken down by date and time, giving a clear time line of events. Much of the book is written in short clipped sentences, and sometimes sentence fragments, which completely make sense in the situation. Janie only has bits and pieces of her own life because she is continually drawn into other people’s lives through their dreams. As Janie enters the dream sequences the font changes creating an additional layer of clarity to the events. This makes the book a very quick read. Janie and Cabel are both intriguing characters. Their attraction to one another is romantic and edgy. Both Janie and Cabel have had damaged childhoods and are struggling to survive in an adult world. While those portions of the book are difficult to read, McMann treats the subject with integrity.  This is book one of a planned trilogy.  Book two, Fade, is also included in the blog.  Book three, Gone, is schedule for release in February 2010.

Information about the author
Lisa McMann currently lives in Arizona. She was born of February 27, but won’t divulge her year of birth. She got the idea for Wake from a dream. You can find out more about Lisa McMann on her website at http://lisamcmann.com/ or on her blog at http://lisamcmann.blogspot.com/.  She also has accounts on Facebook, MySpace, an Twitter.

Genre
Paranormal Fiction

Curriculum ties
None

Challenge Issues
Drugs

Challenge defense ideas
· Become familiar with the book and its content.
· Refer to the collection development policy of the library.
· Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/Wake-Lisa-McMann/dp/1416974474/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258239398&sr=8-1
· Try to get reviews of the book from teens that have read it.

Booktalking Ideas
1. Discuss Janie’s ability to fall into people’s dreams, and how she thinks it is a curse.
2. Talk about Janie and Cabel’s relationship and how it develops.
3. Talk about Mrs. Stubin and how she identifies Janie as a fellow dream-catcher.

Reading Level/Age
Young adult. Ages 15 and up.

Why I included this title
This book is on the 2009 Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers.

Jade Green by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. Jade Green.
Scholastic. 1999.
ISBN-13: 9780439934183
$6.99. Paperback. 170 pages.

Readers Annotation
Judith has been told by her uncle to never bring the color green into his house. Has she awoken some evil presence by her disobedience?

Plot Summary
Orphaned 15-year-old Judith Sparrow has been accepted into her Uncle Geoffrey’s home in South Carolina with only one restriction – never bring anything green into the house. However, Judith cannot bear to part with her mother’s picture set in a green silk frame. Judith does not know if her disobedience causes the sudden surge in unexplained activity, but she is frightened. Judith has heard the stories about Jade Green, a young lady that lived in the house before her. The townspeople she has become friends with tell her that Jade Green committed suicide in the home, and this is the reason her Uncle will not allow the color in the house. Judith’s middle-aged Cousin Charles refuses to find work. His presence makes Judith uncomfortable. When Judith meets a young man, Zeke, he begins to court her. Then, Judith sees a dismembered hand crawling around her room, and her fears escalate. She feels she must find out more about Jade Green, to discover the reason for her suicide. Judith discovers that it was her lecherous Cousin Charles who caused the death of Jade Green. When a drunken Charles attempts to assault Judith, it is the dismembered hand of Jade that takes her final revenge.

Critical Evaluation
The eye-catching cover of this novel shows an out of focus image of a young woman with her mouth opened in a scream.  The woman on the cover appears to be Asian, which is odd considering that this novel takes place in South Carolina.  Additionally, this novel is reminiscent of earlier period pieces. Naylor pulls from gothic romance novels to create a spine-tingling novel of betrayal, murder, and a vengeful ghost. Her character, Judith is spunky, and a little like Nancy Drew. Naylor’s literary prop, the severed hand of the dead Jade, is a somewhat trite. Readers of the genre may find its use tedious. I would not recommend this book as the best example of the genre. However, this book is a quick read, and may encourage some readers to look for other novels by the author.

Information about the author
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (b. 1/4/33 - ), has written over 135 books for children and young adults. She won the Newbury Award for her novel Shiloh. You can find out more about her at http://www.eduplace.com/kids/tnc/mtai/naylor.html.

Genre
Fiction, Paranormal, Unexplained Phenomenon

Curriculum ties
None.

Challenge Issues
Paranormal events.

Challenge defense ideas
· Become familiar with the book and its content.
· Refer to the collection development policy of the library.
· Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/Jade-Green-Phyllis-Reynolds-Naylor/dp/068982002X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258089257&sr=1-1
· Try to get reviews of the book from teens that have read it.

Booktalking Ideas
1.  Discuss how Judith is instructed to never bring anything green into the house by her Uncle Geoffrey.
2.  Talk about how Judith's disobedience may have triggered the paranormal events that occur in the house.
3.  Mention how the disembodied hand make itself known to Judith.

Reading Level/Age
Young Adult. 12 and over.

Why I included this title
This book is included in Teen Genreflecting, 2nd edition (2003), as an example of “Paranormal: Unexplained Phenomenon" (p. 133).

The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause

Klause, Annette Curtis. The Silver Kiss.
Bantam Doubleday Dell. 1999.
ISBN: 0440323460.
$5.99. Paperback. 198 pages.

Readers Annotation
Zoë’s new friend Simon is handsome and mysterious. Could he be responsible for the death’s in Zoë’s hometown?

Plot
High school student Zoë is facing a series of crisis. Her mother is slowly dying of cancer, and her father is always at the hospital. Then her best friend, Lorraine is planning to move away. Under pressure at both home and school, she recklessly wanders the dark streets of her town where a murderer is loose. Also walking the dark streets is the vampire Simon. Simon has his own agenda, but when he sees Zoë he is drawn to her. Written in alternating chapters the stories of both Zoë and Simon are told as they intersect in the hunt for the serial killer. Zoë tells Simon about her mother’s terminal illness. She asks Simon to help save her, but he explains that he cannot for her pain would make her insane. Simon tells Zoë the story of his older brother Christopher, and how he was taken from his family and changed into a boy vampire. While Simon has learned to control his urge for human blood, Christopher has not. Zoë comes to understand that it is Christopher (disguised as a young boy) who has been killing people and leaving their bloodless bodies to be found. Simon, with Zoë’s help plots to destroy his brother before he kills more innocent people. Zoë helps Simon in his quest, and in doing so discovers a hidden source of strength within. Simon’s decision to meet the sun saddens Zoë, but also gives her a new resolve to conquer her family tragedy.

Critical Evaluation
Listed in Teen Genreflecting as “the quintessential teen vampire novel,” The Silver Kiss is certainly a novel worth reading. Yet, the novel pales in comparison to more recent novels in the genre because of a lack of sympathetic building for the characters. Zoe’s well-meaning father removes her from all aspects of her mother’s terminal illness. Instead of feeling sympathy for her character, readers are subjected to Zoë’s otherness. Although she is not a monster like Simon and his brother, she is also not like most other teens. It is difficult to feel sympathy for the loss her character is undergoing. Zoë is separated from parents and friends when she finds Simon. His perspective on death is just what Zoë needs in order to put her life in order. Both characters face similar dilemmas on life and death. Simon’s decision to put an end to his brother Christopher is difficult. After destroying his murderous brother (with Zoë’s help), Simon’s decision to die is surprising. As Simon awaits the rising sun with Zoë, he is transfigured from monster to saved human being, because he goes willingly into the light.

Information about the author
Annette Curtis Klause (1953- ) is a librarian who writes novels. She does not currently have a website, but you can find out more about her at: http://www.ravenstonepress.com/klause.html. She also has a blog to which she posts infrequently. The author also notes this website for more biographical information: http://www.childrensbookguild.org/klause.htm

Genre
Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal, Vampire

Curriculum ties
None.

Challenge Issues
Violence

Challenge defense ideas
· Become familiar with the book and its content.
· Refer to the collection development policy of the library.
· Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Kiss-Annette-Curtis-Klause/dp/0375857826/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257737164&sr=8-1
· Try to get reviews of the book from teens that have read it.

Booktalking Ideas
1.  Discuss how Zoe is kept away from her dying mother, and her best friend moves away.
2.  Talk about how she feels alone until she meets Simon. 
3.  Discuss how she decides to help Simon destroy Christopher.

Reading Level/Age
Young adult. Ages 15 and up.

Why I included this title
This title is included in Teen Genreflecting, 2nd Edition (2003), as an example of a “Paranormal: Vampire” book for young adults.

In the Forests of the Night by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Atwater-Rhodes, Amelia.  
In the Forests of the Night.
Dell-Laurel Leaf. 1999.
ISBN: 0440228166
$5.99. Paperback. 147 pages.

Readers Annotation
Risika has been dead for hundreds of years, but that is not stopping her from challenging the vampire who killed her brother so long ago.

Plot
Risika, a shape-changing vampire, has lived for hundreds of years. Although she lives and hunts alone, Risika is consumed with hatred for Aubrey, another vampire, who she blames for her twin brother’s death. Risika, once called Rachel, weaves the story of the past and present like a spell. Made a vampire in 1701 during the time of the witch-hunts, Risika now lives (and hunts) in Concord, Massachusetts. As her anger is reignited she trespasses on Aubrey’s turf in New York. Hunting in New York, she purposely kills Aubrey’s servant in hopes of drawing him out. Although she has challenged Aubrey in the past, Risika has not been successful in her battles. When Aubrey kills her beloved tiger friend at the zoo, Risika is enraged. Knowing that strong emotions can aid in her quest to defeat Aubrey, Risika pursues him to the vampire town of New Mayhem. In a final showdown of strength Risika discovers that she does not need to destroy Aubrey in revenge. She uncovers that her inner vampire strength can defeat the being that has taunted her for years. Finally, Risika recovers the brother she thought had died because of Aubrey. Now, one of the strongest vampires in New Mayhem, she begins to find peace in her status as an undead vampire.

Critical Evaluation
This novel is an amazing work of fiction. Written when she was only 13-years-old, Atwater-Rhodes has created a gritty novel from an insider’s perspective. Her character Risika, a loner vampire, is unforgettable. It is difficult to identify Atwater-Rhodes work with any other authors in the same genre.  However, she has stated that she is a fan Laurell K. Hamilton, who wrote the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter novels.  The earlier novels of Hamilton are unromantic and action packed.  This novel has some of those attributes.  This book is closer in style to Guilty Pleasures (Hamilton), because it is less sentimental in its treatment of the monsters than the more current Twilight (Meyers). While Edward and Bella are claiming eternal love, Risika is busy attempting revenge on the vampire that destroyed her family so long ago. With this character Atwater-Rhodes has added to vampire mythology by allowing her vampire to be a shape shifter. Overall, she has created a startling addition to the canon of recent vampire novels.

Information about the author
Born in 1984, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes currently attends college and plans on becoming a teacher. You can find out more about her here.

Genre
Paranormal, Vampire

Curriculum ties
None. However, this novel should be read by anyone who loves vampire novels.

Challenge Issues
Violence

Challenge defense ideas
· Become familiar with the book and its contents.
· Refer to the collection development policy of the library.
· Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on barnesandnobel.com http://search.barnesandnoble.com/In-the-Forests-of-the-Night/Amelia-Atwater-Rhodes/e/9780613285377/?itm=3&USRI=in+the+forests+of+the+night
· Try to get reviews of the book from teens that have read it.

Booktalking Ideas
1.  Discuss how Rachel (Risika) became a vampire in 1701.
2.  Talk about how Risika blames her immortal enemy Aubrey for the death of her beloved brother.
3.  Mention that Risika is also a shape-changer, and how she chooses to assume the shape of her beloved tiger.

Reading Level/Age
Young Adult, ages 14 and up.

Why I included this title
This book is included in Teen Genreflecting, 2nd edition (Herald, 2003), as an example of “Paranormal: Vampire Books.”

Kit's Wilderness by David Almond

Almond, David. Kit’s Wilderness.
Random House. 1999.
ISBN: 0440416051
$6.99. Paperback. 229 pages.


Readers Annotation
Askew and his friends liked to play the death game, but for Kit something real happened. He can see the children who died in the mines years ago.

Plot
When Kit Watson and his family move to Stoneygate, an English mining town, to take care of his widowed grandfather, Kit befriends several children from his new school. One of those friends is John Askew, a strange young man who identifies Kit as one of those who can “see” beyond the everyday. Drawn to John, Kit enters into the game of “death” with other children in an abandoned mine. Things go awry and John is expelled from school, but Kit begins to truly see the ghosts of the children who died in the mines. They call to him. Kit also discovers his love for storytelling, and begins to write the stories his grandfather tells him. Ultimately the stories Kit is seeing come to life on paper. When John Askew disappears, Kit begins to dream a story about an ancient boy, separated from his family with his baby sister. Kit knows that he must find John so he can save him for he has been told to do so by the ancient mother figure that claims John as her own. At the same time, Kit’s beloved grandfather is falling victim to dementia. Kit learns to trust his instincts and his visions in order to help his friend and his grandfather.

Critical Evaluation
In his books for children and young adults, author David Almond uses magical realism as his method for evoking fantasy. Magical realism takes events that are ordinary, and injects actions (or characters) that are almost too strange to be believed. In his novel Skellig, Almond borrowed liberally from the works of Gabriel Garcia Marquez’ short story “The Old Man with Enormous Wings.” For this novel, Almond has taken a normal situation (extended family, and grandfather with dementia), and injected a ghost story that takes on mythical qualities. Ghostly children may be haunting Kit, or he could be having delusions in his grief over losing his beloved grandfather. While grandfather is attached to the past that Kit is seeing, he is not instrumental in its interplay with John Askew. Askew’s character seems to be unformed until he meets Kit. Kit’s participation in the death game sets the entire story into play. By returning Askew to his family Kit is given a reprieve to return to his own world. For both boys crossing the frozen river and fields is like returning from death across the River Styx. Both boys experience a kind of resurrection, enabling them both to move on from grief.

Information about the author
Almond offers some biographical information on his website here.

Genre
Fantasy, Paranormal, Unexplained Phenomenon, Magical Realism

Curriculum ties
None. However this book is a good example of the use of magical realism for a genre study.

Challenge Issues
Death, paranormal issues

Challenge defense ideas
· Become familiar with the book and its contents.
· Refer to the collection development policy of the library.
· Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Kits-Wilderness-David-Almond/dp/0385326653/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257486691&sr=8-1
· Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.

Booktalking Ideas
1.  Talk about Kit's close relationship with his grandfather. 
2.  Discuss how Kit is both attracted and repelled by John Askew.
3.  Talk about how Kit agrees to play the "death" game with the other children and Askew.
4.  Discuss how Kit experiences a profound shift in perception while playing the game. 

Reading Level/Age
Young Adult.  Ages 12 and up.

Why I included this title
This title was included in Teen Genreflecting, 2nd Edition (2003), as an example of a “Paranormal: Unexplained Phenomenon” book.

Sunshine by Robin McKinley

McKinley, Robin. Sunshine.
Berkley Books, 2003.
ISBN: 978-0-425-22401-4
407 pages

Reader's Annotation
Going to the lake alone was dumb, but there hadn’t been any trouble there in years. Until that day when Sunshine was abducted by vampires. 
 
Plot Summary
Sunshine (Rae) Seddon spends her time baking killer desserts until that day by the lake. Abducted by vampires she never expects to survive. Joining forces with a fellow captive, a vampire named Constantine (Con), Sunshine must use her dormant magical powers to help them both escape. First repelled by Cons, Sunshine finds herself increasingly drawn to him. When Sunshine kills a member of the vampire family that captured them with her bare hands, she becomes a target of authorities. Caught between the local cops (SOF) and the vampires, Sunshine must use all her powers to discover the location of the vampires in order to defeat them. If not, the vampires will continue to hunt for Sunshine and Con, and ultimately take over their city.
 
Critical Evaluation
Author Robin McKinley specializes in the fantasy genre, and many of her novels reflect her fairy tale sensibilities. McKinley’s favorite themes (a strong young female protagonist in a beauty and the beast situation) are predominant her novels. Her settings are usually far away and technologically deprived. For this novel, written in 2003, the author has created a post-apocalyptic world for Sunshine, which different from any other novel she has written. The apocalypse in McKinley’s world includes a world war between vampires (and other supernatural creatures) and humans. Told in the first person by “Sunshine” Rae Seddons, the story centers on her work in the family coffee shop as a baker. It is only after Sunshine is abducted that the world beyond the coffee shop begins to come into focus. Sunshine has an original voice with a unique viewpoint and dialect. While her voice is worth reading it is also sometimes very slow going. The reader is thrust into this exciting world with no background knowledge for the terminology or history. This contributes to becoming lost at times. While Sunshine’s language is often difficult to interpret, her vampire companion, Constantine is the opposite. Although very old, Constantine feels contemporary to the reader. Sunshine is snarky, comedic and insightful about her life, and her inherent magic. Constantine is her polar opposite. Together they are magnetic. Although the story is original it has not had the success of later books like Stephanie Meyers’ Twilight, in part due to the difficulty with the jargon, and the lack of background information. This book could be recommended to an older young adult reader who has read the Twilight series, or the Vampire Academy novels, and is ready for an outstanding stand alone vampire-themed novel. 
 
Author Information
Born on November 16, 1952, Jennifer Carolyn Robin Turrell McKinley spent much of her early life traveling the world as a Navy brat.  She currently resides in England.  McKinley won the Newbury Medal for The Hero and the Crown. You can follow her at: http://robinmckinleysblog.com or www.robinmckinley.com.
 
Genre(s)
Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal

Curriculum Ties
English/Reading: This book could be used as a tie in with other vampire fantasy novels like: Twilight, Vampire Academy, or Vampire Diaries.
 
Booktalking Ideas  
1.  Vampire Theme: Discuss how the relationship between Sunshine and Con is complicated. How can a human and vampire become allies?
2.  Baking Theme:  Discuss Sunshine's baking talent and how she creates incredible desserts.  Is cooking related to magic?

Challenge Issues 
Language and sexuality. 

Challenge Defense Ideas

• Become familiar with the book and its content.
• Refer to the collection development policy of the library. 
• Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/Sunshine-Robin-McKinley/dp/0425224015/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256704098&sr=8-1
• Try to get reviews from teens who have read the book. 
  

Reading Level/Age
Adult Crossover.  Ages 16 and above.
Why I included this title  
This selection was recommended by Nancy Pearl as a cross over for YA readers at a seminar I attended at the Santa Clara County Office of Education.  It is also included on the 2005 ALA Best Books for Young Adults.