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.

When Dad Killed Mom by Julius Lester

Lester, Julius. When Dad Killed Mom.
Harcourt. 2001.
ISBN: 0152046984.
$6.96. Paperback. 196 pages.

Readers Annotation
Their mother is dead, and their father killed her. Jenna and Jeremy must each find a way to deal with the tragedy.

Plot
Jenna and Jeremy know that their parent’s marriage is ending, but they never expected that their father would murder their mother. As the story unfolds, Jenna and Jeremy each tell the story from their own perspective. After the murder the children decide to separate. Jenna, her father’s favorite child, wants to support her father. At first she believes his innocence due to insanity. Jeremy, an artist like his mother, wants only to remain in her studio where he feels closest to her. The children do not understand their father’s motivation, and as each child searches separately for answers they come to understand the dynamic of their parents marriage. 14-year-old Jenna, living with her mother’s best friend, befriends with a boy whose father has committed suicide. Jeremy refuses to return to his classroom. Instead, he stays with his art teacher every day. Both Jenna and Jeremy attend their father’s trial. Jeremy, who has discovered his mother’s diary, knows he has uncovered the reason for her murder. Jenna also doesn’t believe the stories her father has told her. She knows that he has lied to her in the past. It is through Jeremy’s discovery of the diary that their father, Eric is forced to admit his guilt.

Critical Evaluation
Although the protagonists in this story are in the 6th and 8th grades, this book is written for an older audience. The story seems to be ripped from the headlines. The author, Julius Lester, is known for extensive research on his topic but I question whether the reactions by the children are true to life. The decision of the siblings to separate into different households seems contrived. Jenna’s decision to remain with her mother’s best friend, and adopt a new name seems more possible than Jeremy’s solution. Jeremy, who remains at his mother’s studio nearly alone, meets and is adopted by a family living in the same town. I’m not sure that any judge would determine that this was the best action for an 11-year-old child. Additionally, the melodrama played out in the courtroom by Jeremy would certainly not happen in real life. Although it plays out to a reasonably happy ending the story seems contrived. The story is heart-rending but not necessarily truthful.

Information about the author
Julius Lester was born on January 27, 1939 in St. Louis, Missouri. To date he has published 43 books. He has won numerous awards for his writing including a Newbery Honor, and multiple ALA Notable Book nominations. To find out more about Lester go to http://members.authorsguild.net/juliuslester/index.htm. You can follow his blog at http://acommonplacejbl.blogspot.com/, although he doesn’t post very often.

Genre
Contemporary fiction.

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/When-Dad-Killed-Julius-Lester/dp/0152046984/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258233502&sr=1-1
· Try to get reviews of the book from teens that have read it.

Booktalking Ideas
1.  Discuss the murder of the mother, and the children’s reactions.
2.  Talk about the children’s decision to live apart.

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

Why you included this title
This title is included in Teen Genreflecting, 2nd Edition (2003), as an example of a book about issues of death.

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).

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.