Young Adult titles

Davis, Tanita. Happy Families.

Publication date May 8
Ysabel and Justin both have their own interests, but enjoy hanging out with their supportive family. The book starts with them all at one of Ysabel’s art shows, but the next chapter is set much later. The twins’ father has moved out, their mother is stressed, and they don’t want anyone to know what has happened. However, their mother feels they must deal with it, and sends them to stay with their father for spring break so that they can be with him... and come to terms with the fact that there father is transgendered and is trying to decide if he will live his life as a woman. The family goes through counseling and also meets up with other families going through similar difficult times. Ysabel and Justin just want things to be the way they were-- they miss having their father around and are confused and more than a little embarrassed about this turn of events.

Strengths: This is incredibly sensitive and well-researched, and the guide to the preferred way of referring to situations and conditions is very helpful. I can’t think of another book on the topic of dealing with transgendered parents, and I have known students who struggled with this issue.
Weaknesses: This is more of a high school book, not because of the content, but because of the tone. So much of this is about longing for family unity, and middle school students are more concerned about breaking away from their families, hence the whole phenomenon of orphans in middle grade fiction. This is completely appropriate for middle school, just not a title that those students will seek out.

Banks, Anna. Of Poseidon.

Emma and her friend Chloe are vacationing at the seashore. Right after literally running into the handsome Galen, Emma's friend is killed by a shark. Galen and Emma tried to save her, and it turns out that Emma can talk to the shark, although it's too late to save Chloe. Galen has come searching for Emma at the behest of Dr. Milligan, a human whom Galen saved and who saw Emma at the Gulfarium he runs. Suspecting that she is also a Syrena (basically a mermaid), Dr. Milligan has Galen hunt her down. Galen's sister Rayna and his human assistant Rachel (who is pretending to be his mother) take up residence in Emma's community, get to know her, and try to figure out whether she is or isn't "of Poseidon".

Strengths: Mr. Buxton, our language arts teacher and a fellow blogger, told his students about the book Ripple, and they all wanted to read it, so mermaids hold some fascination. This is an interesting take on the legend, told from both Galen's and Emma's perspective.

Weaknesses: This was hard to follow, and a bit creepy. Emma's mother seemed to want Galen to sleep with her, and there is a lot of talk about the merfolk mating that was just... weird and creepy. This moves it firmly into the young adult category, although there isn't anything graphic.

John, Antony. Thou Shalt Not Road Trip.

Luke Dorsey was writing parables with his young group, and his were so good that the pastor managed to help him get a book published. Now, he is on the road doing book signings at a variety of Christian book stores. His agnostic brother Matt is driving, and is a little too excited about the unlimited expense account (they are in a Hummer but still staying at some dive hotels). Along the way, they pick up Matt's sometimes girlfriend Alex, and her sister Fran, in whom Luke was, although now Fran has taken up drinking in a big way. Each character discovers different things about themselves on the trip, although nothing really happens. (Like spies, explosions, car chases or other things that middle grade readers look for in "great literature".)

Strengths: Road trip books are always good. John's writing is quite nice, and his characters are well developed.

Weaknesses: This is just more of a young adult book, concerned with how people feel and grow as people. It was also, given the reason for the road trip, VERY Christian in aspect.

Love of the Game

Coy, John. Love of the Game.
This is the third in the 4 for 4 series that also includes: Top of the Order, Eyes on the Goal, and Take Your Best Shot.
Starting middle school has Jackson worried because he is also having to move into his mother's boyfriend's home. He already has a father; he doesn't need Ted, too. There are older students who are giving him a hard time, classes are difficult, and he is forced to be in a reading club. He has to take a food class, which is okay because there is a girl he likes in it. The one thing he looks forward to is football, but he is worried that his friend Diego won't go out for the team because his mother is afraid of injuries. His friend Gig is still concerned about his father in Afghanistan. Will all of these things get Jackson down, or will he be able to work everything out?
Strengths: This is a nice easy read for boys who like sports, even though there aren't as many descriptions of games. Readers of Rich Wallace will like these. I liked the book club and the shout out to Ritter's baseball books!
Weaknesses: Again with the bullies threatening swirlies and taking kids' lunch money. Sigh. I suppose it happens in some places.

Skead, Robert and Mike Simmel. Mighty Mike Bounces Back.
Mike has had epilepsy since he was two, and is on medication but still has seizures. When he was younger, they were so bad that his parents made him wear a bike helmet all the time! When he discovers basketball, if becomes his obsession. It's not enough to practice before and after school-- he wants to be on the team. With the help of his doctor and the patience of his teammates, he gets on the team. Even though he still has seizures (and sometimes has them at very inopportune moments), he is able to be a successful member of the team. Based on the real life experiences of Mike Simmel, who plays for the Harlem Wizards exhibition team.
Strengths: A short basketball book that also has a lot of information about epilepsy.
Weaknesses: A bit didactic, and the book would have benefitted greatly from better design, although the cover is good. The print is very tiny; since the book is so thin, I would have chosen a larger font!

Brief Job Update: It looks like I may be at one school next year, and it will hopefully be the one that I have been at for the last ten years (fifteen if you count volunteering!). This is, of course, marvelous good news, but next year could still be sad. The length of the day will probably be cut, and SSR could be a victim. The most important part of SSR for me is that I see ALL of the children in the building once a week, and they have an adult in their lives who has a vested interest in making sure that they have a book at all times. I try to get out to study halls to check, but SSR teachers see the the same group of students every day and can make sure.

There are a lot of teachers who are retiring even though they have a lot of good years left, in order to save the jobs of younger teachers. People will be moved. Students will have limited electives. We'll have cross country, but the fee will be $150. I have some runners who could barely afford $50. I saw my first cockroach in the building because of the custodial cuts.

*SIGH*

We will be grateful for what we have. And speaking of which, go congratulate Mother Reader on her Star Volunteer Award. Why is it that as conscientious, hard working adults, we still feel we are not worthy? I just won a GEM Award, and feel sort of like Mother Reader does!