Short Stories: White Time

Margot Lanagan has written a creepily disturbing selection of science fiction short stories in "White Time". The ten stories vary in length, but each story will unsettle you, and make you question the foundations of our beliefs. My favourite story was the first, for which the book is named. A future high school student finds herself dealing with the paradoxes of time travel when she takes a work-experience assignment; the descriptions of "white time", or the reservoir of time in which interplanetary travellers have become trapped, will make your skin crawl. A wonderful collection of stories for all readers.

Short Stories

Grades 10-12

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Fiction: Magic or Madness

Magic or Madness, by Justine Larbalestier, is an exciting and mysterious start to a fantasy trilogy. Reason (yes, that's her real name) has been on the run with her mother, Sarafina, for as long as she can remember. Her mother has always told her that her gift for knowing things about people, for seeing patterns in things, is science; magic does NOT exist.

But when Sarafina ends up in a mental hospital in Sydney, Reason is forced to live in the house of the enemy; that is, her grandmother, the witch Esmeralda. Reason's hatred for Esmeralda starts to falter after a few days. In her beautiful, airy house, it seems like nothing could be dark, or dangerous. But then...Reason opens a door that should have remained closed. A wonderful magic mystery that promises to get better as the trilogy progresses.

Fiction

Grades 7-11

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Novel: Fairest

From the author of Ella Enchanted and The Princess Diaries comes another fairytale fantasy about 15 year old Aza, who helps her family run their inn in the countryside.

Aza is bulky, akward and homely, so she is surprised when duchess invites her to be a lady's maid, and attend the wedding of the King. When the beautiful but deceitful queen discovers that Aza can throw her beautiful voice and make it seem as if others are speaking, Aza is drawn into a deception that could spell her ruin.

Aza must unconver her true heritage and learn her own self worth in order to set the court and the country to rights. A great book, though a little more serious than some of Gail Carson Levine's previous works.

Novel
Grades 6-12
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Novel: Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie

Jordan Sonnenblick has written another winner in this novel about thirteen year old Stephen. Stephen is just a regular kid who plays drums in the All-Star band, has a crush on the hottest girl in school, and is constantly annoyed by his five year old brother, Jeffrey.

But when Jeffrey gets sick, Stephen's life is turned upside down overnight. Suddenly, he has to deal with overdue homework, his nonexistent girlfriend, his family falling apart, and, oh yes, Dangerous Pie.

This book is such a great read. It's horribly sad, hilariously funny, and extremely sweet all at the same time. And yes, you will have to read the book to find out what Dangerous Pie is.

Novel

Grades 7 and up

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Novel: London Calling

Martin Conway is sleeping his life away, aimless and unhappy, until his grandmother dies and leaves him an antique radio that belonged to his grandfather. Suddenly, a boy named Jimmy appears in his room at night, and sweeps Martin back to London in the year 1940, during the Blitz. When Martin wakes up, he discovers that everything he saw was real, and that Jimmy's time holds a secret that is the key to saving his own life and a perfect stranger's. To save them both, Martin must unravel a mystery that has haunted Jimmy for over 50 years.

This book is full of historical detail and vivid descriptions of war-torn london. Readers of historical fiction and fantasy alike will appreciate the mystery and danger in this novel.

Novel

Grades 6-12

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Novel: Code Orange

Mitty is a pretty carefree guy. He likes walking around New York City, listening to his ipod (especially in class) and he's not really worried about getting a good grade when his teacher assigns him a report on infectious diseases.

Mitty thinks he's lucky when he finds some old medical books at his family's weekend cabin. He opens one of the texts to a page on the virus Variola Major, and finds something extra; an envelope filled with dried scabs. Mitty thinks this is gross at first, but he quickly realizes that his medical research is no longer about getting a good grade...it's about life and death. This fast paced medical thriller will keep you up all night reading just to find out whether Mitty survives.

Novel

Grades 6-12

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Novel: The Ranger's Apprentice

John Flanagan's novel is the first in a fantasy series about Will, Ranger's Apprentice. In this first book, Will finds out that although he has always wanted to go to Battleschool and become a hero, his apprenticeship will be to the mysterious Rangers.

With their dark cloaks and mysterious ways, the Rangers have always scared Will a little. Now, as he learns how to fade into the forest and track any animal that moves, Will discovers that his skills will be needed to fight a battle that may make or break the kingdom.

Novel
Grades 5-10
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Novel: Notes from the Midnight Driver

Fifteen year old Alex Gregory made a mistake. He drank two pints of vodka, got in his Mom's car, and drove off to give his cheating, no-good dad the tongue lashing he deserved.

Unfortunately, he hit something enroute. No, not a person, not somebody's pet dog...just a garden gnome. Does he really deserve to be convicted of drunk driving? Alex doesn't think so!

The judge thinks otherwise.

This book is the hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking story of Alex, his best friend Laurie, and the friendship of a lifetime.

Graphic Novel: Nana

Nana is Japan's most popular Shojo manga serial, and no wonder! Volumes 1-4 are now available in English, and they tell the story of two girls named Nana, who couldn't be more different.

Nana Komatsu is a flaky young woman who has just finished a star crossed affair with an older man. She decides to follow her friend Junko's advice, and just be friends with Shoji, a nice (and cute!) art student. When Nana's friends move to Tokyo to attend art school, Nana stays behind to work for a year. She wants to prove she can support herself, even though her friends think she's a silly flirt!

Meanwhile, high school dropout Nana Osaki is rocking onstage with her punk band, and offstage with Ren, her drummer and boyfriend. When Ren moves to Tokyo to take a recording contract, Nana O decides to stay in her small town and make it on her own. In book two, both Nanas decide it's time to make the move to Tokyo.

These books have amazing art. At first, the story sounds like a soap opera; as you keep reading, you will find yourself being drawn into the lives of these complicated and cool friends. I loved these books!

Graphic Novel

Grades 8 and up

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