Science Fiction: The Roar

Emma Clayton`s new novel is the first in a fast paced new science fiction series, set in a future where the entire population of earth lives behind an enormous concrete wall.

Mika and Ellie are twins, but Ellie is supposed to be dead. She disappeared a year ago, just outside her run down refugee apartment tower. But Mika knows it`s not true; he's sure that Ellie is alive, and in terrible danger.

Mika is so determined to find Ellie that he plays along when the school authorities start making kids drink a supplement that changes them; makes them strong, fit, aggressive...almost like soldiers. And when he excels as a pilot at a government sponsored video game, Pod Fighter, he knows that his skill might be the only thing that can get him close to Ellie again.

You see, Mika`s becoming more and more certain that Ellie has been taken by the government for some military purpose. Why else would the authorities be training kids to fight? Why else would they stage an elaborate game, where the elite pilots and gunners are weeded out, and moved to the Golden Towers high above the smog and the shadows of old London?

In the end, Mika and Ellie discover a secret that's so vast, so overwhelmingly evil, that they know they have no choice: they have to escape over the Wall, where all the world is dust and poisonous ashes. Or...is it?

An exciting adventure, with plenty of gaming action, government bad guys, and rebellious teen heroes (and heroines). Thoroughly enjoyable, and well written.

Science Fiction
Grades 8-10
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Fiction: Jellicoe Road

Another award winner! Jellicoe Road, by Melina Marchetta, won the 2008 Printz award. I have to say, this is now my favourite book of the year; the award is completely justified!

Jellicoe Road is a complex tale about family, love, loss and redemption. It winds between two generations, and manages to juggle a family mystery, a school adventure, and a couple of sweet loves stories all at once, without ever missing a beat.

Seventeen year old Taylor Markham has lived at the Jellicoe Road boarding school since she was abandoned by her mother at eleven. The school is her home, and house supervisor Hannah is the closest thing she has to a parent. So when Hannah leaves suddenly, without any explanation or notice, Taylor is pulled headlong into her old issues of abandonment and loss.

To make things worse, Taylor is now a house leader herself. This means that she's responsible for running the yearly "war" between the School, the Townies, and the Cadets. Each group claims a bit of the surrounding forest as territory, and for a few short months of the year, they all fight to claim territory according to a mysterious old book of rules. Taylor's determined to ignore the feelings between her and her arch enemy, Jonah Griggs; she's heartbroken about Hannah's unexplained absence; and now, she's starting to suspect that there's a secret that Hannah has been keeping from her. How does Hannah know Taylor's mother? Who was Taylor's father, and why does the mysterious Brigadier shadow her and Hannah? Taylor is determined to figure out what's going on, but every clue she uncovers brings her closer to a truth that will either liberate her, or destroy her.

An amazing read that will leave you astounded by the human capacity for forgiveness. The characters are at once fragile and full of strength, flawed yet capable of redemption. The very best kind of book, and recommended for all readers.

Fiction

Grades 11 and up (yes, adults too!)

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Science Fiction:The Knife of Never Letting Go

This grim story won the 2008 Guardian award for best children's book published in the UK. Author Patrick Ness has written a darkly forbodeing tale about settlers who find that their new planet is less than welcoming.

When the Church settlers arrive, they found that their new home was not quite the Eden they were expecting. Instead, a native virus attacked them, and gave every animal a voice, and turned the thoughts of men into an audible Noise than never goes away. Ever.

Todd Hewitt was born into this world. In Prentisstown, there are no women: the virus allegedly killed them all off, and Todd is the last boy born. He's waiting fearfully to grow into a man, because he knows from the Noise of his kinsmen that something bad is going to happen. When Todd stumbles across a terrible secret in the swamp, his kin force him to flee for his life. But there are some secrets that you can't run away from, no matter how fast you go.

Full of emotional tension and suspense, this book is excellent for older teens and those looking for a gripping read with a darker edge. Fans of Philip Reeve, Meg Rosoff and Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games) will love this first book in the series.

Science Fiction/Suspense

Grades 10-12

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Fantasy: Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow

This book retells the fairy tale "East of Sun, West of Moon" with a Nordic twist. When a woodcutter's daughter with no name agrees to accompany a great white bear to his frozen castle in the North, she believes she has made a wise decision. After all, she will only have to stay for a year and a day, and her family will be freed from poverty forever.

Although she has every luxury she could want in the bear's castle, she feels more a prisoner than a guest. She can't stop wondering about the true nature of the castle and the white bear, even as all clues point to a terrifyingly dangerous answer.

The woodcutter's daughter can't resist her curiosity, and she creates a disaster that she can only solve by travelling east of the sun, and west of the moon. With magic, mystery, and a romantic echo of Beauty and the Beast, this book is perfect for fans of retold fairy tales.

Fantasy

Grades 8-12

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Graphic Novel: Wonderland

Based on the classic tale of Alice in Wonderland, this graphic novel follows the adventures of Mary Ann, the White Rabbit's timorous and fetishistically tidy housemaid.

We meet Mary Ann as she's hurrying to the White Rabbit's house, eager to start her day of cleaning and tidying. It's immediately apparent that Mary Ann is a bit OCD about cleanliness, as she can't resist sweeping the dirt path that she meanders along.

Author/illustrator team Tommy Kovac and Sonny Liew perfectly capture the strangeness of Wonderland, as Mary Ann opens strange doors, falls down rabbit holes, and has a delightfully strange tea party with the Mad Hatter and friends. Of course, the Queen of Hearts is still the villainess, and when Mary Ann is tricked into crossing her by the Cheshire Cat...chaos ensues!

Mary Ann, being a wonderland native, isn't fazed at all by the strangeness of events. Her main objective is to save the silly White Rabbit from losing his head, while making every corner of Wonderland as spic and span as possible.

This award winning graphic novel is well worth picking up, and it's suitable for a very wide audience. With quirky art and sly humour, it's recommended for kids in grades 5-12.

Graphic Novel

Grades 5-12

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Fiction: Destroy All Cars

Destroy All Cars has created an hilariously ironic yet heartfelt story in this short, diary-style book.

We're first introduced to seventeen year old James Hoff through his AP English essays. James uses the assignment's platform to rail against CONSUMERIST AMERICA (his yelling) and the culture that drives people to constantly purchase USELESS CRAP (again, his). James is an idealist of the highest order, and he believes that nobody (especially his ex girlfriend Sadie) is doing enough to solve the world's ecological problems.

After wading through a couple of James's essays (his teacher keeps making him re-write them, due to objections to his "manifesto stylings") we start to see undeneath the thick layer of idealism. Although James sincerely belives in his cause, he's not immune to the issues that affect every one of us; love, family, and yes, sex.

This book is part comic masterpiece, part earnest ecological rant. It will certainly strike a chord with many guy readers, both with it's humour and its eco message. Add on Blake Nelson's witty and spot-on internal dialogue, and this book is definitely worth picking up.

Fiction

Grades 10-12

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Fiction: Everything Asian

Sung Woo's has written a thoughful and honest novel about the experiences of a korean family, reunited in America after a 5 year separation.

David Kim is twelve years old, and he hasn't seen his dad since he was seven. His father left his wife, son and daughter behind in order to build a better life in the US: but David isn't so sure it's better when he arrives in Newark, New Jersey.

He speaks no English, his fifteen year old sister is miserable at losing her friends and boyfriend, and his mother is suffering total culture shock in stoic silence. On top of that, his dad is a total stranger (although one who desperately wants to get to know his family again).

Over the course of a year, we hear from each member of the family. As they attempt to settle in to their new surroundings and each other, life goes on; people get sick, their business does better and then worse, and they deal with typical adolescent issues such as love, friends, and parental conflict. The true value of this book is in its unflinchingly honest assessment of immigrant life; sometimes good, sometimes bad. Kids who have gone through this experience will find a lot to identify with here, and those (like myself) who have never moved to a new country will have their eyes opened. The whole experience, as David puts it, "Could be worse". A worthwhile book.

Realistic Fiction

Grades 8-12

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Graphic Novel: Life Sucks

If you're sick and tired of Stephenie Meyer's flawlessly beautiful and nauseatingly virtuous vampire stereotype, check out this clever graphic novel for the perfect antidote.

Our hero, Dave, is a poor vampire working the night shift at the local convenience store. He never wanted to become a vampire: he was suckered into it by his sleazy boss, who turned Dave into his undead night-clerk slave.

Dave's life....well, it sucks. He works the night shift, goes home to beat the deadly sunlight, then gets up at night to do it all again. The one bright spot in his dreary existence is Rosa, the hispanic goth princess who comes by the store now and then with her friends. But when Dave (amazingly) gets a date with the girl, he ends up competing against buff surfer-dude vampire Wes. Dave, who exists on expired blood bank serum so that he won't have to hurt people, doesn't stand a chance.

This dystopian, clerks-like book is full of clever irony and sarcastic humour. If you loved Twilight...stay away. If you like Seinfeld, Clerks, Office Space, Ghost World, etc...you'll love this book!

Graphic Novel

Grades 10 and up

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