Moriarty, Chris. The Inquisitor’s Apprentice. Harcourt

Moriarty, Chris.       The Inquisitor’s Apprentice.  Harcourt Brace/Houghton Mifflin(Macmillan), 2011.        343p.   $16.99.            ISBN 978-0-547-58135-4           ms/hs   Fantasy           E-BN

Thirteen-year-old Sacha Kessler can see witches.  This would probably be an asset in any place other than the Lower East Side of New York City at the turn of the twentieth century.  Sacha’s world is an alternate universe where magic is an ordinary way of living and everyone uses it to some extent.   After Sacha discovers his abilities, he is quickly apprenticed to the great Inquisitor Wolf to help stop magical crime in the city.  He is paired with Lily Astral, a girl from Millionaire’s Mile, whose life is the opposite of life in Sacha’s Hester Street tenement.  The three become entangled in a web of intrigue that revolves around attempts to assassinate Thomas Edison through the machinations of a magical dybbuk.   Sacha’s world is a rich and colorful one, filled with all the ethnic groups that were found in New York at the time (each with a special kind of supernatural ability), and inhabited by some important historical figures like Harry Houdini and Teddy Roosevelt.  The rich atmosphere of the city is fully realized and adds a great deal to the story line.  As the plot unfolds, Sacha must make use of his Jewish heritage to prevent the dybbuk from stealing his own life.  This exciting fantasy will appeal greatly to readers.  The Yiddish words are explained mostly in context, and the twists in the names of the important personages are easily deciphered.  The Inquisitor's Apprentice is very much in the style of "Harry Potter meets the Lower East Side" and leaves you ready for a sequel.                   Subject: Magic -- Fiction            Susan Ogintz

Allen, Elise Populazzi

Allen, Elise      Populazzi   

 Harcourt Brace/Houghton Mifflin     2011  394p  16.99 978-0-547-48153-1 

 ms/hs VG-BN Realistic Fiction     

   Cara, who has always been on the bottom rung of the social ladder, plots how to rise to the top and become a “Populazzi,” in her new school.     Cara is moving to a new school.  It is a chance for new beginnings, an opportunity to overcome “invisibility” and become one of the popular crowd.  With her lifelong friend Claudia, the girls plot the ladder to social success. 

   Cara jumps from boyfriend to boyfriend, moving up the social strata and changing her looks, personality, and behavior along the way.  She begins with Archer, a boy from the Theater crowd, ditching him for Nate, a bad boy who puts Cara one step away from the “Populazzis.”  How far will Cara go to be someone of the cool crowd?

In addition to dealing with her social-climbing activities, a new environment, and a more challenging curriculum, Cara’s home life also provides challenges.  Her mother is in a totally dependent relationship with a cruel, emotionally abusive man.  Cara’s mom is not there for her and doesn’t have her back when events come to a head.

Fast-paced and entertaining, the characters, cliques, and experiences will seem authentic to teen readers who will recognize themselves in this entertaining and humorous page-turner.
1. Interpersonal relations - Fiction. 

2. Popularity -- Fiction. 

3. High schools -- Fiction.       Hilary Welliver

 

Nolan, Han. Crazy.

Nolan, Han Crazy
Harcourt Brace/Houghton Mifflin 2010 348p 17.00 978-0-15-205109-9
ms/hs Insanity VG-BN


Is Jason crazy? He hears voices in his head. But maybe that is only logical, after the death of his mother, and becoming the care-giver for his mentally unstable father. Can he find help in a therapy group at school?
This riveting book delves into the teenagers mind and life and the thought that may go through their minds from time to time, ╥Am I crazy?╙ Jason, the protagonist has every right to wonder. His mother is dead, his father is definitely insane Han Nolan's characters are easy to relate to and their problems may touch kids close to home. The redemptive power of the therapy group rings true, and Jason╒s resilience serves as an inspiration.This book is a must read for anyone dealing with issues bigger than themselves. Realistic Fiction Naismith(3), Pat

Jinks, Catherine. The Genius Wars.

Jinks, Catherine The Genius Wars
Harcourt Brace/Houghton Mifflin 2010 378p 17.00 978-0-15-206619-2 ms/hs E-BN


In this, the third book in the Genius trilogy, Cadel must beat the criminal Prosper English, his former foster father, at his own game in order to save the people who he loves the most. This is a fast-paced, high-tech adventure in which Cadel must defeat a criminal gang of hackers at their own game.
Jinks writes convincingly about each character, and her descriptions of heart-stopping action and technological innovation in service of the plot are second to none. Cadel is human and vulnerable, but at the same time a very sympathetic character, with his commitment to his friends, especially the disabled Sonja. Through the dialog and his actions he really comes off the page as a living, breathing young man who has suffered more than his share of abuse but is ready to move on and make life better for himself and his friends and new family.
Move over, Harry Potter. Science fiction Kennedy, Carol

Duane, Diane A Wizard of Mars (Young Wizards)

Duane, Diane A Wizard of Mars (Young Wizards)
Harcourt Brace/Houghton Mifflin 2010 550p 18.00
978-0-15-204770-2 ms/hs Fantasy E-BN
In this ninth book in the Young Wizards series, Nita and Kit return to that most special place in Kit’s heart: Mars. Always fascinated by the Red Planet, Kit has been invited to join the team that has found the Martian version of a “message in the bottle.”
Amazingly there is life on the Red Planet after all. In this ninth book in the Young Wizards series, Nita and Kit return to that most special place in Kit’s heart: Mars. Always fascinated by the fourth planet, Kit has been invited to join the team that has found the Martian version of a “message in the bottle.” As the universe’s wizards work together to decipher the information and discover just what actually happened to these long-lost beings of Mars, unexpected magic begins to unfold. Life forms from the distant past appear and their political problems might lead to an interplanetary war that will overwhelm both Mars and the Earth. Kit becomes drawn into the conflict through his empathetic connection to one of the Martian wizards and is subsumed into the Martian’s personality. Nita has to fight to remain aware of the differences between the two and figure out how to rescue Kit and save the Earth. The two teens, who have always had a close relationship, find strength in each other and the ability to overcome adversity.
Well-plotted, filled with interesting three-dimensional characters and sparkling dialogue, this new addition will grab the reader from the first page. It combines the best of magic and wizardry with science to produce a new and ever-changing universe that is populated by sentient beings of every kind. The interwoven threads from past adventures offer the promise of yet another sterling addition to the series.
Highly recommended for all middle and high school libraries. A must purchase where fantasy and science fiction readers abound. Ogintz, Susan Fantas, Mars

Jinks, Catherine Living Hell

Jinks, Catherine Living Hell
Harcourt Brace/Houghton Mifflin 2010 256p 17.00
978-0-15-206193-7 ms/hs Science fiction VG-BN
Cheney has lived all his life aboard the Plexus, in search of an inhabitable planet. But, his predictable and regimented life comes to an abrupt halt when the ship passes through a radiation belt and becomes a living organism, bent on destroying all aboard. What starts out as garden variety steam punk shortly becomes a headlong dash for survival, the ultimate gross out and proof, that once again, Jinks (The Reformed Vampire Support Group) has mastered yet another quirky genre, given the reader memorable characters, and a riveting story. Horror meets science fiction, with enough gore and action to attract even the most reluctant reader. A small dose of young lust, but mostly action, horror, suspense and more action. The description of the ship’s interior, once it becomes alive and tries to eradicate the viruses (ie. all the humans aboard), is enough to temp every young male reader, but female readers as well will be drawn to the tense narrative. Jinks does not disappoint.
Highly recommended for upper middle school and high school readers. Offer this one to reluctant male readers - they will not be disappointed. Naismith, Pat
Science Fiction meets Horror

Plum-Ucci, Carol Fire Will Fall

Plum-Ucci, Carol Fire Will Fall
Harcourt Brace/Houghton Mifflin 2010 485p 18.00
978-0-15-216562-8 ms/hs Realistic Fiction VG-BN
Four teenagers are moved to an old mansion in the Pine Barrens of South Jersey so that they can recover from a terrorist attempt to poison the entire town of Trinity Falls. Events are fast paced, full of conflicts, and seat grabbing for the reader.
The author has written a fast paced novel involving four youths (Owen, Scott, Cora, and Rain) who survive the terrorist strike. Because they were some of the most severely affected, the FBI relocates them into an old mansion owned by the historical society.
The teenagers have many medical, emotional, and personal conflicts to deal with during their isolation.

The story line is multifaceted and fast pace. The attempts of the FBI to locate and neutralize the terrorists that have infiltrated the U.S. is enhanced by two hackers. These teenage hackers are Shahzad (worked with his father in the Middle East for US intelligence) and Tyler (turned turned his mother in for spying and turning state secrets over to the Koreans) combine their skills to track down the terrorist (using code names Vaporstrike and Shadow strike) by visiting chat rooms and other sites on the internet.
The terrorist are planning another strike on an American locale. It is two of the teenagers who help the FBI zero in on the new site and bring the situation to a satisfactory end.
Some readers with be able to identify with the teenagers. Others will enjoy the fast paced thriller situated in a nearby locale.

This book would also be a valuable resource for a science teacher who needs fiction books to supplement their curricula in regards to bioterrorism. This is a very well written book that will relate well to many young readers. It is recommended as a basic book for any upper middle/high school library. It would make an excellent selection for a basic books list for school libraries. McNeil, Linda
Bioterrorism

Pfeffer, Susan Beth This World We Live In

Pfeffer, Susan Beth This World We Live In
Harcourt Brace/Houghton Mifflin 2010 239p 17.00
978-0-547-24804-2 hs Realistic Fiction VG-BN
This is a realistic novel about the survival of a family in a world where nothing is alive after the collision of a meteor with the moon. It is a world of haunting images and scary emotions.
Miranda Evans and her two brothers (Matt and Jon) comb the surrounding areas for the possibilities of food and utensils after the catastrophe. The climate has changed, the sunlight is nonexistent, the landscape is barren, and the potential for food is relatively small. The family existed on what the siblings can scrounge from the vacant houses while their mother stayed home and tried to life normal.
After a few months, her divorced father, his wife (Lisa), their baby (Rachel) arrive on their doorstep creating additional problems in regards to living space and food supply.
When things are sort of working out, a tornado levels the town of Howell. Once again Miranda is faced with a difficult life and death choice.

This is a story of survival. The picture is not acceptable nor encouraging. It is a world in which choices made have definite consequences of life or death. It is a riveting read that will haunt memories with images of what the family had to do to survive. This is a very well written book that will relate well to many young readers. It is recommended as a basic book for any upper high school library. It would make an excellent selection for a basic books list for school libraries. McNeil, Linda

Ingold, Jeanette Paper Daughter

Ingold, Jeanette Paper Daughter
Harcourt Brace/Houghton Mifflin 2010 210p 17.00
978-0-15-205507-3 ms/jr Multicultural VG-BN
Just before Maggie started her internship at the newspaper, her father’s tragic death has placed a burden on her heart. Then as she begins to go through his papers she discovers that the family she thought she had is not real. Her father lied to her. Now angry and upset at the turn of events Maggie must make sense of her life as it relates to her father. Maggie’s internship at the newspaper is exciting but she feels like there is a dark cloud over her as she ponders her father’s lies about his family. Then by coincidence on one of the assignments with one of the newspapers reporters, Maggie is able to link her father’s death with the incident they are investigating. This turn of events forces Maggie to face the problem of her father’s missing family and sends her on a search for the truth. What she discovers is a tale worth telling.
The beginning chapters are very slow to catch your attention but the side story of the Chinese immigrant paper son in the early part of the century is interesting even if it seems that it is unrelated. It isn’t until much later that
Maggie begins to connect the dots the stories start to interrelate. Then the pieces start to fall in place and the reader is told how the how both stories are connected. Maggie’s family history begins to unfold and we see how the past is connected to the present. The real interesting story is in the past and due to greed, envy, murder and fear we see how two generations was lost without a connection to their family until Maggie discovers the truth and brings them home. The past has the star-crossed lovers and it is only in the recognition of the past that brings healing to all in the present.
Slow to start but picks up speed as you go along. The immigrant part of the story was much more interesting that the present. Diaz, Magna

Meyer, Carolyn The Bad Queen: Rules and Instructions for Marie Antoinette

Meyer, Carolyn The Bad Queen: Rules and Instructions for Marie Antoinette
Harcourt Brace/Houghton Mifflin 2010 420p 18.00
978-0-15-206376-4 jr/sr Historical VG
This is the story of a young Austrian princess who leaves home at the age of fourteen to marry the dauphin of France. Her life is not easy as she tries to please her mother and the endless Rules of Etiquette at Versailles.
This is a story where the reader will gain a great deal if insight into the world of the notorious Marie Antoinette. There are many stories in history books about her escapades throughout her time at Versailles. However, readers will gain a better understanding of how a fun loving young girl had to deal with the stuffy domineering world of the French court. Readers will also be astounded how she was stripped of all of her Austrian clothes and possessions at the French border when she arrived to marry the dauphin. Pair this with the fact that the dauphin ignores her in favor of his hobbies even after their marriage. This brought about stress because their was no heir to the throne for several years. During this time it seemed that Marie could not please anyone. She had to adapt to the rigid rules of etiquette in France while constantly getting scolding letters from her Austrian mother concerning her lack of demeanor. Marie escaped those restrictions with her dress extravagances and wild parties.
Readers will get an insight in a slice of history that has always been popular. Marie was a young lady living in a world that hated her because she was an Austrian and a renegade royal who went her own way and ignored the rigid rules of etiquette at Versailles. In each of the 69 chapters the reader will get a glimpse of a rule and its reaction. This is a well written book that would be recommended for any already established middle school or high school library. McNeil, Linda

Rinaldi, Ann. The Family Greene

Rinaldi, Ann. The Family Greene
Harcourt Brace/Houghton Mifflin 2010 250p 17.00
978-0-547-260067-9 elm/ms Historical E-BN
Cornelia is the daughter of General Nathaniel Greene, second in command to George Washington during the Revolution. Since her mother was such a flirt, Cornelia struggles with the rumors concerning her father not being her real father.
The time period of the Revolution and the encampment at Valley Forge were both serious and frivolous times. The wives of various generals did much to raise the spirits of the troops. It was these so called indiscretions that caused Cornelia to wonder about her parentage. She loved her father and siblings, but her mother’s flirtations distressed Cornelia.

The author has written a thought provoking suspenseful story in which Cornelia tries to decide if her father is General Wayne or her father. At one point she confronts the General Wayne and asks about her parentage. He doesn’t respond to her because if he did Cornelia would think less of her mother. And he wanted her to learn that love and trust are important in a family.

Throughout the years Cornelia struggles with the identity of her father. But she also comes to learn that in addition to families have the power of love on their side as well as messy encumbrances.
The novel will be read and appreciated by readers who enjoy historical fiction. They will also appreciate that Cornelia in the end of the story did not really care that she never got an answer from General Wayne. This is a well written book that is recommended as a Books of Note. It would be an excellent addition to any middle school or secondary school library. McNeil, Linda
U.S. History

Stone Voice Rising

Tocci, C. Lee. Stone Voice Rising .
Harcourt Brace 2009 407p 17.00 978-0-15-206292-7 ms/hs
Lilibit knows she can hear stones whisper. She and six unwanted children travel toward Kiva to fulfill their destiny to the Stone. Constantly attacked by Evil and helped by unexpected allies, they journey on. Lilibit who can hear stones whisper is to be taken to Kiva to fulfill her destiny. The journey is redirected by Syxx, the embodiment of Evil. She amazingly survives all medically and surgically invasive attempts to find the source of her powers. Six other unwanted children from a foster home join forces with Lilibit to resume her journey to Kiva. Along the way they are helped by surprising allies and constantly pursued and attacked by the forces under the control of Syxx. The characters of Lilibit, Todd and Syxx are the most fully developed. The other children and characters they meet as they journey are sufficiently fleshed out to both aid understanding and enjoyment of the story. There is action in the escapes from the clutches of Syxx and his minions, and touching moments as the children come to depend on each other. It sounds like a sequel is likely to continue the story as the children learn and grow into their powers and abilities.
Theal, Joan