Moore, Carley. The Stalker Chronicles.

Moore, Carley.    The Stalker Chronicles.  Macmillan/Farrar Strauss     230p $16.99 978-0-374-37180-7       ms/hs       Good            Conflict   

We meet Cammie as a sophomore in high school, with flashbacks to elementary and middle school to set the premise of the novel that Cammie has always found direct verbal communication difficult. Instead, she secretly listens in on conversations of her family (her parents sound as if they will divorce) and clandestinely observes people who she would like to be friends with, and this behavior earns her the reputation of being a stalker.  She has only one true friend, Rosie, who tries to offer advice on how to better relate to people.  When a new boy moves to town, Cammie is compelled to go through his garbage, go into the boy’s bathroom to investigate, and through other means secretly learn about his past, which is shrouded in mystery.   Whether Cammie is just socially awkward or has a more serious mental disability is never fully explored.  This is a light read for middle-school and high-school students that will leave some questioning the total cluelessness of Cammie’s parents and whether Cammie’s transformation into a more popular person could really happen in such a short time.           

Stalking, Friendship-Fiction                          --Lois McNicol

Moore, Stephanie P., and Derrick Moore. Always Upbeat/All That.

Moore, Stephanie P., and Derrick Moore.   Always Upbeat/All That. (2 points of view)      Saddleback  304p  $14.95      978-1-61651-884-4           hs    Good Realistic Fiction 

Stephanie Perry Moore and her husband Derrick Moore teamed up to create this Saddleback novel that presents two stories in one.  Interestingly, the events correspond, as Blake tells his story in the first half of the book, entitled All That, and then the reader turns the book around to find Charli’s story, entitled Always Upbeat.  In this combination novel, the reader finds a good plot, focusing on the challenges and pressures faced by high-school students everywhere: how to lead, how to handle sexual advances, and how to handle family drama.  Charli must learn to balance her cheerleading position as captain of the squad with her personal life, and she does an abysmal job of it.  Blake faces his mother’s cancer and the pressure to shine as quarterback as his relationship with Charli falls apart.  There are many messages to be found in these stories, and the themes will resound with high-school readers who want action, real-life drama, and guidance in issues of morality and other current topics. 

Unfortunately, the use of more advanced vocabulary in the characters' speech does not always "ring true".  It appears that the authors leave their local dialect to attempt to show that Charli and Blake are not ignoring their education.   Some examples of words that do not sound natural in their speech are "dissipating" (on page 32)and "awry" (on page 116).  Authenticity must be preserved in this type of novel so that the story flows naturally.  In addition to this weakness, there is another:  Charli’s reaction to her father’s indiscretion is rather weak.  She is horrified that her boyfriend is cheating on her, but when her father cheats, she says it is just "wrong".  She under-reacts, and readers will be put off by this type of deviation from the voice of the story.  All in all, both stories are good, and readers will enjoy the contrasting points of view.  Saddleback’s reputation as a publisher of books that are guaranteed to keep young adults reading is noteworthy, and this book will not disappoint high-school readers.

Please note errors the following errors: on page 110 of Always Upbeat, "cutting him of" should be "cutting him off" and on page 92 of the same novel, the word “to” is missing in "supposed laugh".  

Friendship-Fiction, Point of View                     --Martha Squaresky

Superman: What Happened to the Man of Tomorrow

Moore, Alan & Curt Swan. Superman: What Happened to the Man of Tomorrow
DC Comics 2009 128p 24.99 978-1-401223472 secondary
This hard-bound deluxe edition contains the collection of Alan Moore’s tales of the legendary Man of Steel. Alan Moore has presented Superman, a widely known and powerful being who has made it his life’s work to protect our planet. His endeavors are a never ending battle for justice against the forces of evil that are prevalent in our world. Readers have enjoyed his trials for years. They has also been curious about what happened to him. This deluxe hardcover edition attempts to answer the unanswered. It is also the first time that the works have been collected in a single volume. Moore is joined by illustrators and collaborators Dave Gibbons (WATCHMEN), Curt Swan (ACTION COMICS), George Perez, Kurt Schaffenberger, Murphy Anderson, Al Williamson, and Rick Veitch (SWAMP THING)! In addition to being very popular for Superman readers and collectors, this book will be appreciated by the readers of the new graphic novel genre. The pages are beautifully designed and the layout flows easily for the readers to follow the storyline. The dramatic use of color exemplifies the drama surrounding the superhero’s environment.
McNeil, Linda