Ellis, Deboah No Safe Place

Ellis, Deboah No Safe Place
Groundwood see Douglas McIntyre 2010 208p 16.95
978-0-88899-973-3 ms/hs victims of world tragedies escape their past E-BN


Three teenagers from different challenging backgrounds meet and fight tremendous odds to reach freedom! One is a survivor of the war in Iraq, another escapes the sordid world of prostitution and finally, the third overcomes childhood in Communist Russia. Teenagers will love this book! It’s got conflict throughout: man vs. nature in a battle with the English Channel, man vs. man with war and bullying, man vs. society with the actions of prejudice perpetrated against the 3 protagonists, and man vs. himself as all 3 characters fight for survival after the world persecuted them. Typical Americans cannot imagine the horrors of war and the depths of anguish that children feel who have been rocked by other life challenges. On the other hand, children will relate to the strength of the friendships which have been forged by the end of the book as well as to the passion that each of the protagonists brings to a new life. Three young teenagers all come from different parts of the world, take over a smuggler’s boat, survive the night only to be caught by Americans on a cabin cruiser, overpower the Americans and make it to England after fighting a storm. Ellis’s talent for establishing a very exciting plot line is eclipsed by the realities that she exposes to the reader. Abdul is the principal character, gutsy, motivated and resourceful. He needs to survive to place his gold necklace on Penny Lane in honor of his friend in Iraq who was beaten to death. Cheslav, the Russian trumpet player with a background as horrific as Abdul’s, fights him until the end when, in a quick reversal, shows up at Penny Lane and gives Abdul reason to live. Rosalie, the little gypsy, watchful and clever, escaped abuse at the hands of people who lived off the fruits of a young girl’s worth to men and landed in the smuggler’s boat with Cheslav and Abdul. Sometimes Ellis’s language is poetic, almost metaphorical; other times, it is fast-paced and action-packed. The author uses an old technique of flashback to tell the stories of the teenagers’ lives before they come together, but this approach works! The theme? War has atrocities, but so does survival. By working together, 3 teenagers survive. Realistic Fiction Squaresky, Martha

Crane, Dede. Poster Boy.

Crane, Dede. Poster Boy.
Groundwood see Douglas McIntyre 2009 214p 17.95 978-0-88899-855-2 hs Gray hangs out with his friends, thinks about losing his virginity, and finds his younger sister irritating. Then he learns that she is in the last stage of cancer, and everything in his life changes -- the family dynamic, his interests, his friendships. Gray learns about causes of cancer, and he becomes interested in the environment as a result. The story pulls the reader in, as we see Gray develop as a character and a young adult. Caution--Gray and his friends regularly get high, think about losing their virginity, and use swear words. The language is crude at times, reflecting how young people actually talk. There were a few surprising typos. An example on page 210 “lifting two eggs from its grassy nest (its” instead of “their”). The strongest element of the story is the characters and how they cope with stress, and change. This is a good realistic novel that is clearly aimed at pulling in reluctant male readers. Kennedy, Carol

Higgins, Dalton. Hip Hop World.

Higgins, Dalton. Hip Hop World.
Groundwood see Douglas McIntyre 2009 144p 18.95 978-0-88899-910-8 hs
Groundwork Guide

This overview of the hip hop rap culture takes an international stance as it examines the history, effects, and social issues that the music addresses. Higgins, a writer and critic of popular media, has written an overview of the hip hop rap scene of today as it relates to the past and the future of the culture of this music. He is Canadian but takes an international stance as he examines the history, the effects, and the social issues that the music addresses. Higgins discusses where the music came from, where it is today, how it works, and where it is going. Subjects that are tackled include: racism, sexism, classism, the use of the “n” word, and drugs. The writing is not just reporting about the world of hip hop, but is a critical introduction to the music that offers opinions about this growing and controversial music. There is an immediacy to the writing that puts forward an original perspective on the music. At the end of the book, there is a Hip Hop Timeline encompassing the time between the birth of rap up to 2009. Extensive notes and an index complete this book. This title will be an excellent addition to high school libraries as it offers a unique point of view about a topic that interests many teen readers. Recommended for Books of Note. Tina Weinraub

Combres, Elisabeth. Broken Memory: a Novel of Rwanda.

Combres, Elisabeth. Broken Memory: a Novel of Rwanda.
Groundwood see Douglas McIntyre 2009 139p 18.95 978-0-88899-892-7 ms/hs

This powerful novel, translated from French, is an account of the genocide in Rwanda personalized through fourteen year old Emma’s eyes. Ten years after she witnessed her mother’s brutal murder in their home finds Emma living with a poor, elderly, Hutu woman. Emma has been living with her ever since she escaped from her village and took refuge in her home. Though poor, the woman hid Emma when necessary and looked after her. Emma has befriended a boy her age who was also a victim of the savage war. Together they form a bond as he tells her about school and she supports him as he goes through his dark moments every April. A kind man who helps young survivors of the war eventually helps Emma learn how to let her feelings out and move on in her life. An epilogue at the end of the story updates Emma’s and other main character’s status a decade later. The author also adds a note at the end of the book that helps put this title in it’s historical context in an understandable way. This compelling, moving, and well -written novel about the war in Rwanda and its effects on the people who lived there during the genocide is an excellent selection for both middle and high school libraries. Tina Weinraub

Skinnybones and the Wrinkle Queen.

Huser, Glen. Skinnybones and the Wrinkle Queen.
Groundwood, 2006. 192p 0-88899-732-9

“Fifteen-year-old Tamara is being bumped between foster homes, but now that she is aging out of the foster care system, she has devised a plan that will ensure her wealth and freedom, but first she must get through her last community project, which may change her life forever.”
Skinnybones and the Wrinkle Queen by Glen Huser is the teenage version of Thelma and Louise. Fifteen-year-old Tamara is being tossed around from foster home to foster home, because of her flamboyant disposition. She knows her future is on the line. All she ever wanted to do is be a model and become rich and famous. Her plans unfold when she meets elderly Miss Jane Barclay at the nursing home while her class is working on community projects. Miss Barclay is as unique as Tamara, smoking her cigars and sneaking drinks when available. Miss Barclay has one desire, to attend the opera one last time, while Tamara desires to attend a modeling school. The two set off on an adventure of a lifetime, being beneficial to both of their ambitions, since Miss Barclay is willing to pay for Tamara’s class and Tamara in return is willing to drive Miss Barclay to Seattle for the operas. Hoping for the best, they got the worst. The two ladies learn about each other and themselves. What they wanted and desired was respect and freedom.
The book is a fast and enjoyable read, predominately for females. Middle and high school level readers will like this book and will think of their elderly relatives. CFM
Realistic fiction