Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

Ever since that family reunion 10 years ago when she and her cousin, Lindsay, were inseparable, Raina has wanted a sister. Someone to have fun with, someone to share adventures and secrets with, someone who would be a built-in best friend. So naturally she is thrilled when her parents finally, finally bring home baby Amara.

But having a sister isn't at all like Raina imagined. From the start, Amara is grouchy, argumentative, and prone to tantrums when she doesn't get her way. And she doesn't share any of Raina's interests. Except art. And, worse, Amara is the better artist. Naturally, none of this sits well with Raina. Or Amara, for that matter. And when a brother is introduced into the equation, things at the Telgemeier household go from bad to worse. And the years don't improve the situation any.

Sisters, by Raina Telgemeier, is an autobiographical graphic novel that illustrates Raina's summer before high school when she, her mother, Amara, and brother Will road trip it from California to Colorado for a family reunion. As the story (told partly in present day and partly in flashbacks) unfolds, the reader gets a better picture of Raina and Amara's stormy relationship and also of the drama that's going on within their family. Sure, the sisters fight and annoy each other. All. The. Time. But when life throws an unexpected curve ball their way, they're also are willing to be there for each other. Not that that'll admit to that, though. 

Over the years, I've become a big fan of Telgemeier's books. Smile, where we first meet Raina and her family, was (and still is) my favorite of the author's. And Drama was a cute and fun departure from the autobiographical books. Sisters is being promoted as a sequel/companion book to Smile, but you don't have to read one to fully enjoy the other.

Highly recommended! --AJB

What It Is, by Lynda Berry

"Do You Wish To Write?" Cartoonist and writer Lynda Berry poses this question in her visually stunning how-to guide that's almost impossible to put down or fit into any genre or category. Part collage/scrapbook, part autobiography, part graphic novel, What It Is uses memories, imagination, dreams, hopes, fears, past experiences, future maybes, and the mundane-ness of day-to-day life to stimulate the mind inspire writing ideas. Read it cover to cover or open it at random. Either way, you're sure to find that cure for writer's block.

If nothing else, What It Is makes for a very entertaining read.

Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek

Can a "How To Be Popular" guide written in the 1950s help an awkward teen from 2012 to build confidence and fit in?

Surprisingly, the answer is "yes"!

When it came to popularity, Maya Van Wagenen often described herself as being "pretty much the lowest level of people at school who aren't paid to be here". Then she discovered Betty Cornell's Teenage Popularity Guide, published in 1951. Her dad had bought it as a joke, but when it came into Maya's hands, she saw it as something as more than just a novelty prop. Before beginning 8th grade, Maya decided to try something: She'd follow the advice in the book and see where it took her, applying Betty Cornell's advice to her life in the 21st century. The results were amazing. Not only did Maya build her own confidence, but she actually gained a certain level of popularity.

Maya's own memoir, Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek, is funny, heartwarming, and, at times, positively cringe-worthy. And it proves that, while trends come and go, some advice is timeless! A definite must-read!

p.s. Want to check out Betty Cornell's book for yourself? We own that too! --AJB

This Star Won't Go Out

Picking up a biography/autobiography about a teen battling cancer is, in a way, like picking up a novel that prominently features a lovable animal character (see: Where the Red Fern Grows, Old Yeller, A Mango-Shaped Space, Marley, Dewey the Library Cat, etc.). Even before you begin reading, you know how it's going to end. And you know the ending will make you cry buckets. But even that is too simple a comparison for this incredible book.

However, This Star Won't Go Out, the story of Esther Earl (whose story became the inspiration for John Green's The Fault in Our Stars), is surprisingly upbeat for a memoir about a teen with terminal cancer. Yes, it's still extremely sad, but it's not all gloom and doom. Not at all. No way. Through letters, journal entries, photos, sketches, poems, and stories, you really get to know Esther. She was a very friendly, generous, and upbeat girl. She was involved with her friends, family, and community. She loved Harry Potter, her cats, and pizza. As much as possible, she lived life to the fullest. And even at the darkest moments of her cancer, she never lost hope. In short, Esther Earl was a very cool person.

This Star Won't Go Out is currently on our New Book Shelf. And it's very much worth reading. But be warned: Keep a box or two of tissues handy. You'll need them! --AJB

Hyperbole and a Half

Although thick (nearly 400 pages), Allie Brosh's Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened is a surprisingly fast and exceptionally fun read. But don't let the (at a glance) simplified, cutsy illustrations fool you. The humor in this one is nothing if not sarcastic, dysfunctional, and completely twisted. But, at the same time, it's relatable to everyday situations: From wanting nothing more than some of that forbidden cake your mom baked for someone other than you to a pets-eye-view of moving, Hyperbole and a Half will make you see the humor in life's curveballs and maybe even cause you look at your life in a different way.

The verdict: Awesome!

--AJB

Teen Reviewer:

Teen reviewer Olivia, 14, recently read The Warrior's Heart: Becoming a Man of Conpassion and Courage, by Eric Grietens and loved it. Here is her review:

In this book, Eric shares his life and the courage needed to become a Navy Seal. He writes with just the right amount of detail to where you feel you are actually with him. Through his hardships and battles, Eric encourages the reader to become their own person and live to be someone you're proud of. He really paints a picture of how important and influential volunteering is. Putting yourself before others is a great attribute to have, and Eric displayed that perfectly. Throughout the book, Eric becomes an amatuer boxer, visits refugee camps, and endures the world's most difficult military training to become a Navy Seal. This book has been adapted for teens, which I think was an excellent choice. Just because a memoir may seem too crude or violent doesn't mean we shouldn't know the truth. There were countless lessons in this book, which teens need to learn. Bravery, commitment, honesty, humility, integrity, just to name a few. Upon returning home from war, many soldiers cannot express their experience. It took an immense amount of courage for Eric to write about some very difficult experiences, and I thank him for doing so.

Olivia feels this books is most appropriate for teens age 13-15. She picked it up because of other reviews she read, and would not hesitate to recommend it to someone else.

A different kind of ghost story

Incredibly compelling is the best way to describe the memoir Ghosts of War.  Ryan Smithson felt the need to do something meaningful after the attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11.  Opting for the military rather than college, Smithson joined the Army Reserves at the age of 17.  Two years later he was sent to Iraq as an Army engineer.  This novel recounts his experiences while there and after he returned home.  His story is not the one you see on the news.  This book describes what really happens during daily life as a soldier in a war zone - the danger and boredom, as well as the small moments of humanity.  Ghosts of War will make you think about the sacrifices American soldiers make every day to guarantee our freedom.      KR