Blankets by Craig Thompson

I was surprised to see that this book came out in 2003.  The way Thomson talks about his teenage years, which I placed vaguely in the early 1990's, made it feel more distant at the time of writing.  You know, I am one of those people who forgets that I graduated 16 years ago so I guess that's not really surprising.

This book, well, it was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for me.

Thompson tells the story of his coming of age.  I can't think of any better way to describe it.  He tells stories throughout that are memories of his childhood, when he shared a bed with his little brother.  Craig says that he was not a very good older brother, that he was sometimes mean to his brother and that he didn't protect him.  He touches on the inappropriate conduct of a babysitter, a trap that he let his brother fall into and that sent him headlong into religion and the striving for heaven.

Craig takes religion seriously, seriously enough that his pastor asks if he has considered going into the ministry.  Craig hasn't really considered anything about his future.  Then he meets Raina at winter church camp and he is instantly smitten.  When he goes to stay with Raina and her family in Michigan for two weeks in the winter, he begins to see that he may have missed out on some of life.

This book touched on a lot of sensitive and emotional subjects: religion, abuse, first lover, doubt.  However, I felt like all of these things were handled very well.  I can promise that I was invested in this story after my initial doubt that it was for me.  Craig's experience of first love and his realization that he may not have been invested enough in the real world felt like legitimate experiences to me.  They felt real.

This was a touching tale but one which I can see not fitting for everyone. -RYQ

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by Two People that are NOT J.K. Rowling

We all feel the pressure from our parents- when we're little it's the pressure to eat our vegetables and to clean up our dirty clothes. As we get older it's the pressure to choose the right electives or make the right teams. And so on, and so on. Even if you happen to be a wizard, you still feel the pressure from your parents. And it happens to multiply (by a billion) if your dad is Harry Potter. When you're a child of the "boy who lived" life can't be normal, because your dad's not normal (just check out his head!). This is the life for Albus, son of Harry and Ginny Potter. The just average, wrong house obtaining, broomstick ruining wizard that can't seem to live up to his father's potential and his hefty name.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a book that accompanies the series, notice how I did not say the eighth book to the series. It was written by two authors and was written as a play, not a story or chapter book. Do not be surprised when you pick this book up and see it written as a script, because that is what it originally was. If you have never read a Harry Potter book or even seen one of the movies (shame on you, go to the Tween shelf and find one immediately) do not bother to pick this book up. Since it is written as a play there is very little devoted to description of the characters or even the settings. You must use what you already know about the characters and the various settings in order to set up what's happening. If you have read the books (yay, you!) then yes, this is a must read. Ever since the seventh book ended I've wanted more. More, more more! I pictured everything working out, a happily ever after. It's what Harry deserved after living the first portion of his life under a staircase and then being ruthlessly hunted down by mass murderer throughout his teenage years. But what if that's not the case. If you are a Harry Potter fan then yes, this book will give you a couple hours of sweet bliss because it's more. If you are looking for the next book to become an epic masterpiece, this will not be it. But why trust me? Check out Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, even if you are a slytherin I would love to know what you think!
-JAC

The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier

Molly and Kip are siblings traveling from Ireland in order to find work. After leaving (or escaping as Molly knows it) the two set off across the English countryside in order to find work as servants. They find work in the home of the Windsors. As they approach their new home the feel something isn't quite right. The townspeople of have worn them numerous times to turn around and find work elsewhere. Not knowing if there is anything else the two head into the 'sourwoods' and arrive in front of a crumbling estate that is intertwined with a massive black tree. Work begins and the two feel there is hope on the horizon. This hope dwindles as Molly drifts off to sleep in her basement bedroom and hears a "thump, thump, thump" coming from above...

The Night Gardener is a great scary story for those readers that aren't too sure about scary stories (aka me). The book is set in a great time period, the late 1800's. It's a time of horse drawn carriages, when story tellers are still popular (remember there are no television sets), and dark mystery. Auxier does a great job of mixing these elements in throughout the story (Molly even asks the family's doctor about using leeches at one point). He has also created an amazing set of siblings that show such devotion and courage towards one another. I hope that my siblings may look to me as Kip looks up to Molly. This scary (but not too scary) book is located in the Tween section. If you are brave enough to give The Night Gardener a try you'll be lucky enough to notice that Oxford's copy has been signed by the author!

Enjoy!
-JAC

Teen Review: The Serpent's Shadow, by Rick Riordan

Teen reviewer Jillian Wolf, 15, read The Serpent's Shadow, the third book in Rick Riordan's Kane Chronicles (for those not in the know, The Kane Chronicles are about Egyptian mythology). In this exciting conclusion, it is up to siblings Sadie and Carter to save their family and prevent the evil god Apophis from ending the world. Will they be able to achieve this nearly impossible feat without paying the ultimate price?

Although The Serpent's Shadow was entertaining and "a pretty good conclusion to The Kane Chronicles," there were things Jillian found lacking:

"Although The Serpent's Shadow is packed with action and has a fast-moving plot, I didn't get to enjoy seeing the characters grow as people or learn from their mistakes." --Jillian Wolf.

Jillian would recommend The Serpent's Shadow for all ages.

Teen Review: The Host, by Stephanie Meyer

Teen Reviewer Ling Xiong, 14, discovered Stephanie Meyer's The Host through a library booklist and ended up loving it. This dystopian adventure, a departure from the vampire books, centers on an alien parasite determined to take control of the body and mind of Melanie, a human woman, so she can help her race take over Earth. But Melanie isn't willing to give up without a fight...and the parasite learns humans are nothing like she suspected.

"The Host is an amazing book that deserves more credit. The feelings were easy to understand and had some deep meaning, and the love story is epic and heart-warming. There are moments where you shed a tear or two. People are biased over this book because of the movie and the author's other 'cliche' books" --Ling Xiong

Ling recommends The Host for ages 13 and up.

Cupcake

CC has come a long way since her days as "the little hellion" (so nicknamed by her stepfather). She's graduated high school with passing grades, made peace with her mother, managed to find balance between her east coast and west coast families, and cultivated some awesome and lasting friendships. She's even agreed to take some classes at the local culinary school. Plus, she's found a job doing exactly what she loves. Life seems perfect.

But there's a little matter that refuses to resolve itself: CC's ex-boyfriend and maybe (maybe not) true love, Shrimp, who left her without so much as a backward glance so he could go surfing in Australia, suddenly re-appears in her life without warning. Shrimp (if that's even his real name) claims to be a changed man who can't live without CC. In short, he wants her back. And, at first, CC is thrilled! But CC is not the same girl she was three years ago when she and Shrimp first became a hot item. Sure, she's still a romantic at heart, but she's wiser too. She's been burnt by Shrimp more than once, and she's not sure she can trust his claims of maturity. Has he really gotten all that wanderlust out of his system? And is he really ready to settle down with her? CC isn't sure. Besides, all that time as a single girl has given CC the chance to think about what she really wants out of life. And maybe what she wants isn't a life following Shrimp around. CC has a lot of soul searching to do and not much time to do it.

Cupcake, the third and final book in Rachel Cohn's Gingerbread trilogy, is fantastic! CC shows tremendous growth throughout the trilogy, transforming from a spoiled, self-absorbed brat who is dangerously obsessed with the wrong sort of boy into a well-adjusted and likable young woman who knows where she's going in life (and where she's going is not following some slacker guy to the ends of the earth). 

True, the Gingerbread books may be older, but they're definitely worth a read. If you like realistic, sort of edgy romances populated by unique and quirky characters, these books are for you. --AJB

Under Shifting Glass

Connections and coincidences dominate in Nicky Singers mysterious and magical coming-of-age novel, Under Shifting Glass. Tweenage Jess feels absolutely lost after her favorite aunt dies. But instead of inheriting the beloved piano as she'd hoped, Jess gets an ancient, dusty desk. She's disappointed... but then, hidden within a secret compartment in one of the desk's drawers, Jess discovers Something truly wondrous: An antique bottle that contains Something that is impossible to define. Constantly swimming, shifting, changing color, and responding to its environment, this Something seems to be alive. And Jess is the only one who can see it. Jess somehow connects this Something with the well-being of her newborn twin brothers, who were born with a potentially life-threatening birth defect. Over the following weeks, Jess explores some of life's deeper questions as she tries to unravel the mystery of the bottle. Besides worrying about her brothers, Jess must face both friend and family drama. In the end,  everything works out fine (or does it?) and the possible nature of the mysterious substance within the bottle is revealed. But the author keeps the reader on the edge until the very end. 

First published in the U.K. in 2011, Under Shifting Glass is an exceptionally unique read. Short chapters make this a good recommendation for reluctant readers, but the story itself is anything but superficial. Many will relate to Jess's struggles: Coping with her aunt's death, worrying about her brothers, dealing with a difficult friend situation, struggling with growing up v. wanting to hold onto that childhood belief in magic. All in all, a fantastic story! --AJB

Second Chance Summer

Taylor never expected to have to go back to the lake house where she spent so many happy childhood summers. Especially not after the disastrous consequences of that summer five years earlier. But when her father is diagnosed with cancer and given three months to live, his dying request is for the whole family to spend one last summer together at the lake house. So Taylor is back. That she must face old demons and revisit old hurts is inevitable, but could this also be her opportunity to repair old relationships (her BFF Lucy and boyfriend Henry) she thought were irreparably damaged? Could this be her Second Chance Summer?

Tipping the literary scales at nearly 500 pages and dealing with some seriously heavy issues, committing to reading Second Chance Summer is not something to be taken lightly. But with as enjoyable as this book is, you'll be glad you did. Characters are very well-developed and, as with all good books, undergo drastic and positive transformations. And despite the impending tragic events, the story is not a complete downer.

Looking for something both beachy and with substance? Try Second Chance Summer. --AJB

A Ghost Story

Diana and her little brother Georgie live near the creepy (and possibly haunted) Old Willis Place and follow a strict set of rules they must obey no matter what: They're not allowed inside the old house, they must not leave the grounds, they're not allowed to speak to anyone who might visit (not that anyone would), and they must never, ever disturb mean old Miss. Willis. Then a new groundskeeper and his teenage daughter arrive on the scene, and Diana sees the chance to have something she hasn't had in a long time: A friend. She'd break the rules for that. But things aren't as easy as they would seem. Why? Read and find out. There's a twist. --AJB