War Games
Audrey and Akila Couloumbis
Set in a Greek town during World War II, Petros, his brother Zola, and their cousins feel pretty safe. The war feels far away from their normal life. But first they have to navigate around Italian soldiers, and then the German military takes over. Petros’s older cousin is away fighting for their safety, and no one knows how bad it will get or when it will end. When a German Commander is expected to move into Petros’s family’s home, no one knows how safe they’ll be now.
War Games tells a story that never gets any easier to hear about young boys and girls living during a time of war. This is based on the true story of the experiences of one of the authors, and suspense is built with detailed writing to force readers to take the time to get through the pages, skillfully depicting the realistic day-by-day insecurities of not knowing what comes next. Recommended to middle school boys, particularly those with an interest in histories and stories about war.
Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares
Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
It’s Christmastime in the City! Lily loves it, but Dash not so much. Lily and Dash don’t know each other. Not yet anyway.
Dash was minding his own business browsing the shelves of at the Strand, a used bookstore, avoiding all of the people that seemed to come out of nowhere in New York City in the days and weeks pre-Christmas. As far as Dash is concerned, all things Christmas-y could disappear forever and he wouldn’t miss them. Just like he doesn’t miss that Mom is away with her boyfriend and Dad is spending time with his girlfriend and Dash is on his own for the holidays. Anyway, he’s minding his own business when he finds a red Moleskine journal with the words “Do You Dare?” black-sharpied on the cover and a note on the first page challenging him to a scavenger hunt of clues.
Lily can’t get enough of Christmas! The crowds, the caroling, the good cheer and goodwill and all of that. Unfortunately, she can’t get enough of her family, either – literally. Her mom and dad decided to take a romantic vacation in Fiji for the holidays, leaving Lily alone for the holidays with her brother (and, unbeknownst to them, his boyfriend). It was Langston and Benny’s idea, actually, for the notebook.
A crazy adventure packed with light-hearted humor, this is most definitively a less saccharine and less irritating holiday story than the typical adult (or children’s) fare. Riddled with f-bombs and innuendos, lovers of David Levithan, Rachel Cohn, Nick, Norah, and a bit of Will Grayson, won’t be able to resist Dash and Lily, before, after, or during the holidays!
The Marvelous Land of Oz
Adapted by Eric Shanower
If all you know of the Wizard of Oz are the adventures of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion as they travel along the yellow brick road, then you are in for a world of wonder in Eric Shanower’s adaptation of the second Oz book written by L. Frank Baum.
Tip has all sorts of boyish adventures in his head and he’s sick of being controlled by Old Mombi, a witch who isn’t allowed to practice magic in their area of the land. When Tip creates a man with a pumpkin for a head to scare Mombi, she is not fooled and instead tries out a new potion on the figure and brings Jack Pumpkinhead to life! Following the threat of punishment for trying to frighten the old witch, Tip takes his lively creation and runs away. Tip and Jack Pumpkinhead decide they might as well go to see the Scarecrow, ruler of the Emerald Ciy.
When an army of girls takes over the Emerald City and the ruling crown is taken from the Scarecrow, the adventures of Tip, Jack Pumpkinhead, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and H. M. Woggle-Bug really begin! With a few magic wishing pills and some really solid thinking (plus a wooden sawhorse and a couple of sofas), they must escape the ruling army and restore the crown to its rightful successor. Filled with humor, vibrant illustration, and a great big dose of charm, this is certainly marvelous rendition of the further adventures in Oz. Recommended to all readers for a quick change of pace.
Katherine Vasilik, Teen Librarian
Franklin Lakes (NJ) Public Library
tel: 201-891-2224 x105
fax: 201-891-5102
email: vasilik@bccls.org or kate_thelibrarian@yahoo.com
blog: katethelibrarian.blogspot.com
President, NJLA Young Adult Section