The Drowned Cities
Paolo Bacigalupi
Mahlia’s entire history has left her in a dangerous world, caught in the middle of a never-ending war. As part Chinese Castoff and part Drowned Cities, she fits in nowhere and is accepted by no one, except for Mouse, a kid who saved her life at the last moment with simple dumb luck, and the kind Doctor Mahfouz who has taken her into his home as his medical assistant, despite that she only has one hand (the other taken from her by the violence of war).
Tool is a creation of war. He is part man, part animal, and like Mahlia is accepted by no one. He has no real home except for the battlefield. He has been created and groomed to answer only to his master and his purpose is to fight to the death. He is the ultimate creature of survival, but half-men can never truly be free.
Mahlia and Tool end up in the unlikely scenario of being each others’ companions and saviors. Unfortunately, there are rarely winners in any war. Recommended to all older readers, especially those who like dystopian novels and tales of war, survival, or adventure. This title is the companion to Printz Award-winning Ship Breaker, and both stories offer much food for thought.
The Beginning of After
Jennifer Castle
Laurel was a pretty typical high school student. She’s checking out colleges, checking out boys, studying for standardized testing, and sharing every moment possible with her best girlfriend. But that was Before.
The night that her mother, father, and brother Toby venture out to Freezy’s for ice cream with Mr. and Mrs. Kaufman — the night that Laurel decides to go home early to finish her homework, and the night that David Kaufman escapes time spent with the family once again — everything changes. The Meisner’s and the Kaufman’s don’t even get to Freezy’s before the car accident kills all but the driver, Mr. Kaufman. As Laurel and David both struggle in the wake of their grief, they manage to find some peace in each other, though it isn’t easy to figure out how to move on from what they’ve lost. With a bittersweet ending, both Laurel and David make the choices that are best for themselves and each other, and finally, there is hope for After. Recommended to all high school girls, even those who might be a little bit afraid to cry.
Level Up
Gene Luen Yang, illustrated by Thien Pham
Dennis has been bred to be a doctor (specifically a gastroenterologist). Throughout his elementary and teen years, his dad pushes him to work harder and be better, to put down his video games and to pick up a textbook and study as much as possible. But when Dennis’ father dies of liver cancer just before high school graduation, Dennis buries himself in the same video games his parents were so against having in the house. Dennis is awesome at gaming, but the guilt from turning his back on his “destiny” as a doctor eats at him and eats at him – until he catches a couple of lucky breaks and studies and works his way into medical school. This is a story of a young man who can’t quite seem to figure out what he wants out of life, or how to get it. It’s the story with a lot of ups and downs, about a young man who manages to figure out the important stuff in the end . . . at least so far.
Gene Luen Yang has some wonderful graphic novels published for teens and adults, including the Printz Award-winning American Born Chinese. Level Up is recommended for all readers, especially those just breaking into comics territory!
———————————————————————-
Katherine Vasilik, A/YA Librarian
J. F. Kennedy Library
Piscataway, NJ
telephone: 732-463-1633 x6
email: kvasilik@piscatawaylibrary.org or kate_thelibrarian@yahoo.com
blog: http://katethelibrarian.blogspot.com
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/piscatawaylibrary