8 New Novels for Teens and Tweens

If you like young adult and middle grade fiction, then you're going to love October. I have a number of good books on my radar, some of which have already been generating critical praise and high anticipation (for example, Maggie Stiefvater's All the Crooked Saints and Nic Stone's Dear Martin). The 8 books I feature here may have escaped your notice, but I recommend adding them to your fall reading list.

• The Breathless by Tara Goedjen (Delacorte, Oct. 10): This Southern Gothic debut is set in two time periods and involves a missing girl and family secrets. Reviewers note the elements of dark magic and the story's skin-crawling creep factor. Perfect for Halloween reading. (young adult)
• Calling My Name by Liara Tamani (Greenwillow, Oct. 24): Part coming-of-age story, part social commentary, this novel follows Taja, the middle child of a conservative African American family, as she navigates high school while balancing her family's wishes against new opportunities and friendships. Reviewers have loved this debut set in Houston, Texas. (young adult)
• Nevermoor: The Trials Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend (Little, Brown, Oct. 31): From birth, Morrigan was cursed to die on her 11th birthday, but before she meets her doom, she is spirited off to a magical world, where she's invited to attend a special academy and can stay to live a long life . . . if she manages to pass a series of initiation tests. This exciting first in a new fantasy series has earned several starred reviews. (middle grade)
• The Perfect Score by Rob Buyea (Delacorte, Oct. 3): The students in Mrs. Wood's sixth grade class are in a tizzy, not only do they have to work hard to please their parents, coaches, and tutors but the mandated standardized tests are coming up. Can students and teachers pull together to get through this stressful year? Another winner from the author of the Mr. Terupt books. (middle grade)

• Snow & Rose by Emily Winfield Martin (Random House, Oct. 10): Based on the classic Grimm's fairy tale about Snow White and Red Rose, this reworked story focuses on the sisters' relationship and the creatures and magic that inhabit the woods surrounding their hidden cottage, where they live with their mother. The book is beautifully illustrated with the author's paintings. (middle grade)
• Strange Lies by Maggie Thrash (Simon Pulse, Oct. 17): Set in a boarding school, this mystery / thriller focuses on three teens who are intent on investigating a science fair accident (or was it?) that disfigured a fellow student. Broader social issues (including the racial divide) and dark humor round out the novel. (young adult)
• The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (Dial, Oct. 3): Ada, recovering from an operation that corrected her congenital clubfoot, is sent to live with her aunt in the English countryside to escape the Blitz. There, Ada deals with her losses, finds new beginnings, and discovers her inner strength. Issues of disabilities, mental abuse, prejudice, and death underlie this beautifully written coming-of-age story that will have wide appeal. Although the second Ada novel, this much-praised book can be read as a standalone.
• We All Fall Down by Natalie D. Richards (Sourcebooks Fire, Oct. 3): This spooky paranormal thriller is about two troubled teens, each with mental health issues, who together must overcome the demons of a haunted bridge and their own fears to find peace and perhaps romance. Read this one with the lights on. (young adult)

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Contemporary Middle Grade Fiction: A Fall Roundup

Do you shy away from middle grade books because you think they're one-dimensional or all about wizards? The truth is that middle grade stories cover the full range of genres and styles, from contemporary fiction to memoir, poetry, nonfiction, and of course fantasy.

Although these books are not as complex as adult literary fiction, the stories address big issues, opening readers' minds and sparking important discussions. Today is all about contemporary fiction, and posts later in the week will cover other genres.

Read these books yourself, take notes for gift-giving, or try a readalong with a middle grader in your life.

Surviving Middle School

• Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead is about two groups of students who are navigating the rocky waters of middle school. Told from three perspectives, the novel explores different ways kids respond to social pressures and problems at home. Major themes: social media, changing friendships, young love, and popularity. Audience: older MG readers. [Wendy Lamb Books, August]
• Connect the Stars by Marisa de los Santos and David Teague focuses on Audry and Aaron who meet at a wilderness camp meant to help give middle grade children confidence and social skills while they learn about the outdoors. The campers, who each have different issues (such as being too introspective, untrusting, or overly sad) learn to rely on each other and become true friends. Major themes: friendship, bullying, trust, self-identity, and family. [HarperCollins, September]
• Don't Vote for Me by Krista Van Dolzer looks at what happens when a self-described band geek decides to challenge the popular girl for class president. The more David gets to know his opponent, the more he questions his desire to win. Major themes: popularity, family issues, and seeing people for who they really are. [Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, August]

Dealing with Grief

• A Series of Small Maneuvers by Eliot Treichel looks at how a young teen copes with her father's accidental death, which occurred when they were on a father–daughter canoe trip. This is less a survival in the wilderness story than one about a girl finding her way after her world is forever altered. Major themes: grief, family, responsibility, and friendship. Audience: older MG readers. [Ooligan Press, November]
• Dear Opl by Shelley Sackier introduces us to Opal, who comforted herself with food in the aftermath of her father's sudden death. After a disturbing medical checkup, she takes on a pen name and starts a blog to vent her feelings; soon others are turning to "Opl" for advice. Sensitively written and spiked with humor. Major themes: weight and body image, popularity, grief, self-esteem, health, and family. [Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, August]
• The Thing about Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin is about how 12-year-old Suzy copes with her friend's drowning just weeks before the start of seventh grade. Told in the present and in flashbacks over the course of their friendship, Suzy struggles to understand both the accident and the ways her friend changed over the previous year. Major themes: friendship, being different, family, maturing, and mean girls; minor themes of divorce and a gay relationship. [Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, September]

Taking on Bigger Issues

• Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt is about a young teen who is placed in foster care after spending time in a series of state-run homes for troubled boys. Although he slowly becomes comfortable with his new family, he can't stop dreaming about meeting his infant daughter. Major themes: first impressions, class differences, teen parenthood, fathers, and domestic abuse. Audience: older MG readers. [Clarion Books, October]
• A Blind Guide to Stinkville by Beth Vrabel is about a young girl whose family relocates from Seattle to a small town in South Carolina. The move is fraught with extra challenges for 12-year-old Alice because she is legally blind as a result of her albinism. Major themes: living with a disability, family, independence, and mental health issues. [Sky Pony Press, October]
• Until I Find Julian by Patricia Reilly Giff documents young Mateo's secret journey from a village in Mexico, across the border, to a town in Alabama to find his older brother, who is an undocumented laborer. This age-appropriate story shows us the personal side of an important contemporary issue. Major themes: brothers, friendship, trust, and hope for a better future. [Wendy Lamb Books, September]

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Catching Up: A Trio of Reviews

Sarah Hepola's Blackout is one of the strongest memoirs I've read this year. Because I love what I wrote for Readerly magazine, I'm going to quote my short review here and then encourage you to click through to see what other books we're recommending for June:

Blackout is a brutally honest look at life under the influence of alcohol. From her first sip of beer at the age of seven for most of the following 30 years, Hepola's world revolved around drinking. She wasn't a homeless, deadbeat drunk; instead she had a respectable job, meeting her writing and editing deadlines with the help of a bottle or two. In the afterwork hours, however, she often drank herself into blackouts, waking up in a stranger's bed or with no recollection of how she got home. In her frank, straightforward memoir, Hepola writes of her love of drink, her deepest insecurities, and her fear of becoming sober. This can't-stop-reading memoir gives alcoholism a context within Gen X sociocultural pressures and post-feminism expectations.

(Grand Central Publishing, 9781455554591)

I've already mentioned Anne Enright's latest novel, The Green Road, but now that I've had time to process my thoughts, I need to revise my initial reaction. As I said, the novel reads almost like interlinked short stories, with each chapter focusing on a different member of the Madigan family. The first part of the book deals with the past and how each of the four children struggle with finding their place in the world, and the second part revolves around the widowed Rosaleen's decision to sell the family home, which brings the children home for one last Christmas. Among the themes and issues are family drama, sexuality, intimacy, sibling relationships, aging, and self-identity. Enright's writing is beautiful, but the novel itself is a little uneven, especially near the end. Audiobook: The individual performances of narrators Alana Kerr, Lloyd James, and Gerard Doyle (Blackstone; 9 hr, 45 min) were well done, but the audiobook would have been stronger if it had been read by a male-female duo with well-matched Irish accents. For my full audiobook review, see AudioFile magazine. (W. W. Norton, 9780393248210)

If You Find This by Matthew Baker is an engaging mix of mystery and adventure geared to younger teens. Although the themes are a little difficult (aging, death, trouble fitting in at school, economic issues), Baker lightens up the story with good humor and lots of action. Nicholas's life is turned upside down when his father is forced to take an out-of-town job, his mother decides to put their house up for sale, and his estranged grandfather comes back to town. The fun begins when Grandpa Rose comes up with a scheme to save Nicholas's family from their financial troubles. Helped by another grandfather and two friends, the young boy sets off to find a buried treasure, hidden somewhere nearby. The five guys get into all kinds of scrapes as they try to figure out the treasure map and keep their plans a secret. Audiobook: Bryan Kennedy reads the bulk of the story (Hachette Audio; 7 hr, 26 min), which is told from Nicholas's perspective. His enthusiasm, drama, and characterizations are perfect for young listeners. Robert Petkoff, who reads the few sections told from grandfathers' views, offers a nice balance. For my full audiobook review, check out AudioFile magazine. (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 9780316240086)

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Review: Sure Signs of Crazy by Karen Harrington

Karen Harrington's Sure Signs of Crazy is one of those books I want everyone to read. Although geared to a middle grade or young teen audience, there are many levels to the story of Sarah Nelson, and readers of all ages will find something to relate to and love.

I didn't know until I finished Sure Signs of Crazy that it is actually a follow-up novel to Harrington's first book, Janeology. Let me assure you that you that Sure Signs of Crazy works brilliantly as a standalone story.

Here are my thoughts in a bullet review.

• The setup. Everything changes for Sarah Nelson the summer she turns 12. Sarah has always divided her life in half: the public part, in which she is a friend, neighbor, and daughter and the private part, in which she is an often lonely girl who hides the truths of her family. Ten years ago, Sarah's mother, now institutionalized, killed Sarah's twin brother and almost killed her too. Sarah's father, a college professor, has since tried to find solace with his friend Jim Beam. Whenever people find out who they are and who Sarah's mother is, father and daughter must move to a new town or neighborhood to escape the stares, gossip, and media.
• What happens. This is the first summer that Sarah has been allowed to stay at home instead of being sent to her grandparents. Under the watchful eye of her neighbors, Sarah experiences a number of other firsts, including her first real crush, her first period, and her first funeral. On the tenth anniversary of the day she almost died, Sarah is horrified to see that her mother's case is once again in the news. Will Sarah and her father start over in another town or will they find the strength to merge their public and private selves and face the future together?
• Thoughts, themes, genre. Sure Signs of Crazy is a multilayered coming-of-age story with vivid, well-developed characters. The narrative is told from Sarah's point of view, and her thoughts and actions seem believable for a 12-year-old who has had to shoulder adult burdens. The major themes are mental illness, alcoholism, families, young love, old love, privacy, individuality, and public versus private selves. This would be a good book club choice for readers of all ages but would especially be great for a mother/daughter (or similar combo) readalong.
• Extras. Sarah loves words and writes down her favorites in her secret diary. It was fun to see which words she looked up and incorporated into her vocabulary. I loved that she listened to her teacher and took his summer writing assignment to heart. He told his students to write letters to a fictional character, and Sarah picked Atticus Finch. Her letters are so true and revealing.
• The audiobook. The unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 6 hr, 37 min) was read by Cassandra Morris, who was absolutely wonderful as 12-year-old Sarah. Morris's voice sounds young and she managed to infuse her narration with the perfect hint of adolescent drama. Although I'm confident I would have liked Sure Signs of Crazy in print, Morris brought the character of Sarah alive and kept my attention throughout the novel.

Published by Hachette Book Group / Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2013
ISBN-13: 9780316210584
Source: Review (print & audio) (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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Reading on the Train

As many of you know, I'm in New York this week at Book Expo America, a huge publishing industry event. Here's what I took to read on the train.

Hexed by Michelle Krys is a YA book (Delacorte Press, ISBN-13 9780385743372) that will be available in stores on June 10. Of the three books I'm taking with me, this is the only one I've already started. Instead of carting the hardcover with me to New York, though, I've switched to the audiobook. So far, I'm enjoying the story of Indigo Blackwood, who at age sixteen learns that members of her family were witches. She won't know if she's inherited the witch gene until her 200th full moon, coming up in just a couple of days. The time period is now; the city is Los Angeles. There is a cute guy, but Indigo isn't even sure she likes him. And don't let the fact that she's on the cheerleading squad get in the way; she's quick to point out that she has the third highest GPA in her high school. Can't wait to see how it all plays out.

Little Mercies by Heather Gudenkauf is an adult book (Mira Books, ISBN-13 9780778316336) that hits the stores on June 24. I haven't started it yet, but I'm taking the paperback with me on the train. Here's part of the publisher's summary; doesn't it sound great?

Veteran social worker Ellen Moore has seen the worst side of humanity--the vilest acts one person can commit against another. She is a fiercely dedicated children's advocate and a devoted mother and wife. But one blistering summer day, a simple moment of distraction will have repercussions that Ellen could never have imagined. . . .

Meanwhile, ten-year-old Jenny Briard has been living with her well-meaning but irresponsible father since her mother left them, sleeping on friends' couches and moving in and out of cheap motels. When Jenny suddenly finds herself on her own . . . the last thing she wants is a social worker. . . .

A powerful and emotionally charged tale about motherhood and justice, Little Mercies is a searing portrait of the tenuous grasp we have on the things we love the most, and of the ties that unexpectedly bring us together.

Finally, Karen Harrington's Sure Signs of Crazy is a middle grade book (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, ISBN-13 9780316210492) that's just out in paperback and audiobook. I've had this one on my reading list for almost a year, and for some reason I just didn't get around to it. I have the audio edition loaded up on my phone for the train ride home. Again, I haven't started this yet, so I'll leave you with the publisher's summary; you gotta love a character who collects words:

You've never met anyone exactly like twelve-year-old Sarah Nelson. While most of her friends obsess over Harry Potter, she spends her time writing letters to Atticus Finch. She collects trouble words in her diary. Her best friend is a plant. And she's never known her mother, who left when Sarah was two.

Since then, Sarah and her dad have moved from one small Texas town to another, and not one has felt like home. Everything changes when Sarah launches an investigation into her family's Big Secret. She makes unexpected new friends and has her first real crush, and instead of a "typical boring Sarah Nelson summer," this one might just turn out to be extraordinary. 

I'll let you know what I think after I finish reading or listening. What are you reading this week?

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Eight Short Takes to Round Out the Year

Here are eight books I read or listened to in 2013 that I never got around to reviewing on the blog (though reviews and blurbs may have appeared elsewhere). I'm sure I missed some other books this year, but I'm going to count myself caught up and will start the new year with a clean slate.

Enon by Paul Harding follows a father's first year of mourning his 13-year-old daughter, who died in an accident. Much of the book is written with such emotional authenticity, it's difficult to remember it's fiction. Other parts of the story, however, seem to wander. The audiobook, read by the author, was only okay. (Random House, ISBN 9781400069439) Mark Slouka's Brewster was one of my picks for the Bloggers Recommend newsletter. Four teens dream of escaping small-town life and feel the pull of the generation-defining events of 1968. Powerful, haunting, and stunning. (Norton, ISBN 9780393239751) One Hundred and Four Horses, a memoir by Mandy Retzlaff, is an unflinching and heartbreaking view of Zimbabwe's violent government-sanctioned land reclamation. Left homeless and in fear for their lives, the Retzlaffs nonetheless risked everything to save their beloved horses. Unforgettable. (William Morrow, ISBN 9780062204370)

Although I did post my early thoughts about The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black, I never did get around to writing a real review of this mix of paranormal and dystopian. Black is a fantastic world-builder and I love her writing and characters. A great audiobook too. (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, ISBN 9780316213103) Francesca Lia Block's Love in the Time of Global Warming is another dystopian, this one with its roots in Homer's Odyssey. We follow Pen as she travels across the U.S. Southwest in search of her family in the aftermath of an environmental disaster. The audiobook was a little slow, but the story is worth the read. (Henry Holt for Young Readers, ISBN 9780805096279) The second Saga book by Brian K. Vaughan continues the story of the Marko, Alana, and their child as they flee from their enemies and try to find a safe haven. This beautifully illustrated graphic novel combines elements of myth, science fiction, and fantasy. Don't miss this series. (Image Comics, ISBN 9781607066927)

Wild Boy by Lloyd Jones is a Sherlock Holmes-type mystery starring an orphan boy who is part of a traveling freak show. When Wild Boy is accused of murder, he must use his powers of observation to clear his name. Middle grade readers will love the audiobook edition of this action-packed story set in Victorian England. (Candlewick, ISBN 9780763662523) When Kelley Armstrong and Melissa Marr get together to write a new middle grade fantasy, you know the result will be magic. In Loki's Wolves, the authors combine elements of the hero's journey with Nordic mythology to craft an exciting start to a adventure-filled trilogy. (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, ISBN 9780316204965)

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Review and Giveaway: I Funny & I Even Funnier by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein

Here's a little-known personal fact: I love good stand-up comedy. When I discovered James Patterson's middle reader books about Jamie Grimm, a budding comic, I knew I had to read them--even if Jamie will never actually get to do stand-up.

Let me explain. As a result of an accident (I'll save the details for Jamie to tell), Jamie is wheelchair bound, and as he himself says:

I want to be a stand-up comic more than anything in the world--even if I don't exactly fit the job description. (p. 14)

Although Jamie's life hasn't been all that funny, he uses humor to help him cope with circumstances that might otherwise be too difficult for a young teen to bear.

In both I Funny (2012) and I Even Funnier (2013), Jamie shares the ups and downs of surviving middle school. He may be in a wheelchair, but that doesn't protect him from bullies, stop him from having friends, or squelch his dreams. In fact, Jamie is just an ordinary kid.

Well, okay, he's a regular guy with a gigantic sense of humor and sharp powers of observation. The books are told from his viewpoint (that's belt buckle level, in case you were wondering), and Jamie talks about all kinds of things everyone can relate to: how to tell when a girl friend becomes a girlfriend, how to deal with being teased, the meaning of real friendship, the importance of having people believe in you, and the terror of public speaking.

Because Jamie has the chance to enter some comedy competitions, I learned a lot about how a professional hones his routine. I was fascinated with what it takes to be a stand-up comedian, from coming up with material to testing out new bits.

Humor takes many forms, and one of Jamie's secret weapons is turning it back on himself. By making his handicap the butt of some of his jokes, he helps others stop seeing the wheelchair and notice the kid in the seat. A good lesson for all of us.

Besides laughing at Jamie's jokes, I also loved the black-and-white illustrations that are found throughout the novels. The drawings bring Jamie's vivid imagination to life, and they are sure to make you smile. To get an idea of the humor, the writing style and the drawings, be sure to read the sample of I Even Funnier I've embedded below.

As you can imagine, I Funny and I Even Funnier would make fantastic book club choices for young boys and girls (and even adults!). There are so many great topics for discussion, such as family, personal hardships, friendship, and following ones dreams. If you check out author James Patterson's middle grade books website, you'll find fun activity kits and other pages that are keyed into Jamie Grimm's story.

The Giveaway: To celebrate the release of I Even Funnier (out on December 9), I'm excited to be able to offer one of my readers a copy of both Jamie Grimm books. All you have to do to have a chance to win these two James Patterson middle school books is to have a U.S. mailing address and to fill out the following form. I'll pick a winner using a random number generator on December 15. Once the winner has been confirmed, I'll erase all personal data from my computer. The book will be sent out by the publicist.

Thanks to Little, Brown for offering one of my readers a chance to win these fun, funny books. Good luck!



For more about James Patterson, be sure to like his Facebook page and follow him Twitter. For more great books for middle grade readers, like Little, Brown Books for Young Readers on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

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Thursday Tea: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

The Book: I spent most of yesterday and plan to spend a good part of today in the kitchen, preparing for Thanksgiving dinner. A couple of days of cooking call for a light, yet absorbing audiobook to keep me going.

I first heard about Holly Black's The Coldest Girl in Coldtown this past June at BookExpo America (BEA). I was curious about it for a couple of reasons. First, I really like Black's storytelling, and second, I was interested in her take on the idea of vampires coming out of the closet.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is the story of teenage Tana and how she copes in a world in which humans can become infected by vampire blood. As you would expect from Black, the novel offers a unique perspective on the modern-day vampire story, giving it a sociocultural context, a social media following, and a medical foundation.

I'm only halfway through but I really love what I've listened to so far. Tana is smart and resourceful, yet very human (at least for now!) with a strong survival instinct. I like how she is loyal to her friends and protective of her younger sister. Besides Tana, we have twins who go by the aliases of Midnight and Winter, a mysterious vampire named Gavriel, Tana's ex-boyfriend Aidan, and the citizens of Coldtown Tana meets after she seeks asylum there.

I'll likely finish the novel today while making the turkey, setting the table, and straightening the house. The audio, by the way, is read by Christine Lakin, whose youthful voice is perfect for the teens. I'll talk more about her great performance when I post my review.

The Tea: I drink gallons of strong tea when working hard in the kitchen, and this week I've gone with an old standby: Bigalow's Constant Comment, which is a black tea blended with orange and spices. This is one of my mother's favorite teas, and so drinking it is especially nostalgic for me. Although I drink it without milk or sugar, my husband stirs in a little honey.

The Assessment: Alas, I don't think any of the characters in The Coldest Girl in Coldtown are drinking tea at all. I remember lots of mentions of all kinds of coffee . . . and, of course, blood. But I bet if Tana tried Constant Comment, she would like it.

What About You? Have you read The Coldest Girl in Coldtown? If so, what did you think? For all my American friends, I hope your Thanksgiving is full of family, fun, and food and that you find at least a little time to read or to listen to a great book.

Thursday Tea was the brainchild of Anastasia at Here There Be Books.
Published by Hachette Book Group / Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2013
ISBN-13: 9780316213103
Source: Review (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)
FTC: I buy all teas myself, I am not a tea reviewer.

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Review: My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher

Annabel Pitcher's My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece was a difficult book for me. There is quite a bit that's excellent about this story of a 10-year-old boy and his family. On the other hand, I found it to be somewhat depressing, which naturally colors my thoughts.

Jamie and his family are still grieving five years after his older sister Rose was killed during a terrorist bombing in London. In the last few months, Jamie's mom found comfort in the arms of another man and walked out on her family. His father uprooted the kids and moved them out of the city to the Lake District to start over. Dad finds comfort in a bottle and by honoring Rose's ashes, which are kept in an urn on the mantelpiece.

Fifteen-year-old Jasmine, Rose's identical twin, has turned Goth, found a older boy to hang around with, and stopped eating. Jamie is left alone, holding on to the belief that his mother will come back to him. To make matters worse, the only friend Jamie has made in his new school is Sunya. And she's a Muslim, meaning, according to Dad, that she's personally responsible for Rose's death.

Pitcher so exquisitely relates a young boy's loneliness and confusion about his family's situation that it was almost painful to read his story. Jamie doesn't know how to reconcile his feelings about Sunya with his dad's prejudices, and he can't remember Rose well enough to feel the proper grief. Your heart breaks as he makes excuses for why Mum didn't remember his birthday or for why she doesn't come to visit.

It's the incredible realism that makes the book almost too much to handle. Pitcher doesn't back down from the hard issues, including death, mourning, bullying, and prejudice, but neither does she leave her readers dangling. The novel has a satisfying, although not necessarily predictable, ending and gives readers much to think about.

The advertised target age for My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece is 10 to 14, which is probably because Jamie is so young. I, however, would recommend the novel for high schoolers. Just as Jamie is too young to fully understand and accept his circumstances, young readers may not grasp the complexities of the story.

I listened to the unabridged audio edition (Hachette Audio; 6 hr), read by David Tennant, who brilliantly voices Jamie's thoughts. Tennant's expression, tempo, and attitude are perfectly suited for a young protagonist. I was impressed with the way he telegraphed Jamie's moods and emotions, which made the audiobook difficult to turn off despite the intensity of the story. It's no wonder My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece won an Earphones award from Audiofile magazine.

I've embedded the trailer, which includes an extract from the novel. The short video doesn't convey the sadness of the book, but it's very well done and gives you a sense of Pitcher's style.

Buy My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece at an Indie or at a bookstore near you (link leads to an affiliate program).
Hachette Book Group / Little, Brown for Young Readers, 2012
ISBN-13: 9780316176903
Source: Review (see review policy)
Rating: B+
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy).

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Review: The Midnight Palace by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

In 1916 Calcutta a soldier sacrifices his life saving two orphaned newborns from a mysterious evil being. He takes the infants to an old lady, who leaves one them, Ben, at a Catholic orphanage. The boy thrives, eventually joining a secret society that meets in a ruined house the children have dubbed "the Midnight Palace." Each year, the orphanage releases the sixteen-year-olds out into the world. On the eve of Ben's departure, the evil presence reappears to claim the boy's life. The teens must find a way to defeat the magic and stay alive.

Although Carlos Ruiz Zafón wrote The Midnight Palace for a young adult audience, this Gothic tale misses its mark. The plot lacks some sophistication and thus seems better suited to a middle grade reader. On the other hand, the creepiness factor could very well be too much for preteens.

When I read the novel, I hadn't realized it was a sequel to The Prince of Mist, which I haven't read. Fortunately, the novel stands on its own, and I didn't feel as if I were missing background information. Although I loved Zafón's The Shadow of the Wind, written for adults, I found The Midnight Palace to be a disappointment.

The first problem was I didn't have a strong sense of place; I wasn't immersed in colonial India and felt the story could have been set almost anywhere. In addition, I thought the lifestyle of the orphans and their level of education and expectations for their future didn't ring true. For example, there was no explanation (or perhaps I missed it) for how one of the orphans was able to sail to London to pursue a medical degree. I doubt orphans in 1930s Calcutta had those kind of resources. Perhaps a younger reader would be caught up in the action and magic and not think to question these issues, but an adult reader will find it difficult to believe the setup.

I listened to the unabridged audio edition (Hachette Audio, 7 hr, 9 min) read by Jonathan Davis. My full audio review was written for AudioFile magazine and will eventually appear on their website and/or in the magazine. Here's a hint: you may want to pick this one up in print.

EDIT: After some Twitter conversation and a bit more research, I discovered that The Midnight Palace is likely not a sequel to The Prince of Mist. Zafón's website says it is "the second in a series" of young adult novels. I'm not sure he is using the word series here to mean interlinked books; instead I think he means a group of, a number of young adult novels.

This review will be linked to both Kid Konnection, hosted each Saturday by Julie from Booking Mama, and Murder, Monsters, and Mayhem, a month-long event hosted by Jenn from Jenn's Bookshelves.

The Midnight Palace at an Indie

The Midnight Palace at Powell's

The Midnight Palace at Book Depository
These links lead to affiliate programs.

Published by Hachette Group / Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2011
ISBN-13: 9780316044738
'Source: Bought, both print and audio (see review policy)
Rating: C
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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Review: Forgotten by Cat Patrick

London Lane can remember the future but not the past. Every night her memories are erased, and she wakes up to a unfamiliar world. The good news is that she remembers her future; thus she recognizes everything and everyone who plays a part in her life to come. That means she knows her house, her mom, her school, and her town. What she doesn't know is what she wore to school the day before, the names of people who aren't in her future, her homework assignments, and her childhood.

Every night before she goes to bed, London records her day so she can live her tomorrow as normally as possible. She and her mom have it all under control until the day London has a real memory--one from her childhood. As past and future collide, London is confronted with events that she must learn to accept and is haunted by the possibility that she can change what's to come.

Cat Patrick's young adult novel Forgotten is founded on a classic premise: If you know the future, can you change events? Should you change them? Should you tell your friends what will happen? London Lane's story, however, has a unique perspective. What if you knew your future but didn't know your past? At least some of your tomorrows would lose their context, making it difficult to understand how your life will play out.

With its mix of humor, teen trauma, and deeper tragedies, Forgotten is both a quick read and a novel that is perfect for book clubs. Besides the ramifications of knowing the future, discussion topics include parent-child relationships, teacher-student relationships, the limits (if any) of one's responsibility to help others, personal privacy and trust, and the circumstances (if any) when it's okay to hide the truth to protect those you love.

Forgotten is an Indie Next pick for Summer 2011. If you'd like to read the novel, remember that there's still time to enter my giveaway: Two of my readers have a chance to win a copy of Forgotten (U.S./Canada mailing address only; for details, click the link).

Give it to me quickly: Teenage London Lane can "remember" her future but not her past; when she foresees unhappiness, should she use her special knowledge to try protect those she loves?

Forgotten at an Indie

Forgotten at Powell's

Forgotten at Book Depository
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Published by Hachette Book Group / Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2011
ISBN-13: 9780316094610
YTD: 57
Source: review (see review policy).
Rating: B-
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

This review will also be linked at Julie's blog Booking Mama: "Every Saturday, [she hosts] a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books."

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