English 12 Novel Genres: A very long list!

Non-Fiction

BEHIND THE BEAUTIFUL FOREVERS: LIFE, DEATH, AND HOPE IN A MUMBAI UNDERCITY by Katherine Boo Katherine Boo spent three years among the residents of the Annawadi slum, a sprawling, cockeyed settlement of more than 300 tin-roof huts and shacks in the shadow of Mumbai’s International Airport. From within this “sumpy plug of slum” Boo unearths stories both tragic and poignant--about residents’ efforts to raise families, earn a living, or simply survive. These unforgettable characters all nurture far- fetched dreams of a better life. As one boy tells his brother: “Everything around us is roses. And we’re like the s**t in between.” A New Yorker writer and recipient of a Pulitzer Prize and a MacArthur “Genius” grant, Boo’s writing is superb and the depth and courage of her reporting from this hidden world is astonishing. At times, it’s hard to believe this is nonfiction. (Neal Thompson)

BEYOND COURAGE: THE UNTOLD STORY OF JEWISH RESISTANCE DURING THE HOLOCAUST by Doreen Rappaport With all the shelves of Holocaust books about the millions lost in the genocide, this is one of the few histories to focus in detail on Jewish resistance across Europe—those who fought back and saved others. The intricate deceptions are as compelling as the confrontations, and the underground escape stories make for thrilling adventure. The horror of what was left behind is always present: the ghettos, the camps, the transports, the Jews who did not support armed resistance, and those who did not get away, including some who fled to forests and starved to death or were murdered by their anti-Semitic neighbors. In addition to the chapters on the Warsaw Ghetto and Theresienstadt, there are also lots of lesser-known accounts of incredible resistance. In the Vilna Ghetto, arms were hidden in the library, the cemetery, in walls, and in wells. Always there are stories of the survivors’ guilt, as with a man who left his mother to die alone. The uncluttered book design helps make the detailed history accessible, with spacious type on thick, high-quality paper and portraits, photos, and prints on every page, all meticulously documented in extensive chapter notes and a bibliography. That many young people played important roles in the resistance is a special draw for YAs. An important addition to the Holocaust curriculum.— Hazel Rochman © Copyright 1997-2013 American Library Association. The American Library Association is providing information and services on the web in furtherance of its non-profit and tax-exempt status. Permission to use, copy and distribute documents delivered from this web site and related graphics is hereby granted for private, non-commercial and education purposes only, provided that the above copyright notice appears with the following notice: this document may be reprinted and distributed for non-commercial and educational purposes only, and not for resale. No resale use may be made of material on this web site at any time. All other rights reserved.

THE RACE TO BUILD – AND STEAL – THE WORLD’S MOST DANGEROUS WEAPON by Steve Sheinkin Using some of the same narrative techniques he used in the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction– winning The Notorious Benedict Arnold (2010), Sheinkin shapes the story of the Manhattan Project into a dense, complicated thriller that intercuts the action with the deftness of a Hollywood blockbuster. There are more characters than readers will be able to handle, but they’ll follow the three main threads. The first is a tale of spy versus spy, as Soviet informants infiltrate America’s Los Alamos laboratory. The second tracks the heroism of Knut Haukelid as he parachutes into Norway to destroy Germany’s heavy water plant. Most amazing is Robert Oppenheimer’s assemblage of the greatest scientific minds in the U.S. (aka “the world’s largest collection of crackpots”), who under great duress design the most lethal weapon in history. Sheinkin’s prose understandably favors plot machinations over character, and positioning photos in the back matter feels anticlimactic. Nonetheless, the painstakingly sourced narrative crackles and drives home the “strange mix of pride and horror” felt by the scientists who had just won the war—but lost something of equal worth. — Daniel Kraus © Copyright 1997-2013 American Library Association. The American Library Association is providing information and services on the web in furtherance of its non-profit and tax-exempt status. Permission to use, copy and distribute documents delivered from this web site and related graphics is hereby granted for private, non-commercial and education purposes only, provided that the above copyright notice appears with the following notice: this document may be reprinted and distributed for non-commercial and educational purposes only, and not for resale. No resale use may be made of material on this web site at any time. All other rights reserved.

BURNED ALIVE A Victim of the Law of Men by Souad When Souad was seventeen she fell in love. In her village, as in so many others, sex before marriage was considered a grave dishonour to one's family and was punishable by death. This was her crime. Her brother-in-law was given the task of arranging her punishment. One morning while Souad was washing the family's clothes, he crept up on her, poured petrol over her and set her alight. In the eyes of their community he was a hero. An execution for a 'crime of honour' was a respectable duty unlikely to bring about condemnation from others. It certainly would not have provoked calls for his prosecution. More than five thousand cases of such honour killings are reported around the world each year and many more take place that we hear nothing about Miraculously, Souad survived rescued by the women of her village, who put out the flames and took her to a local hospital. Horrifically burned, and abandoned by her family and community, it was only the intervention of a European aid worker that enabled Souad to receive the care and sanctuary she so desperately needed and to start her life again. She has now decided to tell her story and uncover the barbarity of honour killings, a practice which continues to this day Burned Alive is a shocking testimony, a true story of almost unbelievable cruelty. It speaks of amazing courage and fortitude and of one woman's determination to survive. It is also a call to break the taboo of silence that surrounds this most brutal of practices and which ignores the plight of so many other women who are also victims of traditional violence. (Amazon)

DEAR BULLY: SEVENTY AUTHORS TELL THEIR STORIES ed. Megan Kelly Hall You are not alone. Discover how Lauren Kate transformed the feeling of that one mean girl getting under her skin into her first novel, how Lauren Oliver learned to celebrate ambiguity in her classmates and in herself, and how R.L. Stine turned being the “funny guy” into the best defense against the bullies in his class. Today’s top authors for teens come together to share their stories about bullying—as silent observers on the sidelines of high school, as victims, and as perpetrators—in a collection at turns moving and self-effacing, but always deeply personal. (Amazon)

DEATH BY BLACK HOLE: AND OTHER COSMIC QUANDARIES by Neil deGrasse Tyson A collection of essays on the cosmos, written by an American Museum of Natural History astrophysicist, includes "Holy Wars," "Ends of the World," and "Hollywood Nights."

FIRST THEY KILLED MY FATHER: A DAUGHTER OF CAMBODIA REMEMBERS by Loung Ung In 1975, Ung, now the national spokesperson for the Campaign for a Landmine-Free World, was the five- year-old child of a large, affluent family living in Phnom Penh, the cosmopolitan Cambodian capital. As extraordinarily well-educated Chinese-Cambodians, with the father a government agent, her family was in great danger when the Khmer Rouge took over the country and throughout Pol Pot's barbaric regime. Her parents' strength and her father's knowledge of Khmer Rouge ideology enabled the family to survive together for a while, posing as illiterate peasants, moving first between villages, and then from one work camp to another. The father was honest with the children, explaining dangers and how to avoid them, and this, along with clear sight, intelligence and the pragmatism of a young child, helped Ung to survive the war. Her restrained, unsentimental account of the four years she spent surviving the regime before escaping with a brother to Thailand and eventually the United States is astonishing--not just because of the tragedies, but also because of the immense love for her family that Ung holds onto, no matter how she is brutalized. She describes the physical devastation she is surrounded by but always returns to her memories and hopes for those she loves. Her joyful memories of life in Phnom Penh are close even as she is being trained as a child soldier, and as, one after another, both parents and two of her six siblings are murdered in the camps. Skillfully constructed, this account also stands as an eyewitness history of the period, because as a child Ung was so aware of her surroundings, and because as an adult writer she adds details to clarify the family's moves and separations. Twenty-five years after the rise of the Khmer Rouge, this powerful account is a triumph. (Publisher Weekly)

THE GANGS OF NEW YORK: AN INFORMAL HISTORY OF THE UNDERWORLD by Herbert Asbury First published in 1928, Herbert Asbury's whirlwind tour through the low-life of nineteenth-century New York has become an indispensible classic of urban history. Focusing on the saloon halls, gambling dens, and winding alleys of the Bowery and the notorious Five Points district, The Gangs of New York dramatically evokes the destitution and shocking violence of a turbulent era, when colorfully named criminals like Dandy John Dolan, Bill the Butcher, and Hell-Cat Maggie lurked in the shadows, and infamous gangs like the Plug Uglies, the Dead Rabbits, and the Bowery Boys ruled the streets. A rogues gallery of prostitutes, pimps, poisoners, pickpockets, murderers, and thieves, The Gangs of New York is a dramatic and entertaining glimpse at a city's dark past. (Amazon)

I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai I AM MALALA is the remarkable tale of a family uprooted by global terrorism, of the fight for girls' education, of a father who, himself a school owner, championed and encouraged his daughter to write and attend school, and of brave parents who have a fierce love for their daughter in a society that prizes sons.

IF I DIE IN A COMBAT ZONE by Tim O’Brien Tim O’Brien writes If I Die in a Combat Zone from the perspective of a young man who was drafted into the Vietnam War. O’Brien doesn’t agree with the politics of the war and experiences an internal conflict once he is drafted. Throughout the work, he contemplates the rights and wrongs of war in general, and he philosophically considers the virtues of dodging the draft versus killing others in battle. In addition, O’Brien deeply considers the meaning of courage and bravery as he searches his character and the character of others. These contrasting ideas are developed through examples of bureaucracy, dialogue between characters, specific behaviors of soldiers and officers, and actions of characters as they are faced with the struggles and difficulties of war. O’Brien’s purpose in writing If I Die in a Combat Zone is to give a raw, realistic account of the confusing and harsh realities of the Vietnam War. O’Brien—National Book Award Winner

THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETA LACKS by Rebecca Skloot The “first immortal human cells,” code-named HeLa, have flourished by the trillions in labs all around the world for more than five decades, making possible the polio vaccine, chemotherapy, and many more crucial discoveries. But where did the HeLa cells come from? Science journalist Skloot spent 10 years arduously researching the complex, tragic, and profoundly revealing story of Henrietta Lacks, a 31-year- old African American mother of five who came to Johns Hopkins with cervical cancer in 1951, and from whom tumor samples were taken without her knowledge or that of her family. Henrietta died a cruel death and was all but forgotten, while her miraculous cells live on, “growing with mythological intensity.” Skloot travels to tiny Clover, Virginia; learns that Henrietta’s family tree embraces black and white branches; becomes close to Henrietta’s daughter, Deborah; and discovers that although the HeLa cells have improved countless lives, they have also engendered a legacy of pain, a litany of injustices, and a constellation of mysteries. Writing with a novelist’s artistry, a biologist’s expertise, and the zeal of an investigative reporter, Skloot tells a truly astonishing story of racism and poverty, science and conscience, spirituality and family driven by a galvanizing inquiry into the sanctity of the body and the very nature of the life force. Donna Seaman (Booklist) © Copyright 1997-2013 American Library Association. The American Library Association is providing information and services on the web in furtherance of its non-profit and tax-exempt status. Permission to use, copy and distribute documents delivered from this web site and related graphics is hereby granted for private, non-commercial and education purposes only, provided that the above copyright notice appears with the following notice: this document may be reprinted and distributed for non-commercial and educational purposes only, and not for resale. No resale use may be made of material on this web site at any time. All other rights reserved.

IMPERFECT: AN IMPROBABLE LIFE by Jim Abbot On an overcast September day in 1993, Jim Abbott took the mound at Yankee Stadium and threw one of the most dramatic no-hitters in major-league history. The game was the crowning achievement in an unlikely success story, unseen in the annals of professional sports. In Imperfect, the one-time big league ace retraces his remarkable journey. Born without a right hand, Jim Abbott as a boy dreamed of being a great athlete. Raised in Flint, Michigan, by parents who saw in his condition not a disability but an extraordinary opportunity, Jim became a two- sport standout in high school, then an ace pitcher for the University of Michigan. But his journey was only beginning. (Amazon)

Martin Luther King Jr. and the 1963 March on Washington by David Aretha Aretha shows an admirable ability to present a great deal of information in a clear, straightforward manner while choosing details and quotes that make the history vivid, memorable, and occasionally moving. Besides filling in the social context of events as they unfold, the writing introduces the people involved as individuals with their own points of view. Many well- chosen and clearly reproduced photos help bring those figures and their times to life. Martin Luther King begins with King experiencing discrimination as a child and traces his growth as a civil rights leader. The focus widens to encompass the social forces and the many people behind the 1963 March on Washington. After helping readers imagine events on the day of the march with great immediacy, the commentary concludes dramatically with quotes from King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Accessible, informative, and insightful, these volumes are important additions to the Civil Rights Movement series. — Carolyn Phelan © Copyright 1997-2013 American Library Association. The American Library Association is providing information and services on the web in furtherance of its non-profit and tax-exempt status. Permission to use, copy and distribute documents delivered from this web site and related graphics is hereby granted for private, non-commercial and education purposes only, provided that the above copyright notice appears with the following notice: this document may be reprinted and distributed for non-commercial and educational purposes only, and not for resale. No resale use may be made of material on this web site at any time. All other rights reserved.

THE MEASURE OF OUR SUCCESS: A LETTER TO MY CHILDREN AND YOURS by Marian Wright Edelman Edelman passes on the values of hard work, service, responsibility, and faith that her parents not only preached, but also lived. Her 25 lessons for life eloquently distill the essence of her rich heritage. Intended for her sons as they approach adulthood, the book is uniquely applicable to all races and creeds. The author's style is warm, personal, uplifting, and easy to read. The book has several uses: for personal searching for answers, guidance, or reassurance; for a curriculum unit on child-care; for a book discussion group. It should be required reading by anyone in a position to influence or change the future of America's most valuable resource, its children. Judy Sokoll, Fairfax County Public Library, VA (School Library Journal)

Moonbird: A Year on the Wind with the Great Survivor B95 by Philip Hoose Hoose, the author of The Race to Save the Lord God Bird (2004) and the heavily awarded Claudette Colvin: Twice toward Justice (2009), now turns his attention to another endangered bird, the rufa red knot. He focuses on one, B95 (dubbed Moonbird by researchers), which he calls “one of the world’s premiere athletes,” explaining that though “weighing a mere four ounces, he’s flown more than 325,000 miles in his lifetime.” Each year red knots like Moonbird fly from their winter home in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, to their breeding grounds in the Canadian Arctic, a journey of 9,000 miles. B95, now 20 years old, has made this remarkable flight 18 or more times. In this beautifully written and meticulously researched book, Hoose provides a complete account of the red knots’ physiology, their flight patterns, feeding habits, habitats, and more. He also writes about those who study the birds and struggle to preserve the endangered species, which has dwindled in numbers from some 150,000 to less than 25,000. In addition to his attention to the birds, Hoose profiles those who study them and also provides a generous number of photographs, maps, and sidebar features that dole out background and ancillary material. His appendix includes elaborate source notes and an extensive bibliography. Sure to be one of the most well-received information books of the year, and deservedly so. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Hoose’s stature as a preeminent nonfiction author combined with the high- interest animal hook will generate hearty attention and enthusiasm for this one. — Michael Cart © Copyright 1997-2013 American Library Association. The American Library Association is providing information and services on the web in furtherance of its non-profit and tax-exempt status. Permission to use, copy and distribute documents delivered from this web site and related graphics is hereby granted for private, non-commercial and education purposes only, provided that the above copyright notice appears with the following notice: this document may be reprinted and distributed for non-commercial and educational purposes only, and not for resale. No resale use may be made of material on this web site at any time. All other rights reserved.

Muck City: Winning and Losing in Football’s Forgotten Town by Bryan Mealer Forty-five miles from the wealth of Palm Beach lies one of the most impoverished rural areas in the U.S. Belle Glade, Florida, is at the heart of what remains of “Big Sugar,” the industry that once attracted hundreds of migrant workers, including West Indian and Jamaican immigrants.The modern Belle Glade is beset by chronic unemployment, gangs, and drugs. For a high-school-age boy, the best way out of town is football. Since 1985, 30 former Belle Glade Central Raiders have played in the National Football League, and many more have secured college scholarships. Mealer spent the 2010 season with the Red Raiders and its head coach, former NFL veteran Jessie Hester. His account of a year in the team’s life focuses on Mario Rowley, the team’s undersize quarterback; wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin; Coach Hester; and Jonteria Williams, a young woman with dreams of medical school. Despite essentially donating his time, Hester experiences intense pressure from the community to develop championship teams. He’s also charged with raising the team’s academic achievement, a challenge in any prep environment and even more daunting in Belle Glade. This is another version of Buzz Bissinger’s Friday Night Lights (1990), and since both are less about football than they are about family, community, and the horrific struggle to rise above poverty, each boasts a unique set of characters who are well worth knowing. A heartbreaking look at poverty in America, with some football on the side. — Wes Lukowsky © Copyright 1997-2013 American Library Association. The American Library Association is providing information and services on the web in furtherance of its non-profit and tax-exempt status. Permission to use, copy and distribute documents delivered from this web site and related graphics is hereby granted for private, non-commercial and education purposes only, provided that the above copyright notice appears with the following notice: this document may be reprinted and distributed for non-commercial and educational purposes only, and not for resale. No resale use may be made of material on this web site at any time. All other rights reserved.

THE NEW KIDS: BIG DREAMS AND BRAVE JOURNEYS AT A HIGH SCHOOL FOR IMMIGRANT TEENS by Brooke Hauser “A refreshing reminder of the hurdles newcomers to this country still face and how many defy the odds to overcome them,” writes The New York Times, this inspiring work of narrative journalism recounts a year in the life at the International High School at Prospect Heights, where students come from more than forty- five countries and speak more than twenty-eight languages. Some walked across deserts and mountains to get here. Others flew in on planes. One arrived after escaping in a suitcase. And some won’t say how they got here. These are “the new kids:” new to America. They attend the International High School, which is like most high schools in some ways, but all of the students are recent immigrants learning English. Among the students featured in the book, chosen as one of People magazine’s “Great Reads”: Ngawang, who spent twenty-four hours folded up in a small suitcase to escape from Tibet; Mohamed, a diamond miner’s son from Sierra Leone whose arrival in New York City is shrouded in mystery; and Chit Su, a Burmese refugee who is the only person to speak her language in the entire school. The teenagers in this modern-day Babel deal with enormous obstacles: traumas and wars in their native countries that haunt them, and cultural pressures to marry or to drop out and go to work. They aren’t just jostling for their places in the high school pecking order—they are carving out new lives for themselves in America. (Amazon)

NOTHING BUT THE BEST: The Struggle for Perfection at the Juilliard School by Judith Kogan Former Julliard student Kogan pulls no punches in this fascinating look at that school. With admiration and criticism, she describes the sometimes-terrifying renowned faculty, formal and informal classes, nerve- wracking auditions, and the physical and psychological distress that underlies the intense competition which permeates the consciousness of instrument, vocal, and conducting students. She also examines the psyches of young people who are protected and driven by parents, teachers, and others who believe in their protege's genius. Students, and their parents, who dream of success in the tiny, close-knit world of classical music, may think twice about the sacrifices necessary to achieve fame and fortune. General readers will be at once repelled and attracted by the level of commitment required by those who labor and hope at The Julliard School. Alice Conlon, University of Houston (School Library Journal)

NOTHING TO ENVY: ORDINARY LIVES IN NORTH KOREA by Barbara Demick In spite of the strict restrictions on foreign press, award-winning journalist Demick caught telling glimpses of just how surreal and mournful life is in North Korea. Her chilling impressions of a dreary, muffled, and depleted land are juxtaposed with a uniquely to-the-point history of how North Korea became an industrialized Communist nation supported by the Soviet Union and China and ruled by Kim Il Sung, then collapsed catastrophically into poverty, darkness, and starvation under the dictator’s son, Kim Jong Il. Demick’s bracing chronicle of the horrific consequences of decades of brutality provide the context for the wrenching life stories of North Korean defectors who confided in Demick. Mi-ran explains that even though her “tainted blood” (her father was a South Korean POW) kept her apart from the man she loved, she managed to become a teacher, only to watch her starving students waste away. Dr. Kim Ki-eum could do nothing to help her dying patients. Mrs. Song, a model citizen, was finally forced to face cruel facts. Strongly written and gracefully structured, Demick’s potent blend of personal narratives and piercing journalism vividly and evocatively portrays courageous individuals and a tyrannized state within a saga of unfathomable suffering punctuated by faint glimmers of hope. Donna Seaman (Booklist) © Copyright 1997-2013 American Library Association. The American Library Association is providing information and services on the web in furtherance of its non-profit and tax-exempt status. Permission to use, copy and distribute documents delivered from this web site and related graphics is hereby granted for private, non-commercial and education purposes only, provided that the above copyright notice appears with the following notice: this document may be reprinted and distributed for non-commercial and educational purposes only, and not for resale. No resale use may be made of material on this web site at any time. All other rights reserved.

A PLANET OF VIRUSES by Carl Zimmer The effects of viruses have been known since time immemorial, thanks to the common cold, the flu, and smallpox. But when viruses were physically discovered in the late nineteenth century, it was by elimination; that is, something was discovered that caused disease but wasn't animal, plant, fungus, or bacterium. The electron microscope finally made that something visible, and its basic mechanisms were ascertained by 1950. What has been discovered about viruses since, however, dwarfs all that previous virological knowledge. For viruses are everywhere, and a recurring motif of Zimmer's information-packed, superbly readable, brief essays is the assay of a substance seawater, human sputum, subterranean warm water segregated for hundreds of thousands of years from the biology of the rest of the world thought to be relatively or positively pure finds it crawling with viruses. Obviously, not all viruses kill or even sicken. In fact, it's not so much a matter of perforce having to live with viruses as not being able to live without them, and not just because they're so tiny, ubiquitous, and numerous but also because they help produce the oxygen we breathe and because some of them disable bacteria toxic to us among other vital things. Absolutely top-drawer popular-science writing. Olson, Ra (Booklist) © Copyright 1997-2013 American Library Association. The American Library Association is providing information and services on the web in furtherance of its non-profit and tax-exempt status. Permission to use, copy and distribute documents delivered from this web site and related graphics is hereby granted for private, non-commercial and education purposes only, provided that the above copyright notice appears with the following notice: this document may be reprinted and distributed for non-commercial and educational purposes only, and not for resale. No resale use may be made of material on this web site at any time. All other rights reserved.

THE RADIOACTIVE BOY SCOUT: THE FRIGHTENING TRUE STORY OF A WHIZ KID AND HIS HOMEMADE NUCLEAR REACTOR by Ken Silverstein This book recreates David Hahn’s nuclear quest to build a breeder reactor in his backyard garden shed. ALA, Outstanding Books for the College Bound

SEABISCUIT by Laura Hillenbrand This well-written and compelling book celebrates the life of a racehorse that just happened to be a descendant of Man O' War. It is a story of a huge talent that almost went unrecognized until the right people came along. According to descriptions, Seabiscuit was a runt, with stubby legs, an odd walk, and a lazy nature. However, he became so popular that he drew more news coverage than President Roosevelt, Hitler, or Mussolini. The atmosphere surrounding his historic match with War Admiral was so intense that FDR kept advisors waiting as he listened with the rest of the country to hear the outcome. Hillenbrand also tells the stories of owner Charles Howard, trainer Tom Smith, and jockey Red Pollard and the part each man played in the recognition and development of a racing legend. But the book is much more. Seabiscuit is a story of the times and it is a story of the hard and dangerous life of a jockey. Even readers with no interest in the sport will be hooked with the opening sentence of the book's preface. Hillenbrand does a wonderful job in bringing an unlikely winner to life. Peggy Bercher, Fairfax County Public Library, VA (School Library Journal)

SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN by Lisa See Lily is haunted by memories–of who she once was, and of a person, long gone, who defined her existence. She has nothing but time now, as she recounts the tale of Snow Flower, and asks the gods for forgiveness.

In nineteenth-century China, when wives and daughters were foot-bound and lived in almost total seclusion, the women in one remote Hunan county developed their own secret code for communication: nu shu (“women’s writing”). Some girls were paired with laotongs, “old sames,” in emotional matches that lasted throughout their lives. They painted letters on fans, embroidered messages on handkerchiefs, and composed stories, thereby reaching out of their isolation to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments.

With the arrival of a silk fan on which Snow Flower has composed for Lily a poem of introduction in nu shu, their friendship is sealed and they become “old sames” at the tender age of seven. As the years pass, through famine and rebellion, they reflect upon their arranged marriages, loneliness, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood. The two find solace, developing a bond that keeps their spirits alive. But when a misunderstanding arises, their lifelong friendship suddenly threatens to tear apart.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a brilliantly realistic journey back to an era of Chinese history that is as deeply moving as it is sorrowful. With the period detail and deep resonance of Memoirs of a Geisha, this lyrical and emotionally charged novel delves into one of the most mysterious of human relationships: female friendship. (Amazon)

THIS I BELIEVE: THE PERSONAL PHILOSOPHIES OF REMARKABLE MEN AND WOMEN by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman, eds. National Public Radio listeners have been moved to tears by the personal essays that constitute the series This I Believe. Created in 1951 with Edward Murrow as host, the sometimes funny, often profound, and always compelling series has been revived, according to host Jay Allison, because, once again, "matters of belief divide our country and the world." Oral historian Studs Terkel kicks things off, and 80 personal credos follow. Essays from the original series are interleaved with contemporary essays (selected from more than 11,000 submissions) to create a resounding chorus. English professor Sara Adams avers that one should "be cool to the pizza delivery dude." John McCain states, "I believe in honor, faith, and service." Iranian-born writer Azar Nafisi writes, "I believe in empathy." Jackie Robinson said, "I believe in the goodness of a free society." Rick Moody believes in "the absolute and unlimited liberty of reading." Appendixes offer guidelines and resources because the urge to write such declarations is contagious, and schools and libraries have been coordinating This I Believe programs, which we believe is a righteous endeavor. Donna Seaman (Booklist) © Copyright 1997-2013 American Library Association. The American Library Association is providing information and services on the web in furtherance of its non-profit and tax-exempt status. Permission to use, copy and distribute documents delivered from this web site and related graphics is hereby granted for private, non-commercial and education purposes only, provided that the above copyright notice appears with the following notice: this document may be reprinted and distributed for non-commercial and educational purposes only, and not for resale. No resale use may be made of material on this web site at any time. All other rights reserved.

TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE by Mitch Albom As a student at Brandeis University in the late 1970s, Albom was especially drawn to his sociology professor, Morris Schwartz. On graduation he vowed to keep in touch with him, which he failed to do until 1994, when he saw a segment about Schwartz on the TV program Nightline, and learned that he had just been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease. By then a sports columnist for the Detroit Free Press and author of six books, including Fab Five, Albom was idled by the newspaper strike in the Motor City and so had the opportunity to visit Schwartz in Boston every week until the older man died. Their dialogue is the subject of this moving book in which Schwartz discourses on life, self-pity, regrets, aging, love and death, offering aphorisms about each, "After you have wept and grieved for your physical losses, cherish the functions and the life you have left." Far from being awash in sentiment, the dying man retains a firm grasp on reality. An emotionally rich book and a deeply affecting memorial to a wise mentor, who was 79 when he died in 1995. Publisher Weekly)

ZOYA’S STORY: AN AFGHAN WOMAN’S STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM by John Follain After both her parents were killed by the predecessors of the Taliban, the Mujahideen, Zoya took up her mother's work in RAWA, the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan and, with her grandmother, journeyed to Pakistan, where she could receive an education at a school run by RAWA. A few years later, Zoya returned to Afghanistan to help her people and get firsthand accounts of the horrors of the Taliban reign. Zoya herself witnessed public executions and amputations, but she also witnessed heartening displays of courage--women defying the Taliban by holding secret classes and shopping in the marketplace. Zoya remains skeptical about the future of Afghanistan after the Taliban, afraid that after the U.S. involvement ends, the Mujahideen will return to their old ways. A stirring memoir by an uncompromisingly brave woman. Kristine Huntley. (Booklist) © Copyright 1997-2013 American Library Association. The American Library Association is providing information and services on the web in furtherance of its non-profit and tax-exempt status. Permission to use, copy and distribute documents delivered from this web site and related graphics is hereby granted for private, non-commercial and education purposes only, provided that the above copyright notice appears with the following notice: this document may be reprinted and distributed for non-commercial and educational purposes only, and not for resale. No resale use may be made of material on this web site at any time. All other rights reserved. ------

FICTION

COLD MOUNTAIN by Charles Frazier Cold Mountain begins with the protagonist, a Confederate soldier named Inman, injured in battle during the Civil War. During his recovery in the hospital, he realizes that once he is well enough, he will be sent back to the front lines, a realization that causes him to make the arduous journey home to Cold Mountain. Inman’s journey home and the many obstacles he overcomes bring about personal growth and form the main plot of the novel. The second half of the novel involves Inman’s love interest, Ada, who is the privileged daughter of Monroe, a preacher who has recently arrived in Cold Mountain. Monroe unexpectedly dies, and Ada tries to make the farm self-sufficient, despite almost overwhelming odds. As the novel progresses, each character faces enormous obstacles that help develop the author’s purpose of showing the brutal realities of life and futility of war. 1997 National Book Award, 1997 W. D. Weatherford Award

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHTTIME by Mark Haddon Despite his overwhelming fear of interacting with people, Christopher, a mathematically-gifted, autistic fifteen-year old boy, decides to investigate the murder of a neighbor's dog and uncovers secret information about his mother.

THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO by Patrick Ness Pursued by power-hungry Prentiss and mad minister Aaron, young Todd and Viola set out across New World searching for answers about his colony’s true past and seeking a way to warn the ship bringing hopeful settlers from Old World. Sequels: The Ask and the Answer and Monsters of Men. ALA, Outstanding Books for the College Bound

NEVER LET ME GO by Kazuo Ishiguro The elegance of Ishiguro's prose and the pitch-perfect voice of his narrator conspire to usher readers convincingly into the remembered world of Hailsham, a British boarding school for special students. The reminiscence is told from the point of view of Kathy H., now 31, whose evocation of the sheltered estate's sunlit rolling hills, guardians, dormitories, and sports pavilions is imbued with undercurrents of muted tension and foreboding that presage a darker reality. As an adult, Kathy re-engages in lapsed friendships with classmates Ruth and Tommy, examining the details of their shared youth and revisiting with growing awareness the clues and anecdotal evidence apparent to them even as youngsters that they were different from everyone outside. [...] Ishiguro conveys with exquisite sensitivity the emotional texture of the threesome's relationship, their bonds of personal loyalty that overcome fractures of trust, the palpable boundaries of hope, and the human capacity for forgiveness. Highly recommended for literary merit and as an exceptional platform for the discussion of a controversial topic. Lynn Nutwell, Fairfax City Regional Library, VA (School Library Journal)

THE STRANGE AND BEAUTIFUL SORROWS OF AVA LAVENDER by Leslie Walton Review by School Library Journal Review Gr 9 Up-Walton's novel is both strange and beautiful in the best of ways. Though the titular Ava serves as narrator and ultimately the tale's heroine, her story spans multiple generations, starting with her great- grandmother, remembered only as Maman, an immigrant to "Manhatine" two generations earlier. Through the eyes of her grandmother Emilienne, and then her mother Vivianne, Ava's lineage unfolds. Emilienne, suffering a broken heart, leaves New York and travels to Seattle, where she sets up shop as a baker on Pinnacle Lane. She gives birth to Vivianne, Ava's mother, who later suffers her own heartbreak and gives birth to Ava in 1944. Ava is a normal girl with one notable exception: she was born with the wings of a bird. Ava looks to the stories of her matriarchs to make sense of her own life and to understand how to navigate the world as both an "other" and a typical teenage girl. It is not until a fateful day in her 16th year that many narrative threads come to a head. This multigenerational tale examines love and considers the conflicting facets of loving and being loved--desire, despair, depression, obsession, self-love, and courage. Difficult to categorize, this is a mystical tale, a historical novel, a coming-of-age story, laced with folkloric qualities and magic realism, often evocative of great narratives like Erin Morgenstern's transcendent The Night Circus (Doubleday, 2011) or the classic Like Water for Chocolate (Anchor, 1995) by Laura Esquivel. It is beautifully crafted and paced, mystical yet grounded by universal themes and sympathetic characters. A unique book, highly recommended for readers looking for something a step away from ordinary.-Jill Heritage Maza, Montclair Kimberley Academy, Montclair, NJ (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

THE TYRANT’S DAUGHTER by J.C. Carleson After the assassination of her father, who was the king of her troubled country, Laila flees to America with her mother and brother. The culture shock combined with grief over her father's death is so overwhelming, that she can barely think about the daily troubles of her new life, like the family's sudden financial problems. But the biggest shock comes from finding that her father was known across the globe not as a king, but a tyrant -- one whose decisions hurt innocent people, including a new friend. This compelling look at someone fighting desperately against a truth she'd rather not believe challenges you to think deeper.

WE ARE ALL COMPLETELY BESIDE OURSELVES by Karen Joy Fowler Coming of age in middle America, 18-year-old Rosemary evaluates how her entire youth was defined by the presence and forced removal of an endearing chimpanzee who was secretly regarded as a family member and who Rosemary loved as a sister. ALA, Outstanding Books for the College Bound

WE WERE LIARS by E. Lockhart. Review by School Library Journal Review Gr 9 Up-Cadence Sinclair Easton comes from an old-money family, headed by a patriarch who owns a private island off of Cape Cod. Each summer, the extended family gathers at the various houses on the island, and Cadence, her cousins Johnny and Mirren, and friend Gat (the four "Liars"), have been inseparable since age eight. During their fifteenth summer however, Cadence suffers a mysterious accident. She spends the next two years-and the course of the book-in a haze of amnesia, debilitating migraines, and painkillers, trying to piece together just what happened. Lockhart writes in a somewhat sparse style filled with metaphor and jumps from past to present and back again-rather fitting for a main character struggling with a sudden and unexplainable life change. The story, while lightly touching on issues of class and race, more fully focuses on dysfunctional family drama, a heart-wrenching romance between Cadence and Gat, and, ultimately, the suspense of what happened during that fateful summer. The ending is a stunner that will haunt readers for a long time to come.-Jenny Berggren, formerly at New York Public Library (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

SCIENCE FICTION

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE by Beth Revis Imagine leaving everything behind in order to be with the people you love, only to be left with nothing. Amy and her parents have been cryogenically frozen to be awakened in 300 years when their spaceship reaches the planet they will colonize. Unfortunately, Amy is unfrozen 50 years too soon. Her parents are too critical to the colony to awaken early, so by the time she sees them again, she will be older than they are. The culture on the spaceship is unfamiliar and everyone Amy meets is either an emotionless drone or lives in the mental ward. But there is little time for her to grieve the loss of her former life, because someone is thawing other colonists and leaving them to die. In order to find the murderer, Amy must join forces with Elder, the teenage future leader of the ship. But all of the inhabitants onboard have been told lies, and there are secrets that even Elder doesn't know. This compelling novel is told in alternating chapters from Amy's and Elder's points of view. Amy is a contemporary character in a fish-out-of-water situation, and her grief and fear are realistically depicted. And as Elder learns the truth behind the ship, he begins to experience a coming-of-age that is convincingly written. The mystery will propel readers along, and the budding romance between Amy and Elder set against the backdrop of a dystopian society will appeal even to readers who don't enjoy science fiction. Revis's thrilling debut novel hints at more great books to come.-Heather M. Campbell, formerly at Philip S. Miller Library, Castle Rock, CO (School Library Journal)

SHIP BREAKER by Paolo Bacigalupi This YA debut by Bacigalupi, a rising star in adult science fiction, presents a dystopian future like so many YA sf novels. What is uncommon, though, is that although Bacigalupi's future earth is brilliantly imagined and its genesis anchored in contemporary issues, it is secondary to the memorable characters. In a world in which society has stratified, fossil fuels have been consumed, and the seas have risen and drowned coastal cities, Nailer, 17, scavenges beached tankers for scrap metals on the Gulf Coast. Every day, he tries to “make quota” and avoid his violent, drug-addicted father. After he discovers a modern clipper ship washed up on the beach, Nailer thinks his fortune is made, but then he discovers a survivor trapped in the wreckage—the “swank” daughter of a shipping-company owner. Should he slit the girl's throat and sell her for parts or take a chance and help her? Clearly respecting his audience, Bacigalupi skillfully integrates his world building into the compelling narrative, threading the backstory into the pulsing action. The characters are layered and complex, and their almost unthinkable actions and choices seem totally credible. Vivid, brutal, and thematically rich, this captivating title is sure to win teen fans for the award- winning Bacigalupi. Lynn Rutan (Booklist)

MYSTERIES (Park Ridge Public Library, Park Ridge, Illinois) Abrahams, Peter. Down the Rabbit Hole.

Ingrid is in the wrong place at the wrong time--or at least her shoes are. Getting them back means getting involved in a murder investigation rivaling those solved by her idol, Sherlock Holmes.

Behind the Curtain. (#2) Into the Dark (#3)

Anderson, M. T. The Game of Sunken Places.

When two boys stay with an eccentric relative at his mansion in rural Vermont, they discover an old-fashioned board game that draws them into a mysterious adventure.

Allison, Jennifer. Gilda Joyce: Psychic Investigator.

Intrepid ninth-grader Gilda Joyce invites herself to the San Francisco mansion of distant cousin Lester Splinter, where she uses psychic and detective skills to solve a mystery.

Ladies of the Lake (#2) Ghost Sonata (#3) Dead Drop (#4)

Arnold, Tedd. Rat Life.

Todd goes from making beds at his family's motel to working at the drive-in theater when he meets young Vietnam vet Rat. When a dead body is found in the Chemanga River, Rat seems to be a part of the puzzle.

Balliet, Blue. The Calder Game.

When seventh-grader Calder Pillay disappears from a remote English village--along with an Alexander Calder sculpture to which he has felt strangely drawn--his friends Petra and Tommy fly from Chicago to help find him.

Balliett, Blue. Chasing Vermeer. Balliett, Blue. The Wright 3.

Broach, Elise. Shakespeare's Secret.

Could Hero's Shakespearean name, a valuable diamond supposedly hidden in her new house, and the unexpected attention of the most popular boy in school all be connected in some mysterious way?

Colfer, Eoin. Half-Moon Investigations.

Twelve-year-old Fletcher Moon is a fully-licensed detective who, while investigating his first case, is framed for arson and must team up with his prime suspect to clear his name and find the real criminal.

Cooney, Caroline B. Code Orange.

While conducting research for a school paper on smallpox, Mitty finds an envelope containing 100-year-old smallpox scabs and fears that he has infected himself and all of New York City.

Cormier, Robert. Rag and Bone Shop.

Trent, an ace interrogator from Vermont, works to get a confession from an introverted twelve-year-old accused of murdering his seven-year-old friend in Monument, Massachusetts.

Cusick, Richie Tankersley. Walk of the Spirits.

Miranda moves to her grandfather's home in Louisiana where she discovers a special gift of communicating with spirits and must somehow find a way to bring the troubled souls peace.

Cross, Gillian. Tightrope.

When she begins receiving threatening messages from someone who seems to know her every move, teenage Ashley comes to realize that she alone can end the stalker's reign of terror.

Duncan, Lois. Ransom.

A school bus is hijacked and the bus driver murdered -- can the five teenage students trapped with their kidnappers survive and get home safely?

Duncan, Lois. Killing Mr. Griffin. Duncan, Lois. I Know What You Did Last Summer.

Dunlap, Susanne. The Musician's Daughter.

In eighteenth-century Vienna, fifteen-year-old Theresa seeks a way to help her mother and brother financially while investigating the murder of her father, a renowned violinist in Haydn's orchestra.

Feinstein, John. Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery

After winning a sports reporting contest, eighth graders Stevie and Susan Carol are sent to cover the Final Four tournament, where they discover a blackmail plot.

Vanishing Act (#2)

Ford, John C. The Morgue and Me.

Eighteen-year-old Christopher, who plans to be a spy, learns of a murder cover-up through his summer job as a morgue assistant and teams up with Tina, a gorgeous newspaper reporter, to investigate, despite great danger.

Giles, Gail. Dead Girls Don't Write Letters.

After Sunny's sister Jazz runs away and then is assumed dead after her apartment building burns to the ground, Sunny is left to cope. Then her family gets a letter from Jazz saying she is coming home. But how? Is Jazz really alive?

Green, John. Paper Towns.

High School. Of course, Margo Roth Spiegelman would go missing right after bonding with Quentin on an all-night caper of epic proportions. Now it’s up to him to decipher the series of clues she left behind.

Hahn, Mary Downing. Closed for the Season.

When thirteen-year-old Logan and his family move into a run-down old house in rural Virginia, he discovers that a woman was murdered there and becomes involved with his neighbor Arthur in a dangerous investigation to try to uncover the killer.

Hamilton, Virginia. House of Dies Drear.

An African-American family tries to unravel the secrets of their new home which was once a stop on the Underground Railroad.

Haven, Paul. Seven Keys of Balabad.

Oliver's journalist father and art-historian mother love living in the ancient, war-torn country of Balabad, but Oliver is homesick for New York City until he gets caught up in a centuries-old mystery involving stolen artifacts and buried treasure.

Holmes, Barbara Ware. Following Fake Man.

During his summer in Maine, twelve-year-old Homer, together with his new friend Roger, is determined to find the truth about himself, his long-dead father, and a mysterious costumed man.

Jinks, Catherine. The Reformed Vampire Support Group.

Fifteen-year-old vampire Nina has been stuck for fifty-one years in a boring support group for vampires, and nothing exciting ever happens-- until one of the members is murdered and the others must try to solve the crime.

Lockhart., E. We Were Liars A beautiful and distinguished family. A private island. A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy. A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive. A revolution. An accident. A secret. Lies upon lies. True love. The truth. We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart. Read it. And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE. (Amazon)

Madison, Bennett. Lulu Dark Can See Through Walls.

When someone steals her purse and her identity, high-school junior and reluctant girl sleuth Lulu Dark investigates.

Lulu Dark and the Summer of the Fox (#2)

McNamee, Graham. Acceleration.

Stuck working in the Lost and Found of the Toronto Transit Authority for the summer, seventeen-year-old Duncan finds the diary of a serial killer and sets out to stop him.

Moloney, James. Black Taxi.

When Rosie agrees to take care of her grandfather's Mercedes while he is in jail, she gets more than she bargained for, including finding herself in the midst of a jewel heist mystery.

Northrop, Michael. Gentlemen.

High School. When three teenage boys suspect that their English teacher is responsible for thier friend's disappearance, they must navigate a maze of clues, fraying friendships, and violence before discovering the truth.

Parker, Robert B. The Boxer and the Spy.

Fifteen-year-old Terry, an aspiring boxer, uncovers the mystery behind the unexpected death of a classmate.

Priestly, Chris. Death and the Arrow.

After his friend Will, a pickpocket in London in 1715, is murdered as part of a series of mysterious deaths, fifteen-year-old Tom Marlowe asks his friend Dr. Harker to help find the killer.

Pullman, Philip. The Ruby in the Smoke.

In search of clues to the mystery of her father's death, 16-year-old Sally Lockhart ventures into the shadowy underworld of Victorian London. Pursued by villains at every turn, the intrepid Sally finally uncovers two dark mysteries--and realizes that she herself is the key to both.

Roberts, Willo Davis. Twisted Summer.

Fourteen-year-old Cici hopes for a romantic summer at her family's Michigan cabin, but instead finds herself trying to solve a murder which occurred in town the previous year.

Runholt, Susan. Mystery of the Third Lucretia.

A visit to an art museum draws best friends Kari and Lucas into an international forgery scheme with a previously unknown Rembrandt at its center.

Springer, Nancy. Case of the Missing Marquess. (Enola Holmes Mystery)

Enola Holmes, much younger sister of detective Sherlock Holmes, must travel to London in disguise to unravel the disappearance of her missing mother.

Sturman, Jennifer. And Then Everything Unraveled.

Delia's mother is declared dead after her ship disappears on the way to Antarctica, but when Delia arrives in New York to live with an aunt she has never met, she begins trying to figure out what really happened to her mother.

Werlin, Nancy. Black Mirror.

Convinced her brother's death was murder rather than suicide, sixteen-year-old Frances begins her own investigation into suspicious student activities at her boarding school.

Werlin, Nancy. The Killer's Cousin. After being acquitted of murder, seventeen-year- old David goes to stay with relatives in Massachusetts, where he finds himself forced to face his past as he learns more about his strange young cousin Lily.

Wynne-Jones, Tim. The Uninvited.

After a disturbing freshman year at New York University, Mimi is happy to get away to her father's remote Canadian cottage-- until she discovers a stranger living there who has never heard of her or her father and now is convinced that Mimi is responsible for leaving sinister tokens around the property.

Wynne-Jones, Tim. The Boy in the Burning House. Trying to solve the mystery of his father's disappearance from their rural Canadian community, fourteen-year-old Jim gets help from the disturbed Ruth Rose, who suspects her stepfather, a local pastor.

From Barnes and Noble: Dangerous Girls, by Abigail Haas One of my favorite YA releases of last year combines elements of both the Natalee Holloway disappearance and the Amanda Knox trial to create a perfect mashup of psychological thriller and ripped-from-the- headlines murder mystery. Utterly engrossing from page one to the jaw-dropping ending, this will forever be one of my favorite recommendations to pull out from under the radar to blow someone’s mind. Nearly Gone, by Elle Cosimano Solid, fast-paced thriller? Check. Female main character whose proficiency in math and science are the keys to helping her solve the mystery? Check. Dangerously attractive love interest? Check. There’s a lot to enjoy in this just-a-little-bit-paranormal debut, but it can be summed up in what I said to my husband when he tried to interrupt me while I was reading it: “This really isn’t the kind of book you put down.” Prep School Confidential, by Kara Taylor If you prefer your murder mysteries on the snarky, contemporary side, Anne Dowling will be your new favorite amateur detective. Pairing a solid mystery with a funny heroine you can’t help but love, and putting it in one of my favorite settings—boarding school—is an irresistible formula, which makes it extra perfect that this book is the first in a trilogy. Far From You, by Tess Sharpe This book does so many rare things right, the murder mystery might actually be the least compelling part, and that’s saying a lot. Yes, this is the story of a girl trying to solve her best friend’s murder, but its true heart is in unraveling the layers of their tragic friendship, revealing the truth that they weren’t just best friends—they were in love. Sharpe’s depiction of not only main character Sophie’s bisexuality but also of her addiction, recovery, and disability are some of the truest and most well crafted in YA, making this a must- read on multiple levels.

2015 Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens from American Library Association In addition to the full Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2015 list, the committee selected the following Top Ten titles: Afterlife with Archie: Escape from Riverdale. By Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. Illus. by Francesco Francavilla. Archie Comics, paper, $17.99, (9781619889088). A zombie outbreak in Riverdale forces Archie and his fellow survivors to take refuge in Veronica's mansion. Bad Machinery V.3: The Case of the Simple Soul. By John Allison. Illus. by the author. Oni Press, paper, $19.99, (9781620101933). Linton and Sonny investigate who has been setting fire to old barns. Could it be the troll living under the bridge. 47 Ronin. By Mike Richardson. Illus. by Stan Sakai. Dark Horse, $19.99, (978159582954). The Japanese Legend of the 47 Ronin and their epic mission to avenge their wronged master. In Real Life. By Cory Doctorow, illus.by Jen Wang. First Second, paper, $17.99, (9781596436589). Anda’s online persona discovers a bigger world than she can imagine. Ms. Marvel: V.1. No Normal. By G. Willow Wison. Illus. by Adrian Alphona. Marvel, paper, $15.99, (9780785190219). Kamala Khan is a geeky teenager navigating her Muslim identity and parents’ expectations when she gains bizarre and inexplicable powers. Seconds: a Graphic Novel. By Bryan Lee O’Malley. illus. by the author. Ballantine Books, $25.00, ( 9780345529374). Katie is not satisfied with her life and discovers a way to make some changes to the past using magic mushrooms. The Shadow Hero. By Gene Luen Yang. Illus. by Sonny Liew. First Second. paper, $17.99, (9781596436978). Hank Chu helps around his family's grocery store when his mother makes him a superhero suit, and offers to give him rides to fight crime. Through The Woods. By Emily Carroll. Illus. by the author. Margaret K. McElderry Books, $21.99, (9781442465954). Five tales of sinister things that live in the woods. Trillium. By Jeff Lemire. Illus. by the author. paper, Vertigo, paper, $16.99, (9781401249007). The twentieth and thirty-eighth centuries meet in a time-travel romance Wolf Children: Ame & Yuki. By Mamoru Hosoda. Illus. by Yu. Yen Press, $26.00, (9780316401654). Hana must raise two werewolf children on her own after their father dies in an accident.

GREAT GRAPHIC NOVELS FOR TEENS GRAPHIC NOVEL: NONFICTION Above the Dreamless Dead: World War I in Poetry and Comics. Edited by Chris Duffy. Illus. by the author. First Second, paper, $24.99, (9781626720657). A collection of World War I trench poetry and lyrics interpreted by modern cartoonists. Andre the Giant: Life and Legend. By Box Brown. Illus. by the author. First Second, $17.99, (9781596438514). Andre the Giant, famous for his wrestling career, has always been considered larger than life, but his story fascinates well beyond the mat. The Boxer: The True Story of Holocaust Survivor Harry Haft. By Reinhard Kleist. Illus. by the author. Self Made Hero, paper, $22.95, (9781906838775). Harry Haft overcomes extreme odds during the Holocaust to become a famous boxer in America. The Dumbest Idea Ever! By Jimmy Gownley. Illus. by the author. Graphix/Scholastic, paper, $11.99, (978-05454534790). Jimmy Gownley's memoir about his teenaged years and how he started drawing comics. El Deafo. By Cece Bell. Illus. by the author. Abrams, $21.95, (9781419710209). Cece tells the story of navigating school, friendships, crushes, and being okay with not being able to hear.

The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story By Vivek J. Tiwary. 2013, illus by Andrew C Robinson. M Press, $19.99, (9781616552565). Worldwide phenomenon The Beatles hit the big time with the help of an extraordinary and secretive manager. Gandhi: My Life is My Message. By Jason Quinn. 2013. Illus. by Sachin Nagar. Campfire, paper, $16.99, (9789380741222). Biography of the legendary peace-maker of India. The Great American Dust Bowl. By Don Brown. Illus. by the author. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, paper, $18.99, (9780547815503). A speck of dust is a tiny thing, but in 1920s America dust cause widespread devastation. Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: Treaties, Trenches, Mud, and Blood: A World War I Tale. By Nathan Hale. Illus. by the author. Amulet, $12.95, (9781419708084). Anthropomorphic retelling of the events of World War I. I Remember Beirut. By Zeinia Abirached. Illus by the author. Graphic Universe, $26.34, (9781467738224). A remembrance of the author's childhood in Lebanon during its civil war. Shackleton. By Nick Bertozzi. Illus. by the author. First Second, $16.99, (9781596434516). An account of Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition in the early 1900s. Sisters. By Raina Telgemeier. Illus by the author. Graphix/Scholastic, $24.99, (9780545540599). The true story of how fun and frustrating relationship between sisters can be. Strange Fruit – Uncelebrated Narratives from Black History. By Joel Gill. Illus. by the author. Fulcrum, paper, $23.95, (9781938486296). Great stories of lesser known African American throughout American history. Tomboy: A Graphic Memoir. By Liz Prince. Illus. by the author. Zest Books, paper, $15.99, (9781936976553.) She wasn't a girly girl, nor one of the guys, but somewhere in the middle. Woman Rebel: The Margaret Sanger Story. By Peter Bagge. Illus. by the author, Drawn and Quarterly, $21.95, (9781770461260). The story of the Planned Parenthood founder who tirelessly fought for reproductive rights her entire life.

GRAPHIC NOVEL: FICTION Adventure Time. By Ryan North. Illus. by Braden Lamb and others. V. 4. KaBOOM!, $14.99, paper, (9781608863518) V. 5. KaBOOM!, $14.99, paper, ( 9781608864010). More fun from the land of Ooo Adventure Time with Fionna & Cake. By Natasha Allegri.. 2013. Illus. by the author. KaBOOM!, paper, $19.99, (9781608863389). It's up to Fionna and Cake to save the day from the Ice Queen. *Afterlife with Archie: Escape from Riverdale. By Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. Illus. by Francesco Francavilla. Archie Comics, paper, $17.99, (9781619889088). A zombie outbreak in Riverdale forces Archie and his fellow survivors to take refuge in Veronica's mansion. Alex + Ada vol 1. By Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn. , Illus. by Jonathan Luna. Image, paper, $12.99, (9781632150066). Alex gets a humanoid robot as a present from his grandmother and decides to give it sentience. All Star. By Jesse Lonergan. Illus. by the author. paper, NBM, $13.99, (9781561638352). Carl Carter, high school baseball star, discovers the inequality inherent in the system when he gets into trouble with the law. All You Need Is Kill. By Ryosuke Takeuchi. Art. by Takeshi Obata. Viz, paper, $14.99, (9781421576015). Humanity's battle against a formidable alien race is placed on hold when Keiji begins reliving the same day's events over and over. Bad Machinery. By John Allison. Illus. by the author. V.2: The Case of the Good Boy. Oni Press, paper, $19.99, (9781620101148). The kids of Tackleford solve the mystery of a toddler eating monster in the woods. *V.3: The Case of the Simple Soul , Oni Press, paper, $19.99, (9781620101933). Linton and Sonny investigate who has been setting fire to old barns. Could it be the troll living under the bridge. Baltimore vol 3: A Passing Stranger and Other Stories. By Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden. 2013, illus. by Ben Stenbeck . Dark Horse, $24.99, (9781616551827).) Lord Henry Baltimore battles monsters in his search for the vampire that killed his family. Barbarian Lord. By Matt Smith. Illus. by the author. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $17.99, (9780547859064). Barbarian Lord recruits allies and battles monsters, ghouls, and bad poets in his quest for justice. Batman: Black and White. Vol 4. By Various. Illus. by Various authors and illustrators. DC, $29.99, (9781401246433). Batman short stories written and illustrated by an all-star cast. Batman ’66. Vol. 1. By Jeff Parker. Illus. by Jonathan Case. DC, paper, $14.99, (978- 1401249311). When crime strikes in Gotham City, police commissioner Gordon calls upon the dynamic duo of Batman and Robin. Beautiful Darkness. By Fabien Vehlmann. Illus. by Kerascoët. Drawn & Quarterly, $22.95, 9781770461291). A community of tiny people emerge from a dead girl's body. Black Widow: The Finely Woven Thread, V.1. By Nathan Edmondson. Illus. by Phil Noto. Marvel, paper $17.99, (9780785188193). When not fighting as part of the Avengers, Black Widow seeks redemption on her own terms. Breath of Bones: A Tale of the Golem. By Steve Niles. Illus. by Dave Wachter. Dark Horse, $14.99, (9781616553449). A Jewish village brings to life a giant monster to defend themselves against the Nazis. Brilliant, vol. 1. By Brian Michael Bendis. . Illus. by Mark Bagley. Marvel, $24.99, (9780785159148). A group of college students figure out how to give themselves superpowers with disastrous consequences. Buzz. By Ananth Panagariya. 2013. Illus. by Tessa Stone. Oni Press, paper, $19.99, (9781620100882). Webster finds himself swept up in the cutthroat world of competitive, head-to-head spelling bees. Cast Away on the Letter A. By Fred. Illus. by the author. TOON books, $16.95, (9781935179634). Philemon falls into a well that transports him to an island in the Atlantic that doesn't exist. Cleopatra in Space. Book One: Target Practice. By Mike Maihack. illus. by the author. Graphix/Scholastic, $12.99, (9780545528436.) There is a prophecy that says Cleopatra will save the world, but she's just trying to learn algebra. Down Set Fight!. By Chad Bowers and Chris Sims., illus. by Scott Kowalchuk. Oni Press, paper, $19.99, (9781620101162). Football star Chuck Fairlane was expelled from the sport for fighting, but finds unlikely fame when mascots track him down for revenge. *47 Ronin. By Mike Richardson. Illus. by Stan Sakai. Dark Horse, $19.99, (978159582954). The Japanese Legend of the 47 Ronin and their epic mission to avenge their wronged master. The Gigantic Beard that was Evil. By Stephen Collins. Illus. by the author. Picador, $20.00, (9781250050397). Dave lives in the tidy world of Here when his beard begins to grow uncontrollably. The Graveyard Book. By Neil Gaiman. Illus. by P. Craig Russell. V.1. Harper Collins, $19.99, (780062194817) V. 2. Harper Collins, $19.99, (9780062194831). The story of Nobody, a boy raised in a graveyard, and the danger that threatens his life. *In Real Life. By Cory Doctorow, illus.by Jen Wang. First Second, paper, $17.99, (9781596436589). Anda’s online persona discovers a bigger world than she can imagine. Les Miserables. By Victor Hugo and Crystal Silvermoon. Illus. by SunNeko Lee. Udon, paper, $19.99, (9781927925164). A classic tale of passion and tragedy in 19th century France. Mara. By Brian Wood. 2013, Illus. by Ming Doyle. Image, paper, $12.99, (9781607068105). A volleyball player in the future gets superpowers and it changes her life. Moonhead and the Music Machine. By Andrew Rae. Illus. by the author. Nobrow Inc., $24.95, (9781907704789). When the school’s talent show is announced, Joey Moonhead sets out to create a music machine that is out of this world. *Ms. Marvel: V.1. No Normal. By G. Willow Wilson. Illus. by Adrian Alphona. Marvel, paper, $15.99, (9780785190219). Kamala Khan is a geeky teenager navigating her Muslim identity and parents’ expectations when she gains bizarre and inexplicable powers. My Little Monster. By Robico. Illus. by the author. V.1. Kodansha Comics, paper, $10.99, (978-1612625973) V.2. Kodansha Comics, $10.99, paper, (9781612625980) V.3. Kodansha Comics, $10.99, paper, (9781612625997). Mizutani is distracted from being the top student in her grade, when Haru decides to be her friend. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Volume 5 By Katie Cook. 2014, illus. by Andy Price, IDW Publishing, $17.99, (9781631401053). The ponies travel to a new world that mirrors their own. My Love Story!: Vol.1. By Kazune Kawahara. Illus. by Aruko. Viz Media, paper, $9.99, (9781421571447). Takeo wonders if he will play second fiddle to his best friend when it comes to dating girls. Red Sonja.Vol 2:The Art of Blood and Fire. By Gail Simone. Illus. by Walter Geovani. Dynamite, paper, $19.99, (978-1606904817.) A dying king promises to free 1000 slaves if Sonja will bring him the world’ s greatest artisans in time for his last hurrah. The Return of Zita the Spacegirl. By Ben Hatke. illus. by the author. First Second, paper, $12.99, (9781596438767). Zita will need help from friends to stop the plan of an evil intergalactic prison warden. Rust vol 3:Death of the Rocket Boy. By Royden Lepp. Illus. by the author. Archaia, $24.99, (9781608864133). Jet’s secret might force him off the farm where he works while risking the family that took him in. Sally Heathcote: Suffragette. By Mary M. Talbot. Illus. by Kate Charlesworth. Dark Horse, paper, $19.99, (9781616555474). Sally Heathcote is drawn into the politics of the women's suffrage movement in early 1900s England. *Seconds: a Graphic Novel. By Bryan Lee O’Malley. illus. by the author. Ballantine Books, $25.00, ( 9780345529374). Katie is not satisfied with her life and discovers a way to make some changes to the past using magic mushrooms. The Secret Service: Kingsman. By Mark Millar., illus. by Dave Gibbons. Marvel, $14.99, (978-07851654607). A secret service agent takes his deadbeat nephew under his wing. Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign. By Takaya Kagami. Illus. by Yamato Yamamoto. V.1. Viz Media, paper, $9.99, (9781421571508) V.2. Viz Media, paper, $9.99, (9781421571515). Yuichiro and his friends try to escape their fate as livestock in the vampire city. *The Shadow Hero. By Gene Luen Yang. Illus. by Sonny Liew. First Second. paper, $17.99, (9781596436978). Hank Chu helps around his family's grocery store when his mother makes him a superhero suit, and offers to give him rides to fight crime Silver Surfer. Vol. 1: New Dawn. By Dan Slott. Illus. by Mike Allred. Marvel. Paper, $17.99, (9780785188780). Silver Surfer challenges the Never Queen to save the life of an earth girl he's never met. Sing No Evil. By JP Ahonen. Illus. by KP Alare. Abrams, $24.95, (9781419713590). A new metal band struggles to succeed, and save the city from supernatural forces. Summer Wars. By Mamoru Hosoda. Illus. by Iqura Sugimoto Part 1. 2013, Vertical, paper, $14.95, (9781939130150). Part 2. Vertical, paper, $14.95, (9781939130167). The world's foremost social network is infected with a malevolent AI that threatens to hurtle society into the Stone Age. This One Summer. By Mariko Tamaki. Illus. by Jillian Tamaki. First Second, paper, $17.99, (9781626720947). Summer friends get tangled up in teen love and a family crisis. Three Thieves. By Scott Chantler. Illus. by the author. v. 4: The King’s Dragon., Kids Can Press, $17.95, (9781554537785). v.5: Pirates of the Silver Coast. Kids Can Press, $17.95, (9781894786539). Dessa and her pals continue to search for her brother while the captain of the King’s Guard remains on her trail. *Through The Woods. By Emily Carroll. Illus. by the author. Margaret K. McElderry Books, $21.99, (9781442465954). Five tales of sinister things that live in the woods. *Trillium. By Jeff Lemire. Illus. by the author. paper, Vertigo, paper, $16.99, (9781401249007). The twentieth and thirty-eighth centuries meet in a time-travel romance The Undertaking of Lily Chen. By Danica Novgorodoff. Illus. by the author. First Second, $29.99, paper, (9781596435865). According to custom, Deshi needs to find his brother a corpse bride, but meeting Lily changed everything. Voice Over! Seiyu Academy. By Maki Minami. Illus. by author. V.1. Viz, $9.99, paper, (9781421559704). V.2. Viz, $9.99, paper, (9781421559711). V.3. Viz, $9.99, paper, (9781421559728). V.4. Viz, $9.99, paper, (9781421559735). V.5. Viz, $9.99, paper, (9781421559742). Hime wants to be a voice actress like her idol Sakura, but not being able to talk like a princess might dash her dreams. *Wolf Children: Ame & Yuki. By Mamoru Hosoda. Illus. by Yu. Yen Press, $26.00, (9780316401654). Hana must raise two werewolf children on her own after their father dies in an accident. The Woods. V.1: The Arrow. By James Tynion IV. Illus. by Michael Dialynas. Boom!, paper, $9.99, (9781608864546). A modern-day high school is transported without warning to another world. World Trigger. By Daisuke Ashihara. Illus. by the author. V. 1. 2014. Viz Media, paper, $9.99, (9781421577647). V. 2. 2014. Viz Media, paper, $9.99, (9781421577654). Osamu and the mysterious new kid battle monsters from a neighboring dimension. X-Men: Battle of the Atom. By Brian Michael Bendis and others. Illus. by Frank Cho and others. Marvel, $49.99, (9780785189060). X-Men past, present, and future collide.