Between Shades of Gray

By Ruta Sepetys. New York: Philomel Books, 2011.

Let me say, this story is not a pretty one. Yet, it is beautifully written. Based on true events and the author's family experience, this book needs to be read. It's 1941, and fifteen year old Lina lives a comfortable life in Lithuania. A talented artist, she is looking forward to going to art school. One night, Soviet guards invade her home, taking Lina, her mother and her younger brother onto a packed train with other deportees, off to a labor camp in Siberia. Her father has been separated from them, and he is being taken to a prison camp, where he is sentenced to death. This story unflinchingly tells the horrors Lithuanians and others endured on the train, and also during their time in Siberia. Lina and her family are then taken further into nothingness towards the North Pole to another labor camp. Lina and her family struggle to survive with nothing more than hope they will be returned to Lithuania and the love they have for each other.

I found this extremely disturbing to read, but it is so well written, that I was compelled to continue the journey with Lina. I didn't remember this part of World War II history, and it was disturbing to read the atrocities the Soviet soldiers inflicted on people during their "cleansing" of the Baltic region. I think the cover image captures the disparity between the "ugliness" of the story (barbed wire surround the border) and the beauty of the writing and ultimate hope towards the end of the story (a lone green plant growing out of the stark cold of the snow). I highly recommend this haunting book. It will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

Are You Awake?

By Sophie Blackall. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2011.

It's the middle of the night. It's dark. All of a sudden a little voice says "Mom? Mom?" I'm sure moms and dads throughout the years have been woken up by their little one who can't sleep. The same is true in this delightful story. Edward can't go to sleep, so he wakes his mom up and starts with a question: "Are you awake?" After his sleepy mom says "No," he asks "Why aren't you awake?" Mom matter-of-factly answers "Because I'm asleep." And so begins a long series of questions and answers until the sun comes up and Edward finally falls asleep just as his father (who is a pilot) returns home. The story ends with Edward asking his sleeping father "Dad? Dad? Are you awake?"

This book is a joy to read! The questions and answers demonstrate the curiousness of children and the resigned parent who must try to answer them while still being half-asleep. What also makes this book wonderful are the illustrations. They are soft, conveying the bedtime setting, but I love how Edward's eyes are made bright against the greyness of the night setting, reflecting his inner curiosity and surprising alertness at 4am! As the night passes are morning sun comes out, the pages get brighter. Such a brilliant book! This is perfect for sharing one-on-one.

Happy Hippo, Angry Duck: A Book of Moods

By Sandra Boynton. New York: Little Simon, 2011.

Sandra Boynton is my go-to author when I'm looking for books to read at my baby storytime. Her rhymes and pictures are cute, and they make me smile like a happy, drooly baby (without the drool, of course). She doesn't disappoint with her new board book. This book is about different moods - happy, sad, angry - and explains that no matter what you're feeling it's okay. The book begins by cheerily asking "Hello, Little Person! How ARE you today? Is your mood quite terrific or only okay?" Don't you feel reassured it will be okay? "Are you happy as a hippo? Or angry as a duck?" The book continues this wonderful read-aloud rhyme comparing moods with animals, and ends with the positive message: "Well, I hope you are happy. But if you are not, you have friends who will help you. We like you a lot." You can't see it, but I'm beaming. This book makes me smile, because the message is simple and loving delivered in a cute way that toddlers will gobble up (well, it is a board book, and they do like to chew on things). I'm positive this book will make you happy too, unless you are like the angry duck in this story, "he's always this way." We all know someone like that! So, if you have a baby, know a baby, need a present for a baby, or secretly you enjoy cute, rhyming books (I won't judge), go get this book! You may find your mood greatly improved.

Across the Universe

By Beth Revis. New York: Razorbill, 2011.

Dystopian fiction seems to be the rage nowadays. I have a mixed reaction to these books, as they are most often science fiction based, and that is not my favorite genre. Well, color me completely surprised by this book. I could not put it down! I'm so happy this is the first book in a planned trilogy.

Amy is seventeen years old, and in the beginning of the story, she, along with her parents, are going through the process of being cryogenically frozen. They will be traveling on a huge spaceship called Godspeed towards a new planet, and expect to awake 300 years in the future. But, Amy is awoken 50 years earlier. What she discovers is basically a "brave new world" setting. There is a domineering leader called Eldest, and the future leader of the ship Elder, who is about Amy's age. Everyone lives by a certain set of rules, and disrupt is absolutely not tolerated. Amy's presence on the ship causes concern, and she soon realizes that her awakening was not an accident. As the story progresses, more "frozens" are murdered, and Amy and Elder try to figure out who is behind the killings, as well as uncovering the vast amount of secrets on the ship.

What an awesome book! What I loved most about it was the fact that I didn't know I was reading science fiction! Yes, there are a lot of details about the ship and the world on the ship, but the storyline is so compelling it pulls you along until the end. I really like the alternate chapters told from Amy and Elder's viewpoints. It gave me the opportunity to really understand how they tick. If you like dystopias and science fiction - heck, even if you don't - pick up this book. I guarantee you will be in for a fun read!

Ship Breaker

By Paolo Bacigalupi. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2010.

Picture a world in the future that is post global warming. Oil and gas supplies are gone. The waters of the Gulf Coast have risen, and cities like New Orleans are now underwater. It's a fight for survival, and the people who live on Bright Sands Beach do whatever it takes to eek out a pitiful living. For the main character, Nailer, this involves "ship breaking." Rusty hulks of diesel ships are his life, and his main job is stripping them of valuable metal, such as copper. Because of his small size, he is able to squeeze through very small ducts, and this job is highly desirable to his bosses and fellow crew workers. The more scrap metal he collects, the better for him. Making a living to earn him a meager amount of food and avoiding his drug-addicted, abusive father are his main daily challenges. That all changes when he discovers a clipper ship that crashed on shore after a major hurricane. Inside the ship, Nailer and his good friend Pima, discover enough jewelry and valuable items to make them very rich and comfortable for the rest of their lives. But, they also discover a half-dead girl, who they decide to rescue. They name her "Lucky Girl," and embark on a journey to New Orleans to return her to her prominent family in the hopes that Nailer will discover a better life than the one he has on the island.

Wow, wow, wow! This book is the 2011 Printz Winner for Excellence in Young Adult Literature, and I can see why. First of all, I was immediately attracted to the cover. Usually, that doesn't make any difference to me, but this book cover perfectly represents the world you discover inside. Second, I loved the characters. They made me want to continue to read, because I had to know what would happen to them, especially Nailer. Third, the plot hooked me from page one. I don't read alot of dystopian fiction, but I was drawn into this futuristic world, which hit a bit close to home. You can easily imagine this world to be our future, especially with the global warming issues we are dealing with today. Finally, the action in the story will draw in reluctant readers, especially those who enjoy adventure stories. I don't want to give too much away, but the ending with the ships chasing each other will keep you turning pages at a rapid pace. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a fast, thrilling read!

Smile

By Raina Telgemeier. New York: Graphix, 2010.

Oh, the joys of middle school. If you're an adult, you've been there, and I'm sure you remember how it felt to be an awkward pre-teen, trying to fit in. If you're younger, you are experiencing this now. Don't worry, it gets better! I promise. If you don't believe me, read this book.

Raina is a sixth grader. One night, after Girl Scouts, she trips and falls, and knocks out her two front teeth. It's a bad accident, and it begins a rather long journey for her through the world of dentistry and braces. She has to have a root canal, braces, really embarrassing headgear and a retainer. It's alot to deal with, especially when you are navigating your way through middle school, and trying to fit in. Raina's ordeal with braces takes us with her into tenth grade, when she finally gets them removed. She learns about friendship, who she really is, and in the end, is finally able to really smile because she is happy in her own skin. As she describes it, "I realized that I had been letting the way I looked on the outside affect how I felt on the inside. But the more I focused on my interests, the more it brought out things I liked about myself. And that affected the way other people saw me!"

This book has such a positive message, but it doesn't knock you over the head with it. Raina's story is universal, and fun to read. I recalled my own experiences during middle school and high school, and let's just say, I wouldn't want to live through that again. But, it shaped me into the person I am today. Kids will really enjoy this story - the graphics are very colorful, and the facial expressions are spot-on. If you're looking for a graphic novel with a good message, try this one. It will make you smile!

Jane

By April Lindner. New York: Poppy, 2010.

What if Jane Erye fell in love with a rock star? That's the premise for this novel's retelling of the classic Jane Erye. Jane Moore is desperate for a job. After the sudden death of her parents, she is forced to drop out of college because she can't afford to pay her tuition. She takes a job as a nanny at Thornfield Park, the home of rock star Nico Rathburn. There, she finds herself drawn to Nico, and ends up falling in love with him. But, there is a mystery at Thornfield, and a secret from Nico's past truly tests their love.

To be honest, I am on the fence about this book. If you are a fan of the original Jane Erye, I don't think you're going to like it. My biggest pet peeve with this book is its unoriginality. It followed the original story too closely, and I got bored with the retelling. To me, this is the biggest flaw of the novel. Don't get me wrong, it's still readable. After all, I flew through this book in a day, and it's good for an afternoon on the couch with a cup of tea. And I would recommend it to teens looking for a love story. But, if you're expecting something completely different, brace yourself for disappointment.