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!

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.

Jake

By Audrey Couloumbis. New York: Random House, 2010.

For as long as 10-year old Jake can remember, it's just been him and his mom. His father died when he was a baby. Right before Christmas, while Jake and his mom are at the grocery store, his mom falls and breaks her leg. There's no one available to take care of him, except for his grandfather, who he hasn't seen since he was a baby. Granddad also brings his dog Max with him, who isn't overly affectionate, and kind of scares Jake. While his mom has surgery and heals in the hospital, Jake and his Granddad awkwardly navigate seeing each other again. As they get to know each other, neighbors and friends show Jake that even though his mom is not home, this might not be a horrible Christmas after all.

This is a cute, sweet story. It's very short, and perfect for the holidays, and not just because it takes place right before Christmas. This book deals with family, which I absolutely loved. What makes a family? What does family mean to you? Family isn't just about blood relatives; it's about friends and neighbors that are an important part of your life, and who truly care about you. A truly heartwarming story, Jake is a winner!

Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters

By Natalie Standiford. New York: Scholastic Press, 2010.

The Sullivans are a wealthy, privileged family that live in Baltimore. On Christmas Day, the family is informed by their supremely rich grandmother, who they call Almighty, that someone in the family has deeply offended her. She is going to cut the entire family out of her will, unless she receives a confession from the offender by New Year's Day. The family determines it must be one of "the girls" who offended Almighty, and the Sullivan sisters (Norrie, Jane, and Sassy) each write up a confession to deliver to Almighty in the hopes of saving their family from poverty. Who offended Almighty? Will Almighty forgive them and restore the family's fortunes to them? You'll have to read this book to find out!

When I read the premise of this story, I wasn't impressed. I didn't think I'd want to read about poor, little rich girls who might lose their fortune. I mean, there are worse things in the world than this! But, I was intrigued with the idea of confessing to your crime, so I gave it a chance. I have to admit, the writing is really smart. The book is divided into sections, with each sister "confessing" her story. Norrie, Jane, and Sassy "could" be vapid, snooty girls, but instead, they are "real" - I believe a wide spectrum of readers can relate to the Sullivan sisters. There isn't a focus on material wealth in this story; rather, on each sister and their overall character. Yes, the sisters are rich, and yes, they go to a private Catholic school, but they also deal with issues and feelings that all teens go through, and that's what makes them relatable. Overall, this was a fun, quick read!

13 Treasures

Written by Michelle Harrison. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2010.

Thirteen-year old Tanya has always been able to see fairies - she is "blessed" with the second sight. These aren't the fairies you're thinking of from princess tales; rather, these fairies like to torment Tanya. And she can't tell anyone she sees them, because they would think she is crazy. Fed up with the distruction and havoc that she thinks Tanya has caused, her mother sends Tanya away to live with her grandmother. Tanya's grandmother has never been especially warm and fuzzy towards her grand-daughter; she is mostly cold and reserved. While at her grandmother's house, Tanya discovers a mystery of the past involving a missing girl and the dark, creepy woods near the house. While trying to solve this mystery, Tanya discovers things about herself, her grandmother, and the fairy realm.

I don't normally gravitate towards fantasy stories, but this was a great story! It hooked me in from the beginning, and I was eager to find out what the mystery was. The fairy element plays a strong role in this story, and if you are hesitant to pick up this book because of that, don't be! There is a nice balance between the fantasy and mystery elements of this story, and the storytelling is quite engaging. It's not too scary, but just right to get you into the Halloween spirit. Now, for pity's sake, don't go into the woods!

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

By Tom Angleberger. New York: Amulet Books, 2010.

Who do you ask when you need advice about something? I bet you're going to say your parents, families, or friends. You wouldn't think of asking a finger puppet, would you? I didn't think so. But what if the finger puppet was an origami Yoda? We all remember Yoda, the wise sage from the Star Wars movies. He gives GREAT advice, that it would be silly not to follow it. That's what a bunch of sixth-grade friends discover in this fun book.

Dwight is a goofball. He's kinda weird, and always says things that are unpredictable and strange. One day he shows up to school with an origami finger puppet of Yoda. All of a sudden, Yoda is dispensing advice and predicting the future to most of the kids in the sixth grade. And, the advice works! Well, Tommy needs to find out how origami Yoda can be right about so many things, when his owner, Dwight, is just completely clueless. This book is a case file, and Tommy interviews several of his sixth-grade friends to discover their experiences with origami Yoda.

This book is very funny and goofy, and would be perfect for kids who love the Wimpy Kid books. Along the page margins are really fun doodles that complement the text perfectly. There's even directions at the end for making your very own origami Yoda. Read this book you must.