"Shine" and "Chime"

“Shine” and “Chime”

Shine by Lauren Myracle and Chime by Franny Billingsley share something in common; they were both nominated for the National Book Award this  past year.  Shine was initially announced as a nominee in October 2011, there was a mix-up and the real nominee was Chime.  So I set about to judge the two for myself.

Shine is a poignant story about a hate crime that takes place in a tight knit rural town in North Carolina.  Beautifully written this crime/mystery novel tells the story about friendship and forgiveness.  The story deals with real life issues of drug addiction, homophobia and sexual assault; along with the beating of Patrick, an openly gay teen, which happens before the opening of the story.  I highly recommend this book to high school students and beyond.

Chime on the other hand is a beautifully written fantasy, mystery set in the early 1900’s in a mystical English village somewhere outside London.  Narrated by Bryony, a sharp and witty young witch who is filled with hate and guilt this story would appeal to those who enjoy stories about witches and other worlds, with a bit of romance twisted in
.

Happy Holidays!

Please enjoy this inspirational song written and sung by an 11 year old girl, Emmanuelle, who is blind.  She is amazing!

Some new and some old...

The Panther Library has some great new reads that are about to be ready to jump into your hands.

The new...
Clean by Amy Reed
Rip Tide (Book 2 of Dark Life Series) by Kat Falls
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (see previous post below)

The Old...
The Airman by Eoin Colfer
The Card Turner by Louis Sachar
When She Was Good by Norma Fox Mazer

Below you will find a snippet about each book.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

by Ransom Riggs




"A story rich with fantasy and full of adventure and discovery.  A story that celebrates how truly different and unique each person is."  The photographs throughout the book are a wonderful addition to this book that is perfect for a Halloween chiller.  


Watch below for a sneak peak.

Courage and Survival

Three books with a different story about survival:  Now is the Time for Running, Monster, and Stargirl.

Now is the Time for Running

by Michael Williams

“The soldiers drive past us.  In the front jeep, a soldier sits with his boot up on the dashboard.  He wears a red beret and sunglasses.  He raises his hand, and the jeep stops with an angry spurt of dust.  The soldiers standing behind him grip the crash bar.  One nearly topples to the ground.  The other jeeps pull up behind.  Red Beret climbs out and walks toward us.  His face is a mask.  I notice his black belt, his revolver in a leather holster, his heavy boots, and shiny sunglasses.  I do not see his eyes but see myself twice in his glasses.  I look small and bent out of shape, just a scrappy kid in blue shorts wearing a no-longer-white shirt and standing in the dust.”

Michael Williams’ story of two brothers forced to flea Zimbabwe to South Africa is a story of soccer, survival, and two brothers devoted to each other during a time of political unrest.  This powerful historical fiction story deals with difficult topics of refugee abuse, drug addiction and homelessness but is appropriate for Middle School readers and up.

To find out about the Homeless World Cup Soccer Tournament

and how it is helping to end homelessness visit

 www.homelessworldcup.org

Monster

by Walter Dean Myers

Written as a film script from the eyes of 16-year-old African American, Steve Harmon who is on trial for his part in a murder felony in Harlem, New York.  The reader/listener is taken on his screen-by-screen journey from the courtroom, to jail, and through the events leading up to the murder.  This winner of the 2000 Michael L. Printz Award and Coretta Scott King Award Honor was also nominated for the National Book Award in 1999.

Some jailhouse scenes depict some sexual content and the violence may seem graphic.  This book allows its reader to question what is the path they should take and will leave them wondering what is the truth. 

Star Girl

By Jerry Spinelli

Stargirl is a breath of fresh air; she has smiles and cheers for all, birthday cards, and her ukulele is just a few of the things that make her unique and have a profound effect on her school mates for many years to come.  Her free spirit and genuine kindness should be an example for all to follow to find the road to happiness.

“Live today. Not yesterday. Not tomorrow. Just today. Inhabit your moments. Don’t rent them out to tomorrow”

New YA Books in the Panther High School Library

New YA Books in the Panther High School Library

Tiger's Quest

Tiger's Quest

(Book 2 in the Tiger's Curse Series)

by Colleen Houck

WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FROM THE FIRST BOOK; TIGER'S CURSE

Hi, it's Hannah again and I am reviewing Tiger's Quest, Book 2 in the Tiger's Curse Series.

Kelsey is back in Oregon taking her first year of college after deciding that some space would be good for both her and Ren. She misses her white tiger but decides to try to date other guys, not that it goes very well. But really, what boy could measure up with an Indian prince like Ren?

Meanwhile, back in India, Mr. Kadam is working hard to translate the rest of Durga's Prophecy. Trouble is brewing as the evil Lokesh begins his searches for Kelsey. Soon Ren joins Kelsey in Oregon and decides to try following the "customary dating practices". Before long they are joined by Ren's brother Kishan. Kishan obviously has fallen for Kesley too, but she loves her white tiger.

After unfortunate circumstances separate Ren from Kelsey, she and Kishan must work to break the next part of the curse and then rescue Ren. Through all of this Kelsey begins to feel closer to Kishan.... Though she could never love Kishan more than Ren.

With tangled up relationships, action-packed fight sequences and a surprise twist ending this book will have you turning the page, and turning the page, and turning the page. As the quest takes them to the Himalayas and more secrets unfold you just might love the second installment to the Tiger Saga as much as the first. The wait for the third book will be unbearable when you can't wait to learn what will happen to Kelsey, Kishan and Ren.

~Hannah (Rising 8th grade guest blogger)

For more information on the Tiger's Curse Series go to Colleen Houck's website

Mama Llama Red Pajama

Mama Llama Red Pajama

Read by Author Anna Dewdney

Mama Llama is a sweet rhyming bedtime story that reassures baby Llama that "Mama Llama's always near, even when she's not right here". A perfect book to comfort a child who might have some worries about where their own Mama.

Tiger's Curse

Tiger's Curse

by Colleen Houck

Hi, it's Hannah here again as a guest blogger....

I'll start by saying that Tiger's Curse was an AMAZING book! It was one of the best books I've read in a long time. It is about seventeen (almost eighteen) year old Kelsey Hayes. She is looking for a summer job and ends up working at the circus that is in town. One of the main attractions is Ren, a white tiger from India. Kelsey soon finds out that Ren is more than just a white tiger. Together they travel to India to try to break a 300-year old curse.

The book sweeps you up in a world of Hindu myths and sweet romance. You get a bit of a crash course in Hindu religion and Indian culture. Every page is filled with suspense. It is both adventure and romance, a great read. The writing is unique and really likable. More of a girls' book, maybe 6th grade and up.

~Hannah (7th grade guest blogger)

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

"Moon Over Manifest"

2011 Newbery Medal Winner

"Leave well enough alone."

At least, that's what the note Abilene discovers tells her. The year is 1936 and Abilene Tucker is sent to Manifest, Kansas by her father. When she gets to Manifest, a town of immigrants, she is sure that her father will come to get her as soon as possible. But he doesn't. As Abilene waits for her father to come she explores the town of Manifest and all of its mysteries. Soon she finds herself visiting Miss Sadie's divining parlor. While helping Miss Sadie she slowly uncovers the truth about her father and his time in Manifest. Meanwhile, Abilene is involving herself in another mystery. She and her friends, Lettie and Ruthanne, investigate mysterious letters about a spy named The Rattler.

Moon Over Manifest is a story full of loss, discovery and secrets. I could barely put this book down! It switches back and forth between Manifest in 1936 and 1918 to weave an intricate story of mystery. There are times in this story when you will cry for Abilene and times when you will turn page after page, desperate to learn the secrets of Manifest.

All in all this was a powerful story that will appeal to many audiences. This book is for 6th to 8th grade (though even adults will enjoy it), and both boys and girls will love this thrilling novel.

-Hannah J., 7th Grade Guest Blogger

Introducing Hannah my Guest Book Reviewer

I would like to introduce you to my guest book reviewer Hannah. Hannah is a rising 8th grader and will be able to provide a teen readers perspective of the books she has read. I am looking forward to reading her reviews! Aloha

Virginia Readers Choice 2011-2012 - Middle School

Virginia Readers’ Choice

Middle School Annotations

Bystander. James Preller, Feiwel & Friends, 2009.

Eric is the new kid at school, and Griffith is the school bully who welcomes Eric

into his circle of friends. Initially Eric does not get involved, thankful that

Griffith’s bullying is directed at someone other than himself, but he soon

realizes that he must take a stand. Can he make a difference?

Chasing Lincoln’s Killer. James Swanson, Scholastic, Inc., 2009.

(Adapted from Swanson's Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's

Killer [HarperCollins, 2006]). Originally planning to kidnap Abraham Lincoln

and hold him hostage, John Wilkes Booth instead assassinated Lincoln. With

his co-conspirators, John Wilkes Booth leads investigators on a twelve-day

manhunt through Virginia, Maryland, and Washington before he is surrounded

by authorities and killed.

The Leanin’ Dog. K.A. Nuzum, HarperCollins, 2008.

11-year old Dessa Dean watched helplessly as her mother froze to death in a

Colorado winter storm. Now grieving, she and her father go through the

motions of living in their small, remote cabin. Remembering her mother’s

death, Dessa cannot make herself go outside. One day she spots an injured,

but untrusting dog wandering near the cabin. Can the pair help each other

overcome their fears?

Mockingbird. Kathryn Erskine, Penguin Young Readers Group, 2010.

Ten-year old Caitlin and her father are reeling over the sudden death of

Caitlin’s brother in a middle school shooting. Her guidance counselor tells her

she needs closure, but “closure” does not come easily to Caitlin, who suffers

from Asperger’s Syndrome.

Out of My Mind. Sharon Draper, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing,

2010.

Melody is a fifth grader with cerebral palsy. She cannot move her body

(except for her thumbs), or communicate in any way, but she remembers

every word anyone has ever said. Finally, with the help of technology, Melody

is able to communicate with her family and classmates. But are they really

interested in what she knows, and what she has to say?

Pop. Gordon Korman, HarperCollins, 2009.

Marcus, the new kid in the neighborhood and hopeful championship high

school team quarterback, practices football alone in the park. One day he is

joined by Pop, who turns out to be Charlie Popovich, a famous retired NFL

linebacker, who is both charismatic and erratic. What could explain Charlie’s

odd behavior? What is his family keeping from the community, and why don’t

they want Marcus to help him?

The Rock and the River. Kekla Magoon, Simon & Schuster Children’s

Publishing, 2009.

Chicago, 1968. Thirteen–year old Sam Childs is torn between loyalty to his

father, a well-known preacher who supports the non-violent teachings of Dr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. and his older brother, Stick, who supports the new

Black Panther Party.

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda. Tom Angleberger, Abrams, Harry N.,

Inc., 2010.

6th grade Dwight is weird. He wears an origami finger puppet of Yoda. But

can Yoda foretell the future? Dwight undertakes a scientific investigation to

find out.

Ways to Live Forever. Sally Nicholls, Scholastic Inc., 2011.

Eleven-year old Sam is in the last months of his life, losing his battle with

leukemia. Sam, with the help of his chronically ill friend, Felix, writes a book

about his experiences with leukemia including questions to answer, and

interesting facts. They also create a “to do” list, making every effort to get

each item done before they die.

When the Whistle Blows. Fran Cannon Slayton, Penguin Group (USA),

2009.

Based on the author’s family stories, When the Whistle Blows portrays the life

of teenager Jimmy Cannon and his character-filled family through seven

consecutive Halloweens from 1943-1949 in their small railroad town in West

Virginia.

taken from the Virginia Readers Choice Website

Grief

Just as death is part of life, grieving is part of living.

The following are three excellent resources to help move through this difficult process.

A full list of excellent resources on grief are at the bottom of the blog page.

Kalapana

by Carolyn Everett Hann and Carole Hinds McCarty

Set in Hawaii, this beautiful picture book tells the story of life given back. A healing story for all ages.

Tear Soup:

A Recipe for Healing After a Loss

by Patt Schweibert and Chuck DeKlyen

A recipe for all ages.

I Will Remember You:

What To Do When Someone You Love Dies-

A Guidebook Through Grief for Teens

by Laura Dower

An excellent guide for teens who have experienced a death of someone.

YALSA 2010 Teen's Top Ten Nominations

YALSA encourages teens to read the 26 nominees before the national Teens’ Top Ten vote, which will take place in August and September at www.ala.org/teenstopten. The winners will be announced during Teen Read Week, Oct. 17-23.

The Teens' Top Ten is a teen choice list, in which teens nominate and choose their favorite books of the previous year

Abbott, Ellen Jensen. Watersmeet. Marshall Cavendish. 2009. (9780761455363).

Abisina is born into a colony of religious fanatics, where she is persecuted for her appearance,

kept alive only because her mother is the healer. But when a new leader arrives, he rids the

colony of the outcasts. Abisina escapes and is rescued by some dwarves, who help her journey to

Watersmeet to find her father.

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Wintergirls. Penguin/Viking Books. 2009. (9780670011100).

Lia sees her eating disorder as a way to avoid so much: her stepmother’s pressure to be a role

model for her new stepsister, her parents’ divorce, her mother constantly hounding over her

daughter’s eating habits whenever she finds the time in the rest of her life. But most importantly,

she sees it as a means to escape the death of her best friend, the one she ignored the day she died

from the same disease Lia is fighting herself.

Brown, Jennifer. Hate List. Hachette/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 2009.

(9780316041447).

Valerie and her boyfriend Nick are constantly picked on by other kids at Garvin High. They

write a Hate List, and Nick participates in a Columbine type killing. Valerie survives and has to

live with the consequences.

Carter, Ally. Heist Society. Disney/Hyperion. 2010. (9781423116394).

Katarina is trying to get out of the family thievery business. When her father is suspected of

stealing a priceless art collection from an Italian mobster, she has to steal them back to save his

life—and she has no idea where they are.

Cashore, Kristin. Fire. Penguin/Dial. 2009. (9780803734616).

Fire is a monster, quite literally. She is extraordinarily beautiful and can control the minds of

humans. Soon she gets sucked into the kingdom’s political turmoil and encounters everything

from cold princes to brightly colored bunny rabbits.

Clare, Cassandra. City of Glass. Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry. 2009. (978-

1416914303).

Clary must dig deep within herself to complete the journey into the unfamiliar in the name of

family and love. Clary goes to the City of Glass to try to save her mother — even though it may

mean her own death.

Clayton, Emma. The Roar. Scholastic/Chicken House. 2009. (9780439925938).

Mika's world appears to be based purely on mystery and lies, though he seems to be the only one

who senses it. After his sister vanishes and a new government program that targets children rises,

Mika decides that the only hope of finding his sister may be in beating the government at their

own game.

Collins, Suzanne. Catching Fire. Scholastic/ Scholastic Press. 2009. (9780439023498).

In the sequel to The Hunger Games, Katniss is faced with the challenges of being a victor of the

Games, from keeping up the image of a romantic relationship with Peeta to trying to prevent any

rioting in the other districts. But when the Capitol announces a twist that will affect Katniss

forever, will she be able to survive re-entering the world of the Games?

Dessen, Sarah. Along for the Ride. Penguin/Viking. 2009. (9780670011940).

College-bound Auden lets academics drive her entire life until she moves to a beach town for the

summer to live with her father, stepmother, and newborn half-sister. Slowly she learns to break

out of her shell as she makes friends with the locals and falls for a trick bike rider.

Fisher, Catherine. Incarceron. Penguin /Dial. 2010. (9780803733961).

In a distant future, all the world's criminals are dumped in a vast, living prison called Incarceron,

with live forests and mechanical animals, climate-controlled weather, and everlasting dark walls

that stretch to nowhere. Seventeen-year-old Finn believes he should not be there and must rely

on help from the outside to escape.

Fitzpatrick, Becca. hush, hush. Simon & Schuster. 2009. (9781416989417).

Nora ends up sitting next to Patch in biology. Patch is a scary guy, a fallen angel, and he is

shrouded in mystery. But he has a knack for getting under Nora’s skin. Many people seem to be

out to get her and she is slowly starting to realize she is falling for Patch, even if he is trying to

kill her.

Forman, Gayle. If I Stay. Penguin/Dutton. 2009. (9780525421030)

After a drive with her family, Mia wakes up to find the car in pieces and the bodies of her family

by the side of the road. She is in a coma, but she can see everything happening around her,

almost as if she was a ghost. With her family gone, Mia has to decide if she should stay among

the living or if she should pass on.

Garcia, Kami and Margaret Stohl. Beautiful Creatures. Hachette/Little, Brown Books for

Young Readers. 2009. (9780316042673)

Lena isn't like the other girls in Gatlin, South Carolina. She's as different from them as a person

can get. She is a Caster. Ethan wants to be different. He hates life in Gatlin. So when he runs into

Lena, almost literally, something just clicks. Can an ancient curse, a shut-in uncle, and certain

doom keep them apart?

Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd. Edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci.

Hachette/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 2009. (9780316008099).

Anyone who has ever been labeled or proclaimed themselves to be "geeks" will fall to the floor

laughing and fall in love with the many different short stories and illustrations by some of the top

young adult authors.

Golding, Julia. Dragonfly. Marshall Cavendish. 2009. (978-0761455820).

A princess from a country formed on rules is being forced to marry a prince from a different

country who just likes to live life. They dislike each other on sight— and then they are

kidnapped. Can they travel sback home, through enemy territory, without strangling each other?

Jinks, Catherine. The Reformed Vampire Support Group. Harcourt/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

2009. (9780152066093).

Grumpy vampire Nina is in a support group so that she doesn't prey on humans. But things start

to look grimmer than ever when one of the vampires in the support group shows up dead. Will

Nina be able to get to the bottom of this crime before another vampire is attacked?

Lieb, Josh. I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President.

Penguin/Razorbill. 2009. (9781595142405).

A young boy (who happens to be an evil genius) wants to be student body president to attract his

father/arch-nemesis’ attention. After using his almost unlimited resources, he thinks he has the

election in the bag, when suddenly everything goes wrong that no amount of money can fix.

Ockler, Sarah. Twenty Boy Summer. Hachette/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 2009.

(978-0316051583).

Anna joins her best friend Frankie’s family for a beach vacation in California. Frankie and Anna

make a bet to attract 20 boys in 20 days. Anna struggles with a painful secret and falls in love

with Sam — and isn’t sure she can finish their bet.

Patterson, James. Witch and Wizard. Hachette/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 2009.

(9780316036245).

Siblings Whit and Wisty are suddenly pronounced a witch and a wizard by their oppressive

government. They are sent to prison, where they learn to use their powers with hopes to escape.

Peters, Julie Anne. By the Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead. Disney/Hyperion. 2010.

(9781423116189).

Daelyn Rice is determined to succeed in killing herself this time. Using a website for

“completers,” she reveals a history of bullying and torment that started in kindergarten. One day,

though, a boy sits with her as she is waiting to be picked up from school. While she makes it

known that she wants to be alone, he won't give up on her.

Pierce, Tamora. Bloodhound. Random House. 2009. (9780375814693).

Beka has grown and needs to take on new assignments. When her old partner gets hurt, she is

sent out on a new type of mission. Finding love and a culprit can be complicated in a big city—

but nothing is too hard for the Terrier!

St. Crow, Lili. Strange Angels. Penguin/Razorbill. 2009. ( 9781595142511).

Dru’s family kills mythical creatures. After a catastrophe befalls her parents, she wants revenge.

To find out what happened to her family, she’ll need to learn to trust others.

Stiefvater, Maggie. Shiver. Scholastic . 2009. (9780545123273).

Ever since being saved by a wolf as a child, Grace has been fascinated with the wolves around

her Minnesota home. But the wolves are becoming restless and need Grace's help to save them.

One of the wolves takes human form and falls in love with Grace — but as the weather grows

colder, he’ll turn back into a wolf, likely forever. Soon, he must make a life or death decision to

stay with the one he loves.

Tanigawa, Nagaru. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Hachette/Little, Brown Books for

Young Readers. 2009. (9780316039017).

Haruhi Suzumia is a high-school student who is bored by normal humans. She wants something

supernatural to happen, so she starts a club with a boy named Kyon. Little does she know that

everyone that signs up from her club is either a Time Traveler, Alien, or Esper.

Westerfeld, Scott. Leviathan. Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse. 2009. (9781416971733).

The prince of Austria-Hungary is on the run, his parents murdered. Deryn Sharp is a girl who

pretends to be a boy to live out her dream. One chooses to go on an adventure; the other is forced

into it. The pair are on opposite sides but must work together to escape from German troops.

Yep, Laurence. City of Fire. Tor/Starscape. 2009. (9780765319241).

Twelve-year-old Scirye vows to avenge her sister’s death and reclaim a stolen treasure for her

people by taking on the villainous dragon Badik and the strange Dr. Roland. She and her

companions travel to a Hawaiian island created by magic, where a goddess helps them in their

quest to stop Dr. Roland from achieving a great power.

Alice in Wonderland - Comparisons

Lewis Carroll's classic story of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is being played out on the big screen with Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter and Tim Burton's amazing artistic skills in

Disney's Alice in Wonderland.

You can watch the Disney film trailer on YouTube here.

Then compare it to the original Alice in Wonderland film made in 1903

Next you can listen to different audio versions on Audiofile of Alice in Wonderland and compare how different narrators change the feel of the book.

See "Three Cups of Tea: Three Versions of Alice Side by Side" comparisons.

Let's not forget about reading!

Kindle version of the story

Of course, there is always the text version.

What did you like the most and why?

Enjoy the comparisons!

Teen Tech Week is this Week!

Teen Tech Week is here!

Teens

Take the Teen Tech Week survey on how you use technology.

You can help pick the theme for 2011.

London Calling

London Calling

By Edward Bloor

“What did You do to help?”

London Calling is journey to find truth. The intriguing story of Martin, Jimmy, and a Philco 20 Deluxe Cathedral Radio that Martin’s grandmother leaves to him upon her death. Part historical fiction, time travel, ghosts, and present day bullies this story also has a message for fathers and sons. What will you answer upon your death, “What did you do to help”? Highest Recommendation. Audio book read by Robertson Dean is excellent.

Booklist Review

When an old radio transports Martin back in time to London during the Blitz, the seventh-grader makes startling discoveries that fuel twin quests: one to expose the unflattering truth behind two World War II heroes casting long shadows in his life, and the other to answer a young Londoner's eerie pleas for help. Every bit as provocative and open-ended as Bloor's Crusader (1999), this genre-defying novel incorporates mysticism steeped in Martin's Catholic faith and a present-day trip to London that connects two troubled father-son relationships across the decades. Bloor demands much of his readers, especially concerning the diplomatic issues leading to U.S. involvement in World War II, and many will have questions about where the facts end and invention begins. Ambitious yet unwieldy, this may work best as a fictional supplement in history classrooms, where it will open discussions of both the slippery qualities of historical truth ("Who decides what the real history of a time is?") and the nature of genuine heroism. Jennifer Mattson Gr. 6-9.

The Secret Language of Girls

The Secret Language of Girls by Frances O'Roark Dowell

A must read for 5th and 6th grade girls to help them navigate the sticky web of middle school girls. The audio read by Michele Santopietro is excellent.

Jellicoe Road

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

“My father took one hundred and thirty-two minutes to die. I counted. It happened on the Jellicoe Road. The Prettiest road I’d ever seen, where trees made breezy canopies like a tunnel to Shangri-la."

The story of Taylor Markham, a 17 year old who was abandoned years ago on the Jellicoe Road and lives in a boarding school in the Australian countryside. It is her story of how she discovers the missing pieces of her life, and begins to make sense of all the decisions that others have made to benefit her. The story switches times, from days gone by at the school to present times where the different rival groups negotiate for territory surrounding the school and town. Highly Recommend. A good book for 8^th-12 grade.

From Booklist

Taylor Markham isn’t just one of the new student leaders of her boarding school, she’s also the heir to the Underground Community, one of three battling school factions in her small Australian community (the others being the Cadets and the Townies). For a generation, these three camps have fought “the territory wars,” a deadly serious negotiation of land and property rife with surprise attacks, diplomatic immunities, and physical violence. Only this year, it’s complicated: Taylor might just have a thing for Cadet leader Jonah, and Jonah might just be the key to unlocking the secret identity of Taylor’s mother, who abandoned her when she was 11. In fact, nearly every relationship in Taylor’s life has unexpected ties to her past, and the continual series of revelations is both the book’s strength and weakness; the melodrama can be trying, but when Marchetta isn’t forcing epiphanies, she has a knack for nuanced characterizations and punchy dialogue. The complexity of the backstory will be offputting to younger readers, but those who stick it out will find rewards in the heartbreaking twists of Marchetta’s saga. Grades 9-12.