The Ballad of Ami Miles

The Ballad of Ami Miles

Kristy Dallas Alley

Swoon Reads, 2020

272 pages

Grades 8-Up

Dystopian/Romance

Ami lives with her grandparents and aunts and uncles as the only young person in an isolated compound in the future after a devastating pandemic. Modern conveniences are no more and it has become very difficult and rare for women to have babies. Since Ami was born post-pandemic to a woman who was forced to run away, it is assumed that Ami can also conceive. One day a mysterious older man appears and it becomes clear that it is expected that Ami should "breed" with him. Ami is all for doing her duty in the ultra-religious and conservative community that her grandfather rules with an iron fist, but this crosses the line. At the urging of one of her aunts, Ami decides to run away to find the mother that she no longer remembers. The journey is scary and dangerous, but at last Ami stumbles into the community in which her mother is assumed to be living. Once there Ami meets for the first time other young people. She also is exposed to alternate life-styles, short hair on women, and secular music. At first overwhelmed, Ami gradually makes friends and even develops an unexpected love-interest. The meeting with her mother offers some surprises and the truth behind the separation. Will Ami stay in this strange new place or will she return to the compound and the old ways with the only family she has previously known?

This book attracted me right from the start by the cover. And then I saw that it was post-pandemic, dystopian America and I just had to read it. It is a great story that is sure to speak to many modern teen readers. Beyond the timely notion of the pandemic, the book offers Handmaid's Tale vibes that will appeal to modern sensibilities. Feminists will love the clear, yet not overwhelming, message of women's right to chose their own mates and if and when to procreate. The setting is fully realized and the characters are developed. Ami is a brave and honest young woman, who will serve as an inspiration to readers. She is completely brainwashed by the family cult and manages to process other choices quickly and think for herself. At first Ami is angry at her mother's choices and then sees the other side, demonstrating maturity and growth. Readers may in turn question racism, homophobia, and the male dominance in their own lives and dare to chose differently. There is room for a sequel and I, for one, would like to see more of this world and its people. On another positive note, the story may encourage teens to delve into classic American folk music or pick up a guitar. Debut author, Alley, hits it out of the park with this compelling read and I can't wait to see what she writes next!

The Witches: The Graphic Novel

The Witches: The Graphic Novel

Roald Dahl

Penelope Bagieu, Adaptor & Illustrator

Scholastic/Graphix, 2020 296 pages

Grade 3-6

Graphic Novel

Graphic novelist, Bagieu, reboots Dahl's classic for a modern audience. An eight year old boy is recently orphaned and living with his loving, yet eccentric, grandmother. To pass the time Grandma tells the boy all about real-life witches and what to look out for, having some encounters of her own in her distant past. The boy learns to beware of women with wigs to cover their bald heads, gloves to cover their clawed hands, and pointy shoes to hide their missing toes. If you see one, watch out! They hate children and will do anything to eliminate an unsuspecting youth. The boy and Grandma travel to the seaside for rest and relaxation. This trip turns out to be anything but, when the boy stumbles into a whole convention of witches. He overhears the dastardly plans to eliminate all of England's children and witnesses with his own eye a girl get turned into a mouse. Yikes! What can he do to get out of there? He must go and find Grandma. Maybe she can help him come up with a plan to save the nation's children before it's too late.

I love the original Witches so much and wasn't sure I was ready for the reboot. Finally, I had to go for it with mostly positive results. I love that attention has been called to this title, which may lead comic-kids to the original. French Bagieu breathes life into the characters and offers a fresh creative sensibility, a bit more sophisticated than American children generally see. The full-color panels scan well and the plot keeps mostly to the original. The controversial creepy ending, which I love so much, was maintained to my relief, which is more than I can say for most movie and stage adaptations. I do enjoy the 1990 film, even though the ending was changed, and the Grand High Witch in this new title certainly has a Anjelica Huston quality about her. I enjoyed the modernization of the Grandmother character, though I missed the Norwegian grandmother in the original. Other characters are rewarded with a welcomed diverse update. What I love about Roald Dahl stories is that he manages to inject humor into his tales, even though they go dark. This story is, perhaps, his darkest, yet remains tongue-in-cheek and has a deliciousness to the creepiness. This comic adaptation, as in all other adaptations, loses this subtly. That said, the comic stands on its own and may bring fresh readers to the original. 

The Super Life of Ben Braver

The Super Life of Ben Braver

Marcus Emerson

Roaring Books, 2018

320 pages

Grades 3-6

Adventure/Graphic Hybrid

Max Braver series #1

Max has always dreamed of being a superhero. After a summer spent watching old Batman reruns, he has an unfortunate encounter with a bully--who freezes him in a block of ice. When he emerges from his coma, he finds a mysterious man in his room. The man recruits Ben to join an exclusive and secret boarding school for superheroes. Ben is beside himself as his greatest dreams come true! Once at the school his roommate, Noah, who can burp fire, becomes an instant best friend. Penny, another new friend and possible crush, can talk to animals using her ukulele. All is not perfect, however. The original bully, who turned Max into an ice cube, is also a student, as well as his older sister, and a mysterious virus is attacking the student body, turning them into zombie-kids. Worst of all, Max is not discovering his superpower. After a few false starts he is beginning to believe that he may be a dud. Does he belong at the school after all?

This series, from the author of the popular Diary of a Sixth Grade Ninja series offers another hybrid action-filled romp. This series is sure to attract reluctant readers, especially those who love superheroes. The chapters are short and highly illustrated, perfect for Wimpy Kid fans. The action moves quickly with quirky characters, almost like reading a video game. I would not say that this is the best piece of literature to arrive on the market in the past several years, but it is good enough--and will certainly appeal to the target audience, turning non-readers into readers, making it "librarian gold". Once kids finish this first installment, two others already await, the third which came out this past March. The story itself goes a bit over-the-top and character development is a bit thin, yet readers will be able to easily follow the linear story and keep the cast of characters straight. Best of all, they will relate to and cheer for Max and care enough to dive into the next series installment. A "super" choice to recommend to kids who think they don't like to read.

Twins

Twins

Varian Johnson

Shannon Wright, Illustrator

Graphix/Scholastic, 2020

249 pages

Grades 3-7

Graphic Novel

Maureen and Francine are starting middle school. This is daunting to shy, yet studious, Maureen, but at least she has her twin by her side and her elementary school friend-group. Everything changes as two of her friends get sucked into band culture and go boy-crazy and, worst of all, Francine is different. She shortens her name to "Fran", has mysterious meetings after school, and is pulling away from her twin. Maureen is confused and lonely. The cadet program in school that she is stuck in only seems to make matters worse, as she is terrible at marching. Her Master-Sergeant offers extra credit if she steps out of her comfort zone and suggests running for class president. There is only one other candidate on the ballot: Francine. Tired of always hiding in her sister's shadow, Maureen decided to run against her. Can two twins face each other in a middle school election without tearing their family apart and destroying their friend-group? Read this new graphic novel to find out!

Varian Johnson is the author of one of my favorite titles from the past few years, The Parker Inheritance. This is a very different book and I applaud his efforts to cross genres. As a kid I always wanted to be a twin. It seemed ideal to live with a built-in best friend and so fun to swap identities. Johnson, a twin himself, shows us the dark side. Adolescence brings a search for identity, which can be especially tricky for identical twins. Pair that with a natural tendency at this age towards self-absorption and conflict arises. This book will reach a variety of audiences and is sure to be popular. The clearly-drawn full-color illustrations will attract readers and the realistic and relatable school/family story will keep them riveted. This is a close, supportive, yet realistically flawed, family unit that is involved in resolving the girl's dilemmas, sometimes getting it right--and sometimes not, yet always demonstrating unconditional love. Maureen learns to see other people's perspectives and realizes that it's not all about her, which is a huge step for a tween. Sure to be popular, hand to fans of the popular memoir-style graphic novels.

Who Was Nellie Bly?

Who Was Nellie Bly?

Margaret Gurevich

Penguin Workshop, 2020 107 pages

Grades 2-5

Non-Fiction/Biography

Who Was series

Few women have done for journalism what trailblazer Nellie Bly accomplished over one-hundred years ago. One of the fall releases in the uber-popular "Who Was" series, Gurevich explores the life of this larger-than-life legend. Bly's early days are traced, exposing readers to the limits set on women in the 1800's, and her hard-scrabble to enter the world of journalism. Next we see some of Bly's most famous escapades, including her solo, trip around the world, voluntary incarceration in a mental hospital, and the first female reporter to cover WWI. Bly's marriage, business ventures, and eventual death are also explored. Sidebars flesh-out historical figures and features of the time period relevant to the story. Characteristic cartoon illustrations grace every 2-page spread. A timeline of Bly's life, a timeline of the world during this time period, and a bibliography round out the volume.

I love the "Who Was" series. It is consistently readable, yet informational. Kids are attracted by the covers with the big heads and end up learning, all while being entertained. This installment is no exception to the read-ability of the series. I am only surprised that it took the publisher this long to explore this interesting ground-breaker. I have long been fascinated by Nellie Bly and because of her (and Curious George) have always wanted a monkey pet. She seems like such a brave and dashing figure and certainly inspirational for young women (and men) everywhere. Perfect for school use, as well as recreational reading this selection is sure to fire the inner-feminist in everyone. I truly love the subject, but what encouraged me to read this series installment is the author, who is local to Fair Lawn and a devoted library patron. We are blessed in this town to have many talented residents and Margaret is one of my favorites. She is on-track to also write an installment on David Bowie (another one of my favorites), which I can't wait to crack into. A favorite historical figure, featured in a favorite series, penned by a favorite author. Win! Win! Win!

The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly

The Life and Medieval Times of Kit Sweetly

Jamie Pacton

Page Street, 2020 378 pages

Grades 7-Up

Realistic/Romance

Kit Sweetly has hit a rough patch. She longs to be a knight at the medieval themed restaurant where she is employed as a wench (server), yet is told the position is for men only. Her brother is already a knight and has trained and supported her for the position, yet both corporate and local manager/uncle refuse the promotion. Meanwhile, she is in love with her best friend, is rejected from all but one of her colleges, and the electric has been turned off in the house--again. Kit's single mom is working doubles, yet still can't make ends meet and musician father is off getting famous--or at least trying to stay off of drugs. Kit takes a chance one night, dons her brother's knight costume and rides out into the ring. She is victorious, whips off her helmet and reveals herself to be the female that she is. Kit finds herself to be an internet sensation and inspiration to women of all ages. Other wenches begin to train with Kit in the hope of gaining a promotion to knight, but will they get a chance to prove that they got the right stuff? Will the family's money problems ever be resolved? And will Kit's best friend finally be willing to break the "unbreakable rule" and enter into a romantic relationship?

With the world retreating back into quarantine, I have, yet again, lost my ability to concentrate on a book. I desperately needed something fun and frothy. This title certainly did the trick! It moves along quickly with a great plot and interesting setting (I'm a big fan of Medieval Times). Readers get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what it is to work at the famous themed eatery and may fantasize about securing such employment themselves. Kit is a history buff and the author reveals the truth behind many of our medieval misconceptions. For a typical teen romance this book adds a feminist agenda that will challenge readers to pursue life goals beyond gender limitations. The book is indeed a fun read with a few extras that I appreciate. Kit, though, was realistically self-absorbed. I found her frustrating that she did whatever she wanted regardless of the consequences for those around her. She is suppose to be an honor student, yet seems to skip school a lot and does no homework, though it is the end of senior year, so maybe that is to be expected. For a poor girl who has to scrabble, she seems a bit entitled to me, yet aren't most teenagers? I also found the adults frustrating. Not one of them was functional or could be counted on for help. This inability forces Kit to figure out her own problems, which make for a more interesting read, yet I wanted to swoop in and offer some guidance. Character quibbles aside, this is an enjoyable choice for fans of Sarah Dessen and Meg Cabot and offers the perfect escape from the realities of today.

The Retake

The Retake

Jen Calonita

Delacourte, February, 2021

272 pages

Grades 4-7

Fantasy

Welcome to the most disastrous first day of school ever! Zoe is starting seventh grade without her best friend Laura, who has ditched her to hang out with the cool, yet nasty, "Drama Queens". She has forgotten both her bus pass and her schedule, has a stain on her white pants, and drops her tray while trying to figure out a place to sit at lunch. Just when all seems desperately helpless, a pink app appears on her phone, allowing her a much-needed "do-over". Can Zoe get the friendship back on track if she goes back a bit in time? The first attempt yields even worse results and makes her phone really hot. Zoe tries again, this time going back even further. The same even worse results and a hotter phone. Will she be able to fix this mess before her phone implodes? Finally, Zoe goes back far enough and, with a little dishonesty, secures Laura's exclusive friendship, only it is not all it's cracked up to be. And is Laura really the friend that Zoe needs right now?

Calonita, of Fairy Tale Reform School fame, offers a new stand-alone title that will speak to all middle school girls. At this age friendships are the most important relationships in a young person's life. Calonita explores the agony and confusion experienced by the friend who is left behind as one of the pair matures and grows in a different direction. The thought of a "do-over" will certainly appeal to the target audience, who will sympathize with Zoe and groan as her day goes from bad to worse. This middle-grade "Groundhog Day" is realistically portrayed, even though fantastical elements are at play, and the use of a phone app is both relatable and the stuff of genius. Readers will long for the app on their own phones, yet will hopefully learn, as Zoe does, to be content with their lots and learn to change course. I greatly enjoyed this story and am convinced that the target audience will as well. Even though this was the book I read at bedtime, which usually means I fall asleep after a few sentences, I cruised through, staying up way past usual. The ending was satisfactory and I breathed a sign of relief as Zoe finally lets go of her past and finds a new path. A great choice for reluctant readers, The Retake will be enjoyed and passed around middles schools everywhere.

A Phoenix First Must Burn

A Phoenix First Must Burn: Sixteen Stories of Black Girl Magic, Resistance, and Hope

Patrice Caldwell (editor)

Viking, 2020

Grades 8-Up

Fantasy/Short Stories

As the title indicates, Caldwell presents sixteen stories by African-American female authors featuring black women (or non-gender conforming individuals) gaining  strength through magic or science fiction. Many of the featured characters are in some way repressed and find power or revenge through magical or scientific means. The tales are diverse, from re-worked tales of folklore to mythical creatures and to future worlds. A brief biography of the contributing authors, who are both famous and unknown (to me), are included at the back of the volume, leading readers to other works by the authors of their favorite stories. An introduction by the editor will lure readers in, as she describes the power of storytelling and its influence on her own life.

I love short story collections, yet rarely read them. I appreciate the brief time commitment and instant gratification of a short story, especially one with a twist ending. This collection was fun to read and of the highest quality. The stories were all completely different, yet each one was an exquisite little gem. I honestly liked all of the stories, yet my favorite one was Hearts Turned to Ash by Dhonielle Clayton, which boasts a Cajun Voodoo vibe. More fantasy than science fiction, there is a little of everything not of the tangible world, sure to connect with readers on some level. The stories are all appropriate, more or less, for a younger teen audience, yet some are more sophisticated than others. I started the collection on a summer camping trip. It lived in my car through the autumn, where it accompanied me on many catch-up doctor's appointments. I finally finished the volume last week, in-between cleaning my house and preparing for Thanksgiving. A different short story collection than what was formally available for young people, diverse readers will appreciate being seen within its pages and take a much-needed break from the patriarchal main-stream. An entertaining, unique and high-quality gem of a collection.

Cinders and Sparrows

Cinders and Sparrows

Stefan Bachmann

Greenwillow, 2020

368 pages

Grades 3-6

Fantasy

Twelve-year-old Zita has suffered a difficult life. Orphaned as a toddler, she is now a servant, regulated to a life of drudgery.  All of this changes when she is summoned by a bewitched scarecrow to a magical castle as it's heir. Apparently Zita is the long-lost youngest and only surviving member of the Brydgeborn family, a notable and wealthy clan of witches. Zita has inherited magical abilities, as well as the castle and family riches. Her late mother's best friend, Mrs. Cantanker, is assigned to serve as guardian and tutor, yet seems to have wicked intentions. Her only allies in the dusty old castle are a black bird and two young servants, who appear to be under a spell, ceasing them from sharing any important information. Zita is led to a secret library, which may hold the clues to her powers and safety. Only, what, exactly, is meant to help her? Mysterious ghosts appear to help-or confuse-and magic lessons prove dangerous and incomplete. How will Zita ever discover the truth behind Mrs. Cantanker and her missing family? And who can she actually trust to help her in her quest for knowledge and security?

Bachmann, author of The Peculiar, offers another fantasy sure to appeal to fans. This new book feels old fashioned and Gothic. Readers who like their fantasy dark and atmospheric will find much to enjoy. The time period is unknown, though it feels turn of the (last) century. The setting is in an alternate past, where magic is commonplace, though limited to certain blessed families and fading over time. Zita is a bold and likable character. She is unafraid of being alone or entering a new and hostile environment. Zita gets to the bottom of the mysterious happenings and is not afraid to take on the dreaded Mrs. Cantanker. Eventually, Zita realizes what is really happening at the castle and also discovers the whereabouts of her family. Ends are satisfactorily tied-up and order is restored. Not a light read or particularly cheerful, smart kids who like their fantasy slightly dark and complicated will be the target audience. Give to fans of Harry Potter, Jonathon Stroud and Neil Gaiman.