RI Teen Book Award Nominee 2016



The Life and Times of Benny Alvarez by Peter Johnson is exactly what the title says, a snapshot of a middle school boy and the typical trials and tribulations that happen in a person's life.  Benny has friends who are suddenly interested in girls, has a grandfather who is getting elderly, and has a conflict with a girl in his class.  There are a lot of mini-plot lines, which generally makes a book that I find to be scattered, but it all works in this one.  An enjoyable read for anyone who enjoys realistic fiction books.

Usually if a book is set in Rhode Island, I mention it first thing.  Even though it is worth mentioning, the impact of the setting of this book is so minimal (except a potshot at RI drivers), that it could really have happened in any state.  If you are looking for a book that is truly Rhode Island, then Swim That Rock is your "must read."  

RI Teen Book Award Nominee 2016

Face recognition software is pretty fascinating.  The fact that Google Pictures can recognize the seven-year old version of a seventeen year old is amazing. 

Since I'm obviously interested in this particular computer function, I was definitely interested in the premise of Forget Me by K. A. Harrington.  When Morgan's boyfriend dies in a hit and run, she decides to load his picture onto FriendShare (Facebook? Instagram?) as a way of saying goodbye.  The website tags the picture as a boy who lives in another nearby town.  I really wondered where the writer could go with this setup, and the mystery plot does not disappoint.  There are many plot threads that the author manages to pull together in a very satisfying ending.  A great story for those who like a good mystery with a little romance thrown in.  

RITBA 2016 Award Nominee

Like stories of the paranormal?  mysteries?  historical fiction? war stories? medical dramas? romance?  any of the above?  How about a book that includes all of the above?  In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters is a book that would appeal to many readers, and so far, it's my favorite book on this year's RITBA list.  The novel is set during the World War I Spanish flu epidemic in California.  Mary Shelley, named for the author of Frankenstein, is a scientist and skeptic of the Spiritualist movement that swept the United States during this difficult period of history.  However, when she loses someone important to her, her contact with the afterworld shakes her analytical world.  

2016 RI Teen Book Award Nominee



Egg and Spoon by Gregory Maguire is the story of two girls from the opposite ends of the social spectrum in Tsarist Russia who accidentally switch places.  In an attempt to find their rightful place in the world, Elena and Ekaterina also have to find a way to save Russia from the weather catastrophe it is facing.

This young adult novel reminded me of the author's previous book Wicked in that it includes an element of fantasy.  Elena and Ekaterina encounter some interesting Russian characters:  Baba Yaga, an ice dragon, and matryoshka dolls.

If there is going to be a movie, I should read the book...one of my many rules of thumb about how I choose which YA books I'm going to pick up.  So, when I saw that If I Stay by Gayle Forman came out in August, I decided that I should read.  After reading the book, I  must say that I'm surprised that there hasn't been more of a furor over it, but maybe this quiet and philosophical book wouldn't elicit a furor even as a movie?  

Needless to say, if I'm surprised that there's no furor, I liked the book.  It is one author's attempt to look at that moment when a life is hanging on by a thread and asks the question, do we get to choose what happens to us?   

At the beginning of the novel, seventeen year old Mia and her family are in a devastating car accident.  Unconscious, she is somehow separated from her body and watches the first responders try to resuscitate her.  As the story unfolds, and her friends and family start to gather at the hospital, Mia reminisces about her relationships with her parents, brother, best friend and boyfriend.  All of these people cause Mia to wonder if she should stay in the world or not.  

This is one of those rare books when I didn't want to try to guess the ending.  The world of If I Stay doesn't get a happy one, but it was touching read about one young girl's thought process as she decides.    

When I read a review for Let's Get Lost  by Adi Alsaid, I immediately thought "journey novel."  Eighth graders should already know what I am talking about.  Seventh grade will by February vacation!!  I was excited to read it because I tend to enjoy journey novels.  I definitely was excited when I got the book from the library and saw the map on the front cover; I do like maps!

After reading it, I would say that my original thought that this is a journey novel is definitely true, but it's a journey novel with a bit of a twist.  The overall structure of this book is very interesting.  The "journey" of the novel is the protagonist Leila's journey to Alaska to see the Northern Lights.  However, her story takes a backseat to four other discreet stories in which Leila acts almost as a guardian angel to another character.  Through the whole book, she stops her journey to help out other people who have reached a crisis in their lives.  Through these stories within the story, Leila remains a mystery.  However, the very satisfying ending answers all the questions I had about her and pulled the whole novel together very logically. 

This one is definitely chicklit. 

Advisories: some vulgar language. 

The main character of Homeroom Diaries by James Patterson is named "Cuckoo" Clarke...that and the fact that this novel is written by James Patterson should be enough to intrigue anyone.  The book is a warm-hearted look at a young girl who is undergoing some very difficult events, but she decides to take the lemons that life has given her and make lemonade.  She's determined to transform her school with "Operation Happiness."  If you're a girl who has ever been labelled or felt like a misfit, this may be a book you will enjoy.  It was cheerful and light with humorous illustrations.  

The Girls of No Return  by Erin Saldin is set at the fictional Alice Marshall School for Girls, situated in the midst of the No Return Wilderness area, Idado .  Students there are sent for a reason--as an alternative to juvenile detention, as a way for parents to control drug abuse, etc. As the reader gets to know Lida, the protagonist, she gets to know some of the her fellow students, and the relationships between these girls as well as Lida's attempts to get to know herself form the basis of the plot of this book.

Delia picked up this book first and surprised me by saying that it was boring in parts, but she was really glad that she worked her way through to the end.  (I was surprised because the book jacket summary really captured us both).  I really enjoyed the book and never felt that it got slow.  The ending was a complete surprise, and at first, I didn't like it, but then I thought that sometimes life doesn't work out nicely and neatly, so it was very realistic. 

Readers who enjoy thinking about what makes people tick, like the outdoors and recognize its positive effects on our mental health will all enjoy this book.   The key question will be:  which Carlino do you agree with? 

Advisories:  Vulgar language, references to teen alcohol, tobacco, and drug use.