Summary: Cody has lived a life that many kids would think is really cool; travelling the world as his dad’s partner in undercover CIA operations. He speaks multiple languages, can defend himself whether armed or unarmed, and knows how to handle himself under pressure. Then everything changes….
The danger surrounding Cody & his dad gets to be too much and Cody is sent to stay with his Aunt Jenny, who he hardly knows, in a small town in Connecticut. Cody may know how to blend in and survive in many situations, but Junior High isn’t one of them. He’s never had a normal friendship with anyone his age, never had a crush on a girl, never had to follow a class schedule. In short, he’s never been prepared to lead a “normal life.”
After some missteps, Cody starts to make friends and even becomes a sort of mentor within his school, his love of and talent for martial arts serving as a tool to help him overcome the "new kid" stigma.
Just as he starts to feel like he is getting the hang of being a suburban teen, he begins to fear that his father’s problems have followed him – he is sure he is being watched. With the help of a disabled vet, Cody has to face this challenge to save the life he has come to enjoy and to protect the people he has come to love.
Alibi Junior High is a 2011-2012 Sunshine State Book. I really wish I had read it sooner. I truly enjoyed it. It was sometimes funny and sometimes tense, striking the balance between the two in a way that made me want to keep reading about Cody even after the story was over.
Themes:
Courage
Responsibility
Family
What is normal?
Age Appropriateness:
11 and up
Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: mild
Violence: moderate
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Drought by Pam Bachorz
Dystopian fiction is a big seller right now, and Drought by Pam Bachorz is a worthy addition to the shelves of dystopian fans looking for another read to sate their need. The premise is unlike any other novels I can remember recently, coming closest to Haddix’s Running Out Of Time. Drought, however, adds a level of suspense that kept me turning the pages and wondering how the story would end.
Summary: Ruby has lived all her life as part of the Congregation, gathering Water for Darwin West under the cruel and watchful eyes of his Overseers. Despite the passing of over a century, she and the others still live as if the year was 1812, the year they all came to the wilderness hoping for freedom, only to become slaves.
Ruby’s mother is the Reverend for the Congregation. She has always taught Ruby to be patient and accept her suffering. But Ruby isn’t content to accept the way her life is. She dreams of freedom and happiness. But her dream isn’t possible, because Ruby has a secret; it is her blood which makes Water so special. Without it, her community will die. So Ruby continues to sacrifice and keep her secret.
When a new Overseer, Ford, comes to the community, Ruby is drawn to him. He is different from the others; Ruby can see his kindness. When Ford asks her to run away with him, to leave and live a normal life, Ruby is faced with a terrible choice: reject love and freedom to keep her people alive or condemn them to death for her own chance at happiness.
Themes:
Survival
Courage
Responsibility
Family
Freedom
Age Appropriateness:
12 and up
Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: mild
Violence: moderate
Summary: Ruby has lived all her life as part of the Congregation, gathering Water for Darwin West under the cruel and watchful eyes of his Overseers. Despite the passing of over a century, she and the others still live as if the year was 1812, the year they all came to the wilderness hoping for freedom, only to become slaves.
Ruby’s mother is the Reverend for the Congregation. She has always taught Ruby to be patient and accept her suffering. But Ruby isn’t content to accept the way her life is. She dreams of freedom and happiness. But her dream isn’t possible, because Ruby has a secret; it is her blood which makes Water so special. Without it, her community will die. So Ruby continues to sacrifice and keep her secret.
When a new Overseer, Ford, comes to the community, Ruby is drawn to him. He is different from the others; Ruby can see his kindness. When Ford asks her to run away with him, to leave and live a normal life, Ruby is faced with a terrible choice: reject love and freedom to keep her people alive or condemn them to death for her own chance at happiness.
Themes:
Survival
Courage
Responsibility
Family
Freedom
Age Appropriateness:
12 and up
Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: mild
Violence: moderate
Killer Pizza: The Slice by Greg Taylor
Summary: Toby, Annabel & Strobe are back and facing a new kind of danger in Killer Pizza: The Slice. Just when they thought they had the basic of their new monster hunting/pizza making jobs down, they get a different kind of assignment; they have to protect instead of kill!
Calanthe is a gorgeous 14-year old monster who is defecting, and it is up to the teen trio to protect her from her people, who want to use her as a sacrifice for their next holiday. They also have to introduce her to their world: high school. It’s time for a crash course in teen slang, high school survival, and fitting in, all while preparing for a monstrous invasion by Calanthe’s relatives.
Strobe gets a chance to strike out on a mission without his partners this time, working recon with some more senior MCO’s. Toby continues surprising himself and his partners with his courage and cooking skills. Readers get a look at Annabel’s family life as she makes sacrifices to ensure Calanthe’s safety in Hidden Hills.
The final showdown is awesome and full of action – but there are plenty of thrills and surprises throughout the book. If you liked Killer Pizza, then this follow up is sure to satisfy!
Themes:
Friendship
Courage
Responsibility
Age Appropriateness:
11 and up
Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: moderate
Calanthe is a gorgeous 14-year old monster who is defecting, and it is up to the teen trio to protect her from her people, who want to use her as a sacrifice for their next holiday. They also have to introduce her to their world: high school. It’s time for a crash course in teen slang, high school survival, and fitting in, all while preparing for a monstrous invasion by Calanthe’s relatives.
Strobe gets a chance to strike out on a mission without his partners this time, working recon with some more senior MCO’s. Toby continues surprising himself and his partners with his courage and cooking skills. Readers get a look at Annabel’s family life as she makes sacrifices to ensure Calanthe’s safety in Hidden Hills.
The final showdown is awesome and full of action – but there are plenty of thrills and surprises throughout the book. If you liked Killer Pizza, then this follow up is sure to satisfy!
Themes:
Friendship
Courage
Responsibility
Age Appropriateness:
11 and up
Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: moderate
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