Borderline by Allan Stratton

 

Themes: Racism, Coming of Age, Trust, Family, Traditions, Bullying

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Grade /Reading Level: Grades 7 – 12

Fountas and Pinnell Level: N

Sami finds himself in a position that no one should find themselves in.  What do you do when you start to question the actions of those you trust the most?  Sami’s father enrolled him in a private school where he is the only Muslim student.  He is bullied at his school, but he does have two best friends who attend the local public school.  Sami is suspicious about his father’s motivations behind recent occurrances including the cancellation of a planned son-father weekend, and the accusation of stolen chemicals from his workplace.  Sami finds himself dragging his buddies along in trying to defend his father after he is arrested by the FBI.  The surprise ending was the selling point when sharing this story with my students and colleagues.

ISBN-10: 1554680832

ISBN-13: 978-1554680832

Paperback: 320 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd (Feb 26 2010)

The Kingdom Keepers : Disney after dark by Ridley Pearson

Published

September 1st 2005 by Disney Editions

Hardcover, 336 pages

isbn13: 9780786854448

‘Disney’ ….. a word that is recognizable in what ever language and being an avid Disney fan, I naturally gravitated towards this book by Ridley Pearson.

This story ‘Disney after dark’, is the first in the series “Kingdom  Keepers”.  It is not a story that will  envoke the warm and fuzzy feeling that one usually associates with ‘Disney’!  Action, suspense, fantasy and threats taunt and plague the five young characters that are central in this story.  These five teens find themselves pitted against all the traditional and not so traditional villianous characters that inhabit Disney. Being that this is the 21st century, technology now plays a vital role for these protagonists,  but it ends up leaving them with unexpected side effects!

 If you never have had the opportunity of experiencing the Magic Kingdom…then you are in for a wonderful ‘magical ride’ in Ridley Pearson’s book   “The Kingdom Keepers.”

  

Genre: Fantasy/Thriller/ Suspense 

Interest Level: Grade 6 to 9

Book Weblink: http://www.thekingdomkeepers.com/

 Author Talk about the Book:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fb-X4uPjqnk&feature=youtu.be

You Tube Keepers Movie tr:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtQOdGj7A1g&NR=1

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npCAlQwiL_0&feature=related

Shapeshifter By Holly Bennett

By author: Holly Bennett
ISBN: 9781554691586
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Pub Date: April/01/2010
Pages: 256

I’ve always enjoyed the works of author Holly Bennett, and found that this new novel did not disappoint!

Shapeshifter…ummm…the word alone just intrigues the mind….and leads into a world of magic that is reminiscent of Celtic folklore and ancient tales. This is the heartbreaking turbulent story of a girl who  shape shifts into a deer in order to escape the relentless pursuit of a malevolent and yet powerful sorcerer.

Bennett has truly intertwined and captured the lore, mystic and magic of  Ireland and reached far back into the  human psyche where the lines were blurred between mortal and immortality. Sive is one of those ‘immortals’ who not only can ‘shapeshift’ but is gifted with a special unquie talent of ‘Song’.  Her ‘singing’ is not of the ordinary and it  is this gift that brings her to the attention of Far Doirche, a sorcerer who first tries to marry Sive. When this fails he begins an all out attempt to enthrall her to do his bidding. Surrounded by courageous family and friends, Sive manages to escape  for a time by slipping past the boundaries of her world and into the world of mortals. Here she finds temporary refuge by taking a mortal form and living within a protective circle that allows her to even become a mother. Her protective instincts have her sacrificing herself to Far Doirche’s enchantment and thus begins her agonizing psychological torment. Salvation arrives in the quise of her son, but have the anguish and distress of being in the sorcerer’s thrall prove to be to much?

  Bennet’s use of different perspectives in the narration of this well told fantasy tale, makes clever use of Irish lore, culture, geography and language.  What is also useful to readers at the end of the novel ,  is the  pronounciation guide in the names and places used, and another version of the legend of Sive.

Interest Level: strong Junior readers/ Intermediate/ Senior

Genre: Myths and legends; Magic; Fantasy

Who would love this book?  Any reader interested in the folktales, legends  of Ireland. 

Author Weblink:

http://www.hollybennett.net/

End of Days by Max Turner

Reading level: Young Adult

Paperback: 304 pages

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin (September 28, 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0312592523

ISBN-13: 978-0312592523

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Turner’s runaway hit Nightrunner is followed by this action-packed sequel and enough of the first novel is intertwined and disclosed within these pages that this title can be read as a stand alone book.This book continues where the first left off, with Zach Thompson and his two friends, Charlie and Luna all trying to come to terms with being  vampires and all the changes and implications that this transformation has brought into their lives. After attending a rave-like dance, Zach and Charlie become part of an altercation and have to run for their lives. It is while they are on the run that they witness a strange wolf-like creature making short work of the vampire that was chasing them.  It is this mysterious creature that begins a systematic dismantling of the network of support that enables Charlie and others like him to survive, which throws the “underground” into chaos. As the turmoil around them increases , Zach and Charlie are forced to hide, and stumble upon an ancient prophecy that hints at the “End of Days”. Zach takes it upon himself to find out answers and with the help and courage of his friends begins on this path of good at a time when it seems only the ruthless can survive.I truly like the plotline of this story and found that the characters were well developed and that the relationship between Zach and Luna was also blooming.  The reaction of Charlie to his transformation into a vampire was also different…much more human in his anger, resentment and rebellion at being a vampire…just realizing what he has lost in becoming a vampire. This is an action-packed urban thriller that I think will appeal to young adult readers!

Reading  ability:  Grade 7,8, 9

Genre: Supernatural urban-fantasy thriller

Who would like this book?

Readers of books like: The Darkest Powers series by Kelly Armstrong;  Deception by Lee Nichols;  Angel ( Maxium Ride 7 ) by James Patterson

http://us.macmillan.com/BookCustomPage.aspx?isbn=9780312592523&m_type=6#widget

The Kayak by Debbie Spring

The Kayak

by Debbie Spring

Thistledown Press | March 11, 2010 | Trade Paperback; 190 pages; $12.95     ISBN: 978-1897235-71-3

The simplistic realism of this cover … of a young woman paddling a kayak toward the sunset is what first drew my attention to this book! 

 Serenity and peace … an image that also conjurs  a feeling of enjoyment and relaxation.  At the onset, author Spring cleverly has the reader believing  in  this “sense of freedom”  and even  Teresa’s own words while kayaking …. “This is a mystical place. Out here I feel safe and secure.”   is a contradiction of what  this story is really about….. that of a young woman facing  major psychological and physical challenges in order to enjoy the freedoms she once took for granted.

Teresa , once a typical teenager, hanging with friends, and  running track until a tragic accident changes not only her life but that of her family’s.  Entering adolescence is difficult enough for teens, but add insecurities, anger, and doubts and Teresa struggles to push herself  to attempt things that she’s never done before.  As Teresa battles her physical and psychological demons we  also see the impact these adversities have upon her parents and sister.

This is a powerful touching story with a protagonist that displays courage, determination and grit, but also has an inner depth that  truly has the reader cheering for  her!

Highly recommended!!!!

Genre: Realistic Fiction; Romance

Interest Level: Intermediate/ Senior students; interest in the Physically challenged

Weblinks: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/exams/marking_materials/en10/training_papers.pdf

http://www.docshare.com/doc/91928/Debbie-Spring-The-Kayak-A-literary-deconstruc

http://voicethread.com/share/1893491/