Anna and the Swallow Man

High School/Adult Fiction

VG/M  Savit, Gavriel.  Anna and the Swallow Man.  Knopf, 2016.  240p.  978-0-553-51334-9.  17.99

Anna is only 7 years old in late 1939 Poland, when her father, a professor of linguistics, is taken by the Germans, leaving her to fend for herself. With no one else to turn to, she befriends and follows a strange man who speaks to birds, the Swallow Man. In order to survive, they are continuously moving, but before they know it, their wandering brings them precariously close to the Russian front. While this novel is beautifully written and compelling, its teen appeal might be limited. The touch of magical realism though, will interest fans of The Book Thief. Loren Spector, LAPL, Memorial Branch

For the Record

High School Fiction

VG/A  Huang, Charlotte.  For the Record.  Delacorte Press, 2015.  320p.  978-0-553-51182-6.  17.99

Even though Chelsea is still a junior in high school, she has just landed a new gig as the replacement lead singer for rock band, Melbourne. This summer the new album drops and they go on a 50-city US tour. Luckily her only friend, Mandy, will be joining the tour, so she won’t be the only girl. The one tour rule is no relationships between band members, something almost everyone on tour struggles with. Chelsea has to deal with her feelings for a band member, her new found relationship with a teen idol and winning over the band and their loyal fans. If you can put aside the idea of two teenage girls going on the road with a band with no supervision, this debut novel is a blast. Fans of Jennifer E. Smith and Stephanie Perkins will love it. Loren Spector, LAPL, Memorial Branch