Let Me Hear a Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jackson

High School Fiction

VG/M. Jackson, Tiffany. Let me hear a rhyme.  Katherine Tegen Books, 2019. 380p. 978-0-06-284032-5. 17.99.

It’s the summer of ’98, and rather than heading off to Coney Island to enjoy the beach and fireworks like they always do right before the school year starts, Quadir and Jarrell are instead attending their best friend’s funeral.  To others, Steph may have just been another nameless victim of street violence, but to them he was their brother, someone they could always count on to have their back. However, as close as they were, Quadir and Jarrell are still surprised to find the depth of Steph’s musical talent.  When they discover his prerecorded music, they approach Jasmine, Steph’s sister, with an outrageous plan.  The three decide to promote Steph’s music under the alias “The Architect”, pretending Steph is still alive in order to get him signed onto a record label. Jasmine agrees, only if the two help her uncover the truth about her brother’s murder.  The stakes are high for the all three, and the situation ever more dangerous as they move closer to the truth.  Will they be able to help Steph achieve his dreams even after death and find justice for him? For fans of Angie Thomas. Recommended for all YA collections.

Camille Campos, LAPL, Benjamin Franklin Branch Library 

Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly

High School Fiction

VG/A. Donnelly, Jennifer. Stepsister. Scholastic Press, 2019. 342p. 978-1-338-26846-1. 17.99.

Stepsister is Donnelly’s darker and more nuanced reimagining of the classic fairy tale of Cinderella, told from the point of view of the “ugly stepsister”. Isabella may be considered ugly, but she’s fierce and strong of will. Isabella was also good and brave once upon a time, and she, Octavia or “Tavi”, and Ella were once friends. What happened to the three that made them so jealous and resentful of each other?  Now that Ella has married the prince, Isabella and Tavi, are left behind to deal with the derision and scorn of the villagers in the aftermath of their desperate and failed attempt to marry the prince. When the girls and their mother lose their home, they are forced to beg for a place to stay, finding work in the fields of a nearby farm.  Isabella can’t help but think that if only she were pretty, her life would be easier. Isabella meets the same fairy queen Tanaquill, who had helped Ella, but instead of giving Isabella gifts of a carriage and beautiful gown, only agrees to help Isabella, if she can find the missing pieces of her heart.  Isabella has to unravel the riddle, and in doing so, rediscover herself and forge her own path lest, she forever remain known as the ugly stepsister. Recommended for YA collections.

Camille Campos, LAPL, Benjamin Franklin Branch Library

New Kid by Jerry Craft

E/A. Craft, Jerry. New Kid.  Harper, 2019. 249p. 978-0-06-269120-0. 21.99.

Middle Grade Graphic Novel

Jordan Banks loves to draw, and he wants nothing more than to start his 7th grade year at an art

school, but his mom has other plans. Instead, she wants him to attend a prestigious private

school—Riverdale Academy Day School.  His father is worried that there is not enough

diversity at this new school, and sure enough, Jordan is only one of the few diverse kids

at Riverdale. It’s difficult enough to be in middle school, but to be a new kid at a middle

school where the other kids are very privileged, who vacation in places like Aspen or

the Adirondacks, where the teacher confuses your name with other African American

boys, and even the librarian thinks that the only books that would appeal to you are the

gritty problem novels. Jordan can’t help but feel like an outsider, lost and alone, as he

tries to get through his classes, make new friends while staying clear of upperclassmen

and bullies, and generally trying to survive the school year until he can convince his mom

to send him to art school. This singular graphic novel is full of insight and humor, and

definitely answers the call for #weneeddiversebooks. For fans of Jeff Kinney and Raina

Telgemeier. Must-have for all general YA collections.

Camille Campos, LAPL, Benjamin Franklin Branch Library

Beck by Mal Peet and Meg Rosoff

YA Fiction

The leaves shiver and fall and a gentle wind circulates through the neighborhood. It’s autumn and the perfect season to nestle up under an oak and lose yourself in a good book. And I’ve got just the book to chase away those post-summer blues. Let’s delve right in and get all roused with reverie for leisurely literature again.

Beck by Mal Peet is wholesale heartrending and a host to many narrative highs and lows. A historical novel that follows Beck, a young orphan vagabond traveling across the continent during the Depression, as he struggles with the racial inequalities of the era and the hardships of life on the road. It’s a story propelled by well-wrought emotions, fully-realized characters, and a protagonist that embodies determination in the face of abject desolation.  

The plot will pitch your wellbeing through the emotional wringer. Beck undergoes tremendous trials and tribulations and, willingly or not, finds his resolve and character hardened by it. Hunger and discrimination are a constant companion with him throughout his travels but he manages to find solace by novel’s end. Circumstance and chance batters the boy incessantly but he learns to persevere. He ekes his way from one harrowing situation to the next. Survival becomes a knack despite some gut-wrenching close calls. Beck finds himself testing the very limits of luck with his constant freight-hopping, illicit hardscrabble careers, and irreverent denunciation of authority.

The writer is adept at conjuring vivid paragraphs of description. We’re transported from the gloomy docks of Liverpool to the frigid tundras of Canada to the desolate amber prairies of rural America. It’s a story that spans many lands and locales. Displacement and social decline a strong theme page after page. It’s a Dorothea Lange portrait writ large across the page. Bleak and howling gray. But embedded in the nigh nothingness of descriptive deprivation and famine, we catch sight of lyrical glimmers of poetry. Soothing and sorely sought sustenance for the soul. Scattered are easily-missed, microscopically-mentioned mementos that remind readers of the beauty in disconsolate environs. Though seemingly barren and unforgiving, we must make an earnest effort to dust off the dolorous to find the shoots of green hope dormant underfoot.  

It’s a challenging book. Dark and sublime in its devastating portrayal of chronic indigence. Not your usual Young Adult fare that strikes all the conventional plot points and culminates in a tidy saccharine ending. This tale expects more from readers. It prods and poses difficult questions regarding race, class, and an outsider’s waning place in the world. It’s a book that has the courage to not opt for the easy answers. And presses you to find comfort in a lack of resolution or sense of closure.  

The long and short of it: Beck is fine reading. Stark and powerful in its craft of storytelling. It’s a thick borsch of The Grapes of Wrath, Angela’s Ashes, and Great Expectations. A tale as steadfast, unsettling, and mosaic-like as America itself. So brandish that thumb and hitchhike a ride on this rich and harrowing literary odyssey.

It’s a ride that’s sure to be itinerant and eye-opening.   ​

Tommy Vinh Bui, Inglewood Public Library 

More Deadly Than War : The Hidden History of the Spanish Flu and the First World War

YA Nonfiction

VG/A. Davis, Kenneth C. More Deadly Than War: The Hidden History of the Spanish Flu and the First World War. Henry Holt and Company, 2018. 291p. 978-1-250-14512-3. 19.95.

“We live in a world in which we fear the deadly things we can see. Bombs, guns, and terrorism are the most visible threats to life and peace…But throughout human history, the things we cannot see have actually been the most lethal. Disease have been more deadly than war.” Davis’s fascinating and engrossing account comes on the 100^th anniversary of the Spanish flu, the most deadly pandemic in the modern era. It has recently been estimated that 100 million people died worldwide, of which 675,000 died in the US.  However, little attention has been paid to the Spanish flu that left victims, otherwise young and healthy, “blue as huckleberries and spitting blood”.  A “collective amnesia”, the censorship of newspapers, magazines and textbooks surrounding the Spanish flu and its effects on WWI, has allowed it to fall into “a black hole of history”.  The history of the Spanish flu is a cautionary tale, in which lessons of the past are still relevant today, especially in a world more interconnected than ever before, where outbreaks of Zika or Ebola or even the flu can lead to another deadly and terrifying pandemic. Includes black and white photographs, appendices, timeline, bibliography, source, notes, and index. Recommended for all general YA collections.

C. Campos, Benjamin Franklin Library, LAPL

The Prince and the Dressmaker

General YA Graphic Novel

VG/A. Wang, Jen. The Prince and the Dressmaker.  First Second, 2018. 312p. 978-1-62672-363-4. 16.99.

After having designed such a scandalous dress for Lady Sophia Rohan, Frances finds herself unexpectedly let go. Luckily, she soon finds herself as a personal seamstress for a private client -- the mysterious Lady Crystallia.  By night, the confident, bold, beautiful and alluring Lady Crystallia takes Paris by storm.  By day, Lady Crystallia is none other than the Crown Prince Sebastian of Belgium, a dutiful son for whom his parents are steadfastly searching for a bride.  Whenever Sebastian wears Frances’ beautiful creations, he feels absolutely transformed, that he can do just about anything.  Just as Lady Crystallia and Frances’ designs grow in popularity - all the girls want to dress like her - so, too, does the need for secrecy. Sebastian is worried about what his parents would think if they find out the truth.  He implores Frances to keep his secret, but Sebastian’s secret may tear their friendship apart.  Frances knows that in order to keep Sebastian’s secret she would have to keep her own talents a secret and miss out on following her dreams.  Sebastian is torn between following his parent’s wishes or being honest and remaining true to himself.  Jen Wang’s delightful and refreshing graphic novel is a wonderfully illustrated, unconventional fairy tale that will captivate many fans. C. Campos, LAPL, Benjamin Franklin

ALICE PAUL AND THE FIGHT FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS

ADULT/YA NONFICTION

G/A  Kops, Deborah.  Alice Paul and the Fight for Women's Rights.  Calkins Creek, 2017.
978-1-62979-323-8.  17.95.  Paul's inspiration to become a political activist for the fair treatment and rights of women began during her 2 1/2 years in England.  While extending her "beyond graduate" education, she became a suffragette in London's -- Women's Social and Political Union.  This involvement prepared her for a leadership role in America's -- National Woman's Party.  She worked tirelessly for the women's right to vote, anti-sex discrimination, civil rights, and the Equal Rights Amendment.  Included in the book are:  a very detailed index; a mini -- who's who section of approximately 30 additional women; an extensive bibliography; and a thorough listing of sources for quotations.  There are also an ample number of good quality b/w photographs distributed throughout the book -- many of which are properties of the  Library of Congress.   E.M. Roublow (ret.)

EYES OF THE WORLD

ADULT/YA  NONFICTION
V/A  Aronson, Marc and Marina Budhos.  EYES OF THE WORLD.  Henry Holt, 2017.  9780805098358.  22.95.  During Spain's Civil War, two photojournalists discover their passion for image reporting.  Robert Capa and Gerda Taro ("adopted" names created to protect their ethnic identity) honed their skills in the midst of inclement weather, crowds of refugees and physical danger.  Their fierce determination was well supported by respect and love for one another.  Readers and browsers, alike, will appreciate this handsome presentation of history plus chapter notes, a timeline, appendices and a detailed index.  Interesting, also, is the authors' segment:  "How We Came To Write This Book."    E.M. Roublow (ret.)

Dear Martin

Dear Martin
By Nic Stone
Narrated by Dion Graham
Published by Listening Library
ISBN: 1101939494
October 17, 2017

This was a trenchant and incisive yarn that ran the gamut of emotional peaks and valleys. From rib-grabbingly funny to heartsomely somber, writer Nic Stone has managed to wring a rich and textured story that should keep young audiences captivated from word one. It’s a narrative that confounds expectation and tackles admirably some of the pressing issues that are but all too relevant today. It’s a dazzling work that is sensitive to a multitude of contemporary controversies and should spark a windfall of thoughtful discussion among teen readers.

The story follows Justyce McAllister, a bright and clear-eyed senior trying his best to navigate the slings and arrows of adolescence. It’s hard enough for a teen to wrestle with schoolwork, social life, and the other difficulties part and parcel with high school, he also must struggle with some pretty profound racial and societal questions. He becomes deeply disoriented when he himself is the victim of racial profiling and he begins to falter when it comes to understanding his own sense of identity and class affiliation. He finds solace and guidance in the teachings of his historical mentor, Martin Luther King Jr, desperately trying to make sense of the racial tensions and inequalities around him. Through a series of epistolary missives he writes to Dr. King, he undergoes a head-to-toe personal transformation and comes out the other side of the novel a changed person.

It’s certainly a page-turner. I was hanging on each word and found myself at the last page with alarming swiftness. It’s structurally sound and has ample narrative velocity. The characters are fully fleshed out and nothing is rushed or under-developed. The writer manages to capture a tone that is exceedingly listen-eable and strikes the ear true. There’s a je ne sais quoi musicality to the dialogue that is dulcet and alluring from beginning to end.

The themes are certainly age-appropriate and should provide a wealth of discussion points for any Current Events class worth their salt. Themes of racial inequality, affirmative action, and tacit discrimination are all subjects that are broached elegantly and kneaded into the narrative masterfully. These struggles and difficult questions really coax the best out of the primary and secondary characters and make them fully realized and multi-layered figures by the novel’s culmination. The character development is top-notch. We sympathize and identify with these characters. Very much so. We celebrate with them during the highs and grieve together during the lows. And all arrive at a better understanding of the issues chapter by chapter.


All said, a doozy of a YA novel. Inexplicably by-the-book and out-of-the-box somehow. A wholehearted recommend.

Tommy Bui, Inglewood Public Library

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

Written by Erika L. Sanchez

Read by Kyla Garcia

Knopf Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: October 17, 2017

ISBN: 1524700487

A riveting and rambunctious read that tugs all the right heartstrings unabashedly and without hesitance. Erika L. Sanchez has tapped into a rich reservoir of relatable and poignant characters. Characters that are flawed, vulnerable, and muster the courage to grow and change into better people by book’s end. This is Young Adult fare that will have mass appeal and manage to get you flipping fervently page by page and rooting for our young female protagonist.

We follow teenage Julia as she navigates the rigors and pitfalls of growing up in a strict Mexican-American household that upholds familial responsibility supreme. But Julia has an independent streak that runs directly counter to that value and the friction between her and her mother is fraying her thin. To compound her frustrations, Julia suffers the slings and arrows of overcoming daily stereotypes. She yearns for more. The book is incredibly layered as it explores themes of self-identity, LGBTQ discrimination, loss and grief, and teen mental illness. All very sensitive issues that are dealt with an appropriate amount of levity and gravity somehow.

Julia carries this YA novel single-handedly. Her voice is authentic and you’re immediately yanked into her trials and tribulations from the first chapter. Julia is a firebrand but also has a sensitivity to her. A febrile fragility. A complex character study that confounds and compels. And the performance of Kyla Garcia percolates with flair. From the farcical to the solemn, every tone and idiosyncrasy is captured with gusto. It’s a myriad of fleshed out and memorable secondary characters to help prop up our protagonist. From the ever-kvetching mother to the sassy and sometimes absurd circle of friends. Every voice is singular and unique in its delivery. Top marks.

It’s so much beyond just a coming-of-age tale. It’s a modern day bildungsroman in the vein of Jane Eyre. Just angrier and more relevant to today’s diverse audiences. There’s a smidge of Catcher in the Rye in there too. A voice of cynicism that is just a disguised cry for help. So there’s sincerity in that sardonic tone. The struggles and challenges of growing up are timeless. And the writer here manages to carry on this rich literary tradition while also melding other aspects of popular genres such as mystery, social critique, and race politics. It’s an ambitious and culturally-timely piece. And a successful one that merits a look-thru.

A wholehearted recommend. Read and be ravished by the book’s insights and cultural shrewdness. 

Tommy Bui, Inglewood Public Library

Juniper Lemon's Happiness Index

Juniper Lemon’s Happiness Index

Written by Julie Israel

Narrated by Abigail Revasch

Published by Penguin Random Audio Publishing Group

Publication Date: 2017

ISBN: 1524775223

This was a thoroughly enjoyable and poignant tale of a young girl navigating the trials and tribulations of adolescence. It also strives to go beyond the mere tropes of high school dramedy by trying to tackle a variety of emotionally-laden subjects. Subjects such as grief, loss, and soul-sapping depression. It offers up some pretty weighty and sensitive societal issues to the audience but manages to do so with an appropriate degree of tact and social responsibility.

The quick pitch: Juniper Lemon is pitched into a world of sorrow and bereavement when she survives a car crash that tragically takes her older sister’s life. Her parents are hobbled with grief and she herself is racked with unspeakable guilt over the whole ordeal. She eventually uncovers a mysterious letter written by her sister before the accident. A letter undelivered to a secret recipient. Racked with remorse, she undergoes a by-any-means mission to convey the letter to this unknown party. As this act becomes the last meaningful link she has to her dearly departed sister.

The narrative paces along at a manageable momentum and endeavors to keep the audiences’ attention rapt throughout. The protagonist is vulnerable and endearing but manages to muster enough spunkiness to overcome seemingly the whole weight of the world on her shoulders. This is a character that many should be able to identify with quickly and feel knee-jerk compassion for. She’s being dragged through the emotional wringer. But she comes out the other side stronger and a fully-realized character for it.  

The side characters also all contribute meaningfully to the story. Juniper undertakes an epic internal journey that takes her through an array of emotional peaks and valleys. And along the way she recruits an eclectic motley of sidekicks to help her find the way. And each and every one just as richly-textured and complex as the main protagonist. It’s a riveting cortege of characters and friendship quickly becomes another enduring theme by book’s end. 

Juniper Lemon’s Happiness Index can be likened to Mean Girls meets Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. The shifting from teen-rom-com to intense character profile of pain and melancholy is seamless and no easy course to slalom. But the author manages it well here. The performance of the reader is superb. She does a fine job of sprinkling the right amount of voice-quiver and reticence into the title character of Juniper. You just want to take her voice and drape a blanket over it and comfort, “Everything’s going to be okay.”

All in all, by-the-books Young Adult machinations. Perfect for a multitude of demographics.  

Tommy Bui, Inglewood Public Library

Girls Who Code

Girls Who Code: Learn to Code and Change the World

Written and Read by Reshma Saujani

Listening Library

Publication Date: August 22, 2017

ISBN: 1524778222

This is an item that inspires and cajoles young woman to confound expectations and jump with both feet into the world of coding and computer-science. Writer Reshma Saujani makes a compelling case to pursue a passion for computer coding and combine it with other interests to create a synergy of creative potential. It’s all about empowerment and building confidence and flagging that nerd flag high.

The audiobook offers a succinct little primer and introduction into the world of coding. She takes our hand and walks us through the history of the field and the innovations and advancements that women have contributed over the years to computer-science. The writer provides us with several historical figures and a multitude of case studies of the unsung female heroes blazing a trail in the world of tech. And shows that inspiring young girls to explore the world of coding is the future and how imperative it is to close the gender gap in the tech industry. 

Reshma Saujani also gives us a pretty comprehensive play by play into the basics of coding. She goes over the terminology and cobbles a sturdy scaffolding in which to frame a better understanding of coding. She manages to take a sometimes abstruse subject and make it relatable and palatable to digest. She uses an assortment of real-world scenarios and always endeavors to make the topic engaging and approachable. Though the work is largely skewed toward a female audience of a certain age, the information conveyed about rudimentary coding skills can be useful for a wide demographic of people just interested in the course of study.

This work is a big advocate of eschewing stereotypes and impels young audiences to augment their thinking of what’s expected and what’s possible. She reminds us that encouraging STEM and useful computer fundamentals will serve young girls for years to come and that the field is ready and receptive to a whole generation of groundbreaking tech pioneers. The possibilities are nigh boundless. Put the right string of code in the right girl’s hands and she could make a sizeable impact from social justice champion to canny entrepreneur.

This work earns a wholehearted recommendation. The content is delivered in an enthused and infectiously effusive manner. And the range of topics covered impressive from beginning to end and the overall message of empowerment delivered with precision. The item also includes a bonus disc with PDFs of images, computer-history timelines, flowcharts, lines of code, and a handy glossary. All fine fodder for any coding connoisseur. 

Get coding, kids. Plain and simple.

Tommy Bui, Inglewood Public Library

JACK LONDON AND THE KLONDIKE GOLD RUSH

MIDDLE SCHOOL NONFICTION

G/A  Lourie, Peter.  Jack London And The Klondike Gold Rush.  Henry Holt, 2017.  9780805097573.  18.99.  With an appetite for adventure and a financial need to find gold, London developed characters for stories while building his own personal character.  He exhibited love for the outdoors and enough perseverance to withstand the weather's fierce elements.  Shaded sections throughout the text capture London's  (and other's) actual writings about their Klondike experiences.  London's biographical and literary lives are attractively laid out over a four page time line. Terms -- true to the Klondike era -- are well defined in the glossary.  Should appeal to any young reader who'd enjoy outdoor excitement. E.M. Roublow (ret.)

IN THE SHADOW OF LIBERTY

ADULT/YA  NONFICTION

V/A  Davis, Kenneth C.  In The Shadow Of Liberty.  Henry Holt, 2016.  286p.  9781627793117.  17.99.  As early America sought independence and self-sufficiency, four presidents (Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Jackson) struggled with issues surrounding slavery.  Five enslaved people -- owned by these presidents -- were also challenged as they weighed loyalty vs the unknowns of freedom.  This book's focus is definitely about our country's history more than these individuals' biographies.  Its time line, detailed source notes, plus clear b/w pictures and drawings make it a valuable supplement to classroom texts.   E.M. Roublow (ret.)

Love and First Sight by Josh Sundquist

General YA Fiction

VG/A. Sundquist, Josh. Love and First Sight. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. 281p. 978-0-316-30535-8. 17.99.

William Porter was born blind, and until recently he went to a school for the blind.  Now, at 16-year-old, Will is determined to go to a mainstream school and be as normal a teenager as possible.  His first few days at school don’t go quite as planned.  He finds himself in a few embarrassing situations: accidentally groping a girl, making another girl cry when he stares at her a bit too long, sitting on someone’s lap at lunch, and mistakenly walking into the girls’ restroom.  Soon things start to look up. Will’s one favorite class is journalism, and he teams up with Cecily (the same girl he made cry) to report on the Van Gogh exhibit at the museum.  Will becomes good friends with Cecily and the other members of the academic quiz team, despite the initial misunderstandings.  He also becomes a candidate for experimental surgery that may give him eyesight, allowing him to see for the first time in his life.  Even with successful surgery, Will has even more hardships ahead of him.  He will actually have to learn how to see.  This is Sundquist’s debut young adult novel, and it is highly recommended.  

The Cruelty by Scott Bergstrom

High School Fiction

G/M. Bergstrom, Scott. The Cruelty. Feiwel and Friends, 2017. 371p. 978-1-250-10818-0. 18.99.

When special agents from the Bureau of Diplomatic Security show up at her door, Gwendolyn Bloom knows something serious has gone wrong with her dad.  She is shocked to find out that he has gone missing and even more surprised when she discovers his diplomatic job was just a cover.  When the trail for her father grows cold, and the Bureau is no longer is aggressively pursuing his case, Gwendolyn takes it upon herself to go search for him.  With the clues that her father left for her and with help from friends, she leaves New York with little more than a backpack and first travels to Paris, where he was last seen, following clues that take her all across Europe.  Her search plunges her into a world of organized crime, witnessing first-hand the cruelty and brutality of it, and is forced to commit unspeakable acts herself.  This spy action-packed thriller is at times unbelievable, but is overall engrossing. However, with the level of violence in the book, it is recommended for older teens and young adults.  There is a sequel in the works, and the film rights for the book has been optioned by Paramount. Camille Campos, Benjamin Franklin Library, LAPL. 

The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid

High School Fiction.

G/A. Kincaid, S.J. The Diabolic. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2016. 416p. 978-1-481-47267-8. 17.99.

Feared and reviled, Diabolics were engineered to be super human bodyguards, to bond and to love their masters above all else.  Nemesis is Sidonia’s Diabolic and there isn’t anything she wouldn’t do to protect her charge. Sidonia Impyrean is the daughter of Senator von Impyrean, whose love of science and education has earned him the title of heretic.  When her father is caught disobeying the Emperor’s edicts, Sidonia is demanded as hostage at the Chrysanthemum court.  However, Sidonia’s mother has other plans—she intends for Nemesis to take Sidonia’s place, and to go to the Chrysanthemum court in her stead.  Not only does Nemesis now need to learn all the rules of court etiquette, but also how to navigate a court full of political intrigue and danger, fool other Diabolics, fellow courtiers, not to mention the Emperor.   Inspired by I, Claudius, Kincaid weaves a story of friendship and humanism set against a backdrop of a galactic empire on the brink of implosion. Recommended for science fiction fans and for those who enjoyed Marie Rutowski’s Winner’s Trilogy. Camille Campos, Benjamin Franklin Library, LAPL.   

Decelerate Blue

Graphic Novel

VG/A  Rapp, Adam.  Decelerate Blue.  First Second, 2017. 188p.  978-1-59643-109-6. 17.99

In Rapp’s vision of the future, everything is fast paced and the Guarantee Committee makes sure that your every action doesn’t waste any time. Meals are precooked, whenever you are done speaking, you say “go” indicating the next person can respond and contractions must be used as much as possible. Teenager, Angela, doesn’t like this lifestyle and when she finds a banned book called “Kick the Boot” by Kent Van Gough that the resistance movement uses as their bible, she goes underground with the movement. The resistance members take a pill called decelerate blue that makes them go slower, even reducing their heart rates. While Angela is slowing down and falling in love, the outside world is plotting to destroy the resistance. Loren Spector, LAPL, Memorial

Alex & Eliza: A Love Story

Historical Fiction

G/A  de la Cruz, Melissa.  Alex & Eliza: A Love Story.  GP Putnam’s Sons, 2017.  358p.  978-1-5247-3962-1.  $17.99

Like many people before her, Melissa de la Cruz and her daughter fell in love with and were inspired after seeing the hit musical, Hamilton on Broadway in 2016. The musical immediately made them wonder about Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler’s courtship and inspired de la Cruz. This novel focuses solely on the early days of Alex and Eliza’s relationship. It begins with their somewhat tumultuous introduction, where Alexander was charged with delivering bad news to Eliza’s father, which left Eliza not liking Alex at all. It takes a while, but ultimately Alex’s charm and determination pay off and lead to one of history’s most romantic love stories. You don’t have to be a fan of the musical or even know much about Alexander Hamilton or Elizabeth Schuyler as historical figures to appreciate this rich girl, poor boy romance. If you like historical fiction or just a good old fashioned love story, then this book is a must read. Loren Spector, LAPL, Memorial

FOR EXTREME SPORTS -- CRAZY BOYS

MIDDLE SCHOOL NONFICTION

G/A  Coy, John.  For Extreme Sports -- Crazy Boys.  Feiwel, 2015.  155p.  978-1-250-04944-5.  15.99.  A predominantly black and white, double-column text plus small snapshots introduce readers to non-traditional sports.  Unlike baseball, soccer or hockey teammates, individual adventurers must be self-disciplined and dedicated to endless hours of practice.  They cannot afford to be ignorant regarding the dangers of mountain biking, pogo stick flips or skydiving, etc.  Nor can they be naive about the risks (including death) of BASE jumping, ice climbing and slacklining.  Informative paragraphs about X Games "heroes," charting of Olympics medal winners and short commentaries by extreme sports' pros make this title a fun browser for middle-school students (boys or girls).  Fitting for book talks.   E.M. Roublow (ret.)