Tales from the Arabian Nights (AUDIOBOOK)

Stephens, T. (2004). Tales from the Arabian nights [Playaway]. Naxos AudioBooks.

Plot Summary: The king of Persia was once married to a woman who turned out to be unfaithful. In the midst of his anger, he has her executed and decides to marry a new woman every night, and have her killed as well the next morning. The king's adviser is the man in charge of providing the king his brides. Soon, Shaharazad, the adviser's wise daughter, realizes the fear of the women and their families in Persia. She asks her father to let her marry the king. On the night of their marriage, Shaharazad has a master plan to tell the king a story. The story was so enticing that the king allows her to live so that she could finish it the next night. Night after night, Shaharazad tells the king of numerous folk tales without finishing the end so that he allows her to live another day. Some of the stories included are Aladdin and the Lamp, Sinbad the Sailor, and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. Each story is comes alive through the speaker who tells the stories with much enthusiasm.

Critical Evaluation: The Tales from the Arabian Nights is a story that has been on my list of books to read/listen to for a very long time. I was first introduced to the plot by the ACRL Conference keynote speaker, Sherman Alexie. Speaking of the importance of storytelling, her mentioned the power of Shaharazad's stories and the effect they had on the king. The stories that were told in this Playaway are loved by people of all ages. I was glad to have heard some of the stories in their original context rather than the Disney version. The characters all had a very adventuruous story to be told. I would have liked for more stories from the 1001 Nights to be included.

Information about the Reader: Stephens was born in London, England in 1969. He is a film actor who has been is several movies. He is most well known for his role in the James Bond film Die Another Day and the BBC film Jane Eyre.

Annotation:After a Persian king decides to take in a wife and kill her each night, Shaharazad makes the decision to marry him in hopes of saving her life by telling enticing stories that will keep her alive.

Genre: classic, adventure

Curriculum Ties: Baghdad culture

Booktalking Ideas:Discuss

Reading Level/Interest Age: 6th-12th grade

Challenge Issues: murder

Reason for Inclusion: The Tales from the Arabian Nights is a classic that is loved and appreciated by many. The stories display the amazing power of storytelling.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman (AUDIOBOOK)

Gaiman, N. (Author and Performer). (2002). Coraline [Audio Recording]. New York: Harper Collins Publisher.

Plot Summary:Coraline Jones is the only child and is in search of something to do so that she could stay entertained. She bugs her mother and father, but they continuously brush her off and instruct her to find something to do on her own. After she goes exploring throughout the house, she discovers a door that goes nowhere but to a brick wall. When she manages to enter through the mysterious door, she meets her "other" mother and her "other" father. Her world is duplicated and the people in this other world are cold, pale, and want her to stay in their world forever. When she makes it back to her own world, she discovers her parents missing. Coraline realizes she must be brave and return to the cold world beyond the door to make her life go back to normal.

Critical Evaluation: The fact that the author was the storyteller made the sound recording even more exciting. He did a fabulous job at creating voices for the various characters. The choice of music for the introduction and conclusion were excellent. It captured the essence of Coraline's world. Although the idea of Coraline discovering another world through a part of her house seems to have been done before, the characters are made much more dark and interesting with the black button eyes.

Information about the Author: Neil Gaiman was born and raised in England, but now currently lives in Minnesota. He has written several award winning books, comics, and short stories for people of all ages. His book, The Graveyard Book just won the Newbery Medal.

Annotation: When Coraline Jones discovers a door that leads to nowhere, she soon discovers that entering it will drastically change her world.

Genre: Supernatural

Curriculum Ties: none

Booktalking Ideas:Discuss books that have characters who have entered into another world.

Reading Level/Interest Age: 6th-12th grade

Challenge Issues: none

Reason for Inclusion: Coraline received the Hugo and Nebula award. Since the book was made into a movie, teens will likely become more interested.

Luna by Julie Anne Peters

Peters, J.A. (2004). Luna. New York: Little Brown and Company. ISBN: 0316733695

Plot Summary: Regan is constantly being woken up in the middle of the night to the sounds of her brother. He spends hours upon hours in the early morning dressing up in women's clothes and putting on make-up. Although this is not a big deal for Regan, she starts to realize the severity of her brother's issue when Liam, a.k.a. Luna, attempts to kill himself. Regan tries to help him by allowing unlimited access to her room to dress as she pleases. However, being stuck in a man's body becomes unbearable for Luna. Luna slowly comes out of her cocoon and goes down a path of self-discovery. Eventually, both Luna and Regan become aware of the steps she needs to take to become the person she wants to be.

Critical Evaluation: I enjoyed how Regan has flashbacks to scenes that explain her present situation. The story was constantly getting better as Luna goes through her metamorphosis. Although this book contains a very controversial subject matter, the author presents the characters in a very real manner. The story is very emotional and will give readers a whole new perspective on what it must be like to live in a body that doesn't feel like your own. Both teens and adults have a tendency to find a man who dresses in women's clothing as awkward. But Peters tells the story so well, that readers will sympathize and understand the situation of both Luna and Regan. I would highly recommend this story to anyone who is open to learning about the issues a transsexual people and their experiences.

Information about the Author: Julie Anne Peters has written several books for kids of all ages. She has a few novels coming out within the next two years, Rage: A Love Story and By the Time You Read This, I'll be Dead. She currently lives in Colorado with her partner, Sherri.

Annotation: Regan must deal with the fact that her brother is a transsexual and helps him through the process of morphing into the woman he wants to be.

Genre: Transsexuality and identity

Curriculum Ties: human sexuality

Booktalking Ideas: Read the first chapter in the book. It will definitely catch the attention of teens and adults.

Reading Level/Interest Age: 9th-12th grade

Challenge Issues: transsexuality

Reason for Inclusion: Having read Luna for the class discussion, I though it was a very well written story that should be included in the database. Luna was also a National Book Award finalist.

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Paulsen, G. (2007). Hatchet. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9781416936473

Plot Summary: Hatchet is about a 13-year-old boy named Brian Robeson whose parents just went through a divorce. On his flight to go visit his father in Canada, the pilot gives him a quick lesson on how to fly a plane. The pilot then unexpectedly suffers from a heart attack leaving Brian the responsibility to fly. He then crash lands into a lake in the Canadian wilderness left with nothing but the hatchet his mother gave to him before he left. After several months, Brian learns to survive in the forest using the little resources he has.

Critical Evaluation: The author does an amazing job at keeping readers interested. Both guys and girls will enjoy the adventures that Brian faces. He experiences several rebirths throughout the story. Readers will be amazed with the amount of strength Brian has and with the decisions he makes. He teaches himself how to fish, choose berries, build a fire, and more. The author does a fabulous job at showing the character’s perseverance and strength. I would definitely be interested in reading the sequels to the book.

Information about the Author: Gary Paulsen was born in 1939 and is a very popular author for young readers. He lives in Minnesota and has incredible amounts of life experiences that is reflected in his writing.

Annotation: After his plane crashes in the middle of the Canadian forest, Brian Robeson finds himself struggling to survive using his hatchet and the resources around him.

Genre: Travel and survival

Curriculum Ties: Canada

Booktalking Ideas: Librarian will read a first person narrative of Brian’s experience in the middle of the forest.

Reading Level/Interest Age: 9th-12th grade

Challenge Issues: none

Reason for Inclusion: Hatchet has been awarded the Newbery Honor Book, ALA Notable Children’s Book ALA Best of the Best for Young Adults, “Booklist” editors’ Choice, and ALA Quick Pick.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Martel, Y.(2001). Life of Pi. New York: Harcourt. ISBN: 0151008116

Plot Summary: Pi’s family decides to relocate their zoo from India to New York on a large ship. While out at sea, a storm hits and causes a shipwreck, Pi is left shipwrecked with a tiger, a zebra, and orangutan. He struggles to survive using the little resources he has. While he is out at sea, he learns to deal with the difficulties that people face when they are struggling to survive. He puts all of his life skills to the test while dealing with the animals he has on board, especially Richard Parker, the tiger. Although his travels were ruined and he was left to survive at sea, Pi soon realizes the incredible amount of strength he possesses.

Critical Evaluation: The story was a bit difficult to get into at first considering it was long and detailed background on the reasoning for the transferring of the zoo from one country to another. But once the shipwreck occurred, readers will be drawn in and will find it difficult to even put the book down. The main character, Pi, has an amazing way of getting himself through his horrible situation both physically and mentally. Amazingly, he is found and is taken home. But at the end, there is a twist that will make you rethink the whole story. After I had finished, I wanted to read it again to figure out of the story was skewed by his state of delirium or if his story was that of a miracle.

Information about the Author: Yann Martel is a Canadian author who was born in Spain. He has lived in several countries throughout the world including France, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Canada. He has done lots of traveling and has won several awards for his work.

Annotation: Pi is on a ship with zoo animals heading for America when he is shipwrecked in the middle of the ocean. He is left to survive at sea with a tiger and the hope to someday be found.

Genre: Travel and survival

Curriculum Ties: India, religion

Booktalking Ideas: The librarian will read a first person narrative of Pi and his experiences with having to survive at sea with a tiger.

Reading Level/Interest Age: 9th-12th grade

Challenge Issues: : none

Reason for Inclusion: Yann Martel has won several awards including the Man Booker Prize, Hugh MacLennan Prize, the Governor General’s Award, and the Journey Prize. Although he is an adult author, Life of Pi is a story that could be cherished by teens.

True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

Avi. (1990) The true confessions of Charlotte Doyle. New York: Orchard Books. ISBN: 0531084930

Plot Summary: Charlotte Doyle is a thirteen-year-old girl who is about to embark on a ship with a crew of all men. Although her father ordered her to ride the Seahawk with two other families, the plans fell through and Charlotte was left with no other choice but to take the three-month voyage alone. Zachariah, the kind and friendly Black cook, warns her to not aboard the ship. After deciding to not go against her father’s orders, Zachariah gives her a dagger for protection. After several days at sea, she soon finds out the crew’s plans to murder Captain Andrew Jaggery. Since the captain in an employee of her father, she feels he is the only person to be trusted. Eventually, the captain reveals his true nature and uses Charlotte as a scapegoat. Throughout the story, Charlotte takes on the role of a crewmember to help relieve the workload on the other men. She experiences an incredibly rough time at sea and is eventually charged with murder. Find out how she gets herself into such a situation.

Critical Evaluation: This book has been one of the best books I have read for the genre study. The author eloquently constructs a story that will have readers enthralled. The author has an amazing way of getting into the head of Charlotte Doyle that I found myself conversing with her in my mind. When she decided to get onto the ship, the author does a great job at foreshadowing the dangerous events. But at the same time, the story is not at all predictable. The person that everyone thinks is going to die is actually the person that accuses Charlotte of being a murderer. Charlotte’s character is a bit rigid when she first boards the ship. But throughout the story, she grows into a woman of strength, bravery, and loyalty.

Information about the Author: Avi was born in New York and currently lives in Denver, Colorado. He has written over several dozens of books for children and young adults. He has won the Newbery Medal for his book Crispin and has also won awards for several other books.

Annotation: When Charlotte Doyle boards a ship without her family, she soon realizes the intentions of the crew to kill the captain and experiences an adventure of a lifetime.

Genre: Travel and adventure

Curriculum Ties: sailing and ships

Booktalking Ideas: The librarian can introduce the topic of sailing. Have teens imagine what it would be like to be at sea for three months on a ship with strangers who are planning a murder.

Reading Level/Interest Age: 9th-12th grade

Challenge Issues: : none

Reason for Inclusion: Avi is an amazing author who has won several awards which include the Newbery Medal, Scott O’Dell Award, Christopher Award, and several others. The story itself is a great travel adventure that will have readers enticed from start to finish.

All the Way by Andy Behrens

Behrens, A. (2006) All the way. New York: Dutton Books. ISBN: 0525477616

Plot Summary: Ian is the typical nice guy who never seems to get anything but friendship from the girls he likes. While his two best friends Lance and Felicia are spending their summers having a blast, Ian is stuck working 6:30AM shifts at the mall’s donut shop. To keep himself entertained, he develops an online relationship with a beautiful college girl from South Carolina, Danielle. However, Ian has convinced Danielle that he is a good looking, experienced, and aggressive football player. After several weeks of convincing himself, Ian decides to take a road trip from Illinois to South Carolina in hopes of losing his virginity. Having unsuccessfully lied to his friends, they invite themselves along and have quite an adventure on the road. Throughout the trip, they experience several detours which involve Lance’s consistent girl chase, Danielle’s food poisoning, and the breaking down of “the creature”, his $350 aged yellow Oldsmobile. In the end, Ian realized that there is more to life than pretending to be the person that he wanted Danielle to believe he was.

Critical Evaluation: This book was a lot of fun to read. It was a quick and easy read that will surely give readers a good laugh. I was a bit turned off from the book jacket summary, but thought I should give it a chance anyway. I’m glad I did since the author did such a great job at character development. Although the story is about a boy who takes a road trip in hopes of scoring with a hot college girl, the experiences he has on the way are hilarious and priceless. The author does such a great job at describing the events that readers will wish they are part of the adventures. The friendship that Ian has with Lance and Felicia is touching. Despite the madness they experience, they truly come through for each other. I would definitely recommend this book to teens who are looking for something entertaining, but still profound.

Information about the Author: All the Way is Andy Behren's first young adult novel. He grew up in Chicago's suburbs but not currently lives in the city.

Annotation: In hopes of losing his virginity to a beautiful college girl who he met online, Ian and his two best friends take a road trip and have a maddening experience.

Genre: Travel

Curriculum Ties: United States Geography

Booktalking Ideas: Ask teens what they think about online dating. Explain how Ian pursues an online girlfriend by driving from Illinois to South Carolina in hopes of going “all the way”.

Reading Level/Interest Age: 9th-12th grade

Challenge Issues: : Sexual content

Reason for Inclusion: Although the book was Andy Behrens first novel, the story was down to earth and would definitely capture the attention of any teen who is looking for a good time.

Whirligig by Paul Fleischman

Fleischman, P. (1998) Whirligig. New York: Holt. ISBN: 0805055827

Plot Summary:Brent Bishop is a typical high school student who is just as preoccupied with popularity and girls as any other high school boy. When he is invited to a party, he is humiliated by getting publicly rejected by the girl he likes. Having had a couple of drinks, he leaves and is horribly angry about the whole situation. On his drive home, he begins to wonder if his life is worth living. With thoughts of suicide on his mind, he lets go of the steering wheel and ends up in a fatal accident. Although he has no injuries, Brent has taken the life of a young woman. After he knows nothing will ever bring her back, he agrees to the mother’s wish which is to build a whirligig in the four corners of the United States: California, Washington, Maine, and Florida. As he travels to each state and builds his creations, he comes a step closer to repentance. Readers will also see how his whirligigs affect other people who encounter his woodwork.

Critical Evaluation:The alternating of stories from Brent’s life to the other characters that were affected by the whirligig was a bit confusing at first. But once readers understand how the author is constructing the plot, the story becomes even more interesting. I was amazed to see how a simple act of kindness could alter somebody’s life so drastically. The story was different from any other I have ever read. Just the title captured my attention. The author does a good job at developing the character’s emotions throughout his travels from state to state. Each story was quite simple, but had a very interesting way of connecting to the whirligigs. But that might have been the author’s intentions. I would recommend this book to anyone who has felt guilt or felt the need to seek a way to repent for any wrongdoing.

Information about the Author: Paul Fleischman has a poet and writer who has won the Newbery Medal for his book Joyful Noise. He lives in Pacific Grove, California.

Annotation:After Brent Bishop gets into a car accident and kills a girl, he makes amends with her family by building whirligigs in honor of her and places them around the United States.

Genre: Travel and death

Curriculum Ties: United States Geography, health education

Booktalking Ideas:Discuss the definition of a whirligig. Explain how Brent Bishop constructs them in hopes of bringing some peace to the mother of the girl he killed.

Reading Level/Interest Age: 6th-12th grade

Challenge Issues: : Drunk driving

Reason for Inclusion: The writer is an award-winning author. Fleishchman won the Newbery Medal for Joyful Noise and a Newbery Honor for Graven Images.

Zigzag By Ellen Wittlinger

Wittlinger, E. (2003). Zigzag. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster. ISBN: 0689849966

Plot Summary:Robin is a junior in high school and her boyfriend Chris, is a graduating senior who will soon be attending Georgetown. With Chris being her first and only boyfriend, Robin is absolutely dreading the day he leaves even though they have the whole summer together. Soon, Chris finds out that his parents are offering him a summer program in Italy. Devastated, Robin decides to take up her Aunt Dory’s offer to drive across the country with her and her two bratty cousins. In result of the recent death of her aunt’s husband, the family is overrun with emotions. Although her two cousins, Marshall and Iris, are nearly impossible to deal with, Robin builds a strong bond with her relatives. They experience an incredible growth that changes their lives drastically. Although Robin never had any desires to leave her hometown, traveling across the United States made her discover the never-ending possibilities.

Critical Evaluation:When I first began reading the story, I found Robin’s character to be quite needy and annoying. Her endless complaints about her boyfriend’s departure were constant and frustrating. Readers will truly feel as if they are in the middle of the relationship with the constant complaints. When her Aunt Dory invites her to go on the cross-country road trip along with her two stuck up cousins, Marshall and Iris, the story doesn’t seem like it will take a turn for a better. Considering Dory’s husband and passed away just seven months prior, the family was in emotional turmoil. However, throughout the trip, readers will see an incredible growth in both Robin and her cousins that was completely unexpected. I loved how her relationship with her cousins evolves from extreme dislike into a deep friendship. They all experience the beautiful features of various states and enjoy the simple way of living.

Information about the Author: Ellen Wittlinger is an author of several young adult novels. She was born in Belleville, Illinois and has lived in various states throughout the country. After having two kids and becoming a children's librarian, she decided to begin writing novels for young adults.

Annotation:Having difficulty dealing with her boyfriend’s departure to Italy, Robin decides to take a road trip from Chicago to Illinois with her aunt and her two spoiled cousins. Little does she know how this trip will change her and her family.

Genre: Road travel and romance

Curriculum Ties: United States Geography, health education

Booktalking Ideas: : Imagine taking an incredible zigzag road trip from Chicago to Los Angeles. You would get to meet new people, see exciting places, and experience new perspectives on life. Now imagine that you have to do this with your two selfish, bratty, rude, and ungrateful cousins whose father just died. This is what Robin had to deal with on her cross-country road trip after finding out her boyfriend will be in Italy for the summer. But find out how her trip ended up with hidden surprises.

Reading Level/Interest Age: 9th-12th grade

Challenge Issues: : Sexual innuendos, bulimia
r
Reason for Inclusion: The story of family relations is quite touching and eye-opening. The author has a great reputation for her other YA novels. Wittlinger received the Printz Honor for the book Hard Love.