American Born Chinese

American Born Chinese follows three distinct yet related stories. The first is that of the Monkey King who tries to shed his “monkeyness” and his battles with “he who is” to accept himself in his true form. The second is the story of Jin the son of Chinese immigrants who, with his family, moves from San Francisco to a practically all white environment. After the move Jin struggles over the years to find his place in this new world. He also battles over his feelings for a girl in his class. The third story is that of Danny and his cousin Chin-kee. Every year Chin-kee comes to visit Danny and causes Danny such shame that he has to change schools. Chin-kee is the physical embodiment of every negative stereotype about Chinese people.

This book was absolutely fantastic. Yang is able to achieve a rich and layered story within the confines of a 233 paged graphic novel. He is able to use the medium, the three stories and his writing to take the reader beyond the littoral and into the minds of the characters. I could not put this book down and started to read it again from the beginning as soon as I finished it. He was able to get his points across without being heavy handed or preachy. I think that this book went further towards me understanding the feelings of being the odd one out better than any other that I have read.

Age range: 14+
Ranking: Quality – 5/5 Popularity 4/5

The House of the Scorpion

The House of the Scorpion takes place in the not too distant future in the land of Opium, a country made up of bits of the US and Mexico. Opium is rules by various drug lords but the lord of them all is El Patrón, Matteo Alacrán. El Patrón rules his family and his estates with an iron fist despite being 140 years old. Matt is a lonely boy who knows only life trapped in a small house with Celia in the middle of the poppy fields. That is until some children see Matt and he is so desperate to play that he breaks a window to escape. When he cuts his feet on the glass the children bring him to this magical place. But this is where he finds out that he isn’t a normal child; he is a clone, El Patrón’s clone. Matt life then changes as he must learn how to negotiate is place in Opium and within the vicious Alacrán family. He also learns what it means to be a clone and struggles with whether or not he is a person. Matt also has to decide if he wants to follow in the footsteps of El Patrón or become his own “man”.

This book was gripping, I couldn’t put it down. Matt’s struggle to find out whether he is a human or not what type of treatment he deserves is heart wrenching. Although you could easily guess why El Patrón had a clone you never really knew where Matt stood. Farmer’s ability to keep you in the dark of some obvious facts added to the suspense of the novel. You wanted to help Matt but couldn’t even tell him what to do or who to trust. I would definitely recommend this book for any library collection, and perhaps you should consider a copy for the adults as well.

Age range : 14 plus

Ranking: Quality 5/5 Popularity 4/5

Luna

Told through the eyes of a young girl, Regan, trying to come to grips with the fact that her brother is a girl. Regan has become the only support for her older brother Liam, who now goes by the chosen name of Luna. He has decided it is time to transition to being a woman on a full time basis, not just at night. The burden that Regan carries isolates her socially and contributes to her struggles in school. At school she is always in the shadow of super intelligent Liam. At home she is trying to defend Liam and herself from their overbearing father. When she gets paired up with the new guy in chemistry class Regan thinks her luck is finally changing, but Luna’s unstoppable emergence throws everything off kilter. It is really difficult to summarize the depth of emotions expressed in this book. As we follow Regan she learns to deal with who she is as well as who her brother is.

This book was mesmerizing. The storytelling is fantastic, seamlessly merging the present with flashbacks. Even though this book does not tell Liam/Luna’s story completely you do get enough bits and pieces to be able to empathize with the character, you know why she must be free. I loved the way that Regan doesn’t really understand why Liam is transgender but that doesn’t matter, she loves and supports him. Throughout the book I just wanted desperately for Regan to be happy, to be able to have someone to be there for her. Really I wanted to be there for her and Liam and I guess that is the sign of a great book.

Age Range: 15 plus
Ranking: Quality – 5 Popularity – 3

Al Capone does my Shirts

Moose Flanagan is the 12 year old son of an Alcatraz electrician/guard. His family lives on the island along with the other guards’ families, the warden’s family in their mansion and some of the most notorious prisoners of the mid-thirties. His parents took this job so that they could pay for a private school for his sister Natalie, who is different. Although it was not a diagnosed disease at the time, we can tell that Natalie is autistic. Moose struggles to do the right thing for himself, for his family and for his sister. He wants to fit in to his new school but the warden’s daughter Piper makes things very difficult for him, especially when she wants him to break the warden’s rules.

This book was a super fun read. Moose’s character was well developed and you could really see his world. I liked that the depression was only mentioned in passing. This was really Moose and Natalie’s stories, and not the story of 1930s America. Moose’s feelings were well articulated showing how he both loved and resented his sister at the same time. The notes at the end showing what parts of the story were based on historical fact and which were fictionalized was very helpful. This would be a great resource for further non-fiction reading, a preference for many boys.

Age range: 11 plus

Ranking: Quality – 5/5 , Popularity – 5/5

The Giver

Jonas lives in a word without choices. All decisions are made by the elders, for the good of the Community, from what you will do, who you will live with and when you will receive your children. On the day of their twelfth Ceremony all children receive their Assignments, the jobs that they will do for the rest of their lives. When we meet Jonas, he is approaching this momentous day. Jonas, however, does not receive a standard assignment, he is chosen as the Community’s Receiver of Memory. He is to become the vessel of all memories for the Community. This is a job of great honour, responsibility and pain. Jonas receives the memories from an old man he knows only as “The Giver”. As he learns the memories of the world and what things were like before the “Sameness”. Jonas begins to question the Community and the way it works. When Jonas learns the truth about the functioning of the Community, he and the Giver decide that things must change. A final betrayal forces Jonas to flee the Community and run for his life.

I very much enjoyed this book and was pleased to learn that it is part of a trilogy, as the ending left me hanging. It is well written and captivating, drawing you into the story and their world. I was quite sure that the “Releasing” of people was not a good thing, but this may just be because of the number of similar fantasy stories that I have read. This book is a great introduction to the many books that deal with freedom and choice, as well as a discussion starter around these subjects as well. I would consider this book for younger children before introducing them to classics like 1984, A Brave New World and others. I liked the way that Ms Lowry began with only a surface view of the Community and then as you read you learn more and more about what level of control was exerted. I would definitely recommend this book.

Age range: 10 plus
Ranking: Quality – 4/5 Popularity – 4/5