The latest reviews of fiction and nonfiction titles--including novels, historical fiction, and curriculum related content--for middle school and high school audiences from School Library Journal.
Grades 5 & Up 10/01/2008
Fiction AGUIAR, Nadia . The Lost Island of Tamarind . Bk. 1. 448p. (The Book of Tamarind Series). Feiwel & Friends . Oct. 2008. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-0-312-38029-8 . LC number unavailable. Gr 5–8—Maya, 13; her younger brother, Simon; and baby Penny are left adrift and alone on the ship on which they live after their marine-scientist parents go overboard during a mighty storm.
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Grades 5 & Up 09/01/2008
Fiction AALIYAH . Maid Machinegun . tr. from Japanese by Anastasia Moreno. illus. by Suzuhito Yasuda. 185p. glossary. CIP. Del Rey . 2008. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-0-345-50253-7 . LC 2008000467. Gr 9 Up—While there are a few illustrations at the beginning of the book and a two-page "comicalized" passage at the end, most of this book is a straightforward novel.
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Grades 5 & Up 08/01/2008
Fiction ALTEBRANDO, Tara . What Happens Here . 242p. MTV . 2008. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-4165-4111-0 . LC number unavailable. Gr 9–11—Living in Vegas, high school juniors Chloe and Lindsay are surrounded by imitations of the world's greatest places. They've always been like sisters and they plan to travel the world when they're older.
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Grades 5 & Up 07/01/2008
Fiction ALEXANDER, Alma . Spellspam . Bk. 2. 437p. (Worldweavers Series). CIP. HarperCollins/Eos . 2008. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-083958-1 ; PLB $18.89. ISBN 978-0-06-083959-8 . LC 2007008618. Gr 7 Up—In Gift of the Unmage (Eos, 2007), Thea Winthrop, a double seventh who had shown no supernatural ability, learns how to use computers to weave worlds where she can use her magical power.
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Grades 5 & Up 06/01/2008
Fiction AMATEAU, Gigi . Chancey of the Maury River . 256p. Candlewick . 2008. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-3439-1 . LC 2007027961. Gr 4–8—On the night that Chancey is born, a comet streaks across the sky, a sign that a horse of great beauty and wisdom has been born. However, it seems unlikely that the Appaloosa will fulfill this prophecy.
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Grades 5 & Up 05/01/2008
Fiction ÁBALOS, Rafael . Grimpow: The Invisible Road . tr. from Spanish by Noël Baca Castex. 493p. glossary. CIP. Delacorte . 2007. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73374-8 ; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-385-90389-9 . LC 2006031830. Gr 6–8—When a 14th-century peasant boy stumbles onto a mysterious corpse, his life is inexorably altered.
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Grades 5 & Up By Staff - 04/01/2008
Fiction ABBOTT, Tony . The Postcard . 354p. Little, Brown . Apr. 2008. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-316-01172-3 . LC number unavailable. Gr 5–8—Retirement mecca St. Petersburg provides the perfect backdrop for Abbot's mystery. Jason, 13, flies down to Florida to help his dad settle his grandmother's estate.
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Podcasts are a great way to expand learning beyond the classroom or library. Here are more recommendations from Tech Chicks Anna Adam and Helen Mowers, following up their Dec. 2007 article Listen Up!
Gr 4-7–When their beloved Aunt Grace dies, Dan, 11, and Amy, 14–along with other Cahill descendants–are faced with an unusual choice: inherit one million dollars or participate in a perilous treasure hunt.
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