Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Welcome

This is a collection of young adult novels for INFO 265 Summer Semester. This list of posts is alphabetical and if you want to access things a little faster the list of posts is on the side of the blog. I will also list the books here so that you can see what I have got.

  1. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
  2. All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
  3. The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Terrry Pratchett
  4. America Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
  5. The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathon Stroud
  6. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
  7. Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin
  8. Civil War By Mark Millar
  9. Dark Lord of Derkholm by Diana Wynne Jones
  10. Divergent by Veronica Roth
  11. Dragon and Thief by Timothy Zahn
  12. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
  13. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
  14. Flashpoint by Geoff Johns
  15. Freakboy by Kristin Elizabeth Clark
  16. Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa
  17. GameInformer by Sunrise Publications
  18. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
  19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
  20. The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan
  21. Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
  22. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
  23. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
  24. Matched by Ally Condie
  25. Maus by Art Spiegelman
  26. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
  27. One Piece by Eiichiro Oda
  28. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
  29. Seventeen by Hearst Communications
  30. Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson
  31. The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
  32. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
  33. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
  34. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
  35. Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina
One last thing, I realized that I did not appropriately cite the collection policy that I used in my defense file. I work at the Springville Library in Springville Utah and here is the source website for that as well.
http://www.springville.org/library/policies/collection-development-policy/
I hope you enjoy it.


The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Title: The 5th Wave
Author: Rick Yancey
ISBN: 9780142425831
Publisher: Penguin Group
Copyright Date: 2013
Genre: Science Fiction; Apocalyptic

About the Author:
Rick is the author of fifteen novels and a memoir. His books have been published in over thirty languages and have earned numerous accolades and awards from around the world. His young adult novel, The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp, was named a "Best Book of the Year" by Publishers Weekly and was nominated for the Carnegie Medal. In 2010, Rick received a Michael L. Printz Honor for The Monstrumologist. The sequel, The Curse of the Wendigo, was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His latest novel, The 5th Wave, the first in an epic sci-fi trilogy, made its worldwide debut in 2013, and will soon be a major motion picture for GK Films and Sony Pictures.
Yancey, R. About Me. http://www.rickyancey.com/about.

Curriculum Ties:
  •  Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.
  • Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.

Plot Summary:
 The 5th Wave is set in the near future where mankind has been mostly wiped out because of a series of alien attacks. In a series of flashbacks, we learn from Cassie, a sixteen-year-old girl, that the aliens came to the sky and began to kill humans with no explanation. The final attack was by aliens who looked like people who killed Cassie’s father and kidnapped her brother, also leaving her unable to trust anyone. Zombie, a boy who went to high school with Cassie, is at the base where the aliens have taken Cassie’s brother, and he begins to train to hunt down aliens. Cassie begins to go toward the base to find her brother, but is shot on the way. When she wakes up, she finds that a boy named Evan has taken her in, and they begin to have feelings for one another. Cassie and Zombie now must figure out who they can trust and who the real enemy is.

Critical Evaluation:
 In this book, there is a general theme of hopelessness and loss of trust. This is personified in Cassie, who has lost almost everyone she knows, has watched her father be killed by the military, and lives in constant fear of meeting another person. Even when she meets Evan, she is incapable of trusting him, though he has saved her life and taken care of her while she was unconscious. Zombie abandoned his family when attacked by muggers, and lives with the shame that comes with such an act and finds out that the army, the force he has trusted, is using him. Despite this, they both refuse to give up and each end up trying to save Cassie’s brother Nugget, the one character that demonstrates trust in others. This, along with Evan’s changing of sides, ends the book on a hopeful note, showing that there may be hope after all.

Readers Annotation:
Cassie has had everything she loved taken from her; friends, family, and her home, by the aliens that have invaded earth. However, when her brother was taken from her, she made a promise to go find him, and she will keep that promise even if it kills her. 

Book Talking Ideas:
  • Talk about the different ways that the aliens attack earth. Think about what you would do in that situation.
  • Talk about Cassie's relationship's with her family. Look how that gets her through bad situations. 

Reading Level/Interest Age: 14-18

Challenge Issues:
  •  Regular violence, including graphic descriptions of injuries and murder.
  • Some sexual references though no acts are committed in this book.
  • Regular cursing and swearing throughout the book.

Defense Collection:
  •  Grades 9-12 The  Monstrumologist series set a bar for YA horror nearly impossible to match. Can Yancey do the  same for sci-fi? He makes a hell of an effort with this ambitious series starter set in the  aftermath of a crushing alien invasion in which the  aliens themselves never appeared. Seven billion humans have died in the  months following the  appearance of a giant mother ship. Wave  1: an electromagnetic pulse rendering all machines useless. Wave  2: tsunamis wiping out coastal cities. Wave  3: the  Red Death, a deadly plague carried by birds. Wave  4: Silencers, humans who were implanted with alien intelligence as fetuses. We don’t even want to know about Wave 5 —do we? Monstrumologist fans will be surprised to discover that Yancey grounds his multiperspective survivalist thriller in two fairly conventional YA voices: Cassie, 16, whose grim solitary existence changes when she is rescued by hunky but mysterious Evan; and Zombie, 17, ex–sports star thrown into a brutal boot camp to train as an alien killer. Yancey’s heartfelt, violent, paranoid epic, filled with big heroics and bigger surprises, is part War of the  Worlds, part Starship Troopers, part Invasion of the  Body Snatchers, and part The  Stand, but just close enough to dystopic trends to make this a sure thing for reviewers and readers alike. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Hype has been heavy since a big preempt sale and an announced 500,000 first printing. Film rights are sold, tours are planned, ads will be omnipresent—need we say more? -- Kraus, Daniel (Reviewed 02-01-2013) (Booklist, vol 109, number 11, p51)
  • The  challenge? Surviving the  genocide of the  human race when aliens attack Earth in the  not-too-distant future. Sixteen-year-old Cassie, her brother Sam and her dad survived the  first four gruesome waves  of the  attack. Together, the  three wait out the  titular fifth in a military base for survivors until school buses arrive to take all children to safety, including her brother Sam. Cassie, her dad and the  rest of the  adults are then divested of their weapons and marched into a bunker by their protectors. Cassie escapes, only to see her dad (and everyone else) brutally executed by their so-called protectors. She then embarks on a mission to rescue her brother. As in his previous efforts (The  Monstrumologist, 2009, etc.), Yancey excels in creating an alternative world informed by just enough logic and sociology to make it feel close enough to our own. The  suspension-of-disbelief Kool-Aid he serves goes down so easy that every piece of the  story--no matter how outlandish--makes perfect sense. The  500-plus-page novel surges forward full throttle with an intense, alarming tone full of danger, deceit and a touch of romance. The  plot flips back and forth with so much action and so many expert twists that readers will constantly question whom they can trust and whom they can't. Best of all, everything feels totally real, and that makes it all the  more riveting. Nothing short of amazing. (Science fiction. 14 & up)(Kirkus Reviews, April 1, 2013)
  • Awards:
    • Iowa High School Book Award
    • Keystone to Reading Book Award (Pennsylvania): High School level
    • Library Journal Best YA Lit for Adults
    • Sequoyah Book Awards (Oklahoma): High School Books
    • South Carolina Book Awards: Young Adult Books
    • Westchester Fiction Award (California)
    • YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults: 2014
    • YALSA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults: Post-Apocalyptic: It's the  End of the  World As We Know It (2016)
    • YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers: Fiction: 2014
    • Young Reader's Choice Award (Pacific Northwest): Intermediate
  • Reconsideration Policy
  • Freedom to Read Statement
  • ALA Library Bill of Rights
  • Springville Public Library Collection Development Policy
    • The Library Director and designated staff actively evaluate and select materials. The Springville Public Library Board, acting under the authority given to it by Title 4, Chapter 6 of the Springville Municipal Code and Title 09 of the Utah State Code, has the ultimate responsibility for the determination of the policies for selection and acquisition of materials.
    • Library materials are selected based on the following (not necessarily in order of priority):
      • Local public demand and usage potential
      • Popularity
      • Subject coverage
      • Relevance
      • Accuracy and currency
      • Presentation, readability and format
      • Point of view (all sides)
      • Cost
      • Local connection
      • Social values
      • Collection balance
      • To assess the item based on the above criteria, staff utilize:
      • Nationally recognized and relevant pre-publication reviews
      • Staff expertise
      • Bestseller lists


Purpose in Collection:
This is a popular YA fiction book, with a teenage girl who is a strong main character. It is highly awarded, and there is a movie adaptation, which means that it is likely a book that would be checked out regularly.

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely

Title: All American Boys
Author: Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely
ISBN: 9781481463331
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Copyright Date: 2015
Genre: Realistic Fiction

About the Authors:
            Jason Reynolds is crazy. About stories. He was awarded the 2015 Caretta Scott King/ John Steptoe Award for New Talent for his debut novel, When I Was the Greatest, and that’s also crazy. He’s also the author of The Boy in the Black Suit, and in case you haven’t heard, it’s also… well, you get the point. Most importantly, Jason isn’t nearly as crazy about stories as he is about you. And that’s all that really matters.
            Brendan Kiely received an MFA from the City College of New York. His debut novel, The Gospel of Winter, has been published in eight languages, was selected as one of the American Library Association’s Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults titles of 2015, and was a Kirkus Reviews selection for the Best Teen Books of 2014. Originally from the Boston area, he now lives with his wife in Greenwich Village, New York.
Reynolds, J., & Kiely, B. (2015). All American Boys. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Curriculum Ties:
·         Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.
·         Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone).
·         Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.

Plot Summary:
            Rashad is an African American high school student, who likes to draw, hang out with friends, and is in the JROTC. When the weekend comes, his biggest plans are to go to a party, but his plans change when a cop thinks he is shoplifting and beats him senseless, putting him in the hospital. Quinn is a white kid from the same school, who is on the way to meet up with friends and sees the whole thing, and knows the cop as a father figure. As Rashad becomes a symbol for police brutality, and racial tensions rise, Quinn finds that many of the assumptions that he had need to change. Things become personal for both boys as they have friendships challenged, and learn things about friends and family that they never would have guessed. In the end, both make decisions about who they want to be, and what they need to do to do the right thing.

Critical Evaluation:
            The story is written from two first person perspectives, one from Rashad, and one from Quinn. The plot is revealed gradually through their eyes, and the tension and mystery as the story is unraveled is very real. Both of the main characters are fleshed out, and have very real and human reactions to the problems surrounding them. Rashad has constant interactions with his family, particularly with his brother and father, which give them depth, while Quinn struggles with his relationships with his friends. The story has is very fast paced, and the social message of racial prejudice is the major theme of the story. The story begins and ends on very emotional points, namely the beating of Rashad, and Quinn’s struggles to understand how a friend could do such a thing. The conclusion of the story is open ended, which allows the reader to better translate the story into their own lives.

Reader’s Annotation
            Rashad is a normal high school student, until he is beaten unconscious by a police officer in a store. This sets off a story of racial prejudice, growth, and action as the characters react and try to solve the problems presented in the story.

Booktalking Ideas:
  • ·         Discuss how people can make their opinions known, and look for ways this is shown in the book.
  • ·         Look for how the viewpoint of the protagonists change throughout the book.


Reading Level/Interest Age: 12-18

Challenge Issues:
  • ·         Drug and Alcohol Use: Teens drink and are referenced using drugs in this story.
  • ·         Language: There is regular cursing and swearing in this book.
  • ·         Political Viewpoint: The subject of the book, police brutality, is a politically charged subject.
Defense Collection:
  •   Two boys , one black and one white, act out an all -too-familiar drama when the former is brutally beaten during an arrest and the latter witnesses it. Rashad wasn't trying to steal that bag of chips, but Officer Paul Galuzzo beats him to a pulp rather than hear him out. Quinn doesn't know that, but he does know that no one should be treated the way he sees family friend and surrogate father Paul whaling on that black kid. Day by day over the next week, each boy tells his story, Rashad in the hospital, where he watches endless replays of the incident, and Quinn at school, where he tries to avoid it. Soon Rashad's a trending hashtag, as his brother and friends organize a protest he's not sure he wants. Meanwhile, Quinn negotiates basketball practice with his best friend Galuzzo's little brother, who expects loyalty and Rashad's, who tells him bluntly, "White boy like you can just walk away whenever you want." In a series of set pieces, Rashad contemplates his unwanted role as the latest statistic, and Quinn decides whether he'll walk away or stand. Reynolds and Kiely supply their protagonists with a supporting cast that prods them in all the right ways; Rashad's strict, ex-cop dad provides unexpected complexity. If the hands and agenda of the authors are evident, their passion elevates the novel beyond a needed call to action to a deeply moving experience. (Fiction. 12-18) (Kirkus Reviews, August 15, 2015)
  •  Grades 9-12 Two teenage boys , one black (Rashad) and one white (Quinn), are inextricably linked when Quinn witnesses Rashad being savagely beaten with little or no provocation by a policeman who has served as Quinn’s de facto big brother since his father was killed in Afghanistan—and whose younger brother is one of Quinn’s best friends. Can Quinn simply walk away from this apparent atrocity and pretend he hasn’t seen what he has seen? And what of Rashad? Hospitalized with internal bleeding, all  he wants is to be left alone so he can focus on his art. The challenge for both boys  becomes more intense when the case becomes a cause célèbre dividing first their school and then the entire community. The basketball team becomes a microcosm of split loyalties and angry disputes that come to a head when a protest march powerfully demonstrates the importance of action in the face of injustice. With Reynolds writing Rashad’s first-person narrative and Kiely writing Quinn’s, this hard-edged, ripped-from-the-headlines book is more than a problem novel; it’s a carefully plotted, psychologically acute, character-driven work of fiction that dramatizes an all -too-frequent occurrence. Police brutality and race relations in America are issues that demand debate and discussion, which this superb book powerfully enables. -- Cart, Michael (Reviewed 09-15-2015) (Booklist, vol 112, number 2, p62)
  •  Awards:
    • o   School Library Journal Best Books: 2015
    • o   Westchester Fiction Award (California )
  •   Freedom to Read Statement
  •   ALA Library Bill of Rights
  •  Springville Public Library Collection Development Policy

o   The Library Director and designated staff actively evaluate and select materials. The Springville Public Library Board, acting under the authority given to it by Title 4, Chapter 6 of the Springville Municipal Code and Title 09 of the Utah State Code, has the ultimate responsibility for the determination of the policies for selection and acquisition of materials.
o   Library materials are selected based on the following (not necessarily in order of priority):
§  Local public demand and usage potential
§  Popularity
§  Subject coverage
§  Relevance
§  Accuracy and currency
§  Presentation, readability and format
§  Point of view (all sides)
§  Cost
§  Local connection
§  Social values
§  Collection balance
§  To assess the item based on the above criteria, staff utilize:
§  Nationally recognized and relevant pre-publication reviews
§  Staff expertise
§  Bestseller lists
§  Patron recommendations and requests
§  Reliable social media reviews

Purpose in the Collection:

            The book All American Boys is a well-reviewed and awarded book of realistic teen fiction. It contains viewpoints from both African American and European American young adults, and encourages teens to express themselves, take an active part in politics, and critically think about issues and their responsibilities. 

The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett

Title: The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents
Author: Terry Pratchett
ISBN: 978006012335
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Copyright Date: 2001

About the Author:
Terry Pratchett published his first story when he was thirteen, and his first novel when he was twenty. He is the internationally popular author of the Diskworld series, which has sold over twenty million copies worldwide. In his native Britain, Mr. Pratchett's books sold more hardcover copies during the 1990s than those of any other living writer and his last twenty-two books have each reached #1 on the best-seller charts.
Pratchett, T. (2001). The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.

Curriculum Ties:
  • Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone).
  • Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise.
  • Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
Plot Summary:
The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents is a spinoff of the traditional pied piper tale. In this story, the pied piper is a boy named Keith, who fell into a swindling scheme thought up by an intelligent, talking cat named Maurice.  They work with some equally intelligent rats, who gained intelligence by eating garbage from the wizard university, and con towns into giving them money to get rid of their rat infestation. However, there are a few problems with continuing this scheme. The first is that the rats are starting to gain consciences and realize that they are doing something illegal. The second is that the town they just arrived at, Bad Blintz, is full of rat traps, poison, and rat catchers eager to get the new rats. Maurice is happy to take on a new challenge, but he soon finds out that these problems are just the start of the issues they will have to overcome if they are going to get their money.

Critical Evaluation:
In this story, there is an overall theme of self-discovery. Each of the major characters work to find a purpose in their lives. Maurice works though some guilt over eating an intelligent rat before getting his own ability to speak. Dangerous Beans is looking for a philosophy for the rats to survive in the world, and comes to the conclusion that they need to act better. Keith realizes that he should work to make the world a better place instead of just following Maurice’s instructions. These also tie into the importance of thinking for yourself and being accountable for your own actions. This culminates in the confrontation between Dangerous Beans, who wants to show the rats how to be better, and the Rat King, who seeks to control everyone. The conclusion of the story shows the result of acting for yourself and being a better person, with Maurice, a cat, sacrificing his life for a rat. Overall, the story has a very positive message and is a worthwhile read.

Readers Annotation:
Maurice, the talking cat, has a brilliant idea to get money. First, you enlist intelligent rats to raid a town. Second, you get a dumb piper to pretend to lead the rats out of town and, third, you get paid. Unfortunately, when he arrives at a town full of insane rat catchers, angry mayors, and tunnels full of rat traps, things get complicated quickly.

Book Talk Ideas:

  • Talk about what you would think about if you didn't know anything about the world. Look for how the rats and Maurice approach things with that thought process.
  • Talk about how Keith approaches the rats and Maurice, namely, he treats them as people. Consider how you would react if a cat talked to you. 
Reading Level: 12-18

Challenge Issues:
  • There is a fair bit of violence in the story, with characters being attacked and killed. 
Defense Collection:
  • Gr 7 Up –In this laugh-out-loud fantasy, his first "Discworld" novel for younger readers, Pratchett rethinks a classic story and comes up with a winner. His unforgettable characters include Maurice, a scheming and cranky but ultimately warmhearted cat; Keith, a young musician who isn't as dumb as he looks; and half a dozen intelligent rats with personalities all their own. Their plan is simple. The rats steal food, frighten ladies, "widdle" in the cream, and generally make nuisances of themselves. When the town advertises for a piper, Keith appears to lead the rats away, and they all meet up later to divide the loot. It works like a charm until the conspirators stumble into Bad Blintz, a village with not a single "regular" rat to be found. As Maurice's band of rodents poke around in the town sewers, Keith befriends the mayor's daughter, a ditzy girl with a head full of stories. When the humans are captured by evil rat catchers, it's up to Maurice and his crew to save the day. Pratchett's trademark puns, allusions, and one-liners abound. The rats, who grew intelligent after eating magic-contaminated trash behind a university for wizards, now tackle major questions of morality, philosophy, and religion. Despite the humorous tone of the novel, there are some genuinely frightening moments, too, as the heroes confront a telepathic Rat King in the bowels of Bad Blintz. Readers who enjoyed Robert C. O'Brien's Mrs. Frisby & the Rats of NIMH (Atheneum, 1971) and Richard Adams's Watership Down (Macmillan, 1974) will love this story. A not-to-be-missed delight.–Miranda Doyle, San Francisco Public Library --Miranda Doyle (Reviewed December 1, 2001) (School Library Journal, vol 47, issue 12, p142)
  • For this outrageously cheeky tale, British writer Pratchett pairs a dynamite plot with memorable characters—a group of intelligent rats sporting such monikers as Hamnpork, Big Savings and Darktan (they've been foraging in the University of Wizards' garbage dump and come up with "the kind of name you gave yourself if you learned to read before you understood what all the words actually meant"), plus a "stupid-looking kid" with a flute and a criminal kitty mastermind named Maurice. The motley con artists' pied piper scam is highly successful—until the rats develop a conscience. Reluctantly, they agree to one final heist, but in the town of Bad Blintz things go horribly, hilariously wrong. First, they're twigged by Malicia Grim (granddaughter and grand-niece of the Sisters Grim), then they encounter a pair of conniving rat-catchers, a real pied piper and an evil something lurking in the town's cellars. They triumph, of course, and there's even a glimmer of redemption for the deliciously self-centered Maurice, who tackles the "Grim Squeaker" and bargains for the life of his rat comrade Dangerous Beans. In the end, while the others settle down, Maurice hits the road and is last seen approaching another "stupid-looking kid" with a money-making proposition. Could this mean more tales to come? Readers will eagerly hope so. Ages 12-up. (Nov.) --Staff (Reviewed November 5, 2001) (Publishers Weekly, vol 248, issue 45, p70)
  • Awards: 
    • Carnegie Medal
    • YALSA Best Books for Young Adults: 2002


  • Freedom to Read Statement
  • ALA Library Bill of Rights
  • Springville Public Library Collection Development Policy

      • The Library Director and designated staff actively evaluate and select materials. The Springville Public Library Board, acting under the authority given to it by Title 4, Chapter 6 of the Springville Municipal Code and Title 09 of the Utah State Code, has the ultimate responsibility for the determination of the policies for selection and acquisition of materials.
      • Library materials are selected based on the following (not necessarily in order of priority):
        • Local public demand and usage potential
        • Popularity
        • Subject coverage
        • Relevance
        • Accuracy and currency
        • Presentation, readability and format
        • Point of view (all sides)
        • Cost
        • Local connection
        • Social values
        • Collection balance
        • To assess the item based on the above criteria, staff utilize:
        • Nationally recognized and relevant pre-publication reviews
        • Staff expertise
        • Bestseller lists
        • Patron recommendations and requests
        • Reliable social media reviews 
    Purpose in the Collection:
    Terry Pratchett tends to have a very satirical sense of humor, but his stories also delve deep into human nature and discuss what things mean. That makes this a very fun story, but also quite thought provoking as well. It is important in the collection to provide a fun read, that can also be thought provoking.

    American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

    Title: American Born Chinese
    Author: Gene Luen Yang
    ISBN:9781596431522
    Publisher: New York & London
    Copyright Date:2006
    Genre: Graphic Novel

    About the Author:
    Gene Yang began drawing comic books in the fifth grade. In 1997, he received the Xeric Grant, a prestigious comics industry grant, for Gordon Yamamoto and the Kings of the Geeks, his first comics work as an adult. He has since written and drawn a number of titles, including Duncan's Kingdom (with art by Derek Kirk Kim) and The Rosary Comic Book.
    He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his lovely wife, Theresa, and son, Kolbe, and teaches computer science at a Roman Catholic high school.
    Yang, G.L. (2006). American Born Chinese. New York: New York & London.

    Curriculum Ties:
    • Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise.
    • Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone).
    • Analyze a particular point of view or cultural experience reflected in a work of literature from outside the United States, drawing on a wide reading of world literature. 
    Plot Summary:
    American Born Chinese is a story told in three parts. The first tells the legend of the Monkey King, an ancient Chinese figure who sought to be a great spirit and was laughed at. In retaliation, he fought the gods until he was defeated, learned humility, and was then accepted as a servant of Tze-Yo-Tzuh. The second story tells about Jin Wang, a Chinese American boy who struggles to fit in at a mostly Caucasian school. He makes friends with other Chinese American students, but then has conflicts with them, leading to a fight with his best friend, Wei-Chen. The final story tells about Danny, a boy Chinese heritage who is doing well in school, but soon has problems when his Chinese stereotype cousin, Chin-Kee comes to town and causes problems for him. In the end of the book, the three stories are tied together and the differences between them are explained. 

    Critical Evaluation:
     American Born Chinese is an interesting exploration into how different cultures incorporate into America. This is personified in the character Jin Wang/Danny, who wants to fit in so badly he rejects aspects of his culture, adopting the hair styles, attitudes, and eventually skin color of the “normal American”. However, the book also discusses the importance of remembering who you are and being happy about it. This is a repeated theme in the book, both with the Monkey King, who is reminded that he was made a monkey and that is wonderful, and with Danny, who learns to accept his Chinese heritage and ends up in a Chinese café at the conclusion. The way that these stories are told make it clear that the author himself has dealt with these same concerns, and the power of the story comes through with this. The graphic novel format of the book helps with this storytelling style, adding embellishment to the words of the book.

    Readers Annotation:
    The Monkey King has a problem with the gods not accepting him. Interestingly, this is the same issue that Jin Wang is dealing with, but instead with Americans not accepting him for his Chinese background. Both characters struggle to overcome this problems and find where they belong. 

    Book Talking Ideas:
    • Talk about how the Monkey King and Jin Wang felt when they were left out. Look for what was done to them and how to avoid that for today.
    • Talk about the legend of the Monkey King and tie it in to Chinese culture. Discuss how to be proud of our cultures. 


    Reading Level/Interest Age: 13-18

    Challenge Issues:
    • Racist portrayals of characters, particularly Chin-Kee.
    • Some racial slurs
    • Some sexual innuendos
    • One instance of a teenager smoking

    Defense Collection:
    • As alienated kids go, Jin Wang is fairly run-of-the-mill: he eats lunch by himself in a corner of the schoolyard, gets picked on by bullies and jocks and develops a sweat-inducing crush on a pretty classmate. And, oh, yes, his parents are from Taiwan. This much-anticipated, affecting story about growing up different is more than just the story of a Chinese -American  childhood; it's a fable for every kid born  into a body and a life they wished they could escape. The fable is filtered through some very specific cultural icons: the much-beloved Monkey King, a figure familiar to Chinese  kids the world over, and a buck-toothed amalgamation of racist stereotypes named Chin-Kee. Jin's hopes and humiliations might be mirrored in Chin-Kee's destructive glee or the Monkey King's struggle to come to terms with himself, but each character's expressions and actions are always perfectly familiar. True to its origin as a Web comic, this story's clear, concise lines and expert coloring are deceptively simple yet expressive. Even when Yang slips in an occasional Chinese  ideogram or myth, the sentiments he's depicting need no translation. Yang accomplishes the remarkable feat of practicing what he preaches with this book: accept who you are and you'll already have reached out to others. (Sept.) --Staff (Reviewed June 12, 2006) (Publishers Weekly, vol 253, issue 24, p36)
    • A National Book Award finalist and ALA's Printz Award winner, this fable stars the mythological Monkey King, realistic youngster Jin Wang of Taiwanese parentage, and TV sitcom teen Danny. All three are dogged by an unwanted identity and humiliated by others' prejudice. The Monkey King trains to be a god but is unceremoniously bounced out of heaven and urged by "he who is" (the great god) to be what he is: a monkey. Jin tries to be accepted and romance a fellow student but gets picked on by classmates. Danny does well with friends until Chinese  cousin Chin-Kee, a bitingly funny bundle of racist stereotypes, makes his annual visit and behaves so offensively that Danny must change schools. Finally, the three stories suddenly merge, to center on Jin coming to terms with his minority experience and moving beyond his own fear and hostility. Coalescence comes almost too quickly, but the trivision approach and treatment are unique and moving. The art is simple, colorful, and both attractive and effective. Some potty humor; recommended for teen and adult collections. --M.C. (Reviewed March 15, 2007) (Library Journal, vol 132, issue 5, p54)
    • Awards:
      • Booklist Editors' Choice - Books for Youth - Older Readers Category: 2006
      • Eisner Awards: Best Graphic Album - New
      • Michael L. Printz Award
      • School Library Journal Best Books: 2006
      • YALSA Best Books for Young Adults: 2007
      • YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens: 2007
      • YALSA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults: I'm New Here Myself (2013)
    • Freedom to Read Statement
    • ALA Library Bill of Rights
    • Springville Public Library Collection Development Policy
      • The Library Director and designated staff actively evaluate and select materials. The Springville Public Library Board, acting under the authority given to it by Title 4, Chapter 6 of the Springville Municipal Code and Title 09 of the Utah State Code, has the ultimate responsibility for the determination of the policies for selection and acquisition of materials.
      • Library materials are selected based on the following (not necessarily in order of priority):
        • Local public demand and usage potential
        • Popularity
        • Subject coverage
        • Relevance
        • Accuracy and currency
        • Presentation, readability and format
        • Point of view (all sides)
        • Cost
        • Local connection
        • Social values
        • Collection balance
        • To assess the item based on the above criteria, staff utilize:
        • Nationally recognized and relevant pre-publication reviews
        • Staff expertise
        • Bestseller lists
        • Patron recommendations and requests
        • Reliable social media reviews 

    Purpose in Collection:
    This not only adds some diversity to the collection with the Chinese American authorship and background, it adds non-superhero titles to our graphic novel area. It is also a highly awarded book, which is important for maintaining the quality of the collection.

    The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathon Stroud

    Title: The Amulet of Samarkand
    Author: Jonathon Stroud
    ISBN: 9780786852550
    Publisher:Hyperion Books for Children
    Copyright Date: 2003

    About the Author:
    "I was born in Bedford, England, on 27th October 1970. When I was six my family moved to St Albans, near London, which is where I grew up. From very early on I enjoyed scribbling stories and drawing, and for a long time the two sides were equally balanced: pictures interested me as much as words. Between the ages of seven and nine I was often ill, and spent long periods in hospital and at home in bed. During this time I escaped from boredom and frustration by reading furiously: books littered my bedroom floor like bones in a lion's cave. I tended to enjoy stories of magical adventure more than ones about real life – I think this was because they provided a more complete escape. Around this time I fell in love with fantasy.

    Throughout my school years I experimented with different kinds of writing, often illustrated. (See Early Stuff for some examples.) I tried comics, gamebooks, board games, and later poems and plays. Without being entirely aware of it, I was searching for the kind of writing that suited me best. Meanwhile, I was getting more and more interested in other people's writing. Finally I went to York University, to read English Literature.

    Like many English graduates, I left university without a clue what to do. But I got an editorial job at Walker Books, in London, and began to learn about children's books. For several years I worked as an editor: helping authors with their ideas and their texts, consulting with designers and artists about the visual side, helping to create books of many kinds. I worked on encyclopaedias, history books, game books and even a children's Bible. This taught me a lot of things about structure, pace and style; meanwhile, in my free time, I was busy writing also. I did several puzzle books for Walker, and began working on a novel too. When Buried Fire was published in 1999, I knew that I had found what I truly wanted to do, but it took until 2001 before I finally took the plunge, gave up being an editor and tried to write full time."
    Stroud, J. About me. http://www.jonathanstroud.com/about_me.html.

    Curriculum Ties:

    •  Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.
    • Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone).
    •   Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.
    Plot Summary:
    The Amulet of Samarkand deals with an alternate version of early 20th century England where magic exists. In this reality, magicians are the ruling class, and summon djinn and demons to do their will. Nathaniel is being trained to be in the ministry as a magician, and is very precocious. One day, he is humiliated by a very powerful ministry official named Simon Lovelace, and Nathaniel begins to plot his revenge. To do so, he summons a powerful and clever djinn name Bartimaeus, and sends him to steal an important artifact from Simon, promising to send him back to his home if he does. However, Nathaniel soon finds that Bartimaeus is far more clever than he thought and has a hold on Nathaniel, which complicates their relationship. Even more dangerous, their theft plunges them into the world of politics, danger, and a plot to overthrow the government that only they can stop. 

    Critical Evaluation:
    The Amulet of Samarkand is a lighter toned, faster paced novel that starts a little slow. The novel is the first of a trilogy, which means that the first hundred and fifty pages serve as an introduction to the characters, giving background mostly on Nathaniel and his life. However, these pages are very enjoyable and also discuss the world and its history, which is vital to the book as well. Once the introduction is concluded, the action gets started quickly and doesn’t slow down, with the theft happening in twenty pages, and then lots of pursuit, car chases, and danger along the way. Bartimaeus often serves as a comic relief, adding his own take to the story once he is introduced, which helps maintain the lighter tone of the books. Both of the characters are given complex backstories, with Bartimaeus often telling of his past adventures, and time to develop them.

    Readers Annotation:
    Nathaniel, a magician's apprentice, has been humiliated by Simon Lovelace. Obviously, the only course of action is to summon a djinni and rob Simon, but this leads to an adventure he is sure to regret.

    Book Talk Ideas:

    • Discuss the two main characters and talk about which ones perspective you agree with more.
    • Talk about the culture of 19th century England and how it is different in this book.
    Reading Level/Interest Age: 10-18

    Challenge Issues:
    • The book is targeted toward younger teens, which means there isn't any reasonably objectionable material in the book. 
    Purpose in the Collection:
    The Amulet of Samarkand is an exciting, faster paced book that would be good for younger teens. It is written by an English author, which give a different background to the story to add some cultural diversity to the collection. It also is a popular and well reviewed book that would be good for the collection. 



    Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

    Title: Artemis Fowl
    Author: Eoin Colfer
    ISBN: 0786817070
    Publisher: Talk Miramax Books
    Copyright Date: 2001
    Genre: Fantasy

    About the Author:
    Eoin Colfer (pronounced Owen) was born in Wexford on the South-East coast of Ireland in 1965, where he and his four brothers were brought up by his father (an elementary school teacher, historian and artist of note) and mother (a drama teacher). He first developed an interest in writing in primary (elementary) school with gripping Viking stories inspired by history he was learning in school at the time!
    After leaving school he got his degree from Dublin university and qualified as a primary school teacher, returning to work in Wexford. He married in 1991 and he and his wife spent about 4 years between 1992 and 1996 working in Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Italy. His first book, Benny and Omar, was published in 1998, based on his experiences in Tunisia; it has since been translated into many languages. A sequel followed in 1999, followed by some other books (see below). Then in 2001 the first Artemis Fowl book was published and he was able to resign from teaching and concentrate fully on writing.
    About Eoin. http://www.eoincolfer.com/about-eoin.

    Curriculum Ties:
    •  Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
    • Analyze a particular point of view or cultural experience reflected in a work of literature from outside the United States, drawing on a wide reading of world literature.
    • Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone).

    Plot Summary:
     Artemis Fowl is a genius millionaire twelve year old. With his body guard, the intimidating Butler, he is looking to enlarge his fortune by kidnapping a fairy, which he believes to exist. This is where Holly comes in. She is an elf, and a member of LEPrecon, a high tech police force that guards the fairy peoples underground, where they live to avoid humans. When she is on an aboveground mission tracking a troll, she is captured by Artemis and Butler, and then held captive in his home in Ireland. This sets off a retaliation by LEPrecon, led by commander Root and Foaly, a centaur with a tech genius. They surround Artemis’ house, but the fairy rules don’t allow them to enter without Artemis’ permission, which he won’t give while he is alive. Thus starts a story of the fairies trying to save Holly, using trolls, dwarves, and negotiation. Unfortunately, it looks like the only way to defeat Artemis is to kill him, but he has other plans.

    Critical Evaluation:
    Artemis Fowl has a very interesting premise. It is set in the present day, except that fairies live miles under the earth, where they moved when humans started spreading across the earth. They have technology more advanced than humans, and they also possess some magical powers like invisibility and the ability to control people through the Mesmer. However, they are also restricted by specific rules if they want to keep their magic, the biggest two examples being that they get sick if they enter a house without the owner’s permission, and they must undergo a ceremony to renew their magic. The characters are all distinct, whether it is the. angry but caring Commander Root, or the confident, brilliant Artemis. Holly is a strong female character, who manages not only to free herself, but defeat a troll twice. Artemis and Butler are the villains in the piece, but they are still portrayed in very human terms. This is helpful and allow them to become protagonists in the later books, though this one is an effective stand alone.

    Readers Annotation:
     Holly, a fairy recon officer, is having a very bad day. She has had to fight a troll, got in trouble with her boss, and has now been kidnapped by a human hoping to get gold. Now it is up to her to free herself and show that human that no one messes with her. 

    Book Talking Ideas:
    •  Talk about the books premise of fairies living underground. Have readers think about what they would do if they found out about fairies being around.
    • Discuss Artemis' plan to get the money. Have readers look for motivations that he has. 

    Reading Level/Interest Age: 10-14

    Challenge Issues:
    • Some violence, including a battle with a troll that leaves two characters heavily injured.
    • Some drinking and smoking, with one instance of underage drinking

    Defense Collection:
    •  Gr 5-8 –Twelve-year-old genius Artemis Fowl  decides to reinvigorate his family fortunes by kidnapping a fairy and demanding its gold. Having obtained and decoded the Book , a tome containing all of the fairies' secrets, Artemis captures an elf named Holly Short and holds her captive at his family mansion in Ireland. However, he hasn't reckoned on the resources and cunning of the LEPrecon Unit, an elite branch of the fairy police force, whose members will stop at nothing to rescue Captain Short. It seems that the wicked ways of the Mud People (humans) have driven most of the magical creatures underground, where a gritty, urban fairy civilization is flourishing. The fairy characters are mouthy and eccentric, but Artemis is too stiff and enigmatic to be interesting; the story bogs down when the focus is on him. The combination of choppy sentences and ornate language will appeal to some readers, although not necessarily to Harry Potter fans; the emphasis here is more on action (some of it gory), technology, and deadpan humor than on magic, and only one character (Artemis) is a child. –Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library --Eva Mitnick (Reviewed May 1, 2001) (School Library Journal, vol 47, issue 5, p148)
    • A 12-year-old Irish crime lord takes on the realm of Faerie to recoup his family fortune in this madcap leap aboard the Pottermania bandwagon. Having done his homework, thanks to a fairy manual extorted from an alcoholic sprite in Ho Chi Minh City, young Fowl and his omnicompetent butler, Butler, not only seize the equally aptly named Holly Short, feisty member of LEPrecon (an elite unit of the Lower Elements Police) for ransom, but are well prepared when her pointy-eared compatriots rush to the rescue with a combination of old magic and futuristic high technology. In the ensuing battle, fought as much with wits as weapons, Fowl proves himself a brilliant strategist, if not quite as dastardly or self-confident as he'd like to be, and thanks to what amounts to a magical technicality, he comes out of the dustup alive, with a half-ton of fairy gold, and even a wish (which he puts to good use). Though the violence occasionally turns brutal, Fowl and Short make splendid, well-matched rivals, supported by an inspired cast that includes huge rogue trolls, malicious goblins, an irreverent techie satyr, and kleptomaniac dwarf Mulch Diggins—all of whom are likely to reappear in sequels that are even now underway. Readers familiar with Sherlock Holmes, as well as an array of modern fantasists from Roald Dahl on, will find plenty of homage paid in this savagely funny page-turner. (Kirkus Reviews, April 1, 2001)
    • Awards:
      • Blue Hen Book  Award (Delaware): Middle Readers
      • British Book  Awards (the Nibbies): Children's Book  of the Year
      • Garden State Teen Book  Awards (New Jersey): Fiction (Grades 6-8)
      • Massachusetts Children's Book  Award
      • Surrey Schools' Book  of the Year Award (British Columbia)
      • Young Reader's Choice Award (Pacific Northwest): Intermediate
    • Freedom to Read Statement
    • ALA Library Bill of Rights
    • Springville Public Library Collection Development Policy

        • The Library Director and designated staff actively evaluate and select materials. The Springville Public Library Board, acting under the authority given to it by Title 4, Chapter 6 of the Springville Municipal Code and Title 09 of the Utah State Code, has the ultimate responsibility for the determination of the policies for selection and acquisition of materials.
        • Library materials are selected based on the following (not necessarily in order of priority):
          • Local public demand and usage potential
          • Popularity
          • Subject coverage
          • Relevance
          • Accuracy and currency
          • Presentation, readability and format
          • Point of view (all sides)
          • Cost
          • Local connection
          • Social values
          • Collection balance
          • To assess the item based on the above criteria, staff utilize:
          • Nationally recognized and relevant pre-publication reviews
          • Staff expertise
          • Bestseller lists
          • Patron recommendations and requests
          • Reliable social media reviews 


    Purpose in Collection:
    This is an excellent book for the younger teens, with a twelve year old protagonist, a longer series if readers enjoy it, and a variety of interesting characters. This would be a good introduction to the teen section for younger readers as well as an enjoyable lighter read for older teens.