Crossing to Paradise is the companion book to Crossely-Holland’s Arthur Trilogy series. Since I have not read the Arthur Trilogy series, it may explain my opinion that the book was difficult to get started. Once one is engaged in the book (probably the series), it becomes a series of adventures and perhaps romance. The book takes place in the Medieval Crusades which are a series of religious wars. Gatty, the main characters, starts off as a field girl and becomes integral to the story. It is her singing ability that gets her noticed. Although one could read this book alone without first reading the other books in the trilogy, I might start with book one, The Seeing Stone. It is obvious from reading this historical fiction novel that Kevin Crossley- Holland has done immense study about the Crusades and the Middle Ages.

17-year-old Liam is the son of a former fashion model and a straight-arrow, no-nonsense father who doesn’t approve of anything Liam does.  Too much bad behavior finally gets Liam kicked out of the house and he goes to live with his father’s brother, “Aunt Pete,” a DJ, glam rocker, who is gay, lives in a trailer and has his own issues with Liam’s father and grandparents.  It seems like Liam couldn’t find many more ways to get in trouble, even after moving in with Aunt Pete.  But working with Liam to figure out why he is such a “screwup” is what keeps us reading to the end of this very satisfying story.

Go Liam!

The book is divided into sections based on DeShawn’s age until he reaches 18, and his life becomes more and more complex and challenging.  I had to keep reading to see what would happen to DeShawn, all while feeling the hopelessness of his living situation, which was the author’s purpose in writing this book.  I think students who enjoy reading our “street lit” books will like this one, even though the dialogue and language didn’t seem very authentic–”school-safe” maybe but not authentic.

The author says we as a country need to do something soon about the problems of inner-city youth and families, and gives information and data to support his message. It’s a hard topic to read about and harder still to experience.

Chapter alternate between Mitch and Spencer telling the story each from their perspective.  Tensions between Mitch’s mother and grandparents cause him to want to live next door with his mother, but when Spencer’s family move in, he comes up with ways to scare them into leaving.  Then we read about Spencer’s reactions to those tactics.

There’s no big dramatic action here but we can really get into the boys’ heads to experience the pain and confusion they are both feeling.  Read Olive’s Ocean for more by this author.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss, accustomed to using her hunting and gathering skills to get food for her fatherless family, volunteers to take her younger sister’s place as the female member of her district’s team.  She joins Peeta, the son of the baker with NO obvious survival skills, to go to the Capitol and prepare for the ceremonies leading up the the actual competition of the  Hunger Games.

Books like this don’t give us a very pretty picture of what the future might bring.  The word used to describe these miserable conditions of life is dystopia–the opposite of utopia or an ideal, perfect community.  It’s disturbing to think what would ever make it okay for adults to allow young people to be treated like that.  It’s also disturbing to see how some of our reality TV shows now could approach what happens in the Hunger Games.

A lot of suspense, even a little romance!  And LOTS of build-up for what will be Book 2 of the trilogy.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

This is an intelligent, funny, thought-provoking book for intelligent female adolescents. Frankie Landau-Banks, a tenth grader, has blossomed over the summer. She has gone from a geeky looking girl to a gorgeous teen and has gained the attention of Matthew, a popular senior. As the school year progresses, Frankie becomes more engaged with Matthew and his friends while keeping her best friend Trish. They all go to a high school boarding school which has its traditions. Without looking for trouble, Frankie has uncovered a secret boys group which Matt is involved. Trying to prove herself worthy of him and his group, Frankie pulls some incredible pranks.

This is an enjoyable read with wonderful vocabulary. Use context clues, but keep a dictionary handy. Read to learn more about relationships, friendships, and thoughtful pranks.

Two Minute Drill by Mike Lupica

Although Mike Lupica is one of ESPN’s featured sports reporters, he also has a career writing sports novels for young adults. His novel Two Minute Drill is about football. Actually it is about more than football. It is a book about friendship and popularity. Scott Parry is the new kid at school and is having problems with a bully until Chris Conlan, the school’s quarterback befriends him. Even though Scott is known as “the brain” and Chris doesn’t do well academically, the two have more in common than it would appear.

Students who like football will enjoy this book, but students who are not football fans will also find something entertaining about this book.

His quest to come up with just the right statement leads him to try to explain some other mysteries in his life, like why his father never came home from fighting in Vietnam. Since it’s 1977, most soldiers from Vietnam should have come home unless they were POWs (prisoners of war) or MIA (missing in action). So maybe that’s the explanation! He doesn’t get any answers from his family because it’s a subject too painful for his mother to talk about. But how about his grandmother, JeeBee (Grandmother Bernadette)? Maybe she can help him out.

Readers interested in space and also readers interested in life after the Vietnam War will like this book. It’s a fast read but deep enough to help the reader feel Theo’s frustration and his mother’s sadness.

As you can guess, the reaction of the students at Claverage Middle School wasn’t good. The tradition was that the geekiest kid in 8th grade would be elected class president and then would be the subject of bullying and wedgies for the whole year, or as long as he/she could take it. The tradition held true for Cap as he quickly found himself named class president and in charge of the big Halloween party! But as naive and innocent as Cap was, the whole “tradition of mean” just wasn’t working on him. In fact, other students were starting to LIKE HIM! Now what?

This book reminded me a little of Buddha Boy by Kathe Koja, but wasn’t as violent. And since Gordon Korman is the author, it’s very funny. If you like to see the underdog come out on top, this is the book for you. The fun part is how he gets there!

John Huffman is 14 and when his father is suddenly sentenced to debtor’s prison for not paying his gambling debts, John has to take on the responsibility for the future of his mother and sister. But who is his father really? Is he the “gentleman” he claims to be and what about his job as a clerk in the Naval Ordinance Office where he works with secrets concerning weapons and their use? And who are all of these people following him? Is there anyone he can trust to help him? He thought maybe he could trust Sary the Sneak but will she let him down, too?

The Traitors’ Gate is the gate prisoners accused of treason against their country went through from a boat on the Thames River and up to the Tower of London where they would most likely be killed. Is John’s father really a traitor?

I really got caught up in the mystery running through this book, trying to figure out who the “good guys” were. I became pretty disgusted with John’s whiny family members–mother, sister and father. He seemed too good for ALL of them! But read it and see what you think. And decide how you would like to live in mid-19th century London!