Everybody Sees the Ants

This novel by A.S. King focuses on the tormented life of Lucky Linderman. Since he was seven, having just lost his grandmother to cancer, Lucky has been the victim of relentless bullying. His parents seem incapable of dealing with their own demons, much less helping him confront Nader McMillan. Lucky escapes from his world through dreams. He is on a mission to rescue his grandfather, who was MIA in Vietnam. Just before she died, Lucky's grandmother told him it was up to Lucky to find his grandfather and bring him home. The dreams are vivid; it seems as if he is actually in the jungle. At times Lucky wakes with evidence from his grandfather or Vietnamese soil in his hands.

On top of everything else, a school survey he developed to track suicidal tendencies of his classmates has landed him in hot water with the administration, counselor, and his parents. He obviously needs therapy, but no one wants to explore what--or who-- really is bothering him.

Lucky is an appealing character and while his suffering at the hands of Nader is difficult to hear, he struggles to be resilient and it is easy to root for him.

Stay with Me by Paul Griffin

In Stay with Me, author Griffin uses alternating voices to tell the story of doomed love between Mack Morse and Cece Vaccuccia. Mack is a 15-year-old high school dropout with a record; he also suffers from learning disabilities and anger management issues. What he can do is train dogs, and he has made a practice of rescuing and rehabilitating pit bulls. Cece is a girl with ambition; she wants to transfer to a gifted and talented school (by acing the G and T exam) and leave her past, including an alcoholic mother, behind. Mack and Cece are drawn to each other and their relationship deepens, but suspense builds, because you know it can't last. There are too many instances when Mack almost loses control and becomes violent. He is as devoted to his recently adopted pit bull as he is to girlfriend, but can he keep the dog safe? There is also the question of what will happen to Anthony, Cece's brother. He has enlisted in the army and will be sent to Afghanistan. Cece is convinced that he will not come back.

Griffin has idealized some of the characters, such as Vic, the owner of the Italian restaurant that employs Mack, Cece and Cece's mom. Yet the main characters are complex and seem real. As more of the characters' back stories are revealed, the reader better understands them and their challenges. Their fates are marked with tragedy and hope. Recommended for older teens (language and sexual situations). ``

The Radleys by Matt Haig

The Radleys is a clever, satiric novel written on the premise that there are many vampires in the world who want to live "normal" lives; they can give up hunting and killing and become like their neighbors--slightly boring and predictable, but content. Peter and Helen have become "abstainers" because they want to provide the best for their children. They delay telling the teens, Clara and Rowan, about their heritage, even though it would help explain their sensitivity to the sun, sleep and skin problems, mood swings and, with Rowan, increasingly dark and disturbing dreams and thoughts.

Try as they might, the Radleys seem a little "off" to their neighbors. Their children are unhappy; Rowan is constantly being bullied at school and Clara has only one friend besides her brother. Then the unthinkable happens--there is a kill. As Helen struggles to contain the damage and protect her children, Peter calls on his brother Will, an active vampire, to help with a cover-up. As a family and as individuals, the Radleys must eventually confront their past and face who and what they are.

This is a refreshing take on vampire lore and the co-existence of vampires and humans. The Radleys contains humor, suspense, and complex, satisfying characters. Recommended.

Those That Wake by Jesse Karp

Karp's novel is set in a dystopian New York City of the not-too-distand future. The city has lost its mojo; people walk around mechanically, tuning out those around them and staying focused on their cellphones. The city's infrastructure is crumbling and everything has become grey and lifeless. Something dark and elusive is spreading, leaving behind a surge in suicides, traffic accidents, apathy and random violence. For Laura Westlake, this has meant that her once doting parents have forgotten she ever existed. They call Homeland Security to have her removed from their home. For Mal, it is the sudden call for help from his long-absent brother. Trying to track him, he finds Tommy's girlfriend, who leads him to a building no one else can see. Searching for his brother, he is attacked by whomever or whatever guards the structure. Eventually the two teens are thrown together with two other victims of this malignant and mysterious force. Together, the four of them must try to solve the question of who or what is taking over people's minds and destroying their past., while keeping alive their own will to resist. Mal and Laura struggle to rebuild their lives in a world where no one remembers who they are.

Starting slowly, the story speeds up as the forces of unrestrained corporate power close in on the characters. Mal and Laura are resourceful and determined. Those That Wake is an adventuresome, cautionary tale, well worth reading.

What Can't Wait by Ashley Hope Perez

Marisa is a high school senior who dreams of going to college and becoming an engineer. Her favorite class is calculus, and her math teacher is encouraging her to apply to UT in Austin, certain she will be accepted. If only it were that simple. Marisa's family is Mexican, and ingrained in their culture is the commitment to familia and living a traditional life. For Marisa, this becomes daily babysitting for her 5-year old niece, Anita, while her sister Cecelia works. It means long hours as a check-out girl on weekends in order to help her family pay bills. It means cooking meals for her father when her mother is on the evening shift at a bakery. Studying for the AP Calculus exam and actually having a life of her own fall somewhere towards the bottom of the list. Marisa's boyfriend, Alan, himself a talented artist, encourages her to pursue her education, but sometimes his support comes at the price of Marisa's independence. Does she want Alan to solve her problems for her?

Perez has created a strong yet troubled teen in Marisa. Only she can figure out what her future holds, but she is torn between her need to please her family and her desire for more.

The Betrayal of Maggie Blair by Elizabeth Laird

Laird has created a suspenseful story about a young girl's resilience in the face of persecution and betrayal. Maggie Blair is a poor orphan being raised by her strange, bitter, and often cruel grandmother. When a baby in their hamlet dies, everyone suspects that Elspeth Blair had cursed him, and both women are arrested and tried for being witches. Maggie escapes and flees to her uncle's home, where she learns that he and his family are devout Presbyterians, "Covenanters," who are secretly defying the efforts of King Charles II to place Anglican bishops in charge of their worship. During this period, known as the Killing Times, covenanters are persecuted and often tortured and executed as a consequence of their faith.

Maggie is a spirited and strong heroine, a hard worker and willing student. Her nemesis, Annie, is unrelenting in her hatred for Maggie, but actually understandable as she schemes to escape the dismal future that awaits for her. Many of the stories in the book about the Blairs and other simple farmers and their families reveal the extreme sacrifices many are willing to make for faith and are founded in actual events. Laird's book provides a compelling introduction to the hard lives and religious controversies of the time.

The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni

This is the story of the birth of a friendship and a teen punk rock band--The Rash. Friendless and isolated, Sebastian is an orphan who has been raised by his grandmother to save humanity in accordance with the philosophies of R. Buckminster Fuller. Jared is a profane, angry, cigarette-smoking punk rock fan recovering--sort of, from a heart transplant. They meet when Jared and his mother take a tour of the Pendergast's glass geodesic dome, during which Nana collapses and has to be rushed to the hospital.

Jared's mom wants Sebastian to visit her son, whose hostility alienates everyone around him. Sebastian is drawn to the Whitcombs because 1) his grandmother has become increasingly eccentric since her stroke, 2) he is alternately fascinated and repelled by Jared's personal insults and musical/cultural insights, and 3) Jared's sister Meredith is hot. Before meeting the Whitcombs, Sebastian had never tasted grilled cheese sandwiches or listened to anything but classical music. His first exposure to Jared's musical tastes, starting with the Misfits, goes as follows: "There was a brief moment of white noise; then it sounded as if someone were running a chain saw inside my head." Later, "What was that about maggots?" I asked. It was the only word I'd been able to parse."

The dialog between the teens is hugely entertaining. Sebastian speaks in the voice of someone who has only talked to his grandmother for years, so his expressions are at times archaic and stilted (she's in her eighties). Jared, on the other hand, is vulgar and witty--"Okay . . . I know I'm taking a giant * risk here. I'm going have to teach you everything [about being a bassist], and you're obviously going to do it all wrong. But I'm not looking for a Sid Vicious, you know. I just need somebody to do what I say. Not somebody with a real personality."

Despite their difference, Jared and Sebastian need each other. Together they scheme about ways to "borrow" a bass guitar from Jared's church and seek inspiration for their songs (the first one is "Stupid School"). Sebastian's crush on Meredith complicates things--Jared feels betrayed when he realizes what's happening. But the music, an upcoming gig and the challenges of their families and futures keep them going. Great read.

Tattoos on the Heart: the Power of Boundless Compassion

Gregory Boyle is a Jesuit priest who in 1985 became the pastor of Dolores Mission Church in the heart of Los Angeles gang territory. During the past 2+ decades, though his leadership and the commitment of his congregation, the church has become a center of acceptance, support, love and hope for gang members who want to change their lives. In Tattoos on the Heart, Father Boyle recounts stories of youths whom he has reached and who have in return taught him about love and the power to overcome almost overwhelming odds of childhoods spent in poverty, violence and rejection. Father Boyle writes with wit and sadness; it's hard to read this book without both laughing and crying. With a goal of helping former gang members find real jobs, Father Boyle established Homeboy Industries. Getting to know the young people that have passed through Homeboy Industries has provided moments of great joy for Boyle as well as unimaginable grief at the senseless murder of so many. Highly recommended.

Bitter End by Jennifer Brown

According to data posted on the website of the Washington State Attorney General, relationship violence is the number one cause of injury to women ages 15-44. Seventy percent of severe or fatal injuries occur when a woman seeks to end an abusive relationship. In a 2005 survey, one in five teenagers (ages 13-18) reported feeling threatened by violence when attempting to break up with an abusive partner. Thirteen percent of teenage girls reported being hit by their partner. (Survey: Love is Not Abuse) Various studies have shown that the frequency of domestic and relationship violence has increased during the recent economic downturn.

In the Bitter End, Alex tells her story of her life before Cole--losing her mother at an early age, being emotionally distant from her father, feeling like a loser at school. When sports star and overall great guy Cole Cozen transfers to Alex's high school, she becomes his English tutor to help him get caught up. Over time, their relationship deepens. Cole is romantic, thoughtful and cool, and he makes her feel special and understands her. Then the abuse starts--just a painful squeeze or a push at first, followed by remorse and loving attention. Then there is the increasing awareness that he is following her and making accusations about her relationship with her friends, Bethany and Zack. Part of Alex knows she's in trouble, but another part doesn't want to lose Cole when he is at his most affectionate.

Brown tells of Alex's struggles in a realistic and sympathetic way. Alex has friends, but cannot bring herself to tell what is happening, especially since she thinks it is her own fault. Fear, isolation, self-doubt are all part of an abuse victim's profile. (Only 33% of abused teens report on their abuse to a friend (ibid).) Alex's two friends try to help, but Alex snubs them. The tension mounts as Alex moves closer to making a choice and dealing with the consequences.

This is a moving and informative account of dealing with dating violence. Recommended.

The Kissing Game by Aidan Chambers

Entries in this collection range from brief, cleverly written exchanges of letters between student and administrator in "Expulsion" to a more expansive story of a teen tortured by paralyzing shyness in "The Kissing Game." Some of the teens confront mystifying events, such as the ancient tower that only Martin can see in "The Tower" and a naive young man's unexpected exposure to the sex trade in "Sanctuary." Chambers can sketch a character (or a lack of character) with a few lines of dialog in "Something to Tell You" and "up For It." Some of his stories show the humor in everyday exchanges and life's random events, while others leave the reader incredibly sad. Overall, this is a very satisfying read.

Compulsion by Heidi Ayare

This is one of those books that is almost impossible to put down, while at the same time almost impossible to keep reading. The story, told in the first person by teen soccer star Jake Martin, basically recounts the moment-by-moment struggle he undergoes to hold on to his self-control and appear "normal" to his friends. Jake suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder; in his case, he must constantly check clocks, his watch, and at times the number of words in a conversation, to make sure everything works out to prime numbers. If not, he freezes and fights nausea, pain and the sense of spiders attacking his brain. Whew.

Jake is also tied to daily routines which, if they're disrupted, threaten to make him totally nonfunctional. The tension that permeates this narrative comes from knowing that sooner or later (probably sooner) something is going to upset his routines. A series of events outside of his control threatens to turn the upcoming championship soccer match into a disaster. If only he can win that game and meet the expectations of his teammates and the whole school, Jake believes he will finally be free from his living nightmare.

Jake's family is dysfunctional--his mother rarely comes out of her room and is fragile both physically and mentally. His father is burdened with debt. Jake's younger sister, Kasey, is his closest friend, but even she is not aware of his illness. Although some of Jake's friends come across chiefly as stereotypes, author Ayarbe makes Jake a convincing and compelling character. Recommended.

Please Look After Mom by Kyung-Sook Shin

Park So-Nyo, the incredibly saintly (and elderly) matriarch of a Korean family of six, disappears after being separated from her husband at a Seoul subway station. The family struggles with disbelief, guilt and desperation as the search stretches from weeks into months. As told through the perspectives of the adult children (oldest son and daughter) and their parents, one realizes that the family never really knew Mother and never appreciated her sacrifices for them.

The author, herself from a rural background, writes vividly of the harshness of rural life and the stresses on families that are split between children who have moved to the cities and the parents who have stayed at home. There are generational as well as geographic differences. How selfish are Hyong-chol and Chi-hon? Did the demands of their careers and urban lives lead inevitably to the breakdown of communication with their parents? Is this typical of their generation?

Shin informs the reader of many aspects of Korean culture: the veneration of ancestors, the role and expectations of the eldest son, the removal of a daughter from her own to her husband's family, responsibilities of children to their parents and siblings to each other. She writes of the importance of education and the devastation when a child either fails in school or cannot go to school. So-Nyo sells her ring so that Chi-hon can stay in school and suffers shame from her own illiteracy. Her husband's younger brother dies tragically, his life seemingly doomed after he has to leave school to work on the farm.

Self-examination and regret permeate the story, but there are also moments of reconnection and affirmation in the family's struggle with its loss.

Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel

In the 1970's, a new-born chimpanzee was forcibly torn from his mother's arms and given to a family in New York City as part of a scientific experiment on language capabilities in animals. The baby chimp was raised to think he was a human child. As told in journalist Elizabeth Hess' biography of the chimp, Nim Chimpsky: the Chimp Who Would be Human, the little chimp was loved, dressed as a toddler, and taught American Sign Language. Tragically but typically for animal studies at the time, once the funding for the experiment ended, Nim was unceremoniously removed from his home, stripped of his favorite toys, foods and human companions, and caged in a serious of research laboratories before finally arriving at a primate sanctuary.

The ethical issue of experimenting on a sensitive and intelligent animal in the name of progress forms a critical part of the Half Brother. In an interview, author Oppel credits original news stories of Herbert Terrance's research with inspiring him to write a fictionalized account of the LaFarge family and Nim. In Half Brother, the story centers on the relationship of Ben Tomlin, teenage son of a behavioral scientist, with his new baby "brother," Zan.

In the beginning of the project, Ben and his mom take seriously their responsibility to integrate Zan into the family--to share meals, play, and bond with him. At the same time, Ben becomes aware that his father thinks of Zan not as "a beloved little baby," but as a "specimen." Tension mounts as Ben's dad changes protocols to make Zan more productive--to learn more signs more quickly. Without better results, Dr. Tomlin can't find funding. Ben wants to stand up for Zan, but what can he do? What happens to Zan if the funding is cut off? What happens if Zan really hurts someone?

Woven into the personal nature of this particular experiment is the issue of animal rights and the humane treatment of animal subjects. Half Brother is fiction, but the science experiments in linguistics and behavioral psychology are based on real research. The relationship between Ben and his father is compelling. Ben wants to admire and respect his father, and wants his father's attention in return. Ben is initially proud to be a part of the study, but increasingly questions the impact of his father's research protocols and professional objectivity on the quality of care for Zan. Ultimately, Ben must decide where he stands and whether he can let his brother go.

The Last Light of the Sun by Guy Gavriel Kay

Kay is an award-winning author of historical/fantasy novels. The Last Light of the Sun is set in medieval England, roughly during the 10th century, when Saxons were struggling to organize themselves to resist repeated raids by Vikings. Kay interweaves the lives of two Erlings (read Norsemen)--Thorkell Einarson and Bern Thorkellson; a Cyngael prince, Alun ab Owyn; Ceinon, high cleric of the Cyngael; and Aeldred, king of the Anglcyn (Saxon English). These characters, some modeled on actual historical figures, all assume a role in countering a vengeance-driven raid by Jormsviking mercenaries on Brynnfell, homestead of a Cyngael earl famed for his victories against the Erlings. Kay brings fantasy into his history of the land and its people, drawing on legends of faerie folk in Anglcyn and Cyngael and of witches on the Erling island of Rabady. He offers insights into the routine violence and hardship in the lives of commoners-- serfs, women and fighters on both sides. Interspersed with the action are soliloquies on the meaning of life and faith. The strength of the Last Light lies in its narrative and the depiction of a grim world now lost to history, but still open to heroic and romantic imaginings.