Streams of Babel
by Carol Plum-Ucci
Published 2008 by Harcourt Children's Books

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07/01/2008 REVIEW: School Library Journal

Gr 8-11--In 2002, high school outcast Cora Holman's mom dies of a mysterious brain aneurysm, preceded by flulike symptoms. Then Cora, Owen Eberman, and two of their friends gradually come down with a similar ailment. Meanwhile, in Pakistan, 16-year-old computer genius and cyber-spy Shahzad, who is working for the U.S. government, has uncovered information about a terror threat called Red Vinegar, and he is taken to New York in order to follow the terrorist chatter more directly. Through the alternating narratives and interwoven lives of six teens (including the child of a terrorist working on behalf of North Korea), Plum-Ucci offers a compelling tale of bioterror. The characters, particularly Shahzad, are well drawn and have unique voices, and the unresolved ending leaves a lot of room for thought and discussion.--Kristin Anderson, Columbus Metropolitan Library System, OH

How to Be Bad
by E. Lockhart
Published 2008 by Harperteen

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05/01/2008 REVIEW: School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up--Jesse, Vicks, and Mel spontaneously decide to take a road trip to visit Vicks's boyfriend who is in college in Miami. Jesse is a devout Christian who frowns on drinking and premarital sex; her unmarried mother calls her Goody Two-shoes and Vicks is getting fed up with her friend's "holier than thou" attitude. Mel is a wealthy newcomer who has offered to pay for the trip, hoping to be accepted by them. Once they get into the car, infighting (and outright fighting) takes over. Still, the girls have wild adventures, including a party at which Vicks and Mel get drunk, a hurricane, a fistfight, and a run-in with a live alligator in order to save a baby duckling. Through confrontations with one another, with boys, and with family, the teens work through the issues they are facing and learn the importance of relying on friends. The presentation of three voices is effective since they come from three different authors, giving readers a variety of perspectives to consider.--Emily Garrett Cassady, North Garland High School, TX

Cheater
by Michael Laser
Published 2008 by Dutton Books

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05/01/2008 REVIEW: School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up--What could induce Karl, a certified genius on track to be his high school valedictorian, to cheat?After Karl notices that Blaine, whom he heretofore thought of as Mr. Clean, is using his phone's text capability to cheat, Karl is recruited to join Blaine's disparate group of fellow cheaters who claim they just want to screw the system. The slimy Klimchock, having caught wind of the plan, throws down his own high-tech gauntlet, using hidden video cameras to ensnare Karl, to whom he offers an unlikely deal: he'll fake records for the teen's college applications if Karl will rat out his "friends."  Hopefully readers, perhaps attracted by the eye-catching cover, will persist past the stereotypes to enjoy Laser's heartwarming ending, as despite some loose ends and fuzzy logic, there are some funny, interesting characters to enjoy in this contemporary satire.-Joel Shoemaker, Southeast Junior High School, Iowa City, IA

Suck It Up
by Brian Meehl
Published 2008 by Delacorte Press

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REVIEW: School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up— Morning McCobb is graduating from the IVLeague (International Vampire League) Academy, where students are schooled to be Leaguers (vampires who live peacefully though secretly among mortals and subsist on animal blood) instead of Loners (those who follow the old ways). When he's offered the opportunity to be the first Leaguer to come out of the closet to the world and show mortals that vampires are just another special-needs minority, Morning jumps at the chance to end his outcast status and perhaps fulfill his one-time dream of becoming a firefighter. Not quite as dark as most vampire novels, Meehl's story is filled with humor, quirky characters, light romance, mild suspense, and a lot of fun.—Sharon Senser McKellar, Oakland Public Library, CA

Almost Alice
by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Published 2008 by Atheneum Books

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05/01/2008 REVIEW: School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up--Alice, now in the end of her junior year in high school, navigates through her friend Pamela's pregnancy scare, a promotion at the school newspaper, and prom. On top of all this, she is considering getting back together with her ex-boyfriend and future prom date, Patrick. But first, she has to figure out her feelings about his overachieving personality, which tends to leave her on the back burner. The different issues and events that Alice goes through seem realistic and believable. Loyal fans of the series will get the most out of this book as they will be more connected to Alice and her friends and anxious to see what happens to them.-Jessie Spalding, Queen Creek Branch Library, AZ

The Last Exit to Normal
by Michael Harmon
Published 2008 by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers

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04/01/2008 REVIEW: School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up--Since his father came out and his mother took off, Ben Campbell has been in trouble, smoking pot, getting arrested-the usual array of angry bad-boy behavior. In an effort to put him on the right path, his dad and his dad's partner, Edward, decide to move the family from Spokane to Edward's hometown in Montana. Rough Butte, population 463, is full of farmers, ranchers, and Miss Mae, Edward's tough country mama. Ben is out of his element in the extreme, and has a hard time adjusting until he meets Kimberly Johan, a neighbor who steals his heart and makes him want to be a part of Big Sky country. Although the novel wraps up a little too neatly, it is filled with atypical character interactions that make it an excellent read. Ben's anger at his father for destroying their original family and failing to be a "regular" dad is potent and raw, as is his language. And, finally, Ben must conquer the town's teen villain who has an unhealthy obsession with Kimberly and a penchant for arson. It may sound like a lot of plot for one book, and it is, but Harmon makes it work with believable characters, Ben's biting wit, and solid lessons about acceptance and responsibility.-Nora G. Murphy, Los Angeles Academy Middle School

The Winter War
by William Durbin
Published 2008 by Wendy Lamb Books

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03/01/2008 REVIEW: School Library Journal

Gr 5-9--In 1939 Finland, Marko serves proudly as a sky watcher, a junior member of the Civil Guard. On November 30, when Russian bombers attack his village, his best friend is killed, and his younger sister and brother must evacuate to Sweden. A chance encounter with a former teacher, now an army lieutenant, propels Marko, who still limps as a result of a bout with polio, to the front lines. His familiarity with the area around Savolahti and his orienteering skills make him an ideal clandestine messenger, carrying information back and forth between the small companies of soldiers hidden in the hills. The Winter War, a little-known campaign of World War II, comes to life as Marko relates his experiences during the bone-chilling months of 1939 and 1940. Durbin's graphic depictions of the realities of war are not for the faint of heart, and he does not soften his message regarding the lack of support that America and the world showed Finland during this time. An engaging novel for adventure lovers and fans of historical fiction alike.-Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA

Meltdown: The Final Chapter of the Watts Family Adventures!
by Andy McNab
Published 2008 by Putnam Publishing Group

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Voice of Youth Advocates Review:

Seventeen-year-old Danny Watts and his undercover agent grandfather, Fergus, have been recruited by the British SAS to resolve yet another puzzling, world-threatening problem in this final volume of the four-part Watts Family Adventure series. This time, Danny and Fergus are on a mission to reveal and destroy the creators and manufacturing location of an extremely deadly new drug called Meltdown. Meltdown is not only terribly addictive, with regular ingestion eventually resulting in a ghastly death, but it also could potentially be used to lethally contaminate water supplies.  This compelling, fast-paced, plot-driven dose of espionage and intrigue features a bit of appropriately gruesome violence thrown in for good measure. Readers following the series will relish this fitting conclusion. Fergus finally accepts retirement, and Danny's progress as an agent comes full circle, which is somewhat disheartening as he now is able to offensively kill and startlingly commits an act of revenge. Although this book ends the series, there is a hint of a subsequent title with Danny taking center stage.-Diane Tuccillo