The Espressologist by Kristina Springer

         

Title:  The Espressologist   Author:  Kristina Springer
ISBN:  9780374322281   Pages:  184
Publisher:  Farrar Straus Giroux, New York, 2009

Readers Annotation:
As a hobby, coffee barista Jane Turner keeps a journal that matches personalities with coffee orders. When her boss finds out, he comes up with a matchmaking idea that puts Jane's talent directly in the spotlight. 

Author Information:
Kristina Springer has a master's degree in writing from DePaul University. She began her writing career as a technical writer for a software company, and continued on to freelance writing in 2000. The Espressologist is Springer's debut novel for young adults. Her newest book Just Your Average Princess is due to come out in the Fall of 2011.

Kristina gained her inspiration for The Espressologist from her own experience in people watching at coffee shops. She currently lives in a Chicago suburb with her  husband Athens and her four kids Teegan, Maya, London, and Gavin.

http://www.kristinaspringer.com/bio.html

Plot Summary: 
Seventeen year old Jane Turner is a high school senior in her last semester. All that remains to complete her high school degree are a few easy classes. She's also enrolled in a couple of college courses at Anthony Carter Community College, and works as a barista at Wired Joe's. Jane loves her job at the coffee shop, as she works with her best friend Em and is able to earn money for college. What Jane has noticed while working there is that people's personalities fit with the drinks they order. She even keeps a record of personalities and drink types, and begins to match compatible personalities and drinks.

One day, Jane's manager catches her writing in her journal and demands to know the content of her entries. She tells him her theory of Espressology, and he decides that her matchmaking abilities would be a great holiday promotion for his shop. Before she knows it, Jane becomes an overnight wonder, making many successful matches. After a while, Jane wonders if she can find a compatible match for her own large iced nonfat mocha, no whip.

Critical Evaluation:
This light and humorous novel is a quick and enjoyable read. Though the plot is not complex in nature, the book's premise is extremely clever and entertaining. Coffee lovers will especially be intrigued by this original novel set in a coffee shop. The variety of coffee flavors and mixtures, alongside the descriptions of personalities, create amazing imagery for the reader. The reader will find that the characters are lovable and entertaining, albeit somewhat flat and underdeveloped. Still, the reader will love the romance and matchmaking theme that laces the story line. Reminiscent of a B grade chick flick, this predictable but sweet story will enchant all audiences.

Genre:  Realistic fiction

Curriculum Ties:  N/A

Booktalking Ideas:
     1.  Jane is working as a barista in a local coffee shop in order to earn money for college. When you get to college, will you have to earn money to pay your own way?
     2.  Will comes into the coffee shop a lot, and gets free coffee from Jane after pretending to like her. Has someone ever similarly taken advantage of you?

Reading Level/Interest Age: 13+

Challenge Issue:  none

Why I chose this item:  As a coffee lover myself, and because realistic fiction is popular among young adults, I decided this book would be a great addition to my collection. Additionally, being a quick read, I felt it would do well for reluctant readers. 

Raven Speak by Diane Lee Wilson

        

Title:  Raven Speak    Author:  Diane Lee Wilson
ISBN:  9781416986539    Pages:  247
Publisher:  Margaret K McElderry Books, New York, 2010

Readers Annotation:

Asa Coppermane's father is lost at sea, her mother is dying from the sickness that killed her only two siblings, her tribe is dwindling from the ravages of the never-ending winter, and the manipulative storyteller Jorgen is stealthily trying to become the new chieftain. Asa, next in line to become the Viking clan's chief, looks for her tribe's salvation in a strange old woman she's never met in her life.

Author Information:
Diane Lee Wilson is the author of Black Storm Comin'; the winner of a Spur Award for Juvenile Fiction, a Booklist Editor's Choice, a VOYA Top Shelf Fiction Pick, a Notable Social Studies Trade Book, and a Book Links Lasting Connection. Wilson's second book Firehorse, was a selection of the ALA Amelia Bloomer Project, and a Booklist Top Ten Mystery/Suspense for Youth selection.

Diane was born in Champaign, Illinois in 1957. She attended the University of Iowa where she obtained a degree in Fine Arts and English. Wilson has always loved horses, and owns an extensive collection of horse books and figurines. She currently lives in Escondido, California.

http://dianeleewilson.com/home.htm

Plot Summary:
It's the year 854, and fourteen year old Asa Coppermane is living through the longest and most difficult winter her clan has ever seen. There is little hope for the Vikings, as there is a deathly sickness among them, and almost no food to eat. The sickness has already killed Asa's two brothers and is ravaging her mother. Her father, the clan's chief, sailed away in stormy weather with the most able bodied men to search for food in other lands. To make matters worse, the clan's diviner and storyteller Jorgen, seems to be manipulating her people in his quest for power. When Jorgen tries to kill the horses that Asa's father specifically requested be left alive, Asa fights back and barely escapes with her favorite horse from childhood.

Asa, too scared and proud to return home immediately, meets Wenda the seer. Cryptic remarks coupled with Wenda's one eye and strange raven-speak, worries Asa. However, this mixture of revulsion and curiosity compels Asa to follow the old woman to her home that is filled with food. Assisted by Wenda, Asa digs deep into her soul to discover a path for herself and her starving clan.

Critical Evaluation:
Beautifully written, but with dark and morbid strains, Raven Speak spins a tale of courage, leadership, and desperate times. The reader acquires a genuine feel of the grim and desperate times of the Vikings, when food and medicine were sparse. As the story is told mostly from the vantage point of Asa Coppermane, the reader is able to sympathize with and admire the strong willed heroine. At times, the narrative is told from either the point of view of Jorgen the shaman or Wenda the seer. This unique narrative presents a more comprehensive picture of the story. The author is careful to utilize the vernacular of the times, which lends more authenticity to the historical elements of the story. In fact, the reader will find that much of Asa's story has basis in Norse mythology.

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Curriculum Ties:  History - Vikings, 800's

Booktalking Ideas: 
     1.  Asa makes a huge sacrifice at the end of the book in order to save her starving clan. If you were in a leadership position, do you think you could make a huge sacrifice for others?
     2.  Jorgen wants to take over the clan for his own selfish reasons, but Asa's father always put the clan's well-being before his own. How do you feel about people who abuse their positions of power?

Reading Level/Interest Age:  14+

Challenge Issue: none

Why I chose this item:  This book is for the horse loving teens. I also wanted to include a book with historical aspects from a foreign culture. Lastly, the book is written by an award winning author.

Skateboarder: magazine

Title:   Skateboarder  Format:  Magazine
ASIN:   B0047QU2X8  Distribution:  Monthly
Publisher:   Source Interlink, California

Content/Audience:

The first skateboarding magazine ever published, Skateboarder speaks to the skateboarding culture, primarily a male adolescent audience. The magazine is filled with spectacular photographs, both stills and action shots. There are in depth profiles and interviews on many professional skateboarding idols. Adolescents will especially love the skateboarding trick demonstrations. The many articles also include skate photography information, letters to the editor, advice columns, gossip columns, and 'Fifteen things you didn't know about'. Furthermore, the advertisements revolve around  skateboarding.

Critical Evaluation:

The magazine does condone the use of profanity and sometimes risqué pictures in their articles. Additionally, many of the articles are written using the jargon of the skateboarding culture.  Although the focus is on one sport, the magazine articles are diverse and interesting.  Their use of photography captivates the reader's imagination, and the product reviews are perfect for the quintessential skateboarder.  As the magazine caters to a male audience, there are no female skating articles, which detracts from the overall quality of the periodical. Additionally, the articles keep skateboarders and retailers abreast of the innovations in the skateboarding industry.

Genre:   Sports, Periodicals

Reading Level/Interest Age:   15 +

Challenge Issue:   Profanity, Risqué pictures.
- This is an established magazine that is currently an industry staple
- Compilation of teen reviews and the average reader reviews on Amazon.com and Goodreads.com
- Library policy

Why I chose this item:   I wanted to include a magazine that is popular with the male teen audience.