Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya

          

Title:  Fruits Basket, volume 1    Author:  Natsuki Takaya

ISBN:  9781591826033   Pages:   206
Publisher:  Tokyopop, Inc, Los Angeles, 2004

Readers Annotation:
Tohru Honda is alone in the world, with no place to stay until the Sohmu family takes her in. Tohru soon learns that the kind and generous Sohmu's are not exactly who she thought they were. 

Author Information:

Natsuki Takaya has worked for the Japanese publisher Hakusensha since the early 90's, writing short stories and series. Before she wrote the Fruits Basket series, she wrote Tsubasa O Motsu Mono and Geneimusou.  Fruits Basket quickly gained notoriety, becoming a bestselling manga. As such, Takaya won the highest manga honor by receiving the Kodansha Manga Award. Subsequently, Fruits Basket was turned into a 26 episode anime series in 2001. By 2002, the anime was released in English, and eventually the manga was translated into English as well.  Her Fruits Basket series is the second best-selling shojo manga ever in Japan, and the top selling shojo manga in North America.

'Natsuki Takaya'' is actually a pen name for Naka Hatake. Takaya was born July 7, 1973 in Shizuoka, Japan, and was raised in Tokyo. She enjoys video games and working on her various manga series.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natsuki_Takaya

Plot Summary:

Tohru has not had an easy youth. Her father died when she was three, and after being orphaned by the death of her mother, she was forced to live with her distant and apathetic grandfather. He temporarily kicks Tohru out of his house so he can do some remodeling, giving her no alternative place to stay. But, Tohru is a strong girl, and builds a tent for herself in a nearby forest. She also works for a local diner to make some money. Not long after, Tohru's living arrangements are discovered by the owners of the land, the Sohma family.

The Sohma family are sympathetic to Tohru's plight, and although they are a household of three unmarried males, they offer her a place at their home. In return for their kindness, Tohru gratefully offers to cook and clean, something that was desperately needed in the Sohma home. While living there, Tohru learns a lot about the Sohma family, including their unusual infatuation with the signs of the Zodiac and their secret family curse.

Critical Evaluation:
This lighthearted but intelligently written manga focuses on a story of interpersonal relationships. The characterization is done beautifully, making the story relatable to the audience. Tohru Honda is depicted as somewhat naive, but in truth, she is a pure-hearted and caring person with courage and a positive attitude. Yuki Sohma is intelligent and handsome, but friendless and reserved. Kyo Sohma is volatile and headstrong, with a sensitive streak. Lastly, Shigure Sohma is gentle and kind with a sense of humor, which adds a layer of comic relief to the story.  The action, romance, and dramatic elements of the manga, make the series entertaining and somewhat addicting. The historical aspect of Chinese mythology adds another level of interest and intrigue to the appropriately best selling manga series.

Genre:  Manga/ Romance-Comedy

Curriculum Ties: English - World Literature, World culture - Chinese zodiac

Booktalking Ideas: 
     1.  Tohru Honda's grandfather temporarily kicks her out, and she bravely puts on a smile and learns to fend for herself. Do you think you could be that courageous and take care of yourself without any outside support?
     2.  The Sohmu's take in Tohru Honda as a favor, and she insists on returning their kindness by helping with the housework. Would you offer to repay another's kindness with a kindness of your own, or just accept their charity as it is?

Reading Level/Interest Age: 13+

Challenge Issue: none

Why I chose this item:  Due to the popularity of manga and graphic novels, and because this book format is great for reluctant readers, I felt it was important to include in my collection.

Further Reading:  Fruits Basket, Volumes 2 - 23

 
Fruits Basket book trailer

Oddly Enough: Stories by Bruce Coville

          

Title:  Oddly Enough: Stories   Author:  Bruce Coville  
ISBN: 015000933  Pages:  122
Publisher:  Harcourt Brace & Company, San Diego, 1994

Readers Annotation:
A collection of nine horror stories including angels, unicorns, werewolves, vampires, brownies, ghosts, monsters, and elves. 

Author Information:

Bruce Coville has written a copious amounts of children's and young adult novels. His debut novel was The Foolish Giant, although Coville is most well-known for his Unicorn Chronicles, My Teacher is an Alien, and Magic Shop series. Additionally, Bruce has collaborated on many works with his wife Kathy, including The Foolish Giant, Sarah's Unicorn, and The Monster's Ring.

Bruce was born on May 16, 1950, in Syracuse, New York. He is married to Katherine Dietz, and together they have three children.  After spending about twenty years in New York City, Bruce has returned to his city of birth, presently living in Syracuse with his wife and kids.

http://www.brucecoville.com/bio.asp

Content/Audience:

These stories are a compilation of works that are both thrilling and humorous. Each story is mysterious and entertaining, appealing to tweens and teens alike. The Box: After receiving a box from an angel,  a young boy strives to keep it safe, waiting for the angel to return. Duffy's Jacket: Forgetful Duffy is given the surprise of his life after a monster delivers his forgotten jacket unexpectedly. Homeward Bound : A young boy's curiosity over a unicorn horn found in his uncle's home, drives him to the point where he becomes a unicorn himself. With His Head Tucked Underneath His Arm : A ghost is tired of the fighting between kingdoms and forces his king to stop the wars. Clean as a Whistle : A happily disorganized young girl is assigned a cleaning brownie, who  must serve her to prevent himself from withering away. The Language of the Blood : The Seers are actually vampires who use blood to see the future and save their village. Old Glory : A boy's great-grandfather gives his life to contest his stolen freedoms. The Passing of the Pack : A dying werewolf asks his human son to take over as leader of the pack. A Blaze of Glory : A young boy's Grandmother spins a tale of helping the elves, an unlikely story which turns out to be true.

Genre: Horror, Short Story

Curriculum Ties: N/A

Booktalking Ideas: 
     1.  In The passing of the pack, a boy's estranged and dying father asks him to take over as leader of the pack. Would you ever feel like you would need to honor a dying parent's request, especially if they've never had anything to do with you?
     2.  The ghost in With his head tucked underneath his arm is determined to stop the kings from fighting and killing more innocent civilians, even if it means staying on earth until the job is done. Have you ever felt so committed to something that you were willing to make a big sacrifice for it?

Reading Level/Interest Age: 11+

Challenge Issue:  Supernatural themes

Why I chose this item: This was suggested  reading material for the horror genre in the YA librarian's guide.

Further Series Reading: Odder Than Ever, Odds Are Good, Oddest of All

Daughter of Xanadu by Dori Jones Yang

        

Title:  Daughter of Xanadu   Author:  Dori Jones Yang
ISBN:  9780385739238   Pages:  336
Publisher:  Delacorte  Press, New York, 2011

Readers Annotation:
Princess Emmajin, is the granddaughter of the Great Kahn of the Mongol Empire, and has the dream of joining the great army. In turn, Emmajin's grandfather entrusts her with the task of befriending and spying on the foreigner Marco Polo, whose strange ideas and ways take root and dare to question Emmajin's resolve to be a true Mongol warrior. 

Author Information:

Dori Jones Yang conducted research for Daughter of Xanadu by visiting Mongolia and studying its culture. Yang is originally from Ohio and has a keen interest in the Orient. She studied Mandarin Chinese in Singapore, and explored Asia as a foreign correspondent for eight years when she worked for Business Week in Hong Kong. She has written two other books and received high praise for both. 

Yang is married to Chinese born Paul, and together they have a daughter, Emily, who was born in Hong Kong. Currently, she lives near Seattle, Washington. Daughter of Xanadu has been recently nominated for ALA's Best Fiction for Young Adults.

www.dorijonesyang.com

Plot Summary: 
Princess Emmajin, a member of the Golden Family, is the oldest granddaughter of the oldest son of the Great Khublai, ruler of the Mongolian Empire. Her sixteenth birthday is around the corner, and her official adult life will soon begin. Emmajin is best friends with her half-brother Suren, and together they have practiced archery, wrestling, and other male oriented pastimes, an unusual desire of a Mongolian woman. Emmajin has turned down several suitors in the hope of becoming a warrior. Her wish is to truly make a difference in her Empire, instead of living a passive life like most women in her country. When Suren's younger brother challenges all the male cousins to an archery contest, Emmajin is adamant to join and compete. She almost wins, and after observing her skill and bravery, her grandfather entrusts her with a special task.

Emmajin is to befriend and spy on the three foreigners from Christendom. In the process, one of these men, Marco Polo, shows her the world in a different light. After many adventures together, Emmajin starts to doubt some of her previous convictions, surprising herself most of all.

Critical Evaluation:
This historical fiction piece stays true to the time period of the fifth Kahn, subsequent to Genghis Khan's conquest of Mongolia and parts of China. Although some of main characters are fictional, such as Emmajin, Emmajin's sister, and Emmajin's cousin Suren, all other characters are based on real people. The story takes place in 13th century Mongolia, when surrounding countries were still being conquered by the huge empire. Despite the fictional aspects, the Mongolian culture is portrayed truthfully and respectfully.  The story line is realistic, and the emotions of characters are depicted truthfully. Emmajin's character relates her point of view throughout the narrative, thereby allowing the reader to understand the conflict between her previously held beliefs and her new yet foreign ideals. Daughter of Xanadu is truly a spellbinding adventure of an adolescent girl trying to break free of the bonds set by her time and culture.

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Curriculum Ties:  World History - Ghengis Kahn and his dynasty, Chinese and Mongolian History, Marco Polo

Booktalking Ideas: 
     1.  Emmajin wants to fight as a soldier for her grandfather and for Mongolia, but is a female and not readily accepted as a fighter. How would you feel if you lived in a time where women were considered second class or weak?
     2.  Marco Polo and his relatives left their home and country for years at a time. How would you feel leaving your home and everything familiar for that long, without the ability to return even for a short visit?

Reading Level/Interest Age:  13+

Challenge Issue:  none

Why I chose this item: I wanted to include a book with Oriental ethnicity, and thought that its historical accuracy would serve as an asset to my collection.

  
Daughter of Xanadu book trailer

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella (Audiobook)

           

Title:  Confessions of a Shopaholic  Author:  Sophie Kinsella

Performed by:  Emily Gray
ISBN:  1419304828  CD's: 10   Running Time:  11.75 hours
Publisher:  Recorded Books, LLC, New York, 2002

Readers Annotation:
Rebecca Bloomwood is a financial journalist who loves to shop. However, when she can't stop her shopping habit and spirals into debt, the only way out for Becky will be with the story of a lifetime.  

Author Information:
Sophie Kinsella, a former financial journalist, started writing under her real name, Madeleine Wickham. Her first book The Tennis Party, became a top ten bestseller. In 2000, Kinsella became a bestselling UK author with her novel Confessions of a Shopaholic. Outside the Shopaholic series, Kinsella has also written Can You Keep a Secret?, The Undomestic Goddess, Remember Me?, and Twenties Girl. Sophie was born in London, where she lives presently with her husband and children.

http://www.sophiekinsella.co.uk/sophies-world/Biography/

Narrator Information:  

Emily Gray went to college at Warwick University, and graduated with honors. She also trained at Drama Studio London. Gray has performed in Too Rustic! at the Chelsea Playhouse, The Phantom Lady, The Way of the World, The Oresteia, Blithe Spirit at the Pearl Theatre Company, and Yes Is for a Very Young Man at the Brooklyn Arts Exchange. She's also played the part of Goneril of King Lear in a documentary for BBC 2.

Plot Summary: 
Rebecca Bloomwood, known as Becky by her family and friends, lives in a trendy neighborhood with her best friend Suze working as a financial journalist with Successful Savings. However, her favorite thing is not writing journal articles about money. Instead, Becky likes to spend money. Becky knows shopping like the back of her hand, and loves to peruse high end stores during her spare time. The problem is, all this shopping has put Becky in a tremendous amount of debt. Her situation gets to be so bad, that Becky refuses to even look at the menacing letters being sent by her credit card companies and her bank. While Becky tries to fix all of her problems, she encounters love, bravery, loyalty, and begins to discover much about herself.    

Critical Evaluation:

The narrator pulls the listener into the story by speaking in the manner in which the prose has been written. Truly, one can feel the story come alive as the single narrator uses different sounding voices to differentiate between the main character and supporting characters. This, coupled with the author's style, allows the reader to 'hear' the female protagonist's thoughts, making for an intriguing and entertaining tale. The author intermittently adds laugh out loud humor to the narrative, and in general, the entire book is somewhat light and fun. Interspersed with the threatening letters that Becky has received from various financial  institutions, the reader also gets a feel for her increasing stress that results from her shopping addiction. Confessions of a Shopaholic appeals specifically to the reader who similarly desires to always be shopping for fun and new items. 

Genre:  Humor/Fiction

Curriculum Ties:  Culture - British lifestyle, Addiction

Book-talking Ideas: 

     1. Becky is constantly rationalizing her shopaholic tendencies. Do you know anyone who has a shopping addiction?

     2. Becky attempts to curb her shopping addiction by cutting back. Have you ever been on a budget and had to cut back, and found it difficult?

Reading Level/Interest Age: 16+

Challenge Issue: none

Why I chose this item: I remember liking the movie, and thought that the shopping and addiction aspects would speak to my teenage audience. Additionally, I wanted to include an audio-book in my collection.

Further Series Reading: Shopaholic Takes Manhattan, Shopaholic Ties the Knot, Shopaholic & Sister, Shopaholic & Baby, Mini-Shopaholic 

 

Dancing in Red Shoes Will Kill You by Dorian Cirrone

             

Title:  Dancing in Red Shoes Will Kill You   Author:  Dorian Cirrone
ISBN:  0060557028  Pages:  213
Publisher:  HarperCollins Publishers, New York, 2005

Readers Annotation:
Kayla finally has a chance to star in the upcoming ballet, but her large chest lands her a second-rate part. To make matters worse, a classmate finds a threatening note in a pair of red ballet shoes, the same color shoes that she's supposed to wear in the ballet!

Author Information:

Dorian Cirrone has an MA in English, and started her career in writing as a journalist. Since then, she has written both children's and young adult books. Her debut adolescent novel, Dancing in Red Shoes Will Kill You, has been recognized as an ALA Teen's Top Ten Nominee 2005, an ALA Popular Paperback for Young Adults 2007, and is part of the Amelia Bloomer List for Feminist Fiction 2006. Dorian's latest young adult novel is Prom Kings and Drama Queens.

Dorian was a ballet dancer as a child, which gave her the inspiration for Dancing in Red Shoes Will Kill You. As Dorian got older, she continued to study ballet, tap, and jazz dance. Currently, Dorian lives in South Florida with her husband and two kids.

http://www.doriancirrone.com/about.html

Plot Summary: 
Kayla has been a ballet dancer since she was four years old. In fact, that's where she met her best friend Joey, who happens to be gay. Now that Kayla's in eleventh grade at the magnet school Florida Arts High School, she is hoping that her ballerina talents and her extra practicing over the summer will get her the lead role in the upcoming ballet, Cinderella. When Kayla checks the posting of the assigned roles, she is crushed to find that her name is under 'ugly stepsister'.

Miss Alicia, Kayla's ballet teacher, takes Kayla aside to tell her that a large chest does not conform to the typical ballet dancer, and that she should consider getting breast reduction surgery. To top it all off, blood red Pointe shoes start showing up all over school, with threatening notes attached to them. This especially scares Kayla, since her ballet costume includes red ballet shoes. Kayla goes through a year of self doubt and discovery, aided by her friend Joey and her new boyfriend Gray.

Critical Evaluation:
The author of this fiction piece skillfully combines dramatic and comedic elements, producing an entertaining work. Despite the lighthearted nature of the book, many authentic issues are addressed by the characters. Kayla deals with a potential life altering decision, struggling with her desire to be a ballerina versus her desire to leave her body unaltered. Kayla's sister Paterson has an end of the year art project that is unfairly censored by the school board. Joey is openly gay and determined to be a professional dancer but is worried about hurting Kayla's feelings. All of these topics are sure to resonate with the adolescent reader. As the author is intimately familiar with ballet, she gives the main character room to express her feelings through delightful ballerina jargon. Though readers may at times find the ballet references difficult to understand, the emotions of the female protagonist come through clearly.  

Genre:  Realistic Fiction, Ballet

Curriculum Ties:  English - Censorship

Booktalking Ideas: 
     1.  Kayla is uncomfortably self-conscious about her larger than normal chest, and considers surgery to help her fit in. Would you choose to change your own physical appearance to fit in?
     2.  Joey has been Kayla's best friend since they were very young, but never took the relationship further as a result of Joey's homosexuality. Do you have any friends that have a different sexual orientation than you?

Reading Level/Interest Age:  13+

Challenge Issue:  Nudity, Homosexuality
- This book has been awarded with an ALA Teen's Top Ten Nominee 2005, an ALA Popular Paperback for Young Adults 2007, and is part of the Amelia Bloomer List for Feminist Fiction 2006
- 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 book about fitting in, and the idea that a homosexual boy was a main character in the story line was also appealing. I also was intrigued by the booktalk from our class readings. Lastly, this book is a great addition for adolescent ballet lovers.

 

Parachutes by Coldplay

        

Title:  Parachutes by Coldplay  Format:  CD
Artists:  Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion, Chris Martin   
ASIN:  B0000508U6    Studio: Capital Records  Release Date:  November 7, 2000

Band Information:
Guy Berryman (bass), Jonny Buckland (lead guitar), Will Champion (drums), and Chris Martin (vocals, guitar, keyboards), are the members of Coldplay, a British alternative rock band. They began initially in college at University College London, with lead vocalist Chris and lead guitarist Jonny. At the time, their band was known as Pectoralz, which changed to Starfish when Guy Berryman joined the band as the bassist. Soon after, Will Champion became a member of the band, acting as the drummer, backing vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist. They renamed themselves Coldplay in 1998, and established their fame in 2000 with the song "Yellow".

Presently, Coldplay is a best-selling group, having sold over 50 million records all over the world. They have won many music awards, including Best British Group three times, four MTV Video Music Awards, and seven Grammy Awards. Coldplay supports several social and political causes, and have performed for many charities.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coldplay

Contents:
Don't Panic, Shiver, Spies, Sparks, Yellow, Trouble, Parachutes, High Speed, We Never Change, Everything's Not Lost

Music Summary:
Coldplay became famous with their single "Yellow" in 2000, which preempted the release of their debut album Parachutes. Once released, it became number one in the United Kingdom and has been certified seven times platinum. In the United States, the album reached number fifty one on the Billboard 200, and has been certified two times platinum. The album was nominated for the Mercury Prize that same year. Additionally, it won the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album in 2002. Parachutes won the Best British Album award at the 2001 Brit Awards. The music itself fits into the alternative rock genre, with it's heavy use of electric guitar but soft and melodic pieces.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parachutes

Critical Evaluation: 
Parachutes is a wonderful mood piece with mellow and melodic sounds played by acoustic guitar. Chris Martin, who leads the band with his incredible and emotional voice, makes great use of falsetto. The textured sounds found in the music are produced perfectly by a pairing of acoustic and electric guitars. The often distorted sounds of the electric guitars serve as an excellent counterpoint to Chris Martin's gentle vocals, and the heavy use of keyboards tend to add a fullness of tone not often found in the Rock genre. The song's lyrics are straightforward and easy to understand. Overall, the beauty of the music shines throughout every song, and makes for great listening.   

Genre:  Alternative Rock

Curriculum Ties: Music Appreciation- Rock bands, Alternative rock

Reading Level/Interest Age: 14 +

Challenge Issue: none

Why I chose this item:  I wanted to include a different type of rock, which is still very popular with teens. Additionally, though an older CD, this was their landmark debut album and has won many awards.

 Coldplay's Yellow

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.