Kirkus Star
THE KIRKUS STAR
Awarded to Books of Exceptional Merit

BROWSE BOOK REVIEWS




2011 Best Books for Teens: Exploring the Past


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Cover art for BLACK & WHITE
CHILDREN'S
Released: Nov. 1, 2011

"A clean, graphically interesting design abets a well-researched, engaging narrative that contributes a more nuanced view of the period than is often seen. (author's note, further reading, source notes, index) (Nonfiction. 12 & up)

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A fascinating look at one of the most crucial places and periods in the civil rights movement through two polar opposites. Read full book review >
Cover art for I.M. PEI:  ARCHITECT OF TIME, PLACE, AND PURPOSE
CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 1, 2011

"An exquisite package, much like one of Pei's buildings. (timeline, bibliography, source notes, index, suggestions for further reading, listings of building projects, awards) (Nonfiction. 12 & up) "
This lively blend of narrative and detailed design is a perfect way to introduce the architectural vision of I.M. Pei to young readers. Read full book review >
Cover art for LIFE: AN EXPLODED DIAGRAM
CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 1, 2011

"Sophisticated teens and adults will appreciate this subtle yet powerful exposition of the far-reaching implications of war. (Fiction. 14 & up) "
A coming-of-age story framed by some of the most terrifying events of the last 60 years, from World War II to 9/11. Read full book review >
Cover art for THE ISLE OF BLOOD
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 13, 2011

"He deftly blurs lines between science and the supernatural, and what results is a long, dark-night-of-the-soul journey for both Will Henry and Pellinore that is certain to turn the hearts and the stomachs of every reader who dares open its pages. (Horror. 14 & up)
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When an obscure, slimy, flesh-colored pouch is delivered to Pellinore Warthrop's door and renders the deliverer into a bloody, pulpy zombie-like mess, the Monstrumologist has but one course of action open to him. Read full book review >
Cover art for QUEEN OF HEARTS
CHILDREN'S
Released: Aug. 2, 2011

An absorbing and quietly moving coming-of-age story about a French-Canadian teenager during World War II who contracts tuberculosis, along with her younger brother and sister, and is confined to a local sanatorium for long-term care just before her 16th birthday. Read full book review >
Cover art for WHITE CROW
CHILDREN'S
Released: July 5, 2011

"Wickedly macabre and absolutely terrifying. (Horror. 14 & up)"
Two girls are brought together more from ennui than anything else in this riveting tale that brings the murderous history of a disintegrating coastal town into the present. Read full book review >
Cover art for BOOTLEG
CHILDREN'S
Released: May 24, 2011

"An informative, insightful account of a fascinating period of American history. (glossary, bibliography, source notes) (Nonfiction. 12 & up)"
When Congress passed the 18th Amendment, prohibiting the manufacture and sale of alcohol, supporters were convinced it would create a stronger, more moral nation. Instead, it ushered in an era of corruption and lawlessness, here brought to life with a fast-paced, gripping narrative and period photographs. Read full book review >
Cover art for OUT OF SHADOWS
CHILDREN'S
Released: April 15, 2011

"In its portrayal of race relations in a wounded country as well as of the ugly power dynamics of a community of adolescent boys, this novel excels, bringing readers up to the grim, uncertain present with mastery. (Historical fiction. 14 & up)"
A boarding-school story set in the aftermath of the Rhodesian Civil War examines evil from all sides and provides no easy answers. Read full book review >
Cover art for THE FITZOSBORNES IN EXILE
CHILDREN'S
Released: April 5, 2011

"Multilayered and engrossing, Cooper's tale alternates between frothy fun and heartbreaking seriousness with utter mastery. (author's note) (Historical fiction. YA)"
Having narrowly escaped the Nazi bombing of their miniscule island kingdom, the young impoverished royal family of Montmaray is living in exile in England with their very wealthy aunt (A Brief History of Montmaray, 2008). Read full book review >
Cover art for BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY
CHILDREN'S
Released: March 22, 2011

"Sepetys' flowing prose gently carries readers through the crushing tragedy of this tale that needs telling. (maps, timeline, author's note) (Historical fiction. 12 & up, adult)"
This bitterly sad, fluidly written historical novel tackles a topic woefully underdiscussed in English-language children's fiction: Joseph Stalin's reign of terror. Read full book review >
Cover art for STRINGS ATTACHED
CHILDREN'S
Released: March 1, 2011

"National Book Award–winner Blundell (What I Saw and How I Lied, 2008) delivers a brilliantly conceived novel set against the backdrop of the 1950 Kefauver mob hearings and the Red Scare with a story of redemption and truth at its core. (Historical fiction. 14 & up)"
Caught up in dreams of dancing on Broadway, Kit Corrigan unwisely accepts an apartment and a nightclub job from mob lawyer Nate Benedict in exchange for keeping tabs on his son Billy, who's enlisted in the Army along with Kit's brother, Jamie. Read full book review >