Kirkus Star
THE KIRKUS STAR
Awarded to Books of Exceptional Merit

BROWSE BOOK REVIEWS




Most Frequently Banned Books of 2010


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Cover art for THE HUNGER GAMES
CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 1, 2008

"Impressive world-building, breathtaking action and clear philosophical concerns make this volume, the beginning of a planned trilogy, as good as The Giver and more exciting. (Science fiction. 11 & up)"
Katniss Everdeen is a survivor. Read full book review >
Cover art for THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2007
by Sherman Alexie, illustrated by Ellen Forney

"Junior's keen cartoons sprinkle the pages as his fluid narration deftly mingles raw feeling with funny, sardonic insight. (Fiction. YA)"
Alexie nimbly blends sharp wit with unapologetic emotion in his first foray into young-adult literature. Read full book review >
Cover art for LUSH
CHILDREN'S
Released: Nov. 1, 2006

"Realistic family drama. (Fiction. 12-15)"
After years of pretending she has a "normal" family, a worried teen finally confronts her father's alcoholism. Read full book review >
Cover art for TWILIGHT
CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 1, 2005

"Nonetheless, the portrayal of dangerous lovers hits the spot; fans of dark romance will find it hard to resist. (Fantasy. YA)"
Sun-loving Bella meets her demon lover in a vampire tale strongly reminiscent of Robin McKinley's Sunshine. Read full book review >
Cover art for AND TANGO MAKES THREE
CHILDREN'S
Released: June 1, 2005

In this true, straightforwardly (so to speak) delivered tale, two male chinstrap penguins at New York City's Central Park Zoo bond, build a nest and—thanks to a helping hand from an observant zookeeper—hatch and raise a penguin chick. Read full book review >
Cover art for CRANK
CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 1, 2004

"Powerful and unsettling. (author's note) (Fiction. YA)"
Hypnotic and jagged free verse wrenchingly chronicles 16-year-old Kristina's addiction to crank. Read full book review >
Cover art for WHAT MY MOTHER DOESN’T KNOW
CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 1, 2001

"Romantic and sexy, with a happy ending that leaves Sophie together with Mr. Right, Sones (Stop Pretending: What Happened when My Big Sister Went Crazy, 1999) has crafted a verse experience that will leave teenage readers sighing with recognition and satisfaction. (Fiction/poetry. YA)"
This year's umpteenth novel in verse begs the question, if the narrative were told in conventional prose, would it be worth reading? Read full book review >
Cover art for NICKEL AND DIMED
NONFICTION
Released: May 8, 2001

"Sharp, empathetic, astute, Ehrenreich speaks loudly and eloquently for a group of workers who are often too tired and too manipulated to speak for themselves."
With wit and anger, a celebrated social commentator paints a brutal portrait of the world of low-wage work during the 1990s, when "welfare as we know it" was about to end and America was at the crest of its biggest economic wave in history. Read full book review >