"Nothing spectacular, but the movie's many fans will have fun. (Fiction. 13-16)"
In this novelization of the 2004 movie of the same name, readers are treated to the film's events from multiple characters' viewpoints.
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"This stylish novel is both a celebration of horror as a genre and chilling in its own right. (Horror. 14-18)"
Family history is uncovered when a teen heads to New Jersey with her aunt's film crew to seek out the urban legend of the Jersey Devil.
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A vivid but ponderous exploration in verse of late-1960s-California cult life. Mel, broken by her uncaring mother's sexually abusive boyfriend, "Uncle" Jack, runs away from home with no plans beyond getting to San Francisco. Once there, without food or money, she's a sitting duck for the charismatic Henry, who promises Mel a new life with his family of "love and openness and / everyone caring," among whom she can be made whole and free again. Mel's embrace of family life, with its communal meals and shared sexual partners, is enthusiastic but not wholehearted: She easily recognizes the emotional damage in all of the family members and steers clear of the worst of the bunch. Eventually Mel begins to worry that Henry, who has always seemed "infinite" and healing, is just as shattered as his followers. Like Charles Manson, on whom he is clearly based, Henry was traded by his mother for a pitcher of beer and has pretensions to fame as a prophetic folk star. After an apparent snub by a music industry executive, Mel can tell that "Henry cannot restrain His infinite want. / cannot still the undertow within." Unfortunately, Mel's journey is a little too clichéd to be believable—of course her emotional damage is due to sexual abuse—and her voice, full of repetitions of ominous phrases, is too mannered to be engaging. (Historical fiction/verse. 14 & up)Read full book review >
Judaism, bass guitars and SAT scores: the ingredients for a band's rise to fame—maybe. While his parents dream of elite Jewish colleges, Ari has visions of starting his own ska band. With his best friend's help, Ari recruits Yossi, the most devout kid at their Jewish prep school, who has both a drum set and a vocalist sister. Once the Tribe hits the stage, however, friendships start to fray, and Ari's band might only make the one-hit-wonder list. Ari's malleable personality could be dull, but Micol Ostow works hard to go beyond mere wannabe-musician angst. The pitch-perfect dialogue pairs seamlessly with David Ostow's black-and-white panels, which are dispersed throughout the text and pull the narrative threads together. Additional illustrations crop up in the text, introducing characters, places and moments of humor. The resolution isn't as original as the artwork, but the glossary at the end makes it well worth finishing. Heavy on the Jewish humor, but without the vulgarity of Adam Sandler, the Ostows successfully balance culture with teen experience. (Fiction. YA) Read full book review >
Growing up in an affluent New York suburb, Emily Goldberg didn't mind not knowing about her mother's Puerto Rican childhood, but when her family travels to Puerto Rico for her grandmother's funeral, Emily's ignorance is compounded as she is bombarded by unfamiliar relatives, foreign customs and a language she can barely decipher. Despite being overwhelmed and longing for her routine New York life, Emily agrees to spend her summer in Puerto Rico helping her mother revisit her roots. As Emily slowly adjusts to the hectic routine of her stern Aunt Rosa's traditional household, she reexamines her sheltered life and recognizes her own need to connect with her heritage before heading to college. As a primarily reactive character, Emily's narrative is slightly flat, except for her rocky interactions with her moody cousin, Lucy, which provide short bursts of energy and propel Emily into becoming more proactive. Despite Emily and Lucy being well-defined, Ostow pays little attention to other characters, who fade into the well-drawn Puerto Rican setting. (Fiction. YA)Read full book review >
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