Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

Her first novel. Tell the Wolves I'm Home is Carol Rifka Brunt's first novel. I've written before how I'm drawn to debut novels. I'm stunned by the quality of this one. It is simply THAT good!

Love - between sisters, siblings, niece and uncle, and gay men. Rivalries that occur when we wrongly perceive each other's lives. Secrets kept to protect others. So many intertwined themes that continually keep you, the reader, enthralled by Ms. Brunt's novel.

My heart strings were continually pulled as I read of the meanness between Greta and June, the two teen sisters. Yet there were glimpses of love wanting to be renewed between them. A diminished love was also present in the relationship between adult siblings Finn, a gay man and renowned artist, and his sister Danielle, the girls' mother. June and Finn, niece and uncle, shared a most special love intensified by the knowledge that he was dying of AIDS.

Tell the Wolves I'm Home takes place in 1987 as AIDS was beginning to be understood yet feared. Once contracted, there were no cures. People were blamed for infecting others because of the certain death. That scenario is the backdrop which the author uses to show the power of love to forgive and transform lives.

It is one of the 10 titles chosen for the 2013 Alex Award - books originally written for adult readers but suited for teens as well. I highly recommend that you set aside some of your summertime reading time for this debut novel. Beach reading? Yes it is!

Reviewed by Mrs. Boehm

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

What first impressed me about Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler were the reviews - so many positive reviews. Certainly it needed to be in the BHS Media Center. When it arrived, I couldn't believe how heavy it was. Flipping through the pages I discovered that it was printed on thick, glossy paper - and there were illustrations! The illustrator, Maira Kalman, has done a fine job representing all the reasons... wait, let me begin at the beginning.

Min and Ed, Ed and Min, an unlikely couple. She's "different" and he's a co-captain of their high school basketball team. Rarely do those two date in reality. Min is writing a letter to Ed explaining all the reasons they broke up but, more than that, she's returning to him all of the keepsakes she's saved from their short relationship. As the box fills she imagines the thud it will make when she drops it on the doorstep of his home. She recalls each keepsake and the event that it came from. Her anger builds as she fills the box yet she is saddened as well.

I imagine as you read this book, you'll either believe that they do break up in the end or that they actually do not, in spite of the title. You'll read with a preconceived notion of how likely a girl such as Min will fit in with the friends and lifestyle of a jock such as Ed. Can he really be falling in love with Min for being different than all the other girls he's dated? Can she convince him that enjoying the more artsy side of life can be enjoyable? Will they stay together? Will she dump the box as he dumped her?

Back to the illustrations - Remember Daniel Handler? The author's pseudonym is Lemony Snicket; the author of the Series of Unfortunate Events books. I'm wondering if Mr. Handler liked the idea of illustrating each keepsake going into the box because those illustrations kept him connected to his younger readers, the fans of Lemony Snicket. What do you think?

Reviewed by Mrs. Boehm

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

Frankie Landau-Banks is smarter than the average fifteen year old girl, and she’s determined to prove it to a secret society of boys in The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart. Frankie is known as “Bunny Rabbit” to her a family, a name that annoys her because she feels that they underestimate her. 

When she returns to Alabaster boarding school for her sophomore year, she is minus her older sister (who graduated) and plus some new curves that developed over the summer. Suddenly the boys on campus find her attractive, and she finds herself being asked to a party by Matthew Livingston, a senior who she’s had a crush on since her freshman year. Matthew is sweet and loving, but she soon finds that he will cancel plans with her in favor of his friend Alpha. Frankie deals with this until Matthew cancels a much-anticipated date night. Upset, she follows him, and finds that he is meeting with the Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds—an all male club her father belonged to during his days at Alabaster. Frankie becomes increasingly obsessed with the club and being able to be a part of it. She takes it upon herself to find the club’s history, entitled “The Disreputable History of the Loyal Order of the Bassett Hounds.” Upon finding it, she master-minds several campus-wide pranks which she gets the boys in the club to execute by masquerading as Alpha. Alpha goes along with her plans and takes credit for them, but soon the school is calling the pranks “vandalism” and someone is going to have to take the fall.

Frankie is a believable teenage girl with insecurities and a brilliant mind. The story is told from a third person perspective, by a narrator who is very matter-of-fact, which makes the book feel almost like a police case of psychology study at times. There is adventure and romance galore, all rolled into the feeling of exclusiveness that seems to automatically accompany a boarding school setting. The rule breaking that is performed by the Loyal Order of the Bassett Hounds often has a deeper meaning behind the surface of the prank, but it is never anything too dark or serious. Indeed, the pranks are often a call for some sort of improvement to Alabaster or to do away with the “old boy” mentality. This book is a wonderful read, and girls who have been waiting for a female with the capability of being an evil genius to emerge will be pleased. I give it 5 out of 5 stars!

Reviewed by Mrs. Fribley

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

In the coming-of-age novel What Happened to Goodbye, Sarah Dessen draws the reader into the story through her extremely relatable characters. The story revolves around a teenage girl, named Mclean Sweet, who has experienced a horrible divorce between her parents. The divorce was a result of her mother’s affair with a famous basketball coach, who had also previously been her father’s idol. Mclean’s father is involved in the restaurant business and is constantly moving which allows Mclean to become another person in each town they travel to. When Mclean and her father move to Lakeview, Mclean is finally able to find herself through the other relatable characters that Dessen develops in the novel.

I would recommend this novel, or any other novel by Sarah Dessen, to any teenage girl anywhere. It is a fun and comforting read that a high school girl will be able to relate to through the diverse characters that Dessen establishes.

Reviewed by BHS student J. Provenzola

The Cardturner : a Novel About a King, a Queen, and a Joker by Louis Sachar

This may be the first YA novel about playing the card game of bridge that I've ever seen. Growing up in a home where my parents played bridge and were active members of bridge clubs, I had to give The Cardturner by Louis Sachar a try.

Alton is 17 years old and his great uncle needs him. Uncle Lester Trapp is wealthy, in poor health, blind, and an avid bridge player. To continue to play bridge, he needs someone to be his "eyes" at the bridge tournaments - a cardturner. As many great uncles in novels, Uncle Lester is also a bit cantankerous. Alton is a typical teen, a bit lackadaisical, looking for a focus to his life AND a girlfriend. Yes, there is also a love story here.

What I didn't expect in this novel were all the details about the art of playing bridge including some play-by-play tricks taken at the bridge table. Although I have tried to play bridge and understand some of what's involved, I will admit that I scanned over the bridge plays. As it turns out, the author, Louis Sachar is also an avid bridge player.

Alton finds himself immersed in Uncle Lester's bridge world and friends. Over time he develops an appreciation for the skills needed to play. You may guess it, before this novel is done, Alton does become a bridge player in his own right. Now that is not a "spoiler" for you, the reader, because there is much to enjoy in this book. If you don't play bridge or even card games, this may not be a book for you. If you enjoy your grandparents or other elderly relatives, you'll want to give this a chance.

Reviewed by Mrs. Boehm

The Things a Brother Knows by Dana Reinhardt

Brothers and sisters - relationships that are for a lifetime. We love our brothers, we love our sisters but they can sure frustrate us. The Things a Brother Knows by Dana Reinhardt certainly proves that true.

Levi and Boaz. You'll feel their love for each other, you'll know their pains. Boaz is the town hero. He has just returned from a tour-of-duty with the U.S. Marines in a desert country. The town is very proud of him and thankful for his service. Levi, his 17 year old brother, has always lived in Bo's shadow. Now he's benefiting from his brother's heroism: high-fives from high school students he's not known, the attention of girls, and a new, plum job. Yet the reality in their home is that Bo is NOT doing too well. He's spending his days alone in his room not willing to talk to family or friends. Everyone is willing to give Bo some time knowing it can't be easy to return to civilian life. Levi is not so sure. He believes Boaz is planning something - a trip away from home.

When Bo does set out on foot heading to Washington, DC, Levi wants to follow. Bo will have none of that, he wants to hike alone. With the help of family and friends, Levi persists and Bo reluctantly, silently accepts his presence. Mind you, they are walking hundreds of miles for days on end to DC! What can brothers do spending that much time together? Will they regain the closeness they once shared? Why DC? What is Bo looking for in our national capital?

You'll be surprised. You'll learn about what it takes to be a U.S. Marine. You'll feel sympathy for this family. You'll burst with pride for Levi and Bo. And you'll likely shed a tear - it's that good!

Reviewed by Mrs. Boehm

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

There is one sentence on the book jacket's author bio that I am always drawn to - "This is her first novel." Why do I like that? I've read many books by first time authors that have been impressive, even award winning stories. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver is another and she does not disappoint. To realize that this is Oliver's first book is impressive.

Let's take a look at the cover where another sentence caught my attention - "You'll have no choice but to tear through this book!" I did - finished it in one day, actually a half day and I don't consider myself a fast reader. Here's why.

Samantha is a high school senior in the group of popular kids. In many ways she and her friends are bullies to others. The opening chapters make that very clear as they ridicule their fellow students. Then one night after a drunken party, Sam and her friends are in a tragic car accident, hospitalizing and killing some. The story takes an unusual twist when Sam wakes up the next morning only to realize that fateful day is repeating. She actually repeats that horrific Friday seven times! Each time with subtle changes to the day and of course she begins to change how she approaches each day differently.

What would you do if you could repeat a day? Would you have any regrets? Would you amend your attitude? Treat others differently? Try harder in school? Be kind to your sisters or brothers? Respect your parents? Each day that Sam can repeat the day she grows stronger and more mature finally seizing the opportunity to do the right thing.

This book is also a romance story but not in the sense that only a girl would want to read it. Even the high school boys play an essential role in the outcome. When finished, I was both sad yet proud of Samantha's seventh day. I hope you will be too. You'll definitely be thinking "what would I do" for a long time.

Reviewed by Mrs. Boehm

Tagged by Mara Purnhagen

Harlequin Teen - You won me over with this one! I was introduced to Tagged by Mara Purnhagen when her proud aunt and BHS art teacher told me about her niece Mara's first published work. Just a few quick weeks later, she donated a copy for our media center. I set off immediately to read it. I was very pleasantly surprised.

The premise in Tagged may seem to be the giant, artsy gorilla graffiti that appears overnight on the side of buildings in town. But don't be fooled. There is much that digs deeper and includes a relevant, loved teacher who draws the best from his students, a fun coffee shop owner that completely trusts Kate and Eli, a bff friendship like no other, cool parents who give Kate respect and their support, and a budding romance that hopefully will go somewhere.

Let's see how many teen readers we can get to read the work of this wonderful, new author. We can support and celebrate her first book and keep our eyes open for many more. Congratulations Mara!

Reviewed by Mrs. Boehm