By Maryn Ashdown
Port Moody Public Library
Every year, middle schools across the Tri-Cities face off in an epic battle of book-based trivia. Teams of students compete to see who knows the most about six excellent teen titles chosen by local teacher librarians. This year’s novels are sure to be in high demand, as competitors frantically cram facts into their heads in preparation for the final Battle of the Books. Why not pick up one of the challenge books at your local library, and find out what all the fuss is about?
The Ruins of Gorlan is the first in John Flanagan’s popular Ranger’s Apprentice series. Fifteen year old Will isn’t eager to sign on as a ranger, but he’s too small for fighter training. He swallows his disappointment, and is surprised and pleased to find that his size and agility make him perfect for the undercover work of a ranger. His master, Halt, is a stern but capable teacher, and Will excels at the undercover work of a Ranger. When the evil Morgarath sends nightmarish beasts to topple the kingdom, Will must put all of his new skills to work in its defence.
Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree is a lovely and insightful book about what it’s like to be different. Middle school can be a tough place, and Emma-Jean definitely marches to her own beat! Unlike the rest of her seventh grade classmates, Emma-Jean uses reason to guide her actions. Her incredibly logical brain helps her to stand apart from the social turmoil that upsets and excites her classmates, and avoid the emotional confusion of twelve-year-old friendships and enmities. However, Emma-Jean’s detachment is broken when she uses her keen intelligence to help classmate Colleen out of a sticky social situation. Once Emma-Jean sees how her logical solution can “solve” an emotional problem, she can’t resist meddling again. Soon all her chickens come home to roost, and Emma-Jean must realize that logic just can’t solve matters of the heart.
Imagine if you could be invisible. What would it be like to move unseen amongst your teachers and classmates? Eighth-grader Calvin Schwa knows exactly what it feels like, because he has a nearly supernatural ability to fly beneath the social radar. People just don’t notice him. Anthony “Antsy” Bonano has the opposite gift: he’s a one-kid comedy show, and Calvin is perfect for his next prank. Antsy takes bets on what the Schwa can get away with, and the boys try a series of increasingly daring stunts before getting nabbed by town grump (and millionaire) Mr. Crawley. Their punishment is...perfect. In The Schwa Was Here, author Neal Schusterman has written a hilarious, complicated and touching story about boys, friendship, and the importance of being noticed and included.
You may have heard of Suzanne Collins’ award winning novel, The Hunger Games. This science fiction title is set in a post-apocalyptic North America, where citizens from each region of Panem are forced to give up one boy and one girl for the brutal and terrorizing Hunger Games. The Hunger Games are meant to keep the citizens of Panem frightened and subdued...and they’re horribly effective. The chosen teens compete against each other to the death, while cameras record every grisly moment, and broadcast the carnage to the nation. There can only be one winner in these games, and the prize is lifelong security, and a food bonus for the victor’s home territory. Sixteen-year-old Katniss is terrified of dying in the games, but she knows that winning might be the only way to save her family from a slow death by starvation. But Katniss isn’t a warrior, and she’s sick at the thought of having to kill her fellow tribute, Peeta. As tributes fight and die around her, Katniss can’t stop thinking about how to survive the games, save her family, and somehow keep Peeta alive too.
The Crazy Man is a beautiful book about love, loss, and acceptance. Eleven-year-old Emaline’s world shatters when a horrible farm accident mangles her leg, and leads to her father’s abandonment. At the end of her rope, Emaline’s mother hires a patient from the mental hospital down the road to help out on the farm. Despite her own misgivings, and the cruel attitudes of the townsfolk, Emaline finds solace in Angus’s steadfast kindness. This book is set in Saskatchewan in the 1960’s, and author Pamela Porter tackles the topics of prejudice, ability and healing head on.
The Garbage King, by Elizabeth Laird, plunges the reader into the heat and dust of Ethiopia. Set in the streets of Addis Ababa, this story follows the fates of two very different boys. Mamo’s family is impoverished, and he is left to fend for himself after his mother dies. He becomes a victim of child slavery, but he uses his sharp wits to escape, and find a place for himself on the streets. Dani comes from a wealthy background, but he flees his tyrannical father, and becomes fast friends with Mamo. Together, the boys join a street gang, and find friendship, loyalty and dignity despite their desperate circumstances. Laird shines a harsh light on child poverty in Africa, while spinning a wonderful tale of friendship, loyalty and trust.
These fantastic books will give kids aged 10-15 lots to think about. You can find these titles and more at your local public library.
