Rose, Malcolm. FRAMED

Rose, Malcolm.
FRAMED
New York : Kingfisher, 2005

As with most librarians, I’m constantly challenge by all the students who have read every single Alex Rider book and are looking for where to go next. Well, problem solved, and crisis averted (for now). Luke Harding happens to be the number 1 student in forensic sciences; in fact he’ll be the youngest student to graduate ever now that he's passed his forensic investigator test. Along with his robot, Malc, the ultra cool robot that can do just about anything, Luke’s set to go out and start working. His first assignment unfortunately hits rather close to home. One of his biggest rivals in the field of forensics, Crispin aka Crispy, is killed at his school, Crispy's murder is followed by 2 others including a professor that leave the school community shaking. While solving the crime Luke has to face the fact that all clues seem to point to him as being the murderer, even Malc doesn't believe that he could be innocent. How does he solve the crime and figure out who is out to get him? Fortunately, it doesn’t affect Luke’s ability to solve this mystery or have a little fun with it as he goes. Malcolm Rose's first book in the Traces series, Framed takes us into the excited and increasingly “cool” world of forensic science and investigation with action, adventure, cool gadgets and robots, mystery and just enough humor to keep us all laughing. (New Hampshire Isinglass Teen Read Award committee)

Riordan, Rick. LIGHTNING THIEF

Riordan, Rick.

THE LIGHTNING THIEF

New York : Miramax Books/Hyperion Books for Children, 2005.

The absolutely worst thing has just happened to you…you’ve been kicked out of your 5th school in 5 years, a school that is specially designed for “trouble makers” like you one that you were really trying to stay in. Okay, so maybe being kicked out of your 5th school in 5 years isn’t the worse thing that can happen to you. Especially when monsters from those Greek Mythology books you love seem to be coming to life and are determined to get you. You see, it isn’t really your fault that your pre-Algebra teacher just happens to be a winged hag who decides that it’s finally time to take you out of the picture during a field trip to New York’s Metropolitan Museum. And she wouldn’t have even done anything to you if it hadn’t been for Nancy. Mom will freak out. Things really could be a lot worse. You soon find yourself at Camp Half-Blood, where there are a lot of other kids like you. Turns out you’re the son of one of the Greek Gods. Yes, they’re still around and kicking, and living in New York City. The absolute worst part? You’re accused of stealing Zeus’ lightning bolt, and if you don’t get it back, well that could be the end of the world as we know it. So with your new friends from Camp, who are also demi-Gods, you’re off to the underworld, to visit Hades and get the lightning bolt back. And you thought being kicked out of your 5th…no, wait a minute it’s actually 6th boarding school in 6 years was the worst thing to happen. Find out what happens and whether you’ll get that lightning bolt back and save the world in The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. This is the first book in a series that, if your students are anything like mine, will have your students begging for the next book and gobbling up your Greek Mythology books to find out more about their favorite characters. (New Hampshire Isinglass Teen Read Award committee)

Reeve, Philip. MORTAL ENGINES

Reeve, Philip.
MORTAL ENGINES
New York : EOS, 2003.

Imagine a time, in the hopefully distant future, when cities prowl the earth preying on each other. Whole cities, like islands, mounted on tracs so they can hunt, or flee as the need arises on the great hunting ground that earth has become.
Thaddeus Valentine, the famous historian and archeologist of the great traction city of London, and his daughter Katherine are down in the gut when a young assassin with a black scarf strikes. Only the quick intervention of Tom, a lowly 3rd class apprentice saves Valentine from sure death. Racing after the fleeing girl, tom glimpses her hideously scarred face. "Look at what your Valentine did to me!" she screams. "Ask him! Ask him what he did to Hester Shaw!" Moments later she disappears down a waste chute and Tom, unable to stop, tumbles after her. He lands on a sea of mud scored by huge caterpillar tracks and watches as the great city that was his home churns off into the distance. How to survive? What is there in Out-Country? It looks to be a desolate wasteland. And why did the girl with the scarred face want to kill their hero?
Book 1 of The Hungry City Chronicles. (New Hampshire Isinglass Teen Read Award committee)

Pfeffer, Sue Beth. LIFE AS WE KNEW IT

Pfeffer, Susan Beth.
LIFE AS WE KNEW IT
Orlando : Harcourt, 2006

When scientists predict that an asteroid will collide with the moon, Miranda and her neighbors break out their lawn chairs to watch the spectacular show. But when the collision pushes the moon closer to the Earth, it sets off devastating tsunamis, earthquakes, and storms. Through her daily journal entries, Miranda recounts her family’s struggle to survive. While the book falls firmly into the science fiction genre, it will also appeal to readers who enjoyed Anne Frank’s diary, as the focus of the narrative is on a girl facing grim circumstances and ultimately learning about herself and the nature of hope. (New Hampshire Isinglass Teen Read Award committee)

Nolan, Han. SUMMER OF KINGS

Nolan, Han.
A SUMMER OF KINGS
Orlando : Harcourt, 2006

Let me tell you about my summer. The summer of 1963. This summer will not be like any of my past ones. No more summer- long tutoring. No more being the only one without a boy friend. Because this is the summer that my mother’s best friend (well they were best friends until they learned that little white girls and little black girls weren’t supposed to be best friends). Anyway this is the summer that my mother’s best friend sent her son north to spend the summer with us. Just until things cooled down a bit. Because her son, King-Roy, had been accused of killing a white man. Anyway this is to be the summer of my big romance. My romance with King-Roy. He is everything I expected – tall, dark and handsome – and only four years older than I am. He is kind, and gentle. I never expected that we would become soul-mates. I can tell him just everything, things I have never told anyone. And he can tap dance and he is teaching me how to tap-dance! There are other things I did not expect. I did not expect that he could get SO angry. And he talks about Malcolm X and the white devil (that’s me and all other whites). And I never imagined he would sneak a gun into our house. I’ll tell you all about it in Summer of the Kings. (New Hampshire Isinglass Teen Read Award committee)

Murdock, Catherine. DAIRY QUEEN

Murdock, Catherine Gilbert.
DAIRY QUEEN
New York : Houghton Mifflin, 2006

She may be “just a girl,” but D.J. knows football. She has always helped her older brothers’ practice, and now the coach of her rival high school’s team has asked her to train their quarterback and toughen him up. On top of that, she’s trying to keep the family farm up and running as her ailing father and working mother try to make ends meet. But as the summer wears on, D.J. begins to realize that she is ready to step out of her role as a helper and practice buddy and step up to the line on her own. This funny, high-spirited character will have readers cheering in Dairy Queen, by Catherine Murdock. (New Hampshire Isinglass Teen Read Award committee)

Lupica, Mike. HEAT

Lupica, Mike.
HEAT
New York : Puffin Books, 2007

Michael Arroyo’s father brings him to the US so that he will be able to pitch in the Little League World Series and make a name for himself. But before Michael can get there, his father dies, leaving him and his seventeen-year-old brother Carlos fearful of being discovered by the authorities. When Michael’s incredible pitching ability causes a competitor to challenge his age, he must produce a birth certificate that is lost somewhere in Cuba. Now Michael and Carlos must hide from a well-meaning admirer who happens to work for social services while they try to make ends meet and keep their Papi’s dream alive. This fast-paced sports story is upbeat and fun to read, even for someone like me who avoids a sports story at all costs. (New Hampshire Isinglass Teen Read Award committee)

Lubar, David. SLEEPING FRESHMAN NEVER LIE

A laugh-out-loud novel about surviving freshman year in high school. Scott Hudson uses a series of journal entries to his unborn baby brother, who he has nicknamed “Smelly,” to give tips and advice about everything from avoiding bullies and seniors to why you should not join the wrestling team. (“Two things get rubbed on that mat, butts and faces. This can’t be good for my complexion.”) This sure-fire hit from David Lubar will fly off your shelves. (New Hampshire Isinglass Teen Read Award committee)

Klages, Ellen. GREEN GLASS SEA

Klages, Ellen.
GREEN GLASS SEA
New York : Viking, 2006

It is 1943, and 11 year old Dewey Kerrigan is once again uprooted to follow her scientist father….this time to a remote area in New Mexico. When she reaches Los Alamos she finds that everything is a secret…locked doors, many hushed voices discussing the “Gadget”, and lots of places that are signed as off limits. It’s as if the rest of the world has forgotten anyone here exists. Dewey is lonely as her father is working long hours and he is her best friend after all. He’s the one who taught her how to be mechanical and he has always been there for her, even when her mother walked out on her when she was just a baby. So Dewey is left to fend for herself among the other kids on base…and that’s not so easy for someone considered a bit strange. Dewey soon has issues with Suze Gordon, a popular girl who makes fun of Dewey any chance she gets. And things only get worse when Dewey’s dad is called away and she is taken in by Suze’s parents….can she live with a girl who draws a line down the middle of her bedroom to keep Dewey’s JUNK out of her area? Will these two kill each other or become friends? Will the “gadget” work? And if so, will that end the war? This is a sweet and sometimes sad historical tale of how the children of Los Alamos grew up under the shadow the war. It is also a story of two girls who learn that true friends sometimes come from the oddest places. Be prepared with some tissues as you finish this one. (Isinglass Book Award committee, 2007-2008)

Higson, Charlie. SILVERFIN

Higson, Charlie.
SILVERFIN
New York : Hyperion Books for Children, 2005

The story opens in highlands of Scotland as a local boy, Alfie is sneaking onto the new laird's reserve to fish. There is something strange and very unpleasant about the new laird, and Alfie knows he better not get caught. While fishing he falls into the water and is overwhelmed, and then pulled under by large, very aggressive eels. The story then moves to a prestigious boy’s school and one of its newest students, a young James Bond. He is soon picked out for some vicious harassment by another new student, George Hellebore and his followers, but finds ways to deal with it. After all, he IS the young James Bond. Home for the holidays with his Scottish aunt, who of course lives near the nasty laird with the fishing pond full of eels, James befriends a boy who has come home to look for his young cousin, Alfie, who went fishing one day, and never came back. The story rumbles to an edgy climax as James and his friend Red tackle the nasty laird who is none other than the father of James’ school nemesis. Full of action and intrigue with a few surprises thrown in, this is a sure hit for your male readers. Book 1 in the Young Bond series. (New Hampshire Isinglass Teen Read Award committee)