Literacy Now

“Lumatere had always been a feast for Froi’s eyes. Even during the years of little rain, it was a contrast of lush green grass and thick rich silt carpeting the Flatlands and the river villages. But Charyn was a kingdom of rock and very little beauty. Here the terrain was a rough path of dirt, pocketed with caves and hills of stones.” —FROI OF THE EXILES

Landscape is just about everything in a fantasy novel, and when I decided that I was going to write one, I knew I had to travel to get the setting right. Most of my FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK research took place in the Dordogne area of France as well as Umbria, Italy. I wanted the kingdom of Lumatere to look lush, much the same as the French and English country side. But when I sensed there would be a sequel, I knew that the neighbouring kingdom would have to be the complete opposite.

My research for a setting usually begins with Google or a travel book. I picture a place in my head and then I go searching for it. I found the town of Matera in the editors’ picks of a Lonely Planet guide. I instantly fell in love with the idea of my characters living in caves, so in March 2009, when the first spark of Froi came to me, I went to Central Italy in search of Charyn, the enemy kingdom where most of the action of FROI OF THE EXILES takes place.

Two important words came to my attention while I was in Matera: one was the Citavita (in Italian the words mean “city and life”) and the other was the Italian word for ravine—gravina. My photos don’t do justice to how mighty the gravina that splits Matera into two is, but I knew that somehow that chasm had to feature in the geography of the enemy capital and act as a gulf between people, brothers, lovers, and dreams.



In the photo above, you can see a church made of rock. On one side it looks over the ravine and on the other side you can see people’s homes. Across the ravine is a winding road. For my novel, I made the gravina much more narrow. Across from it, where the road curves, I placed a castle where Froi lives for part of the story.

“Froi walked to the door that opened to the balconette. Across the narrow stretch of the gravina, the outer wall of the oracle’s godshouse tilted toward them.” —FROI OF THE EXILES

Despite my trip in March 2009, FROI proved to be a difficult novel to write and I plotted it in my head for a long while before I began physically writing it. In September 2010, I was ready to truly get started. The action between the palace and the godshouse in the Citavita only takes up part of the novel, and I had to work out the rest of Charyn’s physical landscape.

Years before, in a FINNIKIN scene, I wrote about a view in France having ten shades of green and it took my breath away. We were in the middle of a drought here in Australia and I hadn’t seen that type of lushness for a while. But in Turkey, especially in Cappadocia, I got to see 10 shades of grey and it was equally as breathtaking. I wanted to contrast the kingdoms of both novels, and especially use the description of Charyn as a way of describing the spirit of its people. When Froi’s revulsion towards the Princess of Charyn turns into something more, he describes her as being every shade of Charyn stone.



Cappadocia was also used to describe the beautifully decadent province of Paladozza. I remember being on one of the flat roofs trying to Skype my sister back home and holding up my lap top so she could see what I was looking out at. It was a bad connection, but she caught a glimpse and couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

“In Paladozza a peculiar world of color existed on the roofs of people’s houses. Unlike Lumatere, with its lush greens and golds, here the strange landscape of stone cones and cave houses was coloured in shades of light pink and soft brown and white. Once upon a time stone had been stone to Froi.” —FROI OF THE EXILES

One of the major settings of FROI is a valley between Lumatere and Charyn. It was easy to visualise, but difficult to write and I was desperate to find the real thing. As usual, I found bits and pieces of it and created my own idea of the valley. Most of the detail comes from the Valley of Ihlara outside Cappadocia.

“...The valley between them had always fascinated him. Lucian caught sight of the gorge below. On the side where the mountain met the stream was woodland and a world that looked easily like Lumatere. But on the other side of the stream was a strange landscape of caves perched high.... He reached the stream and could see the Charynites up in their caves looking down at him suspiciously.... Farther along Phaedra of Alonso was bent over in what looked like a vegetable patch....” —FROI OF THE EXILES

This is how I imagine the stream seen from the Lumateran side.



This is where the Charyn refugees were camped in caves on the other side of the stream.



This photo shows the type of vegetable patches that still thrived in such terrain. As haphazard as they look, they still managed to feed people in hiding. I loved the true stories about how those who hid in the Ihlara Valley thousands of years ago had to find a way to fertilise the soil. So they carved little holes in the outer cave walls for pigeons and then each day they’d collect the droppings.



This final photo is a fun one. I was in Troy and they had this re-enactment photo of the invasion and apart from the fear of what the second man was forced to see looking up the first man’s skirt, it gave me an idea of how to get Froi into a room I was desperate for him to get into. And just to prove that not all research comes from the most profound of places.

“He climbed out to stand on the ledge with his face pressed to the outer walls, his fingers feeling for grooves, his toes gripping stone. Slowly he made his way up to the window above. Despite the short distance and Froi’s expertise...in climbing all things impossible—all things impossible took on new meaning when there was nothing beneath him but unending space and the promise of death.” —FROI OF THE EXILES

Melina Marchetta is the acclaimed and award-winning author of JELLICOE ROAD, which won the Michael L. Printz Award; SAVING FRANCESCA, and its companion novel, THE PIPER'S SON; and LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI. She lives in Australia, where FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK, her first fantasy novel, won an Aurealis Award. Her latest novel, FROI OF THE EXILES, was released in the U.S. earlier this month. You can visit Melina online at http://www.melinamarchetta.com.au/.



5 Questions With... Melina Marchetta (JELLICOE ROAD, FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK)

Flights of Fantasy Book Reviews

More and more teachers and parents are realizing that graphic novels are an easy way to hook reluctant readers as well as keep older readers engaged. While many readers are familiar with Jennifer and Matthew Holm’s Babymouse series, Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Jeff Smith’s Bone series, and even Kazu Kibuishi’s Amulet series, there are more and more graphic novels on a wide variety of topics available for the readers of all ages. If you’re interested in dipping your toes into some graphic novels, check out the books reviewed this week by members of the International Reading Association's Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group, and be sure to visit the informative No Flying No Tights website at http://noflyingnotights.com. The site serves up graphic novel reviews and resources for those who want to be in the know. 

GRADES 1-2

Kroll, Steven. (2012). Chick and Chickie Play All Day! Ill. by Claude Ponti. Somerville, MA: Toon Books/Candlewick. 

As do most good friends, Chick and Chickie have fun playing together. First, they decide to make masks, and they take turns scaring one another. Next they decide to play school and have a good time with the letter A. They try different things with the first letter of the alphabet to see what sounds it will make. Beginning readers will enjoy a graphic novel such as this one that they can read independently.

- Terrell A. Young, Brigham Young University

GRADES 3-5

Aguirre, Jorge. (2012). Giants, beware! Illus. by Rafael Rosado. New York: First Second/Roaring Brook. 

Outspoken and ill-mannered, Claudette refuses to accept the palatable but simplified version of how her town was saved from a giant many years ago. When signs seem to indicate that the giant, who was allowed to return to his home, has reverted to his taste for babies’ toes, Claudette has had enough and takes matters into her own hands. While her friend Marie is interested only in becoming a princess, and her younger brother Gaston dreams of owning his own pastry shop, Claudette tricks the two into joining her quest. Relying on their wits and Claudette's physical prowess as a fighter, they make their way through various perils—including a hag guarding an apple crop while dreaming of the beauty she lost because of a spell and a water king in search of a consort for his son—only to meet a giant. But this giant only wants to play, and in order to trick the townspeople who want to rescue the children and kill the giant, they concoct a simple ruse to fool them into thinking the giant has been killed. The story is great fun to read since the characters have such vivid personalities—even Valiant, a pug who often leaves his signs everywhere they go. While there are some loose ends at the story's conclusion, it would be impossible not to like these loyal friends. While giants might want to beware, so should readers since this title is so addictive. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Holm, Jennifer & Holm, Matt. (2011). Squish No.2: Brave New Pond.  New York: Random House.

Following his oozy introduction in Squish No. 1: Super Amoeba, Squish prepares for the first day of school, which he vows will be different this time. He’s even made a to-do list that includes trying to be accepted by the “in” crowd led by the six super-cool Algae brothers. The book is reminiscent of a teen novel with intimidating high school bullies but with a twist: it’s filled with pond vocabulary. If Squish wants to hang out with the big Algae brothers, he must dump nacho cheese over his nerdy friend Pod. Squish reflects on what his comic book hero Super Amoeba might do in order to resolve this moral dilemma and makes the right decision. Green highlights throughout this graphic novel keep the idea of the pond culture ever present, even in the school administrator’s name—Principal Planaria. This is a great book to use at the start of the school year or even throughout the year since it tackles many issues faced by middle graders, such as fitting in, loyalty, and bullying. Teachers might like to use the book trailer on author Jennifer Holm’s website at www.jenniferholm.com to introduce Squish and create some predictions about the beginning of school. The fun doesn’t end when the book does since readers can create their own slime from a recipe in the “Fun Science with Pod” section at the book’s conclusion.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Reading and Library Consultant

GRADES 6-7

Ignatow, Amy. (2012). The Popularity Papers: The rocky road trip of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang. New York: Amulet Books.

As sixth grade finally ends, best friends Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang have great plans for the summer. But those plans are changed when Lydia’s mother must return to London for her job and her Goth sister Melody heads to Guatemala for a work project. The two friends end up on a road trip with Julie's two fathers. After a cross-country flight, they help Julie’s grandparents move and then drive across the United States, making stops along the way to see the sights and visit family members. A brief visit with Lydia's father ends disappointingly since he has no time to spend with her and her stepbrothers are just as bratty as Melody described them. While some of the sections featuring neat facts about the places they have visited have a decidedly informative element, the storyline allows all the characters, even Melody, to evolve. As they watch the adults in their lives navigate their own family dynamics, Julie and Lydia record their observations in their notebook and realize that growing up doesn’t mean escaping from parental expectations. The ink, colored pencil, colored marker, yarn, and digital illustrations fit the girls' personalities perfectly, adding immeasurably to the pleasures of reading this fourth title in the popular series.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Kibuishi, Kazu. (2012). Explorer: The mystery boxes: Seven graphic stories. New York: Amulet Books. 

Seven short graphic stories are connected by their authors’ various attempts to answer the question of “What exactly is in the box?” Each separate and unique story has the appearance of the mysterious box at the core of the plot, leaving the reader to figure out each box’s contents. In addition to the popular graphic novel artist Kibuishi, the other stories are illustrated by such distinguished artists as Raina Telgemeier, Rad Sechrist, Jason Caffoe, Stuart Livingston, Johane Matte, Dave Roman, and newcomer Emily Carroll. The stories cover a broad range of territory, including war, the Earth’s possible future, and all sorts of trickery, and each approach to the question is different. While some stories are filled with humor and suspense, others may be more suited for mature readers. The cover art is perfect for enticing kids to reach for a title where much mystery awaits.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Reading and Library Consultant

GRADES 9-12

Arni, Samhita. (2011). Sita’s Ramayana.  Art by Moyna Chitrakar. Toronto: Groundwood Books. 

Departing from the traditional way of telling this epic tale from India, the author has chosen to relate the story from a more feminist point of view through the voice of Sita, the wife of King Rama, as the storyteller. Although the story stays true to its traditional roots dating from 300 B.C.E. and the illustrator has used Indian Patua scrolls on which to base the newly designed graphic style, the artwork stays true to the original story of demons stealing the queen after Rama has foolishly and harshly insulted them. Now a prisoner kidnapped by the demons, Sita can rely only on hearsay and the friendship of animals to make her existence bearable. Battles are waged for her return, and eventually are successful although Sita’s experiences have marked her, and her newfound independence continues after she has been rescued. The illustrations are engaging, vibrant and bold to give the story new life. The title was selected as an ALA Notable. The author, who lives in India, can be heard in this television interview discussing the book and back story and her reasons for using Sita’s strong female voice at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5MisgSFP1Q&feature=youtu.be.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Reading and Library Consultant

Bertozzi, Nick. (2011). Lewis & Clark.  New York: First Second Books/ Macmillan.

Using a more oversized format than most graphic novels, Bertozzi describes a journey based on historical fact but with a hint of humor to the story of the explorers and their entourage. These historical characters are portrayed with awareness of their unique personalities and foibles as they face hardships in search of the passage to the West. Readers view a tableau of this epic historic journey through the stories of encounters with treacherous mountains and rivers and attempts to appease the sometimes difficult Lewis as well as watching Sacagawea, the only woman on the trek, act as translator. Then, too, there are scenes that make it clear just how exasperating it must have been to deal with the clumsy Charbonneau’s attempts to assist the group. Following the speech bubbles, the author/illustrator expresses the feelings and emotions of the characters in each new situation along the trail. This is the first in a planned series of graphic novels on explorers with the next title focusing on Ernest Shackleton’s expedition to Antarctica. 

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Reading and Library Consultant

Brosgol, Vera. (2011). Anya’s ghost. New York: First Second/Roaring Brook Press. 

As do so many teens, Anya finds it difficult to fit in at her high school. For one thing, there’s her name—the hard-to-pronounce Borzakovskaya, which hints at her Russian immigrant background. Plus, compared with her slender classmates, she considers herself too plump. Then, too, she is haunted by the ghost of Emily, a girl who died almost a century earlier. Anya feels sorry for Emily when she hears the story of how she died, and when she is rescued, Emily's ghost comes along with her. At first, things are great: Emily helps Anya cheat on her exams and gives her advice about how to attract the attentions of Sean, the basketball star on whom she has a crush. But eventually, Anya’s eyes are opened to the truth about both Sean and her ghost friend who seems, with each passing day, to be less a friend than someone trying to take over Anya’s life unless she puts Emily back where she belongs. Although this wonderful graphic novel about being an outsider is downright scary, it is also very, very funny. It’s hard to decide what aspect is most frightening—a ghost who doesn’t know her place or high school with its particular pecking order where knowing your place seems essential for survival.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University

Jablonski, Carla. (2011) Resistance Book 2: Defiance. Art by Leland Purvis. New York: First Second Books/Roaring Brook Press.

Book 2 in the planned trilogy Resistance, Defiance is historical fiction and graphic novel steeped in facts from WWII and the French Resistance. Set in a village in France, the story focuses on Paul, his mother and two sisters. Their father has been taken away by the Nazis. Paul’s hatred of the Germans and what is happening to his occupied country compels him to become the youngest member of the resistance group hiding in the forests nearby. Not only does Paul’s artwork provide maps for the resistance fighters, but his anti-Nazi posters get him into real trouble. His sisters demonstrate ways of resistance that are more subtle than their brother’s, such as refusing to sing the new government’s songs at schools. Sylvie, the older sister, dates a German soldier to gather information and learns the Nazis are planning to raid a suspected group, the Maquis, within the resistance. The story ends on a suspenseful note that will leave readers anxious for the third and final volume. The pictures and speech bubbles work well together to bring this period of history to life through engaging characters. The author has provided historical notes at the beginning and end of the book that was selected for the ALA Great Graphic Novels for Teens list.

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Reading and Library Consultant

Kerns, Ann. (2012). I date dead people. Illus. by Janina Gorrissen. Minneapolis: Graphic Universe. 

The My Boyfriend Is a Monster graphic novel series is delightful, and this one, the fifth in the series, is sure to bring new fans to the series. Jane Austen-fan Nora Reilly despairs of finding a Mr. Darcy or even a Heathcliff in today's modern world, and even the eligible guys at school don’t pay any attention to her.  Nora’s friend Kirsty suggests that popular guy Nick Harris might fit the bill, but Nora is certain that he doesn’t even know who she is. Romance comes for Nora when her parents’ plan to get rid of the grandfather clock in the house prompts a ghostly visit from Thomas Barnes who died when he was eighteen. The two teens spend time together, falling in love, and fighting off the evil spirits in the house with the help of a psychic. Because of Nora's help, Tom is finally able to cross over into the spirit world, leaving her free to love someone who's been waiting for her all along. This is a cool story with a strong-minded heroine and a storyline with many possibilities.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

by Jen Donovan

The International Reading Association partners with the NCTE and Verizon Thinkfinity to produce ReadWriteThink.org, a website devoted to providing literacy instruction and interactive resources for grades K-12. ReadWriteThink presents teachers with effective lesson plans and strategies, a professional community, and engaging online interactive student tools. One of their most popular interactives that can be applied to almost any literacy lesson is the K-W-L Creator.

Just as modern technology has replaced blackboards with smart-boards, and turned written papers into online assignments, the traditional K-W-L chart has been transformed from its paper format to a new online interactive tool. The K-W-L method helps students prepare for what they are reading by organizing what they know (K), what they want (W) to learn, and reflecting on what they’ve learned (L). The K-W-L Creator provides teachers and students with an interactive way to learn through reading comprehension.

The interactive tool is easy to use and understand. Because it is accessible online, students can use the internet to further explore their topic. They can include links to images, videos, and other online resources in their own K-W-L charts, creating visual presentations of what they’ve learned. Teachers can also display the tool on their interactive whiteboards and use it for a class exercise. Each individual chart can be printed separately, so the teacher can focus on a certain area with the entire class. For example, the “L” section can be used to consider and summarize what the class has learned from the readings. 

The worksaver feature is what makes this interactive really unique. It allows users to save their work to either their computer or to their e-mail. Teachers are able to modify the K-W-L charts by asking their own questions and save these modifications for the next lesson. The worksaver functionality also enables students to save their progress and reflect on the overall process of completing the entire K-W-L exercise online. ReadWriteThink has an online video tutorial about saving work for those who need assistance. 

The K-W-L Creator is a highly customizable tool that can be as interactive as you want it to be. Printouts of the K-W-L chart as well as individual charts are available for download from the website. There are also several different versions of K-W-L graphic organizers which create print-out graphic organizers on any specific topic, creating an instant classroom exercise.

The K-W-L Creator, along with all the other interactive tools from the website, is an engaging way of teaching literacy and organization to students. It’s easy to use and the students have fun with the interactive, online-learning component of the tool. ReadWriteThink.org gives teachers the freedom and the resources to tailor their lesson plans, making learning literacy fun and exciting. Visit the K-W-L Creator webpage for more information. 

Jen Donovan is an intern in the Strategic Communications Department of the International Reading Association. 

by W. Ian O'Byrne

How will living in a highly socialized, technologized global community ultimately affect the literate lives of our students? Research from the Kaiser Family Foundation has determined that students (8 to 18 years of age) devote an average of seven and a half hours daily consuming and interacting with digital media. Some believe this unfettered access to online information and media resources allows for new opportunities to empower students as readers and writers. Still others fear the risks and challenges that occur as we ask students to superficially think, read, and create when working in an online informational space. Recent research from the Pew Internet & American Life Project splits this debate in two.

The research report is titled “Millennials will benefit and suffer due to their hyperconnected lives.” This report is the latest from the series of studies conducted in a partnership with Elon University that seek to determine what the future of the Internet will look like. The study surveyed 1,021 Internet experts to determine whether this “always on” connection to information will be a net positive or a net negative by 2020. The results of the study are intriguing as 55% of the experts surveyed indicated that these “hyperconnected” lives of our students could ultimately be a positive as students are overcoming their own shortcomings as learners and utilizing “collective intelligence.” The results also indicate that 42% of the respondents indicated that this ultimately would prove to be a negative as we are hard-wiring our brains in “unhealthy,” superficial ways. 

The results of this work have been discussed on public radio, in the newspaper, and online. An examination of the results, and the design of the study indicate (for me at least) that there is a large amount of disagreement on parts of even the experts as to what the future holds. What is important is that we find opportunities to use online information authentically and effectively in our classrooms. Classroom instructors need to build the knowledge, skills, and dispositions our students will need as they interact in an online learning and informational space. We cannot begin to imagine what the text, or the tools will ultimately look like as these Internet and other communication technologies evolve. As literacy educators we can have a key role in determining how our students will interact when they get there. 

W. Ian O'Byrne is an assistant professor in the Department of Education at the University of New Haven.

This article is part of a series from the Technology in Literacy Education Special Interest Group (TILE-SIG).

Technology Professional Development Sessions at the IRA Annual Convention

Mark Prensky calls 21st century children digital natives because they learned to crawl alongside a PC. Digital natives are adept at playing video games, surfing the internet, and texting their friends. Classroom teachers are considered digital immigrants because they were not born during the digital age and are learning the computer language. All of the books discussed below by members of the International Reading Association Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) will appeal to digital natives and digital immigrants since they infuse technology. 

GRADES K-3

Dyckman, Ame. (2012). Boy + Bot. Illus. by Dan Yaccarino. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.  

Ame Dyckman’s debut into the picture book world begins with this BFR (Big Friendly Robot). One day Boy meets Robot in the woods and they are instant friends. When Robot goes home with Boy to play, his on/off button gets pushed and he powers down. Boy thinks there is something wrong and uses traditional home remedies to nurse him back to life: applesauce and reading aloud. When Boy falls asleep Bot’s button is pushed back ON and thinks something is wrong with Boy. With only technological know-how, Robot tries to bring Boy to life with oil and reading the instruction manual. When Bot tries to think how a battery might help, Inventor arrives to yell, “Stop!” and is able to remedy the situation. Told in simple language, the friendship developed between Boy and Bot is as real as the wordless double-page spreads at the end of the book warmly depict. For more information and reviews, visit the author’s website and blog. 

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Milgrim, David. (2011). Goodnight iPad: A parody for the next generation. New York: Blue Rider Press/Penguin Group.

“In the bright buzzing room / There was an iPad / And a kid playing Doom / And a screensaver of—“ (unpaginated). In the accompanying illustrations, reminiscent of the original Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, there are six young rabbits playing gadgets such as an iPod, laptop, or radio. Later, father rabbit is lounging in a chair with empty bookshelves behind him. The text says, “There were three little Nooks / With ten thousand books” (unpaginated). A full page spread depicts a huge LCD television with Wi-Fi and HDTV. All of the taps, beeps, dings and plinks of emails and tweets are keeping the old woman awake. She finally can’t take it anymore and grabs a gadget, “Goodnight iPad” (unpaginated). The boy rabbit holds on tightly screaming, “Noooooooooooo” (unpaginated). Soon other technology instruments—remotes, MP3s, and a BlackBerry—are thrown out the window. The rabbits scream and cry in dismay, yet grandma rounds them up and puts them to bed. Slowly the illustrations dim to dark with snoring rabbits. On the closing page a young rabbit holds a flashlight and reads the original picture book that this parody is based off of. 

- Deanna Day, Washington State University, Vancouver

Smith, Lane. (2010). It’s a book. New York: Roaring Brook Press.

A curious donkey watches as his monkey friend reads a book, a novelty item for the donkey. Wondering what it can do and how to scroll through its pages or blog with it, skills with which he is familiar from his online reading experiences, he is also curious about how such a passive creation can keep his friend entertained. After all, it doesn’t tweet, twitter, text, or make its characters fight like the donkey’s computer programs can. For fans of the digital world, this picture book is a deliciously satiric poke at all the things books actually can do, and as the monkey says on the next to last page, there’s no need even to charge it up once you’ve finished with it. As bibliophiles know, once a book has been completed, it’s ready for the next reader or even a reread by the same reader without any fussy downloads or technical considerations. A book, after all, is a book, no batteries needed. The simple illustrations add to this tribute to reading the old fashion way with a mouse hiding beneath the monkey’s hat and popping out to make sly observations rather than to help navigate through the book’s pages. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

GRADES 5-8

Gifford, Clive. (2012). Cool Tech. New York: Scholastic Reference.

Coming this spring as the companion to the author’s Cool Tech (DK, 2011), this new volume gives kids a look at the technology behind their favorite video games, cell phones, GPS systems, and more. These gadgets we have gotten used to operating everyday are taken apart and given explanations as to how they actually work. In addition to everyday tech forms, enter the world of cyborgs, spy gadgets and air and land vehicles. Looking at the science behind these favorite and fun technologies, will give readers the why and how things work. 

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Reese, Jenn. (2012). Above World. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

Technologically dependent upon breathing necklaces that are failing, the undersea colony of Coral Kampii is in danger. Fleeing from on overpopulated world generations earlier, the Kampii have found a way to genetically modify themselves to living under the oceans but that way of life is now endangered. No one has the knowledge to repair the aging breathing devices. Thirteen-year-old Aluna and her techno-savvy friend Hoku make the decision to leave their underwater world and search for a solution Above World. They encounter other creatures that have adapted to living conditions that will remind the reader of creatures from mythology. Though an adventure story with exciting twists and turns, this science fiction journey is also about trust and friendship. Visit this first time author at her website to keep up with the next venture into Above World. 

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Shulman, Mark and Hazlitt Krog. (2012). Attack of the Killer Video Book: Tips & tricks for young directors. Revised and updated. Ontario, CA: Annick Press/Firefly Books.  

As digital cameras continually improve on phones and individual cameras, and YouTube and FaceBook video postings become more popular, this new edition of Attack of the Killer Video Book offers the latest tips for young filmmakers. Tips include lighting, special effects, shooting from phone cameras or webcams and music videos. The design and layout of the book with sidebars and speech bubbles make this a very kid-friendly handbook. Suggestions for marketing or posting your videos are included. For teachers who are interested in incorporating video techniques and ideas for large groups in classrooms, the publisher has a detailed lesson plan available. 

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

GRADES 9 to 12

Brooks, Kevin. (2011). iBoy. New York: Scholastic. 

Set in the future, Tom is hit by an iPhone on his way to visit a childhood friend. The surgeons do their best to remove it but fragments are still lodged in his brain. He becomes part human and part iPhone. He is able to hear phone calls, read emails and texts, hack into databases, take photographs and videos—essentially anything an iPhone can do but more. Tom can see a mobile phone in the back of someone's pocket and instantly download and scan information, thus knowing everything about this stranger. In addition, his scar transmits electrical shocks and his skin glows like a lit up iPhone at night. When his friend, Lucy, is assaulted by a gang he sets out to solve who did it and why using all of his iPhone capabilities and superpowers. Later he is faced with some moral decisions. This is the prefect novel for young adolescents who have their cell phones attached to their ears. 

- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

Davies, Stephen. (2011). Outlaw. New York: Clarion Books. 

Suspended from his British boarding school for geothimbling and climbing a wall into an off-limits area, fifteen-year-old Jake Knight is sent to join his parents in Burkina Faso where he anticipates much adventure. Unsurprisingly, adventure finds him and his sister Kas when they are kidnapped at an elaborate banquet by two men trying to blame the kidnapping on Yakuuba Sor, a master of disguise considered by some to be a terrorist and by others to be a hero of the common folks. The action in the book is fast paced with something exciting happening in just about every chapter. There is humor in its pages as well, and readers are likely to be intrigued by the growing awareness of Jake and Kas that things are not as they seem, and that the alleged good guys may not be on the right side, after all. Jake’s sister Kas is more aware than her brother of the suffering of the poor in this country and the division between those with money and influence and those with few resources. Ironically, the very individuals Jake has been disdainful toward are the ones who help the two siblings escape from their captors. Adding to the intrigue are the nifty technological touches such as low-tech but useful ways to charge batteries, the Mosquito ringtone able to be heard only by young ears, a beetle with a GPS component, and most chilling, the Predator, a highly effective bomb whose use promises complete annihilation of its target area and any humans within its range. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Hautman, Pete. (2012). The Klaatu Diskos: The obsidian blade. Somerville, MA: Candlewick. 

Fearful that his minister father will realize he has broken a rule, Tucker Feye watches as his father seems to disappear into thin air while on top of the roof of the house. Returning an hour later with Lahlia, a girl he claims to have found wandering alone downtown, Tucker’s father has lost his faith and no longer believes in the existence of God. As his father becomes increasingly depressed and his mother is drawn into an obsession with counting and numbers, Tucker engages in reckless behaviors with his neighbor friends. When he returns from an outing one day, his parents have disappeared, intent on finding help for his mother, and he has been left in the care of his uncle Kosh, a man he barely knows. While living in his reconstructed barn, Tucker sees a disk similar to the one he saw atop the roof when his father went missing. Eventually, he realizes that these disks provide avenues to the past and to the future as he desperately searches for his parents amid many shifts of time and setting and several attempts on his life. Most intriguing of all are the author’s hints that society's obsession with computer-related numbers can be blamed for the mental and emotional problems for its citizens, adding to its timeliness. Doctors even blame what they call Rapid-onset Autism-like Disorder in Tucker’s mother on her incessant solving of Sudoku puzzles. There is plenty of food for thought here, and while Hautman may be trying to do too much in this one--with time travel, disorders brought on by technology, prophets, extinct species that aren't extinct after all, and mendicants who use technology to heal--it will be interesting to see what happens in the next installment of this promised trilogy. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman 

Meyer, Marissa. (2011). Cinder. New York: Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan. 

Marissa Meyer’s science fiction transformation of the “Cinderella” story introduces a Chinese cyborg, Linh Mei, or Cinder as her friends know her. Being a cyborg earns Cinder second-class status from most people in New Beijing as well as the disdain of her stepmother. Yet, all of the technology pulsing throughout her body has some obvious benefits. For instance, she can easily detect someone's dishonesty, and she has the reputation of being the best mechanic in New Beijing. This reputation actually brings the prince to her in hopes that she can repair his android before the annual ball. When the Letumosis pandemic threatens her stepsister’s life, Cinder is “volunteered” for plague research that no one has ever survived. It is during this testing that Cinder learns she is more than just a cyborg. Readers will anxiously await the next books in the Lunar Chronicles so they can learn Cinder's fate.

- Terrell A. Young, Brigham Young University

McLaughlin, Lauren. (2011). Scored. New York: Random House. 

Once the Second Depression effectively eradicates the middle class, the future of the next generation is determined by scores determined by a computer program. Scores are posted periodically, and students move through various peer groups according to those scores. Through a series of surveillance tools--smart-cams or “eyeballs” as the teens like to call them--students are observed both while at school and on the street for any violations of the five elements of fitness: peer group, impulse control, congruity, diligence, and rapport. In this society, individuals are known and scored for the company they keep, and loyalty has little value since it won't earn any points. Imani's score drops drastically because of her friend’s decision to have a relationship with one of the unscored, leaving her with little chance at the college scholarship and successful future promised by a score 90 or above. In desperation, she pairs up with Diego Landis, one of the unscored, to write an essay examining both sides to the scoring system, but her motives are dishonest. Eventually, Imani realizes that the scoring system, perhaps intended to interrupt the pattern of poverty, is at its core simply another sorting machine with the ultimate goal being human perfection. Much of the book mirrors today’s tendency to define individuals by their own numbers--GPAs, SAT scores, salaries--numbers that have little to do with human worth or the characteristics that should matter. Readers are likely to ponder how succeeding at the scoring system means failing at being an individual and shedding the best of human nature. Could such a system, taken to extremes, eradicate kindness, generosity, and collaboration, behaviors avoided unless they are rewarded with points? This is a provocative title that raises important questions. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Price, Lissa. (2012). Starters. New York: Delacorte Press. 

On the run ever since the Spore Wars claimed her parents, Callie Woodland has been living in whatever abandoned spaces she and her brother Tyler can find. Because Tyler is sick and other survivors seem willing to fight to the death for food and space, Callie rents her body to wealthy older patrons via Prime Destinations, an outfit based in Beverly Hills and run by the mysterious Old Man. Since the Spore Wars killed off anyone between the age of twenty and sixty, teens such as Callie, known as Starters, are highly prized for the illusion of youth they can provide to the older generation or Enders. While technological advances have made it possible for them to live longer, it can’t stave off the effects of time. After weighing the benefits and the risks, Callie signs a contract, is cleaned up and beautified, and undergoes surgery to implant a microchip in her brain. But something goes wrong during her third rental, and she is able to hear the voice of the woman renting her body. The woman has become convinced that Prime Destinations had something to do with her missing granddaughter. As Callie wonders if she can trust anyone, even an unexpected love interest, she wishes she had not ignored the warning signs that things were not as they seemed. The book provides an interesting twist on today's society, which often seems to cater to teens and ignore the tastes of the elderly. Since there will be a follow-up title, perhaps the book’s lingering questions will be answered and the characters will be fleshed out even more. One thing is for certain: The future being painted here is bleak. This title is vivid proof that desperate individuals will agree to desperate solutions to their problems, and there is always someone ready to take advantage of their desperation. 

- Barbara A. Ward,Washington State University Pullman

Wells, Dan. (2012). Partials. New York: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins.  

A futuristic dystopia is created when a virus is unleashed by corporation ParaGen with the introduction of Partials, genetically engineered semi-humans who are taking the place of real human beings. The virus has wiped out most of human civilization and only a few thousand survivors remain. The virus has made it impossible for human babies to survive more than 56 hours after birth. Survivor Kira Walker, a 16 year old medic, is determined to fight the Partials and discover a way to bring back human life and a future for the survivors. Civilization is barely maintaining with limited resources like electricity, fuel, and transportation and even less hope that things will ever improve. So far Kira’s attempts have failed. Her latest idea is to capture a Partial and learn from it, which brings surprising results. Military action, scavenging, and a host of characters make this fast moving plot fraught with suspense. This first installment in a planned series will leave readers with a cliffhanger ending and anxiously awaiting the next book. The publishers have created an intriguing book trailer. In addition, this new series has a website and FaceBook fan page. 

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant