Carter's Big Break - Brent Crawford

Carter's Big Break by Brent Crawford

I loved the first book in this series, Carter Finally Gets It. In this follow up Will Carter has just finished his freshman year of high school. His plans for the summer are dashed when he finds out he's can't be a lifeguard at the local pool with his friends. Also, Carter's girlfriend Abby, breaks up with after a very stupid move on his part. Carter's summer starts to look better after being cast play the lead roll in the movie Down Gets Out.

Down Gets Out is Carter's favorite book and the only unassigned book he's read. Carter's getting cast in a major movie is very believable, thanks to his starring roll in the school play Guys and Dolls. C.B. Down author of Down Gets Out, loved Carter's performance. Carter's co star is Hilary Idaho, a famous teen star. The movie is being shot in Carter's small town. He must show Hilary around town and what show her what it means to be a regular teenager.

This was an okay follow up. Carter Finally Gets It, was so good it would be very hard to match that. I still loved Carter's honest and funny voice. One of the books many strengths is how realistic Carter's various relationships come across. There is such an ease to Crawford's writing when it comes to these scenes. The author plays Carter and Abby off of each other very well. The same goes for Carter and his group of guy friends.

I don't rate books on my blog, but I must when I place reviews on amazon. At the end Carter's Big Break went from a four to a three. I felt the author hit the reader over the head with lessons. From Carter understanding how lucky he was. To him feeling sorry for Hilary Idaho, the famous teen star with an addiction problem and parents who don't seem to care. All of this took some of the fun out of the reading. Though Carter's voice makes this well worth reading. (I will always want more Carter)

This series is highly recommend for teenage boys. Especially since its so far from required reading. ages 14 up

Me, Frida - Amy Novesky, David Diaz

Me, Frida by Amy Novesky - illus. by David Diaz

This is a lovely story about famous Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Kahlo was unknown when she married an already famous Mexican artist, Diego Rivera. The couple moves to San Francisco

"They lived at 716 Montgomery Street, in the artists quarter. Beneath a leaky glass roof and dangling globes of light, they drank cafe con leche and ate sliced oranges. Outside, the world was cool and gray. Frida felt very far away from home. Diego was working on a mural for the city. While he skectched, Frida was restless. She strummed a guitar. She sang Mexican folk songs called corridos."

I loved David Diaz's illustrations. As always his use of color is beautiful. My only issue is the fact that Kahlo and Rivera, look about the same age. Rivera was about 20 years olders. Though the age difference wasn't mentioned in the story.

After Frida Kahlo explores San Francisco on her own, she feels more at home. I really liked Me, Frida, because I see a female artist who refused to be left in the shadows by her husband's success.

What Momma Left Me - Renee Watson

What Momma Left Me by Renee Watson

I loved Watson's picture book debut A Place Where Hurricanes Happen, which was released at the end of June, a few weeks before What Momma Left Me. Though I just now got around to reading Watson's middle grade novel debut. I didn't think I would like What Momma Left Me so I didn't seek it out. Thanks to the book description, I thought the story would be heavy on the lessons, the cover and main characters name Serenity, reinforced this idea.

When I finally picked up What Momma Left Me, I quickly realized how wrong I was. I really really enjoyed this story and loved Serenity's voice. Thirteen year old Serenity and her younger brother 12 yr old Danny move in with their grandparents after their mother is dies. The two are trying to find a new home with their grandparents.

To cope with her loss Serenity writes in a journal. At Serenity's new school, her English class will be studying poetry. The students are required to write a poem in whatever style they learned that week on Friday.

Serenity Evans

Mrs. Ross, 1 st Period

Poetry Workshop

List Poem: a form of free verse poetry. Write a list poem about ten things you know

10 things I know

Even Jesus wept

Everything tastes better when it's homemade

Passing notes in class will get you in trouble

Nobody likes to be made fun of

True friends come back to you

Saying "I'm sorry" is never easy

A touch from a boy can set your soul on fire

People who pass away

visit you in your dreams

Sometimes doing the wrong thing

is the only way people know how to survive

death is a sneaky thief,

stealing life when you don't expect it.

Each chapter begins with one of Serenity's poems in its own font. The poems were a wonderful surprise and another way to feel connected to Serenity.

Serenity's grandfather is a pastor and she finds herself going to church more than she ever did before. Serenity makes a new friend at Sunday school, Maria. Watson's seamlessly blends faith into the story. Serenity and Maria gossip, talk about boys and go to church on Sundays. Some young readers will be able to relate to their not so perfect behavior at times, talking a little to loud and passing notes in the pew.

Serenity has a crush on a boy names Jay, even though she knows he's trouble.

"Jay gets up and sits at the table. Mr. Nelson takes his math book and opens it to page twenty-five. "Let's start the year off right, " Mr. Nelson says. When Mr. Nelson turns his back to write on the board, Jay closes his book. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a stack of bills. He counts them. The green is moving so fast in his hands, I can't keep up with how much money he has. He must feel me staring at him because he looks across the aisle at me. I try to play it off, like I wasn't just looking at him, like I don't see all that green in his hands. Our eyes meet. I get hot all over and look away. "

Serenity is very vulnerable and here is this attractive badboy ready to sweet talk her. I really enjoyed watching this storyline play out. Waston doesn't ignore Danny, he's also going through it and getting caught up with a bad crowd.

Serenity's father killed her mother. The author doesn't say that Serenity's mother's was murdered or who was responsible until about midway in. This slow reveal worked very well. The information was held back not to tease the reader but because Serenity isn't ready to share or think about what happened to her mother. The first person Serenity tells is Maria. Serenity's mother loved to cook as does her grandmother. Cooking runs in the family. Serenity has fond memories of helping her mother in the kitchen. What Momma Left Me is well layered and very good. Watson is offically on my read it as soon as it comes out author list. ages 10 up

excerpt

teacher's guide - I thought this looked very good, so I decided to link to it.

Dust City - Robert Paul Weston

Dust City by Robert Paul Wilson

Henry Whelp is in a Home for Wayward Wolves for misdemeanor. Any other wolf wouldn't be serving time but Henry's father known as the big bad wolf. The wolf who killed Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother. Everyone's worried Henry will be just like his father.

Dust City is filled with popluar fairy tale characters. It populated by hominids, wolves, foxes, ravens, basically all animals living together. Over time all the animals have evolved. Wolves can speak with ease and work on two legs. The mules are the slowest to change.

"I ignore Jack's request. I'm watching a trio of mules play cards at the folding table. From an evolutionary point of view, mules were the last to get wise, so to speak. Their forehoofs aren't anything like those of hominids or wolves. Mules evolved differently, with hooves that became jointed, crablike claws - ebony pincers, offset by a stubby opposbale thumb. They have never been reviled like wolves, or mistrusted like foxes and ravens. As always they are largely ignored. I'm guilty of it myself. I don't even know these guys names."

The nimble and quick Jack (Beanstalk) is a thief. He is also Henry's best friend and the only hominid at the Home for Wayward Wolves. Henry is big enough to impose is power on the smaller animals but that is not in his nature. Right from the beginning this is something very likable about Henry. When Henry comes across some evidence that maybe his father wasn't in his right mind when he committed murder, he is determined to find out the truth. Henry believes fairydust, a drug many crave is to blame. There is a whole underworld that caters to its users. Henry goes undercover to work for his father's old boss Skinner.

There's a lot going on with the creation of Dust City, yet Weston, makes it work, very well. The author made me believe, feel and see Dust City. So much so, towards the end when Henry came across wolves trapped in cages that could only walk on all fours and couldn't speak, I didn't know what to make of them. The novel also as a nice mystery noire feel to it. Thanks to the dark city back drop and Detective White (Snow White). Detective White works alone and always catches the criminal.

It was very refreshing to read a YA novel that wasn't more of the same. This story was some serious fun and well imagined. I highly recommand it. Ages 11 up

Split - Swati Avasthi

Split by Swati Avasthi

Jace's father has always been physically abusive. His older brother Christian got out by running away. Before that Christian did his best to take the hits meant for their mother. When Christian left Jace stepped into his brother's place as target.

The novel opens with 16 yr old Jace being kicked out by his father for fighting back. With no where else to go he's drive 19 hours straight from Chicago to Albuquerque where Christian lives. Jace hasn't seen or talked to his brother in five years.

I've heard very good things about Split all year. So I had high expectations. I was not disappointed. Jace was a well drawn out character. Jace and Christian both love there mother but she won't leave. Christian came to terms with, their mother's decision years ago. Not Jace, he's still wondering why?

At the same time Jace must comes to terms with looking like his father and having his temper. Jace fears he will turn into his father. When the two brothers meet again it isn't an instant connection. Though, eventually Jace begins again in Albuquerque.

One of the many things I loved about Split, there are no easy answers. There is hope and possibility at the end but no guarantees. I have much respect for an author who refuses to patch everything up nice and neat at the end.

Read an excerpt

More reviews via author's site, and kudos to the author for linking to a critical review