Hot Pick from TAB - Dramarama

By E. Lockhart
(YA F Lock)
311 pages 2007 Chick Lit

Dramarama, written by E. Lockhart, is about two best friends, Sayde and Demi, stuck in Dullsville, Ohio. They long for more razzle dazzle in their lives, so they apply for the prestigious Wildewood theatre camp. While they are there they learn about themselves, love, and each other. What they discover in the end is that best friends always stay together, no matter what comes between them.  (Grades 9 & up)
Reviewed by TAB member Julia S.
 
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Malice

By Chris Wooding
(YA F Wood)
377 pages 2009 Fantasy / Horror

Malice is just a rumor, a game, something made-up to scare kids, right? If you gather and burn the right ingredients and repeat the chant “Tall Jake, take me away” six times, you’ll be whisked away to the horrifying land of Malice, which is depicted in an underground comic book. That’s the story anyway. Seth and Kady don’t believe until their friend Luke disappears, and a new character appears in the pages of Malice, who looks strikingly similar. Seth decides he must stop Tall Jake and those behind Malice before anymore kids die within the ghastly pages. What better way is there than to enter the comic himself? Part novel, part comic, Malice is sure to delight, thrill, and chill readers. (Grades 6 & up)

Reviewed by Teen Librarian Elizabeth S.
 
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Into the Wild Nerd Yonder

By Julie Halpern
(YA F Halp)
245 pages 2009 Humorous Fiction

Jessie has always had the same two best friends and has been crushing on the same guy for years. However, when she starts her sophomore year of high school, her friends turn into punk wannabes and go after her would-be boyfriend. Unwilling to be a poseur, Jessie sets out to find new friends. To her surprise and dismay, she realizes the ones she likes to hang out with the most are the school’s “nerds” and spend their weekends playing Dungeons and Dragons. And what will Jessie do when she just can’t help but like a boy who wears too short pants and too white shoes? Follow Jessie on this hilarious journey “into the wild nerd yonder,” where she realizes what others think is not nearly as important as being with the people who make her happy and accept her as she is. (Grades 9 & up)

Reviewed by Teen Librarian Sara H.

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Newes from the Dead

By Mary Hooper
(YA F Hoop)
263 pages 2008 Historical Fiction

Anne Green should be dead. The teenaged housemaid was hanged as a murderer for killing her infant child. There were many witnesses to her hanging, and her body has been turned over to a group of doctors for dissection. But she awakens in her coffin, in a semi-conscious state, unable to move or speak, terrified she’s about to be buried alive. However, a sharp eyed medical student notices a slight fluttering of her eyes, and thus begins the race to save Anne from the impending dissection and another meeting with the hangman. Based on true events in 1650’s England. (Grades 9 & up)

Reviewed by Teen Librarian Kay G.

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Over the End Line

By Alfred C. Martino
(YA F Mart)
304 pages 2009 Sports

What is worse, witnessing a horrible and tragic event at the drunken celebration party, or witnessing the event and not stopping it? For senior soccer player and top student, Jonny, he is about to find out. Climbing the social ladder from the bottom rung has its price. (Grades 9 & up)

Reviewed by Teen Librarian Elaine D.
 
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Hot Pick from TAB - The Dresden Files Series

By Jim Butcher
(F Butc)
Adventure / Thriller

Two books I recently read are called Small Favor and Turn Coat. Small Favor, a 541 page book, and Turn Coat, a 420 page book, are both part of the same series by Jim Butcher. He is an amazing fictional author. I would give a rating of five out of five to each and every one of his books. This series is called “The Dresden Files”, and is best summarized as “a modern version of Harry Potter.” Its magic takes place in today’s Chicago. The main character is a private detective, and wizard, named Harry Dresden, a man who finds himself in interesting and odd situations one after another! (Grades 9 & up)

Reviewed by TAB member Alex A.

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