Americus

Reed, MK, & Hill, J. D. (2011). Americus. New York: First Second.

ISBN: 9781596436015 | paperback | 216p. | $14.99 USD

Annotation:  Oklahoma teen Neal Barton stands up for his favorite fantasy series, The Chronicles of Apathea Ravenchilde, when conservative Christians try to bully the town of Americus into banning it from the public library.

Cover image courtesy of goodreads.com

Book Talk:  Neil has the opportunity to incite change in his small town, Americus, but will he take it?  His favorite fantasy book series is under fire and will potentially be banned from the town’s library.  Sitting among citizens of Americus at the library’s board meeting, will Neil have the courage to find his voice and defend the books he cares so much about?  Let’s take a look through his eyes…

[Use props to create Neil character: put on black hoodie & hold a mock copy of The Chronicles of Apathea Ravenchilde] 

Scanning the crowd, I see the menacing face of Mrs. Burns, the instigator of the campaign to ban my favorite books, The Chronicles of Apathea Ravenchilde.  She’s already managed to gather a mob of supporters, and I can feel their hatred for the books filling up the room.  Gulp! My palms are instantly sweaty.  The room has gone quiet…Charlotte, the librarian trying to save my books, gives me a big nudge.  Ohhhh, my face has gone bright red.  Can I do this?  Can I really stand up in front of all these people and profess my love for…of all things…BOOKS?

[hold up mock book]

Pick up a copy of Americus to find out if Neil’s courage will outweigh his shyness and save his favorite books from being banned.  

My favorite thing about the book:

The story shows how books (and music too) can help you make friends.  It’s refreshing to read a book with this theme—sharing a great book or music can bring all sorts of people together in lively dialogue.

First Sentence:

“ ‘America! America! God mend thine ev’ry flaw, con-‘ Hold it, hold it!”

Favorite character:

Charlotte the librarian

Awards/Honors:

ABC New Voices Title 2011

YALSA Best Graphic Novel Nomination 2012

Junior Library Guild Premier Selection Fall 2011

Learn More:

Catch up with the illustrator, Jonathan Hill, on his blog One of the Johns.

Listen to author MK Reed discuss the book on Inkstuds, a radio show about comics.

Hear MK Reed discuss the appeal of Americus and upcoming projects.

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Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging

Rennison, L. (1999). Angus, thongs, and full-frontal snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson. New York: HarperTempest.

ISBN: 9780064472272 | hardback | 247 p. | $7.99 USD

Annotation:  Presents the humorous journal of a year in the life of a fourteen-year-old British girl who tries to reduce the size of her nose, stop her mad cat from terrorizing the neighborhood animals, and win the love of handsome hunk Robbie.

Cover image courtesy of goodreads.com

Book Talk:  Just who is Angus, what’s going on with thongs, and what the heck is “full-frontal snogging?”  Before answering those questions, we have to meet Georgia Nicolson, a teenager on the verge of young adulthood in modern-day England.  She chronicles her trials and tribulations through hilarious entries into her diary.  In her posts, we learn about her, her best friend Jas and the rest of their gang’s ad(and mis)-ventures navigating the treacherous shores of young womanhood: school, clothes, boys, growing-up, and did I mention boys?  When we say boys, we mainly mean one boy: the “Sex God,” Robbie.  While trying to chase down the dreamy Robbie, she must meanwhile contend with the antics of her family, including her quirky parents, her wacky little sister Libby, and her lion of a housecat Angus.  That’s a bit about Georgia and her world, if you want to figure out exactly what the title means, however, you’ll just have to read the book!

My favorite thing about the book:

Georgia Nicolson is hilarious—you’ll keel over laughing at her thoughts and words even in the first two pages!

First Sentence:

“Dad had Uncle Eddie round, so naturally they had to come and see what I was up to.”

Favorite character:

Georgia

Awards/Honors:

Not Just for Children Anymore! (Children's Book Council)

Michael L. Printz Honor Book

Book Sense 76 Pick

IRA/CBC Young Adults’ Choice

New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age

ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults

View more of the book’s awards at Harper Collins Publishers

Learn More:

Check out some of the fabbity-fab extras on the author’s website, including a Snogging Scale, some dance moves, and the online version of the book’s glossary!

Be sure to check out the movie trailer for Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging!

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A Street Girl Named Desire

Blue, T. E. (2007). A street girl named Desire: A novel. New York: Ballantine Books.

ISBN: 9780345493286 | paperback | 319 p. | $13.95 USD

Annotation:  Born on the street to a drug addicted mother, Desire works to overcome the hardships she is dealt.  She longs to end up somewhere other than the rough Harlem streets, but struggles against her past and old habits that continue to haunt her. 

Cover image courtesy of goodreads.com

Book Talk:
Desire…

• Is born to a drug addicted mother literally on the snowy street

• Her inheritance is multi-generational addiction

• Is like the razor blade she keeps in her mouth; she develops a demeanor that defends and protects her from others in her foster home life

• Eventually opens up and finds hope in the kindness of Hattie Mae

• Goes from singer in the church choir to signing a record deal

• Begins chasing her dream but discovers nightmares instead

• Can she find the strength in herself and others to achieve redemption or will she be unable to escape the cycle of self-destruction that has plagued her family for the past two generations?

My favorite thing about the book:

There is a sense of hope present throughout the book even among the most despairing moments.   

First Sentence:

“This is the story of a girl who should have died the minute she was born, who was famous hours after she was born, who had to die and be born again countless times before she finally learned how to live.”

Favorite character:

Hattie Mae

Awards/Honors:

None to date

Learn More: 

Follow the book’s author, Treasure E. Blue, on Twitter.

Listen to Treasure discuss his writing and books Harlem Girl Lost and A Street Girl Named Desire.

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