Flashback several years to a southern plantation. A young boy, Brody, is threatened by the slave owner’s son. Graham, a slightly older black boy defends Brody, and the two must flee. They head for a cave looking for an abolitionist, Ben Lay. Pursuit comes from a sadistic wolfish man and with ferocious dogs. The boys are captured by Benjamin Franklin’s son, William, and used as lab rats, resulting in their gaining supernatural powers. With some training in African hand-to-hand fighting, they turn their abilities on their oppressors.

This is an action-packed remix with cameos from several historical figures like Phillis Wheatly. I enjoyed the full color illustrations but the beginning sequences were confusing. Several storylines and characters were introduced in a jumble and I wasn’t sure who the central figures were until the boys began exhibiting superpowers. It was a bit violent and the facial expressions and bodily features of the brutal male characters were often grotesquely exaggerated. It certainly drove the point home. I don’t read enough graphic novels to compare it to others of its genre but it is being considered for the Garden State Teen Book Awards ballot.

Library copy | Random House | 978-0375856709 | Ages 13 and up

Read other reviews:
Kirkus Reviews
Provo City Library Staff Reviews
Publisher’s Weekly

Top Ten Funniest Books I’ve Ever Read

1. Space Cadets: Jerks in Training by R.L. Stine: This is the first book I can remember reading and dissolving into fits of laughter over.
2. Wayside School is Falling Down by Louis Sachar: I read this in third grade and I still feel sorry for the janitor who hauled a heavy computer up all those stairs only to see the teacher throw it out the window.
3. Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos: “Oh, Cheesus Crust!”
4. Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern: Not only funny, but reminded me of my college roommate, Jenn, whose mother said so many hilarious things.
5. Melonhead by Katy Kelly: A book that took me by surprise, having grabbed it while bored at the children’s reference desk.
6. The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick: Funny and literary, the Newbery honor was well-deserved.
7. Exploits of a Reluctant but Extremely Good-Looking Hero by Maureen Fergus: When those boys are ready to graduate from Diary of a Wimpy Kid, this is my go-to book.
8. Inside Out by Terry Trueman: The main character’s schizophrenia is nothing to laugh at, but the situational humor is very funny. The ending is sobering and powerful.
9. Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown: I must have a picture book on here.
10. There is a Bird on Your Head! by Mo Willems: My heart filled with happiness when I found these books.

What are your favorite funny books? I do have a few I’d like to mention outside my top ten: the Alvin Ho series by Lenore Look, the Clementine series by Sara Pennypacker, Gerald Morris’s books, and Jonathan Stroud’s books about Bartimaeus.

I narrow my eyes at him. Does he truly think I do not know his plan? That I will sit quietly in my toom while he talks of kingdoms and traitors with these friends of his? Well and so, if he is that stupid, let him think I will do exactly as he bids (p 125).

Set in Brittany in 1485, seventeen-year-old Ismae is rumored to be a daughter of Death. Unwanted by her human father, she escapes an arranged marriage to a brutal man when she is whisked away to the convent of St. Mortain, the god of Death. Tasked with preserving worship of the old gods, especially Mortain, the women at St. Mortain’s help maintain Brittany’s independence from the ever-threatening France. These handmaidens of St. Mortain are trained assassins, carrying out Mortain’s will.

Ismae dedicates herself to this new purpose where her curse is considered a gift. She is resistant to poison, heals quickly, and can see the mark of death on her victims and others at Death’s door.

Her early missions lead her straight to the upper echelons of the court where she finds the political maneuvering far more sophisticated than her convent led her to believe. As she struggles to determine who to trust and who is betraying her country, she also learns Mortain is more complex than she ever believed. Adding to her troubles are her strong feelings for Duval, the duchesses half-brother, and Ismae’s companion.

This is the second fantasy book I’ve read recently that relies on a strong tie between mission and theology. The Girl of Fire and Thorns (read my review) is the first. Like Pricess Elisa, Ismae’s hand is guided by her divine mission, though the connection is only slightly understood. While the political scene and scope is not nearly so intricate or wide as Marchetta’s Finnikin of the Rock nor so subtly woven as Turner’s The Thief, it’s romanic element rings true and strong. I look forward to the sequel, Dark Triumph, told from the handmaiden Sybella’s point of view coming Spring 2013.

Read Alikes:

Between Shades of Gray – 16
Beauty Queens – 16
Daughter of Smoke and Bones – 10
A Monster Calls – 9
Stick – 6
Shine – 5
The Berlin Boxing Club – 4
Chime – 4
Blood Red Road – 3
Scorpio Races – 3
The Name of the Star – 2
Dead End in Norvelt – 2

In terms of first place votes:
Beauty Queens – 4
Between Shades of Gray – 2
Daughter of Smoke and Bones – 1
Stick – 1
Chime – 1
A Monster Calls – 1

So we went to a second round of voting for titles with 5 or more votes (meaning at least two people had to have voted for the title). The results:

Beauty Queens – 21 (with 4 first place votes)
Between Shades of Gray – 16 (with 2 first place votes)
A Monster Calls – 12 (with 1 first place votes)
Daughter of Smoke and Bones – 11 (with 2 first place votes)
Stick – 7  (with 1 first place vote)
Shine – 5
Chime – 2

Mock Printz 2012 Winner – Beauty Queens by Libba Bray.

Mock Printz 2012 Honor books – Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys, Daughter of Smoke and Bones by Lani Taylor, and A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness.

Here are some comments:

Erin: I think Between Shades of Gray should win because it was beautifully written and you felt you knew the characters and could feel what they were feeling. Also because it brings up a part of history that is not spoken of and needs to be brought out into the light.

Mary Jo: Between Shades of Gray is award worthy. It’s written at that level. The ending reinforces the power of writing. Even when a culture conceals, the power of storytelling and having an audience to hear the story allows the silenced to to reclaim their story. Just as Hollywood loved Hugo Cabret because it is a movie about the power of movies, this is a soty about the power of storytelling. So it adds value to an already strong text.

Katie: I wish every book was as well-written and witty as Beauty Queens.

Jen: I’d give an honor to Beauty Queens—no higher than that.  I also loved The Name of the Star (my #3).  Though it wasn’t my cup of tea, Chime by Franny Billingsley is surely in the mix with the Printz committee.  I also don’t think you can count out Okay For Now and Dead End in Norvelt in this category.  I did really like A Monster Calls, but not sure if I’d give it the medal—an honor for sure.  I just think a lot of people may have initially picked it up because it’s such a slim book and thus may not have read some of the thicker  books (read: Daughter of Smoke and Bone).  Lastly, my dark horse/ long shot pick is Dreamland Social Club by Tara Altebrando.  It came up on one of the best of the year lists, which is how it came to my attention.  It really was very well-written and had an interesting mix of realism and a fantasy-within-reality element.  My I-wish–it-were-so-but-it ain’t-never-gonna-happen pick is Rick Yancey’s Isle of Blood.

As for me, my number one pick is Stick. It’s not getting the blogosphere attention I believe it deserves. Stick is an incredible character. The writing is sparse and it has an almost Punkzilla quality toward the conclusion. I believe it’s very literary and I’d love to see it recognized. Our winner, Beauty Queens, doesn’t have a chance in my opinion, though it is a better book than Daughter of Smoke and Bone because it actually adds something to its genre. I wish I had had an opportunity to argue against Beauty Queens and Daughter of Smoke and Bone (or rather lobby for Stick, A Monster Calls and Between Shades of Grey) but our voting took place via email. We did discuss at a meeting but not all were able to attend and many who did attend the meeting didn’t read a majority of the books. So… we voted electronically and heard from all the avid readers.

Priscilla commented, “When I’m reading, I’m thinking what will the committee vote for versus what will I vote for.” I took the moment to remind folks this is our opportunity to decide what we would select if we were the committee. Still, I understood where she was coming from.

Regarding Okay For Now by Gary Schmidt, what makes it distinguished? Kristen answered immediately: “Its characters.” Does it tie itself up too neatly? Kristen said, “It needs to tie up neatly with all the over-the-top stuff, though some of that stuff might have been needless…. But it ends with a sense that we’re okay for now but not necessarily forever.” That’s what made it okay in Okay For Now.”

Then we mused on how willing we are to suspend disbelief when reading a children’s book. Did the ending in Okay For Now seem too implausible? Does it even matter? Kristen, who will attend the 2012 ALSC Morris seminar at ALA mid-winter, shared an article that stressed the importance of looking at a book’s strengths within its genre and evaluating it on those strengths, not its weaknesses. What does it contribute to that genre? (Which means more support for Okay For Now from my perspective!) Interesting.

So what about the Audubon art? Does it serve the message? Priscilla was skeptical. My arguments: the art resonates with Doug. He’s illiterate. Learning through pictures isn’t threatening. “But why the lessons?” Priscilla countered. First, Doug wouldn’t talk about the pictures to begin with. He learns because the Librarian leaves some paper and a pencil by the prints. So Doug wants to learn. And when have you known a Librarian to pass up the opportunity to impart a lesson? It’s in my (our?) nature to teach! Kristen added, ” It gave him something to be successful at.” Elise chimed in, “He’s getting acknowledge and support from an adult.”

Amanda pointed out, “The children in each of these books (meaning Dead End in Norvelt, Okay for Now, and Hound Dog True) are learning something. Mattie is learning to trust. Doug is learning about art. Jack is learning about writing. Priscilla argued learning to write in Dead End was more important than Doug learning art in Okay For Now.

Kristen predicts A Monster Calls will win saying, “It doesn’t do character as well as Okay for Now but it does plot and language better.” Elise wanted Okay For Now to be tighter, more spare. She though Norvelt was streamlined and macabre but very funny.

What do we do with Wonderstruck? Even if it is included in the Newbery committee’s discussion, we did not think the text strong enough to contend with our other titles.

We’re all very sad The Girl Who Circumnavigated the World is ineligible.

And finally, we voted.

After the first round, we had four clear frontrunners. A second round of voting showed a clear favorite with a majority of #1 votes. Okay For Now by Gary Schmidt is our 2012 Mock Newbery winner.

Our three honor books are much loved reads. With the strongest showing of the three, Hound Dog True by Linda Urban (it also received a first place vote in the final round) is our first honor book. With an equal number of points, we added Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos (which also received one first place vote in the final round) and A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness.

Our Caldecott winner was Me… Jane by Patrick McDonnell!

Overall it was a tight race. We selected three honor books. I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen was a tight tight second place. It had equally as many first place votes as Me… Jane. Coming in on their heels were Grandapa Green by Lane Smith and Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick.

“Bill, are you very much attached to your friend?” Eric asked.
It took a second for the meaning to sink in. Eric the Hunk was asking if I could be borrowed (p 107).

I’ve picked up the Southern Vampire Mystery series by Harris for one reason. Eric. I am a True Blood fan but I’m not always happy with the HBO TV series: Tara. Long breaks between seasons. Tara. Episodes where nothing happens. Not enough Alcide. Tara. You get the picture.

So I was delighted with the straightfoward novel adapted for the show. Sookie is a charming southern girl with a special ability – she can hear thoughts. Bill is infinitely more likable in this novel and I was completely captivated by Eric, though his scenes are few.

A delightful piece of fluff. I’m eagerly awaiting my hold on the next three in the series.

Library copy | Penguin Group | ISBN 978-0441008537 | Adult | $7.99

“What’s your favorite song of theirs?” Tiara asked.
” ‘Let Me Shave Your Legs Tonight, Girl,’ ” Petra blurted out.
“Ohmigosh, I LOVE that one!” Tiara said, clapping. “How about ‘I Only Want to Be with You’ or ‘I Just Need to Be Yours’ or ‘You, You, You’?”
Nicole chimes in. ” ‘I Gave Up My Hobbies So I Could Spend More Time with You.’ ‘I Love You Like a Stalker!’ Or — ooh, I know: ‘Safe Tween Crush’? (p 73)”

En route to the Miss Teen Dream Beauty Pageant, a plane full of beauty queens crashes on a (supposedly) deserted island. Thirteen contestants survive – clumsily at first – and then thrive, eventually building huts, a water filtration system, and a micosociety.

Admixture, a bunch of rowdy, handsome pirates shipwreck on the island and men in black shirts with guns and explosives kidnap Mary Lou’s boyfriend and threaten the girls.

Beauty Queens is an amagamation, a melting pot. It pokes fun at a slew of issues ad nauseam: reality tv, marketing, education, media, race, ethnicity, bias, sterotyping, sexuality, and of course, beauty. Sometimes Bray delivers (Ladybird Hope’s interview on Barry Rex Live on page 56) and I found myself laughing out loud (“Protect the citadel!” p 71) and sometimes the references were blunt and fell flat.

Sometimes, I felt this was less of a satire and more home-hitting. Take the quote I led off with. Anyone read some of the teen reactions to Stolen by Lucy Christopher? Yeah. Scary.

I don’t doubt it was a fun book to write (possibly contributing to its unnecessary length) but it is only a mildly entertaining read. I agree with Patti @ Opps…Wrong Cookie though – best cover of the year.

Read other reviews/thoughts:
A Chair, a Fireplace and a Tea Cozy
Books Smugglers
Opps… Wrong Cookie
Tia’s Book Musings

The sounds of men hitting speed bags and jumping rope mingled with the gutteral grunts of exertion and blended in a strange primitive symphony. The place also had a distinctive animal smell that was warm and damp like a butcher shop on a summer day (p 101).

Fourteen-year-old Karl Stern is a tall, lanky youth when his boxing lessons with champion Max Schmeling begin at the Berlin Boxing Club. Hitler’s Nazi party is just coming to power in Germany and Karl is being bullied at school for his Jewish heritage, though he considers himself a Red with no religious affiliation.

He finds refuge in his apprenticeship at the boxing club, strength training and secretly meeting the beautiful Greta. He is also a passionate cartoon artist. Then his world begins to crumble. His father’s bussiness disappears, his family is evicted and his relationship with Greta is forbidden by law and her parents. Though reluctant to leave, it soon becomes clear to Karl’s father he must take his family out of the country.

Fluid prose, metaphors that reinforced the time period and the narrator’s youthful perspective, a well-paced plot and genuine characters define this novel. While there are several crescendos, the denouement was gripping and a wave of terror clutched at me. An excellent read.

Read other reviews:
Book Smugglers
Opps… Wrong Cookie

I also recommend: