All American Girl, by Meg Cabot

Much like her previous novel The Princess Diaries, Cabot’s All American Girl imagines its heroine in a somewhat fantastical, although delightful, situation. Nevermind that Sam’s family lives in Washington, D.C., her younger sister attends school with the President’s son, and she takes her dogs on walks through the grounds of the National Cathedral. Sam is an ordinary sophomore who loves Gwen Stefani, draws during class, dies her wardrobe black in protest, and both envies and loathes her popular older sister, Lucy.

That is, until she foils an assassination attempt on the President outside of the Capitol Cookie store while skipping drawing class. Suddenly, Sam finds herself wrapped up in a world of paparazzi and politicians, and she is even appointed US Teen Ambassador to the United Nations! Can Sam handle the sudden transformation from a quirky, artsy and boyfriend-less teen to the nation’s hero and the object of the first son’s affections? Cabot’s novel proves that sometimes what you have wished for most does not turn out exactly as planned.

Although the idea of a rags-to-riches storyline may sound cheesy at first, Cabot develops rich characters that set this story apart from all the other Cinderella-esque novels out there. Sure, most girls have never lived in Morocco because of their dad’s job and have never been invited for dinner with the President. But tween girls will love All American Girl’s hilarious scenarios and relatable characters, like Sam’s best friend, Catherine, whose strict, religious parents force her to stay in on Sundays and allow her to wear only knee-length skirts. For those who enjoyed The Princess Diaries, this book is a must-read!

Chabot, M. (2002). All American Girl. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 0-06-029469-8

The Trouble Begins, by Linda Himelblau

Du and his grandmother recently left Vietnam and traveled to California to reunite with the family they haven't seen since Du was a baby. So far, Du hates a lot of things about America:

• His old, nosy neighbor called the police when Du picked berries from his yard
• The school cafeteria food and American frozen food are both disgusting
• The principal doesn't understand that being quiet doesn't mean you are disrespectful
• Americans say stuff is free when it's not
• His name in English means 'dog poop'
  

His older brother and two older sisters, who speak perfect English and totally understand the American way of life, think Du just messes around all the time and isn't thankful for his new home. Du slowly starts to realize that maybe he should try harder to impress his father, who is constantly disappointed or angry with him.

Himelblau's novel provides young readers with a heightened awareness of the norms in other countries. While other students may speak different languages or do things that appear weird, they are probably facing the same fear and insecurities as everyone else. This is also a great book for any kid who has ever felt like an outsider. Just like Du, we can all discover our inner Dragon and overcome life's challenges.

Himelblau, L. (2005). The Trouble Begins. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN 0-385-73273-2

Lily B. on the Brink of Cool, by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel

This is the first year that thirteen-year-old Lily and her best friend, Charlotte, will not be attending summer camp together. While Charlotte attends Young Executive Camp for three weeks, Lily is stuck at home with her boring parents, who think visiting the Quilt Museum is fun for the whole family.

At a cousin's wedding, Lily meets distant relatives, the LeBlancs, and the summer starts to look up. The LeBlancs wear fashionable clothing, work as environmental fundraisers, and drink only green tea and water with lemon. Although Lily's parents warn her to stay away, Lily secretly becomes friends with their daughter, Karma. When Charlotte finally returns from camp, Lily must choose between her level-headed, future business woman bff, or the glamorous and worldly Karma.

Lily hopes to be a world-renowned writer someday- she even addresses readers as F.B.s or Future Biographers. Although she is keeping a journal for an English assignment, she takes the task very seriously, recording every moment of her summer days. Through the journal, the reader is given a play by play on Lily's life, and her hilarious commentary will make you lol.

Ultimately, Lily learns to make decisions independent of her parents, even if her Mom and Dad were right all along. She also learns what true friendship is all about. Lily B. on the Brink of Cool is the first in Kimmel's Lily B. series and I think it will appeal highly to girls ages 8 and up.

Kimmel, E.C. (2003). Lily B. on the Brink of Cool. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 0-06-000586-6

Stranded in Boringsville, by Catherine Bateson

After her parents' divorce, Rain and her mother relocate from a bustling Australian metropolis to her late grandmother's delapitated house in the country. With a slow combustion cooker instead of a normal stove and no pizza joint for miles around, Rain tries to convince her mom that they shouldn't even bother unpacking. They should just rent out the old Clarksville house and move back to the city. Slowly, though, memories of time spent with her grandma in the garden and eating delicious, home-cooked meals return. Rain also meets the quirky but charming neighbor, Daniel, who is one year younger and proclaims himself "phenomenally bright." When Daniel eventually reveals a secret to Rain, she realizes that perhaps she doesn't have as much to complain about as she thought. This is a moving story about two isolated kids who find friendship and solace with the other.

Adding to the story are the many different forms of writing. As the cover art suggests, Rain and her mother communicate through refrigerator magnet poetry. This is their forum to express all the emotions that are difficult to share with eachother elsewhere. The point of view also switches from Rain in traditional prose format to Daniel, who communicates through his Star Trek-esque Captain's Log. Presenting both characters points of view makes this story feel "whole" and makes it a great book for girls and boys alike. And at 138 pages, Stranded in Boringsville is an excellent addition to lists of recommended short books.

Bateson, C. (2002). Stranded in Boringsville. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 0-8234-1969-X

Wringer, by Jerry Spinelli

The cover gave me the creeps the second I plucked it from the chelf, so of course I had to check it out. In Wringer, Palmer is dreading the day when he turns ten. That is when young boys are expected to work as wringers at the town's annual Pigeon Day shooting contest. And wringers, well, they get to finish off the birds that get wounded instead of shot down and killed immediately. Will Palmer accept the role that is part of a long-standing tradition in his community or will he stand up for what he believes in? Those who liked The Chocolate Wars will enjoy the similar sinister tone and moral dilemma faced in Wringer.

Spinelli, J. (1997). Wringer. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 0-06-440578-8

Heartbeat, by Sharon Creech

Some people think

we are a little bit crazy

running barefoot

through rain and mud and snow

but it doesn’t feel crazy to us

As usual, Creech’s characters are breathtaking. In Heartbeat, we meet Annie, who is surprisingly worldly for her twelve years. When asked to list her fears as part of a school assignment, Annie lists “people killing other people because our people killed their people” and is shocked to find her classmates lists filled with trivial items like algebra. Annie’s best friend, Max, is a self-described “small-town boy without a father” who runs in hopes of escaping his life and becoming a famous athlete. Grandpa, who won medals for running when he was Annie’s age, is now losing his memory and forgets that Annie’s mom is pregnant. As she anticipates the loss of her grandfather and welcomes a new sibling, Annie rediscovers the things in life that are most important to her.

Through pure coincidence, I read Heartbeat immediately after Make Lemonade. While the settings and main characters are quite different, the authors’ uses of poetic form are strikingly similar. Creech’s onomatopoeia pulls the reader right into each scene. (I bet you’ve never considered all the sources of the sound thump-thump, thump-thump!) Creech also uses footnotes to add a surprising and fun element to the story.

According to the book jacket, the book is geared toward ages 8-12, but the verse is so impressive that I recommend Heartbeat for poetry lovers well beyond that age group.

Creech, S. (2004). Heartbeat. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 0-06-054022-2

Make Lemonade, by Virginia Euwer Wolff

The lemony yellow and summery blue on the cover of this novel belie the depressed surroundings and tough circumstances faced by Wolff’s characters. Once you read the first few pages, you quickly remember that lemons, despite being the color of sunshine, are indeed sour.

In fifth grade, LaVaughn asks her single mother if she can go to college someday. After that, LaVaughn says, “COLLEGE is in my house,/ and you have to walk around it in the rooms/ like furniture.” LaVaughn’s mother will not let the dream of college die, even though they barely have enough money for food and their small apartment. When LaVaughn responds to a help-wanted ad for a babysitter, she sees a prime opportunity to start saving for her future. She quickly falls in love with baby Jilly and toddler Jeremy, and doesn’t mind helping their seventeen-year-old mother, Jolly, who is even poorer than LaVaughn and her own mother. Ultimately, LaVaughn must choose between helping herself rise out of poverty or sacrificing her own success to help Jolly, Jilly, and Jeremy, who have become her second family. Although LaVaughn is four years younger than Jolly, LaVaughn quickly exceeds the young mother in maturity and responsibility, making her quite the heroine in the reader’s eyes.

While the story line itself is amazingly powerful, it is also Wolff’s writing that sets this book apart. Imagine Shakespeare as a teen girl living in the projects in the 21^st century and you will get a taste of Make Lemonade. The beautiful but raw blank verse compliments the action within the story, making this ideal for both literary geeks and those who avoid anything referred to as a novel. An introductory page lists all of the awards that Make Lemonade has won. Read one chapter and you’ll have no doubt why this book is a winner.

Please click on the screen below to view a trailer for Make Lemonade:



Wolff, V.E. (1993). Make lemonade. New York: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 978-0-8050-8070-4.