First line: Chains clanked in the darkness of the holding cells.

Harrowing. Raw. Gripping. These are words. They also happen to describe Bacigalupi's second novel in the post apocalyptic world after sea levels have risen and power has shifted. In the Drowned Cities, aka Washington DC, Mahlia is a cast off war refuge that has already been saved twice: once by her friend Mouse and again by the pacifist intellectual Dr. Mahfouz who takes them in. When she finds herself wrapped up in the war once again,

Spoiler

with Mouse as a newly recruited soldier boy and the doctor dead,

Mahlia must begin to weigh her survivalist instincts versus the loyalty she has for Mouse.

As many have reviewed, Bacigalupi infused this story with violence and tragedy insomuch as the plot requires. Child soldiers and the castaways of war are some of the worst tragedies of our time. As hard as it was to read this, the author gave this book incredible depth and meaning by addressing the true causes that lead a child to inhumane acts as they are manipulated and abused by those that seek to take advantage of their obedience.

And the writing is just absolutely amazing. Bacigalupi has an absolute mastery over mood and characterization. And, to repeat what others have said, this certainly should have won the Printz because it is just astounding how well written and how meaningful this book is. So good!

Age: High School
Tough Issue: Human Trafficking, Child sexual slavery, torture

A hard read, but unfortunately relevant in our world, McCormick provides a glimpse into the life of 13-year-old Lakshmi as she is tricked into leaving her family only to be sold into prostitution far away from her home. The brevity of this book strengthens its purpose without exploiting the people that it affects. Obviously not a carefree read, Sold has become an educational tool in classrooms that provides a harrowing introduction to this worldwide phenomenon and teens will need classroom discussion and further reading to unpack this tough issue.

First line: "The village of Holcomb stands on the high wheat plains in western Kansas, a lonesome area that other Kansans called 'out there.'"

Capote's narrative is absolutely fascinating without seeming condescending to the very serious matter at hand. His intensive research into this case fostered a relative compassion for these two killers which transforms this book from a diatribe against murder and "bad people" into a delve into the psychosis of two seemingly normal men and why they murdered a family of four for seemingly illegitimate reasons.

I had a really hard time overcoming the absurdity of Augusten's life that felt so fake I kept rolling my eyes. The characters were so ridiculously over spun that they started blending together. However, the writing was well done and the humor was dry and sly. I just couldn't keep following along with it.

First Line: "Call me Ishmael. I won't answer to it, because it's not my name, but it's much more agreeable than most of the things I've been called."

The words. They cannot express my love. Book good.

Age: High School
Tough Issue: Prison

A thought-provoking piece about one 16-year-old boy that is on trial for manslaughter. Although it is a quick read, many issues are brought up including imprisonment, racism, what constitutes being a part of a crime, who do you trust in a trial, and having reality bite you in the ass.

Myers writes this book as if the reader is part of the jury, except the reader also gets a more personal perspective from Steve. Although he is fighting to keep his life, he slightly questions his actions, considering what it means to be a monster.

This book felt very real and excelled in ambiguity, the true nature of life and crime.

Age: Preschool+
Exercise: Yoga

A bit quirky but captivating, this is a sweet tale of a yogi that gets stuck, and a girl that knows the solution but is afraid to say something when a group of adults assume they know the answer. A perfect fictional story for programs on yoga and exercise.

Age: Kindergarten-2nd grade
History: Black education after Emancipation Proclamation

Cline-Ransome has a beautiful way of capturing the prejudices and turmoil of an age while provoking curiosity and understanding of the material without evoking fear. Her similes are expressive and captive, giving listeners something to hold on to as they read. For example:

"Just like the livestock gobbled up food scraps flung by the Master, Mama and Daddy had picked up scraps of learning at church [...] Every time Mama and Daddy got a piece, they'd give me and Paul some, too. But scraps of learning don't amount to much--they just made me hungry for more."

Naturally, questions linger behind such a difficult time in US history that can't be fully fleshed out in a picture book but Cline-Ransome provides another perspective to the end of slavery for a young audience.