GIRL, STOLEN by April Henry

Cheyenne feels awful.  She and her step-mother have just left the doctor's office where x-rays revealed that Cheyenne has pneumonia.  Her step-mother leaves Cheyenne resting in the running car while she heads into the store to pick up a prescription.  It all seems simple until a stranger slips into the front seat and steals the car. 

As the car thief speeds out of the parking lot, a glance in the rearview mirror reveals he has a passenger, but by now it's too late.  When Cheyenne realizes what is happening, she begs her captor to release her, promising not to tell anyone.  When her promises are ignored, Cheyenne reveals the real truth - she is blind.

Griffin, the young car thief, is in a panic.  His actual target in the shopping center parking lot was to steal packages from unlocked vehicles.  Stealing a car was not part of the plan, but when he saw the classy SUV was just sitting there with its engine running, he just reacted.  Now he will be delivering a really cool car to his father, but the added surprise of a kidnapped girl is definitely going to complicate matters.

Cheyenne tries to use her remaining senses to follow the route Griffin takes into the country.  She knows she isn't far from home, but she has no idea how to figure out exactly where she is.  When her kidnappers find out she is the daughter of the company president of Nike, they are determined to demand a sizeable reward.  As they plot and plan their next step, Cheyenne listens carefully for clues revealing their names and the location of the house where she is being held. 

Author April Henry has created quite a thriller guaranteed to keep readers on the edge of their seats.  GIRL, STOLEN is filled with plenty of excitement and suspense.  There is the obvious complication of Cheyenne's blindness and the added difficulty of her physical illness and her immediate need for antibiotics.  Those problems alone would be enough for most authors, but Henry adds other creative plot twists that will keep readers on their toes.  GIRL, STOLEN is a must-read for action and adventure fans.

YOU ARE NOT HERE by Samantha Schutz

I was excited to see Samantha Schutz had written a novel.  Her memoir I DON'T WANT TO BE CRAZY revealed her talent as a writer and her tremendous ability to describe her own very raw and painful experiences. 

YOU ARE NOT HERE is a novel in verse.  The focus is on Annaleah and the sudden and tragic death of someone near and dear to her. 

If pressed, Annaleah would not be able to articulate her true relationship with Brian.  They've been seeing each other for a short while and have shared a first kiss and much more, but to say he is her boyfriend still doesn't seem quite right.  Their relationship has not included any outsiders.  When Annaleah visits Brian, he always hustles her out before his father comes home.  She hasn't really shared her budding romance with friends either.  Her one attempt to describe her feelings about Brian brought harsh criticism from her closest friend, Marissa.  And as far as introducing Brian to her mother, forget about it.  Better to leave that woman in the dark.

Because of the secretive nature of their relationship, when Brian suddenly dies while playing basketball, Annaleah has nowhere to turn.  Since no one truly understands, she withdraws, spending all her time either in her room or visiting his gravesite.  Their relationship was viewed as casual causing Annaleah's mother and friends to look upon her continued grieving as unnecessary and ridiculous.  Unable to explain, Annaleah sinks deeper and deeper into despair as she mourns the loss of a young man she realizes may not even have loved her.

Schutz explores the human reaction to death and loss in YOU ARE NOT HERE.  The process of grieving is such a personal experience, and Schutz demonstrates that fact as she takes Annaleah on this often lonesome journey.  Readers looking for a "problem" type novel will find this fast-read satisfying, although rather predictable.

CRAZY by Han Nolan

Memories from before his mother died and before his father went crazy are the only things keeping Jason going, but his grasp on reality may be slipping.  A cast of characters inhabit his mind; their voices constantly whisper commentary on his every thought and action.

Jason's life is a complicated mess.  He's trying to keep up his grades, write for the advice column of the school newspaper, and keep an eye on his father.  It had always been his mother's responsibility to keep track of his father's erratic behavior, but now she's gone so Jason is in charge of damage control when his father dons his Greek war helmet as he rants and raves against the Furies who he believes killed his wife and are out to destroy him.

The stress of juggling his own life and his father's has Jason talking to the voices in his own mind.  Giving him advice, criticism, and sometimes comfort are characters named Crazy Glue, Fat Bald Guy with a Mustache, Aunt Bee, Sexy Lady, and Laugh Track.  They are his only "friends" until he joins a therapy group at school and finds he does have other friends who are there to provide support and encouragement.

It is not easy for Jason to open up to strangers, but when his fellow group members pitch in to help when it is revealed that his father has stolen a multi-million dollar violin, Jason learns the true value of friendship.  When things get so bad that Jason's only recourse is to admit his father needs medical help, his new friends continue to cheer him on.

CRAZY is the story of a young teen's struggle to keep together what's left of his family.  Author Han Nolan uses the unique voices in Jason's head to vividly portray the emotional torment he experiences as he watches his own father crumbling before him.  Readers will come to know and love Jason and admire his courage and determination to hold it all together under unbearable circumstances.

AUTHOR NED VIZZINI IS COMING TO STAIR PUBLIC LIBRARY!!!!

Author Ned Vizzini whose book IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY was just released as a major motion picture will be visiting Stair Public Library in Morenci, MI.


This will be Ned's fourth visit to the tiny Michigan community. He will be speaking on Saturday, November 13 at 2:00 pm as part of a program entitled New York City in a Tiny Midwest Town.

Please come join us if you are in the area.

ZORA AND ME by Victoria Bond & T.R. Simon

Two authors, Victoria Bond and T.R. Simon, take on the impressive and creative task of presenting a unique view of well-known author Zora Neale Hurston.  Hurston, renowned author of such books as THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD and JONAH'S GOURD VINE, is memorialized in this new fictional version of her childhood.  In ZORA AND ME Bond and Simon attempt to imagine the great storyteller's early years.

The story is told by Carrie, a childhood friend of Zora's.  According to Carrie, Zora began her storytelling career as a child and used her talent to fascinate and entertain everyone both young and old.  Always ready with a tale, Zora's favorites usually seemed to involve the folklore of the area.

ZORA AND ME forces on a creature half gator/half man thought to stalk victims in the marshes and swamps.  When a headless dead man is discovered along the railroad tracks, Zora's imagination soars.  She creates a tale combining this recent discovery with other unexplained events that is sure to raise the hairs on many an arm.  Young and old in her tiny community are drawn into her story, and everyone fears for their safety.

Readers and fans of the adult Zora Neale Hurston will be captivated by this imaginative portrayal of the young Hurston.  It doesn't take much of a leap to believe that this little storyteller could grow to be an award winning author.  Bond and Simon are to be applauded for their efforts.

ITCH by Michelle D. Kwasney

Leaving Florida and moving to Ohio?  Delores is sure that it represents the end of the world.  Her beloved Gramps died, and Gram has put the house up for sale so they can move into a mobile home next door to relatives in some tiny Ohio town.

Delores's memories of Gramps include her nickname, Itch, his 1957 convertible, and his smelly cigars.  They spent endless hours sitting together in that old car, listening to the radio and talking about everything.  Missing Gramps is bad enough, and now she has to leave her best friend Bailey behind, too.

Gram and Delores settle into their new home.  According to Gram, they have to sell the Florida house and Gramps car to make ends meet.  Life also changes when Gram decides to use her old hairdresser skills to get a job in a local beauty parlor.  Delores starts school where she begins to make friends with several of the girls in her grade.  She misses Bailey, but once she meets Gwendolyn "Wendy", she hopes she might be on her way to finding a new best friend.

Wendy is a champion dancer and baton twirler who lives in a fancy house the total opposite of Delores's trailer park home.  As their friendship begins to blossom, Delores suspects that Wendy's storybook life might have a dark side.  When evidence surfaces that Wendy is being abused by her mother, Delores looks to advice from Gramps about how speaking up takes courage.

ITCH by Michelle D. Kwasney describes one young girl's grit and determination to make the best of a difficult situation.  Moving was the last thing Delores wanted to do, but with the help of her supportive grandmother and her own generous spirit, she meets her challenges head-on.  She not only adapts to her new surroundings, but also steps up to help a new friend.  Delores is sure to inspire middle grade readers as well as entertain them with her story.

MY FAKE BOYFRIEND IS BETTER THAN YOURS by Kristina Springer

Tween girls will get a kick out of this one.  With all the middle grade angst involving boyfriends and popularity, Kristina Springer has hit the nail on the head.

Tori is feeling totally abandoned by her best friend Sienna.  After all Sienna spent the summer at some fabulous house in Florida getting a tan, and apparently, getting an amazing boyfriend, while Tori stayed at home doing absolutely nothing as she waited for Sienna's dwindling texts and emails.  Now seventh grade is about to begin, and Tori doesn't even know if they are still friends.

It quickly becomes obvious that all Sienna is planning to do is talk about Antonio.  He sends the best emails.  He gives the best presents.  He's the best kisser.  Tori is getting more jealous by the minute, until she realizes that this long-distance boyfriend might not really exist.

The more Tori listens to Sienna, the more she begins to believe that Antonio is make-believe.  Tori decides two can play that game, and she invents Sebastian.  Now the battle is on!

Kristina Springer takes all of the worst parts of seventh grade behavior and brings them together in MY FAKE BOYFRIEND IS BETTER THAN YOURS.  All the feelings of insecurity and inferiority of not fitting in and not being popular are present in the characters of Tori and Sienna.  Even though the ending is fairly predictable, readers will find the journey there an interesting one.