WHEN WILL THIS CRUEL WAR BE OVER? THE DIARY OF EMMA SIMPSON by Barry Denenberg

Growing up on a Virginia plantation in the mid-1800s, slavery has been part of Emma Simpson's entire life.  Now she and her mother are working tirelessly to keep the place running in the absence of her father who is somewhere to the south fighting the Yankees.

Emma hears constant reports describing the ignorant Yankees and their disapproval of holding the black people against their will.  The slaves she's known on her father's plantation seem happy enough.  She watches the women gladly helping her mother in the garden and in the main house.  Even the men who work in the fields and drive the wagons appear content, and she knows none of them have been mistreated like some she's heard about.

Sporadic letters from Emma's father promise the South will win the war quickly, but as time passes more of their neighbors and friends are sending men off to fight.  When Christmas of 1863 passes without a celebration, Emma realizes hopes of a short war might be wishful thinking.  Aunt Caroline, Cousin Rachel, and Baby Elizabeth stay on into the New Year.  Their company is welcome, especially when Emma's mother becomes ill.

Emma's diary over the next year describes the rapid and devastating changes as the war drags on.  Although their slaves remain loyal, keeping the plantation running becomes more and more difficult especially as her mother's health deteriorates.  Word arrives almost daily of local men and boys losing their lives on the battlefield as the Yankees come closer every day. 

Emma writes of her mother's death and sickness that threatens neighbors and friends.   She describes  enemy troops ransacking plantation homes destroying prized possessions and taking food and livestock with no regard for the remaining women and children.  Emma tries to remain hopeful despite the constant worry that her father and the young man she loves might not return alive.

Author Barry Denenberg gives readers a view of the Civil War through the eyes of a young girl from the South.  Whatever one believes about the intent and purpose behind this historical time, Denenberg shows the toll it took on the lives of those who struggled to hold on while the war raged around them.

SHOOTING STAR by Michael Embry

Jesse Christopher is used to moving around.  His father works with horses, and relocation due to changing jobs is something Jesse has learned to take in stride.  This move just before the start of his senior year is proving to be a bit different.

Usually a loner, Jesse has been spending the first few weeks in his new neighborhood at a local park shooting baskets.  His dad has always encouraged his interest in basketball, but moving so often normally prevents him from becoming part of any organized team.  That hasn't diminished Jesse's talent though.  With a goal of shooting at least 250 shots a day, he is pretty amazing on the court and word gets out that there's a new kid in town.

When the coach at the county high school hears about Jesse, he makes a point to stop by and have a chat with the young player.  Living where Jesse currently is requires him to attend the city high school, but when the coach sees Jesse's skills, he suggests the family check out housing outside the city so Jesse can attend the county school.  With a little help from the assistant coach's wife, Jesse's parents find a house to rent just a mile from his father's new job.

Jesse's senior year begins.  He is not only the new kid in school but also the new kid on an already excellent basketball team.  The team fell just short of the state championship last year, and with all the starters returning, they have big hopes for the championship this year.  The players are happy to see Jesse's shooting skills, but welcoming him as part of the team doesn't please everyone.  The coach will have his work cut out for him as he tries to make Jesse a part of the team.

Jesse is facing other challenges as well.  Being Hispanic and having his father work on a farm, gives the perception of the family as migrant workers or illegal immigrants.  Unfortunately, this means Jesse is not welcome by everyone in the county school district.  Even a few of the teachers give Jesse a hard time.  Another complication develops when Jesse's father suffers a heart attack.  It is a minor attack, but still sidetracks Jesse's concentration on the court and in the classroom.

SHOOTING STAR by Michael Embry offers plenty of excitement as readers follow Jesse and the team through a season filled with possibilities and challenges.  Embry's generous use of dialogue and his sharp play-by-play narrative help connect readers to the characters and the non-stop action packed into this novel.

THE UNWANTEDS by Lisa McMann

A great big thank you to author Lisa McMann's publisher for providing me with this ARC.  THE UNWANTEDS is due out August 30, and you won't want to miss it!

The setting is the future in a place called Quill.  Life there is not easy, especially if it is decided that you are an Unwanted.  At the age of thirteen it is determined that each citizen is in one of the following groups - Wanteds, Necessaries, or Unwanteds.  The Wanteds are a privileged group given the opportunity for higher education and positions of power in society.  The Necessaries are just that; they provide the necessary services required in daily life.  The Unwanteds are sent to the Death Farm and exterminated. 

Alex and Aaron are identical twins turning thirteen.  They already know their fates.  Aaron will stay in Quill and become part of the Quillitary and most likely move up the ranks to become a powerful leader.  As a young boy, Alex showed creative tendencies when he was caught drawing in the dirt with a chicken bone.  Creativity is not valued in Quill which means all those with artistic talents are classified as Unwanteds.

The departure of the Unwanteds creates barely a ripple in the lives of those left behind in Quill.  Alex's parents and brother almost seem annoyed during the brief farewell required when Alex leaves for the Death Farm.  He joins the others headed toward their uncertain end with only a hope that death will come quickly and painlessly. 

Alex and the others soon find that there is nothing to fear.  Upon their arrival, they are welcomed by a mysterious magician named Mr. Today and countless other magical creatures.  The world they have entered is called Artime, and it is filled with color and beauty beyond their wildest dreams.  It is immediately obvious that life in Artime is all about living and enjoying the creative pursuits they were denied in Quill.

After a brief introduction and orientation about the rules and requirements of Artime, Alex and his fellow Unwanteds begin to explore this amazing world.  In addition to learning about art, music, and theater, they develop their own magical talents.  They are free to roam and appreciate all Artime has to offer, but as Alex settles in he learns there is a definite separation between Quill and Artime.  No one in Quill must know about the Unwanteds who escaped extermination.  Contact with family and friends would threaten this wonderful world's very survival.

Author Lisa McMann takes readers on an adventure very different than in her previous novels.  Her creation of these two extremely different worlds creates a sharp contrast that had this reader captivated.  The underdog status of the Unwanteds pulled me into the story and had me cheering for them right up through the last page.  If you are a fan of Harry Potter, the Hunger Games, or just enjoy fast-paced adventure, you will want to get your hands on this one.

JOURNEY TO THE NEW WORLD: THE DIARY OF REMEMBER PATIENCE WHIPPLE by Kathryn Lasky

After over two months and over 2900 miles, Remember Whipple and her family arrive in the New World with the rest of the passengers and crew aboard the famed Mayflower.  The Whipple family is part of a religious group known as the Saints that left Holland to find religious freedom in this far away place.

The Mayflower first came ashore off Cape Cod.  Women and children were left on the ship while the men explored.  It was determined that the area was not their true destination, and they set sail for a neighboring region.  The Pilgrims finally settled in a place Remember refers to as Plimoth.

At the start of the voyage, Remember's mother gives her a handmade diary and encourages her young daughter to record the events of the journey.  What follows is a fascinating account of the treacherous trip across the Atlantic.  The sea voyage was extremely uncomfortable and deadly.  Many passengers didn't live to set foot in the New World.  Remember was one of the lucky few whose entire family survived the journey.

Once in the New World the settlers were faced with even greater challenges.  They arrived at the start of winter so sickness continued to decrease their numbers, and the shortage of food presented further problems.  Although, Remember writes of being excited to see and meet the Indians, the men of the group prepared to deal with a possible unfriendly welcome from the natives.

Author Kathryn Lasky paints an incredible picture of these brave pioneers.  She describes the investors who gambled that the pilgrims would make the voyage, create a settlement, and then produce products that would be returned by ship to repay their investment.  Lasky turns this well-known story into a suspenseful adventure told by a courageous, young girl.  A JOURNEY TO THE NEW WORLD is part of the Dear American series.

IT'S CONTEST TIME!!!

Although I'm not a sports-minded person in the least, I do enjoy reading YA sports fiction.  One of my favorite authors is Carl Deuker.  Click here to read a review of one of his best, PAYBACK TIME.

I happen to have an extra copy of PAYBACK TIME so I'm putting it up for grabs.

All you lucky readers have to do is fill out the form below, and it could be yours.

*Deadline to enter is midnight July 31.

COMPULSION by Heidi Ayarbe

One would think high school soccer star Jake Martin would be focused on the game, his teammates, and maybe scoring with one the team's adoring female fans.  Those aren't the controlling forces in Jake's life.  Instead, he is controlled by his obsession with time and more specifically whether he can translate time into prime numbers.  Jake suffers from the condition known as OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Most likely triggered by a traumatic childhood experience involving his younger sister and his mentally unstable mother, Jake feels a compulsive need to find order in his days by constantly checking the time and making mathematical equations that equal only prime numbers.  Beginning with his first waking moment, Jake is compelled to follow a set routine from the time he leaves his bed, showers, dresses, eats breakfast, and leaves the house.  If any part of that routine is disrupted, the urge to repeat the process is debilitating.  He hides his secret well, but those closest to him are beginning to suspect something is wrong.

Jake tries to focus on keeping his life on track.  He knows that his father depends on him to watch over his younger sister.  Jake's mother isn't able to hold down a job because of a mysterious illness keeps her shut up in his parents' room.  Those rare occasions when she does attempt to simple take a drive or run an errand, the result is a total breakdown when she claims to have mistakenly forgotten to pay for merchandise or accidentally struck a cyclist on her drive home.  No matter how much family members try to convince her that she hasn't committed any such crime, she insists on returning to the scene or calling the police to turn herself in.  Each episode ends with her seeking refuge in the bedroom which leaves Jake and his sister to fend for themselves.

Afraid that his own compulsions are related to his mother's emotional instability, Jake forces himself to be "normal."  Playing soccer gives him a chance to put aside his obsessive behavior, and he is truly an exceptional player being scouted by numerous college programs.  About to play in his third state championship, Jake's chronic problem with tardiness could jeopardize the team's performance.  His compulsions have so often delayed his arrival to school and classes, that one more tardy will have him suspended from the team just before the final game.  Pressure from the school, teammates, and his father just add to the emotional stress Jake faces every day.

Author Heidi Ayarbe takes readers inside Jake's mind to experience the intense emotion created by his unexplained compulsions and his desire to rise about them.  His need to control time by manipulating the numbers into prime numbers is exhibited through Ayarbe's diary-type approach to the narrative and the creative numbering of the chapters using only prime numbers.  As a reader, I felt the constant strain as Jake attempts to hide his condition to protect his family and realize the dreams of his teammates.  With each page I turned, I understood that Jake's problem went much deeper than anyone could imagine. 

ON AUTHOR LISA MCMANN....

I had the extreme privilege of being invited to the vacation condo of author Lisa McMann. She invited Michigan teacher and librarian supporters to spend the afternoon and have dinner with her while she vacationed along Lake Michigan. I enjoyed excellent conversation and met some wonderful new reader friends.

Lisa's newest book comes out on 8/30. It's titled THE UNWANTEDS and is one I'm excited to read. The cover quote promises it is "The Hunger Games meets Harry Potter." Sounds fun!!

DEAD TO YOU is another book Lisa has coming out in February 2012. Plus, she's working on another new one for spring of 2013. YEA!