IF I GROW UP by Todd Strasser

When you live in the projects and are faced daily with gang violence, drive-by shootings, teen pregnancy, and poverty, the chance of growing up and living a decent life as an adult dwindle with each passing year. Todd Strasser takes readers into the life of one teen living in just such a world.

DeShawn lives with his grandmother and his sister. His grandmother cleans for a living, but even though she's not old by the suburbs' standards, she is old and tired here in the inner city. DeShawn goes to school and wants to stay on the straight and narrow, but everyone he knows is involved in gangs or drugs, so the pressure is on.

IF I GROW UP starts when DeShawn is twelve years old. As each year passes he finds it more and more difficult to keep focused on the things he needs to do to find success in the world most of us know. The pull of the gang lifestyle with its promise of money and power are tempting. Being part of the Disciples would guarantee there would be food on the table, diapers for his sister's twin babies, and money for the rent every month.

When it becomes evident who was responsible for the death of a young child, DeShawn struggles with a feeling of needing to even the score. That's part of the curse of gang life. Once there is one killing, everyone wants to seek revenge which creates an out of control spiraling effect with one drive-by shooting after another. Is DeShawn the one to beat the odds and stay in control of his life by staying in school, getting a decent job, and make his family proud, or will he end up like the rest of the young boys and men of the projects?

Todd Strasser examines the tragedy of life in the inner city. The statistics reveal odds stacked against the youth of our cities. Strasser is able to paint a realistic picture of this tragic world, but at the same time he keeps this novel free of the extreme use of foul language, explicit sex, and graphic drug use most novels of this type usually employ. This makes IF I GROW UP a story that can be shared and discussed in any classroom setting. I plan to use it as a read-aloud with my students to help them appreciate how lucky they are to be growing up in a rural, small town atmosphere.

JACK THE TUMOR by Anthony McGowan

Here's this week's "Waiting on Wednesday." (A soon-to-be available book that I can't wait to read.)

I've been hearing about this book for over a year. Released in Great Britian, it is due out in the U.S. in April. I think it sounds like a hoot!

Summary courtesy of Barnes & Noble:

"Hector is being hectored by an unlikely bully: a talking brain tumor. And it’s not just a talking brain tumor. It’s a know-it-all, pain-in-the-arse, jibber-jabbering brain tumor that names itself Jack, and insists on coaching Hector through life even as it’s threatening to take his life away. It’s a pretty good coach, actually. With Jack in control of Hector’s speech and brain chemicals, Hector suddenly finds himself with a cool haircut, a new fashion sense, and tactics for snogging previously unattainable hottie Uma Upshaw. But when Jack begins to force increasingly questionable decisions and behavior, Hector has to find a way to turn the tables – before it’s too late for both of them. Delightfully twisted, desperately funny, and deeply moving, this novel is also the winner of the Booktrust Teenage Prize in the United Kingdom."

OPERATION REDWOOD by S. Terrell French

In OPERATION REDWOOD four young kids take on big business to save a forest full of giant redwood trees. Debut author S. Terrell French has written an adventure filled with creative ideas, spunky ambition, and a love of the environment.

Julian Carter-Li is staying with his uncle and aunt while his mother travels to China to photograph Buddist temples. Things are not going well. Julian doesn't seem to be able to do anything according to the strict rules his aunt has established, and his uncle seems constantly disappointed in him. In fact while alone in his uncle's fancy office, Julian stumbles across an extremely insulting email. It appears that his uncle believes Julian is unruly and "sullen" just like his late father. Julian can't believe what he is reading.

Another email that attracts Julian's attention is from a young girl complaining that IPX, his uncle's company, is planning to destroy an area of redwood forest known as Big Tree Grove. Although he has never met this girl named Robin, Julian can relate to her anger that a huge company like IPX that already has more money than he can imagine, would want to destroy something as important and historical as the redwoods just to make more money selling lumber.

Julian keeps the emails he reads a secret until he hears his aunt's plans to send him off to Math Camp for the summer. He appeals to his friend Danny for help. When he tells Danny about the emails, Danny begins to concoct a plan that would keep Julian from spending his summer doing math calculations and instead possibly saving the redwoods.

What follows is a daring adventure. Julian and Danny scheme to get Julian out of the city and off to Big Tree Grove where he can help Robin protect her old-growth forest. They may be just a few young kids, but they have big ideas. Even when their plans seem to be wrecked by Julian's annoying and interfering aunt, they manage to use creativity and determination to keep their eye on the goal.

OPERATION REDWOOD provides excellent reinforcement for conservation lessons and the importance of preserving our natural habitats. It would work for readers in the 8-13 age group for independent reading or as a great classroom read-aloud.

SCAT by Carl Hiaasen

The biology field trip to Black Vine Swamp ends with a sudden wildfire and the disappearance of Truman School's most feared teacher, Mrs. Bunny Starch. Don't let the innocent sounding first name fool you. Mrs. Starch frightens even the most bold and undisciplined students who have had the misfortune of being scheduled to attend class in her room. She tolerates absolutely no nonsense and expects students to commit their science text to memory or be prepared to suffer her wrath.

Nick and his good friend Marta have been able to survive Mrs. Starch so far. On the day of the field trip, luck is on their side and they are assigned to another teacher's group. Nick's group is about to safely board the waiting bus when Mrs. Starch announces she is returning to the swamp to retrieve a lost asthma inhaler. Since the teacher had driven to the site of the field trip seperately, the bus heads back to the school with the students and remaining teachers, and it isn't until much later in the day that school officials realize Mrs. Starch never returned.

The next day it is announced that wacky Mr. Waxmo is to be their substitute until Mrs. Starch returns from a family emergency. Nick and Marta soon tire of Mr. Waxmo's outlandish teaching style and wish that Mrs. Starch would hurry back. The mystery surrounding her sudden absence causes Nick and Marta to begin an investigation of their own.

What follows is a fast-paced adventure involving endangered species, illegal oil drilling, a fellow classmate accused of arson, an eccentric grandmother, a Macaw that speaks three languages, and Nick's own personal family problems. SCAT has a little something for everyone.

Carl Hiaasen, famous for a column in the Miami Herald and countless books for adult readers, has once again proven his talent in writing for the YA audience. In addition to SCAT, he has written HOOT and FLUSH. This latest should be popular with readers both young and old.

MY LIFE IN PINK & GREEN by Lisa Greenwald

Lisa Greenwald has a nice combination of things going on in her debut novel MY LIFE IN PINK & GREEN. Put together "green" living to save the earth, the trials and tribulations of being a 7th grade girl, and the financial stress of running a family business, and you have a real page-turner.

Lucy will be the third generation owner of a family pharmacy - that is if her mother and grandmother can keep the store going against the competition of large chains and consumers only looking for one-stop shopping options. She hears their constant arguments about which direction is best for the business her grandfather started years ago. Lucy's mother's objections are that the store is stuck in the 80's, while her mother, Lucy's grandmother, says her own daughter is the downfall of the business because of her poor money management skills. All Lucy knows is that she doesn't want to lose the family business, and she thinks she just might have the answer.

Being a 7th grader is also a challenge for Lucy. Her older sister is away at college, but thanks to Claudia, at least Lucy knows how to look her best and with the help of good grooming she maintains a high level of self-confidence in the face of middle school stress. She has always been interested in makeup and growing up in the pharmacy with its make-up aisle so easily accessible, she has developed certain knack for making people look their best. When people begin realizing her talent, she finds herself running a makeover business that is bringing in needed cash for the store.

In an effort to boost her friend Sunny's confidence with boys, Lucy joins the school's Earth Club. Membership in the club revives Lucy's interest in recycling and promoting some of the more nature friendly makeup products she uses with her customers. When an afternoon of research for the club causes Lucy to stumble across a city grant offering some major money help for local businesses who "go green", she believes she has truly found the way to save the family business.

MY LIFE IN PINK & GREEN grabbed my attention right from the start. Lucy is portrayed a fun, upbeat 7th grader not afraid to test out her innovative ideas. The addition of the financial stress in the family business brings this story into the here and now of our economic woes and will help hold the interest of readers dealing with their own tough times. By adding humor and a bit of young romance, Lisa Greenwald has really hit the mark with this novel. I look forward to reading what I hope will be a long line of her YA work.

"WAITING ON WEDNESDAY"

Here's this week's "Waiting on Wednesday." (A soon-to-be available book that I can't wait to read.)

SAME DIFFERENCE by Siobhan Vivian

I love the cover art. That picture just makes me want to know more about this girl's life.

Summary courtesy of Barnes & Noble:

"Emily is ready for a change. She's been in the same town with the same friends for a long time...and none of them really understand her art. But when she goes to Philadelphia for a summer art institute, she suddenly finds like-minded people. One in particular, Fiona, intrigues and challenges her. But there are some things Emily is going to have to find out for herself — like what the balance is between life and art, and which is more important when push comes to shove."

Release date - March 2009

FADE by Lisa McMann

The life of a dream catcher continues. FADE, the sequel to Lisa McMann's WAKE, contains even more excitement and heart-stopping action, so I can't even imagine what's in store for readers in her third book.

Once again Janie and her secret boyfriend Cabel help Captain Kominsky crack the case. This time they work undercover to unmask a sexual predator teaching at Fieldridge High School. Janie uses her ability to gain access to the dreams and nightmares of her classmates to gather evidence implicating one of her very own teachers.

After growing up with an alcoholic mother and pretty much taking care of herself, Janie is finally beginning to master her amazing talent. Some of the mysteries and complications of dream catching are revealed when the Captain gives Janie a green notebook belonging to the late Martha Stubins, Dream Catcher. Martha shares both the blessings and the curses of this strange ability. Janie learns more about controlling her gift, but also more about its disastrous effects.

FADE is filled with breath-taking moments of suspense, frustrating moments of anger and fear, and tender moments of emotion. Janie and Cabel learn how important their relationship is and how valuable their help can be to others. Readers will become emotionally invested in the couple and will no doubt find it difficult to stop thinking about them even after the cover is closed.