SECRET SATURDAYS by Torrey Maldonado

Friendship can be tricky.  BFF has certain conditions that it sometimes takes a lifetime to understand.  Being there for a friend seems simple - until it's not.

Justin and Sean have a lot in common.  Both are half Black and half Puerto Rican.  Both are being raised by single mothers intent on raising good, upstanding sons.  Both are good students and behave in school.  However, all that is beginning to change.

Justin knows that Sean is an expert at dissing.  Sean's mother has always said disputes should be handled with words not fists.  Recently, Sean's words have become vicious and are handing out hurts that sting as much as punches.  Sean's taunts are aimed at kids without fathers or at those with deadbeat dads.  This gives him plenty of targets, but Justin wonders about the fact that Sean's own dad is absent from his life. 

When Justin and another buddy Kyle witness Sean and his mother leaving the housing project in the wee hours of the morning, they feel a bit betrayed since Sean was supposed to have been with them for the evening.  When the two friends confront Sean, he boldly lies. 

That lie is just the beginning.  What follows is even more shocking for those who care about Sean.  His behavior is changing dramatically.  His taunts have turned to fist fights resulting in detentions and even a suspension from school.  His grades tank as the mysterious trips with his mother continue.  Justin doesn't understand how best friends who previously trusted each other with everything can have secrets like the ones Sean is keeping.

Debut author Torrey Maldonado takes on teens and teen relationships in the inner city.  He has firsthand knowledge of just how tough it is to grow up surrounded by negative influences and how hard it is to resist temptation when there is no male role model to look up to.  Justin and Sean and their other friends realistically depict the difficult times friends can face when it comes to family and secrets meant to save face or protect.  Maldonado presents his story so readers can feel both sides of the situation as they listen to Justin's narration and as they try to puzzle out Sean's secret life.

FIX ME by Rune Michaels



Leia doesn't remember what it's like to feel safe.  Maybe back before the accident and the death of her parents, but even those memories are scarred by a secret too awful for words.  Even though her aunt tries to provide a safe home, Leia's brother Brian's anger always seems to find her.  Yes, maybe she invites it sometimes, but it seems that she is broken and can't control the impulse to add to her pain.

When Leia accidentally discovers that Brian is a cutter, too, she thinks perhaps this common bond will change his feelings toward her.  However, her heart she knows nothing is likely to change, and when she is confronted by the stranger who claims to know her and her story, she makes a sudden decision to run.

Leia ends up in the only place that offers her peace - the zoo.  Her fascination with elephants leads her there.  Her dreams of the gentle power of the huge animals and their ability to protect as well as destroy, draw her to the elephant enclosure.  After a day spent watching these amazing creatures, Leia is determined to find a way to stay at the zoo indefinitely. 

It takes two days for someone to discover her illegal living arrangements.  Kyle is the son of the zoo director.  He confronts Leia but doesn't learn much about her or the reason for her presence.  He does see her as an answer to his problem - endless chores assigned by his mother as punishment for his habit of hanging with the wrong crowd.  Together, Kyle and Leia form a team.  She helps him with his chores and covers for him so he can escape his mother's supervision, and he keeps quiet about her living in the zoo.

The arrangement is nearly perfect.  Leia is able to spend time up close and personal with the animals she loves in return for food, clothing, and a place where she finally feels safe.  However, like anything too good to be true, she eventually must face her brother and the reality that she doesn't really belong.  When her situation begins to crumble and she must face the memories of her past, she finds she has a tougher skin than she imagined, both literally and figuratively.

Author Rune Michaels paints a stark picture of an abusive family and the devastating toll on its victims.  Readers are sure to sympathize with Leia as they observe her gentle care and appreciation of the animals at the same time as they witness her fear of returning to her broken life.

HUMAN.4

We are always waiting breathlessly for the latest and greatest technology.  It seems like computers, communication devices, and software programs are updated almost daily.  Having the most up-to-date version often has us standing in line. 

What if humans could be updated?  Would we be as excited if there were new versions of humans?  And what about humans who for some reason missed the latest update?

Kyle and four others at the Millgrove annual talent show volunteered to be hypnotized.  Kyle isn't really worried since the star of the act is a fellow teen named Danny who usually performs a fairly unsuccessful magic act each year.  The four volunteers take the stage and Danny begins his act. 

A short time later the volunteers awake to a small town crowd filled with their friends and relatives, but something is different - very different.  Kyle, Lilly, Mrs. O'Donnell, and Mr. Peterson are facing an audience frozen in time.  Everyone watching the performance is sitting, unmoving on the village green.  Kyle and the others approach individuals but receive no response when they attempt to communicate.

Mr. Peterson seems to be in shock so Kyle, Lilly, and Mrs. O'Donnell go in search of answers.  Within an hour the town seems to be back to normal or at least the frozen residents have resumed activity and headed toward their homes.  However, what Kyle experiences at home is far from his normal family life.  His parents and brother are moving again, and they look normal, but there is something not right about the way they interact.  Whispered conversations and an unexpected visit from the family physician, cause Kyle to be even more suspicious.

The four volunteers all experience abnormal behavior by friends and family and decide they need to stick together.  They stumble across the truth at a local farm but can hardly believe what they are seeing.  It is clear that they are the only ones left of their kind.

Author Mike A. Lancaster takes readers into a frightening version of the future.  Humans have been upgraded to a newer version; however, four individuals have been left behind.  The upgraded humans seem happy enough, although they have some disturbing new characteristics.  Lancaster presents his story through cassette tapes recorded by Kyle.  The message disturbing left on the tapes will have readers looking at the technology around them very differently.  HUMAN.4 is perfect for dystopian and sci fi fans.

JEREMY BENDER VS. THE CUPCAKE CADETS by Eric Luper

Author Eric Luper has made his first journey into the world of middle grade fiction.  JEREMY BENDER VS. THE CUPCAKE CADETS is perfect for this age group.  With a good mix of male and female characters, crazy antics, and life lessons Luper's new book should be a success.

Jeremy and his buddy Slater attend the Thomas Scolari Academy.  It is an all-boy school and prides itself on its strict rules.  According to school authorities there is a zero-tolerance policy for bullying.  Jeremy and Slater have yet to see this policy enforced.  They are constantly tormented by one particular bully named Paul Volger.  His most recent attack was aimed at Jeremy and resulted in a painful megawedgie. 

The boys are contemplating this vicious attack as they lounge around after school.  Jeremy is tinkering with his father refurbished antique speedboat as he daydreams about the day he and Slater might be allowed to take it for a spin.  Momentarily distracted, Jeremy spills grape soda into the newly rebuilt engine and then thinking he is using degreaser to clean up the mess, ends up spraying the entire engine with green spray paint.  When his father discovers the disaster, Jeremy knows he'll be grounded for life.

As the boys plot to find a way to repair the damage, they come up with what they are sure is a fool-proof plan.  There is a contest called the Windjammer Whirl sponsored by the Cupcake Cadets, a Girl Scout-like group.  The winner of the model sailboat race gets $500 in prize money.  That happens to be the amount necessary to replace all the damaged parts in Jeremy's father's boat. 

The tricky part of the plan involves the fact that only girls can be members of the Cupcake Cadets, but it doesn't take long for the boys to realize a couple of uniforms and a wig would transform them into potential members.  The whole thing should be a breeze.  Sell a few cupcakes, earn a few badges, and win the Windjammer Whirl, and Jeremy can fix the boat before his father even knows about the damage.

What follows is a fast-paced, crazy string of adventures.  Jeremy and Slater may pass as girls in their disguises, but their lack of ability when it comes to pie baking, camping, and cupcake sales may result in the end of their wacky scheme to make some quick cash.  Whether or not they end up with the money, they will definitely learn a lot along the way.

GIVEAWAY CONTEST - ONE COPY OF WAYS TO LIVE FOREVER by Sally Nicholls

I find myself with an extra copy of WAYS TO LIVE FOREVER by Sally Nicholls so I'd like to pass one on to some lucky reader.

Click here to read a review.

OKAY FOR NOW by Gary D. Schmidt

It's 1968 and Doug has just moved.  He's not exactly crazy about making new friends and starting school somewhere new in the fall, but of course, he doesn't have any choice.

As usual Doug's brother gets out of all the unpacking and settling in chores.  Their rental house has much to be desired, and Doug quickly nicknames it THE DUMP.  His mother tries her best to make it comfortable as everyone listens to his father complain about his new job and how no one appreciates his hard work.

Doug discovers the local library.  Rather than the books, he is attracted to a collection of valuable Audubon prints.  The birds amaze him.  When one librarian sees his fascination, he challenges Doug to attempt his own drawings.  Doug is surprised to find a hidden artistic talent. 

In addition to his weekly trips to the library, Doug passes time during his first summer in town delivering groceries for the little neighborhood store.  He learns his way around town and meets many of the locals as he pulls his deliver wagon from one street to the next.  All his customers seem welcoming until his brother is suspected in several recent criminal activities.  His brother usually manages to mess things up where Doug is concerned.

Author Gary D. Schmidt continues the story he started in THE WEDNESDAY WARS.  Multiple plot lines will keep readers interested.  Doug struggles to steer clear of his abusive father, avoid his brother, stay out of trouble in school, and keep the secret of why he isn't successful in his classes.  When Doug finds there are people who care and are willing to help him discover his potential, he begins to lose his cocky attitude and blossom.

SPINNING OUT by David Stahler Jr.

Don Quixote and modern-day wind turbines combine as author David Stahler Jr. spins his latest tale.  Two friends, usually wandering on the fringes of high school society, are suddenly thrust into the limelight. 

Frenchy and his quirky friend Stewart spend most of their time figuring out how to get high.  Fortunately, Frenchy's mother's loser boyfriend is a reliable source of some decent pot and is cool about not letting Frenchy's mother know.  A typical day in the lives of Frenchy and Stewart involves heading out to the woods to smoke some weed and then heading off to school where they are known as class clowns.

When Stewart proposes the idea of trying out for the school musical, Man of La Mancha, Frenchy is sure he's kidding.  Their high school is known for amazing musical productions, and Frenchy can't believe Stewart has serious intentions of really becoming involved.  It takes a while, but Stewart finally convinces Frenchy he isn't trying out because he wants to sabotage the play.  He actually wants to try out for the lead role, Don Quixote.

In some odd twist of fate, the two friends display some awesome talent and score the two leads in the play.  Frenchy plays Sancho, Don Quixote's sidekick, and he discovers that acting can be an incredible "high."  However, as rehearsals get underway, Frenchy notices that Stewart is taking his part way too seriously.  He begins showing up in full costume long before dress rehearsal, and he even begins wearing it to school and insisting that Frenchy refer to him as Don.

In a strange Quixote-like coincidence Stewart is angry about a group of controversial wind turbines perched on a ridge above town.  As his character begins to take over, his desire to see that the turbines are destroyed intensifies to the point that Frenchy realizes his friend is spinning out of control.

SPINNING OUT shows friendship at its best and at its worst.  The desire to be there for his friend nearly ends Frenchy's relationship with Stewart.  He learns that wanting to help doesn't always end with the best results.