Criminal by Terra McVoy - NO

McVoy, Terra Elan Criminal, 288 pgs. Simon & Schuster, 2013. $16.99. Content: Language: R (58 swears; 16 Fs); Mature Content: R (smoking; drinking; marijuana use; descriptive casual sex; use of fake I.D.s; casual references to gun play); Violence: R  (shooting of policeman; threats of domestic violence toward several women in the novel);

This novel deals with the choices a young woman must make to save herself and to reclaim her freedom after becoming mixed up (to the point of thinking she's fallen in love) with a nearly-of-age career criminal, whereby she is arrested and charged as an accessory to  murder. The book starts with the protagonist and her boyfriend hiding out at the home of a best friend whose car was used in the crime, which has brought the local police force to the scene.

I believe it was written with the author's hope that its redeeming value would be seen, first in the regret expressed by the protagonist over the loss of her best friend, and second, through her loss of freedom and rough exposure to other incarcerated women in the local jail. However, the casual sex, constant swearing, drinking and understated threats of violence toward nearly every female character in the novel force me to state that I do not support bringing this novel into any school library.                                                 

HS - NO. Reviewer: Katherine S., Utah Educator. 

Radio Girl by Carol Brendler - ADVISABLE

Brendler, Carol Radio Girl, 202 pgs. Holiday House, 2013. $16.95. Language:  G (1 swear, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: G. 

It is 1938 and Cecelia Maloney, 14, has a passion to be a radio actress and gets hired at CBS unbeknownst to her parents. Cecelia is troubled because she’s hiding a lie of working at CBS and knows that others in her family are living their own lies too. The truth begins to be revealed on Halloween Eve as CBS broadcasts Orson Welles, War of the Worlds. This is also the beginning of the unraveling of other deceptions in her family. Cecelia must deal with the truth. 

Radio Girl is full of time period slang and refers to Old Time Radio shows which pull the reader into the post Depression/pre-World War II era. A hint of mystery begins on the first page which adds a secondary element. The story got off to a slow start and continued until the last third of the book where it picked up. As the title says, Radio Girl will appeal to girls. 

EL, MS-ADVISABLE. Reviewer: PJ

Squirrels on Skis by J Hamilton Ray - OPTIONAL

Ray, J. Hamilton Squirrels on Skis, illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre.  PICTURE BOOK. Random House, 2013.  $8.99.  Content: G. 

A good book about the chaos of having no rules can cause.  Instead of killing all of the squirrels on the ski slope, they solve the problem by distracting them and giving them their own slope and rules to follow.  This is for those who love skiing or squirrels. 

EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL. Reviewer: Mindy Tidwell

   

The Vine Basket by Josanne La Valley - ADVISABLE

La Valley, Josanne The Vine Basket, Clarion Books, 2013. $16.99. Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence G. 

Mehrigul, 14, is forced by her abusive father to quit school and help on the family farm. While Mehrigul is selling peaches at the market, an American woman buys a basket Mehrigul has woven for a large sum of money. The American woman offers to buy more baskets when she returns. Will Mehrigul be able to weave more baskets for the American woman? And what effect, if any, will it have on Mehrigul’s family?

This story is as introduction to the Uyghur culture. It addresses the difficulties of people in third world countries. It also shows how difficult it is for girls to become successful and rise above their circumstances. The author included some of the Uyghur language and traditions which make the story feel authentic. Mehrigul’s determination to rise above her circumstances is a good example to all as she never lets her dreams die. This is a good, well written story that girls will enjoy. 

EL, MS-ADVISABLE. Reviewer: PJ

Penguin Cha-Cha by Kristi Valiant - OPTIONAL

Valiant, Kristi Penguin Cha-Cha.  PICTURE BOOK.  Random House, 2013.  $ 17.99.    Content: G. 

A young girl sees the penguins at the zoo do an amazing dance. She tells everyone but the penguins will not dance again.  She thinks and thinks and then decides that she has to dance for the penguins.  She does the Cha-Cha, thus the Penguin Cha-Cha. The illustrations were great but the story is lacking. 

EL (K-3)-OPTIONAL. Reviewer: Mindy Tidwell