The Golden Compass

Title: The Golden Compass
Author: Philip Pullman
Published: April 1996
ISBN: 9780679879244
Price: 20.00
Genre: fiction, fantasy
Reading Level: 8th grade
Interest Level:  8th-12th grade
Awards: ALA Notable Children's Books, Booklist Editor's Choice, Carnegie Medal, YALSA Best Books for Young Adults
Plot Summary: Lyra is an orphan who lives among the scholars at Jordan college. But when Lyra's uncle, Lord Asriel , visits the college it sets everyone at ease. Lyra sneaks into the closet and is able to not only see some one attempt to poison her uncle but she also gets to hear about his discovery up north of dust and a city beyond the clouds. Lyra is then taken by Mrs. Coulter and while things start out okay Lyra soon starts too feel that Mrs. Coulter is not as kind as she appears on the outside. Then there is the issues of children going missing. Even her playmate Roger is a victim of this mysterious disappearance. Lyra soon sets off on a quest up north to save Roger. Her quest leads her to amazing adventures and terrifying discoveries.
Review: Philip Pullman has created an amazing and magical world. I really enjoy the creation of the animal daemons in the story. Pullman is able to create a complex story with many twists and turns and mysteries without overwhelming the reader. The story is an epic magical quest lead by a smart, witty and at times stubborn Lyra. She is far wiser than her years and acts very bravely for a girl of only 11 years old. The story also weaves in scientific and religious elements that are embattled in an epic battle for power and access to the world in the sky. It's often times difficult to know who you can trust in the story since both sides seem out for their own well being. Meanwhile Lyra is caught in the middle trying to do what she feels is best.
Reader's Annotation: Lyra is an orphan living a carefree life at Jordan College. But when Lyra learns about the dust and world in the sky up north Lyra sets on an epic quest.
Bibliotherapeutic usefulness: Lyra's epic quest challenges her innocence as she learns that not everyone is trustworthy. Lyra must use her own smarts and gut feelings to decide who she can trust. She also learns that she must take chances and battle against evil. 
Issues: The story has offended many in the religious community for being ant-religious, anti-god and sacrilegious. Philip Pullman has been very outspoken about his atheist views and some feel he is trying to force them on his young readers.
Book Talk Ideas: There is many intriguing aspects to this story like the daemons that everyone poses, or the idea of dust that lives in all living things. These can be used to hook readers into the story.
Main Themes: Quests, friendship, heroes, religion, science
Read-alikes: Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve
Author Website:  http://www.philip-pullman.com/
Professional Reviews: Kirkus Reviews
Publisher's Weekly
Why this book was chosen: This particular book was formally challenged at my library by a religious group who wanted the book removed. The story is very popular with teens despite its controversy. The book has also gained popularity due to the movie based on the book.

Going Bovine

Title: Going Bovine

Author: Libba Bray

Published: Sep 2009

Pages: 480

Price: $17.99

Reading Level: 5th grade

Interest Level: 9th-12th grade

Awards: Michael L. Printz Award, YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, Booklist Editor's Choice

Genre: fantasy, humor

Plot Summary:16 year old Cameron is a self declared slacker who is happy just skating by in life and school. But it turns out his life is going to much shorter than he expect. It turns out that he has contracted mad cow disease and is going to die, which he isn't too thrilled to find out. I mean who dies of mad cow disease? The doctor tells him the disease will slowly attack his brain and he will go crazy and then die, not the best outlook. But then a combat wearing punk angel Dulcie shows up at the hospital and tells Cameron that he can save himself and the world by finding Dr. X. So Cameron and his video game loving dwarf friend Bonzo set off on an adventure across the country to save the world. During their travels they pick up a talking yard gnome and hilarity ensues. This is like no road trip, quest you've ever seen. But one begins to wonder if Cameron's crazy journey is just hallucination induced by his illness or if he really is on a road trip to save the world.

Critical Review: The plot is absurd and filled with strange and quirky characters and absolutely insane scenarios, but Libba Bray has a way of making it work. It's an epic road trip/quest story with sarcasm, wit and a bit of magical fantasy thrown in. Though the book is also slightly dark as Cameron faces his death. The reader starts to realize that his hilarious adventure might not be more than just Cameron's very sick brain hallucinating as the mad cow disease takes over. Cameron goes through a sort of coming of age growth as he nears his death. It really adds to the complexity of the book that without would just make the story too silly, too out of control. The reality of Cameron dying allows for the story to have more impact on the reader. Only Libba Bray could write something so tragic that seem lighthearted and fun till the end.

Reader's Annotation: Cameron just found out he is dying of mad cow disease. Which he didn't even think was possible. But then a crazy angel shows up and convinces him to save the world and possibly himself.

Bibliotheraputic Usefulness: Cameron goes through a great deal of growth through the book. He starts his quest as a complete slacker who never does anything to someone who is out to save the world. While teens won't have such epic adventures it does show that you can change your life and that you don't need to sit on the sidelines of life. Teens will also be able to contemplate death and what it means when you are very young and facing your own death.

Book Talk Ideas: A book talk can't go wrong with a talking yard gnome, which would make for a great hook in the book talk. Maybe even see about bringing a yard gnome as prop. Ask what does a yard gnome, video games and mad cow disease all have to do with saving the world? Ask Cameron.

Issues: There some foul language in the story including a lot of the word fuck and shit. There is also the issue of Cameron dying which might be seen as too mature. Cameron also has sex, with an angel who wears combat boots and has pink hair. Not exactly what most people think of when it comes to angels.

Main themes: death, coming of age, friendship, love, quests, road trips

Read Alikes: The Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Francisco X. Stork

Author Website: http://libbabray.com/

Professional Reviews: Publisher's Weekly

Why include this book? This book is a unique take on the road trip novel. Libba Bray has an amazing wit and humour in her writing. It's also a book that will have great appeal to male readers because of it's male protagonist, sarcasm and video game loving character.