Nicky Deuce: Welcome to the family

Shirripa, S.R. and Fleming, C. (2005). Nicky Deuce: Welcome to the Family. New York, NY: Delacorte. 

Interest level: Grades 4-7

Reading level: 3+

Twelve-year old Nicholas Borelli is supposed to be spending his summer at Camp Wannameka while his parents are on a cruise, but when the camp suddenly floods an alternate plan emerges. Nicholas is sent to stay with his father's family in Brooklyn, a family he's never met. His Uncle Frank renames him Nicky Deuce and is determined to make him into a proper goomba. One of the local boys, Tommy, befriends Nicky and soon the two are getting into a little bit of trouble on their own. But what really concerns Nicky is the stuff he found in Uncle Frank's bag. He's pretty sure he's a mobster and up to no good.  As Nicky and Tommy investigate they find themselves in trouble only to be saved by Nicky's Uncle Frank and Nicky's dad.

This novel, authored by Steven Schirripa, an actor on The Sopranos is no serious read. But Nicky is a character that makes you laugh. The stereotypes abound in this short book, but they are mostly debunked at the end, when you see that Nicky interpreted cultural mannerisms and talk in a way based on his sheltered upbringing. In the end, this book is about family. Reluctant readers will eat this up be happy to hear that there is a second installment chronicling Nicky's adventures with The Family. Some of Grandma Tutti's recipes are included at the end, something young cooks will enjoy.

If I grow up

Strasser, T. (2009). If I grow up. New York: NY. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Interest Level: Grade 7-10

Reading Level: 4+

DeShawn lives in the Frederick Douglass housing project in New York. This is a place where drugs, gang violence and teen pregnancy are commonplace and twelve year old DeShawn doesn't want any part of that. DeShawn is a good boy, a smart boy who wants to do the right thing. DeShawn's best friend Terrell sees it differently. He's looking forward to being accepted by a gang so he can start making some money to get all the things he can't afford. Unfortunately, no matter how hard DeShawn tries to resist, circumstances change and becomes involved with the Disciples. By fifteen life is about becoming daddy's, drugs and guns. And by the time the book ends DeShawn is no longer recognizable as the young boy determined to live a clean life.

This is an eye opening book for anyone not raised in the projects. The drugs, violence, teen pregnancy and poverty are overwhelming to an outsider, even in this book that seems to tone things down so that it's acceptable for the audience intended. You can't help but feel for all the players in this game, where gunshots and death are the norm and where the chance of escaping the drug and gang lifestyle are low. At times the novel sounds preachy, but in the end this book accomplishes what it intends to- opening the eyes of outsiders on to the gritty reality of the urban life. This book is especially appropriate for urban kids who sometime idealize "ghetto" life due to their exposure to rap music.

The forensic anthropologist

Yancey, D. (2006). The forensic anthropologist. Farmington Hills, MI: Lucent Books.

Interest level: Grades 6+

Reading level: 10+

Part of the Crime Scene Investigations series, this book introduces readers to a specialty many may think their familiar with through TV shows like CSI and Bones. All aspects of forensic anthropology are addressed here, from fieldwork to the lab or classroom. The perception that these specialists are not welcome by police or at crime scenes is debunked, pointing out that because anthropologists are trained at fieldwork they are a welcome addition at burial sites. The chapters build upon each other. The introduction gives a brief description of this unusual scientific field and introduces some of the field's most respected scientists. Chapter one takes us to the field, detailing what happens in the recovery of bones. Chapter two takes us to the lab where the bone experts determine whether they have human or animal remains, reconstruct what they can of the skeleton and determine characteristics such as sex, height and race as well as extract DNA. Chapter three details how the scientists use their knowledge to help determine cause of death while chapter four discusses the challenges found when unearthing mass graves. In chapter five readers learn about the reconstruction of the bones and the creation of 3D models. There are extensive supporting notes and a lengthy "Further readings" section. Each chapter also includes many account of actual cases where the methods were used and cases were solved.

This is a solid book for anyone interested in crime scene investigations and more specifically in solving cold cases. Information about the educational path one must take to become a forensic anthropologist as well as the agencies that hire them is plentiful and readers can clearly see the value of such a career. The writing is clear and easy to follow and would be accessible and pertinent to both middle school aged kids and those in upper grades. This book would be a good supplement in Life Science classes or in high school Anatomy and physiology classes.

Zach's lie

Smith, R. (2001).  Zach's lie. New York, NY: Hyperion Paperbacks for Children.

Interest Level: Grades 5-7

Reading Level: 4+

Jack Osbourne's life was that of a typical middle class teenager until the night the men came to kill his family. Jack's dad is a pilot and owns his own plane, but it turns out that rather than transporting people like the family thought, his dad was running drugs. His dad has agreed to testify against the cartel that he was working for and that has put his family at risk. The family is now a candidate for the Witness Protection Program and Jack becomes Zach. Although they were told to leave anything that could tie them to their past behind, Jack takes his journal with him to their new home in Elko, Nevada. The family settles in nicely in Elko- or as nicely as can be when every part of their old life is gone and they all have new identities to learn. But when quotes from Zach's diary begin to show up on classroom whiteboards Zach knows the cartel has found them and they are no longer safe.

This is a suspenseful and high-action book. Readers will be able to empathize with Zach as they wonder what it would be like to change everything about themselves- their name, hair and eye color, family history, location and their past. There are some times where it's necessary as an adult to suspend belief such as when it's revealed that Zach's school janitor who doubles as assistant principal is an ex-KGB member and that the things he's taught Zach when he befriended him will help Zach thwart the cartel, but students I discussed that with actually found it believable because of the Witness Protection spin. Readers will be anxious to get their hands on the sequel (Jack's Run) and anything else written by Roland Smith.

My father's son

 

Fields, T. (2008). My Father’s son. New York: Roaring Brook Press.
Interest level: Grades 7+
Reading level: 4+

Seventeen year old Kevin is your typical teenager. He has a crush on a girl and plays basketball, living your typical teenage life. His parents are divorced and he lives with his mom during the week and his dad on weekends. His world is turned upside down when his father is arrested on suspicion of killing 11 women, an event that Kevin witnessed on TV. Kevin is soon in the middle of this major drama, with his life no longer that of a typical teenager. He can’t fathom how it could be possible that his dad is a killer, but his dad refuses to speak to him so he’s left to come to his own conclusions. As his other relationships fall apart (he’s now dubbed Monster Junior) he  experiences the stages of loss as he tries to understand what is happening.

This is a suspenseful book that suspense lovers will eat up. However, Kevin’s tone is not always believable and his seemingly sudden change of heart midway through the book will bother some readers. The ending wraps up a bit too neatly as well. However, this is a unique book with a subject that is not often seen in tween literature. Anyone who follows the news and is engrossed by stories of killers being caught will no doubt like reading about how this affects the family of the accused.