For the Win by Cory Doctorow

Hardback or Paperback Hardback

Synopsis You should probably go read this Wikipedia article on MMORPGs (just the intro and the section on economics will be enough). OK. With that background, Doctorow has posited a plausible sweatshop of the near future: third world teenagers "mining" MMORPG worlds for specialized items that first world players will pay for on the black market. The book's conflict centers around those workers' attempt to unionize.

Evaluation This is a book about ideas and social action as much as it is about story. Sure, it's about online gaming and suspense and running from the bad guys, but it's also about politics, unions, economics, and social justice. Doctorow has to do several information dumps (particularly about economics), and he tries to do it gracefully. I found it interesting...but I'm not fourteen. In spite of those sections, it's a fast-paced and suspenseful book, with danger that feels genuine and a message that resonates.

Universal Themes social justice, bravery, standing up to tyranny

Edginess Language (although no f-bombs that I recall) and LOTS of graphic violence. Lots of smoking.

Bonus Factors References to the history of unions, plus lots of information about economics and politics; although the author is white, the cast (and setting) is international; deals with issues of poverty, class, and social justice.

Anti-bonus factors None, really.

Will they like it? I'm honestly not sure. It's long, and there are those information dumps--and understanding the denouement really requires understanding at least most of what he says about investment & trading. But there are also a lot of compelling characters, plenty of action, and suspense galore. It also has that "teenagers against the world" vibe (which is probably what makes it YA vs. adult fiction). I certainly found it compelling

Recommendation I think it's a definite after it comes out in paperback. Maybe even now, because of the ties to the social studies curriculum. (How many books do you find that tie in to civics and economics??)

Hate List by Jennifer Brown

Hardback or Paperback Paperback

Synopsis Valerie is finding it hard to return to her high school for her senior year. At the end of her junior year, a school shooting traumatized the school. And Valerie's boyfriend was the perpetrator. And many of the victims were on Valerie's hate list.

Evaluation Valerie is a sympathetic first person narrator. The school shooting, which happened before the narrative begins, is told through a series of flashbacks and newspaper accounts, so the whole story--and Valerie's degree of culpability--is revealed only gradually. I found this book very hard to put down. I like that it treats the aftermath of a school shooting from the point of view of someone who is responsible to at least some degree.

Universal Themes responsibility, secrets, coming of age, guilt and innocence

Edginess flashbacks of the school shooting are graphic in parts; teen drinking; language (I think the dad drops the F-bomb); the dad is having an affair; and there may be more that I don't remember.

Bonus Factors Deals with class issues; while it deals with the why of a school shooting, it does not try to excuse the perpetrator; guilt and innocence are not black and white, and even the most horrible characters are presented as being complex human beings.

Anti-bonus factors As far as I can remember, everyone in the book is white.

Will they like it? Yes, I really think so. This is a long book but it's a fast read, and I think that even though it's a first person female narrator, that some boy readers might get into it, too. I think students will be drawn in by the gradual revelation of the story of the school shooting. There's certainly a lot to talk about during a meeting.

Recommendation Recommended with reservations, since I don't really remember how edgy it is. Definitely a good choice for a classroom library.

Eon by Allison Goodman

Hardback or paperback? Paperback

Synopsis In an fantasy world inspired by historical China and Japan Eon is training to be a Dragoneye, a magician who works with a magical dragon to influence the outside world. Eon is really Eona, though, and it's against the law for women to learn dragon magic.

Evaluation Terrific fantasy adventure in an unusual world. It starts off fast and ends with a fast-paced climax and a bit of a cliffhanger. The middle section is a bit tedious; I felt that Eona was blind to the obvious solution to her problems. Student readers may not find the solution quite so obvious, although the emphasis on palace intrigue in that section may confuse or bore them.

Universal Themes coming of age, self discovery, responsibility

Edginess There's a transgender character, discussion of menstruation, lots of violence, references to rape, and eunuchs. Plus the transgender character is in love with a eunuch.

Bonus Factors There's a transgender character; Eona is crippled, and there's another disabled character; Asian-ish setting and references, although the author seems to be a white Australian. Strong message about female empowerment.

Anti-Bonus Factors Can't think of any.

Will they like it? Both boys and girls who like fantasy have liked it. A strong female protagonist with lots of action seems to be a winning combination. It's long, though.

Recommendation I'm not sure. Kids will like it, and I think warning about the edginess would be sufficient for 8th grade, anyway--but we have a lot of fantasy already.