Teen Scene
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British teenager, Jess Jordan, determined to copy best friend Flora's winning way with boys, decides to augment her cleavage by adding plastic bags of minestrone soup to her chest. All goes well until a gyrating dance causes one bag to explode. Unbeknownst to Jess, she accomplishes the necessary clean-up in a bathroom equipped with a hidden video camera. Just when she seems to be making progress with heartthrob, Ben, the boy who concealed the camera invites everyone to a "viewing." How can she survive this crisis? . . . or the next? . . . or the next? If you enjoyed Louise Rennison's Angus, Thongs,and Full Frontal Snogging, you'll surely laugh your way through this audio book! 
During the post September 11 period, hundreds of immigrants fled to the Canadian border following the crackdown by the U.S. on illegal immigrants and an investigation of the Muslim communities, which included the raiding of businesses and homes. Many men were detained for questioning, remaining in jail for months without legal representation or being formally charged. This fictional story tells effects on the Hossain family from Bangladesh whose father is arrested when they are forced to turn around at the border. Aisha, the oldest daughter, is a senior in high school and on the road to becoming the class valedictorian. 14-year-old Nadira also attends high school and narrates this story. The family applied for residency when they first arrived in the country, but their first lawyer took their money and ran. The second lawyer misfiled their application and the family has been living on expired visas for years, not being able to complete the process. When their father is arrested and detained in Vermont, their mother stays at the Salvation Army to be near him. The girls return to Queens, New York to continue with their schooling, as if nothing has happened. But they are unable to continue the charade of being legal citizens any longer. This story reveals how it feels for illegal immigrants who live in contemporary America in the days of terrorism. This is suitable for teens in grades 7 and up. Good for those who are interested in world affairs and the current immigation debate going on in the country. 
Similar to “Mean Girls”, this is a story about cliques, popularity, and how nasty girls can be. Haley Madison is moving to a new school and is determined not to be the geek she was in her old middle school. She succeeds in joining the “Bee Hive”, the popular girl group at school, with only minor problems in controlling her special psychokinetic powers. But soon another new girl arrives, coincidentally with the same psychokinetic powers, and then the power struggle begins since there is only room for one new girl in the Bee Hive. The climax of the story occurs during a talent contest reminiscent of “American Idol”. The book ends on a happy note and gives a hint as to why the two girls both have the same powers. A sequel is almost guaranteed. The book is in graphic novel format and reminded me more of the “Archie” comics rather than Japanese manga. The drawings are excellent; the story is full of energy and moves along at a brisk pace. There are numerous references to recent pop culture that readers will recognize. I would recommend this to middle school girls, and to those that like reading books in graphic novel format. 
This Ohio author, who has written for the likes of Spike Lee’s film company and Glamour Magazine, has written a story about three 12-year-old girls’ summer with such great characterization and perfect dialect making it hard to put down. Rikki is the daughter of a preacher. Her cousin Cassidy is dealing with the divorce of her parents and her mother’s move to Africa for a year. Golden is the new girl who moves in next door to Cassidy and is also experiencing the effects of divorce. The situations are those that most girls their age can identify with. They talk about the upcoming school year, boys, the things their parents will and will not allow them to do, how it will be when they grow up. In Rikki’s case, much time is spent deceiving her father who expects perfect behavior from his daughters. She covers for her older sister who secretly meets with her boyfriend during the evenings. She lies about where she is going and whom she is seeing. Cassidy goes along with her cousin when they are together but is becoming increasingly unhappy with their relationship. She is also shocked about the apparent secrets her father is keeping from her concerning her possible attendance at a private school in the Fall and the women he may be dating. She keeps a journal for her mother to read when she returns home but often fills it with stories about how well things are going, when they are not. Golden keeps most things to herself and needs a parent to give her some guidance. She has a hard time becoming friends with Rikki and Cassidy until they invite her to a pool party that none of them have permission to attend. The pool party and the repercussions of attending the pool party become defining moments for the girls. This is a good book for girls who are at that confusing age between being little girls and becoming teenagers. 
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