Guardian by Julius Lester.

This is a gripping, striking novel of lynching told from the point of view of a white teen boy who witnesses the hate crime.  It is the summer of 1946 and Ansel is fourteen years old.  He is the son of the store owner in a small town in the Deep South.  One of his best friends is Willie.  Though they fish together often, there is always an awareness of their differences solely because of the color of their skin.  Ansel is also in love with Mary Susan, daughter of the local pastor, who fairly glows with purity and sexuality.  Enter into this an evil spoiled wealthy kid and you have everything it takes to make a lynching.

Lester’s language is lyrical, somber and almost languid with the heat of the South.  He takes the time to examine each person in the story down to their soul.  Each person trapped in their own pain, their own decisions.  Each with their own guilt and shame.  This is done for a reason, so that knowing these people that deeply, one can only feel gut-wrenching, fearful amazement at what they allow to happen. 

Let me give you one example.  This is Maureen, Ansel’s mother:

It takes Maureen a while to understand why she looks forward to seeing the colored faces every Saturday.  Their lips turn up at the ends and their lips part to reveal their teeth, but she sees only sadness in their eyes.

One Saturday morning she understands.  Smiles begin in the eyes and flow downward to the lips.

Her eyes are dead.

She wonders: "When did I die?"

And that leads her to ask: "Was I ever really alive?"

Racism is dealt with head on.  Lester doesn’t hide the evil of racism, but rather shows that a community and nation this divided must inevitably lead to horror and evil.  It is a powerful book for all that it says without being didactic and preaching.  It is instead a moment in history caught, captured and revolting.

This powerful book with its amazing writing is also invitingly short.  High school classrooms will embrace it as a catalyst for discussion of race in America.  Even adult book discussion groups should take a look at it.  One of the most powerful novels on race I have ever read, this is one of my top teen novels of the year.  I can’t wait to see the cover art.

Appropriate for ages 14-17.

Melting Stones by Tamora Pierce

Released in October 2008.

Created first to be a Full Audio production, this is the written novel form.  The novel continues the story of Evvy, a stone mage, who after a disgraceful scene in Winding Circle finds herself on a boat with Rosethorn, the plant mage, to investigate strange happenings on an island.  Traveling with them is a prickly water mage, who scorns Evvy’s presence on their trip.  Evvy herself is unhappy to be there until they get to the island and she is thrilled to find unusual stones everywhere.  As they investigate the changes on the island: lakes turning to acid and trees dying suddenly, they find themselves in the middle of a volcanic emergency where they must use all of their skill and magic to keep not only themselves but everyone on the island safe from harm.

Pierce has created an engaging heroine in Evvy.  She is at times sullen, self-absorbed and critical, but readers will see through those harsh defenses to the real girl.  As the novel moves forward, Evvy herself changes realistically with no sudden jumps or unexplained realizations.  It is a pleasure to read a character so well developed and written.  The secondary characters are equally well crafted. 

The action here is thrilling and vivid, even scenes that take a lot of imagination deep within the earth are captured to best effect.  The island itself as a setting is almost a character as it reveals its secrets and story. 

Pierce’s Circle of Magic series expands one more ring with this novel, and I hope to read more about these new mages in future novels.  Recommended for all libraries because of Pierce’s fan base, this novel is sure to find readers easily.  Appropriate for ages 12-14.