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Today is Blog Action Day where bloggers are uniting to post about the environment. Our aim is to get everyone talking towards a better future. So what better way to get kids interested in the environment than with a book about turtles?

Turtle Feet, Surfer’s Beat by Marina Kuperman is a the story of an American teenager, Penelope, whose family moves to Costa Rica due to her father’s job. He’s been assigned to take pictures of endangered leatherback turtles.

Upon their arrival Penelope’s mother informs her that she’s been registered to do a two-week volunteer session at the Leatherback Turtle Biological Center. She’s not thrilled at the prospect, and can’t stand the bugs or the accomodations.

However, that’s soon forgotten when she has her first encounter with the turtles. Soon, Penelope promises to do all she can to help save the species from being wiped out. But the turtles aren’t her only interest - there’s Kendall, a gorgeous surf champ. He too is passionate about the environment and shares his goal to preserve South American marine life with Penelope.

Fall in love, learn to surf, save leatherback turtles, and defeat black market poachers - sounds like an adventure that will appeal to Young Adult readers worldwide.

Click here to order. (You can order the e-book now or wait until November 15 to get the paperback). 10% of all the proceeds go directly to saving the Leatherback Turtle and other marine animals.

More About the Turtle Feet, Surfer Beat Website

I’ve been in touch with Marina, the author, who told me why the book’s website is directed more at building community rather than focusing directly on the book. (Check out her blog, Backstage Pass to Turtle Feet, Surfer’s Beat, too.)

I figure, a good read helps to get us all hyped-up to take action and make a difference, especially if it’s for a good cause. And that’s exactly what my book intends to do. Since, we are all in the know about the conditions of our oceans, and really wanna do something to start making a difference.

Plus, we also know that everything is so much more fun to do when you’re having a blast at it with friends. So, that’s exactly what www.turtlefeetsurfersbeat.com is all about. It’s not your typical site of more information thrown at you, but rather a way to get involved and join forces with your favorite surfers, musicians, artists, conservationists, and other cool people already taking action.

Marina was also kind enough to share recipes for two Costa Rican dishes, Arroz Con Leche and Gallo Pinto.

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In Defect by Will Weaver, we meet David, a 15-year-old who was born defective. In fact, he kind of looks like a bat with his bug eyes, pinched face, and pointed ears. But he hides several secrets from everyone including his loving foster parents. Even though he wears hearing aids, his hearing is super human and extremely acute. He also has a thin layer of skin hidden under each arm enabling him to fly.

David soon meets Cheetah, a girl with a defect of her own - she has epilepsy. They form a friendship and eventually a romance. But soon David’s secret is out. Should he get surgery to become more normal? Or should he consider his defects a special gift from God?

Teens who are struggling with feelings of being different because of medical problems will relate to Weever’s book. But everyone who reads Defect will care about David, a special boy who turns his curse into a blessing. (From Farrar, Straus and Giroux publishers.)

Click here for more YA Novel Reviews.

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Welcome to Banned Books Week (September 29 to October 6, 2007)! This year’s theme from the American Library Association is “Ahoy! Treasure Your Freedom to Read and Get Hooked on a Banned Book.” (Click here for more information on Banned Books Week from the ALA.)

First observed in 1982, Banned Books Week reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted. The event is sponsored by the American Booksellers Association, the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, the American Library Association (ALA), the Association of American Publishers, the American Society of Journalists and Authors and the National Association of College Stores.   It is endorsed by the Library of Congress Center for the Book.

I hope you take an opportunity to read a banned book or two either by yourself or with your kids. In 2006, I reviewed Judy Blume’s Forever, Captain Underpants and A Catcher in the Rye, and asked people to Stop picking on poor Harry Potter. But there are (unfortunately) many other banned books to read, especially in the YA (young adult) section.

Here’s a list of the 10 Most Challenged Books of 2006:

• And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, for homosexuality, anti-family, and unsuited to age group
• The Gossip Girl series by Cecily Von Ziegesar for homosexuality, sexual content, drugs, unsuited to age group, and offensive language
• Alice series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor for sexual content and offensive language
• The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler for sexual content, anti-family, offensive language, and unsuited to age group
• The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison for sexual content, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;
•   Scary Stories series by Alvin Schwartz for occult/Satanism, unsuited to age group, violence, and insensitivity
• Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories by Chris Crutcher for homosexuality and offensive language
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky for homosexuality, sexually explicit, offensive language, and unsuited to age group
• Beloved by Toni Morrison for offensive language, sexual content, and unsuited to age group
• The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier for sexual content, offensive language, and violence

Off the list this year, but on for several years past, are the The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Of Mice and Men (Penguin Great Books of the 20th Century) by John Steinbeck and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Bantam Classics) by Mark Twain.

I think I’ll check out The Chocolate War for myself and And Tango Makes Three for Lucie. What banned books are you planning to read this year?

Dawn and Dusk by Alice Mead and Camel Rider by Prue Mason both deal with Middle Eastern war and political/social strife as seen through the eyes of children.

Camel Rider

Published by Charlesbridge, Camel Rider tells the story of spoiled, Australian expat Adam. When war breaks out, Adam’s parents are gone. He goes with neighbors to escape the country. He soon leaves the caravan in order to go back to his compound to save his dog, which was left behind. Soon lost and out of water, Adam meets Walid, an abused boy and camel jockey who has run away from his cruel masters. Neither speaks each other’s language, but they manage to help each other survive and become friends.

Camel Rider doesn’t get mired down in war or politics. Instead, it becomes a classic boy’s adventure tale complete with ships (well, camels and automobiles) and pirates (I mean, Walid’s former masters who kidnap Adam for ransom.) The language differences and misconceptions about each other’s culture provide some laughs, too. And of course there’s the happy ending - boys, dog and parents are reunited and there’s even a visit from the Prime Minister of Abudai. Recommended for ages 9-12.

(Download the discussion guide PDF. Or read a chapter from the book.)

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How to Steal a Dog a YA (young adult) novel by Barbara O’Connor is about a young girl, Georgina Hayes, whose family has been living in their car after they were evicted from their apartment. With her mother working two jobs, Georgina tries to figure out how to get some money while looking after her younger brother. She spots a missing-dog poster and schemes a way to “borrow” a dog and get sone reward money of her own. For ages 9 to 12.

Even though How to Steal a Dog deals with the heavy subject of homelessness, it has the feel of an adventure. Georgia has to use her wits, bravery and intelligence to get out of embarrassing and scary situations.

I found How to Steal a Dog very entertaining and unlike many YA novels, there weren’t any taboo subjects like religion, abuse, sex or drugs. Instead, it was a heartwarming story that tells kids to follow their conscience and do what they think (and have been tought) is right.

Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, the book has won a 2007 Parents Choice Recommended Award. The Barbara O’Connor website includes a discussion guide PDF.

Homemade Dog Biscuits

During the pet food recalls I posted a recipe for dog biscuits. Kids get a real kick out of making treats for their four-legged friends. You could also donate a batch to your local food shelter (call first to make sure they’ll take homemade treats).

Gourmet Sleuth has a great selection of dog biscuit recipes. So does Two Dog Press. Dogaware.com has recipes for all kinds of doggie treats including Liver Brownies. Ewwww! I certainly won’t be tempted to lick the bowl when making that recipe.

Check out Amazon for fund dog biscuit cookie cutters, too!

(Click here for more YA novel reviews.)