The Perfect Horse, by Elizabeth Letts

The full title of this book is The Perfect Horse: The Daring Rescue of Horses Kidnapped During World War II.  It tells the story of how, during WWII, the German Nazi's purposely traveled the world collecting (in many cases, stealing) the best horses they could find. The goal was to begin breeding the best horses in the world to support the Nazi war effort. This occurred alongside the horrific killing of what turned into millions of people to create a "master race" of Aryans (White-skinned people with other specific characteristics that they determined made them better than all others).  In some sense, the holocaust played out not just for human beings but for horses as well. Who knew?

This book is intense, informative, and pretty hard to follow, as it contains a lot of characters spread across the globe, and a lot of war history and events that were changing rapidly as well. If you really love horses, and/or want to read something about World War II that you probably didn't know, pushing through this title will be worthwhile for you. It is very good. If your interest in either of those things is only slight, this may be too much to trudge through. A really well done book, but you decide if it's right for you! 4 paws!

Guts, by Raina Telgemeier

The newest graphic novel by perhaps the most well-known graphic artists for kids and teens creating today! No doubt you already know about this book, at least that it has been released! In fact, many of you told ME it was out before I even knew it! So, if you haven't read it yet, you will, if only because you've read Smile, Sisters, Drama and Ghosts already, and loved them all! Guts will not disappoint you, which you probably could have guessed. What I loved most about this book is that at the end Telgemeier explains how this book, and in fact all of her books, are really just stories about her, with her wonderful artwork added! She just keeps writing what she knows - her own life and experiences - and paired with her artwork they become...well, books we all love!

Guts is about guts - facing our fears as well as how our digestive system can sometimes control us, or at least act as a gauge for how we are really doing and feeling. This is a great book for anyone who has ever been afraid - which is everyone! - of anything. If you haven't read this yet, you will....and you should...and you'll love it and wonder when her next book is coming out! 4 paws!

It Ain't So Awful, Falafel, by Firoozeh Dumas

Another OBOB book for the season, and a book I wouldn't have come across otherwise...another reason to love OBOB! Falafel takes place in the late 1970s and tells the story of an Iranian-born family who have relocated - again - to California. The narrator is Zomorod, who changes her name to Cindy (unofficially) to make it easier for Americans to be able to pronounce. She describes life as an Iranian (pronounced ee-ron-ian) teen living in the United States before, during and after the Iranian Revolution takes place, including the capturing of Americans who happened to be in Iran at the time, and who became hostages for over a year. In essence, the book follows these historic events through the eyes of someone deeply tied to the situation, but not from the American side of things. This perspective is eye-opening, and really is the center of this story.

A few times it seemed as though author Dumas was forcing a situation in order to show what was really happening during the months and years that this story takes place. But because Zomorod is such a likable character, and "normal" in all the ways any teen would be, except for the fact that she was born in a country that is now at terrible odds with the United States, this story will stay with you long after you finish reading it. I have never seen another book written for teens with this historical event in mind, which I love. Dumas does a decent job of writing a story that seems very non-historical-fiction-like, but one that really is historical fiction.  I know HF is not a super-common genre for many teens, so if you have ever thought about dipping into this genre but didn't think you'd find a book you would like, I recommend this one! I don't think you'll realize that this is historical fiction, but you'll really come to like Zomorod! 4 paws (and a tail wag)!

The List, by Patricia Forde

Back to a good OBOB book, and The List does not disappoint! This is author Forde's first book for young people (and pugs, I presume), and I mostly loved it! Mosty, I add, because the very end of the story left me a little disappointed - not in the storyline itself, but just that the book seemed to fizzle out at the end, like a dud firework in the middle of a really good firework display!

This story takes place in a futuristic society where words are being eliminated from human language to help people live more peacefully together, and to make society easier to control.  As an avid pug reader, I love anything that builds a story around words, or books, or stories....like The Reader by Traci Chee or Inkheart by Cornelia Funke!  At the same time the futuristic aspects of this book reminded me a lot of The Giver by Lois Lowry...not bad company at all, right?

Anyway, I loved this story, the fizzling ending notwithstanding, and I think you might, too! Forde gives you a lot to think about, and the strong girl protagonist rocks! 4 paws!