“Red Glass,” by Laura Resau

“Red Glass,” by Laura Resau is a fascinating novel about a teenage girl who lives along the border between the United States and Mexico.

Sophie's family often help strangers who stop by their home. Because they live along the border they often feed illegal aliens who sneak across the desert to gain entrance to the United States. They come in the dead of night, tired and thirsty. Sophie and her family again open their home when a group of Mexicans are found dead in the desert. There is only one survivor, a young boy named Pablo. For the first year of his stay with Sophie's family Pablo doesn't talk at all.

But gradually, Pablo responds to the love of his foster family and eventually he begins speaking again. Pablo tells them that he has relatives back in Mexico, grandparents who must be worrying about him. When Sophie's parents are able to contact Pablo's extended family it is the beginning of a journey that will take Sophie from her home into the heart of Mexico, through love, danger, and joy.

“Red Glass” is a well-written novel with plenty of interesting details about life in Mexico. Laura Resau writes with a well-informed voice. Her characters are strong and empathetic, willing to work for what is really important. The plot is interesting and the journey concept, though slightly worn, is presented in a refreshing manner.

I recommend “Red Glass” to readers who are interested in Mexican culture and life.

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“Say Yes,” by Audrey Couloumbis

“Say Yes,” by Audrey Couloumbis is a rather idealistic abandonment story that, in my opinion, sets a bad example for young readers.

One day when Casey comes home from school she finds that her stepmother, Sylvia is gone. Although Sylvia left some money on the refrigerator and a freezer full of frozen dinners, Casey is still worried. She decides, however, not to tell anyone. Instead Casey will keep on going to school and acting like everything is the same.

As the days pass, however, Casey finds it harder and harder to maintain the veil of deception surrounding her life. All too soon she runs out of money to buy more food, and she has to pay the apartment rent. She confides her secret to her landlord's teenage boy, Paulie, who is also a foster child like Casey.

Paulie tells Casey that the last thing she wants to do is end up back in the foster care system. Then he presents a daring, and illegal, plan to Casey. A rich old woman lives in an apartment building a few blocks away. Casey will ask to use her phone and then steal money from her. Paulie will forge Casey's stepmother's signature so that Casey can pay her bills. How far is Casey willing to go to maintain her independent life? More importantly, is Sylvia ever coming back?

I did not like “Say Yes.” The plot that Audrey Couloumbis has created is realistic, and I'm sure that many children are placed in similar situations every year. However, I didn't like the way that the storyline condoned Casey's theft. In the end she gets away with the robbery, although she returns a ring that she stole. Even when Casey's mother returns they manage to hush up the abandonment so that foster care doesn't take Casey away.

“Say Yes” does not show the real life consequences of abandonment and robbery. I feel that Audrey Couloumbis did a good job in choosing real life issues to create her plot, but she ended up watering down the ending so that “Say Yes” becomes a sort of idealistic fairy tale story. The happy ever after ending does not feel real at all.

I would not recommend “Say Yes” to readers because it encourages youth independence and wrong-doing without showing consequences.

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“The Secret Voice of Gina Zhang,” by Dori Jones Yang

“The Secret Voice of Gina Zhang,” by Dori Jones Yang is a novel about a Chinese girl attending school for the first time in America.

When Gina and her family move from China to the United States her parents tell her that she will be able to learn English really fast, and that soon Gina will be translating for the adults in the family. Gina's hope is that this move will give her a chance to become a new person. At her old school in China Gina was shy and quiet. However, she is confident that here in America she will be brave and outgoing.

But when Gina attends school for the first time she finds that it is much harder than she realized. On the one hand Gina already knows the schoolwork that the class is covering. For her age she is much smarter than the other students. The problem is that Gina can't understand English. In ESL class, however, Gina finds that her throat tightens up and she can't seem to speak at all, even in Chinese, to one of the interpreters.

Gina's muteness frustrates everyone, her parents, teachers, and the other classmates. But one of the girls, named Priscilla is not turned off like the others. Priscilla is determined to befriend Gina even if it means that she has to do all the talking herself. Gradually Gina responds to Priscilla's openness and persistence until she regains her confidence and her voice.

“The Secret Voice of Gina Zhang” is a pleasant novel. Gina is a fascinating character, with an imaginative mind, but her shyness limits her from showing her potential to others. The contrast between Gina's quiet nature and Priscilla's constant talking make “The Secret Voice of Gina Zhang” interesting. I feel that Dori Jones Yang has created a wonderful novel peopled by sensitive characters. I recommend “The Secret Voice of Gina Zhang” to all young readers.

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