THE 2007 HOLIDAY GIFT LIST
(continued)

I NEED A GIFT FOR...

HARRY POTTER FANS

SOMEONE SO BUSY, HE HASN'T EVEN HAD TIME TO PICK UP THE LAST HARRY POTTER BOOK!

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HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS (AUDIO BOOK) By J.K. ROWLING Read by JIM DALE Listening Library Audio books are a godsend to the perpetually busy bibliophile: They can be enjoyed during long commutes, while doing chores, or any time the listener's ears have a free minute. Perhaps the best part about the North American Harry Potter audio books, though, is that they are read by Pushing Daisies narrator/my audio book hero Jim Dale, who voices each character succinctly (I'm partial to his impressions of Hagrid, Draco Malfoy, and Professor McGonagall). Even for those who have time to read, the Harry Potter audio books are not to be missed. (Yennie Cheung) [See the HBC review]

SOMEONE LOOKING FOR A NEW SERIES TO ENJOY NOW THAT HARRY POTTER'S DONE.

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THE ALCHEMYST (SECRETS OF THE IMMORTAL NICHOLAS FLAMEL) By MICHAEL SCOTT Delacorte Books for Young Readers Any Harry Potter fans worth their weight in knuts will know of Nicholas Flamel, the alchemist who supposedly found immortality when he created the philosopher's stone. In this first story in a planned six-book series, twins Sophie and Josh Newman meet Flamel and his wife Perenelle, the owners of the San Francisco bookstore where Josh works. When Perenelle is taken hostage, the twins are plunged into a world rich with magic and mythology—and, of course, awaken hidden abilities of their own. (Yennie Cheung)

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EXTRAS By SCOTT WESTERFELD Simon Pulse Kids and adults alike will fall for Scott Westerfeld's dystopican vision of the future in the Uglies series, of which Extras is the fourth installment. Lacking wizards and magic, but chock-full of actions and gadgets, Westerfeld's latest introduces Aya Fuse, a 15-year-old girl growing up in a post-Tally Youngblood version of the world from the first three books of the series. This hierarchal society is based on people's popularity, providing obvious parallels to our own paparazzi-driven media. New readers will want to start with Uglies. (Bri Lafond)

AN ADULT HARRY POTTER FANATIC WHO ALREADY HAS EVERY POTTER-RELATED BOOK I CAN FIND.

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THE LATE HECTOR KIPLING By DAVID THEWLIS Simon and Schuster Try something that doesn't actually mention The Boy Who Lived. David Thewlis is best known for playing Professor Remus Lupin in the Potter movies, but his first novel proves that he is talented at more than just acting. This black comedy focuses on the eponymous Hector Kipling, a famous artist who becomes jealous because he is not quite as famous as his best friend, Lenny Snook, whom Kipling alleges has been stealing ideas. Artistic hubris, good old fashioned British humor, and Thewlis's fame should be more than enough to pique your Potter fan's interest. (Yennie Cheung)

CHILDREN, TEENS, KIDS AT HEART

MY LITTLE SISTER, WHO THINKS GOSSIP GIRL IS THE HEIGHT OF LITERARY ACHIEVEMENT.

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THIRTEEN REASONS WHY By JAY ASHER Razorbill Chances are, your little sister knows that a little gossip is hardly ever harmless. However, Thirteen Reasons Why explores just how volatile rumors and backstabbing can be. In this debut novel, teenager Clay returns home from school to discover a box full of cassette tapes addressed to him. On them, his three-year crush—and recent suicide victim—Hannah details the 13 reasons why she killed herself. Clay is one of them. Fast-paced and riveting, this book will have readers of all ages rethinking the way they treat their peers. (Yennie Cheung) [See the HBC review]

A TEENAGER LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NOT READ IN THE CLASSROOM.

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SLAM By NICK HORNBY G.P. Putnam's Sons Whether your teen has read Nick Hornby's work or not, Slam is a fun read that you can share with him or her. In it, protagonist Sam is a teenage skater who worships Tony Hawk. When Sam discovers that his ex-girlfriend is pregnant with his baby, he turns to a poster of the skating legend for advice. Occasionally goofy and strange but altogether heartfelt, Slam is an entertaining respite from all that academic reading. (Yennie Cheung) [See the HBC review] [Win this book!]

MY TEENAGE BROTHER WHO THINKS HOLDEN CAULFIELD JUST NEEDED TO LIGHTEN UP.

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SPUD By JOHN VAN DE RUIT Razorbill Though John "Spud" Milton reads and enjoys Catcher in the Rye during the course of South African John van de Ruit's debut, Spud himself is a much more fun-loving sort. This book for young adults details a year in Spud's life as the poor kid on scholarship at an exclusive prep school. Spud deals with his first crush, his troublemaker roommates, and the daily tragedies of adolescence in this fun novel that will entertain kids and adults alike. (Bri Lafond) [See the HBC review]

MY NIECE, WHO LOVES TO LEARN BUT IS STRUGGLING IN SCHOOL.

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MATH DOESN'T SUCK: HOW TO SURVIVE MIDDLE-SCHOOL MATH WITHOUT LOSING YOUR MIND OR BREAKING A NAIL By DANICA MCKELLAR Hudson Street Press With Math Doesn't Suck, actress Danica McKellar uses her fame and her summa cum laude math degree from UCLA to empower middle school girls by proving that they can ace difficult subjects such as math. The book is presented like a teen magazine, complete with quizzes and a horoscope, which may sound a little overly girlie to some. However, for the thousands of girls who read the Gossip Girl and It Girl books, the material is relatable and a great way to show that they can be smart and feminine at the same time. (Yennie Cheung)

A KID WHO IS DEVELOPING AN INTEREST IN SCIENCE.

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WHAT'S SCIENCE EVER DONE FOR US: WHAT THE SIMPSONS CAN TEACH US ABOUT PHYSICS, ROBOTS, LIFE, AND THE UNIVERSE By PAUL HALPERN Wiley Whoever said television can't teach a kid anything obviously hasn't been watching the right shows. Paul Halpern, a math and physics professor at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, uses classic Simpsons episodes to explore such topics as genetic mutation and cross-breeding, time travel, and nuclear radiation. (Yennie Cheung)

MY BABY COUSIN, WHO IS EXPECTED TO BE BORN A FEW DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

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THE INCREDIBLE BOOK-EATING BOY By OLIVER JEFFERS Philomel Indoctrinate him early. The Incredible Book-Eating Boy is a children's picture book about a boy who loves books so much, he literally ingests them and consequently becomes smarter—an important message illustrated with beautiful paintings by the author (who used old, about-to-be-thrown-out library books as his canvas). (Kyle Olson)

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THAT'S NOT MY PONY By FIONA WATT AND RACHEL WELLS Usborne Books Board books (where the pages are thick boards) are probably the best way to go for the youngest of book lovers. Fiona Watt and Rachel Wells have an entire series of sensory That's Not My books, which contain things for babies to feel. For example, the cover of this one allows babies to stroke the pony's fluffy mane. (Yennie Cheung)

A YOUNG FAMILY LOOKING FOR A GOOD CHRISTMAS STORY TO SHARE.

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HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION) By DR. SEUSS Random House Books for Young Readers A cultural touchstone, Grinch is one of those stories all kids know, whether they celebrate Christmas or not. In this anniversary edition, the story is followed by 32 pages of background on and evolution of the Grinch, not to mention his impact on the world. Even kids not old enough to read the retrospective will be intrigued by the archival images—including the different looks of Cindy Lou Who—and the addition of Seuss's Grinch-less Christmas offerings. (Yennie Cheung)

MY YOUNGER COUSIN, BUT NOT THE STANDARD YA STUFF.

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SARDINE IN OUTER SPACE By EMMANUEL GUIBERT and JOANN SFAR First Second This series of graphic novels (first released in America in 2006, with the most recent collection published in October 2007) has been piped over from our friends in France. It centers on a little red-haired space pirate named Sardine who, to be frank, fucks shit up. She saves kids from orphanages run by supervillains (who want to teach them "proper behavior"), fights space aliens, consorts with robots, and engages in all manner of mischief. It's pure childish, absurdist, bodily-function-filled fun with no morals or redeeming messages. Give it to your cousin and become his or her favorite relative. And even though it's geared towards kids in first through fourth grade, the series contains enough jokes geared towards adults (references to The Three Musketeers, jokes about "No Child Left Behind") that it will have something to enjoy for parents helping their children read. (Kyle Olson)

MY KIDS (THAT WON'T BORE ME AFTER READING IT 50 TIMES).

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DO NOT OPEN By JOHN FARNDON DK Children Do Not Open is a colorful, beautifully-illustrated book about all the stuff "the Man" doesn't want you to know about. So wouldn't it be perfect to teach it to your children early, so they'll be infinitely cooler than every other kid? Things like Area 51, ghost ships, the history of the Mona Lisa, Jack the Ripper, the contents of Air Force One, and the Men in Black (the actual people, not the movie) interest me. I can only imagine that they would fascinate any ten-year-old. Do Not Open is a treasure trove of hidden, "naughty" tidbits that will surely give any kid a feeling of mischief while they're actually learning to love knowledge. Additionally, the book stands up to repeated readings since, as the publisher puts it, "clues and secret 'pathways' within the text provide an extra layer of puzzle-solving fun." Are you telling me that doesn't sound like the best kid's book ever? (Kyle Olson)

MY KID BROTHER, WHO ONLY READS ACTION-ADVENTURE BOOKS.

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HATCHET: TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY EDITION By GARY PAULSEN Illustrations by DREW WILLIS Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Since its publication in 1987, Hatchet has become a much-loved adventure tale of 13-year-old Brian Robeson's attempts to survive in the wilderness after his plane crashes. This anniversary edition features sidebar commentary by the author and the illustrations of Drew Willis. If this is a hit with your brother, be sure to mention that Hatchet has spawned several sequels. (Yennie Cheung)

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TAMAR: A NOVEL OF ESPIONAGE, PASSION, AND BETRAYAL By MAL PEET Candlewick Tamar is the Carnegie Award-winning story of World War II resistance fighters in the Netherlands. That alone should intrigue your brother, but the parallel narratives (including that of the 15-year-old title character) and cinematic storytelling should make it a good book for you to share with him, too. (Yennie Cheung)

MY TWO TEENAGE SONS, WHO LOVE STATE-OF-THE-ART ELECTRONICS.

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SNAKEHEAD (ALEX RIDER ADVENTURE) By ANTHONY HOROWITZ Philomel Snakehead, the latest installment of the Alex Rider series, would be a good choice for younger teens than older (though even older teens might get a kick out of the movie made of the first book, Stormbreaker). The popular teen spy series is likened more to a young James Bond than an Agent Cody Banks, and boys who like their toys will love all of the clever, high-tech gadgetry featured in the books. (Yennie Cheung)

MY GRANDMOTHER, WHO LOVES LISTS, DATES, AND THINGS THAT REMIND HER OF HER CHILDHOOD OR ADOLESCENCE.

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THE DARING BOOK FOR GIRLS By ANDREA BUCHANON and MIRIAM PESKOWITZ Collins THE DANGEROUS BOOK FOR BOYS By CONN IGGULDEN and HAL IGGULDEN Collins When I first saw these in the bookstore, I admittedly was rankled by the gender stereotyping. Infuriated, I grabbed a copy and started flipping pages, looking for fuel for my self-righteous indignation…and later noticed that I'd been reading for nearly half an hour, absorbed in the pseudo-vintage illustrations and the nostalgic rendition of childhoods past. Forget the gender distinctions on the cover and delve into the lore of knot-making, failed Arctic expeditions, the making of friendship bracelets, and historical female heroes. Your grandmother will love these books both for the memories they conjure and for the ideas she'll have for endless hours of activities she can do with her grandchildren of any age. (Jacquelyn Gill)

MY SISTER, WHO LIKES YA FANTASY NOVELS.

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RED SPIKES By MARGO LANAGAN Knopf Books for Young Readers THE LAND OF THE SILVER APPLES By NANCY FARMER Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books If your sister likes a little horror with her fantasy, Red Spikes is perfect. Margo Lanagan's ten shorts all take place in worlds that differ (either subtly or vastly) from our own. Child-mutilating creatures, demons, and aborted babies make for some horrifying imagery, but bird guardians and strange air gods also make the collection quite lovely. For more straightforward fantasy, try Nancy Farmer's Land of the Silver Apples. It's the sequel to 2004's The Sea of Trolls and focuses on 13-year-old Jack, a bard's apprentice who must save his sisters from the titular land. Expect plenty of magic, hobgoblins, and Farmer's Newbery-winning fantsy writing. (Yennie Cheung) [See the HBC review of Red Spikes]