1. Smallville: City by Devin Grayson

Smallville: City by Devin Grayson

ISBN: 0446613622

Warner Books, New York, 2004

257 pages

Teaser: Lex invites Clark to spend a week in Metropolis. Clark intends to just visit the museums while Lex attends his board meetings, but their plans are disrupted when the Yakuza and an alien hunter enter the picture.

Summary: Lex invites Clark to spend fall break in Metropolis. Clark is thrilled to visit the big city with his friend, and with his parent's permission, accepts. Lex has several business meetings to attend, while Clark plans to do research at one of the museums for a class project. Once they reach the big city, Clark is overwhelmed by the amount of crime his sensitive hearing picks up, and he comes to the horrible realization that not even someone with his abilities could keep the entire city safe. Clark can't turn away from things that happen right in front of him however, and manages to get tangled up with the Yakuza after he prevents a shooting. When Lex is kidnapped by the Yakuza, who want to ransom him for a debt they feel Lionel Luther owes them, Clark frantically tries to save his friend. Through all of this, an alien hunter is stalking whatever came out of the space ship that landed in Smallville. How much does this alien hunter know, and is it actually Clark he is hunting?

Selection: I chose this book as a possible recommendation for a reluctant reader. Many teens enjoy various television shows which may have published fiction related to the show. Many of these are what I like to call "could have been an episode" stories. These are essentially novelizations of episodes that could have been, but were never on the air. They often fit into the show's timeline neatly, and sometimes will even have guides indicating that it occurs between two particular episodes. Readers will already be familiar with the characters and overall plot, which could make the book less intimidating for reluctant readers. I can see particular value in suggesting television novelizations during summer months, when reruns are being shown and summer reading programs are in full swing.

Evaluation: This book was an easy read, full of action and adventure, with a good dose of introspective moments from the characters. It was in keeping with the feeling of the television show it was based off of, and all of the characters felt like their on-screen counterparts. I think the book went further into the possible motivations and thoughts of the characters than the television show does, which made me feel as if I understood some of the characters actions better.

The main drawback in this book was one shared by most books of this type. The characters did not change or mature in any large way, and there were no major lasting effects, good or bad, as a result of anyone's actions. In this genre, writers are constrained by the need to make the book fit into the larger plotline. The books are written as episodes, but they are not actually part of the official timeline. As a result, authors must be careful not to change the characters from their onscreen characterizations, and they can't create any events that should lead to further growth or change. Books in this genre have an interesting paradox in that they provide greater insight into character's thoughts, but the plotlines are more shallow, without much character development, less foreshadowing of future events outside of the episode/book, and no introduction or resolution of long term issues.

Challenge issues and age recommendation: Violence, underage drinking, substance abuse, and mentions of sex are all a part of this book. This book is based off of a television show for teens, and is no more violent or explicit than the show, but the presence of these issues in print, as opposed to on television, can sometimes be more offensive to parents. I think this book would be suitable for teens fifteen and up, though I wouldn't see anything wrong with a thirteen or fourteen year old reading the book if they were already avid fans of the show. While it does have various issues present, they are not delved into too deeply, and it is no more shocking than the televised series. I think this book has a lot of the gritty feeling that teens enjoy, and believe it could be a good choice for teens who prefer television to books.