(3) YA Grieving his sister's death by suicide, proud grammar-nerd Nick is sent by his parents to "Jesus camp," where he encounters a variety of preposterous tactics and regulations--and the pesky ghost of Jack Kerouac. Nick is a sympathetic character, and although the camp and staff are portrayed in a broadly satirical way, Nick and his fellow campers' struggles are depicted with intimacy and compassion.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ross MacDonald. Jack, a hip rabbit in human clothing, takes off on a cross-country road trip to San Francisco à la Jack Kerouac. The colloquial language and eager tone work well here, but moments only adults will relate to ("money's only something, Jack, that gets you in a rut") dominate the story; pastoral illustrations warmly depict awe-inspiring scenery. A note on Kerouac is appended.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) YA One year after her mom's death, seventeen-year-old Anna goes on a Kerouac-inspired road trip with her best friend, Kat. The goal: find proof of God's love. As they encounter fanatic missionaries, an enraged grizzly bear, hippie boys, and wallet-stealing girls, Anna gradually begins to face her buried emotions and her feelings for Kat. The characters are honest and believable, and Hoole's writing is insightful and poignant.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(4) YA American Rebels series. The books offer accounts of the lives of these legendary musicians, writers, and actors. Although the authors spend considerable time on the subjects' early lives and career highlights, a concluding chapter in each book helps explain their lasting appeal and fame. The pull-quotes are well chosen, but more photos would have helped break up the dense-looking text. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these American Rebels titles: Kurt Cobain, James Dean, Jimi Hendrix, and Jack Kerouac.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang