Looking for Alaska

Green, J. (2005). Looking for Alaska. New York: Penguin Group.

Miles Halter is a high school junior who leaves his home in Florida to attend Culver Creek Preparatory High School in Alabama.  It happens to be a private school where students like to pull pranks.  He is a shy boy who likes the “last words” of people.  Never having friends before, Miles becomes quick friends with “The Colonel”, Takumi, Lara, and Alaska Young who immediately accept him.  Alaska has Miles pushing the rules by sneaking off to drink, smoke and perform pranks with them.  Miles begins to fall for her even though Alaska has a college boyfriend.  Then after a drunken night celebrating a series of pranks, Alaska freaks out and suddenly says that she has to leave campus to do something.  Miles and Takumi help her get off campus.  Then the next morning, they receive news that Alaska had been killed in a car accident.  The boys feel responsible and confused about Alaska’s death.  They were wondering he purpose on where she was going and it helps with the healing.  They also decide to handle their grief by pulling the prank of all pranks.  They learn how to continue on with life. 

This is a modern realistic fiction that is dealing with death and being able to overcome it and accept it.  The audience for this John Green novel should be Juniors and Senior due to the content and the language used in the story.   It is a coming of age story that deals with heartbreak, laughter, pranks, friendship and love.  

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown

Black, H. (2013). The coldest girl in Coldtown.  New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

Tana Bach is a teenager who lives in a world with humans and vampires.  She wakes up in a house after a party to find that they were attacked by vampires and all of her friends were dead except her ex-boyfriend, who is infected and a mysterious vampire called Gaviel.  She heads to the nearest Coldtown to stop her transformation.  She can be cured is she can refrain from drinking human blood for up to 88 days.  Tana discovers that Gaviel is an ancient vampire who is on a quest for revenge against his maker.  She he is determined to fight the virus that she locks herself up with Gaviel by her side. 

 This is a great novel for readers who like dark vampire stories.  It is a fast paced with plenty of gory and thrills.  It did have some very scary parts but it made it for very good reading. Black provided many flash back chapters which help the reader to develop background knowledge needed to make connections.  This novel falls under the science fiction but under the vampire category.  According to Young Adult Literature in Action: A Librarian's Guide (2014), "While the majority of the time vampire novels are labeled as fantasy, there are instances when science is involved, such as in the origin of the vampires, the actual world, or the attempt to either cure or kill the vampires" (p. 101). 

Chance, R. (2014). Young adult literature in action: A librarian's guide. 2nd ed. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited.

The Knife of Never Letting Go

Ness, P. (2008). The knife of never letting go. Cambridge, Mass: Candlewick Press

Todd Hewitt and his dog Machee live in Prentisstown, a part of the New World that has “Noise”.  Noise are the thoughts that everyone can hear including hearing animals’ thoughts.  All women were killed by the Noise germ.  Todd discovers one day that he can see a spot moving on the silence.  Ben and Cillian tell Todd that he needs to leave and keep the silence out of the noise.  When he is escaping, Todd is attacked.  As he is running, he discovers Viola.  She was the silence that he saw and the first girl that Todd has even seen.  Viola joins Todd and Machee as they go off to warn the other settlements of the army of men that were coming.  They continue their run to Haven when Viola is shot.  As Todd is carrying Viola into Haven, he sees the mayor of Prentisstown waiting for him at Haven.      

This science fiction books is fast-paced and full of action.  I found it very suspenseful.  It is under the fantasy fiction because of the fantasy world that Todd lives in.  I would recommend this novel for readers in grades 9-12.  It does have some gruesome violence. 

Due to of all the action and life and death scenes, it could be popular among boy readers. Readers have to read the Chaos Walking sequels to see what happens to Todd and Viola.      

Annie On My Mind

Garden, N. (1982).  Annie on my mind. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

It is a rainy day at the Metropolitan Art Museum when Liza and Annie first meet.  It was Liza’s singing that caught her attention.  They begin to talk and hang out.  Soon, they become best friends with such different worlds.  Liza lives in an up-scaled neighborhood with her parents and brother.  She attends a private school and wants to go to MIT.  Annie lives with her parents and grandmother in a rough neighborhood in Manhattan.  Annie wants to go to the University of California to become a singer. Their friendship begins to develop into something more.  The thought of being gay frightens them but they cannot deny their love for one another.  They try to keep their love hidden and their relationship is discovered and it almost gets Liza kicked out of her private school.  Liza ends up feeling guilty and confused and she ends the relationship and the girls go their separate ways and colleges.  Liza spends lots of time writing Annie letters that she does not send.  She ends up calling Annie and they decide to meet up over Christmas break. 

This realistic fiction introduces readers to a love that was not easily accepted when the book was first written in 1982.  Times are slowly changing about sexual orientation but it still a difficult time for many.  This novel is appropriate for readers that are 14 years old and up.  Young adults need to read about characters who are struggling with and dealing with sexual orientation and identity.  

Young Adult Literature in Action, A Librarian's Guide states "school and public libraries need to include gay-themed fiction and nonfiction books in their collections if they are intent on serving all young adults. Young adults find identity, safety, and comfort in reading about characters with similar sexual orientation." 

Chance, R. (2014). Young adult literature in action: A librarian's guide. 2nd ed. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited.

Etiquette & Espionage

Carriger, G. (2013). Etiquette & espionage. New York: Little, Brown, Books for Young Readers.

At the age of fourteen, Sophronia’a mother wants to send her to finishing school to learn how to become a proper lady and wife. The school is Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.  As soon as Sophronia gets there, she sees something totally different.  The academy floats by steam-powered machinery. The academy teaches how to use poisons, knives, defense skills, diversion, acts of espionage and etiquette.   Sophronia meets Dimity, Pillover, Soap, Vieve and a Bumbersnoot.  Monique, a classmate steals and hides an important prototype.  Sophronia and her friends need to retrieve the prototype before it falls into the wrong hands.  It is at her sister’s coming out ball that Sophronia uses her skills from finishing school to get it prototype delivered safely to Mademoiselle’s hands.  

I really enjoyed this steampunk novel.  It was the first one that I read.  It was a magical read imagining a floating Academy, vampires as teachers, robots, werewolves and a touch of vintage with mystery.  I am definitely putting this series on the must read list for the summer.  Check out this cool website about the finishing schools:  http://finishingschoolbooks.com/.

My Friend Dahmer

Backderf, D. (2012). My friend Dallmer: A graphic novel. New York: Abrams

My Friend Dahmer is a graphic novel that follows the life of Jeffrey Dahmer when he was an adolescent.  Backderf was a classmate and a friend of Dahmer’s in high school.  The events that occurred in Jeffrey’s life during high school are documented and illustrated in this graphic novel.  There were tragic events that happened to him and could have guided him into the person that he became in 1991.  Dahmer did not fit into any groups. His usual behavior and reclusiveness tended to have many people to shun him as well.  He also have difficulty with his home life too.  His parents constantly fought which led to a divorce.  This caused Dahmer to act out in high school.  No one knew that his mother suffered from a mental illness.  Jeffrey did not have any real friends.  He was obsessed with death and destroying dead animals.  He had homosexual urges, heard voices in his head and eventually it led to heavy drinking.  It was almost as if he was medicating himself with the alcohol.  After high school, Dahmer was completely alone and it lead to his first murder of many murders.   

This is a nonfiction graphic novel that documents the life of Jeffrey Dahmer. The illustrations and the quick read that it provides will have readers see what can happen to an individual when they do not have a loving relationship with their parents, the support of friends, and the effects of bullying can do to a person over time. After reading this, one much wonder, what if things were different for Jeffrey Dahmer? Would he have turned out a serial killer?

Shiver

Steifvater, M. (2009). Shiver. New York: Scholastic Press.

                         
 Grace is a seventeen year old who loves to watch the wolves out of her window.  She lives in a small town in Minnesota.  There is one wolf in particular that she loves to watch, it a bluish-gray wolf with beautiful, yellow eyes.  This wolf, even watches her.  When Grace was  a child, she was attacked by wolves and this beautiful, yellow eyed saved her and still protects her.  When it is cold, he lives as a wolf and when it is warm, he is a human. Sam and Grace fall in love.  Together, they are trying to find a cure since this is the last time that he will become human.  Then, one of Grace’s friends, Jack is attacked by the wolves and the hunters from town want to kill all wolves.  Sam and Grace wonder if there is a cure since Grace did not become a wolf when she was bitten as a little girl.  From what they can figure out was that Grace had a high fever following her wolf attack.  So, then Sam and Jack are infected with meningitis in hopes to produce a fever.  Jack dies from the meningitis.  Then during the middle of the winter, Sam walks out of the woods into Grace’s embrace. 

I really enjoyed this novel.  The characters were a perfect blend of reality and fantasy.  The two worlds worked well together and you could feel the love between Sam and Grace.  Students in grades 7^th and up would enjoy this story.  Shiver is the first book in Stiefvater’s Shiver triology. 

Shiver meets these characteristics of a high fantasy, supernatural novel:

·                  A complete world is created with specific and consistent rules.

·                  Readers are so thoroughly convinced of the logistics of the created world that they can suspend their disbelief enough to be drawn into the story.  However, there is still a basis in reality.

·                  There is a quest and a hero who must complete the quest no matter the dangers or impossibility of the tasks set before him or her.

·                  Good and evil engage in battle, back and forth throughout the story until the hero wins.

·                  There is plenty of suspense to propel the story forward and compel the reader to keep turning pages.

Chance, R. (2014). Young adult literature in action: A librarian's guide. 2nd ed. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited.

The Fault in Our Stars

Green, J. (2012). The fault in our stars. New York: Penguin Group.

The story is about two teenagers who have cancer.  Hazel has terminal cancer and Augustus is a cancer survivor.  They meet at a cancer support group.  Hazel’s mom thinks that she is depressed and she requires her to attend the weekly meetings with other teenagers that either are living with or having survived cancer.  She spends most of her time alone and is obsessed with the book An Imperial Affliction by Peter Van Houten.  This book is what she uses to draw her strength from in coming to terms with life and death. Hazel thinks that the meetings are a waste of time but she comes to appease her mother.   But this changes when Augustus Waters and his friend, Isaac show up one day to a meeting.  It seems that Hazel and Augustus have an instant connection.   Hazel’s and Augustus’ relationship grows and they begin to fall in love. She is worried that she will die and wants to spare him from being hurt.  Augustus decides to use his Make-A-Wish on her and travel to Amsterdam together to meet Peter Van Houten and get some answers about her favorite book.  While in Amsterdam, Augustus admits to Hazel that his cancer is back and that it has spread all over his body.  Upon returning home, Augustus becomes very ill and he dies soon after.  Hazel realizes that it was worth loving Augustus and not to have loved him at all.

This was an excellent novel to read.  I couldn’t put it down.  It is good read for anyone who is dealing with an illness or a death. Yes, it deals with cancer, death and sadness but it is also filled with love, hope and loss.  It tells the reader that they should live their life to its fullest and love freely.  

It's Perfectly Normal: A book about changing bodies, growing up, sex, and sexual heatlh

Harris, R. (1994). It's perfectly normal: a book about changing bodies, growing up, sex, and sexual health. Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick Press.

This is an informational book that can be used as a teaching tool for children 10 and older about sexual health, emotional health, and relationships, and it also contains sections on puberty, pregnancy and sexual orientation.  The information presented are in a way that children can understand with cartoon drawings and two characters, a bird and a bee.  It is divided into six parts:

Part One – What is Sex?

Part Two – Our Bodies

Part Three – Puberty

Part Four – Families and Babies

Part Five – Decisions

Part Six – Staying Healthy

The way that the information is presented lets young adults make responsible decisions and be able to go to for unanswered questions.  This is a highly controversial book and it has been placed in the restricted areas for some libraries. This is a great book to be used by parents as an additional supplement for families.  

The Chocolate War

Cormier, R. (1974). The chocolate war: A novel. New York: Delacorte.

Jerry Renault is a freshman at the Trinity High School, a private school for middle class boys who wants to be the school’s quarterback.  At Trinity, there is a group of boys who call themselves the Vigils.  The Vigils are a secret society that pick students or “victims” to complete a difficult assignment.  The Vigils have the support from Brother Leon, the assistant headmaster.  The annual fundraiser to sell chocolates is coming up and Brother Leon has ordered extra ones.  He tells the Vigils that it will be their job to make sure that all the candy is sold. Jerry wants to make the football team but he knows that he has to prove himself to the other students. Then Jerry receives an assignment from the Vigils.  They want for him to refuse selling the chocolates for ten days than once it is up, then start selling. On the first day of the chocolate sale when roll call is being done, Jerry flat out refuses the chocolates to Brother Leon.  After ten days, Jerry decides not to sell the chocolates altogether.  The Vigils see this as a direct act of defiance but for many students see it as Jerry is earning their respect.  The chocolate sells are down and Brother Leon is blaming Jerry for it. So what happens next is that Jerry starts getting beat up, bullied, and receiving prank phone calls by the football team.  He still continues to refuse to sell the chocolates.  So, the Vigils arrange for a fight match between Jerry and the school bully.  During the fight, Jerry is nearly beaten to death for standing up for what he believed in.  Jerry knows that nothing will change, everything will stay the same.    

This dark realistic fiction novel deals with school violence and bullying. It is geared towards high school boys since they could be dealing with the bullying or they are the bully.  It lets them see that it is okay to stand up for yourself even if you are the only one.  

Here are some more books that deal with school violence and bullying that I would recommend Permanent Record by Leslie Stella, The List by Siobhan Vivian, The Buffalo Tree by Adam Rapp and Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson.  

We Were Liars

Lockhart, E. (2014). We were liars. New York: Delacorte.

Cadence belongs to the Sinclair family.  They are athletic, beautiful and rich.  They spend their summers on their own private island.  Penny, Bess, and Carrie are Cadence’s grandfather’s daughters, they scheme to be the family’s heir.  They want their children to be like them.  But Cadence, Mirren, Johnny and family friend, Gat who are called the Liars see past that. They are the best of friends and love life.  It all changes on the summer fifteen when a mysterious tragedy occurred.  Cadence’s life completely changes.  She quits sports, starts failing in school and she has lost contact with the Liars.  Cadence tries to contact the Liars but they shelter her.  On summer seventeen, Cadence who suffers from debilitating headaches wants to remember what happened on that fifteenth summer so her mother allows her to return to the island.  She slowly starts to remember what happened with the help of the Liars who were also there on the island with her to help Cadence remember. The Liars saw that money was pulling the family apart so they came up with a plan to set fire to their grandfather’s house.  Johnny, Mirren, and Gat get trapped in the house and are unable to escape the fire.  It is then that Cadence remembers that she was the only one who survived the fire.  That is when she realizes that she has been spending the summer with ghosts.  The Liars ask if they could leave and she lets them go. 

I did not expect it to end the way that it did but I enjoyed the twist.  This story was about how greed can destroy one’s life in an instant.  This is dark modern realistic fiction novel.  There are many people who suffer brain injuries and cannot remember what happened because their brain has chosen to handle the grief or the accident in a certain way.  Cadence grieved for the Liars and when she remembered it was heart-breaking but it was also comforting because she was able to receive it from them.  

Chance, R. (2014). Young adult literature in action: A librarian's guide. 2nd ed. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited.

Going Bovine

Bray, L. (2009). Going bovine. New York: Delacorte Press.

Cameron Smith is a high school slacker from Texas who thinks is having a marijuana induced hallucination in his English class.  But for sixteen year old Cameron who just wants to through life with minimum effort is diagnosed with mad cow disease and is told that he is going to die.  While in the hospital, he is introduced Dulcie during a hallucination-induced vision.  She tells Cameron that there is a cure but only if he is willing to go search for it.  Dulcie gives Cameron a Disney World wristband and she tells him that he needs to take a journey with Gonzo, a death-obsessed video-gaming dwarf.  So Cameron and Gonzo set off to find Dr. X and be able to save the world and cure himself.  Along the way to Florida, they rescue a Viking named Balder who was trapped in a garden gnome.  At Disney World, Cameron meets up with Dr. X and is told that he cannot save his life.  Then he wakes up in the hospital where the nurse is turning of the life support and his family are saying their goodbyes.  Cameron then finds himself happy with Dulcie.

In this high fantasy fiction, Bray uses Cameron’s hallucinations to create a bizarre world for Cameron to take his journey.  It is understandable why his journey is so strange is because of the mad cow disease is eating away at his brain.  So, to Cameron it was reality.  According to Chance, the criteria for high fantasy the story needs to feature a creature or character to add humor or relieve tension or despair.  In this novel, those characters are Dulcie and Gonzo.  This novel shows the struggle that Cameron was dealing with in both his real life and in hallucinations are the reflections of reality.

  

Chance, R. (2014). Young adult literature in action: A librarian's guide. 2nd ed. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited.

Scowler

Kraus, D. (2013). Scowler. New York: Delacorte.

Ry lives in an abusive home.  His father, Marvin sews Ry’s mom to her bed.  An 11 year old Ry and his sister, Sarah try to flee the house.  Because of his disobedience, Ry’s dad chases him throughout the countryside.  Through all of this, Ry finds comfort with 3 toys that he has in his pocket. Ry finds safety and his father is taking to prison.  Nine years later, his dad escapes from prison and heads back to the farm for vengeance.  At this time, Ry turns back to his toys: Jesus Christ, Mr. Furrington, and Scowler. After a meteor strike, Ry uses Scowler to help him kill his father leaving him traumatized.  This moment leaves Ry on the edge of sanity or maybe leaves him a more confident man. 

This dark realistic psychological thriller is recommended for grades 11^th and up.  I found this brand of violence to be disturbing and something that you cannot forget.  It is a teenage mental and physical survival story that is hard edged with domestic violence that is brutal and graphic.  It has different levels of scariness that could be very similar to the works of Stephen King.  

Mexican White Boy

De la Pena, M. (2008). Mexican white boy. New York: Delacorte Press.


 Danny Lopez is a biracial sixteen year old who lives in a wealthy northern San Diego county.  Danny’s mother is white and his father is Mexican.  Danny is confused with his sense of identity.  His father had left both he and his mother.  He is not sure if he belongs in a white society or a Mexican society?  Then over the summer, Danny goes to visit some of his father’s side of family in order to get a better understand of his ancestry and to learn why his father left them.  While in Mexico, Danny has a hard time fitting in as well.  He doesn’t speak Spanish and doesn’t have much in common with the boys in the neighborhood except for the love of baseball.  He learns that father is in prison. There is one boy in particular that Danny creates a bond with but it wasn’t easier at first.  Uno punches Danny in the face when they first met but overtime they develop a special friendship.  Over the summer with his family, he finds his focus for the baseball, he learns about his family and the able to embrace his multiculturalism.

This is a great realistic fiction for boys in grades 8^th grade and up.  It does share the Mexican-American culture and heritage.  It also shows how one can overcome their insecurities both from within and with identifying your identity.  The theme of baseball is also predominant in the novel as well.  Readers see how Danny is able to overcome his insecurities in regards to pitching and see how he develops his focus to stand on the mound.                             

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes

Crutcher, C. (1993). Staying fat for Sarah Byrnes. New York: Greenwillow Books.

 Eric Calhoune has been best friends with Sarah Byrnes since middle school.  They are complete opposites but they do share something.  They were outcasts at their Jr. High. Eric is obese and Sarah’s face is burned.  Then everything changed when Eric joined the swim team.  He wanted to lose some of his flab.  Sarah’s problem could not be changed.  She had an accident when she was little and it left her with burn scars on her face.   Now in high school, Sarah needs Eric more than ever.  She has been admitted to a psychiatric hospital because she has been become mute.  He goes and visits her daily at the hospital and then discovers that she was faking it, so that she could escape her abusive father. He realizes that it was her father that caused her burns.  Sarah thinks that her mother can be found then everything would be better but she discovers that it isn’t as easy as she thought.  In the end, Sarah does learn the truth about her burns and a new life for Sarah. 

This realistic fiction deals with bullying and violence at home and at school.  Both Sarah and Eric have to deal with bullies and they learn to overcome it because of their friendship.  I feel that this is a great read for high school students because they are dealing with self-image issues at this stage of their lives.  It also shows that have a good support system of friends is a good thing to have at any age.  

Grasshopper Jungle

Smith, A. (2014). Grasshopper jungle. New York: Dutton.

Austin is struggling with his own sexual identity because he as feelings for his best friend, Robby and his girlfriend, Shann.  While skateboarding and smoking cigarettes, Austin and Robby are attack and beat up by a gang of neighborhood bullies near Ealing Mall.   Robby is beat up pretty badly and bleeds all over the asphalt.  The bullies then proceed to steal their skateboards and shoes, then they throw their stuff onto the roof of a nearby store.  The boys go and get Shann then head back to the store to get their things.  As they climb onto the roof, they decide to sneak into the store through the roof.  As they are exploring the store, they come across some vials especially one labeled Contained MI Plague Strain 412E.  The neighborhood bullies break into the store and break one of the vials outside the store onto Robby’s blood stain spot.  The strain begins to take control of its first victims.  Infected citizens begin to shed their human skin and transform into giant, man-eating praying mantises.  Creatures just want to eat and mate.  They find films that were left from the strain’s creators.  Austin, Robby and Shann, then discover a safe, abandoned silo that is known as Eden.  The kids learn from an attack onto Robby that his blood is the only thing that can be used to defeat the giant praying mantises who were called “unstoppable soldiers” by the creators.  Robby’s blood is drawn and placed into paint balls but then as discover that it is too late, the creators have taking over the world.  An apocalypse had occurred and that there is no way to reverse the plague.  The only safe place for Austin, Robby, and Shann and their families is to live in the underground silo.  At the end of the novel, readers discover that Shann gives birth to Austin’s son, Arek. 

This science fiction, apocalyptic young adult readers will enjoy the author’s writing style and captivating plot.  Readers also see the inner struggles of Austin and his love for Robby and Shann.  The novel tends to focus on Austin’s sexual desires.  This novel does contain strong language and sexual content, so I recommend this book for 11^th grade and 12^th grade readers.  

Freak Show

James, J. (2007). Freak show. New York: Dutton Children's Books.

Billy Bloom is a high school drag queen who wants to make an impression on his first day at a new high school. Billy loves to dress in feminine clothing and wear make-up and makes a grand entrance at his ultra-conservative high school.  It just doesn’t go as his expected.  They begin to taunt him, bully him and call him names.  Billy acquires an unlikely friend during all of this.  It is Flip, the star quarterback.  Then one day, Billy comes dress to school in full drag queen attire and is attacked.  The attack is so brutal that he ends up in the hospital.  Flip rescues him and then visits him daily afterwards at home.  They begin to develop a special friendship.  After Billy heals, he decides to run for homecoming queen.  His determination to stand up to the bullies earns him the respect of other classmates and especially those who feel as though they do not have a voice.  Billy doesn’t win the homecoming crown but he feels that he has earned so much more.  He earned the respect of others, his father’s acceptance and the love of Flip. 

This modern realistic fiction story deals with sexual orientation and coming to terms with your sexual identity.  This is such a great book for high school students who may be dealing with bullying and school violence.  Billy’s character is one of determination and strength.  He displayed that you should be proud of who you are and stand up for yourself as well.  It also lets them see that bullying and school violence can happen anywhere. 

Code name Verity

Wein, E. (2012). Code name Verity. New York: Hyperion.

Maddie is an Air Transport Auxiliary pilot and Julie who is a Special Operations Executive spy that goes by the code name of Verity.  They are best friends.  Maddie flies Verity to Nazi occupied France for a secret mission.  Then Maddie’s plane is hit and she is unable to land so Julie parachutes out then she is captured by the enemy.  Maddie survives the crash and is found by the Resistance Army.  Julie is interrogated and tortured by the Gestapo and then she finally agrees to write down everything that she knows.  She tells of her friendship with Maddie and everything that could be used by the Nazis is interwoven into her story. After Julie confesses, she is sentenced to a concentration camp.  Then it is Maddie’s turn to tell her story.  She finds out that Julie is alive and is being held as a prisoner.  Along with the Resistance, they plan to free Julie and some other prisoners.  During the rescue, things go wrong and Maddie finds Julie with a gun to her head.  She then realizes that Julie is asking her to shoot her which she does rather than dying a painful death by the enemy.  Maddie is given Julie’s papers and she reads that everything Julie gave them were lies except for the parts on their friendship.  It is then she knows that she must complete Julie’s mission and destroy the Gestapo Headquarters then return home safely. 

This is a great historical realistic fiction about war.  It should be read by junior high and high school aged students.  It has a lot of action and excitement but it also focuses on the importance of friendship.  It gives a realistic depiction of war through the eyes of Maddie and Julie, Code Name Verity.  

Andre the Giant

Brown, B. (2014). Andre the giant: Life and legend. New York: FirstSecond.

This graphic novel is about the life of Andre Roussimoff, the famous wrestler.  Andre, the Giant as he was called suffered from a disease called acromegaly which caused him to age prematurely and grow larger than normal.  Andre discovered the world of professional wrestling in Paris and conquered all of his opponents with ease.  He then moves to the United States and becomes a huge star and even starred in the movie, The Princess Bride.  At his peak, Andree weighed 500 pounds and stood a seven and half feet tall.  Andre drank and made some poor decisions in his life.  When in Paris in 1993, Andre passed away in his sleep.  His ashes were scattered at his ranch in North Carolina.   

This biography is designed as a graphic novel is popular choice among young adults especially teen boys who might not want to read biographies.   The author gives good informational text in a limited glossary of professional wrestling terms and source notes for readers who may be unfamiliar with wrestling.  This graphic novel follows many of the criteria listed in the Young Adult Literature in Action – A Librarian’s Guide by Rosemary Chance. 

1.      Integration of images and words

2.      Clarity of visual flow on the page

3.      Ability of images to convey necessary meaning

4.      Outstanding quality of the artwork’s reproduction

5.      Narrative enhanced by the artwork

6.      Narrative dominated by sequential art component

Chance, R. (2014). Young adult literature in action: A librarian’s guide. 2^nd ed. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited. 

Feed

Anderson, M.T. (2002). Feed. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.

Titus is a boy from the futuristic world.  Everyone is connected to the internet through an internal feed that is implanted directly into the brain.  These feeds provide access to everything from online shopping to chatting with one another in their heads.  On a trip to the moon, Titus meets Violet.  She questions the feed because hers was implanted when she was 7 years old.  Then one night when Titus, Violet and his friends were at a club dancing a hacker attacks their group and interrupts their feed which sends everyone to the hospital.  At the hospital, everyone is lying around with nothing in their heads as their feeds are being repaired.  Then then head back to Earth, where Titus and Violet’s relationship begins.  Violet informs Titus that her feed is beginning to fail and soon it will affect her entire body and all of its systems will begin to shut down, and she dies.  Titus cannot handle this information so he begins to retreat but it is in the end of Violet’s life that he connects with her and becomes her feed as he tells the story of how they met and fell in love. 

This science fiction novel really plays on one’s imagination about the future and what could happen if we continue to depend on technology.  It also has some dystopian fiction because Titus’ world is no longer the world that we know of today. There are very little animals left, people have weeping sores from unexplained pollution.  At the end, even Titus becomes aware of the world’s problems.  This is a book can really bring up some good discussions on technology for teens and how it can affect our lives.  

Monster

Myers, W.D. (1999). Monster. New York: HarperCollins.

This novel is written like a screenplay telling the story of Steve Harmon, a film enthusiast.  He is a 16 year old African-American boy, who is on trial for possible assisting in the murder of a store clerk. Steve is gets mixed up with some “Thugs”.  They have Steve go into the store and make sure that it is clear and easy to rob.  Then the robbery goes wrong and the story owner is shot and killed.  When Steve is on trial, we see of his thoughts, actions and struggles in court, living in jail and dealing with his parents. The prosecutor calls him a Monster.  He feels like, he is fighting for his freedom by showing his innocence.  It is through the help of his attorney and the testimonies from a witness and his film teacher who gives Steve the hope that someone does not believe that he is a monster.  Even though, Steve is found not guilty.  His life will never be the same again. 

This novel is written in a way that is different from any other kind of book that I have read.  This realistic fiction deals with violence and that sometimes people can make decisions that will affect the rest of their lives.  It is these consequences that can change lives.  This is a good book for teens in 8^th grade and up to read this book.  It shows that getting mixed up with the wrong crowd and making bad decisions can have its consequences.  

Invisible

Hautman, P. (2005) Invisible. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Doug Hanson is a loner who likes to spend time in his basement working on his model railroad.  He has two very important things that he cares about his railroad, the Madham Line and his best friend, Andy Morrow.  Doug and Andy have been best friends and have lived next to each other their entire lives.  Doug and Andy talk about everything except for a buried, deep secret that Doug keeps about the old Tuttle Place.  After what occurred at the old Tuttle Place, Andy starts to build the very elaborate Madham Railroad. Readers begin to see that Doug is suffering from mental illness.  Apparently, Andy died in a fire that occurred at the old Tuttle Place three years prior.  Doug continues to talk to Andy on a daily basis.  Soon Doug’s behavior starts to change and become very destructive when he is to be sent to St. Stephen’s Academy, a private school for mentally ill boys.  He then sets a fire that burns him and destroys his Madham Line.  At the end of the novel, Doug has retreated deeper into his own world and begins to lose reality.  Readers at the end of the book are left wondering about Doug, if he is alive at the mental hospital or dead?

Hautman uses a lot of suspense to build up the state of Doug’s mental illness in his psychological thriller, Invisible.  He allows teens to see inside Doug’s mind and develop an understanding about mental illness and how it can affect you.  Readers begin to gain sympathy for Doug and others like him who are suffering from mental illness.  

Speak

Anderson, L. (1999).  Speak. New York: The Penguin Group.

Melinda Sordino has a starts high school in isolation and in silence.  She is an outcast and no one wants to be her friend.  Everyone who knew her knows that she broke up an end of the summer party where everyone was drinking by calling 911.  Many of the kids at the party got into trouble and they blame Melinda for it.  Unable to tell anyone that she was raped, she nearly stops speaking altogether.  She goes to school and has a hard time socially, mentally, and academically.  She finds solace in Mr. Freeman’s art class where she is able to express herself.  She is given an assignment to create a piece of an artwork of a tree.   Melinda starts to open up a little more with herself and with others especially when a close friend starts dating the boy who raped her.  She starts to remember what happened that night.  She finally gains her voice and speaks out when the boy tries to rape her again.  At the end, she realizes that it wasn’t her fault and she frees herself. 

This realistic fiction is a great book for boys and girls in grades 7-12.  Unfortunately in today’s society, girls and boys of all ages are victims of sexual crimes, sexual abuse, or being bullied like Melinda was by the kids in her school.  This novel portrays one victim’s journey from being in silence to finally finding her voice.  It provides a great example on how a rape victim can overcome her tragedy and make the moves to heal oneself.  

I Hunt Killer

Lyga, B. (2012). I hunt killers. New York, New York: Little Brown.

Jazz is determined to grow up normal and be nothing like his father, the infamous serial killer, Billy Dent. Jazz spends his day with his girlfriend, Connie and his best friend, Howie just trying to be nothing like his dad. Then, in his town of Lobos Nod, a young woman is murdered.  Then, more murders start happening and Jazz feels that his background could help find the killer.  Since he has spent most of his life with a murderer and he even knows how they think.  Jazz feels that he could help the cops solve the murders.  It seems that the murderer is copying his father's style of murders and he wants to find the killer before the next murder occurs.  Unfortunately, it comes too late when Jazz's teacher is the next victim.  Jazz, then realizes that he needs to visit his "Dear Old Dad" in prison to help him solve the case.  Jazz comes face to face with "The Impressionist" and luckily his friends come to the rescue.  Then, Jazz learns that his father has escaped from prison and has committed another murder.  

        

This is a great dark modern realistic fiction.  It keeps you on the edge of seat because of the twists and turns.  At the beginning of the story, Jazz was trying not to be like his “Dear Old Dad” but after he escapes and kills again.  Jazz makes a vow to hunt down his father himself and kill him.  This book would be good for readers in high school because of the grisly descriptions of Billy Dent’s murders.  I hunt killers is the first book of a trilogy from Lyga.  

An Abundance of Katherines

Green, J. (2006). An abundance of Katherines. New York, NY: Dutton Books.

It was right after high school graduation when Colin Singleton was dumped by Katherine.  She was the nineteenth Katherine that he had dated.  Colin preferred to date only girls that were named Katherine. Unfortunately, Colin took this breakup really hard because he feels like a nothing.  So, Colin and his best friend, Hassan decided to go on a road trip to cheer him up. On the road, all that Colin talks about and everything that he sees remembers him of the latest Katherine.  They make it to Gunshot, Tennessee and it is there that they meet Lindsey and decide to stay and work for her mom.  It was Colin’s and Hassan’s job to go around town and interview the townsfolk about life in Gunshot.  As Colin and Lindsey get close, he begins to develop a crush on her.  Then he develops a formula that states that Lindsey will break up with him only a few days into their relationship.  She send a note on the fourth day but it is just a joke.  In Colin’s journey, he learns a lot about himself, about love and friendship. 

In this realistic fiction coming of age novel deals with love, heartbreak, friendship and learning about yourself.  It is a great book for grades 7^th and up.  John Green intertwines mathematics, foreign languages and expository footnotes that make is novel fun and entertaining.  

Ask the Passengers

King, A.S. (2012). Ask the passengers. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

Astrid Jones lives in a small town of Unity Valley, PA.  She deals daily with her mother’s pushiness and her father’s lack of interest and she desperately wants to confine in someone.  So, Astrid spends hours just lying on the backyard picnic table watching airplanes fly overhead.  She feels that the passengers on the plane are the only people who will not judge her about her secret.  It is that Astrid has feelings for a girl.  Since Astrid has no one around her, she relies on the teachings of the classic philosophers for answers.  Astrid is attracted to her coworker and likes kissing her but she is not sure what to make of it.  As their secret relationship moves along, Astrid’s friends want to want to know what is going on.  At the end, Astrid introduces Dee to her family as her girlfriend and realizes that telling the truth does set you free. Throughout the novel, Astrid’s character is discovering who she really is and that by questioning everything helps you to realize that you love yourself. 

Overall, I enjoyed the book.  I found it last summer and I placed on my reading list.  I loved reading about Astrid’s journey of realization that she is who she is and not anyone else.  Because of language, the use of drugs, alcohol and drinking and some heavy make-out sessions between Astrid and Dee this book is recommend for 10^th grade and up.  This story has a good message about self-discovery and coming out about your sexual orientation.  

The absolute true diary of a part-time Indian

Alexie, S. (2007). The absolute true diary of a part-time Indian. New York: Little, Brown. 

                Arnold “Junior” Spirit, Jr. is a fourteen year old Native American who lives on the Spokane Reservation.  He is wanting to make a difference in his education because he wants to be a cartoonist. Junior sees on the reservation that alcohol is more important to most of the people on the reservation.  Under the guidance of his teacher, Junior decides to transfer to Reardan High School, which is an affluent white school that is twenty-two miles away.  While at Reardan, Junior faces a world that he is not familiar with.  The only other Indian in town is the school’s mascot.  He is challenged academically but he is treated as an outcast not only by everyone on the reservation but also at Reardan.  Then he decides to try to fit in and tries out for the Reardan basketball team.  Surprisingly, he makes the team but it is the varsity team as a starting player.  While Junior was away, he suffered some devastating losses.  First, his grandmother is killed by a drunken Indian, then his dad’s best friend is shot in the face in a fight over a wine bottle and then his beloved sister dies in a fire after passing out.  It seems that everything on the reservation is about “booze and God”.  Even with all the sadness and heart ache, Junior never loses his hope.  Overall, this story is about hope, joy, determination and that with faith anyone can overcome their situation and improve their situation.
               In Alexie’s autobiographical story about his experiences growing up on a reservation deals with the poverty and racial prejudice.  He is faced with prejudice on the reservation as well as at his all white school.  Overall, this is novel would be great for middle schoolers and on up.  The differences of the people that Junior met and dealt with demonstrate that even with differences everything can be tolerated and overcame.  

The Dark Side of Nowhere

Shusterman, N. (1997). The dark side of nowhere. Little Brown and Company: New York.

Jason Miller lives in Billington.  He feels that nothing ever happens in Billington.  Everything and everyone is so normal.  Then one day, his friend, Ethan dies of from what the doctors is calling a burst appendix.  His death is announced announcements at school and then after that everything changes.  It is at Ethan’s funeral when Jason notices that everything is really not what is seems.  Jason and his girlfriend, Paula notice that Ethan’s parents look more nervous than upset by his death.  Then, Ethan is approached by the school janitor, Mr. Grant.  He tells Jason that Ethan is not dead.  Mr. Grant gives Ethan a metal glove that is dangerous and mysterious.  He then sets up a meeting in a place called Old Town where Ethan finds out that the gloves shoots steel pellets.  Jason starts to hide his actions from his parents and even from Paula.  But then, Jason realizes that there is more to his life then he really knows.  He starts putting the lies together and realizes that he is not really what he thought he was.  He learns that he is from somewhere beyond Earth.   

This science fiction novel is a great read for grades 6-9.  It is a fast pace read and you really have to pay attention because the story gets a little weird but it is in a good way. It involves aliens that take on human form after a botched invasion.  At the end, it makes you think what a human is.   

Here is a fun book trailer that a middle school student created about The dark side of nowhere.

If I Stay

Forman. G. (2009). If I stay. New York: Dutton Books.

It is a snow day for Mia and her little brother, Teddy and their parents.  They enjoy a morning together eating pancakes for breakfast and just talking.  They decide to make a day of it and go and see friends, stop at the local bookstore and then have an early dinner with their grandparents.  As Mia and her family were enjoying the drive and listening to classical music, then the unexpected happens.  A pick-up truck travelling at 60 miles per hour plows into their vehicle. It is then that everything changes for Mia.  Mia finds her parents but only to discover that they have been killed instantly.  Mia realizes that she is having an out of body experience after she starts looking for Teddy and finds herself laying in a ditch.  The paramedics rush her and Teddy to the hospital in order to save their lives.  Mia’s family and her best friend, Kim arrive to the hospital to hear the news that she is in grave condition.   It is a nurse who tells Mia’s grandparents that she is running the show.  Then Mia realizes that it is up to her to decide if she stays or if she goes.  As Mia watches her memories flash before her eyes, she has to make a decision on waking up and face a life that will be so different or just to let go.  It is at the end when she almost decides to give up on life completely when Adam shows up and places headphones on her and tells her to stay. 

               This is a beautiful written realistic fiction love story that can be read by junior high and high school students.  The memories that Mia have with her family and with Adam are filled with so much life and love that today’s youth can relate to it. This story is filled with heartbreak, hope, loss and love but it shows how life can be one thing and then in an instant become something else.  Readers who loved this story can read the follow up story by Forman called Where She Went to see what happened next to Mia.