Inexcusable

Inexcusable

by Chris Lynch

Published by: Atheneum

Summary: Keir is a senior who fancies himself a lovable rogue. So do his widowed father, his older sisters, and his classmates. He likes being liked; he just doesn't do well with involvement. Keir would never do anything to hurt anyone intentionally–or would he? When he tackles and cripples a member of an opposing football team, it's determined to be an accident–one that earns him the good-humored nickname, Killer. When he and his buddies destroy a town statue, they consider it a high-spirited, funny prank. When he gets drunk, the alcohol abuse is dismissed as silly, harmless drinks, and drugs at parties are strictly recreational. And when he date rapes the girl he thinks he loves, at first he convinces himself that the way it looks is not the way it is. Keir's first-person narrative chillingly exposes the rationalization process that the troubled teen goes through to persuade himself and those around him of his innocence. Characters are clearly developed through immediately post-rape chapters that alternate with flashbacks of Keir's experiences and perceptions leading up to that point.

Personal Review: This is an intersting twist to Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak. It is the "other point of view." It was really an interesting read as Lynch shows Keir's self justification, and his reasoning behind his actions. He seems to really believe the things he tells himself, and I almost wonder if he has a split-personality disorder because he can so easily disassociate himself with his actions, even when he is face to face with the consequences. It is a chilling, realistic look at many situations and experiences that teenagers face during their lives. I enjoyed it, and it was a fast read.

Cautionary Notes: Lots of drug use, teen drinking, and a scene describing the date rape.

I Know What You Did Last Summer

I Know What You Did Last Summer

by Lois Duncan

Published by: Laurel Leaf

Summary: This book is about about a group of four high school students who are involved in a hit and run accident which ends up killing a young boy. Speeding down the road late at night after hours of partying, the group strikes a young boy on his bicycle. Instead of stopping to help, the group drives to the nearest phone and makes an anonymous phone call to the police to report the accident. The group makes a pact not to tell what happened. The event causes the breakdown of fellowship between the four friends and they go their separate ways. About a year later, one of the girls receives an anonymous note that reads "I Know What You Did Last Summer." Horrified, she gets in touch with the other members of the pact and the chase is on. One thing leads to another and before they know it, they're trying to outsmart a killer.

Personal Review: The story was enjoyable, even if it was a bit predictable. Maybe I have just read too many mysteries, though. I have never seen the movie, but the book is not violent or too scary. Actually, it is a lot about morals, values, and teenagers learning lessons, even if it is the hard way.

The Day it Snowed Tortillas

The Day it Snowed Tortillas/ El Día que Nevaron Tortillas
by Joe Hayes

Published by: Cinco Puntos Press


Summary: A bilingual collection of Spanish folktales, storytellers have been telling these stories in the villages of New Mexico since the Spanish first came to the New World over four hundred years ago, but Hayes adds his own nuances for modern audiences. The tales are full of magic and fun. In the title story, for instance, a very clever woman saves her silly husband from a band of robbers. She makes the old man believe it snowed tortillas during the night! In another story, a young boy gladly gives up all of his wages for good advice. His parents think he is a fool, but the good advice leads to wealth and a royal marriage. The enchantment continues in story after story—a clever thief tricks a king for his kingdom and a prince finds his beloved in a house full of wicked step-sisters. And of course, we listen again to the ancient tale of the weeping woman, La Llorona, who still searches for her drowned children along the riverbanks. Joe Hayes is one of America’s premier storytellers. He is especially recognized for his bilingual telling of stories from the Hispanic culture of northern New Mexico.

Personal Review: I loved these stories, and laughed out loud at several of them. I read them in Spanish, and it added even more to the stories, so if you can, that is what I would suggest! However, if you cannot, they are very good in English as well. Each tale is an insight into the language, culture and beliefs of hispanic people. It was a great book that would be enjoyed by children of all ages.

Here is a video of the author telling one of his stories in Spanish...enjoy!

The Pistachio Prescription

The Pistachio Prescription by Paula Danziger

Published by: Puffin

Summary: The Pistachio Prescription, written by Paula Danzinger was an excellent and entertaining novel about a teenage girl dealing with the troubles of being one. Cassandra Stevens has brown hair, brown eyes, is very tall, and 14. She has two siblings, Stephie, the typical seventeen-year-old sister; she has blonde hair, blue eyes. She has a smaller green-eyed red haired brother. Her mom is identical to her brother, and Stephie is identical to her father. She wonders if she is even really part of the family. The story is about Cassie (short for Cassandra), as she is just about to enter high school. As is typical, there's a "cool" crowd, the student council people.But this year, Cassie has a plan. An intelligent,deviousplan. Her friends all got together for a meeting discussing what they'll do, whom they will elect, and who will lead. Guess who gets chosen? Cassie for president! She feels quite insecure and does not want to do it, but gets convinced afterwards. But life is not all fun and games for Cassie, and whenever she feels angry, mad or sad, she eats red pistachios, a prescription of them is sure to get her joy back in an instant, the only bad part is that her parent's don't like the idea of her eating them. Her mother says it's not ladylike, and her father agrees with her. Cassie has to hide her pistachios wherever she can. When Cassie enters school, there's a new kid in town, Scott. They start talking and he is part of the plan to too. This book talks about teamwork, teenage troubles, family, school, and friends.

Personal Review: I enjoyed the story very much. It was written in the mid 1970s, but is a story that kids today can still relate to. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it, and would recommend it to most any young adult.

Last Shot

Last Shot by John Feinstein

Published by: Yearling

Summary: This story is set at the NCAA Final Four men's basketball tournament. Eighth-graders Steven Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson are aspiring journalists and winners of the U.S. Basketball Writer's Association 14-and-under writing contest. Their prize is a trip, with press credentials and reporting responsibilities, to the Final Four in New Orleans. While exploring the Superdome, they overhear a blackmail threat leveled at Minnesota State University's star player. Threatened with a falsified transcript that would disqualify him and his team, Chip Graber is pressured to deliberately lose the final game against Duke. Stevie and Susan Carol become resourceful sleuths determined to save Chip and to expose the scandal.

Personal Review: This is a story that any young basketball fan will enjoy. There is enough about basketball to keep them interested, but it is also a mystery. I enjoyed the fact that the kids aren't at the game just as fans, but as writers, and the book shows how writing can be enjoyable and very diverse, and even get you into some pretty good seats at the game. :)

The Smile

The Smile by Donna Jo Napoli

Published by: Speak

Summary: The identity of the woman the world calls Mona Lisa has ignited speculation since Leonardo da Vinci created her portrait and left it untitled, unsigned, and undated. In this richly embroidered romance set in Renaissance Florence, Napoli imagines the young life of the woman behind the famous smile. Thirteen-year-old Elisabetta, the daughter of a wealthy silk merchant, is starting to think of marriage when Leonardo da Vinci, a family friend, introduces her to young heir Giuliano de’ Medici. The teenagers share an instant attraction that deepens into friendship and, finally, love. Political turmoil that escalates into war threatens the young romance, though, and Elisabetta is caught between her passionate attachment to Giuliano and her dutiful obligations to her family. Napoli skillfully draws readers into the vibrant settings, from opulent Florentine palaces to rustic hillside villas, with tangible, sensory details that enliven the novel’s intriguing references to history and art. Elisabetta’s strength and individuality, as she grows into marriage and motherhood, will captivate readers, as will her wonderment over love’s complexity.

Personal Review: This book is beautifully written, and well researched. As is typical with Napoli, the reader will feel as if they are witnessing an actual event in history, through the beautiful descriptions and details. However, these details are not overwhelming, or distracting. The story was beautiful, and addresses deeper issues than just money and luxury, but also death, marriage, love, politics and social class. A very good book.

The Taking of Room 114

The Taking of Room 114 by Mel Glenn
Published by: Dutton Juvenille


Summary: This story is a "hostage drama" written in poetry form about a crazy history teacher who takes his class of seniors hostage on the last day of school. The poems--five from each student, one for each year of high school, and the last composed on the day of the crisis--reveal the thoughts, dreams, and fears of contemporary teens in an urban classroom.





Personal Review: The poems were not very deep, but Young Adult readers will enjoy and likely be able to relate to the story and the characters. Each character represents a different point of view: a student being pushed by their parents, another pushing themselves, on girl who is pregnant, another who barely speaks English. I enjoyed reading it, and it was also very quick to read.





Cautionary Notes: None.

Interstellar Pig

Interstellar Pig by William Sleator
Published by: Penguin Group USA

Summary: This story is all about Barney and the neighbors he meets one summer at the beach. They're mysterious people who apprear different to everyone who sees them and are oddly fascinated by the island not far from the their rented house . . . and a game called Interstellar Pig. When Barney becomes a player, he has no idea that the game he's getting into is real -- and possibly deadly!

Personal Review: I enjoyed this book, and though it was science fiction, it was (as the best sci-fi books are) fairly believable. The mysterious past of the neighbors, and their interesting game are imaginitive but also plausable, and the facts and details all fit together smoothly.

Cautionary Note: None, except the creatures can be violent at the end of the book.

The First Part Last

The First Part Last

by Angela Johnson

Published by: Simon Pulse

Summary: At 16, Bobby is scared to be raising his baby, Feather, but he's totally devoted to caring for her, even as she keeps him up all night, and he knows that his college plans are on hold. In short chapters alternating between "now" and "then," he talks about the baby that now fills his life, and he remembers the pregnancy of his beloved girlfriend, Nia. Yes, the teens' parents were right. The couple should have used birth control; adoption could have meant freedom. But when Nia suffers irreversible postpartum brain damage, Bobby takes their newborn baby home. There's no romanticizing. The exhaustion is real, and Bobby gets in trouble with the police and nearly messes up everything. But from the first page, readers feel the physical reality of Bobby's new world: what it's like to hold Feather on his stomach, smell her skin, touch her clenched fists, feel her shiver, and kiss the top of her curly head. Johnson makes poetry with the simplest words in short, spare sentences that teens will read again and again.

Personal Review: This was a fast read (took me about an hour) but it is so real. This is not a romantic view of teen parenthood. This is real life, and Bobby is dealing with it. It is an honest approach, and an interesting twist as the father is raising his infant baby. The twist at the end that explains why Nia is not present is tragic, and a little much for me, but the story is beautiful and well written.

Cautionary Note: There is some language in this book, but not much.

Dark Dude

Dark Dude
by Oscar Hijuelos
Simon and Schuster

Summary: Rico, a Cuban American teen growing up in Harlem in the late 1960s, is tired—of working extra jobs to help his family; of the chaos and tragedy at school, where students are so inured to violence that, when classes close after a shooting, they behave “like it was suddenly a holiday”; of being hassled for his light skin and hair. When his parents threaten to send him to a military school in Florida, he runs away. Together with his best friend, Jimmy, who has just kicked a heroin habit, Rico hitchhikes to Wisconsin, where Gilberto, an older-brother figure from Harlem, has bought a farm that he shares with several hippie college students. In an unwavering, utterly believable voice, Rico details his midwestern year, in which he adjusts to rural life, falls in love, and pursues his comic-book-writing aspirations. Most of all, though, he searches for a sense of self, ultimately realizing that “where you are doesn’t change who you are.”



Personal Review: This book is a great book about finding yourself, and dealing with prejudice, both usual and unusual kinds. I liked the story, though it took a few chapters to get into, and despite learning how to shoot up heroin and grow pot, I enjoyed the characters and the story line.

Cautionary Note: There is a lot of language in this book, and lots of drug use. Rico attends several parties where there is teen drinking, he tries drugs and his friends all do drugs, we learn how to shoot up heroin and how to grow pot. I would not use this in a classroom, but it would be a fun read for a teenager who is smart enough not to try something just because he reads about it.

Getting the Girl

Getting the Girl

by Markus Zusak

Published by: Push

Summary: Cameron Wolfe wants a girlfriend. He wants to separate himself from the shadow of his brothers. He wants to find himself and be something more than the underdog in the family. And he doesn't know how to go about getting what he wants. He is attracted to a girl who treats him horribly so he stands outside her house at night, hoping for glimpses of her. He likes his brother Ruben's girlfriend-and she treats him like a human being. When she and Ruben break up, she--Octavia--shows an interest in Cameron and even though his brother already has another girlfriend, he beats up Cameron and Octavia walks away. Ruben has some bigger problems, though, and violence is once again his method of solving them. However, this is Cameron's story, and he discovers that he is much more than he ever thought he could be. His sister is the first to recognize her brother's strengths and helps give him the courage to face himself and his demons. He finds his niche in writing, and words give him the power to become what he can be.

Personal Review: This book was well written about the life of the brother-in-the-shadow. Cameron is a character that many of us can relate to, and he finds his niche in writing! This book would be good for teenagers who feel like the just don't fit in, and who maybe find something they are good at that isn't "popular" and give them hope that they can find their own niche.

Cautionary Note: This book contains some language and references to boyish fantasies.

Speak

Speak

by Laurie Halse Anderson

Peter Smith Pub Inc

Summary: Melinda Sordino has just started high school, but she is alone, friendless, and an outcast. A party that she attended was busted by the cops after she called them. Since then, her peers have ostracized her and her friends have abandoned her. Only and unfortunately for Melinda, no one asked her why she called the cops. After a few beers, she was led into the woods alone by a popular, well liked older boy and raped. Since then, her confidence has bottomed out, depression has hit, and she has told no one about it. It is near impossible for her to make new friends and she loathes to be close to people. Melinda's assault is a secret that she carries within herself, the only outside signs her anti-social behavior and the bloody lips she continuously chews at. Melinda cannot speak and she cannot tell anyone what happened to her. She has no friends to tell, after all, and no teachers who make her feel comfortable enough to confide in. Her art teacher is the only one she even likes, and she does well in his class only, much to her parents dismay. To make matters worse, she doesn't feel that she can talk to her parents about what happens. Left to deal with the rape and following traumas alone, she withdraws....until final she is able to Speak.

Like most victims, she just wants someone to LISTEN.

Personal Review: This was a fast read that addresses a serious issue in today's society. The boy in this novel feels he has done nothing wrong, and makes Melinda feel guilty as if it was her fault. This guilt is what keeps her from speaking sooner, and what causes her depression and inability to talk about it. I like that Andy final gets it in the end, and that Melinda finds her voice. It is a serious novel, but not unapproachable by teens, or too serious and detailed for the classroom. I think many teens could relate to this book.

Cautionary Note: This is a book about rape. The scene where Andy rapes her is talked about, but is not so explicit that teens could not read it.

The Book Thief

The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak
Knopf Books for Young Readers

Summary: Death himself narrates the World War II-era story of Liesel Meminger from the time she is taken, at age nine, to live in Molching, Germany, with a foster family in a working-class neighborhood of tough kids, acid-tongued mothers, and loving fathers who earn their living by the work of their hands. The child arrives having just stolen her first book–although she has not yet learned how to read–and her foster father uses it, The Gravediggers Handbook, to lull her to sleep when shes roused by regular nightmares about her younger brothers death. Across the ensuing years of the late 1930s and into the 1940s, Liesel collects more stolen books as well as a peculiar set of friends: the boy Rudy, the Jewish refugee Max, the mayors reclusive wife (who has a whole library from which she allows Liesel to steal), and especially her foster parents. Zusak not only creates a mesmerizing and original story but also writes with poetic syntax, causing readers to deliberate over phrases and lines, even as the action impels them forward. Death is not a sentimental storyteller, but he does attend to an array of satisfying details, giving Liesels story all the nuances of chance, folly, and fulfilled expectation that it deserves. An extraordinary narrative.

Personal Review: This was an amazing book. From beginning to end I had a hard time putting it down. Its portrayal of characters, the nonconventional viewpoint of Death as the narrator, and the touching yet tragic story of Liesel, who has seen more death than any young girl ought to, really grabbed my attention. It is over 500 pages, but each page contains something worth discussing, or something that human beings can relate to. Zusak himself says that this book is about both the beautiful and the destructive things that human beings are capable of. Below is an interview with the author about his inspiration and motivation to write this book.

Cautionary Note: This book will make you cry. Okay, maybe not, but it is not a light hearted, "fluffy" book. There is also a lot of swearing in German (which he translates).

The Adoration of Jenna Fox

The Adoration of Jenna Fox,
by Mary E. Pearson
Published by: Square Fish

Summary: The ethics of bioengineering in the not-so-distant future drives this story. Jenna, 17, severely injured in a car crash, is saved by her heartbroken father, a scientist who illegally uses the latest medical technology to help her. Only 10 per cent of her original brain is saved, but Dad has programmed her by uploading the high-school curriculum. She could live two years, or 200. Is she a monster or a miracle? Why have her parents hidden her away? The science (including allusions to the dangerous overuse of antibiotics) and the science fiction are fascinating, but what will hold readers most are the moral issues of betrayal, loyalty, sacrifice, and survival. Jenna realizes it is her parents’ love that makes them break the law to save her at any cost. The teen’s first-person, present-tense narrative is fast and immediate as Jenna makes new friends and confronts the complicated choices she must make now.


Personal Review: This book was very interesting from the beginning. It presents an interesting moral dilema about the meaning of life, and how far is too far for science to go in order to save a life. It also addresses issues of friendship, love and trust. It would be a good book to read while discussing genetics or bio-engineering, or other current issues such as cloning or genetic engineering.


Cautionary Note: Some of Jenna's friends have a history of violence, and the book describes it, but it is not too serious.

The White Darkness

The White Darkness

by Geraldine McCaughrean
HarperTeen

Summary: Fourteen-year-old Symone's only friend is an imaginary incarnation of Captain Laurence "Titus" Oates, an explorer who accompanied Robert Scott on his failed expedition to the South Pole. Sym is passionate about the Antarctic and her infatuation is fed by Uncle Victor, an eccentric family friend who has cared for Sym and her mother since Sym's father's death. When Victor surprises Sym with a trip to "the Ice," she has some doubts, especially when she discovers that her mother can't come. But her excitement overshadows her initial misgivings--until realizes that Uncle Victor has an obsession of his own that runs deeper than the glaciers and threatens her life. It's not always clear whether Titus' voice is imagined or if it's meant to be shy, bookish Sym's only link to the outside world, but in the end she needs him more than ever to fix the mess her Uncle Victor has created.

Personal Review: I enjoyed the end of the book, meaning the last third or so. It took me a while to get into the story, but it may connect to many students. Antarctica is a subject that has never really drawn my attention, but the story is very interesting and the mystery is intriguing and the action is continual as the reader wonders what will happen to Sym and her friends. For the rest of you who may not be so familiar with Antarctica, here are some shots to help you get your visuals going while you read.

Cautionary Note: Uncle Victor is not a pervert, he is just overly obsessed with making a scientific discovery. No worries.

Does My Head Look Big In This?

Does My Head Look Big in This?

by Randa Abdel-Fattah

Scholastic

Other books by the Author:

Ten Things I Hate About Me

Summary: Australian 11th-grader Amal is smart, funny, outspoken, a good student, and a loyal friend. She is also a devout Muslim who decides to wear the hijab, or head covering, full-time. The story tells of her emotional and spiritual journey as she copes with a mad crush on a boy, is bullied by jerks at school, befriends an elderly Greek neighbor, and tries to help a friend who aspires to be a lawyer but whose well-intentioned mother is trying to force her to leave school and get married. Amal is also battling the misconceptions of non-Muslims about her religion and culture. While the novel deals with a number of serious issues, it is extremely funny and entertaining, and never preachy or forced. This book is wonderful at showing the diversity within Muslim communities and in explaining why so many women choose to wear the hijab. Amal is an appealing and believable character. She trades verbal jibes with another girl, is impetuous and even arrogant at times, and she makes some serious errors of judgment. By the end of the story, she and readers come to realize that "Putting on the hijab isn't the end of the journey. It's just the beginning of it." Here is a video tutorial about how to wear the hijab.

Personal Review: I thought this book was an insightful view of the Muslim culture, while not being too preachy. Amal is a character that most teenagers can relate with as she deals with bullies, crushes, and her parents. She also is a strong character who stands up for what she believes in even when it is difficult. Teenagers could learn a lot from this book about true friendship, standing up for what you believe in, and not judging someone based on how they look or what they wear.

Cautionary Notes: This book talks openly about sex before marriage, but does not describe anything in detail. It just discusses the pros and cons of abstinence.

Gathering Blue

Gathering Blue, Lois Lowry
Delacorte Press

Also by the Author:
The Giver
Messenger
Number the Stars (tween)
Gossamer (tween)


Summary: Kira, newly orphaned and lame from birth, is taken from the turmoil of the village to live in the grand Council Edifice because of her skill at embroidery. There she is given the task of restoring the historical pictures sewn on the robe worn at the annual Ruin Song Gathering, a solemn day-long performance of the story of their world's past. Down the hall lives Thomas the Carver, a young boy who works on the intricate symbols carved on the Singer's staff, and a tiny girl who is being trained as the next Singer. Over the three artists hovers the menace of authority, seemingly kind but suffocating to their creativity, and the dark secret at the heart of the Ruin Song. With the help of a cheerful waif called Matt and his little dog, Kira at last finds the way to the plant that will allow her to create the missing color--blue--and, symbolically, to find the courage to shape the future by following her art wherever it may lead.

Personal Review: The mystery of this civilization kept me reading. I wanted to find out what was going to happen to Kira and Thomas, and what had happened to these mysterious people who were taken to “the Field” and taken by “the beasts”—especially since many people started saying there weren’t any beasts. I also thought it was an appropriate metaphor that the beasts were actually human beings, acting like animals. An interesting book.

Cautionary Notes: None unless talk of death would bother someone.

Stargirl

Stargirl, Jerry Spinelli
Laurel Leaf

Also by the Author:
Eggs
Loser
Maniac Mcgee (all three ages 9-12)


Summary: Stargirl is the new girl in school, but she is different. She wears long pioneer dresses and plays the ukulele at school. She has a pet rat, and spends her time doing nice things for perfect strangers. She is weird, and Leo falls in love with her. At first, so does the entire school. It takes some time, but they are soon following her lead, and making her a cheerleader. However, when she starts cheering for the BOTH teams, and showing up at stranger’s funerals, the student body turns on her. They start to shun her, and Leo, as her boyfriend, is shunned as well. Although she seems oblivious to it, Leo is very much affected by the shunning, and tries to get her to be “normal.” She loves him so much that for a time she tries it, but it doesn’t work, so she goes back to being who she was before. It ends their relationship because Leo needs acceptance from others too much to be shunned. Stargirl continues to be who she is, and at the end of the year, she disappears after a fantastic showing at the Commencement dance. She leaves an impression on all who knew her, however, especially Leo.

Personal Review: I loved the portrayal of Stargirl as someone who is different, and how the whole school changed for the better when they accepted her. It is a lesson many teenagers could learn from at the difficult stage in life called high school. This book made me want to be more like her in some ways, and made me recognize myself in Leo, and in the other students. It was a quick read with a powerful message.

Cautionary Note: None, unless you are offended by quirkiness.

Here's a little preview for the sequel Love, Stargirl...the story from Stargirl's point of view!

Girlfriend Material

Girlfriend Material, by Melissa Kantor

Hyperion Book CH

Also by the Author:

The Breakup Bible

Confessions of a Not It Girl

Summary: Kate is a high school junior forced to travel 3,000 miles away to Cape Cod to stay with her mother and her "best college roommate", Tina, for the summer. Her mother is having marital problems, and just needs some "me time"...but Kate is along for the ride. And she isn't exactly best friends with Tina's daughter, Sarah. It is shaping up to be one of the worst summers of her life...far from friends, writing clubs, tennis and fun in Salt Lake City. That is, until Sarah's cute, witty friend Adam starts drawing Kate into the fold--and seems intrigued. With Adam around, Kate feels like she just might have a bit of heartbreaker potential. But when a breezy summer romance quickly grows more complicated can Kate keep pretending her relationship with Adam is just a carefree fling? Or will she take the risk and tell him her real feelings? Suddenly Kate is asking herself a question she never thought she'd stoop to: Is she girlfriend material?

Personal Review: This is a fun book to read about teenage relationships, both romantic and familiar. Kate is insecure with her "coolness" factor, but is able to relate to a new group of friends by just being herself, and talking about what she enjoys. Teenagers would be able to relate to this book, especially the awkward and real relationship parts.

Cautionary Note: None that I can see.

War Is...

War Is...: Soldiers, Survivors and Storytellers Talk about War

by Marc Aronson (Editor), Patty Campbell (Editor)
Mass Market

Summary: In his provocatively titled introduction, “People Like War,” Aronson writes: “If we ask people to fight for us—as we always have and always will—we owe them the respect of listening to them.” Though differing (passionately) about war’s inevitability, his coeditor, Campbell, feels likewise, and joins him in presenting a gathering of reminiscences, interviews, letters, published articles, and literary works that brilliantly convey war’s terrible appeal as well as its realities and lasting effects on those whose lives are personally touched by armed conflict. Contributions include Ernie Pyle’s eloquent account of wreckage on a D-Day beach, a Vietnam vet’s nightmarish memories of combat, jokey letters home by Campbell’s naive doughboy father, scathing accounts of sexual harassment in Iraq and elsewhere from several female ex-GIs, and a disturbing indictment of recruiting practices in today’s high schools. Anyone considering enlistment will find these pieces (not to mention the many titles provided in the ample but not indigestible lists of war fiction and nonfiction at the end) to be mesmerizing reading. With this collection, Aronson and Campbell have provided an uncommonly valuable source of hard information and perceptive insight.

Marc Aronson thinks war is inevitable. Patty Campbell thinks war is cruel, deceptive, and wrong. But both agree on one thing: that teens need to hear the truthful voices of those who have experienced war firsthand. The result is this dynamic selection of essays, memoirs, letters, and fiction from nearly than twenty contributors, both contemporary and historical — ranging from Christian Bauman's wrenching "Letter to a Young Enlistee" to Chris Hedges's unfl inching look at combat to Fumiko Miura's Nagasaki memoir, "A Survivor's Tale." Whether the speaker is Mark Twain, World War II correspondent Ernie Pyle, or a soldier writing a miliblog, these divergent pieces look war straight in the face — and provide an invaluable resource for teenagers today

Vietnam War (Best Images Ever!) - The most popular videos are a click away

Personal Review: Reading this book really affected me. I had not considered before the deep and lasting affects war can have on the soldiers forced to participate in it. I have several friends who are in various branches of the military, and after reading these personal accounts I felt very deeply for these people, and wish that we were mature enough to avoid war. I used to think like Mr. Aronson and believe that war was inevitable, but it really is a horrible thing that must be avoided at all costs.

Cautionary Note: This book is about war, and contains graphic descriptions of the horrors of war. It also contains language commonly used by soldiers.

Dramarama

Dramarama, by E. Lockhart
Hyperion Book CH

Also by the Author:
The Disreputable History of Franki Landau-Banks
The Boyfriend List


Summary: Sarah is a big-boned girl with an awkward style, living in Brenton, Ohio. Then one day she meets Demi, a kindred spirit. Though he is black and gay, they find they have a lot in common, one thing being their love for the theater. They both apply for and are accepted to a summer drama camp, where they are free to either be who they really are, ore re-invent themselves. Demi, finally able to revel in his gayness, explodes in the lime light, showing how talented he really is. Sarah, however, changes her name to Sayde and tries to become someone new. She ironically auditions with the piece "Popular" from Wicked, but soon realizes that she is not as talented or experienced as the other students, is put in the straight Shakespeare play, and begins to feel inferior, especially to Demi. This is a story of discovering who you really are, and accepting or rejecting that. It twists and turns through interesting characters, love, lies, friendship and drama as the characters learn lessons only drama camp can teach them.




Personal Review: I really enjoyed this book, and was caught up in all the drama and excitement. I love the theater, and can also relate to Sayde very well as I sometimes don’t feel good enough, or like I fit in. But it is a good book about friendship and being who you really are, and would be a good message to high school students. Many could likely relate to Sayde, especially if they love drama.

Cautionary notes: It discusses teenage sexuality in many parts of the book, and isn’t shy about it. It doesn’t get graphic, but those parts may offend some readers.

Hurricane Song

Hurricane Song, by Paul Volponi
Viking, Penguin Group

Also by the Author:
Black and White
Rooftop
Rucker Park Setup


Summary: In the wake of his mom’s remarriage, Miles moves to New Orleans to be with his father, a professional musician, who lives and breathes jazz. Miles, who has always resented his father’s single-minded devotion to jazz music, focuses on making his new school’s varsity football team and dreams of someday playing a cichampionship game in the Superdome. That dream becomes a nightmare when Miles, Pop and his uncle Roy must seek refuge there from the advancing storm that will become Hurricane Katrina. The story describes the horrors that take place in the Superdome, and the destruction that they find outside when they finally get out.



Personal Review: I thought this was a well written book that described the horrors of the hurricane. I have seen first hand the aftermath of a hurricane, and cannot imagine what those people went through in Katrina which was much worse than the one I went through. Also this is a very descriptive narrative of what those people went through who were unable (or too stupid) to get out before it hit. It made me feel for them.

Cautionary Notes: Contains language, and gang violence, and is very descriptive of the horrible situation they were living in, such as the bathroom situation, etc.

The Chocolate War

The Chocolate War,

by Robert Cormier
Pantheon Books

Also by the Author:
Beyond the Chocolate War
I Am the Cheese

Summary: Does Jerry Renault dare to disturb the universe? You wouldn't think that his refusal to sell chocolates during his school's fundraiser would create such a stir, but it does; it's as if the whole school comes apart at the seams. To some, Jerry is a hero, but to others, he becomes a scapegoat--a target for their pent-up hatred. And Jerry? He's just trying to stand up for what he believes, but perhaps there is no way for him to escape becoming a pawn in this game of control; students are pitted against other students, fighting for honor--or are they fighting for their lives? This novel does not end happily ever after, it ends with reality, that those who are in power can abuse it, and remain untouched.
See a video book trailer here.



Personal Review: I liked this book, and even the fact that the good guy got beat up in the end. It is an interesting tale of abuse of power, and what happens when you stand up to those in power.

Cautionary Note: There is language, teenage boys fantasies and references to masturbation.

The Wee Free Men

The Wee Free Men, by Terry Pratchett
HarperTempest

Also by the Author:
A Hat Full of Sky: The Continuing Adventures of Tiffany Aching and the Wee Free Men
The Carpet People
The Dark Side of the Sun
Strata

Summary: Nine-year-old Tiffany Aching needs magic--fast! Her sticky little brother Wentworth has been spirited away by the evil Queen of faerie, and it’s up to her to get him back safely. She’s already decided to grow up to be a witch, now all Tiffany has to do is find her power. But she quickly learns that it’s not all black cats and broomsticks. According to her witchy mentor Miss Tick, "Witches don’t use magic unless they really have to...We do other things. A witch pays attention to everything that’s going on...A witch uses her head...A witch always has a piece of string!" Luckily, besides her trusty string, Tiffany’s also got the Nac Mac Feegles, or the Wee Free Men on her side. Small, blue, and heavily tattooed, the Feegles love nothing more than a good fight except maybe a drop of strong drink! Tiffany, heavily armed with an iron skillet, the feisty Feegles, and a talking toad on loan from Miss Tick, is a formidable adversary. But the Queen has a few tricks of her own, most of them deadly. Tiffany and the Feegles might get more than they bargained for on the flip side of Faerie!

Personal Review: I know this book is for pre-teens, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was laughing constantly at the dialect of the Wee Free Men, and Tiffany’s response to them. The characters were all great, from Granny Aching and Miss Tick, to Roland and the Queen, each character contributed to the bright adventure of the book, and the humor of the story. A wonderful “faery” tale!

Briar Rose

Briar Rose, by Jane Yolen
Published by: Tom Doherty Associates

Summary: Briar Rose takes the classic fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty and links it to the Holocaust. Rebecca, the youngest granddaughter of her grandmother Gemma's, has grown up listening to Gemma's rendition of Sleeping Beauty. Upon Gemma's death, Rebecca realizes that the story is one of the few clues to Gemma's past, a past that when Gemma is on her deathbead Rebecca swears to discover. Her search carries her to Poland and into the heart of the horrors of the Holocaust, where she finds out that the fairy tale had more truth to it than she knew.

Personal Review: This book is a great way to get teenagers to read about the Holocaust. The set up is intriguing, and engaging, and by the time you get to the more historical part about the Holocaust, you can’t help but continue to read to find out the ending. I could not stop turning pages, and was very convinced that her Grandmother’s life was a twisted version of “Sleeping Beauty.” This is a beautiful book. The camp her grandmother supposedly was in was a camp called Chelmno, and there were actually only 2 survivors, both men.

Cautionary notes: The man who tells the story in the second half of the book is gay, and is not discrete about some of his previous “adventures,” but it makes the story more believable because he was also discriminated and thrown into these camps. The imagery of the Holocaust can also be very shocking, but it makes the story more powerful.

The Wednesday Wars

The Wednesday Wars,

by Gary D. Schmidt
Sandpiper

Also by the Author:
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy
Trouble

Summary: Mrs. Baker hates Holling Hoodhood. There's no two ways about it, as far as he can tell. From the minute he entered her classroom she had it in for him and he's trying not to become paranoid. Now because half the kids in his class are Jewish and half Catholic, every Wednesday Holling (a Protestant through and through) is stuck alone with Mrs. Baker while the other kids go to Hebrew School or Catechism for the afternoon. And what has this evil genius dreamt up for our poor young hero? Shakespeare. He has to read it and get tested on it regularly with the intention (Holling is sure) of boring him to death. The thing is, Holling kind of gets to like the stuff. Meanwhile, though, he has to deal with wearing yellow tights butt-gracing feathers, avoiding killer rats and his older sister, and deciding what to do about Meryl Lee Kowalski, "who has been in love with me since she first laid eyes on me in the third grade," amongst other things. Set during the school year of 1967-68 against a backdrop of Vietnam and political strife, Holling finds that figuring out who you are goes above and beyond what people want you to become.

Personal Review: I enjoyed this book, not just because it was entertaining and easy to read and understand, but because it addressed grown up issues (such as death, love, the Vietnam War, and business, just to name a few) from the point of view of a 7th grader. It didn’t avoid them just because it is a Young Adult book, but it showed the coming of age of a young boy, as he begins to recognize and appreciate the affect of these issues in his daily life. I also liked how it integrated Shakespeare with Young Adults. It would possibly be a good introduction to a unit on Shakespeare, to get kids interested and excited about how they, too, can apply Shakespeare to their lives as Holling did.

American Born Chinese

American Born Chinese,

by Gene Luen Yang
Square Fish, First Second

Summary: This book is made up of three individual plotlines: the determined efforts of the Chinese folk story hero Monkey King to shed his humble roots and be revered as a god; the struggles faced by Jin Wang, a lonely Asian American middle school student who would do anything to fit in with his white classmates; and the sitcom plight of Danny, an All-American teen so shamed by his Chinese cousin Chin-Kee (a purposefully painful ethnic stereotype) that he is forced to change schools. Each story works well on its own, but Yang cleverly comibines these parallel tales into a powerful climax that destroys the hateful stereotype of Chin-Kee, while leaving both Jin Wang and the Monkey King satisfied and happy to be who they are.

Personal Review: I enjoyed the storyline of the book, especially how the three stories tie together in the end. At first I was a little distracted by the pictures, and felt like I was reading a comic book, which made it hard to get the full meaning out of the book. However, I soon realized how much the pictures added to the story. They showed the characters' emotions and reactions. In a world of cartoons and Nintendo, teenagers should be able to read and remain undistracted. This is a good book about accepting everyone, about being happy with who we are, and not trying to change ourselves to “fit” in with everyone else.

I Am the Messenger

I Am the Messenger, Markus Zusak
Alfred A. Knopf, New York

Summary: Ed is a 19-year-old loser cab driver, who is only going through the motions of his life... he spends most of his time playing poker with his three friends, and hanging out with his dog, the Doorman. Ed is the son that not even his mother loves. But his life begins to change after he acts heroically during a robbery. After the incident, he begins receiving playing cards in the mail, with messages written on them, usually names or addresses. Ed instinctively understands that the scrawled words on the aces are clues to be followed, which lead him to people he will help (including some he'll have to hurt first). But as much as he changes those who come into his life, he changes himself more.

Here is a virtual summary you can watch.


Personal Review: I was amazed by this book! At first the language and some of Ed’s “fantasies” were a little much to take, but after a while the storyline and the characters took over and I couldn’t put it down. I laughed in some parts, and in others I wanted to cry. It was a really heart-warming and edge-of-your-seat story as Ed becomes the man he can be by helping others. I loved it!

Cautionary Note: Lots of language, and some male “fantasies” but an excellent book.

13 Little Blue Envelopes

13 Little Blue Envelopes,

by Maureen Johnson
HarperTempest (an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)

Summary: Ginny is a shy, quiet “good girl” teenager who grew up adoring her slightly crazy, artistic aunt, Peg. One day, Peg disappears. She is gone for months, only communicating with the family through the occasional post-card from Europe. One day they receive news that Peg has suddenly developed a brain tumor and passed away. But, the summer that Ginny is 17 she receives a letter from her mysterious aunt, directing her to her old apartment, where she receives a package full of 13 little blue envelopes. Each contains instructions for Ginny that, when followed, lead her on the most amazing summer adventure of her life as she treks across Europe with only a backpack and these mysterious letters from her aunt. Along the way she finds love, adventure and mystery, but most of all, she discovers herself. She spends several days in Paris, check out what she may have seen!


Personal Review: I loved this book! I read it in about 4 hours! I couldn’t stop turning the pages because I couldn’t wait to see what the next envelope contained. The book describes the places Ginny travels in such a way that I can imagine it, and almost feel as if I have jet lag along with her! It keeps a steady pace, and never has a lull in the action, so you are hooked the whole time. I think it would be an excellent book for any young adult, and will definitely recommend it to others in the future!

Cautionary Note: Occasional language, and some teen drinking, but nothing serious.

Listening for Lions

Listening for Lions, by Gloria Whelan
HarperCollins Publishers, 2005

Summary: After losing both of her missionary parents (her father a doctor, her mother a teacher) to an influenza epidemic in their tiny village in Africa, Rachel Sheridan’s whole world changes. She becomes Valerie Pritchard as a greedy couple forces her to pose as their deceased daughter to wheedle money out of their rich father. But, the tables are turned as Rachel captures the old man’s heart, by sharing his love of exotic birds. Though he discovers her deceit, adopts her and gives her a large inheritance. She uses the money to become a doctor and return to her beloved Africa, and the sound of the roaring lions. There she rebuilds the hospital her parents worked so hard for.


Personal Review: I really enjoyed the imagery and morals of this book, though at times the storyline seemed disjointed, like a connecting theme was absent. It almost seemed like three separate stories, rather than one entire book. But I did enjoy the story, and it would be a good light read. This is more of a “tween” book though.