by Laurie Halse Anderson
Summary:
Hayley and her father moved back to his hometown to start over after spending the last five years on the road. But as she starts to settle into a normal life, her father's struggles with PTSD from his time in Iraq start to take over their lives. Though Hayley tries to keep his condition from her teachers and friends, she'll have to realize that sometimes you can't save the ones you love by yourself. A haunting look at PTSD, the book is a stark reminder that sometimes the worst scars we carry aren't ones you can see.
Review:
Anderson's book is an extremely powerful read about something that has affected so many people who've served, and how it has affected their families. Hayley is a great character, albeit sometimes a little older than her years (and sometimes extremely juvenile). The ending wraps up a little too nicely, but it's nice to imagine that things could be fixed. Overall it is a good read for anyone who likes realistic fiction, though the many references to excessive drinking and drugs make it a better read for older teens.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 10th Grade
Showing posts with label Relationships. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Relationships. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Friday, March 14, 2014
Landry Park
by Bethany Hagen
Summary:
In a future United States where everything is powered by nuclear energy, Madeline Landry has lived a privileged life as one of the Gentry, the ruling upper class. As her father presses her to marry rather than go to college, she finds herself rebelling against things she's believed since childhood. A chance encounter with the oppressed lower classes called the Rootless leaves her questioning the reasons that society has been split into classes. She'll have to decide whether she can leave her life of luxury behind to fight for those who pay the price for it.
Review:
With so many dystopian novels out there it's easy for another to blend in. However Landry Park does an excellent job of bringing another dimension to the field. The society is a return to 19th century strict class rules. Madeline is a character who is believable in their struggle, it's easy to want moral justice for everyone but hard to leave a life where you want for nothing. It's a good read for fans of Downton Abbey or the Selection. There's little real violence in it, nor sex, though does feature a little drinking. It's overall a good book you can easily give to any teen.
Genre: Dystopian
Age Level: 8th Grade
Summary:
In a future United States where everything is powered by nuclear energy, Madeline Landry has lived a privileged life as one of the Gentry, the ruling upper class. As her father presses her to marry rather than go to college, she finds herself rebelling against things she's believed since childhood. A chance encounter with the oppressed lower classes called the Rootless leaves her questioning the reasons that society has been split into classes. She'll have to decide whether she can leave her life of luxury behind to fight for those who pay the price for it.
Review:
With so many dystopian novels out there it's easy for another to blend in. However Landry Park does an excellent job of bringing another dimension to the field. The society is a return to 19th century strict class rules. Madeline is a character who is believable in their struggle, it's easy to want moral justice for everyone but hard to leave a life where you want for nothing. It's a good read for fans of Downton Abbey or the Selection. There's little real violence in it, nor sex, though does feature a little drinking. It's overall a good book you can easily give to any teen.
Genre: Dystopian
Age Level: 8th Grade
Something Real
by Heather Demetrios
Summary:
Chloe Baker has finally managed to fit in. No one knows her as one of the infamous Bakers Dozen, a reality show that followed her family since she was born. Instead she's a normal teenager, with friends and a crush! Then she finds her nice normal world crashing down around her as Bakers Dozen prepares to return to TV. With cameras following her and her family 24/7, it's impossible to go back to her nice normal life. And now America is sitting in the front seat watching everything about her family implode.
Review:
This book is an amazingly written cautionary tale about the price of fame, particularly for those who don't choose it. With so many reality shows that feature parents and their children, the book really strikes a cord (and makes it even harder to condone watching shows with children who didn't sign up for the life). Chloe is a relateable character that teens will cheer for as she fights for her privacy. Definitely a good contemporary read for slightly older teens.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Summary:
Chloe Baker has finally managed to fit in. No one knows her as one of the infamous Bakers Dozen, a reality show that followed her family since she was born. Instead she's a normal teenager, with friends and a crush! Then she finds her nice normal world crashing down around her as Bakers Dozen prepares to return to TV. With cameras following her and her family 24/7, it's impossible to go back to her nice normal life. And now America is sitting in the front seat watching everything about her family implode.
Review:
This book is an amazingly written cautionary tale about the price of fame, particularly for those who don't choose it. With so many reality shows that feature parents and their children, the book really strikes a cord (and makes it even harder to condone watching shows with children who didn't sign up for the life). Chloe is a relateable character that teens will cheer for as she fights for her privacy. Definitely a good contemporary read for slightly older teens.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Stolen
by Lucy Christopher
Summary:
Gemma was just mad at her parents. She wanted to make them wait a bit before she joined them at the boarding gate for the plane that they were catching. She had no clue that she was giving someone the opportunity they had been waiting for. The opportunity to take her. When she wakes up 2 days later in the middle of the Australian outback, she's going to find herself in the middle of a nightmare.
Review:
Stolen was an extremely creepy yet realistic read. One of the most disturbing things was how easy it would be to kidnap someone in an airport, because with a quick appearance change you can hop on the next plane with no one the wiser fairly simply. The only real flaw in the book is that Gemma develops a personal relationship with Ty, her kidnapper. While Stockholm syndrome is well documented, their relationship seems a little top easy, especially after she finds out he's been stalking her since she was a child. Overall, it's a good book for teens who like suspense.
Genre: Suspense
Age Level: 10th Grade
Summary:
Gemma was just mad at her parents. She wanted to make them wait a bit before she joined them at the boarding gate for the plane that they were catching. She had no clue that she was giving someone the opportunity they had been waiting for. The opportunity to take her. When she wakes up 2 days later in the middle of the Australian outback, she's going to find herself in the middle of a nightmare.
Review:
Stolen was an extremely creepy yet realistic read. One of the most disturbing things was how easy it would be to kidnap someone in an airport, because with a quick appearance change you can hop on the next plane with no one the wiser fairly simply. The only real flaw in the book is that Gemma develops a personal relationship with Ty, her kidnapper. While Stockholm syndrome is well documented, their relationship seems a little top easy, especially after she finds out he's been stalking her since she was a child. Overall, it's a good book for teens who like suspense.
Genre: Suspense
Age Level: 10th Grade
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Dare Me
by Eric Devine
Summary:
It starts out simple. 10 dares in 10 months. It's a way for Ben, Ricky and John to leave high school as legends. But when the videos of their dares go viral, and a mysterious sponsor appears, the simple dares disappear. As the dares get more dangerous, and their videos grow in popularity, Ben starts to wonder if the infamy is really worth it.
Review:
Dare Me is a good quick read for guys. It's main characters are believable, though the complex relationship between Ben, Ricky and John seems a little too easy for their past. The mysterious donor and complexity of the dares make the story extremely unbelievable, but the lives of the boys as they struggle through family changes and growing up seem pretty realistic. The book wraps up nicely (a little too nicely) but it's overall a good story about friendship. I'd say it's a good read to give to reluctant guy readers, since the dares reminiscent of the Jackass movies will keep them interested, but there is some talk of sex and drinking, so it's better for slightly older readers..
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 10th Grade
Summary:
It starts out simple. 10 dares in 10 months. It's a way for Ben, Ricky and John to leave high school as legends. But when the videos of their dares go viral, and a mysterious sponsor appears, the simple dares disappear. As the dares get more dangerous, and their videos grow in popularity, Ben starts to wonder if the infamy is really worth it.
Review:
Dare Me is a good quick read for guys. It's main characters are believable, though the complex relationship between Ben, Ricky and John seems a little too easy for their past. The mysterious donor and complexity of the dares make the story extremely unbelievable, but the lives of the boys as they struggle through family changes and growing up seem pretty realistic. The book wraps up nicely (a little too nicely) but it's overall a good story about friendship. I'd say it's a good read to give to reluctant guy readers, since the dares reminiscent of the Jackass movies will keep them interested, but there is some talk of sex and drinking, so it's better for slightly older readers..
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 10th Grade
Monday, October 28, 2013
Parallel
by Lauren Miller
Summary:
Have you ever wondered if one decision can change our entire lives. If one small change could send you on a completely different path? For Abby, it's one small earthquake that sets her on two courses. In one she becomes a movie star, in another she meets a boy who she falls in love with. In both lives every decision sets off a chain of events that changes everything, but which life is actually real?
Review:
I'm not a huge fan of parallel universes, typically I find books based around them to be fluffy and too silly. Parallel, however, was not. The book's characters were all very relate-able, and even the course of events that ends up with Abby becoming a movie star was believable. The books main premise was that one small event can change your course completely. It's ending demonstrating that if somethings meant to be it will happen regardless of what decisions you make was a nice touch. A great read for girls looking for a love story with something more substantial built in.
Genre: Fiction
Age Level: 10th Grade
Summary:
Have you ever wondered if one decision can change our entire lives. If one small change could send you on a completely different path? For Abby, it's one small earthquake that sets her on two courses. In one she becomes a movie star, in another she meets a boy who she falls in love with. In both lives every decision sets off a chain of events that changes everything, but which life is actually real?
Review:
I'm not a huge fan of parallel universes, typically I find books based around them to be fluffy and too silly. Parallel, however, was not. The book's characters were all very relate-able, and even the course of events that ends up with Abby becoming a movie star was believable. The books main premise was that one small event can change your course completely. It's ending demonstrating that if somethings meant to be it will happen regardless of what decisions you make was a nice touch. A great read for girls looking for a love story with something more substantial built in.
Genre: Fiction
Age Level: 10th Grade
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Someone Else's Life
by Katie Dale
Summary:
Rosie watched her mother die of Huntington's disease. She was her caregiver in the months that preceded it, keeping it a secret from friends. When she decides to get tested for the disease herself, because there's a 50% chance she's inherited it, she finds out that her mother was not really her mother. When Rosie decides to track down her real birth parents she finds that the truth is not always the easiest thing to find. She must decide whether the truth is worth destroying another's life, even if it has the power to save it too.
Review:
Huntington's disease is an absolutely terrible disease. For those at risk, the decision to be tested is one of the most difficult ones of their lives. It dictates everything they do, deciding life choices, whether to have children, to go to school. Rosie's story is heartbreaking, but she's a strong character who does not just whine and complain about her problems. It's a marvelous book about family and the power of moving on.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Summary:
Rosie watched her mother die of Huntington's disease. She was her caregiver in the months that preceded it, keeping it a secret from friends. When she decides to get tested for the disease herself, because there's a 50% chance she's inherited it, she finds out that her mother was not really her mother. When Rosie decides to track down her real birth parents she finds that the truth is not always the easiest thing to find. She must decide whether the truth is worth destroying another's life, even if it has the power to save it too.
Review:
Huntington's disease is an absolutely terrible disease. For those at risk, the decision to be tested is one of the most difficult ones of their lives. It dictates everything they do, deciding life choices, whether to have children, to go to school. Rosie's story is heartbreaking, but she's a strong character who does not just whine and complain about her problems. It's a marvelous book about family and the power of moving on.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Monday, April 22, 2013
Me, Him, Them and It
by Caela Carter
Summary:
16 year old Evelyn wanted to be the bad girl. She was tired of being the perfect girl her parents wanted her to be, and why should she be when they barely acknowledged her and cheated on each other. But when she finds out she's pregnant, she's suddenly forced to make decisions that she's barely able to. And is forced to rely on a family that she thought had given her up.
Review:
Me, Him, Them and It does a really impressive job of realistically portraying how a smart teen, who gets good grades and does everything else right, ends up a teen mom. The book shows her as she goes through the decision making process, weighing abortion, adoption or raising the child. At times you really don't like Evelyn, she tends to curl into herself and let decisions be forced rather than make them herself, but in that way the book is very realistic. The book will appeal to older teens, but less so for younger teens since the situation is a little harder for them to place themselves in. Older teens will relate to how Evelyn, who does so much right, finds herself making one choice that will define the rest of her life.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 10th Grade
Summary:
16 year old Evelyn wanted to be the bad girl. She was tired of being the perfect girl her parents wanted her to be, and why should she be when they barely acknowledged her and cheated on each other. But when she finds out she's pregnant, she's suddenly forced to make decisions that she's barely able to. And is forced to rely on a family that she thought had given her up.
Review:
Me, Him, Them and It does a really impressive job of realistically portraying how a smart teen, who gets good grades and does everything else right, ends up a teen mom. The book shows her as she goes through the decision making process, weighing abortion, adoption or raising the child. At times you really don't like Evelyn, she tends to curl into herself and let decisions be forced rather than make them herself, but in that way the book is very realistic. The book will appeal to older teens, but less so for younger teens since the situation is a little harder for them to place themselves in. Older teens will relate to how Evelyn, who does so much right, finds herself making one choice that will define the rest of her life.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 10th Grade
Monday, February 11, 2013
Falling For You
By Lisa Schroeder
Summary:
Summary:
Rae knows life’s not fair. If it was maybe her dad would have stuck around. If it was maybe her mom wouldn’t have married Dean. If it was maybe he wouldn’t have gambled everything away and started to take the money she makes from her job. When she meets the new guy at school, Nathan, she meets someone who treats her well. Who cares about her. But when Nathan turns controlling, she breaks it off rather than feel suffocated by him. But you never know what might cause someone to snap. What might cause them to come after you instead of acting normally. All Rae wanted was a normal relationship, what she ends up with might just end her life.
Review:
This book grabbed me right from the start. Rae is a smart character whose home life just makes you want to find a way to help her out of it. She is independent and works hard, only to find everything she works for continually taken away from her. The way she deals with Nathan is extremely mature, and you can feel her empathy for everyone she meets. The book keeps you guessing til the end (the book is starts with her in the hospital but you don't know why). A great read for teens. It portrays abusive relationships in a nonjudgemental light in terms of the victims. Very moving.
This book grabbed me right from the start. Rae is a smart character whose home life just makes you want to find a way to help her out of it. She is independent and works hard, only to find everything she works for continually taken away from her. The way she deals with Nathan is extremely mature, and you can feel her empathy for everyone she meets. The book keeps you guessing til the end (the book is starts with her in the hospital but you don't know why). A great read for teens. It portrays abusive relationships in a nonjudgemental light in terms of the victims. Very moving.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th grade
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Speechless
by Hannah Harrington
Summary:
Chelsea has always been proud of her status as one of the most popular girls in her high school, and also as the one who knows the dirt on everyone and isn't afraid to share it. After all, gossip is just telling what you know about people. But when she lets out a secret about a boy in her class, a secret that results in him being attacked and almost killed, she realizes that maybe her inability to keep a secret is not good. As a penance of sorts, she decides to stop talking altogether. As she loses her friends and popularity, she beings to find that maybe everything that she thought she was was a lie. Maybe through not talking she'll find her true friends and a better way to be.
Review:
While I thought the whole 'vow of silence' thing to be a bit cliche and selfish of Chelsea, I really wound up liking her as a character by the end of the book. The book itself deals with some very heavy themes: sex, hate crimes, LBGT rights to name a few, but it does so in an age-appropriate way. The book really reminds you the impact that one careless statement can have on many, and in all honestly how many people can say they've never gossiped about someone and regretted it afterwards. A really good read for teens.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 8th Grade
Summary:
Chelsea has always been proud of her status as one of the most popular girls in her high school, and also as the one who knows the dirt on everyone and isn't afraid to share it. After all, gossip is just telling what you know about people. But when she lets out a secret about a boy in her class, a secret that results in him being attacked and almost killed, she realizes that maybe her inability to keep a secret is not good. As a penance of sorts, she decides to stop talking altogether. As she loses her friends and popularity, she beings to find that maybe everything that she thought she was was a lie. Maybe through not talking she'll find her true friends and a better way to be.
Review:
While I thought the whole 'vow of silence' thing to be a bit cliche and selfish of Chelsea, I really wound up liking her as a character by the end of the book. The book itself deals with some very heavy themes: sex, hate crimes, LBGT rights to name a few, but it does so in an age-appropriate way. The book really reminds you the impact that one careless statement can have on many, and in all honestly how many people can say they've never gossiped about someone and regretted it afterwards. A really good read for teens.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 8th Grade
The Gathering
by Kelley Armstrong
Summary:
Maya has lived her entire life in a small town on Vancouver Island. But just because it's a small town hasn't meant she's missed out. The company most of the town works for provides the best for it's employees. The best teachers for their children, the best health care for everyone. When new kid Rafe comes to town, suspicious things start to happen. Suspicious things that might just reveal that everyone in the town isn't just working for the company, everyone might just be an experiment by the company.
Review:
What I liked most about The Gathering was that although there is shape shifting and other paranormal activities, Armstrong presents them in a pretty matter of fact way. It's not glorified or really the primary focus of the book or the characters, but all of the characters find their talents revealed through their everyday activities. I thought that the reveal of the company as this evil corporation exploiting the children of the town's gifts to be pretty predictable, but the ending still left me surprised and excited about the next book. Definitely a good read for anyone who likes supernatural fiction. There isn't a lot of romance in the book, but the relationships between the characters are still great.
Genre: Supernatural Fiction
Age Level: 8th Grade
Summary:
Maya has lived her entire life in a small town on Vancouver Island. But just because it's a small town hasn't meant she's missed out. The company most of the town works for provides the best for it's employees. The best teachers for their children, the best health care for everyone. When new kid Rafe comes to town, suspicious things start to happen. Suspicious things that might just reveal that everyone in the town isn't just working for the company, everyone might just be an experiment by the company.
Review:
What I liked most about The Gathering was that although there is shape shifting and other paranormal activities, Armstrong presents them in a pretty matter of fact way. It's not glorified or really the primary focus of the book or the characters, but all of the characters find their talents revealed through their everyday activities. I thought that the reveal of the company as this evil corporation exploiting the children of the town's gifts to be pretty predictable, but the ending still left me surprised and excited about the next book. Definitely a good read for anyone who likes supernatural fiction. There isn't a lot of romance in the book, but the relationships between the characters are still great.
Genre: Supernatural Fiction
Age Level: 8th Grade
Monday, January 14, 2013
The Fault in Our Stars
by John Green
Summary:
Hazel has stage IV cancer. And she's ok with it. She's accepted what will eventually happen to her. In the meantime she's living her life however she can. She goes to the support groups, where she is one of the few left out of the group who was there when she first started treatments (left because they died, not because they lived). But then she meets Augustus Waters, a cancer survivor. Charming, fun, makes her forget for a little while that she has cancer Augustus. And she starts to wonder....maybe she can beat this thing, maybe she can have a normalish life. Even if it is a life with cancer.
Review:
Once again John Green has created another incredibly memorable and moving story. Teens and adults alike will readily identify with the characters in the book. The poignant love story between Augustus and Hazel is heartbreaking, a first love torn apart in a way that no one should ever have to experience. It presents a life with cancer in a compelling and realistic way, particularly the way that friends seem to drift away from the sick person, only to come back at the end. It's a fantastic read, but one that is sure to make you cry.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Summary:
Hazel has stage IV cancer. And she's ok with it. She's accepted what will eventually happen to her. In the meantime she's living her life however she can. She goes to the support groups, where she is one of the few left out of the group who was there when she first started treatments (left because they died, not because they lived). But then she meets Augustus Waters, a cancer survivor. Charming, fun, makes her forget for a little while that she has cancer Augustus. And she starts to wonder....maybe she can beat this thing, maybe she can have a normalish life. Even if it is a life with cancer.
Review:
Once again John Green has created another incredibly memorable and moving story. Teens and adults alike will readily identify with the characters in the book. The poignant love story between Augustus and Hazel is heartbreaking, a first love torn apart in a way that no one should ever have to experience. It presents a life with cancer in a compelling and realistic way, particularly the way that friends seem to drift away from the sick person, only to come back at the end. It's a fantastic read, but one that is sure to make you cry.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Friday, July 13, 2012
Tell Me a Secret
by Holly Cupala
Summary:
Rand never thought she would be one of those girls who ended up pregnant. She had been so focused on not being her sister Xanda, never mentioning her, never being like her, never saying that she was dead, that it wasn't even on her radar. She was going to go to art school, have a career, do great things. But now, living with her parents disappointment and lies, being ostracized in school by rumors that she was trying to trap the father into marriage, it's the memory of her sister that gets her through each day. A sister that she is finding out, wasn't what she had appeared to be in life. Who, in death, becomes what can bring them all together once the truth comes out.
Review:
Tell me a secret is a book about a truly dysfunctional family. With a mother only involved in her church, a father who buries himself in work, and a rebellious sister whose actions lead to her death, Rand is left virtually alone in a house where no one tells the truth if it's deemed too painful. The book is about the choices we make and the consequences that they have, the dangers of believing rumor and the need we have to cling to things we believe to be true. It's a good read for older tweens and teens, but it does talk about drinking and sex so is better for the slightly older crowd.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Summary:
Rand never thought she would be one of those girls who ended up pregnant. She had been so focused on not being her sister Xanda, never mentioning her, never being like her, never saying that she was dead, that it wasn't even on her radar. She was going to go to art school, have a career, do great things. But now, living with her parents disappointment and lies, being ostracized in school by rumors that she was trying to trap the father into marriage, it's the memory of her sister that gets her through each day. A sister that she is finding out, wasn't what she had appeared to be in life. Who, in death, becomes what can bring them all together once the truth comes out.
Review:
Tell me a secret is a book about a truly dysfunctional family. With a mother only involved in her church, a father who buries himself in work, and a rebellious sister whose actions lead to her death, Rand is left virtually alone in a house where no one tells the truth if it's deemed too painful. The book is about the choices we make and the consequences that they have, the dangers of believing rumor and the need we have to cling to things we believe to be true. It's a good read for older tweens and teens, but it does talk about drinking and sex so is better for the slightly older crowd.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
The Eternal Ones: What if Love Refused to Die?
by Kristin Miller
Summary:
Haven has had dreams about Ethan for as long as she can remember. Dreams so vivid they almost feel true. When she sees mega rich playboy Iain Morrow on TV she realizes that the dreams may not be true, but Ethan certainly is, and his name is now Iain. As Haven sets off to find him so that she can unravel the dreams that have plagued her for her entire life, she will find not only her life is on the line, but that her soul is the ultimate prize.
Review:
When I first picked up The Eternal Ones I was expecting a silly book about soul mates. Instead Miller has written an engaging book that connects with the desire to find someone who will love us for all eternity, and find us no matter what the obstacles. The book itself keeps us guessing about who the real Ethan is, and cleverly brings up the past lives of the characters to enliven the search. One of the interesting parts of the book is how she explained that some innate skills are a result of our past lives. For example
Overall, the book will keep older tweens engaged (though admittedly the beginning of the book is a bit slow).
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Series Information: The Eternal Ones: What if Love Refused to Die?, All You Desire
Summary:
Haven has had dreams about Ethan for as long as she can remember. Dreams so vivid they almost feel true. When she sees mega rich playboy Iain Morrow on TV she realizes that the dreams may not be true, but Ethan certainly is, and his name is now Iain. As Haven sets off to find him so that she can unravel the dreams that have plagued her for her entire life, she will find not only her life is on the line, but that her soul is the ultimate prize.
Review:
When I first picked up The Eternal Ones I was expecting a silly book about soul mates. Instead Miller has written an engaging book that connects with the desire to find someone who will love us for all eternity, and find us no matter what the obstacles. The book itself keeps us guessing about who the real Ethan is, and cleverly brings up the past lives of the characters to enliven the search. One of the interesting parts of the book is how she explained that some innate skills are a result of our past lives. For example
Overall, the book will keep older tweens engaged (though admittedly the beginning of the book is a bit slow).
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Series Information: The Eternal Ones: What if Love Refused to Die?, All You Desire
Friday, May 18, 2012
Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac
by Gabrielle Zevin
Summary:
Imagine waking up to discover that you couldn't remember the last 4 years of your life. Not birthdays, algebra, learning to drive, the names of your best friend, that you have a boyfriend, that your parents are divorced, that your mom has remarried and you have a 3 year old half sister. Who knew hitting your head could mean having to relearn your life, and discovering that maybe you weren't living that great a life to begin with.
Review:
Zevin's novel about 16 year old Naomi, a girl who hits her head and becomes an amnesiac, is witty and enjoyable. Naomi is a very relatable character. As she relearns her life and rediscoveres friendships she finds herself wondering why she might have acted differently before the accident. What is interesting in the novel is watching Naomi try to really understand her actions before the accident and strives to be a better person.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th grade
Summary:
Imagine waking up to discover that you couldn't remember the last 4 years of your life. Not birthdays, algebra, learning to drive, the names of your best friend, that you have a boyfriend, that your parents are divorced, that your mom has remarried and you have a 3 year old half sister. Who knew hitting your head could mean having to relearn your life, and discovering that maybe you weren't living that great a life to begin with.
Review:
Zevin's novel about 16 year old Naomi, a girl who hits her head and becomes an amnesiac, is witty and enjoyable. Naomi is a very relatable character. As she relearns her life and rediscoveres friendships she finds herself wondering why she might have acted differently before the accident. What is interesting in the novel is watching Naomi try to really understand her actions before the accident and strives to be a better person.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th grade
Matched
by Ally Condie
Summary:
Cassia has always followed the rules. Of course it's not like she's ever really had a choice. Everything she or her parents do is dictated by the government. When they eat, where they sleep, when they die, where they work, who they marry. When Cassia attends her Matching ceremony, where she and others her age will learn who they are going to marry, she is thrilled to find out that she has been matched with her best friend Xander. She at least knows that they get along well and will do good together. But when she goes home that night and plugs in the chip which will give her more information on the matching process she sees not Xander's face, but that of another boy. But society doesn't make mistakes like this. Who is she really supposed to be matched with?
Review:
Matched presents a different take on the dystopian novels that are so popular right now. In this society order is key. Everything down to what a person wears is dictated by society, and everyone seems to be completely ok with this. This seems to be the biggest downside of the book. The complete absence of any sort of rebellion by people is a bit hard to swallow, though Condie tries to explain that their compliance is due to the fact that many take the 'calming' pill given by the government, though that pill is not used by all. The interactions between Cassia and Xander, and her new love interest Ky, are well written and believable. The story as a whole is a good read.
Genre: Dystopian Novel
Age Level: 9-10th grade
Series Info: Matched, Crossed, Reached
Summary:
Cassia has always followed the rules. Of course it's not like she's ever really had a choice. Everything she or her parents do is dictated by the government. When they eat, where they sleep, when they die, where they work, who they marry. When Cassia attends her Matching ceremony, where she and others her age will learn who they are going to marry, she is thrilled to find out that she has been matched with her best friend Xander. She at least knows that they get along well and will do good together. But when she goes home that night and plugs in the chip which will give her more information on the matching process she sees not Xander's face, but that of another boy. But society doesn't make mistakes like this. Who is she really supposed to be matched with?
Review:
Matched presents a different take on the dystopian novels that are so popular right now. In this society order is key. Everything down to what a person wears is dictated by society, and everyone seems to be completely ok with this. This seems to be the biggest downside of the book. The complete absence of any sort of rebellion by people is a bit hard to swallow, though Condie tries to explain that their compliance is due to the fact that many take the 'calming' pill given by the government, though that pill is not used by all. The interactions between Cassia and Xander, and her new love interest Ky, are well written and believable. The story as a whole is a good read.
Genre: Dystopian Novel
Age Level: 9-10th grade
Series Info: Matched, Crossed, Reached
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Looking for Alaska
by John Green
Summary:
Miles didn't exactly know what to expect when his parents sent him to Culver Creek Preparatory School, a boarding school in Alabama. But from the moment he walks into the dorm room he will share with his new roommate Chip, Miles knows that there is something different about this place. There's something about their friend Alaska, a girl who's confidence and love of life knows no bounds, that keeps everyone coming back for more. But life can't stay perfect always. When a car crash interrupts, Miles and the rest struggle to come to terms in their own roles in the wreck. And learn to live after others are gone.
Review:
Green's book is a study in before and after a tragedy. Miles and the rest of his group at school are not bad kids, but they break the rules they want to. They aren't exactly models of clean living but they never do anything really terrible. But a tragedy that could have been avoided cuts through all of their lives. We watch him and his friends try to come to terms with it, as well as with their own roles in it. It is a well written book about loss and survivor's guilt, as well as the necessity of moving on.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Summary:
Miles didn't exactly know what to expect when his parents sent him to Culver Creek Preparatory School, a boarding school in Alabama. But from the moment he walks into the dorm room he will share with his new roommate Chip, Miles knows that there is something different about this place. There's something about their friend Alaska, a girl who's confidence and love of life knows no bounds, that keeps everyone coming back for more. But life can't stay perfect always. When a car crash interrupts, Miles and the rest struggle to come to terms in their own roles in the wreck. And learn to live after others are gone.
Review:
Green's book is a study in before and after a tragedy. Miles and the rest of his group at school are not bad kids, but they break the rules they want to. They aren't exactly models of clean living but they never do anything really terrible. But a tragedy that could have been avoided cuts through all of their lives. We watch him and his friends try to come to terms with it, as well as with their own roles in it. It is a well written book about loss and survivor's guilt, as well as the necessity of moving on.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Before I Fall
by Lauren Oliver
Summary:
What would you do if you knew you were going to die today? Would you do the same things you've done every day before? Would you spend the whole day with family and friends? Would you try and right the wrongs you've done in your life? Samantha didn't know it would be the last day of her life when she work up on February 12th. But she did know the next day, and the next, as she kept waking up to repeat the day. You see Samantha keeps dying on February 12th, and it's up to her to figure out how to break the cycle.
Review:
Samantha is the pretty popular girl everyone loves to her face and hates secretly. She and her friends are the ultimate mean girls. But as she is forced to relive the day she dies over and over again, Samantha realizes the harm that she's done in her life and tries to rectify it so that she can break the cycle she's stuck in and move on to whatever is next, even if it means her death. This was a great novel about coming to terms with ones life and making the right choices even when they are hard. Samantha is a character that you start out hating but end up really sympathizing with and liking. The ending was both sad and poignant.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 10th-11th Grade
Summary:
What would you do if you knew you were going to die today? Would you do the same things you've done every day before? Would you spend the whole day with family and friends? Would you try and right the wrongs you've done in your life? Samantha didn't know it would be the last day of her life when she work up on February 12th. But she did know the next day, and the next, as she kept waking up to repeat the day. You see Samantha keeps dying on February 12th, and it's up to her to figure out how to break the cycle.
Review:
Samantha is the pretty popular girl everyone loves to her face and hates secretly. She and her friends are the ultimate mean girls. But as she is forced to relive the day she dies over and over again, Samantha realizes the harm that she's done in her life and tries to rectify it so that she can break the cycle she's stuck in and move on to whatever is next, even if it means her death. This was a great novel about coming to terms with ones life and making the right choices even when they are hard. Samantha is a character that you start out hating but end up really sympathizing with and liking. The ending was both sad and poignant.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 10th-11th Grade
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Somebody Please Tell Me Who I Am
by Henry Mazer and Peter Lerangis
Summary:
Ben had it made. He was accepted at a great college, popular at school, had a great girlfriend he just proposed to. No one could understand why he chose instead to enlist in the Army. Why he wanted to go serve his country when he knew he was going to deploy to Iraq. Then the unthinkable happens. He is severely injured in an attack over there. But once his body recovers, his family must cope with another reality. That while he can physically recover, his mind, his memories, might be gone forever.
Review:
There are not a lot of books which address this aspect of war for children or teens. What is interesting is that the book tries to address the reasons for which Ben feels compelled to serve, despite coming from a background where the most common path is college and a white collar job. It could do a better job on that, but it does at least try to address it. The book is about the aftermath of an injury, one which is affecting more and more soldiers in a war where IED's are the most prevalent interaction with the enemy. The impact this has on Ben's family is both real and sad, the guilt and anger felt by them and his fiance are understandable and relatable. Overall a good read, but not one for a tween looking to read about the action and adventure of being a soldier.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 8th Grade
Summary:
Ben had it made. He was accepted at a great college, popular at school, had a great girlfriend he just proposed to. No one could understand why he chose instead to enlist in the Army. Why he wanted to go serve his country when he knew he was going to deploy to Iraq. Then the unthinkable happens. He is severely injured in an attack over there. But once his body recovers, his family must cope with another reality. That while he can physically recover, his mind, his memories, might be gone forever.
Review:
There are not a lot of books which address this aspect of war for children or teens. What is interesting is that the book tries to address the reasons for which Ben feels compelled to serve, despite coming from a background where the most common path is college and a white collar job. It could do a better job on that, but it does at least try to address it. The book is about the aftermath of an injury, one which is affecting more and more soldiers in a war where IED's are the most prevalent interaction with the enemy. The impact this has on Ben's family is both real and sad, the guilt and anger felt by them and his fiance are understandable and relatable. Overall a good read, but not one for a tween looking to read about the action and adventure of being a soldier.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 8th Grade
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Desert Angel
by Charlie Price
Summary:
Two nights ago Scotty killed her mother. Yesterday he tried to kill her. Today Angel is running from him, with nothing but the clothes on her back and the kindness of strangers keeping her safe. But can she justify putting others in danger to save herself? Is her life worth more than theirs? She knows Scotty will stop at nothing to find her. So maybe it's time to turn the tables. Maybe it's time to find him before he finds her.
Review:
Angel is a girl with a difficult life. Her mother dragged her from boyfriend to boyfriend, resulting in a skewed and jaded perspective on life. When she finds people to help her, people who never met her and have no connection to her at all, she must confront the fact that she can't go it alone like she wants. The book is an interesting read about a strong female character who learns that it's ok to lean on someone else once in awhile. The book does have language and violence in it, and addresses the topic of illegal immigration.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Summary:
Two nights ago Scotty killed her mother. Yesterday he tried to kill her. Today Angel is running from him, with nothing but the clothes on her back and the kindness of strangers keeping her safe. But can she justify putting others in danger to save herself? Is her life worth more than theirs? She knows Scotty will stop at nothing to find her. So maybe it's time to turn the tables. Maybe it's time to find him before he finds her.
Review:
Angel is a girl with a difficult life. Her mother dragged her from boyfriend to boyfriend, resulting in a skewed and jaded perspective on life. When she finds people to help her, people who never met her and have no connection to her at all, she must confront the fact that she can't go it alone like she wants. The book is an interesting read about a strong female character who learns that it's ok to lean on someone else once in awhile. The book does have language and violence in it, and addresses the topic of illegal immigration.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
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