Contemporary 2000-2005    

Please add your review to the top of the list; add your name and date of review

 

Staples, Suzanne Fisher.  (2001).  Under the Persimmon Tree.  New York:  Frances Foster Books

 

 Najmah is a young Afghan girl who has personally witnessed the horrors of war. Her father and brother have been drafted by the Taliban leaving her alone to care for a pregnant mother.  As she comes down from herding her sheep in the mountains, an air raid destroyed the village of Golestan and its people.  Najmah finds her mother and newborn baby brother dead.  Feeling truly alone, she seeks to make the dangerous journey from Golestan to the refugee camp in Peshawar, Pakistan.  After many close calls Najmah arrives in Peshawar and is led to a school run by an American woman named Elaine.  Elaine is married to an Afghan doctor who came to Pakistan with the hope of helping his people.  She has converted to Muslim and is known by a new name, Nusrat. She has not heard from her husband and is worried about him.  Najmah and Nusrat find comfort in their similar circumstance.   They are both waiting for news of their loved one/s. 

 

Kim Leng, December 14, 2008

 

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Kadohata, C. (2004). Kira-Kira. New York: Antheneum Books for Young Readers.

 

 

Kira-Kira is the story of a Japanese-American family struggling to survive in the United States.  Their Oriental grocery store in Iowa went out of business due to the fact that very few Asian people lived there.  The family moved to Georgia, where Uncle Katsuhisa got them jobs in the poultry industry.  They both work hard and long hours which gave the children very little time with their parents.  In Iowa they were happy and did not seem to be affected by racism, however, things were different in Georgia.  Katie often felt ignored in school and did not make friends there easily.  Katie takes on the family caretaker role by helping take care of her older sister who becomes ill.  She is devastated by Lynn’s illness because they were best friends.  They loved to lay outside and look at the stars and say, “Kira-kira” which “means glittering in Japanese” they used it to “describe everything they liked: the beautiful blue sky, puppies, kitties, butterflies, colored Kleenex” (Kadohata, 2004, p. 1).  Lynn’s illness, their struggle to survive economically, and living in a racist community causes a great deal of stress and heartache for their family, but the love they have for each other keeps the family intact.  There is a very endearing family connection in Kira-Kira that shows the cultural belief in remaining a tight-knit, self-reliant, accepting, and loving Asian American family through good times and bad.

Theodora Rudolph, 12-12-08

Grimes, N. (2002). Bronx Masquerade. New York: Dial Books/Penguin Putnam.

Bronx Masquerade is a great piece of urban literature that gives readers an authentic glimpse into what some multicultural teens are going through today.  This is also a universal story that reveals the awkwardness and pain felt by all young adults at one point or another.  The student’s fear, rage, and unique perspectives of the world are expressed when they write poetry in Mr. Ward’s English class.  Through this freedom of expression they begin to feel empowered, as they develop self-awareness and pride by reading their poems out loud poetry slam style.  One of the main characters, Devon, struggles with the fact that his peers assume stereotypically, because he is an African American, that his natural ability as an athlete will determine his fate as a possible professional athlete.  However, Devon is portrayed authentically as a multidimensional character who is not only a jock, but he is also a voracious reader who tries to hide this part of himself so that his peers won’t think that he is nerdy.  Bronx Masquerade reveals the reality of diversity within our multicultural world, by debunking harmful stereotypes of multiracial youth by showing a classroom of students who strive for a better life. 

Theodora Rudolph, 12-12-08

Jimenez, F. (2001). Breaking Through. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Breaking Through is the autobiography of Francisco Jimenez and his family who risk everything by leaving Mexico, and crossing the American border with hopes and dreams for a better life in the late 1950’s.  As illegal immigrants they migrated around California for ten years, and they moved often terrified of being caught by the deportation officers.  This true story reveals the pain and sacrifices that many immigrant families go through as they struggle to survive.  After the whole family is deported, Francisco and his brother Roberto’s visas are approved and they move back to the United States alone.  Their parents are detained in Mexico and must wait several years before their immigrant visas are approved.  Their parents do not want their children to go back to their lives of poverty with little opportunity in Mexico.  Francisco and Roberto had to work before and after school, as well as on the weekends in order for the family to survive and have the barest of necessities including: food, clothing, and shelter.  However, they were able to break through and enjoy their lives as American citizens.  Reading this book will raise young adults’ awareness and empathy for the Latino experience, as well as for all immigrants who move to the United States in search of a better life.   

Theodora Rudolph, 12-12-08

 

 

Fensham, E.  (2005).  Helicopter man.  New York: Bloomsbury.

 

Pete, an Australian boy, along with his mentally ill father is homeless, living in a stranger’s storage unit.  Pete’s dad, Michael, home schools Pete and they are forever on the run from helicopters, which pose a nebulous threat to Michael.  After six years of running, however, everything comes to a halt as Michael is arrested and sent to a mental hospital.  His mother dead, Pete must live with foster parents and come to terms with what his six years on the lamb were all about.  Written in diary form, Pete gives the reader a glimpse into his father’s illness and how affects their lives.  Though Pete struggles to come to grips with his father’s illness, not much else happens in this otherwise quickly paced novel with a truthful and satisfying ending.

 

-Mike Salerno, December 12, 2008

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Farmer, Nancy. (2002). House of the Scorpion. New York: Atheneum Books.

 

Matt is the clone of a very wealthy and evil drug lord that rules a country call Opium. It lies between the borders of American and Aztlan (Mexico). Clones are looked upon with disgust. They are lower than animals; they are beasts. Matt is unique in that his brain was not damaged upon being harvested. When he begins to question his purpose in the world, he realized that despite all the privilege and education he's received, the aging drug lord only desires his body parts to extend his own life. Matt's only chance of survival is to escape from Opium, but will the outside world accept a clone?

 

Submitted by Travis Whitt

 

 

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Koja, K. (2003). Buddha Boy. New York: Frances Foster Books.

 

The story of Buddha Boy is told in first person from the point of view of teenage boy, Justin. Through him we are introduced to Jinsen, the character who others disparagingly refer to as Buddha Boy. Jinsen's physical appearance (he has a shaved head and wears oversized t-shirt in freezing weather) and behavior (he begs for money during the lunch period) make him stand out from the other students which makes him an easy target for bullying. Justin slowly befriends Jinsen while completing a school assignment and begins to question why the bullying goes on unpunished and what he can do as a witness. The author skillfully interweaves aspects of Buddhism into the story. Justin's father advises him to truly "see" what is going on around him and let that lead him to doing the right thing. Justin also comments on the role Karma has in what happens to Jinsen and how it influences his future.

Heather Neidenbach, November 2008

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Green, J.(2005). Looking for Alaska. New York: Dutton Books

Miles Halter is 16 and friendless, and spends most of his time memorizing famous people’s last words. In an effort to “see the great perhaps”, Miles leaves home for a boarding school in Alabama where he is accepted within a circle of friends which includes the alluring Alaska. Miles becomes infatuated by Alaska even though it soon becomes clear that she is troubled. Green provides authentic voices for his characters as they deal with the pressures of growing up and entering adulthood, as well as with the tragedy which unexpectedly enters their life.

Julie Frieze 04/28/2008

 

 Wolff, V.E. (2001).  True Believer.  New York: Simon & Schuster.

The second book in Virginia Euwer Wolff’s Make Lemonade Trilogy, this novel-in-verse follows fifteen-year-old Verna LaVaughn, called LaVaughn, as she deals with her hard-working mother, grows apart from her friends, tries to stay out of the line of fire in her dangerous neighborhood, falls into and out of first love, and keeps her eye on the prize: doing well in school and moving on to a better place.  True Believer’s language is spartan but beautiful; early in the novel, LaVaughn reflects,

“I sure would like to get kissed.

How that would feel on my mouth.

How different I would be after,

a changed climate down in my insides.”

Instead of coming across as undeveloped, as one might expect from such a spare rendering of narrative voice, LaVaughn as a character comes across clear and strong, the white space between her lines creating room for all the strong emotions she feels to expand to the fullness the reader can tell she holds. 

Like many kids in the middle of high school, LaVaughn is at a crossroads of sorts.  Her friends have made choices that she’s sure won’t work for her; Jolly has two babies and no husband, and Myrtle and Annie are becoming increasingly involved in a virginity-obsessed Christian youth group where the answer to every question is “Jesus.” LaVaughn thinks there must be some middle path, some way of really exploring the world without getting brought down by it, but she isn’t certain what this middle way would look like.  When her childhood friend Jody, grown-up and beautiful, returns to her neighborhood, LaVaughn pins her hopes on him, because he’s sweet and respectful, and sees the real her, the kid-her, underneath all the confusing business of being a teenager.  What LaVaughn doesn’t know is that Jody’s got a secret that will keep him from being with her; the revelation of this secret will force her to do some emotional growing-up to match the adult choices she’s making regarding her future. 

Unlike the heroines of many of the most popular young adult novels marketed to girls, LaVaughn doesn’t have a whole raft of money buffering her from the realities of contemporary life.  She walks through metal-detectors in the morning when she goes to school, works in the laundry of a children’s hospital, lost her father to a shooting, and watches her mother struggle to find a man who won’t try to take advantage of her hard work and thrifty living.  She goes through some incredibly dark times when she’s convinced that “Everything is tragic,” but ultimately figures out how to be okay with herself and her personal choices, letting people love her in the ways they know how to do it and pursuing what she believes is important.  True Believer is a National Book Award winner and a Prinz Honor book, and truly deserves every ounce of acclaim it has gotten. 

Submitted by Sierra Logan on May 18,2007  

Murray, J. (2003).  Bottled Up, New York: Henry Holt.

 

Philip has firm control of the situation – he can get to all of his classes as required by his high school principal; he can avoid his violent, alchoholic father; and still smoke dope with his buddies. Evertything is cool until his little brother, Mikey, starts to withdraw and takes an interest in cigarettes and booze. - Katrina Bergen, May 16, 2007.

 

 

 

 

 

Pearson, M. (2005).  A Room on Lorelei Street, New York: Henry Holt.

 

Her “corner of control”; that’s the way 17-year old Zoe views the room she rents on Lorelei Street after fleeing the chaotic home of her alcoholic mother. How can she possibly cover expenses with just a part-time waitressing job, and still keep her hard-won and cherished independence? - Katrina Bergen, May 16, 2007.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ferris, J. (2000). Eight seconds. New York, NY: Harcourt.

Eighteen-year-old John is just about to watch his best friends graduate from high school. He would have been graduating with them too, if he hadn’t skipped a year when he had heart surgery as child. But the summer ahead is looking good when his father gives him a surprise gift: a week at rodeo camp! John is raring to go and decides he wants to give bull-riding a try. While at camp he meets Kit, a tough young bull-rider, and begins to develop a friendship with him. When John finds out that Kit is gay it brings up a lot of questions for him, including many about himself. Eight Seconds is a fast-paced coming-of-age story set amid the rough-and-tumble world of rodeo cowboys. Ferris does an admirable job of creating believable characters and exploring the idea of what it really means to accept yourself and your friends.  - Katherine Teree, May 15, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bechard, Margaret. (2002). Hanging On To Max. 142 p. Roaring Brook Press. 

Grade 7 and up - Sam Pettigrew, a seventeen year old high school senior decides to take the responsibility to raise his son Max when his girlfriend, Brittany, decides to give the child up for adoption. Struggling between diapers, formula, midnight cry and his homework, Sam has worn down with his unusual life, especially without any emotional help from his silent father. Claire, a girl he has once admired and who has a baby girl herself, seems to give Sam a lot of encouragement for being a teenage parent, but Claire with her family'ss support does not understand Sam's mind either. Inserted pieces about Sam'ss relationship with Brittany, his mother's final days at home, his fishing adventure with Mom and Dad, his visit to the hospital after Max was born, all of these serve as clues to his final decision with Max's faith. This book is very realistic and the description of baby Max is very cute and heartwarming, which makes the story moving and heartbreaking in the end. Readers who have read Angel Johnson's The First Part Last will love this story.

Jiaolan Bu, May 8, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Olsen, Sylvia. (2003). The Girl with a Baby. 203 p. Sono Nis Press.

 

A Canadian author Sylvia Olsen wrote this book inspired by her own half-Indian daughter's true story. In the book, the teenage girl's mother is absent, which is frequently the case in most of books on the same topic that I have read. The girl, Jane, is an Indian and the father of her baby is white. His family wants nothing to do with this baby. This situation adds an element of racism to this book and reminds me many similar problems from other teen books I have read. With her grandmother and a girlfriend's support, Jane not only raises her baby Destiny but also holds the family together, stays in high school and wins the dancing and singing competition for the leading role in the school musical. While it may provide needed encouragement to teen moms, this story also seems to state that teen mothers can do it all, which is not often true. The story means to encourage teenager mothers, which may be viewed by some as condoning if not promoting teenage parenting.

Jiaolan Bu, May 8, 2007.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lynch, Chris. (2006).  Inexcusable.  New York: Atheneum.

 

 

Keir Sarafian is a jock.  He is a good guy - well-liked by his peers, and well-loved by his two, sometimes too-sensible older sisters, and his endearingly, sentimental dad.  Why, then, does Keir find himself with a girl he has known since childhood, a girl he says he loves, accusing him of rape?  Other people do inexcusable things, not Keir, and he is determined to convince the reader of this.  Instead his narrative reveals the magnitude of his self deception and its tragic consequences.

 

 

Katrina Bergen, May 3, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mackler, Carolyn. (2003). The Earth, my butt, and other big round things. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.

 

Virginia Shreves is a high school sophomore who struggles with her weight and her place in what she thinks of as her "perfect" family. While caught in the midst of dealing with her body image issues and being separated from her best friend for a year, Virginia is thrust into an even more difficult situation when the older brother that she idolizes is sent home from college in disgrace after date raping another student. While this book deals with tough issues, it is also well balanced with growth and hope.

 

Jaime Steele, April 19, 2007

Draper, S. M.  (2003).  The battle of Jericho.  New York:  Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Just because it has been a long standing tradition and people think that it is cool doesn't mean that it is right or safe.  The Warriors of Distinction have been around for as long as Douglass High School and there are many privileges that come along with membership.  Jericho, his cousin Josh and their friends Kofi and Dana discover the dangers of following the crowd and trying to fit in.  This Coretta Scott King Award winner highlights the dangers of the teen need to feel included. 

Carolyn White, April 13, 2007

 

Saenz, Benjamin Alire. (2004). Sammy & Juliana in Hollywood. El Paso: Cinco Puntos Press.

 

Sammy lives in a predominantly Mexican-American neighborhood, and he is in love with Juliana. He is also deeply embedded in his neighborhood of friends, relatives, and enemies. Set in the late 1960s, this is what a historical novel should be: a reflection of an era, but also, more importantly, a book that feels immediate -- whose characters seem like people one might still meet today. Mired in tragedy and yet unable to give up and let go, these are real people -- and this is a real -- if funny, heartbreaking, and beautiful -- story.

 

Elizabeth McMunn, 4/2/2007

Sebold, Alice. (2002). The Lovely Bones: A novel. Boston, MA: Little Brown. 

The Lovey Bones is the story of 14 year old Susie Salmon and her family coming to grips with and coping with her untimely rape and murder.  She and her family go through the process of mourning as the identity of her murderer is slowly uncovered.

 

Stanley Yalnets had the worst of luck when he was found possessing several stolen goods. And so, he was sent to Camp Green Lake as punishment for his "crime". Not only did he had to deal with abusive guards, he also had to fight off unfriendly boys. To rebuild his character (as he was told), Stanley and other boys had to dig several 6 x 6 holes in the dirt. As it turns out, there is a hidden purpose for them digging the holes... In Holes, Sachar carefully constructed a story that is suitable for all ages. The inclusion of three stories give the readers the background of Stanley's family, and allows the reader to discover  the true purpose of the dig. Highly enjoyable book!

 

Mark Lee, 24 November, 2006    

 

Hopkins, E. (2004). Crank. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.

 

Lonely and depressed, Kristina still appeared to be the perfect girl, the perfect daughter, the perfect student. That is, until a visit to her dad that led to her fateful meeting with the monster. Before anyone noticed, she was no longer Kristina, she became Bree. As Bree, she was daring, unafraid of any consequences that could follow. As Bree, cutting classes became a norm, smoking with friends became a must, and the relationship with her family deteriorated. But it doesn't matter. In fact, nothing mattered to her now, except the feeling of being high. In “Crank,”Hopkins tells the story of a young girl's struggle with the monster. As the readers goes along for the ride, the readers will undoubtedly be tempted to re-examine the choices that they made in their lives. A must-read for teenagers! 

 

Mark Lee, 24 November, 2006. 

 

Flinn, Alex. (2005). Fade to black. New York: HaperTempest.

Fade to Black is the fascinating story of Alex Crusan, a 16 year old Cuban-American teen in Miami. Alex is attacked one early morning while getting donuts for his family when his car window is smashed with a baseball bat and he is beaten at a stop sign. He didn't see his attacker.  A fellow student, Clinton, is  arrested for the attack based on the testimony of Daria, another high school  student with Down's Syndrome.  A few facts of note: Alex is HIV positive, and his story was leaked to the whole school in an assembly.  He contracted HIV by blood transfusion, even though that is very rare these days.  Clinton is a self-confessed homophobe.  He threw a rock through the Crusan's window, shattering into the room of Alex's eight year old sister.  And Daria knows more than she tells and that goes for all aspects of school: the taunts by Clinton's popular group, and the kindness of fellow outcast Alex.

Each chapter is told in alternating points of view of the same event: Alex, Clinton, and Daria as each version of the "truth" is pushed to the light. 

Diane Mahan, November 16, 2006. 

Chbosky, Stephen. (1999). The Perks of Being a Wallflower. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.

 

This is a coming of age story about a freshman high school boy named Charlie. He writes letters to an unknown friend about his struggles. We find out that Charlie is a wallflower. He is introverted, shy and prone to depression. With the help of some new friends, Charlie starts to live more “actively” and starts to experience having a girlfriend, sex, drugs and alcohol. As Charlie experiences life more, he is forced to examine his own demons.

Amy Gons 11-13-06

 

 

Portman, Frank. (2006). King Dork. New York, NY: Delacorte Press.

 

High school loser, Tom Henderson is a bright yet awkward rock-n-roll loving teenager who finds his dead father’s copy of The Catcher in the Rye. The discovery of this book ends up changing his life as Tom ends up trying to solve the mystery around his father’s death and a host of other seemingly unrelated themes. This story, ultimately, however, is about the high school experience. The author reflects on this experience with a sense of humor rarely captured in YA literature. This is a great read that will catch you laughing out loud. 

Amy Gons 11-13-06

 

Crutcher, Chris. (2001). Whaletalk. New York, NY: Harper Collins.

 

T.J. Jones, a Black-Japanese-White high school student in Idaho, is asked to start a swim team. He brings together a group of unathletic misfits in an effort to change the status quo at his jock-dominated high school. In doing so, T.J. decides to elevate the social status of several unlikely athletes at his school. This story is more about life than sports and shows how much of a difference one person can make in the lives of others. This is a truly beautiful and touching story.

Amy Gons 11-13-06

 

 

 

 

 

Flake, Sharon. (2001).  Money Hungry.  New York: Hyperion. Thirteen-year-old Raspberry Hill is obsessed with money.  She earns it in any legal way she can and hoards it in her room or in her pockets, sometimes preferring the smell of her money to the food she could buy by spending it.  At first her obsession and seeming greed may puzzle readers, but soon we realize what compels Raspberry to value money above all else:  “My friends? are talking about how greedy I am.  How I’m always trying to make a dollar.  They’re right.  But as long as I got two hands, I ain’t never living in the street no more.  Ain’t never gonna be broke, neither.” Raspberry’s experience with homelessness has scarred her tremendously, and only cold, hard cash makes her feel secure.  But, despite her loving and hardworking mother’s best efforts, in the unstable world they live in Raspberry’s stash of cash may be more of a liability than a safety net.  Rich with vivid detail and realistic characters, problems, and dialogue, Flake’s compelling novel (and Coretta Scott King Award honor book) convincingly immerses us in an urban environment where poverty and crime threaten the well-being of even those most determined to get out.

 

Tawnya Dudash, November 12, 2006

 

 

Flake, Sharon. (2003).  Begging for Change.  New York: Hyperion. This sequel to Flake’s award-winning Money Hungry is even stronger than its predecessor.  It continues the story of Raspberry Hill, a fourteen-year-old girl living in a poor, inner-city neighborhood.  At the novel’s opening Raspberry’s mother is hospitalized after being violently assaulted by a neighbor, and their carefully-constructed, fragile world begins to unravel.  Her mother deals with her fears by writing but not sending letter after letter to her teenaged assailant, while Raspberry’s obsession with getting and hoarding money resurfaces.  Unlike in the past, however, this new crisis compels Raspberry to cross a line:  she steals money from one of her close friends.  Much of the rest of the novel concerns Raspberry’s inner turmoil as she mulls over the consequences of her actions.  Is stealing from someone who seems to have everything justified?  Is she turning out to be like her drug-addicted, immoral father?  Is any amount of money worth losing the trust of those who love you?  Told in the first person, Flake’s prose is so conversational and flowing that readers will feel like they know Raspberry, who remains sympathetic despite all her flaws.

 

Tawnya Dudash, November 12, 2006

Zusak, M. (2005). I am the messenger. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

The story begins with the narrator, Ed, and his three best friends face-down on the floor of a bank that is being robbed by a rather inept bank robber. Ed ends up stopping the guy and becomes a local hero. Shortly afterwards, he receives an ace of clubs in the mail with three addresses written on it. He soon discovers that these are the addresses of three people in need of a hero, and Ed--with his stinky dog The Doorman there to support him--decides to take on this mission. Once he accomplishes it, however, he gets another ace and three more people who need his help. As you might guess, the aces keep coming until he has completed a total of twelve missions--and then the joker arrives. This is a unique, uplifting, and humorous story about an ordinary guy who ends up accomplishing the extraordinary.

Megan Fritz, Nov. 12, 2006

 

Anderson, L. H. (1999). Speak. New York: Penquin Putnam Books.

 

Melinda broke a taboo. She called the cops on a party at the end of summer. Now she is starting her freshman year of high school and no one will talk to her. But her friends don't know what really happened to her. "Older students are allowed to roam until the bell, but ninethgraders are herded into the auditorium. We fall into clans: Jocks, Country Clubbers, Idiot Savants, Cheerleaders, Human Waste, Eurotrash, Future Fascists of the America, Big Hair Chix, the Marthas, Suffering Artists, Thespians, Goths, Shredders. I am clanless. I wasted the last weeks of August watching bad cartoons. I didn't go to the mall, the lake, or the pool, or answer the phone. I have entered high school with the wrong hair, the wrong clothes, the wrong attitude. And I don't have anyone to sit with (p.4)." Laurie Halse Anderson has written a dark tale that will bring tears to your eyes even as it make you LOL. She brings the angst of high school together with a taut tale of a young teen who has carefully constructed a safe place to be in her own head and if she lets go she will be forced to speak the truth.

 

Lynn McCormick  2006. November 7.

Going, K.L. (2003). Fat kid rules the world. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.

First-person narrative of a self-proclaimed "fat kid" (Troy) who, in the opening pages, is saved from committing suicide by a drug-addicted homeless teenager (Curt) who is a punk music legend at the fat kid's high school.  The rest of the book follows these two unlikely friends as they attempt to form a two-person punk band, Troy lacking confidence--and for good reason, since he cannot play the drums--and Curt unable to stay focused long enough without his next fix.  But with each other's support and companionship, both boys realize they are more than outcasts and that they both have something to offer the world. (Megan Fritz, Nov. 6, 2006)

Chbosky, S. (1999). The perks of being a wallflower. New York: Pocket Books.

In a series of letters (to whom, readers never know,) a loner boy tells about his first year of high school. In a constant struggle between getting involved and watching life from the sidelines, he is able to overcome his shyness and develops a small group of close friends. But always in the back of his mind is his Aunt Helen, whom he loved dearly and for whose death he feels partially responsible. The end of the book delivers quite a shock about the reality of his relationship with Aunt Helen, but also shows readers the power of true friendship. (Megan Fritz, Nov. 6, 2006)

 

 

Konigsburg, E.L. (2004). The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place. Atheneum Books. ISBN 0-689-86636-4.

 

 

 

 

12-year-old Margaret Rose was sent off to a horrid summer camp while her parents traveled for the summer. Through clever peaceful disobedience, Margaret Rose was able to leave the camp to spend the summer with her beloved uncles Morris and Alexander. Her eclectic uncles have been building three towers for over 40-years. They are beautiful in the eyes of Margaret Rose and her Uncles, but are considered eye-sores to others. Margaret Rose finds out that the towers are to be destroyed, voted by the city council. Through a clever and heroic plot, Margaret Rose fights to save the beautiful towers and finds out about her own courage and strength.

Deanna Blesso, 5 October 2006

 

 

 

Halpin, B. (2004). Donorboy: a novel. New York: Villard Books.

When 14-year-old Rosalind’s mom and mommy die intestate in a freak car crash involving a turducken truck, Rosalind finds herself living with the man who donated the sperm to her moms. Though his name is on her birth certificate, Rosalind has never met Sean Cassidy, but her moms did send a holiday letter to him every year keeping him apprised of Rosalind’s development. Rosalind deals with her grief by writing in a journal and by turning away from her formerly “good girl” self and turning into one of those kids who smokes, cuts class, stops doing homework, and hangs out at parties. Sean, thrust into instant parenthood at age 35, relies on email conversations with his best friend to work through his parenting issues. Ros initially refuses to talk to Sean, so their initial conversations take place over email as well. Sean, who sues school districts for a living, frequently finds himself in the principal’s office at Ros’ school defending her behavior. As the story progresses, Ros and Sean build a relationship that starts to work for them, Ros finds friendship in unusual places, and Sean rebuilds relationships that he has ignored since his own mother died when he was just nine.

The format of this book is rather unusual. The content all takes place in Rosalind’s journal entries, email conversations, text messages, and the occasional transcript of an audio-taped discussion. Halpin does a fantastic job with both the voice of a 14-year-old girl and that of a 35-year-old man. Littered with profanity and with significant references to drugs, alcohol, and sex, this book is best suited for the mature reader.

Jessica Rothberg, 6 Oct 2006.

 

 

 

 

Johnson, Angela, The First Part Last. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2003. $15.95. 131 pages. ISBN0689849222

 

 

 

 

Hiaasen, Carl. (2005). Flush. Knopf Books for Young Readers. 272 pages. $17.00. ISBN 0375821821.

Once again, Noah and Abbey's father, Payne Underwood, is in the slammer. As before, he lost his temper at the cruel and irresponsible behavior of another adult. Noah and Abbey can understand why their dad gets so upset when the behavior of other adults leads to destruction of nature - they can sympathize with him, they just wish he thought before he acted and took other means to fighting injustices. Though, this time Noah is afraid his mom and dad will get divorced. Noah and Abbey are as upset as their father about the disgusting actions of Dusty Muleman - he owns a large casino boat and dumps the waste from his customers into the ocean every night, unbeknownst to everyone else in town and the coast guard. This time, in order to save their father's dignity and maybe even their parents' marriage, Noah and Abbey take matters into their own hands and come up with a crafty plan to bust Dusty Muleman for good. Hiaasen's novel is appealing to both boys and girls, is full of environmentally friendly undertones, and has plenty of humor for reluctant readers.

Deanna Blesso, 21 September 2006

 

 

Oates, Joyce Carol. Big Mouth & Ugly Girl.HarperTempest, 2002. 266 pages. $16.99. ISBN 0066237580 This is an extremely compelling story about friendship, family, loyalty and betrayal. This is a story that is so real to life it could happen anywhere. Matt Donaghy is a good student, with a sense of humor and a big mouth. One day while goofing off in the cafeteria he said some comments about 'blowing up the school' that were taken literally. Matt ends up being taken from school by the authorities, questioned and put on a 3 day suspension. His whole world gets turned upside down. Ursula Riggs, a star basketball player with an extremely athletic physique calls herself 'ugly girl'. She is a loner and a bit socially inept. But she is the only one who knows what Matt really said and comes forward to help him by doing 'the right thing.'

LIsa Katz September 2006

Lynch, Chris. (2005). Inexcusable. New York: Atheneum Books. ISBN 0689847890

“The way it looks is not the way it is.” Kier Sarafian is a good guy, he can do no wrong. Unfortunately for Kier, he gets into all sorts of trouble. First, he was involved in a freak accident that crippled a fellow player during a football game. Later, he was involved in the demolition of two statues during a break-up party. But then again, he is a good guy. And good guys don’t do bad things. However, as the events that led up to his unforgettable night with Gigi (childhood friend and the love of his life) began to unravel through Kier’s narration, one begins to wonder the truthfulness of his words and the true intention of his actions. After all, “the way it looks is not the way it is.” This masterfully crafted tale is more than just another story, but an uncompromising tale that forces the readers to self-explore and evaluate themselves.

Mark Lee,  4 September 2006.

 

 

Bobby is your normal urban teenage boy. On his 16th birthday he finds out that his girlfriend, Nia, is pregnant. This story relays Bobby's life, past and present. It shows his relationship with Nia and how they come to make the decision of putting the baby up

for adoption to Bobby raising his daughter, Feather all by himself. We don't know until near the end of the story how Bobby has ended up raising his daugher solo when he is merely just a kid himself.  This is a very powerful and realistic book about teen pregnancy from the male perspective. 

Lisa Katz, September 27, 2006.

Ly Tran, December 2006

Chbosky, S. (1999). The Perks of Being a Wallflower. New York: Pocket Books.

A great book about a 15 year old boy, Charlie, who doesn't quite fit in under any label.  Charlie tells his story through a series of letters written to a friend.  Through this correspondence, he tells of new experiences he goes through his reactions and realizations from them.  Charlie is the ordinary, average kid that doesn't stand out and yet anyone can easily relate to.

Ly Tran, December 2006