Walters, Eric. Juice. Orca Books, 2005. ISBN 9781551433516.
Plot Summary
Moose is the star of the football team. When Coach Reeves retires he is replaced by Coach Barnes and his assistant, Tony. They arrive with a tough new training program and soon it become clear they will do anything to get the team to win. This includes mixing drinks that are laced with anabolic steroids. Moose and his teammates improve their performances but it comes at a cost. When Coach Reeves' secret is revealed, Moose and his teammates much decide what is wrong and what is right and how far they are willing to go to be the best.
Critical Evaluation
Juice is a story about the high school sports and steroid use. The book is written with a simple plot and straightforward approach which makes it an easy read especially for teen boys who are reluctant readers. They will be drawn in by the sports theme and competitive action. Moose is the popular player who all the other boys look up to. He is a character that can be found in any school in America which makes him easy to relate to. Juice is not the most complicated story as far as plot and character development so keep in mind that it would make a great addition to any collection trying to include books for the reluctant reader.
Reader's Annotation
After a new football coach arrives at their school, the football team struggles with using steroids to compete.
About the Author
Eric Walters was born in Toronto in 1957. In his many roles as parent, teacher, social worker, youth sports coach and writer he is in constant contact with children and young adults. He draws from these experiences and feels that this helps him to capture the realistic interaction between young people - the conflicts, tensions, stresses and interests that make up their lives. Walter's novels have won more than 80 awards including eleven separate children's choice awards. He is the only three time winner of both the Ontario Library Association Silver Birch and Red Maple Awards - in which over 125,000 students participate and vote for the winners.
Genre/Subgenre
Contemporary Life/ Sports
Curriculum Ties
Health Education
Booktalking Ideas
1) How far would you go in order to win a game?
2) Is being part of team more important than doing the right thing?
3) If you knew a trusted adult was doing something illegal would you tell someone?
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 13+
Reluctant readers
Challenge Issues
Steroid use
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Juice-Orca-Soundings-Eric-Walters/dp/1551433516
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.
Why Included in Titles Selected
Reluctant readers; books for teenage boys
Showing posts with label Fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fiction. Show all posts
Sunday, December 5, 2010
48. Along for the Ride: A Novel by Sarah Dessen
Dessen, Sarah. Along for the Ride: A Novel. Viking, 2009. ISBN 9780670011940.
Plot Summary
Auden is a talented and intellectually gifted girl, but somewhat of a loner. Her parents are divorced and she finds herself struggling especially with insomnia. Her mother is overbearing and judgemental. Auden decides to accept her stepmother, Heidi's, invitation to stay with her, her father, and baby half-sister, Thisbe, in the town of Colby. The summer at her father's beach house isn't as calm as Auden thinks it will be. Heidi is stressed out over her baby and Auden's father is too busy writing a novel to pay attention to his family. Frustrated, Auden wanders onto a beach frequented by other teens. There she meets a boy named Jake and they surprisingly end up kissing. Soon the small town kids are confronting her about the kiss. Auden already feels like an outsider and this makes everything even worse until she meets another outsider named Eli. Eli is also an insomniac. They end up hanging out together and helping each other deal with their pasts and look forward to their futures.
Critical Evaluation
The book is a truthful portrayal of young Auden's journey to find a place to belong and in the process learn to love. Parent's may be concerned about the underage drinking in the book, but in reality, teenagers drink and the book neither supports it nor condemns it. Fans of other Sarah Dessen novels like, Lock and Key and Just Listen, will enjoy Along for the Ride.
Reader's Annotation
Auden goes to live her father and stepmother the summer before college. She has many "first" experiences and learns to deal with her dysfunctional family.
About the Author
Sarah Dessen grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and attended UNC-Chapel Hill, graduating with highest honors in Creative Writing. She is the author of several novels, including Someone Like You, Just Listen and Along for the Ride.
A motion picture based on her first two books, entitled How to Deal, was released in 2003. Her tenth novel,What Happened to Goodbye, will be published in May 2011. She lives in North Carolina.
Genre/ Subgenre
Contemporary Life/ Coming of Age, Romance
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) How does divorce change the lives of families?
2) Is divorce always a bad thing, or are there good things about it?
3) How does the saying "don't judge a book by its cover" pertain to the story?
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 14+
Challenge Issues
Underage drinking
Language
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see
http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Along-Ride-Sarah-Dessen/dp/0670011940/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292215029&sr=1-1
Why Included in Titles Selected
Popular author with teenage girls
Plot Summary
Auden is a talented and intellectually gifted girl, but somewhat of a loner. Her parents are divorced and she finds herself struggling especially with insomnia. Her mother is overbearing and judgemental. Auden decides to accept her stepmother, Heidi's, invitation to stay with her, her father, and baby half-sister, Thisbe, in the town of Colby. The summer at her father's beach house isn't as calm as Auden thinks it will be. Heidi is stressed out over her baby and Auden's father is too busy writing a novel to pay attention to his family. Frustrated, Auden wanders onto a beach frequented by other teens. There she meets a boy named Jake and they surprisingly end up kissing. Soon the small town kids are confronting her about the kiss. Auden already feels like an outsider and this makes everything even worse until she meets another outsider named Eli. Eli is also an insomniac. They end up hanging out together and helping each other deal with their pasts and look forward to their futures.
Critical Evaluation
The book is a truthful portrayal of young Auden's journey to find a place to belong and in the process learn to love. Parent's may be concerned about the underage drinking in the book, but in reality, teenagers drink and the book neither supports it nor condemns it. Fans of other Sarah Dessen novels like, Lock and Key and Just Listen, will enjoy Along for the Ride.
Reader's Annotation
Auden goes to live her father and stepmother the summer before college. She has many "first" experiences and learns to deal with her dysfunctional family.
About the Author
Sarah Dessen grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and attended UNC-Chapel Hill, graduating with highest honors in Creative Writing. She is the author of several novels, including Someone Like You, Just Listen and Along for the Ride.
A motion picture based on her first two books, entitled How to Deal, was released in 2003. Her tenth novel,What Happened to Goodbye, will be published in May 2011. She lives in North Carolina.
Genre/ Subgenre
Contemporary Life/ Coming of Age, Romance
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) How does divorce change the lives of families?
2) Is divorce always a bad thing, or are there good things about it?
3) How does the saying "don't judge a book by its cover" pertain to the story?
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 14+
Challenge Issues
Underage drinking
Language
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see
http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Along-Ride-Sarah-Dessen/dp/0670011940/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292215029&sr=1-1
Why Included in Titles Selected
Popular author with teenage girls
47. Boy2Girl by Terence Blacker
Blacker, Terence. Boy2Girl. Straus and Giroux, 2004. ISBN 0312371462
Plot Summary
When Sam's mother dies he is sent to live with his Aunt and cousin Matthew in England. In order to become a trusted member of Matthew's group of friends at school, Sam is given a test. He has to dress up as a girl and if he passes he will have the friendship of the boys at his new school. There is also another reason for the test. The boys want Sam to spy on a group of girls in order to learn their secrets. Soon Sam is passing as a girl, hanging out with the girls, and even attracting one of the popular guys at school. In another plot twist, Sam's dad arrives fresh out of jail searching for his son. Sam has to decide if fitting in while hiding from his father is important enough to continue the charade.
Critical Evaluation
Boy2Girl is a funny book which takes a different approach to how kids and adults look at gender roles. Do boys have it easier than girls, or vice versa? Do adults push their ideas about gender roles on their children? Should boys talk about their feelings? The story is told from a variety of characters' points of view which at times can be confusing but not impossible to follow. This is a great book to include in a collection because of its humorous approach to questioning gender roles.
Reader's Annotation
Thirteen-year old Sam dresses up as girl and what starts as a test soon turns into an outlandish situation.
About the Author
Terence Blacker is an English author, columnist, journalist, and publisher.
Blacker became has written childrens books and mysteries for adults. His first childrens book If I Could Work was published in 1987 and his first adult novel, FIXX, won critical acclaim
Genre/ Subgenre
Contemporary Life/ Humor
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Do you think boys and girls are treated differently by adults? Why?
2) Would you ever dress up as the opposite sex for a day if only you would know?
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 14+
Challenge Issues
Cross dressing
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Boy2Girl-Terence-Blacker/dp/0374309264
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.
Why Included in Titles Selected
Interesting subject matter
Plot Summary
When Sam's mother dies he is sent to live with his Aunt and cousin Matthew in England. In order to become a trusted member of Matthew's group of friends at school, Sam is given a test. He has to dress up as a girl and if he passes he will have the friendship of the boys at his new school. There is also another reason for the test. The boys want Sam to spy on a group of girls in order to learn their secrets. Soon Sam is passing as a girl, hanging out with the girls, and even attracting one of the popular guys at school. In another plot twist, Sam's dad arrives fresh out of jail searching for his son. Sam has to decide if fitting in while hiding from his father is important enough to continue the charade.
Critical Evaluation
Boy2Girl is a funny book which takes a different approach to how kids and adults look at gender roles. Do boys have it easier than girls, or vice versa? Do adults push their ideas about gender roles on their children? Should boys talk about their feelings? The story is told from a variety of characters' points of view which at times can be confusing but not impossible to follow. This is a great book to include in a collection because of its humorous approach to questioning gender roles.
Reader's Annotation
Thirteen-year old Sam dresses up as girl and what starts as a test soon turns into an outlandish situation.
About the Author
Terence Blacker is an English author, columnist, journalist, and publisher.
Blacker became has written childrens books and mysteries for adults. His first childrens book If I Could Work was published in 1987 and his first adult novel, FIXX, won critical acclaim
Genre/ Subgenre
Contemporary Life/ Humor
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Do you think boys and girls are treated differently by adults? Why?
2) Would you ever dress up as the opposite sex for a day if only you would know?
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 14+
Challenge Issues
Cross dressing
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Boy2Girl-Terence-Blacker/dp/0374309264
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.
Why Included in Titles Selected
Interesting subject matter
46. Party Girl by Lynne Ewing
Ewing, Lynne. Party Girl. Random House, 1998. ISBN 0679892850.
Plot Summary
Teenagers and best friends, Kata and Ana, attend a dance when the sound of gunfire interrupts their good time. Kata survives, but Ana loses her life. It is a typical occurrence in Los Angeles. Ana becomes another victim in the endless gang wars. Kata is angry and wants revenge but is torn between getting revenge and leaving the gang life forever. Kata struggles with an uncertain future, an alcoholic mother, her friends or "homeys" who seem hopeless and resigned to living the gang life, and falling in love. Will she find her way out of the gang life or become hopeless too?
Critical Evaluation
Party Girl is written with a very specific audience in mind. Most teenagers today will never have to experience the life that the characters in the book have. For that reason a lot of teenagers might not relate to the themes. That being said, it is a book that can be used to begin discussing such things as gang violence. The story is told from Kata's point of view which makes her character easy to care about. The book is short so there isn't a lot of development for the other characters. Party Girl should be part of a collection which includes a variety of other books about gang violence in order to show different perspectives with more insight.
Reader's Annotation
Kata's best friend, Ana, is killed in a drive-by shooting. Is it too late too get out of the Los Angeles gang life?
About the Author
Lynne Ewing is an American author and screenwriter.
Her first books were Drive-By and Party Girl. Drive-By took six years to write, and Party Girl has been made into a movie called Living the Life.
Genre/ Subgenre
Issues/ Gangs
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss why you think teenagers join gangs?
2) Discuss the differences between the characters in the book with teenagers you know? What circumstances make their lives different from yours?
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 14+
Challenge Issues
Gang violence, drinking/drug use
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Party-Knopf-Books-Lynne-Ewing/dp/037580210X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292297915&sr=1-1
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.
Why Included in Titles Selected
I saw the title and first thought it would be a funny book along the lines of the Parker Posey movie of the same title. Instead I got a book about gangs.
Plot Summary
Teenagers and best friends, Kata and Ana, attend a dance when the sound of gunfire interrupts their good time. Kata survives, but Ana loses her life. It is a typical occurrence in Los Angeles. Ana becomes another victim in the endless gang wars. Kata is angry and wants revenge but is torn between getting revenge and leaving the gang life forever. Kata struggles with an uncertain future, an alcoholic mother, her friends or "homeys" who seem hopeless and resigned to living the gang life, and falling in love. Will she find her way out of the gang life or become hopeless too?
Critical Evaluation
Party Girl is written with a very specific audience in mind. Most teenagers today will never have to experience the life that the characters in the book have. For that reason a lot of teenagers might not relate to the themes. That being said, it is a book that can be used to begin discussing such things as gang violence. The story is told from Kata's point of view which makes her character easy to care about. The book is short so there isn't a lot of development for the other characters. Party Girl should be part of a collection which includes a variety of other books about gang violence in order to show different perspectives with more insight.
Reader's Annotation
Kata's best friend, Ana, is killed in a drive-by shooting. Is it too late too get out of the Los Angeles gang life?
About the Author
Lynne Ewing is an American author and screenwriter.
Her first books were Drive-By and Party Girl. Drive-By took six years to write, and Party Girl has been made into a movie called Living the Life.
Genre/ Subgenre
Issues/ Gangs
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss why you think teenagers join gangs?
2) Discuss the differences between the characters in the book with teenagers you know? What circumstances make their lives different from yours?
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 14+
Challenge Issues
Gang violence, drinking/drug use
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Party-Knopf-Books-Lynne-Ewing/dp/037580210X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292297915&sr=1-1
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.Why Included in Titles Selected
I saw the title and first thought it would be a funny book along the lines of the Parker Posey movie of the same title. Instead I got a book about gangs.
45. Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher
Crutcher, Chris. Whale Talk. Greenwillow Books, 2001. ISBN 0688180191.
Plot Summary
Cutter High School is the typical place where the jocks rule the school and the outsider misfits struggle to fit in. T.J. Jones mixed-race, smart, and athletic and he also doesn't agree with how the less popular kids are treated. He decides to put together a swim team made up of himself and a group of misfits at the suggestion of his English teacher, Mr. Simet. The team grows closer with each meet and becomes a stronger team in more ways the one. They deal with bullies like racist football player Mike Barbour who has a personal vendetta against one of the swim team members, Chris, who is developmentally disabled. All the characters have life lessons to learn, even T.J. whose story comes to a mind-blowing conclusion in a heart wrenching scene with his mentally unstable father.
Critical Evaluation
Whale Talk is a heartwarming and sometimes painful look at high school and the dynamics between the popular kids and the outsiders get played out. T.J. is the narrator and at times seems wise beyond his years but his character is one the reader will root for until the end. His ability to bring together a group of misfit kids to form a successful swim team while becoming friends and overcoming life's trials is at the heart of the story. The book deals with prejudice all many levels (racism, disability) in a way that is accessible and easy to grasp for teenagers. A great book for any collection.
Reader's Annotation
A group of high school outcasts are asked by the smart and athletic T.J. to form a swim team.
About the Author
Chris Crutcher was born on July 17, 1946 in Dayton Ohio to a WWII bomber pilot and a homemaker. Crutcher grew up in Cascade, Idaho, a logging town north of Boise.
He has been honored with dozens of awards and honors including the CLA's 2005 St. Katharine Drexel Award, Writer Magazine's 2004 Writers Who Make A Difference Award, the ALA's 2000 Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award, the NCTE's 1998 National Intellectual Freedom Award and the ALAN Award. And he takes great pride in landing on the ALA Freedom to Read Foundation's top ten banned books and authors lists, whenever it happens.
Genre/ Subgenre
Issues/ Outsiders
Contemporary Life/ Sports
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Bullying is a hot topic. What types of bullying happen in the book and what would you do if you were one of the characters getting bullied?
2) Did the book change your view on who can be considered a jock or athlete?
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 12+
Challenge Issues
Racism, bullying
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Whale-Talk-Chris-Crutcher/dp/0061771317/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292301736&sr=1-1
Why Included in Titles Selected
Recommended by a coworker
Plot Summary
Cutter High School is the typical place where the jocks rule the school and the outsider misfits struggle to fit in. T.J. Jones mixed-race, smart, and athletic and he also doesn't agree with how the less popular kids are treated. He decides to put together a swim team made up of himself and a group of misfits at the suggestion of his English teacher, Mr. Simet. The team grows closer with each meet and becomes a stronger team in more ways the one. They deal with bullies like racist football player Mike Barbour who has a personal vendetta against one of the swim team members, Chris, who is developmentally disabled. All the characters have life lessons to learn, even T.J. whose story comes to a mind-blowing conclusion in a heart wrenching scene with his mentally unstable father.
Critical Evaluation
Whale Talk is a heartwarming and sometimes painful look at high school and the dynamics between the popular kids and the outsiders get played out. T.J. is the narrator and at times seems wise beyond his years but his character is one the reader will root for until the end. His ability to bring together a group of misfit kids to form a successful swim team while becoming friends and overcoming life's trials is at the heart of the story. The book deals with prejudice all many levels (racism, disability) in a way that is accessible and easy to grasp for teenagers. A great book for any collection.
Reader's Annotation
A group of high school outcasts are asked by the smart and athletic T.J. to form a swim team.
About the Author
Chris Crutcher was born on July 17, 1946 in Dayton Ohio to a WWII bomber pilot and a homemaker. Crutcher grew up in Cascade, Idaho, a logging town north of Boise.
He has been honored with dozens of awards and honors including the CLA's 2005 St. Katharine Drexel Award, Writer Magazine's 2004 Writers Who Make A Difference Award, the ALA's 2000 Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award, the NCTE's 1998 National Intellectual Freedom Award and the ALAN Award. And he takes great pride in landing on the ALA Freedom to Read Foundation's top ten banned books and authors lists, whenever it happens.
Genre/ Subgenre
Issues/ Outsiders
Contemporary Life/ Sports
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Bullying is a hot topic. What types of bullying happen in the book and what would you do if you were one of the characters getting bullied?
2) Did the book change your view on who can be considered a jock or athlete?
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 12+
Challenge Issues
Racism, bullying
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Whale-Talk-Chris-Crutcher/dp/0061771317/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292301736&sr=1-1
Why Included in Titles Selected
Recommended by a coworker
38. The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart
Lockhart, E. (2005). The Boyfriend List. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN 9780385902380
Plot Summary
In the past ten days Ruby Oliver, nicknamed Roo, has lost a boyfriend, is fighting with her friends, got caught by her mom drinking a beer, failed a math test, and that is only the beginning. When the panic attacks begin her parents question if she's suicidal, or maybe she has an eating disorder. She tells them it is neither so they decide she is troubled and send her to see a psychologist, Doctor Z. Roo begins to discuss some of the things she's going through most of them concerning boys so Doctor Z. convince Roo to make a "boyfriend list" and think about what each boy on the list means to her. Not only does Roo have to deal with the list, but also a home life where her parents are constantly fighting over her and a social life where she's been turned into the social outcast. To makes matters worse her list becomes public after she throws it in the trash. As Roo discusses her list with Doctor Z. she also begins to understand the pain she's feeling over lost friendships, self-acceptance, and what really matters in life.
Critical Evaluation
The Boyfriend List is a book that teenage girls will definitely love. Each chapter is dedicated to one of the boys Roo's list from Ben, who didn't even realize she considered him a boyfriend, to Angelo, who she only went on one date with. The book is full of teenage angst which most teenagers can relate to. How do you get over kissing a boy you like who no longer wants anything to do with you? How do you win back your friends after one of them thinks you stole her boyfriend? The book is a fun read, but does get distracting because Roo's character uses footnotes to elaborate on certain topics such as in chapter 8 when she talks about how annoying her mother is acting. There is three paragraph footnote describing what is annoying Roo. The footnotes take the reader away from the story and would be better placed within in the story itself.
Reader's Annotation
Fifteen year-old Ruby Oliver has been having panic attacks. The last ten days have been a nightmare. Does she have too many boyfriends?
About the Author
E. Lockhart is the author of three Ruby Oliver books: The Boyfriend List, The Boy Book, and The Treasure Map of Boys — plus a fourth, Real Live Boyfriends, that comes out December 28, 2010. Her other books include Fly on the Wall, Dramarama, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks and How to Be Bad.
Lockhart grew up in Cambridge, MA and Seattle, WA. She went to college at Vassar and graduate school at Columbia. She has a doctorate in English literature.
Genre
Fiction, Chick-Lit, Romance
Curriculum Ties
None
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss the relationship between Doctor Z. and Roo? Is the boyfriend list a good idea?
2) Discuss the reasons Roo's relationship with her friends fell apart.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 12+
Challenge Issues
None
Why Included in Titles Selected
Wanted to include a "chick-lit" title
Plot Summary
In the past ten days Ruby Oliver, nicknamed Roo, has lost a boyfriend, is fighting with her friends, got caught by her mom drinking a beer, failed a math test, and that is only the beginning. When the panic attacks begin her parents question if she's suicidal, or maybe she has an eating disorder. She tells them it is neither so they decide she is troubled and send her to see a psychologist, Doctor Z. Roo begins to discuss some of the things she's going through most of them concerning boys so Doctor Z. convince Roo to make a "boyfriend list" and think about what each boy on the list means to her. Not only does Roo have to deal with the list, but also a home life where her parents are constantly fighting over her and a social life where she's been turned into the social outcast. To makes matters worse her list becomes public after she throws it in the trash. As Roo discusses her list with Doctor Z. she also begins to understand the pain she's feeling over lost friendships, self-acceptance, and what really matters in life.
Critical Evaluation
The Boyfriend List is a book that teenage girls will definitely love. Each chapter is dedicated to one of the boys Roo's list from Ben, who didn't even realize she considered him a boyfriend, to Angelo, who she only went on one date with. The book is full of teenage angst which most teenagers can relate to. How do you get over kissing a boy you like who no longer wants anything to do with you? How do you win back your friends after one of them thinks you stole her boyfriend? The book is a fun read, but does get distracting because Roo's character uses footnotes to elaborate on certain topics such as in chapter 8 when she talks about how annoying her mother is acting. There is three paragraph footnote describing what is annoying Roo. The footnotes take the reader away from the story and would be better placed within in the story itself.
Reader's Annotation
Fifteen year-old Ruby Oliver has been having panic attacks. The last ten days have been a nightmare. Does she have too many boyfriends?
About the Author
E. Lockhart is the author of three Ruby Oliver books: The Boyfriend List, The Boy Book, and The Treasure Map of Boys — plus a fourth, Real Live Boyfriends, that comes out December 28, 2010. Her other books include Fly on the Wall, Dramarama, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks and How to Be Bad.
Lockhart grew up in Cambridge, MA and Seattle, WA. She went to college at Vassar and graduate school at Columbia. She has a doctorate in English literature.
Genre
Fiction, Chick-Lit, Romance
Curriculum Ties
None
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss the relationship between Doctor Z. and Roo? Is the boyfriend list a good idea?
2) Discuss the reasons Roo's relationship with her friends fell apart.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 12+
Challenge Issues
None
Why Included in Titles Selected
Wanted to include a "chick-lit" title
37. Lily Dale: Awakening by Wendy Corsi Staub
Staub, Wendy Corsi. (2007). Lily Dale: Awakening. New York: Holtzbrinck Publishers. ISBN 0802798438.
Plot Summary
After Calla's boyfriend breaks up with her via text message she doesn't think life could get any worse. Weeks later her mother dies in an accident. Calla is sent to live with her grandmother in the town of Lily Dale while her father heads to California for a new job. Calla is surprised to discover that Lily Dale is a town whose residents have a long history of being psychics. Calla begins to experience strange things like seeing the ghost of a missing girl. Soon she begins to realize that maybe her mother's death wasn't an accident and that Calla may be next in the line of the family of psychics.
Critical Evaluation
The book, the first in the Lily Dale series, is well-written story perfect for teens who enjoy the supernatural. Calla must deal with the loss of her mother while discovering new things about herself. The topic is one that many teens can relate to. Staub throws action and romance to keep the reader hooked and connected to the stories characters.
Reader's Annotation
Seventeen year-old Calla goes to stay with her psychic grandmother after the death of her mother. She soon discovers secrets about her mother that shake her to the bone.
About the Author
New York Times bestseller Wendy Corsi Staub is the award-winning author of more than seventy published novels and has sold more than three million books worldwide. Under her own name, Wendy achieved New York Times bestselling status with her single title psychological suspense novels. Those novels and the women's fiction she writes under the pseudonym Wendy Markham have also frequently appeared on the USA Today, Barnes and Noble Top Ten, and Bookscan bestseller lists.
Wendy now lives in the New York City suburbs with her husband of nineteen years and their two children. A 1986 graduate of the State University of New York at Fredonia, she proudly delivered the keynote commencement address at her alma mater in May 2008 and is serving a three-year appointment to the Dean's Advisory Council for the College of Arts and Sciences.
Genre
Mystery, supernatural
Curriculum Ties
N/A
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss the moments when Calla begins to realize her psychic abilities.
2) Discuss the history of the town of Lily Dale. Is it a real place?
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 12+
Challenge Issues
Psychic phenomenon
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Lily-Dale-Awakening/dp/0802798438/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1292314345&sr=1-1
Why Included in Titles Selected
Wanted to include a mystery title
Plot Summary
After Calla's boyfriend breaks up with her via text message she doesn't think life could get any worse. Weeks later her mother dies in an accident. Calla is sent to live with her grandmother in the town of Lily Dale while her father heads to California for a new job. Calla is surprised to discover that Lily Dale is a town whose residents have a long history of being psychics. Calla begins to experience strange things like seeing the ghost of a missing girl. Soon she begins to realize that maybe her mother's death wasn't an accident and that Calla may be next in the line of the family of psychics.
Critical Evaluation
The book, the first in the Lily Dale series, is well-written story perfect for teens who enjoy the supernatural. Calla must deal with the loss of her mother while discovering new things about herself. The topic is one that many teens can relate to. Staub throws action and romance to keep the reader hooked and connected to the stories characters.
Reader's Annotation
Seventeen year-old Calla goes to stay with her psychic grandmother after the death of her mother. She soon discovers secrets about her mother that shake her to the bone.
About the Author
New York Times bestseller Wendy Corsi Staub is the award-winning author of more than seventy published novels and has sold more than three million books worldwide. Under her own name, Wendy achieved New York Times bestselling status with her single title psychological suspense novels. Those novels and the women's fiction she writes under the pseudonym Wendy Markham have also frequently appeared on the USA Today, Barnes and Noble Top Ten, and Bookscan bestseller lists.
Wendy now lives in the New York City suburbs with her husband of nineteen years and their two children. A 1986 graduate of the State University of New York at Fredonia, she proudly delivered the keynote commencement address at her alma mater in May 2008 and is serving a three-year appointment to the Dean's Advisory Council for the College of Arts and Sciences.
Genre
Mystery, supernatural
Curriculum Ties
N/A
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss the moments when Calla begins to realize her psychic abilities.
2) Discuss the history of the town of Lily Dale. Is it a real place?
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 12+
Challenge Issues
Psychic phenomenon
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Lily-Dale-Awakening/dp/0802798438/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1292314345&sr=1-1
Why Included in Titles Selected
Wanted to include a mystery title
31. Forged by Fire by Sharon M. Draper
Draper, Sharon M. (1997). Forged by Fire. New York : Aladdin Paperbacks. ISBN 0689818513.
Plot Summary
As a child, Gerald Nickleby lives with his drug-addicted mother who often leaves him alone for hours at a time. When she is home she is cruel and abusive often apologizing after her many violent episodes. Gerald is fascinated by fire and his fascination leads to him burning the house down while his mother is gone. Luckily he is saved. His wheelchair-bound Aunt Queen gains custody of him while his mother is sent away to jail after authorities see the signs of abuse on Gerald's body. Aunt Queen is a kind woman who nurtures Gerald and gives him the love he missed growing up with his mother. The morning before his ninth birthday Aunt Queen gives him the news that his mother is out of jail and coming to visit. To make up for the bad news, Aunt Queen gives Gerald his birthday present early. A brand new bike is hiding in the garage. The birthday arrives and with it comes Gerald's mother along with her new husband, Jordan, and his shy daughter, Angel. Jordan is a cold man with darkness in his eyes. Gerald's mother brings more bad news with her. She wants Gerald to live with her, Jordan, and Angel. The news is too shocking for Gerald and with tears in his eyes he runs out the door. When he returns his mother and Jordan are gone, but Angel is still there with Aunt Queen. Gerald and Angel immediately form a bond. He feels like he must protect the tiny girl, but doesn't yet know or understand why. He takes Angel out to ride his new bike. When they come home bursting through the door and laughing they find Aunt Queen lying on the floor. She is dead. Gerald's life with mother and new family begins. He soon realizes why he must protect Angel. His stepfather is hiding a horrible secret. Gerald and Angel grow up into teenagers and form a bond that allows them to survive the abuse Jordan directs at them. Gerald isn't scared of Jordan and does his best at making smart decisions, but Angel is terrified. She too holds a dark secret. Will the secret destroy the family, or will the secret come out and save the kids from their horrible life?
Critical Evaluation
Forged by Fire is the second book in Draper's Hazelwood High trilogy. Many of the characters from her first book in the series, Tears of a Tiger, appear in this book. Draper creates vivid and emotionally aware characters that the reader wants to see overcome their obstacles. Jordan is portrayed as a monster, but one that so many teenagers from abusive households have encountered. This is an important book that touches on the topic of abuse. It has a message that abused teenagers have the power to change the circumstances they are in even if it doesn't seem so. Forged by Fire is touching, heartbreaking, and well worth the read.
Reader's Annotation
Gerald must protect his stepsister from a violent father while growing into a man and keeping his dignity.
About the Author
Sharon M. Draper lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she taught English for twenty-five years. She has been active in the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and was named National Teacher of the Year in 1997.
Draper's other books include Tears of a Tiger, Romiette and Julio, Darkness Before Dawn, and Double Dutch.
Genre
Series, Multiple and Unique Issues, African American
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss the unique bond between Gerald and Angel.
2) Discuss the reasons why you think Gerald's mother ignored the abuse happening in the family.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 13+
Challenge Issues
Physical abuse, sexual abuse/incest
Challenge defense ideas
-Coretta Scott King Award (1998), ALA Best Book for Young Adults
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Forged-Fire-Sharon-M-Draper/dp/0689818513/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292386475&sr=1-1
Why Included in Titles Selected
I read the Bluford High series by last semester and wanted to read something similar.
Plot Summary
As a child, Gerald Nickleby lives with his drug-addicted mother who often leaves him alone for hours at a time. When she is home she is cruel and abusive often apologizing after her many violent episodes. Gerald is fascinated by fire and his fascination leads to him burning the house down while his mother is gone. Luckily he is saved. His wheelchair-bound Aunt Queen gains custody of him while his mother is sent away to jail after authorities see the signs of abuse on Gerald's body. Aunt Queen is a kind woman who nurtures Gerald and gives him the love he missed growing up with his mother. The morning before his ninth birthday Aunt Queen gives him the news that his mother is out of jail and coming to visit. To make up for the bad news, Aunt Queen gives Gerald his birthday present early. A brand new bike is hiding in the garage. The birthday arrives and with it comes Gerald's mother along with her new husband, Jordan, and his shy daughter, Angel. Jordan is a cold man with darkness in his eyes. Gerald's mother brings more bad news with her. She wants Gerald to live with her, Jordan, and Angel. The news is too shocking for Gerald and with tears in his eyes he runs out the door. When he returns his mother and Jordan are gone, but Angel is still there with Aunt Queen. Gerald and Angel immediately form a bond. He feels like he must protect the tiny girl, but doesn't yet know or understand why. He takes Angel out to ride his new bike. When they come home bursting through the door and laughing they find Aunt Queen lying on the floor. She is dead. Gerald's life with mother and new family begins. He soon realizes why he must protect Angel. His stepfather is hiding a horrible secret. Gerald and Angel grow up into teenagers and form a bond that allows them to survive the abuse Jordan directs at them. Gerald isn't scared of Jordan and does his best at making smart decisions, but Angel is terrified. She too holds a dark secret. Will the secret destroy the family, or will the secret come out and save the kids from their horrible life?
Critical Evaluation
Forged by Fire is the second book in Draper's Hazelwood High trilogy. Many of the characters from her first book in the series, Tears of a Tiger, appear in this book. Draper creates vivid and emotionally aware characters that the reader wants to see overcome their obstacles. Jordan is portrayed as a monster, but one that so many teenagers from abusive households have encountered. This is an important book that touches on the topic of abuse. It has a message that abused teenagers have the power to change the circumstances they are in even if it doesn't seem so. Forged by Fire is touching, heartbreaking, and well worth the read.
Reader's Annotation
Gerald must protect his stepsister from a violent father while growing into a man and keeping his dignity.
About the Author
Sharon M. Draper lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she taught English for twenty-five years. She has been active in the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and was named National Teacher of the Year in 1997.
Draper's other books include Tears of a Tiger, Romiette and Julio, Darkness Before Dawn, and Double Dutch.
Genre
Series, Multiple and Unique Issues, African American
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss the unique bond between Gerald and Angel.
2) Discuss the reasons why you think Gerald's mother ignored the abuse happening in the family.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 13+
Challenge Issues
Physical abuse, sexual abuse/incest
Challenge defense ideas
-Coretta Scott King Award (1998), ALA Best Book for Young Adults
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Forged-Fire-Sharon-M-Draper/dp/0689818513/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292386475&sr=1-1
Why Included in Titles Selected
I read the Bluford High series by last semester and wanted to read something similar.
20. I Am David by Anne Holm
Holm, Anne. (2004). I Am David. Orlando, Fla.: Harcourt. ISBN 0152051600.
Plot Summary
The main character, 12 year-old David, is a prisoner in an unnamed concentration camp in Eastern Europe. The novel begins with David talking to one of the prison guards who he refers to as "the man." The man tells David that he can and must escape that night with only a compass, a few crumbs of bread, a small bar of soap, and instructions to head to Denmark. David struggles with trusting the man. He has spent his entire life in the concentration camp yet here is the chance for him to escape from the horrors he has lived through, but how does someone who only knows one way of life take a leap of faith and venture into an unknown world? Although David doesn't trust "the man" he realizes that the unknown couldn't be much worse. David manages to escape and begins his journey relying on his undeveloped intuition and surviving first on fear than learning along the way to trust his instincts. David encounters many people along the way and must make up a story about finding his way back to the circus to be with his family. The entire time he lives in fear of being captured and returned to the concentration camp, but he maintains a deep sense of right and wrong because of what he witnessed in the camp. He knows good from evil and holds on dearly to that knowledge especially when he meets and stays with a family in Italy after saving one of the daughter's from a fire. Before the fire, David encountered the girl's brother in the woods and the brother viciously beats David up. David does not fight back, but continues to be distrustful of the boy.After months of staying with the family he knows he must move on. The feeling that something important awaits him in Denmark keeps him going, but before reaching Denmark he encounters a violent farmer who holds him prisoner and treats him like a slave. This is another part of the book that shows David's resilience and need for survival. It is the closest he gets to giving up until he meets an unlikely ally in the form of the farmer's dog who in the end saves David's life with unfortunate circumstances. David finally makes his way to Denmark by learning how to make and use money and developing a keen sense of how and when to listen to his instincts. Because of this he meets a woman who puts him on the path to his destiny. In the end we find out why "the man" helped David and the journey brings David home.
Critical Evaluation
Older teens may find this book a bit fantastical given how David does get into some scary situations but nothing horrifyingly graphic or violent happens considering the horrors of the Holocaust. That is why this book is suited more for younger teens, or older teens who are reluctant readers. It is a great book about hope and searching for meaning in a world where everything you've seen has been bad.
Reader's Annotation
After escaping from an Eastern European concentration camp where he has spent most of his life, a twelve-year-old boy struggles to cope with an entirely strange world as he flees northward to freedom in Denmark.
About the Author
Anne Holm (September 10, 1922 - December 27, 1998) was a Danish journalist and children's writer. At times she also wrote under the pseudonym Adrien de Chandelle.
Her best known book is I Am David, adapted for a 2003 film. It won the ALA Notable Book award in 1965, the 1963 Best Scandinavian Children's Book award and the Boys Club of America Junior Book Award Gold Medal. Another well known book by Holm is Peter, which tells the story of a teenage boy who travels in time to ancient Greece and medieval England.
Genre
Historical
Curriculum Ties
History
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss children during the Holocaust.
2) Discuss the ways David survived his long journey.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 12+
Challenge Issues
Holocaust
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/I-Am-David-Anne-Holm/dp/0152051600/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292481861&sr=1-1
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.
Why Included in Titles Selected
A good addition for titles about the Holocaust.
Plot Summary
The main character, 12 year-old David, is a prisoner in an unnamed concentration camp in Eastern Europe. The novel begins with David talking to one of the prison guards who he refers to as "the man." The man tells David that he can and must escape that night with only a compass, a few crumbs of bread, a small bar of soap, and instructions to head to Denmark. David struggles with trusting the man. He has spent his entire life in the concentration camp yet here is the chance for him to escape from the horrors he has lived through, but how does someone who only knows one way of life take a leap of faith and venture into an unknown world? Although David doesn't trust "the man" he realizes that the unknown couldn't be much worse. David manages to escape and begins his journey relying on his undeveloped intuition and surviving first on fear than learning along the way to trust his instincts. David encounters many people along the way and must make up a story about finding his way back to the circus to be with his family. The entire time he lives in fear of being captured and returned to the concentration camp, but he maintains a deep sense of right and wrong because of what he witnessed in the camp. He knows good from evil and holds on dearly to that knowledge especially when he meets and stays with a family in Italy after saving one of the daughter's from a fire. Before the fire, David encountered the girl's brother in the woods and the brother viciously beats David up. David does not fight back, but continues to be distrustful of the boy.After months of staying with the family he knows he must move on. The feeling that something important awaits him in Denmark keeps him going, but before reaching Denmark he encounters a violent farmer who holds him prisoner and treats him like a slave. This is another part of the book that shows David's resilience and need for survival. It is the closest he gets to giving up until he meets an unlikely ally in the form of the farmer's dog who in the end saves David's life with unfortunate circumstances. David finally makes his way to Denmark by learning how to make and use money and developing a keen sense of how and when to listen to his instincts. Because of this he meets a woman who puts him on the path to his destiny. In the end we find out why "the man" helped David and the journey brings David home.
Critical Evaluation
Older teens may find this book a bit fantastical given how David does get into some scary situations but nothing horrifyingly graphic or violent happens considering the horrors of the Holocaust. That is why this book is suited more for younger teens, or older teens who are reluctant readers. It is a great book about hope and searching for meaning in a world where everything you've seen has been bad.
Reader's Annotation
After escaping from an Eastern European concentration camp where he has spent most of his life, a twelve-year-old boy struggles to cope with an entirely strange world as he flees northward to freedom in Denmark.
About the Author
Anne Holm (September 10, 1922 - December 27, 1998) was a Danish journalist and children's writer. At times she also wrote under the pseudonym Adrien de Chandelle.
Her best known book is I Am David, adapted for a 2003 film. It won the ALA Notable Book award in 1965, the 1963 Best Scandinavian Children's Book award and the Boys Club of America Junior Book Award Gold Medal. Another well known book by Holm is Peter, which tells the story of a teenage boy who travels in time to ancient Greece and medieval England.
Genre
Historical
Curriculum Ties
History
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss children during the Holocaust.
2) Discuss the ways David survived his long journey.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 12+
Challenge Issues
Holocaust
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/I-Am-David-Anne-Holm/dp/0152051600/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292481861&sr=1-1
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.
Why Included in Titles Selected
A good addition for titles about the Holocaust.
18. Who Am I Without Him? Short Stories About Girls and the Boys in Their Lives by Sharon G. Flake
Flake, Sharon G. (2005). Who Am I Without Him? Short Stories About Girls and the Boys in Their Lives. New York : Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 9780786815043.
Plot Summary
This collection of stories follows girls from different backgrounds who navigate the world of relationships. Some boys are "dogs" and don't know how to treat a girl right, but the girls stay with them anyway. A girl can't stand when her boyfriend looks at other girls. A girl is attracted to her friend's boyfriend and must decide if friendship is more important than obtaining a good-looking man. A father writes a letter to his daughter reminding her to always stand up for herself and remember that love is more important than staying in bad relationships. These are just some of the stories about young girls and the boys they love.
Critical Evaluation
Although the characters in the book are African-American, the themes in the book are about love and relationships. These themes are universal so the book can be enjoyed by girls of all races. Flake writes with such honesty and realness that it is hard not to connect with all the characters. All girls need to find some kind of self-worth and this book addresses this.
Reader's Annotation
Twelve stories about love and relationships geared to African American girls.
About the Author
Sharon G. Flake won the Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe Award for New Talent for her novel, The Skin I'm In. She is also a two-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book. Flake lives in Pittsburgh.
Genre
Short Stories, African American, Romance
Curriculum Ties
N/A
Booktalking Ideas
1) The book is geared towards African American girls. Is there a difference in how they love than how girls of other races love?
2) Discuss which stories stuck out to you more and why.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 13+
Challenge Issues
N/A
Why Included in Titles Selected
I wanted to include multicultural titles for girls.
Plot Summary
This collection of stories follows girls from different backgrounds who navigate the world of relationships. Some boys are "dogs" and don't know how to treat a girl right, but the girls stay with them anyway. A girl can't stand when her boyfriend looks at other girls. A girl is attracted to her friend's boyfriend and must decide if friendship is more important than obtaining a good-looking man. A father writes a letter to his daughter reminding her to always stand up for herself and remember that love is more important than staying in bad relationships. These are just some of the stories about young girls and the boys they love.
Critical Evaluation
Although the characters in the book are African-American, the themes in the book are about love and relationships. These themes are universal so the book can be enjoyed by girls of all races. Flake writes with such honesty and realness that it is hard not to connect with all the characters. All girls need to find some kind of self-worth and this book addresses this.
Reader's Annotation
Twelve stories about love and relationships geared to African American girls.
About the Author
Sharon G. Flake won the Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe Award for New Talent for her novel, The Skin I'm In. She is also a two-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book. Flake lives in Pittsburgh.
Genre
Short Stories, African American, Romance
Curriculum Ties
N/A
Booktalking Ideas
1) The book is geared towards African American girls. Is there a difference in how they love than how girls of other races love?
2) Discuss which stories stuck out to you more and why.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 13+
Challenge Issues
N/A
Why Included in Titles Selected
I wanted to include multicultural titles for girls.
16. Tears of a Tiger by Sharon M. Draper
Draper, Sharon M. (1994). Tears of a Tiger. New York, NY : Aladdin Paperbacks. ISBN 0689806981.
Plot Summary
Andy Jackson and his friends decide to party after winning a basketball game. Andy's decision to drink and drive ends in a tragic accident that kills one of the boys, Robert Washington. Andy and the rest of his friends struggle to deal with Robert's death. Andy is the one affected the most and he begins to struggle with a deep depression that no one recognizes until its too late.
Critical Evaluation
Tears of a Tiger deals with a few complicated subjects: drinking and driving, death, racism, depression, suicide. Draper uses a variety of ways to tell the story from different characters' points of view. These include diary entries, letters, phone conversations, and conversations between characters. The book is deeply moving as the characters try to cope with the death of a friend while trying to understand the change in Andy's personality. The sad thing is that nobody, not even parents and counselors can reach Andy in time. Some of the dialogue seems unrealistic in a way that teenagers don't speak in the way Draper writes, but regardless the book is a serious look into the importance of discussing the consequences of drinking and driving.
Reader's Annotation
A group of teenagers' lives are changed forever when one of their own is killed in an accident involving drinking and driving.
About the Author
Sharon M. Draper lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she taught English for twenty-five years. She has been active in the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and was named National Teacher of the Year in 1997.
Draper's other books include Forged by Fire, Romiette and Julio, Darkness Before Dawn, and Double Dutch.
Genre
Series, Multicultural Fiction, African American
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss the importance of being educated about the dangers of drinking and driving.
2) Why do you think the adults were blind to Andy's struggles?
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 12+
Challenge Issues
Teenage drinking and driving, Suicide
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Tears-Tiger-Sharon-M-Draper/dp/0689806981/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292476315&sr=1-1
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.
Why Included in Titles Selected
I wanted to include multicultural literature in my collection.
Plot Summary
Andy Jackson and his friends decide to party after winning a basketball game. Andy's decision to drink and drive ends in a tragic accident that kills one of the boys, Robert Washington. Andy and the rest of his friends struggle to deal with Robert's death. Andy is the one affected the most and he begins to struggle with a deep depression that no one recognizes until its too late.
Critical Evaluation
Tears of a Tiger deals with a few complicated subjects: drinking and driving, death, racism, depression, suicide. Draper uses a variety of ways to tell the story from different characters' points of view. These include diary entries, letters, phone conversations, and conversations between characters. The book is deeply moving as the characters try to cope with the death of a friend while trying to understand the change in Andy's personality. The sad thing is that nobody, not even parents and counselors can reach Andy in time. Some of the dialogue seems unrealistic in a way that teenagers don't speak in the way Draper writes, but regardless the book is a serious look into the importance of discussing the consequences of drinking and driving.
Reader's Annotation
A group of teenagers' lives are changed forever when one of their own is killed in an accident involving drinking and driving.
About the Author
Sharon M. Draper lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she taught English for twenty-five years. She has been active in the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and was named National Teacher of the Year in 1997.
Draper's other books include Forged by Fire, Romiette and Julio, Darkness Before Dawn, and Double Dutch.
Genre
Series, Multicultural Fiction, African American
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss the importance of being educated about the dangers of drinking and driving.
2) Why do you think the adults were blind to Andy's struggles?
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 12+
Challenge Issues
Teenage drinking and driving, Suicide
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Tears-Tiger-Sharon-M-Draper/dp/0689806981/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292476315&sr=1-1
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.
Why Included in Titles Selected
I wanted to include multicultural literature in my collection.
14. Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger
Wittlinger, Ellen. (2007). Parrotfish. New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9781416916222.
Plot Summary
High schooler, Angela Katz-McNair has something important she wants to tell her family and friends. No, she's not a lesbian. No, she's not a tomboy. Angela wants to tell the world that she is a boy and wants to be called "Grady" from now on. Although she was born biologically female she knows on the inside that she is a boy. She is a "he." Grady begins to live life as a boy by binding his breasts and wearing baggy clothes. He just wants to be accepted as for what he truly is. It isn't going to be so easy. His mother is horrified and fears that she is losing a daughter. Grady's little sister, Laura, thinks it will ruin her status as a popular girl at school. His father tries is somewhat understanding, but hides behind strange family traditions like decorating the house in a hilarious and disturbing Christmas extravaganza complete with the family putting on a Christmas show for the neighborhood through the dining room window. Grady's best friend, Eve, distances herself and offers no support. The popular girls at school bully Grady relentlessly. His only friend is a strange boy named Sebastian who teaches Grady that he may have to accept himself before anyone else will accept him. Just like the parrotfish that can change from female to male depending on its environment, Grady must learn to accept the changes.
Critical Evaluation
Told from Grady's point of view, Parrotfish is an ambitious novel that tackles a tough subject not familiar to a lot of teens. People familiar with transgender issues may find it unrealistic in its depiction of Grady. Grady's voice is at times distinctly feminine which can be seen from two points of view. Either its because Grady is still young and finding himself, or the author did not do a good job at remembering to keep Grady in character. Either way, the book takes a light-hearted approach to the topic which is good for teens not familiar with a touchy subject. Its a great book that can open up the discussion about what transgender teens go through.
Reader's Annotation
Transgendered high schooler, Grady, wants to be accepted by his family and classmates as he struggles to identify as a boy.
About the Author
Ellen Wittlinger is the critically acclaimed author of the teen novels Blind Faith, Heart on My Sleeve, What's In a Name, and the Printz Honor book Hard Love. She is an advocate for LGBT youth and youth issues in general.
Wittlinger has a bachelor's degree from Millikin University and an MFA from the University of Iowa. She is a former children's librarian and lives with her husband in Haydenville, Massachusetts.
Genre
Sexual Identity, Transgender
Curriculum Ties
Sex Education, Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss why it is so hard for Grady's family and classmates to accept him.
2) Discuss your view about transgedered people.
3) Discuss bullying as it pertains to the book.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 14+
Challenge Issues
Transgender issues, bullying
Challenge defense ideas
-Research and become familiar with transgender issues
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Parrotfish-Ellen-Wittlinger/dp/1442406216/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1292473002&sr=1-1
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.
Why Included in Titles Selected
Required reading for the course.
Plot Summary
High schooler, Angela Katz-McNair has something important she wants to tell her family and friends. No, she's not a lesbian. No, she's not a tomboy. Angela wants to tell the world that she is a boy and wants to be called "Grady" from now on. Although she was born biologically female she knows on the inside that she is a boy. She is a "he." Grady begins to live life as a boy by binding his breasts and wearing baggy clothes. He just wants to be accepted as for what he truly is. It isn't going to be so easy. His mother is horrified and fears that she is losing a daughter. Grady's little sister, Laura, thinks it will ruin her status as a popular girl at school. His father tries is somewhat understanding, but hides behind strange family traditions like decorating the house in a hilarious and disturbing Christmas extravaganza complete with the family putting on a Christmas show for the neighborhood through the dining room window. Grady's best friend, Eve, distances herself and offers no support. The popular girls at school bully Grady relentlessly. His only friend is a strange boy named Sebastian who teaches Grady that he may have to accept himself before anyone else will accept him. Just like the parrotfish that can change from female to male depending on its environment, Grady must learn to accept the changes.
Critical Evaluation
Told from Grady's point of view, Parrotfish is an ambitious novel that tackles a tough subject not familiar to a lot of teens. People familiar with transgender issues may find it unrealistic in its depiction of Grady. Grady's voice is at times distinctly feminine which can be seen from two points of view. Either its because Grady is still young and finding himself, or the author did not do a good job at remembering to keep Grady in character. Either way, the book takes a light-hearted approach to the topic which is good for teens not familiar with a touchy subject. Its a great book that can open up the discussion about what transgender teens go through.
Reader's Annotation
Transgendered high schooler, Grady, wants to be accepted by his family and classmates as he struggles to identify as a boy.
About the Author
Ellen Wittlinger is the critically acclaimed author of the teen novels Blind Faith, Heart on My Sleeve, What's In a Name, and the Printz Honor book Hard Love. She is an advocate for LGBT youth and youth issues in general.
Wittlinger has a bachelor's degree from Millikin University and an MFA from the University of Iowa. She is a former children's librarian and lives with her husband in Haydenville, Massachusetts.
Genre
Sexual Identity, Transgender
Curriculum Ties
Sex Education, Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss why it is so hard for Grady's family and classmates to accept him.
2) Discuss your view about transgedered people.
3) Discuss bullying as it pertains to the book.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 14+
Challenge Issues
Transgender issues, bullying
Challenge defense ideas
-Research and become familiar with transgender issues
-Become familiar with the book and its content.-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Parrotfish-Ellen-Wittlinger/dp/1442406216/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1292473002&sr=1-1
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.
Why Included in Titles Selected
Required reading for the course.
13. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Collins, Suzanne. (2008). The Hunger Games. New York : Scholastic Press. ISBN 9780439023481.
Plot Summary
It is time for the annual reaping where two children from each of the twelve districts of Panem are chosen to compete in the annual Hunger Games. The Games are an annual event thrown by the leaders of the Capitol in which the 24 contestants fight to the death with only one winner being crowned. It is the Capitol's way of maintaining control over a land torn apart by war. Katniss Everdeen volunteer's to take her little sister, Prim's, place believing that she may have a chance to win and save her family from the poverty they have grown to know. The other contestant from her district, Peeta, is chosen and they must prepare to enter the arena. Katniss and Peeta are sponsored by a past winner named Haymitch who is a horrible drunk, but he is all they have and must learn to listen to what he knows about surviving the Hunger Games. The pair are fitted in outfits by a glamour team and taught how to use weapons and acquire survival techniques before entering the arena. Before entering the arena Peeta does something bold by telling Katniss he has feeling for her which changes the game. Katniss holds a memory from childhood where Peeta once gave her some bread after his mother caught her rummaging through the garbage. She feels like she owes him for not letting her and her family starve that day. But only one person ever comes out of the Hunger Games alive. How can she kill Peeta without feeling guilty? If she doesn't kill him he may kill her. What will that do to Prim and her mother? It is too late to think about all of that because soon they are standing on their platforms with the horn about to blow signaling the start of the 74th Annual Hunger Games.
Critical Evaluation
The Hunger Games, book one in the series, biggest controversy is its violence. Children killing children is not the ideal book idea in most parents' eyes. The violence is only the basis of what the book is really about. Themes run throughout about family values, community, love, and trust. The reader will begin to question how a government can use this type of entertainment to control its citizens. Comparisons can made about how society uses reality television and consumerism as a way to entertain. The actual Games are about survival and what the characters are really capable of. Do they kill for the sake of killing, or do they kill only as a last resort? Why do they make certain alliances when only one of them can survive? This book is full of action and suspense. The main characters are so well-rounded that the reader wants to root for all of them to survive. They are forced to kill each other, but doesn't mean they want or have to. The Hunger Games is sure to come up against challengers, but it is an exciting and amazing book and series.
Reader's Annotation
The rulers of Panem control twelve districts by televising an annual reality competition called The Hunger Games. Two young people from each district are chosen to enter an arena and fight to the death. Only one will make it out alive. Will it be Katniss Everdeen?
About the Author
Since 1991, Suzanne Collins has been busy writing for children’s television. She has worked on the staffs of several Nickelodeon shows, including the Emmy-nominated hit Clarissa Explains it All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. For preschool viewers, she penned multiple stories for the Emmy-nominated Little Bear and Oswald. She also co-wrote the critically acclaimed Rankin/Bass Christmas special, Santa, Baby! Most recently she was the Head Writer for Scholastic Entertainment’s Clifford’s Puppy Days.
Collins lives in Connecticut with her family.
Genre
Hard Science Fiction, Series, Post-Apocalypse
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss which reality shows today remind you of The Hunger Games.
2) Do you think such a game could be possible in the future?
3) Would you be willing to take the place of a loved one if they were chosen to go to the Games?
4) Discuss the relationship between Katniss and Peeta? Is it real or fake?
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 14+
Challenge Issues
Child on child violence
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Hunger-Games-Book-1/dp/0439023521/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292472098&sr=1-1
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.
Why Included in Titles Selected
It was recommended by a friend along with being required reading for the course.
Plot Summary
It is time for the annual reaping where two children from each of the twelve districts of Panem are chosen to compete in the annual Hunger Games. The Games are an annual event thrown by the leaders of the Capitol in which the 24 contestants fight to the death with only one winner being crowned. It is the Capitol's way of maintaining control over a land torn apart by war. Katniss Everdeen volunteer's to take her little sister, Prim's, place believing that she may have a chance to win and save her family from the poverty they have grown to know. The other contestant from her district, Peeta, is chosen and they must prepare to enter the arena. Katniss and Peeta are sponsored by a past winner named Haymitch who is a horrible drunk, but he is all they have and must learn to listen to what he knows about surviving the Hunger Games. The pair are fitted in outfits by a glamour team and taught how to use weapons and acquire survival techniques before entering the arena. Before entering the arena Peeta does something bold by telling Katniss he has feeling for her which changes the game. Katniss holds a memory from childhood where Peeta once gave her some bread after his mother caught her rummaging through the garbage. She feels like she owes him for not letting her and her family starve that day. But only one person ever comes out of the Hunger Games alive. How can she kill Peeta without feeling guilty? If she doesn't kill him he may kill her. What will that do to Prim and her mother? It is too late to think about all of that because soon they are standing on their platforms with the horn about to blow signaling the start of the 74th Annual Hunger Games.
Critical Evaluation
The Hunger Games, book one in the series, biggest controversy is its violence. Children killing children is not the ideal book idea in most parents' eyes. The violence is only the basis of what the book is really about. Themes run throughout about family values, community, love, and trust. The reader will begin to question how a government can use this type of entertainment to control its citizens. Comparisons can made about how society uses reality television and consumerism as a way to entertain. The actual Games are about survival and what the characters are really capable of. Do they kill for the sake of killing, or do they kill only as a last resort? Why do they make certain alliances when only one of them can survive? This book is full of action and suspense. The main characters are so well-rounded that the reader wants to root for all of them to survive. They are forced to kill each other, but doesn't mean they want or have to. The Hunger Games is sure to come up against challengers, but it is an exciting and amazing book and series.
Reader's Annotation
The rulers of Panem control twelve districts by televising an annual reality competition called The Hunger Games. Two young people from each district are chosen to enter an arena and fight to the death. Only one will make it out alive. Will it be Katniss Everdeen?
About the Author
Since 1991, Suzanne Collins has been busy writing for children’s television. She has worked on the staffs of several Nickelodeon shows, including the Emmy-nominated hit Clarissa Explains it All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. For preschool viewers, she penned multiple stories for the Emmy-nominated Little Bear and Oswald. She also co-wrote the critically acclaimed Rankin/Bass Christmas special, Santa, Baby! Most recently she was the Head Writer for Scholastic Entertainment’s Clifford’s Puppy Days.
Collins lives in Connecticut with her family.
Genre
Hard Science Fiction, Series, Post-Apocalypse
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss which reality shows today remind you of The Hunger Games.
2) Do you think such a game could be possible in the future?
3) Would you be willing to take the place of a loved one if they were chosen to go to the Games?
4) Discuss the relationship between Katniss and Peeta? Is it real or fake?
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 14+
Challenge Issues
Child on child violence
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Hunger-Games-Book-1/dp/0439023521/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292472098&sr=1-1
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.
Why Included in Titles Selected
It was recommended by a friend along with being required reading for the course.
12. Trigger by Susan Vaught
Vaught, Susan. (2006). Trigger. New York : Bloomsbury. ISBN 9781582349206.
Plot Summary
Jersey Hatch used to play on the football team, had plenty of friends, and made good grades. That was until the day he decided to shoot himself in the head. Jersey returns home from the hospital after being in a coma. The shooting left him with no memory of the incident and now he is left not being able to think before speaking, has trouble walking, and controlling his movements. His best friend, Todd, no longer wants anything to do with him and his parents are distraught with trying to figure out why he tried to kill himself when he had everything going for him. Jersey also has the need to know why. With the help of Todd's grandmother, Mama Rush, Jersey arms himself with a notebook to write down his memories and flashbacks in order to piece together what happened. As he makes the climb towards recovery he begins to find the answers, but will they be enough to win back his friends and keep his family from falling apart all over again?
Critical Evaluation
Trigger, told from Jersey's point of view, is both heartbreaking and fascinating journey into the psyche of a popular boy who felt the need to try and end his life. This book is very relevant today especially with the many teen suicides in the news. What causes a child to want to commit suicide? What impact does it have on those around him? Trigger delves into and tries to answer these questions through the fresh and confused mind of Jersey Hatch. Especially heartbreaking are the scenes when Jersey returns to school and faces cruelty and discrimination because of his new disabilities. The scenes are so real and vivid. Readers might not want to feel sympathy for Jersey's selfish act, but by the end of the book will be rooting for him to find the answers he is looking for.
Reader's Annotation
Seventeen year-old Jersey Hatch arrives home from the hospital knowing he has a brain-injury but doesn't know how it happened, but his friends won't talk to him and his parents fight to understand what made him shoot himself in the head.
About the Author
Genre
Issues, Physical Challenges
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss the subject of suicide.
2) Given Jersey's physical and mental disabilities, do you think his peers were too harsh on him?
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 15+
Challenge Issues
Suicide, disabilities
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Susan-Vaught/dp/1599902303/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292469287&sr=1-1
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.
Why Included in Titles Selected
Recommended by a coworker.
Plot Summary
Jersey Hatch used to play on the football team, had plenty of friends, and made good grades. That was until the day he decided to shoot himself in the head. Jersey returns home from the hospital after being in a coma. The shooting left him with no memory of the incident and now he is left not being able to think before speaking, has trouble walking, and controlling his movements. His best friend, Todd, no longer wants anything to do with him and his parents are distraught with trying to figure out why he tried to kill himself when he had everything going for him. Jersey also has the need to know why. With the help of Todd's grandmother, Mama Rush, Jersey arms himself with a notebook to write down his memories and flashbacks in order to piece together what happened. As he makes the climb towards recovery he begins to find the answers, but will they be enough to win back his friends and keep his family from falling apart all over again?
Critical Evaluation
Trigger, told from Jersey's point of view, is both heartbreaking and fascinating journey into the psyche of a popular boy who felt the need to try and end his life. This book is very relevant today especially with the many teen suicides in the news. What causes a child to want to commit suicide? What impact does it have on those around him? Trigger delves into and tries to answer these questions through the fresh and confused mind of Jersey Hatch. Especially heartbreaking are the scenes when Jersey returns to school and faces cruelty and discrimination because of his new disabilities. The scenes are so real and vivid. Readers might not want to feel sympathy for Jersey's selfish act, but by the end of the book will be rooting for him to find the answers he is looking for.
Reader's Annotation
Seventeen year-old Jersey Hatch arrives home from the hospital knowing he has a brain-injury but doesn't know how it happened, but his friends won't talk to him and his parents fight to understand what made him shoot himself in the head.
About the Author
Genre
Issues, Physical Challenges
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss the subject of suicide.
2) Given Jersey's physical and mental disabilities, do you think his peers were too harsh on him?
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 15+
Challenge Issues
Suicide, disabilities
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Susan-Vaught/dp/1599902303/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292469287&sr=1-1
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.Why Included in Titles Selected
Recommended by a coworker.
11. Punkzilla by Adam Rapp
Rapp, Adam. (2009). Punkzilla. Somerville, Mass.: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763630317.
Plot Summary
Fourteen year-old Jamie, or "Punkzilla" as his new friends call him, is on a Greyhound bus from Portland, Oregon to Memphis, Tennessee. His mission is to visit his gay older brother, Peter, who is dying from cancer. Jamie tells the reader his story through letters that he writes to his brother in a journal he keeps. Jamie runs away from a military school where his abusive father and absent mother sent him. While living on the streets of Portland he commits crimes to make money and tries crystal meth. Along his bus journey Jamie gets mugged, befriends a female-to-male transsexual, loses his virginity, and gets taken advantage repeatedly both mentally and physically. He knows its because of his androgynous appearance and he hates the fact that puberty is so slow to arrive. Jamie is an angry, lost soul, but in his quest and love for his brother there is a person worth saving. Will Jamie realize this? Will he get to his brother on time?
Critical Evaluation
Punkzilla is told from fourteen year-old Jamie's point of view. The reader gets a glimpse into his world through lettters he writes to his dying brother. The descriptions of his acts are both raw and real and may be hard to handle for the younger reader. There are violent scenes in which Jamie punches a woman in the chest. There are also a lot of sexually explicit scenes that involve older men and young boys. The book is very disturbing, but depicts a character so real. Readers who pick this book up will want Jamie to find salvation because of all the suffering in his life. Definitely a controversial book, but well worth the read.
Reader's Annotation
Fourteen year-old Jamie is a criminal runaway on a bus trip to see his dying brother.
About the Author
Adam Rapp lives in New York City. He is the author of Under the Wolf, Under the Dog, an L.A. Times Book Prize finalist and Schneider Family Book Award winner. His book, 33 Snowfish is an American Library Association Top Ten Books for Young Adults.
Rapp is also an accomplished playwright and screenwriter.
Genre
Issues, Homelessness, Substance Abuse
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss the effectiveness of Rapp's use of letters to tell the story of Jamie.
2) Discuss why you think Jamie finds himself in such bad situations. Are they entirely his fault?
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 15+
Challenge Issues
Drug use, criminal activity, sex, language
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see
http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Punkzilla-Adam-Rapp/dp/0763652970/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1292467704&sr=1-1
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.
Why Included in Titles Selected
I'm a big fan of Adam Rapp especially after reading 33 Snowfish.
Plot Summary
Fourteen year-old Jamie, or "Punkzilla" as his new friends call him, is on a Greyhound bus from Portland, Oregon to Memphis, Tennessee. His mission is to visit his gay older brother, Peter, who is dying from cancer. Jamie tells the reader his story through letters that he writes to his brother in a journal he keeps. Jamie runs away from a military school where his abusive father and absent mother sent him. While living on the streets of Portland he commits crimes to make money and tries crystal meth. Along his bus journey Jamie gets mugged, befriends a female-to-male transsexual, loses his virginity, and gets taken advantage repeatedly both mentally and physically. He knows its because of his androgynous appearance and he hates the fact that puberty is so slow to arrive. Jamie is an angry, lost soul, but in his quest and love for his brother there is a person worth saving. Will Jamie realize this? Will he get to his brother on time?
Critical Evaluation
Punkzilla is told from fourteen year-old Jamie's point of view. The reader gets a glimpse into his world through lettters he writes to his dying brother. The descriptions of his acts are both raw and real and may be hard to handle for the younger reader. There are violent scenes in which Jamie punches a woman in the chest. There are also a lot of sexually explicit scenes that involve older men and young boys. The book is very disturbing, but depicts a character so real. Readers who pick this book up will want Jamie to find salvation because of all the suffering in his life. Definitely a controversial book, but well worth the read.
Reader's Annotation
Fourteen year-old Jamie is a criminal runaway on a bus trip to see his dying brother.
About the Author
Adam Rapp lives in New York City. He is the author of Under the Wolf, Under the Dog, an L.A. Times Book Prize finalist and Schneider Family Book Award winner. His book, 33 Snowfish is an American Library Association Top Ten Books for Young Adults.
Rapp is also an accomplished playwright and screenwriter.
Genre
Issues, Homelessness, Substance Abuse
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss the effectiveness of Rapp's use of letters to tell the story of Jamie.
2) Discuss why you think Jamie finds himself in such bad situations. Are they entirely his fault?
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 15+
Challenge Issues
Drug use, criminal activity, sex, language
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see
http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Punkzilla-Adam-Rapp/dp/0763652970/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1292467704&sr=1-1
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.
Why Included in Titles Selected
I'm a big fan of Adam Rapp especially after reading 33 Snowfish.
8. Feed by M.T. Anderson
Anderson, M.T. (2002). Feed. Cambridge, MA : Candlewick Press. ISBN 0763617261.
Plot Summary
Titus and his friends seem to have the perfect life. At a young age they were fitted with a computer chip called the "feed". It allows them to have pretty much whatever they want. When they're bored they can ask to take a trip to the moon. Life in this future America is wonderful. When Titus wants a new wardrobe, the "feed" lets him know how to get clothes from Weatherbee and Crotch. The "feed" is connected to a network called the "Feednet" which, in this future society, controls, monitors, and manipulates peoples thoughts. It is controlled by corrupt corporations who use the "feed" to place a value on the consumer habits of those implanted with the chip. Obviously, Titus and his friends aren't aware of all of this. That is until they take a trip to the moon for Spring Break and meet Violet Durn. Titus and his friends invite Violet to party with them. At the party, a man hacks into their feeds causing them to uncontrollably say negative things about the "feed." They pass out and wake up in a hospital and aren't able to use their feeds. During their stay at the hospital, Titus learns from Violet that there might be something the "feed" isn't letting him see. The world isn't as great as he thinks it is. When they return to Earth they both begin having nightmares about riots an pollution. Violet knows these things are real because she remembers the world before she had the "feed" implanted. Soon her "feed" begins to malfunction and she learns she might die. Other people start getting lesions all over their bodies. Something has gone terribly wrong with the "feed". As the story progresses we learn that the rest of the countries in the world aren't too happy with America and its corrupt "Feednet" and Titus struggles to understand why all of this is happening.
Critical Evaluation
What's great about Feed is its message about how consumerism may have too much control over how young adults view the world. Most of the characters seem a bit selfish and one-dimensional, but then a reader has to ask if that may be the point. In a consumer driven world a lot of people are selfish and one-dimensional. Violet is the anti-consumer and the voice of reason although the book is told from Titus' view. Feed would make a great companion to Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series because they both would allow young adults to discuss the importance of being perfect and having everything at your fingertips.
Reader's Annotation
Titus lives in a future America where everyone has a chip called the "feed" implanted into their brains. It makes life fun until he meet a mysterious girl named Violet who may know the truth about the "feed."
About the Author
M.T. Anderson writes stories for adults, picture books for children, and adventure novels for young adults. Feed was a Finalist for the National Book Award and winner of the L.A. Times Book Prize.
Anderson is a board member of the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Genre
Hard Science Fiction
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss the issue of consumerism and compare it to teens consumer habits today.
2) Discuss the relationship between Violet and Titus.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 14+
Challenge Issues
Mild language, Consumerism
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_21?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=feed+by+m.t.+anderson&x=0&y=0&sprefix=feed+by+m.t.+anderson
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.
Why Included in Titles Selected
Included in sci-fi group project.
Plot Summary
Titus and his friends seem to have the perfect life. At a young age they were fitted with a computer chip called the "feed". It allows them to have pretty much whatever they want. When they're bored they can ask to take a trip to the moon. Life in this future America is wonderful. When Titus wants a new wardrobe, the "feed" lets him know how to get clothes from Weatherbee and Crotch. The "feed" is connected to a network called the "Feednet" which, in this future society, controls, monitors, and manipulates peoples thoughts. It is controlled by corrupt corporations who use the "feed" to place a value on the consumer habits of those implanted with the chip. Obviously, Titus and his friends aren't aware of all of this. That is until they take a trip to the moon for Spring Break and meet Violet Durn. Titus and his friends invite Violet to party with them. At the party, a man hacks into their feeds causing them to uncontrollably say negative things about the "feed." They pass out and wake up in a hospital and aren't able to use their feeds. During their stay at the hospital, Titus learns from Violet that there might be something the "feed" isn't letting him see. The world isn't as great as he thinks it is. When they return to Earth they both begin having nightmares about riots an pollution. Violet knows these things are real because she remembers the world before she had the "feed" implanted. Soon her "feed" begins to malfunction and she learns she might die. Other people start getting lesions all over their bodies. Something has gone terribly wrong with the "feed". As the story progresses we learn that the rest of the countries in the world aren't too happy with America and its corrupt "Feednet" and Titus struggles to understand why all of this is happening.
Critical Evaluation
What's great about Feed is its message about how consumerism may have too much control over how young adults view the world. Most of the characters seem a bit selfish and one-dimensional, but then a reader has to ask if that may be the point. In a consumer driven world a lot of people are selfish and one-dimensional. Violet is the anti-consumer and the voice of reason although the book is told from Titus' view. Feed would make a great companion to Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series because they both would allow young adults to discuss the importance of being perfect and having everything at your fingertips.
Reader's Annotation
Titus lives in a future America where everyone has a chip called the "feed" implanted into their brains. It makes life fun until he meet a mysterious girl named Violet who may know the truth about the "feed."
About the Author
M.T. Anderson writes stories for adults, picture books for children, and adventure novels for young adults. Feed was a Finalist for the National Book Award and winner of the L.A. Times Book Prize.
Anderson is a board member of the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Genre
Hard Science Fiction
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss the issue of consumerism and compare it to teens consumer habits today.
2) Discuss the relationship between Violet and Titus.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 14+
Challenge Issues
Mild language, Consumerism
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_21?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=feed+by+m.t.+anderson&x=0&y=0&sprefix=feed+by+m.t.+anderson
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.
Why Included in Titles Selected
Included in sci-fi group project.
7. Bait by Alex Sanchez
Sanchez, Alex. (2009). Bait. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9781416937722.
Plot Summary
Sixteen-year old Diego MacMann has a bad temper. At school a gay student looks at him the wrong way and Diego loses it and violently attacks the boy. Diego is charged with assault and ends up in juvenile court. He is assigned a probation officer, Mr. Vidas, who wants to help Diego figure out how to manage his anger by dealing with his past. Diego tries to deal by cutting himself with a shark's tooth that his stepfather gave him before his death by suicide. He begins to push everyone in his life away because he doesn't feel like he deserves to be loved. Through Mr. Vidas and Diego's conversations the reasons behind Diego's anger are revealed: abandonment, poverty, abuse. The horrible secrets about his dead stepfather cause Diego to have to make a decision that will determine the direction his future will take.
Critical Evaluation
Bait is not an easy book to read because of the serious issues that Diego must deal with. Sanchez does a wonderful job at portraying Diego's sense of abandenment and hopelessness. Especially sad is when Diego falls in love with a girl named Ariel. She knows about his anger and stick by him because she sees something kind and worthy, but he keeps pushing her away thinking she will hate him when she finds out all his horrible secrets. The reader of this book will root for Diego even though at times his anger and reluctance to deal are too much too handle. The issues of sexual abuse, violence, and self-mutilation may keep some readers away from this book, but the message is strong. Even in the toughest situations there is a positive way out.
Reader's Annotation
Diego can't control his violent temper. Will he be doomed to juvenile detention or will a kind probation officer help him control his anger?
About the Author
Alex Sanchez is the author of many books for LGBT teens including The God Box, Getting It, and the Rainbow Boys trilogy. His novel, So Hard to Say, won a Lamda Literary Award.
When not writing, Sanchez tours the country talking with teens, librarians, and educators about the importance of teaching tolerance and self-acceptance.
Genre
Issues, Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Problems
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss the relationship between Mr. Vidas and Diego.
2) Discuss the metaphor of the shark's tooth Diego cuts himself with.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 14+
Challenge Issues
Violence, sexual abuse, self-mutilation
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the serious issues in the book.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Bait-Alex-Sanchez/dp/1416937749/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292402194&sr=1-1
Why Included in Titles Selected
I've read several of Alex Sanchez's books and had never heard of Bait so I picked it up.
Plot Summary
Sixteen-year old Diego MacMann has a bad temper. At school a gay student looks at him the wrong way and Diego loses it and violently attacks the boy. Diego is charged with assault and ends up in juvenile court. He is assigned a probation officer, Mr. Vidas, who wants to help Diego figure out how to manage his anger by dealing with his past. Diego tries to deal by cutting himself with a shark's tooth that his stepfather gave him before his death by suicide. He begins to push everyone in his life away because he doesn't feel like he deserves to be loved. Through Mr. Vidas and Diego's conversations the reasons behind Diego's anger are revealed: abandonment, poverty, abuse. The horrible secrets about his dead stepfather cause Diego to have to make a decision that will determine the direction his future will take.
Critical Evaluation
Bait is not an easy book to read because of the serious issues that Diego must deal with. Sanchez does a wonderful job at portraying Diego's sense of abandenment and hopelessness. Especially sad is when Diego falls in love with a girl named Ariel. She knows about his anger and stick by him because she sees something kind and worthy, but he keeps pushing her away thinking she will hate him when she finds out all his horrible secrets. The reader of this book will root for Diego even though at times his anger and reluctance to deal are too much too handle. The issues of sexual abuse, violence, and self-mutilation may keep some readers away from this book, but the message is strong. Even in the toughest situations there is a positive way out.
Reader's Annotation
Diego can't control his violent temper. Will he be doomed to juvenile detention or will a kind probation officer help him control his anger?
About the Author
Alex Sanchez is the author of many books for LGBT teens including The God Box, Getting It, and the Rainbow Boys trilogy. His novel, So Hard to Say, won a Lamda Literary Award.
When not writing, Sanchez tours the country talking with teens, librarians, and educators about the importance of teaching tolerance and self-acceptance.
Genre
Issues, Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Problems
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss the relationship between Mr. Vidas and Diego.
2) Discuss the metaphor of the shark's tooth Diego cuts himself with.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 14+
Challenge Issues
Violence, sexual abuse, self-mutilation
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the serious issues in the book.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Bait-Alex-Sanchez/dp/1416937749/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292402194&sr=1-1
Why Included in Titles Selected
I've read several of Alex Sanchez's books and had never heard of Bait so I picked it up.
5. Pretties by Scott Westerfeld
Westerfeld, Scott. (2005). Pretties. New York : Simon Pulse. ISBN 9780689865398.
Plot Summary
Tally Youngblood did what she was told (see Uglies) and now she is finally a Pretty. She is gorgeous, has fabulous clothes, a Pretty boyfriend, and plenty of friends. As an Ugly she did some crazy things and may have betrayed one of her friends, but because she's a Pretty she can't remember any of the Ugly stuff...or can she? Her new life begins to unravel when an Ugly from "the Smoke" infiltrates New Pretty Town and sends Tally a reminder of what she was in the past in the form of two pills that are meant for her to take. Tally decides to take one pill and give the other to her boyfriend, Zane. The reaction to the pills makes them see clearer and they realize that being Pretty may actually be a way the government controls them. With this information Tally must make a decision to join the rebels in fighting the government and returning to the people she betrayed, or staying a Pretty and living a meaningless life.
Critical Evaluation
Pretties, the second book in the Uglies trilogy, is just like the first with its fast paced action and sci-fi gadgets. This time around Tally must deal with the fact she has betrayed the friends she made as an Ugly. Alliances are questioned because Tally is now a Pretty and she struggles with how she feels about the Uglies now that part of her brain thinks like a Pretty. Again, questions about body image are raised along with fighting against corrupt societies. Westerfeld is a master at continuing to develop his characters from Uglies. This time their ideals and values have changed and readers of the first book will be happy that they've known these characters from the beginning.
Reader's Annotation
Tally Youngblood is finally a Pretty. Her life is perfect, but why does it seem being Pretty isn't enough.
About the Author
Texas-born, Scott Westerfeld is an author of science fiction novels for adults and young adults. His works include the Uglies and Leviathan series.
Westerfeld has won a Victorian Premier's Award for So Yesterday. Uglies was on the ALA's list of Best Books for Young Adults in 2006. He spends his time between Australia and New York City.
Genre
Science fiction, Utopia/ Dystopia
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss how Tally has changed since becoming a Pretty? (If you've read Uglies)
2) Discuss the new dynamics in Tally and Shay's relationship.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 12+
Challenge Issues
Mild violence, underage drinking
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Pretties-Uglies-Trilogy-Book-2/dp/0689865392/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292398148&sr=1-1
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.
Why Included in Titles Selected
I read Uglies and enjoyed it so I had to read the whole series.
Plot Summary
Tally Youngblood did what she was told (see Uglies) and now she is finally a Pretty. She is gorgeous, has fabulous clothes, a Pretty boyfriend, and plenty of friends. As an Ugly she did some crazy things and may have betrayed one of her friends, but because she's a Pretty she can't remember any of the Ugly stuff...or can she? Her new life begins to unravel when an Ugly from "the Smoke" infiltrates New Pretty Town and sends Tally a reminder of what she was in the past in the form of two pills that are meant for her to take. Tally decides to take one pill and give the other to her boyfriend, Zane. The reaction to the pills makes them see clearer and they realize that being Pretty may actually be a way the government controls them. With this information Tally must make a decision to join the rebels in fighting the government and returning to the people she betrayed, or staying a Pretty and living a meaningless life.
Critical Evaluation
Pretties, the second book in the Uglies trilogy, is just like the first with its fast paced action and sci-fi gadgets. This time around Tally must deal with the fact she has betrayed the friends she made as an Ugly. Alliances are questioned because Tally is now a Pretty and she struggles with how she feels about the Uglies now that part of her brain thinks like a Pretty. Again, questions about body image are raised along with fighting against corrupt societies. Westerfeld is a master at continuing to develop his characters from Uglies. This time their ideals and values have changed and readers of the first book will be happy that they've known these characters from the beginning.
Reader's Annotation
Tally Youngblood is finally a Pretty. Her life is perfect, but why does it seem being Pretty isn't enough.
About the Author
Texas-born, Scott Westerfeld is an author of science fiction novels for adults and young adults. His works include the Uglies and Leviathan series.
Westerfeld has won a Victorian Premier's Award for So Yesterday. Uglies was on the ALA's list of Best Books for Young Adults in 2006. He spends his time between Australia and New York City.
Genre
Science fiction, Utopia/ Dystopia
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss how Tally has changed since becoming a Pretty? (If you've read Uglies)
2) Discuss the new dynamics in Tally and Shay's relationship.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 12+
Challenge Issues
Mild violence, underage drinking
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Pretties-Uglies-Trilogy-Book-2/dp/0689865392/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292398148&sr=1-1
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.Why Included in Titles Selected
I read Uglies and enjoyed it so I had to read the whole series.
4. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Westerfeld, Scott. (2005). Uglies. New York: Simon Pulse. ISBN 9780689865381.
Plot Summary
Tally Youngblood lives in a society that makes its citizens believe they are ugly. That is until they turn 16 and receive an operation that will make them both physically and mentally "Pretty." Tally can't wait for her sixteenth birthday. She is tired of her hair, her nose, her everything. She can't wait to join her best friend, Peris, in New Pretty Town where he is already enjoying the benefits of being a Pretty: fabulous parties, perfect clothes, fun friends. Tally can't contain her excitement and then she meets Shay, a fellow Ugly. Shay has a different view about becoming a Pretty. She is happy the way she is and believes there is a dark reason for the operation. Shay has decided to escape the society they live in and want Tally to join her in finding a place called "the Smoke." That is where others who escaped live. Shay convinces Tally to jump on their hoverboards and search for the Smoke. The fail at their attempt and head back to Uglyville, but soon after Shay disappears and doesn't come back. The authorities, led by the cruel Dr. Cable, know that Tally has information and blackmail her into leading them to Shay. If she fails she will not become a Pretty. Tally finds the rebel camp and Shay is there along with David, one of the rebel leaders. Tally finds herself strangely attracted to this Ugly boy, but her desire to become a Pretty is too strong. Should she expose her true plan to the rebels and risk not becoming Pretty? Should she stick to her plan and turn them in?
Critical Evaluation
Uglies is the first in Westerfeld's trilogy, Pretties and Specials being the next two. Uglies is a fast-paced, wild ride taking place in a futuristic society where the teenagers ride hoverboards, wear bungee jackets, and have technology that helps pick everything from their clothes to what they eat. Fans of dystopian science fiction will not be able to put this book down. The book raises questions about the price of beauty, government control, and nature versus technology. Westerfeld's characters are all multi-dimensional even the Pretties who are made to follow the rules and not think for themselves. The Uglies series is one of the best science fiction series out today.
Reader's Annotation
Tally Youngblood close to turning sixteen. It is the day she gets the operation to become a Pretty but things change when a friend tells her that being a Pretty may not be the best thing.
About the Author
Texas-born, Scott Westerfeld is an author of science fiction novels for adults and young adults. His works include the Uglies and Leviathan series.
Westerfeld has won a Victorian Premier's Award for So Yesterday. Uglies was on the ALA's list of Best Books for Young Adults in 2006. He spends his time between Australia and New York City.
Genre
Science Fiction, Utopia/ Dystopia
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss the themes surrounding body image in the book.
2) Discuss the relationship between Shay and Tally. Who's viewpoint do you agree with more and why?
3) Discuss what "the Smoke" is a metaphor for in today's society.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 12+
Challenge Issues
Mild violence, underage drinking
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Uglies-Trilogy-Book-1/dp/0689865384/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292396297&sr=1-1
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.
Why Included in Titles Selected
Recommended by a teenage patron at the library.
Plot Summary
Tally Youngblood lives in a society that makes its citizens believe they are ugly. That is until they turn 16 and receive an operation that will make them both physically and mentally "Pretty." Tally can't wait for her sixteenth birthday. She is tired of her hair, her nose, her everything. She can't wait to join her best friend, Peris, in New Pretty Town where he is already enjoying the benefits of being a Pretty: fabulous parties, perfect clothes, fun friends. Tally can't contain her excitement and then she meets Shay, a fellow Ugly. Shay has a different view about becoming a Pretty. She is happy the way she is and believes there is a dark reason for the operation. Shay has decided to escape the society they live in and want Tally to join her in finding a place called "the Smoke." That is where others who escaped live. Shay convinces Tally to jump on their hoverboards and search for the Smoke. The fail at their attempt and head back to Uglyville, but soon after Shay disappears and doesn't come back. The authorities, led by the cruel Dr. Cable, know that Tally has information and blackmail her into leading them to Shay. If she fails she will not become a Pretty. Tally finds the rebel camp and Shay is there along with David, one of the rebel leaders. Tally finds herself strangely attracted to this Ugly boy, but her desire to become a Pretty is too strong. Should she expose her true plan to the rebels and risk not becoming Pretty? Should she stick to her plan and turn them in?
Critical Evaluation
Uglies is the first in Westerfeld's trilogy, Pretties and Specials being the next two. Uglies is a fast-paced, wild ride taking place in a futuristic society where the teenagers ride hoverboards, wear bungee jackets, and have technology that helps pick everything from their clothes to what they eat. Fans of dystopian science fiction will not be able to put this book down. The book raises questions about the price of beauty, government control, and nature versus technology. Westerfeld's characters are all multi-dimensional even the Pretties who are made to follow the rules and not think for themselves. The Uglies series is one of the best science fiction series out today.
Reader's Annotation
Tally Youngblood close to turning sixteen. It is the day she gets the operation to become a Pretty but things change when a friend tells her that being a Pretty may not be the best thing.
About the Author
Texas-born, Scott Westerfeld is an author of science fiction novels for adults and young adults. His works include the Uglies and Leviathan series.
Westerfeld has won a Victorian Premier's Award for So Yesterday. Uglies was on the ALA's list of Best Books for Young Adults in 2006. He spends his time between Australia and New York City.
Genre
Science Fiction, Utopia/ Dystopia
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss the themes surrounding body image in the book.
2) Discuss the relationship between Shay and Tally. Who's viewpoint do you agree with more and why?
3) Discuss what "the Smoke" is a metaphor for in today's society.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 12+
Challenge Issues
Mild violence, underage drinking
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Uglies-Trilogy-Book-1/dp/0689865384/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292396297&sr=1-1
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.
Why Included in Titles Selected
Recommended by a teenage patron at the library.
3. Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Doctorow, Cory. Little Brother. Tor Teen. 2008. ISBN: 9780765319852.
Plot Summary
Marcus is a teenager living in San Francisco who knows his way around computers and technology. He is known for tapping into his high school's security system in order to avoid getting caught skipping classes or showing up late. One day he and his friends decide to skip class in order to play a popular online game which requires them to wander the city and find clues in order to beat other teams playing at the same time. During the game they hear sirens and soon find themselves in a large crowd heading for a fallout shelter. They find out that the Bay Bridge has been destroyed in a terrorist bombing. After one of his friends, Darryl, gets stabbed in the mayhem, they try to get help and instead are apprehended by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The DHS considers them a threat and takes them all to an undisclosed location where they are brutally tortured, humilated, and accused of being terrorists. After days of this treatment the DHS releases Marcus and his friends, Van and Jolu, forcing them to sign a statement saying they were voluntarily held. There is no sign of Darryl. Marcus is determined to find out what happened to Darryl and to expose the DHS especially now that they've turned the city into a police state where they monitor the populations every move from how many buses they take to how many times they cross the other bridges. Marcus decides to start an underground movement to expose the DHS and to find Darryl but it will take all his tech smarts and a lot of luck to outsmart the corrupt government. Will he succeed?
Critical Evaluation
The interesting and somewhat frightening aspect about Little Brother is that Marcus' situation is one that could actually happen somewhere in the near future...if it isn't already happening. Doctorow takes the reader on a paranoid journey full of government corruption and teens trying to do the right thing amidst concerned parents and fear. Many of the scenes, like the demonstration at Dolores Park where Trudy Doo tells the kids "Don't trust anyone over 25!" and "Take it Back!", could be scenes from any war demonstration throughout history. The tortuous interrogation scenes are so vivid and realistic that Doctorow put's the reader in the same room as Marcus. They make the reader want to root for Marcus through the whole book and say, "Down with the DHS!" This book is a must read for older teens who like hard science fiction because it can possibly happen.
Reader's Annotation
Marcus Yallow is a 17-year old with extensive knowledge about technology. He skips school with his friends one day and they soon find themselves captured by the Department of Homeland Security after a terrorist attack on the San Francisco Bay Bridge.
About the Author
Cory Doctorow is a science fiction novelist, blogger and technology activist. He is the co-editor of the popular weblog Boing Boing, and a contributor to The Guardian, the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, Wired, and many other newspapers, magazines and websites.
He has won the Locus and Sunburst Awards, and been nominated for the Hugo, Nebula and British Science Fiction Awards. Born in Toronto, Canada, he now lives in London.
Genre/ Subgenre
Hard Science Fiction
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) If you were Marcus, would you fight for what you believe, or let the corrupt government have control?
2) Do you know of other situations in American history where people demonstrated against the government?
3) Does your school have a surveillance system? Metal detectors? How do you feel about them?
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 15+
Challenge Issues
Sexual situations
Violence
Drinking, smoking, and references to drugs
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Little-Brother-Cory-Doctorow/dp/0765319853
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.
Why Included in Titles Selected
Required reading for course
Plot Summary
Marcus is a teenager living in San Francisco who knows his way around computers and technology. He is known for tapping into his high school's security system in order to avoid getting caught skipping classes or showing up late. One day he and his friends decide to skip class in order to play a popular online game which requires them to wander the city and find clues in order to beat other teams playing at the same time. During the game they hear sirens and soon find themselves in a large crowd heading for a fallout shelter. They find out that the Bay Bridge has been destroyed in a terrorist bombing. After one of his friends, Darryl, gets stabbed in the mayhem, they try to get help and instead are apprehended by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The DHS considers them a threat and takes them all to an undisclosed location where they are brutally tortured, humilated, and accused of being terrorists. After days of this treatment the DHS releases Marcus and his friends, Van and Jolu, forcing them to sign a statement saying they were voluntarily held. There is no sign of Darryl. Marcus is determined to find out what happened to Darryl and to expose the DHS especially now that they've turned the city into a police state where they monitor the populations every move from how many buses they take to how many times they cross the other bridges. Marcus decides to start an underground movement to expose the DHS and to find Darryl but it will take all his tech smarts and a lot of luck to outsmart the corrupt government. Will he succeed?
Critical Evaluation
The interesting and somewhat frightening aspect about Little Brother is that Marcus' situation is one that could actually happen somewhere in the near future...if it isn't already happening. Doctorow takes the reader on a paranoid journey full of government corruption and teens trying to do the right thing amidst concerned parents and fear. Many of the scenes, like the demonstration at Dolores Park where Trudy Doo tells the kids "Don't trust anyone over 25!" and "Take it Back!", could be scenes from any war demonstration throughout history. The tortuous interrogation scenes are so vivid and realistic that Doctorow put's the reader in the same room as Marcus. They make the reader want to root for Marcus through the whole book and say, "Down with the DHS!" This book is a must read for older teens who like hard science fiction because it can possibly happen.
Reader's Annotation
Marcus Yallow is a 17-year old with extensive knowledge about technology. He skips school with his friends one day and they soon find themselves captured by the Department of Homeland Security after a terrorist attack on the San Francisco Bay Bridge.
About the Author
Cory Doctorow is a science fiction novelist, blogger and technology activist. He is the co-editor of the popular weblog Boing Boing, and a contributor to The Guardian, the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, Wired, and many other newspapers, magazines and websites.
He has won the Locus and Sunburst Awards, and been nominated for the Hugo, Nebula and British Science Fiction Awards. Born in Toronto, Canada, he now lives in London.
Genre/ Subgenre
Hard Science Fiction
Curriculum Ties
Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) If you were Marcus, would you fight for what you believe, or let the corrupt government have control?
2) Do you know of other situations in American history where people demonstrated against the government?
3) Does your school have a surveillance system? Metal detectors? How do you feel about them?
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 15+
Challenge Issues
Sexual situations
Violence
Drinking, smoking, and references to drugs
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Little-Brother-Cory-Doctorow/dp/0765319853
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.
Why Included in Titles Selected
Required reading for course
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