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Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher [book]

Publisher: Razorbill; Reprint edition, 2011
Language: English
Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN: 159514188X

Plot Summary:
This story is an unveiling of the the thirteen reasons why Hannah killed herself in a series of tapes meant for the thirteen people involved to listen to. Clay is the main character in the novel and his thoughts are interposed into the story of Hannah and why she felt so depressed and ridiculed in school that she committed suicide. There is another set of tapes that someone holds in the story that will be leaked if all of the thirteen people in the story do not listen to the tapes that Hannah left. The majority of the reasons have to deal with rumors, lies, and inappropriate sexual advances leading up until the last one that lead to a cry for help to a counselor that did not believe that she would commit suicide. Clay actually turned out not to have done anything to Hannah but be nice and be wary of her because of all of the rumors at school. In the book Clay also happens to run into his old crush that seems withdrawn and very quiet and in the end, after hearing about the things that caused Hannah to kill herself he reaches out to her to make sure that nothing happens like that again.

Critical Evaluation:
I liked the idea that Hannah wanted the people that made her feel this way to literally walk in her shoes and follow her footsteps hearing her story. I think that it held goo themes for people that are in high school and lets them know that they have an affect on the people around them and that rumors hurt. I think that there is a good message to listen to people when they are asking for help and to make sure that you are noticing the people that are around you and reaching out to them. It is a hard hitting narrative on the way that people can be negatively affected and how not taking action can sometimes be just as bad when you see someone is struggling.

Reader's Annotation:
Hannah Baker committed suicide and Clay Jensen along with 12 other people are the reason; now all of the people that caused her death must listen to tapes detailing the reasons why they were contributors.

Websites to look Into:
http://www.13rwproject.com/#/reviews/194
http://www.thirteenreasonswhy.com/
http://jayasher.blogspot.com/

The Author:
Asher went to high school in San Luis Obispo and left Cal Poly in his senior year to take up writing seriously; he has only written 2 novels.
Awards:
#1 New York Times bestseller in the US, 2011
Georgia Peach Book Awards for Teen Readers, 2011
International Reading Association, Young Adults' Choice list, 2009
YALSA, Best Books for Young Adults, 2008
YALSA, Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 2008
California Book Award winner, Young Adult, 2008

Similar Books:
"Hate List" by Jennifer Brown
"Willow" by Julia Hoban

Booktalking Ideas:
Discussing teen suicide and suicide prevention

Genre:
Mystery, Fiction

Interest Age:
16+

Challenge Issues:
Suicide
This book deals with a young adult committing suicide and it is very real and sad. I would combat this with the fact that it details the reason that the girl did it and shows the path of life that she walked in that lead her to do something so extreme. I think it brings light to a situation and also makes people more aware of it to read about it happening

Why this Book?
I chose this book a mystery and a book about teen suicide and the affect that young adults can have on each other.

Forgotten by Cat Patrick [book]

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2011

Hardcover, US Edition, 304 pages

ISBN: 0316094609

Plot Summary:
In this book London is a sixteen year old girl that has a problem with her memory; she can't remember the past, she can only remember glimpses into the future. It seems that every night her brain is wiped clean and she is left with notes left to her from herself the day before. This is the only way that she can remember any of her past life. When London meets Luke she falls for him but is confused about why she does not see him in her future. She develops a romance with him, but her memory problem is not discussed until the end when she realizes that her younger brother was abducted when they were young and she experienced head trauma in the process. It turns out that he was sold and not dead like her parents originally thought (they divorced and her dad left because of the incident) and she finds out that he is still alive and sees him in a vision of the future. She also reconnects with her father in the end and slowly starts to regain her memory.
Critical Evaluation:
I thought that the book had an interesting plot that was intriguing and a good mystery in the book. I found it to be weird however that no one else in London's life seems to be aware that she has a memory disorder, and that she is so comfortable with reminding herself everyday of the past events in her life. Her relationship with Luke is sweet, but there is a lot of talk about how handsome he is all throughout the novel. I felt that the mystery was good in that you were wondering what was going on with her memory in the novel, but it did not really explain why she saw glimpses of the future in its fullest. I thought that it was very suspenseful and page turning and that young adult audiences could appreciate it.

Reader's Annotation:
London only remembers things from her future, and every night her memory is wiped clean as she sleeps making it very difficult to remember the new cute guy at school and understand her recurring dream that is starting to haunt her.

Websites to look Into:
http://www.catpatrick.com

Awards:
Summer 2011 Indie Next List

Similar Books:
"Revived" by Cat Patrick
"Entangled" by Cat Clarke

Booktalking Ideas:
Discussing the importance of real, honest relationships

Genre:
Fiction, Mystery

Interest Age:
13+

Challenge Issues:
I could not see any real challenge issues in this novel, I thought that the story moved smoothly and besides it being a psychological mystery nothing stuck out as being overly problematic.

Why this Book?
I thought that this would be a really good addition to the collection as a mystery book. It is captivating and it kept me guessing the entire time, I think that any teen would enjoy it.

Jump by Elisa Carbone [book]

Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Speak; Reprint edition, 2010
Language: English
ISBN: 0142419133

Plot Summary:
P.K.'s parents don't understand her, and she is not doing well in school or in their eyes; so they decide to send her to boarding school, but P.K. is not on board with this idea. Critter's parents also don't understand him and the different way that he views life; he escapes a mental ward and is in the right place at the right time when P.K. decides to make a plan and leave. They meet at the rock climbing gym and as virtual strangers decide to pool their money and leave in the middle of the night on an adventure that will lead them west to Yosemite on a rock climbing adventure. The hitchhike and takes buses to each stop and rock climb sometimes dangerous surfaces all the while forming an attraction. They meet interesting characters, face life threatening climbs and are on the run from the cops because of their break away trip. P.K. is very strong minded and willed and thinks that she knows better for herself in life; she wants adventure and she is in love with rock climbing. Critter is an interesting character in that he says he can see people's auras and is very in touch with living a free life to its fullest. The novel it is fast paced with adventure and romance as they run from the cops and fall for each other's similar viewpoints on climbing and living a fun life.

Critical Evaluation:
I think that this book was an easy read, and I enjoyed all of the rock climbing lingo that was interspersed all throughout the novel. I have rock climbed so I am aware of the feelings that they have about it, but I wonder if people from an outside perspective will be able to grasp the sport as much through this novel. It is a good parallel story of both P.K. and Critter escaping from their societies to run away and do something that they love. I thought that the plot line of runaway romance was fairly typical for a young adult novel but liked that it was punctuated with philosophy, rock climbing, and adventure.

Reader's Annotation:
When P.K. finds out that she is going to be sent to boarding school she decides to run away to Yosemite to climb, and she brings a guy from the climbing gym with her thinking the idea is great until the past catches up with them.

Websites to look Into:
www.elisacarbone.com/

The Author:
Carbone actually reenacts some of the plots in the books that she writes, she researches the area, and completes interviews with the surrounding people when writing her books.

Awards:
YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults 2011
Cybils Award nominee 2010
Maryland Black Eyed Susan Book Award Nominee 2011-2012
Keystone State Reading Association Young Adult Book Award Nominee 2011
Georgia Peach Book Award 2012-2013
Richie's Picks Best of 2010
Starred review Publisher's Weekly

Similar Books:
"The Half-Life of Planets" by Emily Franklin
"Somebody Everybody Listens To" by Suzanne Supplee
Booktalking Ideas:
Discussing running away from home
Actually going climbing while discussing the book to understand it more

Genre:
Adventure, Fiction

Interest Age:
13+

Challenge Issues:
Running away from home
I think that this could very well be a challenge because many teens do run away from home and it is important to talk about it and make it known that it is not as glamorous as it may seem, and that it may not be the solution.

Why this Book?
This book is a fun action book, and I chose it because I love rock climbing and I thought that it was a book that would appeal to people that think running away from home will take away your problems- because it won't.

Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher [book]

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers; 1 edition, 2009
Language: English
Hardcover: 368 pages
ISBN: 0385736649

Plot Summary:
Sage is a transgendered teen girl to parents that are ashamed of her and keep her home schooled until they legally cannot anymore and she goes to public school. She is quick witted, nice, and looks and acts like a girl Logan is a straight male senior at this Missouri high school and he falls for this slightly off new girl without knowing that she was a biological male. The story is told from Logan's perspective and is about him learning to cope with his feelings about Sage and about Sage as a person. When they do kiss, Sage tells Logan that she is transgendered and he rejects her with disgust in his mind. He battles with his desire for her, the fact that she's transgendered, and with what the world views it as. He continues the relationship on and off with her, breaking up and making up and even having a short physical relationship. After it ends Sage goes on a date with another boy and when he finds out her secret he beats her within an inch of her life. She goes to the hospital and it brings up past feelings of her suicides and the idea that she doesn't fit in in their society. The novel ends with them somewhat amicably when they both go off to college and Sage writes Logan a note forgiving him of the experience.

Critical Evaluation:
I thought that this book was very well crafted because it really made you feel for all of the characters involved in it. You root for them to be the people that you want them to be and that they want to be themselves. A major criticism that I do have for this book is that it was narrated from Logan's perspective and not from Sage's. It is a story about a transgender teen girl, but written from a perspective of a (at first narrow minded) straight male. I can imagine it being hard for transgendered people to read the portions about hate towards transgendered people and how others may view them. The story is not very upbeat either, but instead it is sad and heart wrenching when you just want one of the main characters to be accepted for who she is.

Reader's Annotation:
Logan is a high school senior in Missouri when a new girl comes to school; he is attracted to her and comes to find out that she was actually born a male and is becoming a female.

Websites to look Into:
http://briankatcher.com/site/

The Author:
Katcher has worked many odd jobs, lived on an Israeli military base, and is a school librarian.

Awards:

American Library Association as one of the Best Books for Young Adults in 2010.

A Capitol Choice Noteworthy Book for 2010

A Lambda Award nominee, 2010

A 2011 TAYSHASH (Texas) Reading List Book

Similar Books:
"Boy meets Boy" by David Levithan
"I am J" by Chris Beam
"Parrotfish" by Ellen Wittlinger

Booktalking Ideas:
Discussing gender identity in society and how it is perceived

Genre:
Gender Identity, Fiction

Interest Age:
16+

Challenge Issues:
Gender Identity
This book can be a challenge because it deals with a transsexual girl and a typical 18 year old boy and the attraction between them. To combat this I would say that it is important to talk about people and the many challenges that they have in life. There are many people that might be going through similar situations and for them this book would be helpful and comforting.

Why this Book?
I chose this book because it brings up a good subject and also lends another viewpoint to life other than what the majority of people know. I think having a subject that deals with gender identity in this format is essential when reaching out to young adults.

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen [book]

Plot Summary:
Elizabeth and Diana Holland are the toast of society in 19th century Manhattan. They are rich, beautiful and part of one of the most highly respected families. In the beginning of the book introduces Elizabeth;s funeral and then proceeds to recount the time before she died. The sisters' father dies in the beginning revealing that they were not as wealthy as once believed- they are near penniless. In order to make sure that their family is protected Elizabeth is engaged to a playboy, Henry, who later falls for her sister. Elizabeth is the picture of perfection in her beauty and her demeanor, but the only problem is that she is in love with Will, who is a servant in their family that she grew up with. Diana is bold and loves adventure and romance, and her main storyline involves her romance with Henry. Then there is Penelope, who is a socialite friend that is having a small affair with Henry but wants to wed him for herself. Another influential character to the story is another servant named Lina who becomes privy to Elizabeth's love with Will, but she then uses it for her own benefits. Lina was also in love with Will and ends up trading her information to Penelope in order to hopefully climb the social ladder more and gain more attention. In the end of the novel you find out the Elizabeth is not dead, but instead has faked it in order to find her love, Will, in California where he left to. It is interesting to see Henry in the end of the book feeling remorseful because he was the last to see Elizabeth for she dies, when she finally finds out about Henry and Diana's romance.

Critical Evaluation:
This book is written in the third person, so it makes it a little challenging to really become engaged with the characters and fully understand all of their intricacies from an outside perspective. The characters are good, but they all have faults and it is also difficult to chose any one of the characters to truly like. The story is very interesting and keeps the reader guessing and intrigued, but the story line contains a lot of frivolities in that the majority of it is romance, gossip and society.
Reader's Annotation:
In 19th century Manhattan two sisters are the pinnacle of popularity in the social scene, until their father's death reveals that they are not as well off as they thought and now they all must do things that they do not want to in order to survive in this cutthroat society.

Websites to look Into:
http://www.annagodbersen.com/

Awards:

New York Times Bestseller

Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award Nominee

ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults

Similar Books:
"Rumors" by Anna Godbersen
"Envy" by Anna Godbersen
"Splendor" by Anna Godbersen

Booktalking Ideas:
Societal Pressures
Comparisons to other historical romance novels

Genre:
Historical Fiction, Chic Lit

Interest Age:
14+

Challenge Issues:
I really could not think of any significant challenge issues with this book. There is romance, betrayal, and lies but it is all set in a mystery plot in history and nothing is so adverse that I would call it a challenge. It was a light chic lit read that concerned society debutantes and people on the wrong side of the tracks.

Why this Book?
This is a very popular book that can appeal to the crowds that like Gossip Girl and also enjoy books that take place in history of different social classes and how they related.

This is Why You're Fat by Jessica Amason and Richard Blakely [book]

This is Why You're Fat: Where Dreams Become Heart Attacks by Jessica Amason and Richard Blakely [book]

Publisher: Harper Perennial; 2009
Language: English
Paperback: 144 pages
ISBN: 0061936634

Plot Summary:
Happy Meal Pizza and Gravy Pizza. This book has over 100 pages of decadent fatty food creations that were pulled from the creator's Tumblr and previous website. The pages feature the recipe for these heart attack inducing carnival food montrosities, and pictures of the creation process as well as the final project. This book is the antithesis to healthy eating and it's humorous type and look on the sub-American culture of eating will make you laugh out loud. Individual people and restaurants alike have submitted these concoctions that will either make your mouth water or make you want to run away screaming.

Critical Evaluation:
I thought that they had alot of meat dishes and pizza dishes, and I had hopes that it would be a little more diverse in the crazy foods that they showed. They did not provide all of the recipes in great length, but I did enjoy the book for it's humor. The authors make a joke out of the crazy food escapades that have become very popular and they continue the book through their tumblr. The only negative thing about following their tumblr is that if you are looking for the pictures that they feature currently, they will not be in this book because it was made in 2009. None the less it is a funny play on the food habits in American society, it is easy to follow, and fun to look at.

Reader's Annotation:
Carnival foods and fatty food creation photos and recipes grace the pages of this book in a hilarious display of indulgence to the highest degree.

Websites to look Into:
http://thisiswhyyourefat.tumblr.com/
http://about.me/jessicaamason
http://richardblakeley.com/

Similar Books:
"Eat This, Not That!" by David Zinczenko

Booktalking Ideas:
Comparing this book with Youtube's "Epic Meal Time"
Discussing the importance of eating right

Genre:
Non- Fiction

Interest Age:
13+

Challenge Issues:
Eating Poorly
The challenge issue in this would be that this book is providing recipes of foods that are extremely bad for people. I would combat it by saying that it is almost satirical with the food that it displays; they are outrageous and they market them that way. A health warning has also been placed on the book as well.

Why this Book?
This book is fun and outrageous and is good for a shock factor. Looking at the recipes and the pictures of the food is horrifying and hilarious, and it started as a blog so it is something that they can continue to look into.

Divergent by Veronica Roth [book]

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books, 2011
Language: English
Paperback: 576 pages
ISBN-10: 0062024035

Plot Summary:
In a world where everyone is split into categories of people there are five factions that a person can belong to: Candor, Erudite, Amity, Dauntless, and Abnegation. Beatrice has grown up with her family in Abnegation, which is the faction of the selfless. They are not able to think of themselves more than others, they cannot look into mirrors, they all must look and dress alike- they are selfless. During the ceremony that everyone must participate when they come of age, the young adults must go through a series of tests that tells them what faction they will be best suited for. They do not have to choose the faction that they test the highest at, but they may face challenges in being accepted into the faction if they do not have an affinity for it. When Beatrice goes through her tests, she finds that she is able to manipulate them and is marked as Divergent (having an aptitude for many factions), however it is very dangerous to be labelled Divergent and her tester hides her results to protect her. Beatrice ends up choosing Dauntless (the brave, and action leaders of the factions) and her brother shocks everyone by choosing to be a part of Erudite (the intelligence).
The story follows Beatrice chose to change her name to Tris and become part of the Dauntless, get a tattoo, and be one of the people that actually makes it into the Dauntless faction (they must pass initiation to get into the faction or they are cast away to become faction less). Tris meets a boy leader named Four with whom she starts a relationship and eventually, through many experiences, finds out that he too is Divergent. There are a lot of twists and turns in initiation with the leaders of the Dauntless and the initiates but after Tris is part of Dauntless a war is beginning between the factions and in the end all of Dauntless is given a serum by select members of Dauntless and the Erudite leadership that makes them unknowingly become soldiers sent to kill. Because Tris and Four are Divergent they are not put into a trance and they team up with Tris' family to make the trance simulation stop. In the process Tris' parents are killed and Tris must face her enemies and Four in a brutal attack to save the factions and the people that she loves.

Critical Evaluation:
This book was well written and well crafted. I felt that it was an original story with characters that you felt for and wanted to succeed. The only problem that I had with this book was with keeping the factions separated and remembering all of their intricacies- I think that it might have been better to have more in depth story lines with the different factions, or characters that were more involved with the story from their faction. The faction less characters are also intriguing but I felt that it might be better if there was a map included with the book to show where all of the boundaries and factions lie. The themes of belonging and being who you are I felt were very well done and it made the audience want to understand the characters more, and see them all come together.

Reader's Annotation:
In a world split into five factions, everyone must choose their destiny. But when it is Beatrice's turn to choose, she runs into complications that may change the person that she is forever.

Websites to look Into:
http://veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com/

The Author:
Roth has said that the third book in the series will be out in Fall of 2013.

Awards:
Publisher's Weekly, Best Book of 2011
Amazon.com, Best Book of 2011
Goodreads, Best Book of 2011, Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction

Similar Books:
"Insurgent" by Veronica Roth
"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins

Booktalking Ideas:
Comparisons to dystopian literature novels
A look into segregation and the idea of warfare

Genre:
Fiction, Action

Interest Age:
13+

Challenge Issues:
Violence
This book contains a large amount of war and death. I would say that it can be a challenge issue because it can be hard to read about the violence and corruption in the novel, but I would combat it with the fact that it is a fantasy novel about defying corruption and attempting to make things right in the world.

Why this Book?
This book is very engaging and popular. I think that it is fun and action packed- it is an entertaining read that looks into societies that are segregated by types of people.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston [book]

Publisher: Atria Books; Reprint edition, 2004
Language: English
Paperback: 368 pages
ISBN: 1451618506

Plot Summary:
This is a memoir by Aron Ralston, who was a seasoned mountaineer and wilderness explorer who was determined to climb all of Colorado's peaks in the wintertime solo. In this memoir he details being trapped in the Utah wilderness and his life before the accident. Before Aron went on the adventure that put his life in peril he worked for Intel and decided that he wanted to do something different with his life- so he quit and became a wilderness adventurer, climbing, hiking and biking all over. On the day that he is trapped he fails to tell anyone where he is going and brings only the necessary tools for hiking for a short amount of time. He bikes into a canyon listening to music (Phish) and hikes in the canyon. He meets 2 women and they hike together for part of his planned journey until they break off and attempt to get him to join them; he goes his own way, but tells them that he will try to meet up later. After this he falls into his entrapment and his arm gets caught between a large 800 pound boulder and a wall of rock that are located in a slit of the canyon. The story then describes the next five days with his minimal resources that include a video camera and a too little amount of water.
During his entrapment he goes back and forth between deciding he is going to die in the canyon, devising ways to escape, and reminiscing about his life up until this point. He even creates a video to his family and family before it is his time to go that is heartfelt and tells of his belief of death in the imminent future. He knows that he is away from all civilization, that no one knows where he is and that he is in danger of dying purely do to lack of food and water- not to mention the elements. He describes every night as hell, until her eventually creates a tourniquet (he was a mechanical engineer) and makes the decision to cut his own arm off with a dull pocket knife. He then manages to escape to people and is taken to the hospital. After the novel he talks about how he still did not give up the life that he loves, even though it took his arm. He still goes on adventures and has a new outlook on life- appreciating every minute of it.

Critical Evaluation:
I think that this book was very well written, it was powerful and really captures the audience with the parallel stories of his life before the accident and his life during the accident. I think that it creates a vivid picture of someone close to death thinking back and analyzing his life before it could be over. The pictures in the book really give the story the visuals that one may need to see the dire situation that he was in by himself miles and miles from anyone. He writes from a sincere perspective and Aron really makes you feel as if the reader is with him in the days that he was trapped and coming to the realization that he would need to gather his tools to cut his arm off. The story is one that shows how short life is and about people's strong will to survive. The end of the book also presents a good vision of him continuing to do the things that he loves despite his disadvantage and life changing experience.

Reader's Annotation:
Aron is adventurous and an outdoors man, but when a typical trip turns into a nightmare, it makes Aron re-evaluate his life and make a decision that will save and change his life.

Websites to look Into:
He has no website by this has more information about him:
http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Aron-Ralston/22480941

The Author:
In 2005 Ralston became the first person to climb all 59 ranked and/or named Colorado's fronteirs solo in winter, which was the project he was working on before his accident that caused him his arm.
Awards:
Abraham Lincoln Book Award Master List
Green Mountain Book Award Master List

Similar Books:
"Into the Wild" by John Krakauer
"The Ledge" by Jim Davidson & Kevin Vaughan

Booktalking Ideas:
Comparing it the movie that was made based on the book
Talking about the dangers of not telling people where you are

Genre:
Non- Fiction, Adult Crossover

Interest Age:
16+

Challenge Issues:
Strong Imagery
This book can be a challenge because it is graphic and it contains pictures of the event that caused Aron to cut his own arm off. If anyone is squeamish it would be difficult to read, but I would combat it by saying that it is a real story and it accounts for a harrowing experience that changed a man's outlook on life.

Why this Book?
This book is a heroic tale of a man that survived by sheer willpower. I think that it is a testament to determination and the will to survive in the event of dire circumstances. It is an ideal book for young adults because it is captivating and true.

3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows by Ann Brashares [book]

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2009
Hardcover: 336 pages
Language: English
ISBN: 0385736762

Plot Summary:
3 girls are friends in a town that famous for another sisterhood. The girls are heading into high school and about to head off to their own journeys over the summer (they tried to have a bonding article of clothing as well) but with adventures that none of them quite expected. Ama is smart and determined in school, but in an odd chance of fate attends a scholarship program that takes her out of her academic comfort zone and instead has her hiking and learning life in the outdoors along with learning about the teens and life. She is originally from Ghana, following in her sister's footsteps, is a perfectionist and is very used to be good at what she does, so the summer proves to be very hard on her self esteem and in learning that she cannot be good at everything. Jo spends her summer on the beach working and trying to make new friends. She is not as concerned with her old friends in the light of flirting with an older boy and hanging out with cool older girls. Jo has other concerning problems with her parent's divorce and her brother's death, but places her time and effort into keeping the attentions of the older guy that she is into, which only leads to the loss of her job and the realization of what she did have. Polly feels that she is being left by her friends, and and decides that she wants to become something better- a model. She wants to fit in and be noticed, but she is doing it in the wrong ways in trying to change the way that she looks. She deals with an estranged father, and a mother that is not involved and has many problems of her own all while taking modelling coaching and classes. The reason that the book is called 3 willows is because when the girls were young they planted willow pieces of artwork in the woods, leaving a metaphor for growing but staying grounded in the same place and learning about the people that are there for you.

Critical Evaluation:
There are many comparisons between this book and "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" because they were written by the same author, set in the same town, and their are glimpses of some of the characters from the book. I felt that this book was good, but that it was flat when compared with the travelling pants series because the girl's characters and friendship were not as developed or intertwined. If one goes into the book with expectations of more of the sisterhood type books they will be placated, but not if they go into it comparing it to the travelling pants because it is not as well maintained or entertaining. This book does bring up the issue of people leaving behind friendships that they thought might be strong, but it brings them back together in the end which makes for a happier ending.

Reader's Annotation:
A sisterhood of 3 girls in high school is formed before they part ways over the summer, dealing with all of life's tribulations will either bring them closer together or tear them apart.

Websites to look Into:
http://annbrashares.com/

The Author:
Brashares said that the topic for the book (The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants) started with a conversation that she had with her friend in which the friend told her of a summer that her and her friends shared a pair of pants that were eventually lost. She liked the idea that there was something solid (like the pants) in the midst of change.

Similar Books:
"Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" by Ann Brashares
"My Name is Memory" by Ann Brashares

Booktalking Ideas:
Comparing this sisterhood book with that of the "Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants"
Discussing female friendships and bonding

Genre:
Chic Lit, Drama, Fiction

Interest Age:
14+

Challenge Issues:
I could find no really large challenge issues of this book because it deals with girls problems, but none that are overly dramatic. Looking to give up your past to be cool is an issue but I do not think that it could be explained as a challenge issue for someone that is reading it.

Why this Book?
I wanted to add another title by Ann and I thought that this would be a good book that is another continuation to the Travelling Pants novels but that was different and could give another story line for a chic lit book genre.

The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants by Ann Brashares [book]

Publisher: Ember, 2003
Language: English
Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN: 0385730586

Plot Summary:
Four girls have spent their entire lives together; ever since their mothers met when they were all pregnant at the same time. They are all different: Lena is quiet, artistic and beautiful; Bridget is outgoing, athletic, and mildly tormented by the death of her mother; Tibby is a quirky, cynical filmmaker; and Carmen is a Latin, down to earth girl who is very close with her single mother. Before their junior year of high school the 4 girls mysteriously find a magic pair of pants that perfectly fit all of their different body types and they see it as a sign that the pants found them and they were meant for them. They use the pants as a catalyst to remain close as they are going to spend their first summer ever apart.
Bridget is not close with her father or brother, and over summer she decides to go to a soccer camp in Mexico. While their she spends time having fun, running and meeting her a counselor that she pursues actively. Bridget is beautiful and very reckless and she eventually loses her virginity to the counselor, which affects her more than she would have thought. Her summer ends with the counselor telling him that it could have been different and Lena coming to her side for support. Lena is painfully shy and reserved and spends the summer in Greece with her grandparents site seeing and doing her art. She meets a Greek boy and falls in love for the first time, finding heartbreak when she must leave him. Tibby works over the summer, while playing video games with her neighbor and being followed around by an annoying twelve year old girl that adores her. Tibby films the summer, and eventually finds out that the young girl that has been her friend is very ill and she dies affecting Tibby as she has never been affected before. She ends up making the film for and about Baily effectively sharing her beautiful, short time with her. Carmen has a hard time over the summer visiting a father that she is not close with. When she goes to visit she even sees that he is engaged with the woman's two other children living with them. Carmen bonds with her soon to be step brother but faces conflicting emotions about not being a part of a family that she feels that she should be. After battling her inner turmoil and storming home Carmen takes advice from her loving mother and attends her father's wedding. During all of their stories the girls mail the traveling pants to one another righting messages and drawing pictures of their lives apart on the pant that kept them together.

Critical Evaluation:
I think that this book is very well written; in each girl's perspective you are able to empathize with them and see how close their friendships are. They go through experiences that many girls in high school go through and they express them honestly and clearly along with their consequences. The themes of abandonment, friendship, and growing up are all very relevant and clear to young adult readers. The characters were well formed, the multiple story lines fit well together and I felt that even the characters were very diverse. I think that the storyline could have extended longer, I did feel that it was cut a little short, but there are three more novels to follow, so I felt that that made the difference.

Reader's Annotation:
4 best friends find a pair of magical pants that mysteriously fit them all. They have never lived their lives apart and they find them right before the spend their first summer apart; they use the pants to stay close throughout their lives even though they are apart.

Websites to look Into:
http://annbrashares.com/

The Author:
Brashares said that the topic for the book started with a conversation that she had with her friend in which the friend told her of a summer that her and her friends shared a pair of pants that were eventually lost. She liked the idea that there was something solid (like the pants) in the midst of change.

Awards:

ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Awards

ALA Best Books for Young Adults

Book Sense Book of the Year

Evergreen Young Adult Book Award

Garden State Teen Book Award

Volunteer State Book Award
Young Hoosier Book Award
Young Reader's Choice Award

Similar Books:
"The Second Summer of the Sisterhood" by Ann Brashares
"Girls in Pants" by Ann Brashares
"Forever in Blue" by Ann Brashares

Booktalking Ideas:
Showing scenes from the movie in comparison with the book
Discussing female friendship and life lessons

Genre:
Chic Lit, Fiction, Drama

Interest Age:
14+

Challenge Issues:
Sexuality
I think that Bridget's storyline is the most challenging because she loses her virginity as a junior in high school to a counselor that she is not supposed to be fraternizing with. To combat it I would say that she learns a harsh lesson in the book because it is not as carefree and fun as she expects it be when she gets into it. It also shows how having close friends by your side can help you in situations that you feel you cannot handle alone.

Why this Book?
This is a great book about lasting friendships and female fellowship. I fell in love with all of the characters and could not put these books down. I definitely think that they can be considered chic lit because it is all about girls and their lives apart from one another.

Scott Pilgrim by Bryan Lee O'Malley [book]

Scott Pilgrim: Precious Little Life by Bryan Lee O'Malley [book]

Publisher: Oni Press, 2004
Paperback: 168 pages
Language: English
ISBN: 1932664084

Plot Summary:
Twenty- three year old Scott Pilgrim is a good will shopping, sarcastic, cool guy that plays bass in a band called Sex Bob- omb; he is a hipster. He does not have a job and he lives with his homosexual roommate in tight quarters while he lives his simple yet humorous life. He spends his days at the beginning of the story semi- courting Knives his seventeen year old girl friend, which consists of walking around and talking. Ramona Flowers is a mysterious, girl from New York that can travel to other dimensions and spends her time delivering packages by roller skates. Scott becomes obsessed with Ramona when she appears in his dreams and in his everyday life, so much so that he leaves a broken hearted Knives and starts to court this multi- colored hair space traveling hip chick. They officially meet at a party where Scott draws a doodle of her and decides that he needs to know more about the girl. The rest of the novel is playing in the band and attempting to get to know Ramona and it culminates when Scott finds out the Ramona has 7 evil ex boyfriends that Scott must defeat in order to finally be with her. He agrees to the challenge and band fights with her first ex Matthew Patel. Matthew Patel gets under Scott's skin by sending him an email and then engaging in a martial arts fight that has the back drop of bands and music. Patel is defeated and a rain of coins fall where he was standing showing that he vanquished and it is known that the first of the exes has been defeated when Ramona glows. At the end of the novel Scott and Ramona start their relationship and the novels to come afterward describe their continuing battle of the exes.

Critical Evaluation:
This book is fun, adventurous and whimsical. It uses manga style art work and action scenes, youthful language and characters that are unique and well developed. The references to video games are good connection to video games in the novel playing on alternative hobbies like graphic novels and video games (a good example being when evil exes turn into coins). The illustrations are well done and the story line is a little complicated in that Ramona is able to travel through another dimension, but overall it is easy to read and short enough to finish quickly and move to the next in the series. Perhaps the best part of these books is that Scott must battle Ramona's boyfriends, which I'm sure many people feel the need to compete with their significant other's exes at one time or another- literal or not.

Reader's Annotation:
Scott Pilgrim is in his early twenties, in a band and living his life day to day with his younger girlfriend when a mysterious girl starts to get into his head, changing his "precious little life" as he knows it.

Websites to look Into:
http://radiomaru.tumblr.com/
http://www.scottpilgrim.com/

Awards:
New York Times bestseller
Eisner Award
2 Harvey Awards
Doug Wright Award
Joe Shuster Award
Similar Books:
"Scott Pilgrim: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" by Bryan Lee O'Malley
"Scott Pilgrim: Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness" by Bryan Lee O'Malley
"Scott Pilgrim: Scott Pilgrim gets it Together" by Bryan Lee O'Malley

Booktalking Ideas:
Showing scenes from the movie in comparison with the book layouts
Comparing this graphic novel to other more traditional manga novels

Genre:
Graphic Novel, Action

Interest Age:
13-19 yrs.

Challenge Issues:
The only challenge issue that I for see in these novels is that Scott dates and underage girl and that there is violence. To combat Scott dating the younger girl, I feel that it is pertinent to say that their relationship consists of talking and he soon leaves her. As for violence, it is conveyed humorously rather than in rage, being presented through band battles and other fights with exes in the novels that follow it up.

Why this Book?
Graphic novels are very popular with young adults, and this book was made into a movie that was received by this audience very well. They are fun books for both boys and girls, and there are many of them so they can continue reading them over time.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner [book]

400 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Press; 2009, Reprint edition, August 24, 2010
Language: English
ISBN: 0385737955

Plot Summary:
Thomas is a young man that wakes up in an elevator with no memory at all before he is transported into a world that he does not understand and a language that is foreign to him. In the new world that is called the Glade, Thomas learns that every month a boy has arrived as he has and that they are in a confined area surrounded by walls that close at night. When the walls are open there is a maze that is outside of the entrapment that stretches forever and the walls shift every night, and they welcome the Grievers. The Grievers are hideous monsters that kill any boy that they can capture- they do not come out during the day, but instead stalk the maze by night preventing anyone from staying in the maze over night. If anyone is stuck by a Griever they must take an antidote that changes them but only gives them partial memory of their past life.
The boys have created a society in which everyone has a role and Thomas believes that his is to figure out the maze and become one of the runners. The day after Thomas arrives, Teresa arrives (the first girl) and falls into a coma. In the events that follow Thomas spends a night in the maze and is able to make it back alive and with a plan. He becomes a runner and they start to make maps of the maze in order to figure it out, but they are running out of time. Grievers start to visit the Gladers every night and take one as they go, so they are in a battle against time to escape. Eventually they are able to decipher the maze and make a mad dash to the exit in which they must battle a number of Grievers. Once they escape they are confronted with the operators and one of them attempts to kill Thomas but fails when one of the boys jumps to save Thomas' life. In the end you are left with the idea that it is not the end for the boys, it is just the beginning.
Critical Evaluation:
I really enjoyed the language that was used in this book, it was fresh and new and really gravitated towards how all of the boys thought and felt. It shows that they are still boys even though they have to act like adults in order to get out of their situation. The characters relationships are interesting because the boys have created a society in which they must assign tasks and be organized- they even have a council. It shows the power struggle between trusting Thomas and Teresa and trying to get by the Grievers. They all have a tenuous hold on reality and in this you can see that some of them are not aware of what their real thoughts are. I liked the action filled plot and I thought that the book moved at a good pace, although it did drive me a little crazy to constantly be questioning every characters move. It was a nice touch to give the reader the same point of view of Thomas in being introduced to the new world with him (because of his amnesia).

Reader's Annotation:
Thomas arrives in a world of nightly horror in which he cannot remember his past life. He must try to unfold the story of how to get out of this new life, and the appearance of the first girl to the new world has now changed everything.

Websites to look Into:
http://www.jamesdashner.com/

Awards:
New Hampshire Isinglass Teen Read Award (2010-2011)
Missouri Truman Readers Award (2011-2012)
New Jersey Garden State Teen Book Award (2012)
Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award (2012)
Georgia Peach Book Award for Teens (2012)
NYSRA Charlotte Award (2012)
Florida Teens Read! Award (2011-2012)

Similar Books:
"The Scorch Trials" by James Dashner
"The Death Cure" by James Dashner
"The Kill Order" by James Dashner

Booktalking Ideas:
A comparison between the classic Lord of the Flies novel
A discussion about how the trilogy evolves

Genre:
Science Fiction

Interest Age:
13-19 yrs.

Challenge Issues:
Violence
This book does contain a lot of violent themes, both within the group of boys and with the outside world. I would combat this with the fact that they are trying to escape oppression in the novel and doing everything that they can do to survive.

Why this Book?
When I read this book, it really reminded me of Lord of the Flies meets Hunger Games. I thought that it was interesting and that the characters and plot very edgy, and that young adults would take interest in this book.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card [book]

New York : Tor, 1985, 1994, c1991
xxvi, 324 p. ; 18 cm

ISBN: 9780812550702 : 0812550706

Plot Summary:
Ender (Andrew) Wiggin is the youngest in his family and in a world where children are bred for the military and their mental prowess. Ender is inevitably chosen for Battle School because of fight that he gets in with a boy at school that is more powerful (he kills him, but it unaware that he had done so) and beats him with his stimulator removed. Battle School is situated in space around earth's orbit and is meant to train cadets in battle with simulations and mental ability games. Ender is recruited by Graff, and immediately Graff begins to seclude and isolate Ender from his peers by setting him apart. Ender is confused, he is young made to stand out amongst people he would like to get along with. Eventually Ender does make friends when he is put into battle formations and simulations with a squad, in which he starts to win the games and develop tactics that have never been seen before. Ender has many tribulations with other leaders of squads because of his ability and one of the fights ends in another death by Ender's hand.
Not wanting to allow Ender too much comfort, Ender is soon transferred to command school many years before he actually should have been. Throughout the story you learn that they are battling Formic aliens for earth in order to keep their world (or so they tell the cadets). When Ender is transferred he begins tutelage under a former battler of the aliens and is again isolated and put to more demanding game simulations. In the end Ender is put into one more game simulation as his final test, and in it he breaks the rules that the commanders have given him and wins the battle, effectively destroying the entire race of aliens. After the game Ender is told that it was no game and that everything that happened was real, and the battle was over and won by Ender. Back on earth Ender's siblings have started a political uprising through a myriad of essays on politics and although all Ender wants is to return to his family, they cannot allow him to do so because of his new found glory and power and what that would do to the political unrest of earth. Ender is sent to another planet in which he finds traces of the alien race that he killed, and attempts to gather what is left and send it to another place to repopulate because he thinks that that is what is right in the end.

Critical Evaluation:
This book is very well written and carries themes of being an outsider, genocide, and what the military can really mean for our population. Ender is such a good character to follow because he wants to do what is right but cannot figure out what the right choice is amongst people that are trying to control him. He is never fully aware of his power, but always attempts to do what is right. I thought it was such a good twist in the end of the novel that Ender attempts to save the aliens after he has destroyed them unknowingly. It showed that even though he did the wrong thing, he attempted to make it right. I also thought the dual story line between Peter and earth was a good touch to the story showing that even though Ender was going through such turmoil in space, there was a war going on on earth with political figure heads and children encouraging the hierarchy of war.

Reader's Annotation:
In the future Ender, a young boy, is chosen by the military to train for an upcoming war against invading aliens on the planet. He is put through rigorous training through video games and secluded with a group of almost equally gifted peers, but not everything is at it seems in the fight for the future.

Websites to look Into:
http://www.hatrack.com/

Awards:
Nebula Award, 1985: Best Novel
Hugo Award, 1896: Best Novel
SF Chronicle Award, 1986: Best Novel
Hamilton-Brakett Award, 1986

Similar Books:
"Ender's Shadow" by Orson Scott Card
"Speaker for the Dead" by Orson Scott Card
"Harry Potter" by J.K. Rowling

Booktalking Ideas:
Discussion of video games and how the novel is still pertinent to these landscapes

Genre:
Science Fiction/ Fantasy

Interest Age:
13-19 yrs.

Challenge Issues:
Violence
This book does deal with bullying and violence in the war games and tactics that Ender must endure, but I would combat this with the fact that he is playing video games and that war is a very real thing in our world and our culture. Ender also deals with jealousy issues from his classmates and bullying, but he stays true to himself and in the end saves all of them, so I think that it shows young adults that they are stronger than they may think in maintaining who they are through struggle.
Why this Book?
I love this book, and I feel that it has a strong following. Even though it was written in the 80's it is still very relevant to the way that people play video games and it was extremely intuitive for Card to have written this unaware of what the future would hold.

You Don't Love Me Yet by Jonathan Lethem [book]

New York : Doubleday, c2007
223 p. ; 22 cm
ISBN: 038551218X

Plot Summary:
Lucinda is in her early twenties, living in L.A. and the bassist in an ultra cool band that hasn't been discovered... yet. Practicing and being in the band is what is most important to the members and work does not seem to appeal to Lucinda. When she feels the need to get a job Lucinda goes to a friend that works in an art gallery, Falmouth is his name, and he gives her a job answering calls in his newest artistic endeavor: the complaint line. All day Lucinda answers the phone and listens to complaints, while jotting down the summary and imagining who is on the other line until a particularly interesting complainer catches her attention. His name is Carl and he is an older, sloppy man that intrigues her enough that she starts a relationship with him that consumes her even takes her slightly away from her band. During the novel the lead singer of the band, Matthew (and Lucinda's ex) steals a kangaroo from the zoo that he works at and keeps it in his house until he is caught by Lucinda and then deems it time to take it back.
Towards the end of the book the band plays at an ultra selective hip party that Falmouth puts on and is met with adoring praise and offers of record deals to which the band becomes confused and disheartened. In a strange twist of events the manager of the zoo inadvertently becomes that manager of the band and her and Carl start a relationship which leaves Lucinda broken hearted and alone. At the end of the novel Lucinda tells the guitarist of the band, Bedwin, that she likes him out of loneliness and confusion and this causes a rift in the band and ultimately leads to their destruction. In the end Lucinda and Matthew are semi in a relationship and Falmouth is one of her closest allies.

Critical Evaluation:
As I read this book I felt that the language that was used the characters blase attitudes were too hip for a normal reader. However, at the end of the book I thought the characters so unique, the plot so interesting, and the ending so open that I could not stop thinking about it. It delved into questions about why people fall for one another, the confusing emotions that people have as they get older in relationships, and the interesting world of performance art and living an artistic lifestyle in L.A. The characters' names are all so far- fetched and plot outlandish that one could only read it for entertainment and see the story ended. I thought it was a fun read, but not too heavy.

Reader's Annotation:
Lucinda is the epitome of cool, playing in a band and living in L.A. but she needs a job so she starts to work for a complaint line and falls into an odd relationship with one the complainers on the line.

Websites to look Into:
http://jonathanlethem.com/

The Author
Apparently the New York Times thinks that Lethem is "something of a hipster celebrity," due to all of his books and their scene and genre blending.

Similar Books:
"Weetzie Bat" by Francesca Lia Block
"Girl in Landscape: a Novel" by Jonathan Lethem
"As She Climbed Across the Table: a Novel" by Jonathan Lethem

Booktalking Ideas:
Comparing the book to other "hip" novels about music and friends
Using the names of the characters for a display or art piece because they are so unique

Genre:
Adult Crossover/ Fiction

Interest Age:
16+

Challenge Issues:
Sexuality & Language
Lucinda does engage in sexual intercourse in this book with a much older man, but it is in relation to her feelings for him and it is an obscure side story of the novel. I would combat this with the fact that I think it could appeal to older teens and it talks about sex in a frank manner in which young adults might be interested in to know about. The language is that of young adults living in L.A. in a hip scene, it is frequent enough to cause a stir but it is not profane.

Why this Book?
I read this book without a thought of what kind of book it was, and when I was through with it I thought that I could understand appeal that it would have to a young adult audience. It was cool and hip and I thought that older teens would enjoy knowing that they could take an interest in it.

Stolen by Lucy Christopher [book]

New York : Chicken House, 2010
299 p. ; 22 cm
ISBN: 9780545170932

Plot Summary:
While going on a vacation to Bangkok sixteen year old Gemma is drugged and abducted- to be taken to Australia by her captor Ty. He is twenty five years old and has been stalking Gemma for a long time looking for the right time to take her away and live in the outback with her. She is taken out of her element (she is from the UK) and put into a land that she does not know with a man that wants to tame her and keep her with him forever. The one friend that Gemma does make is a female camel that Ty takes, tames and then escapes- much like the Gemma's storyline.
During her captivity Gemma learns that Ty has had a difficult life, he never abuses her sexually, and she sees Ty's love for the land that they are living in and his obsession with her. One night in particular, she convinces herself that Ty is not all that crazy and that she might be falling in love with him. She is confused, but after being bit by a snake Ty rushes her back to civilization to save her life, and upon their return Ty is arrested and Gemma saved. The emotions about her kidnap, feelings for Ty, and her overall despair of the situation come through in her narrative; her letter to her captor is the book in a nutshell.

Critical Evaluation:
I had mixed feelings about this book because in my point of view Gemma's letter is detached. The book was slow moving, and at times hard to decipher- I did not feel a connection to the main character or sometimes understand the motivations behind their actions. I enjoyed that it was written in the form of a letter to her captor, but it is interesting if anyone has read a non- fiction book about this subject, like Elizabeth Smart's book. Gemma is articulate in the book and the reader does feel her confusion and unknowing attraction to the main character, but the story is such a common fear in our society that I could not get past the idea that she had been taken from her life, and the worse things that do indeed happen to these victims in everyday life.

Reader's Annotation:
Sixteen year old Gemma is stolen from her life and her family while on vacation and taken to a desolate land by Ty. At first she is miserable and alone, but over time she starts to develop a connection to her captor, but she has trouble deciphering her true feelings.

Websites to Look Into:
http://www.lucychristopher.com/stolen

Similar Books:
"Flyaway" by Lucy Christopher

Awards:
Barnford Boase Award
Printz Honor Award
Southern Schools Book Award
Gold Inky
Hull Children's Book Award
Booktalking Ideas:
Discussing Stolkholm Syndrome
Discussing romance novels in comparison

Genre:
Adventure, Fiction

Interest Age:
14+

Challenge Issues:
Kidnapping
The main challenge in this book comes from the main character being abducted and her establishing a connection with him. I would combat this with the idea of Stockholm Syndrome and that it is not an unfamiliar topic and should be discussed with young woman, especially a discussion that enables woman to know how to protect themselves from being abducted.

Why this Book?
This book won many awards and really struck me as an interesting, twisted love story. I think that it is an important read to discuss kidnapping and not talking to strangers- as well as monitoring your drinks when you are in foreign areas.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton [book]

Publisher: Speak; Reprint edition, 1997 c. 1967
Language: English
Mass Market Paperback: 192 pages
ISBN: 014038572X

Plot Summary:
Ponyboy Curtis is 14 years old and is part of group that is called the greasers. He feels like an outsider, and is an orphan with his brothers (Darry, 20 and Sodapop, 16) after his parents died; Darry is old enough to take over guardianship of Sodapop and Ponyboy, but they are under very strict rules. There is a rival gang who are called socials (soc) that are rich, popular, and priveledged. The book takes place over 2 weeks in which Ponyboy encounters the rival gang at first and they threaten him, then the greasers go to a movie with girls that hang out with the socs and after have another run in with the soc gang. Ponyboy then gets home later than his curfew and Darry hits him in the heat of the moment which causes Ponyboy to run away and have another encounter with 2 soc boys with his friend Johnny. In the threat of Ponyboy dying, Johnny stabs and kills one of the socs and the boys run away to hide out.
It comes to light that the soc was drunk and it was self defense for Johnny and Ponyboy and they return to town and in a twist of fate become heroes, but in that instance Johnny dies and Dally (another boy in the gang) commits a crime in which he also pays for his life in the end. Ponyboy is constantly faced with the morals of life and grief throughout the novel, and how to do the right thing in life.

Critical Evaluation:
This book is well written and rife with themes that are pertinent to young adults. Ponyboy's life is in constant upheaval and he has a strong family and friend life that has a large influence on how he thinks and behaves. The language is easy and reflects the time period that the book was written in (Ponyboy being a name for example) and the book's length helps to keep the main audience involved. I would think that the only reason that teens would not read this book of their own volition would be because it is required reading for many classes in high school and middle school.

Reader's Annotation:
You're either a soc, rich popular kid, or a greaser, an outsider. Ponyboy is greaser that deals with the moral complications of witnessing a soc death by one of his own.

Websites to Look Into:
http://www.sehinton.com/

The Author:
Susan Eloise Hinton wrote this book while she was still in her teens, and after it came out she became a household name. The reason that she goes by her pen name S.E. is because her publisher suggested she use her initials instead of her name so that the male reviewers would not dismiss the novel because of her gender.

Awards:
New York Herald Tribune, 1967: Best Teenage Books List
Chicago Tribune, 1967: Book World Spring Book Festival Honor Book
Media and Methods Maxi Award, 1975
American Library Association, 1975: Best Young Adults Books
Massachusetts Children's Book Award, 1979

Similar Books:
"That Was Then, This Is Now" by S.E. Hinton
"The Giver" by Lois Lowry

Booktalking Ideas:
How to combat gang violence and peer pressure
Classic novels that are still relevant today
Creating a bookmark of fun required reading lists

Genre:
Classics

Interest Age:
12+

Challenge Issues:
Violence & Gangs
I would combat this with the fact that young adults deal with sub groups of friends and have to see violence in society. This book speaks on moral values and how to deal with situations like these and when they come up with your friends.

Why this Book?
This book is a classic book that is typically recommended in middle and high school. It is a prominent book that is still relevant for young adults attempting to make good choices in life.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak [book]

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf; 2006
Language: English
Paperback: 576 pages
ISBN: 0375842209

Plot Summary:
Liesel is a nine year old girl in the middle of WWII starting off in the novel, being taken to a foster family in Germany in order to escape her parents' communist ties. She steals her first book at her brother's funeral during the trip and is then left with a couple who take her in. The man is named Hans and he teaches Liesel to read and stays by her side at night; he is her protection and her teacher. The woman is named Rosa and she does laundry for a living, using Liesel to help her with collecting and distributing the clothes. During this time she learns and makes few friends, Rudy being one of them- a young boy that is constantly teasing her and asking for kisses. In the beginning of the novel Death is telling the story, but as Liesel continues to learn and grow she takes over narration of the story. As the story unfolds, they harbor a Jewish man
in the basement that is eventually taken away, there are two separate incidents in which there are Jewish parades in the streets and Hans and Liesel are whipped for their compassion for them, and they endure bombings and the ever increasing Nazi presence.
During these incidents Liesel steals books from a book burning fire, and from the library of a woman that she builds a tenuous relationship with through books. In the end nearly everyone that she is close to dies in a bombing while she is the basement writing. Hans, Rosie, and Rudy are all gone and in a final act Liesel kisses Rudy. She is then taken away and the woman that has the library takes her in, and Death starts his narration again. She spends time with Rudy's father and eventually she meets again with the man that they harbored in the basement. The story ends when Liesel is old and Death comes to collect her from her large family. They walk and talk before he takes her while it asks her about her life and humans, to which his final thought is that they haunt him.

Critical Evaluation:
"I am haunted by humans" said by death to Liesel is a profound line in this book that describes the narration changes between death and Liesel. The idea that death narrates part of the novel in a WWII story line was very well crafted. Then later in the novel when Liesel takes over, due to her education, you are able to get a better sense of her character. The tiny parallel story her friend always trying to steal kisses from her is so heartbreaking because when she finally does it is too late; describing this time period in which nothing was set and stable but rather fleeting. The best theme in the novel of learning to read and understanding the devistation of the people in the area as well as seeing books being taken as you are learning to love them is in great relation to the destruction of the area and the Jewish people. The writing was done well and the characters were very in depth and powerful.

Reader's Annotation:
During World War II Liesel is 9 and steals her first book, after she is placed with a foster family she learns to read and conitnues to make friends, she secretly steals books and learns about people and injustices that surround her in this time period.

Websites to look Into:
http://www.randomhouse.com/features/markuszusak/

The Author:
Markus Zusak is an Australian author that grew up hearing stories about Nazi Germany, and decided that he needed to write about it.

Awards:
Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best Book, 2006
Horn Book Fanfare, 2006
Kirkus Reviews Editor Choice Award, 2006
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, 2006
Daniel Elliott Peace Award, 2006
Publishers Weekly Best Children Book of the Year, 2006
Booklist Children Editors' Choice, 2006
ALA Best Books for Young Adults, 2007
Book Sense Book of the Year, 2007
Pacific Northwest Young Readers Choice Master List, 2009
Michael L. Printz Honor Book, 2007

Similar Books:
"I am the Messenger" by MarKus Zusak
Booktalking Ideas:
A World War II discussion, with other WWII books
Talk about the importance of books in society

Genre:
Historical Fiction

Interest Age:
16+

Challenge Issues:
War and Death
This book deals with the death of family members and the Nazi regime in Germany. It is hard to read about but I would combat this with the fact that it happened in history and that people should be aware of it and its tragedies.

Why this Book?
This book has won many awards and is an exceptional book to read for young adults about how books can mean so much to people. I think that it should definitely be included in a collection because it tells an important story of joys in hard times.

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson [book]

New York, N.Y. : Viking, c2009
278 p. ; 22 cm
ISB: 9780670011100

Plot Summary:
Lia Overbrook is on the verge on death in her quest to be thin. Her estranged best friend Cassie dies at the beginning of the novel due to their dangerous flirtation with being the thinnest. Cassie continues to haunt Lia throughout the book leaving Lia to feel guilt and confusion about losing her friend, not helping her and continuing to lose in her own struggle. After going to the scene of Cassie's death, Lia meets Elijah and forms a loose connection with him.
Her weight plumets in the novel to 85 pounds and in a riveting scene she severly cuts herself and is taken to the hospital. She has her family around her and they are concerned but she lies to them with tricks to hide her weight and eventually she must be sent to a therapist who recoommends that she be sent to a psychiatric hospital. She runs to Elijah in desperation but is left alone once again on the brink of death having a final conversation with Cassie about whether to live or die- she then calls her mother to get help.

Critical Evaluation:
This book is extremely well written and devastating to read. Lia's character is so tragic and the reader is taken through her ongoing themes of rage against the ones that love her, competition with her friend, self hatred, and ongoing depression that leads to her near death experience. The book is written from day to day thoughts and you can see the life in sporadic glimpses of Lia wanting food and loving her family. The book is written honestly and it shows the real story of what teenage girls go through and how being thin can be deemed all important.

Reader's Annotation:
Lia is a wintergirl, she is stuck between living and death with her anorexia and her self destructive habits... can her family or the ghost of her other wintergirl help her or cause her to fall deeper into winter?

Websites to Look Into:
http://madwomanintheforest.com/

The Author:
Anderson is said to read the letters, e-mail messages, and posts sent to her from teens and that is how she crafts some of her important works and responses.

Similar Books:
"Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson
"Twisted" by Laurie Halse Anderson
"Thin" by Grace Bowman

Booktalking Ideas:
Girls self- esteem and eating disorders discussion

Notes:
A Junior Library Guild selection

Genre:
Realistic Fiction

Interest Age:
13+

Challenge Issues:
Eating Disorders
The book faces that very real issue of dangerous eating disorders for females, and it ends in death for one of the characters so it can seem very intense. I would combat this with the fact that it shows a real aspect of the dangerous ends of eating disorders for females, and encourages them to speak out about them.

Why this Book?
I love this book and the truths that it is able to show about girls and the pressures that they face about their bodies. I think that it is important that women know that they are not alone in the struggle and what the dire consequences can be.

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier [book]

[New York] Pantheon Books 1974
Language: English
Paperback: 272 pages
ISBN: 0375829873

Plot Summary:
Jerry Renault starts his freshman year at an all boys prep school that has a secret society of boys that bully and attempt to run the student body (it is called the Vigils). The leader of the Vigils is named Archie and after Jerry joins that football team he is invited into the secret society. Selling chocolate at the school is how they fund raise, and after the head of the school becomes ill, the vice- principal takes over and demands more fundraising efforts. Archie becomes involved in bullying the student body into selling more chocolates and in the process Jerry refuses to participate in the fundraiser starting a "chocolate war".
In the following events, there is a powerful power struggle between the vice- principal and Archie, and Jerry becomes a Parana to his classmates and is bullied because of his actions. Jerry sees the corrupt ideals of the school and maintains one friend, another outcast "the goober". At the end of the book there is a boxing match between Jerry and another boy, with the promised result of getting back his life. Jerry is severely hurt when the fight is shut down, and in the end Archie is caught but absolved when the vice- Principal stands on his behalf and encourages him for next year. This school is also a Catholic school.

Critical Evaluation:
The juxtaposition between a Catholic school and power struggles over chocolate fundraising efforts is very well crafted. There is foul language, but it is used by young men and aids in the novel's gritty themes of unfairness and bullying in a regime that was created by peers. The themes included are that of morals, bullying, corruption and going through adolescence questioning the world around you. The end could be upsetting to some because of the fact that Archie gets away with his behavior, but it also shows that life can be unfair and one must believe in what is right and stay true to themselves.

Reader's Annotation:
When Jerry Renault refuses to participate in school chocolate fund raising, his school becomes divided about what is right, what is wrong and bullying.

Websites to Look Into:
no official website, but this is helpful: http://www.ipl.org/div/askauthor/Cormier.html

The Author:
Fun facts are that he actually did attend a private Catholic school growing up and that even after her achieved fame with his writing he never gave up writing for his local newspaper.

Awards:
An ALA Best Books for Young Adults
A School Library Journal Best Books of the Year
A Kirkus Reviews Choice
A New York Times Outstanding Books of the Year
Margaret A Edwards Award

Similar Books:
"I am the Cheese" by Robert Cormier
"Monster" by Walter Dean Myers

Booktalking Ideas:
Talking about girl scout cookies and how they fund raise/ Handing them out

Genre:
Classics

Interest Age:
13+

Challenge Issues:
Male Sexuality
There are references in the book to arousal and masturbation, but they are not overt and they are part of the life of a teen. I would combat it with the fact that it is not obvious and it is presented in a context to the book that makes sense.

Why this Book?
This book represents a boy's desire to do what he thinks is best, and it divides moral values and intrigues people to think about scapegoats and where their feelings really derive from.

Forever by Judy Blume [book]

Scarsdale, N.Y. : Bradbury Press, c1975
199 p. ; 22 cm
ISBN: 0027110303

Plot Summary:
Katharine Danziger and Michael Wagner meet in their senior year of high school at a party and fall for eachother. They go on dates and trips together and become close, close enough to start talking about having sex and what it means to them. Katherine is a virgin, while Michael has already had sex; the discussion about sex and intimacy further continues in the dialogue that Katherine and her best friend Erica have. The two opposing point of views that become prominent in the story are that of sex being emotional and sex being physical. During the courtship Michael's friend Artie comes into the group and his depression is discussed until he eventually attempts to hang himself and fails.
The term for the title of the book "Forever" comes from the necklace that Michael gives Katherine after they have sex for the first time on the floor of a bedroom. They feel that sex does mean that they are meant to be and the only faulter in this is when summer comes around and the 2 are separated. Katherine starts to doubt her feelings, when she becomes attracted to another and gains hope and confidence in herself and in her sexuality.

Critical Evaluation:
This book was interesting for me because I have predominantly read children's books by Judy Blume- so to read a book that deals with strong ideas of sexual content written by her through me for a loop. She writes the book well and I felt an immense connection the movie "Dirty Dancing" because of the fact that she is coming into her womanhood and having sexual relationships for the first time with someone that she cares about. I like the fact that she gains confidence from the experience and is better for it in the end. Her best friend's opinion is also a fun mediator to her idea of love and sex in the novel.

Reader's Annotation:
Katherine and Micheal believe that their love is forever as they deal with issues of intimacy and eventually time spent apart.

Websites to Look Into:
http://www.judyblume.com/

The Author:
Judy Blume has won more than 90 literary awards, and she serves on the board of the National Coalition Against Censorship; she is also longtime advocate of intellectual freedom.

Awards:
Margaret A. Edwards Awards

Similar Books:
"Then Again, Maybe I Won't" by Judy Blume
"Wifey" by Judy Blume
"Seventeenth Summer" by Maureen Daly

Booktalking Ideas:
Classic love stories
Comparing it to other popular materials that involve young love

Genre:
Classics, Romance

Interest Age:
15+

Challenge Issues:
Sexuality & Suicide
The main challenge of this book is teen sexuality and whether it is a physical act or an act of love. This is a very scary theme for some because it discusses sex in real terms and it is real about the likelihood that teens will have sex when they imagine that they are in love. I would combat it with the fact that the two wait to have sex and when they do they make mature decisions.
One of the characters goes through depression and does attempt suicide, so this can be a difficult subject, but I think that it can be combated with the fact that many teens hover around being depressed and having difficulty dealing with it. It shows them that it is not the way to go in trying to hurt oneself.

Why this Book?
This book is a classic book that predominantly deals with young adults falling in love young and making the right (or wrong) decisions.