Wild Bird by Wendelin Van Draanen
The story dramatically opens to Wren, the first person narrator of this realistic-fiction young adult novel, being woken up in the middle of the night, by her parents' request, to be taken to an outdoor boot camp for juvenile delinquents. Wren has hit rock bottom with drug and alcohol use, but her parents officially hit their wall when Wren angrily carves a swastika into the family's piano that was an heirloom of her great grandmother's (a Holocaust survivor).
The plot is quite predictable. The main character is very angry, doesn't own her behavior, and through her flashbacks, we learn how she got to this point in her life. No surprises, Wren finally has a "break-through" moment and admits she's at fault and asks her family for forgiveness.
I've enjoyed Van Draanen's past writings (Flipped, Running Dream), but those storylines had more moments of upbeat/positive mood, whereas Wild Bird 's mood is mostly anger and bitterness; the author taking a more serious direction. It's hard to be objective too, because I'm not sure how I personally feel about boot camps being used with juveniles to "whip them into shape". Especially since fatalities have resulted from these organizations and companies.
The relationship between Wren and her older sister is quite complicated and I think this fact could have been developed more. There was potential for possibly some great scenes/dialogue between these two ladies. I feel this was an opportunity lost by the author. The reader does get to see a soft side of the narrator through her relationship with her younger brother. Even though Wren acts is if she doesn't care what anyone thinks of her or how her actions affect them, her brother is the one exception. She wants him to still look up to her, admire her, and not be scare of her or be disappointed by her.
My friend, a high school librarian, recently read the book and gave it 5 out of 5 stars, which prompted me to pick it up and read Wild Bird, but I have to say, since I feel like I've read this story more than once in other books/by other authors, I'd give it a 3.5/5. The author in the past has shown originality, but I feel this time she went very formulaic.
The story dramatically opens to Wren, the first person narrator of this realistic-fiction young adult novel, being woken up in the middle of the night, by her parents' request, to be taken to an outdoor boot camp for juvenile delinquents. Wren has hit rock bottom with drug and alcohol use, but her parents officially hit their wall when Wren angrily carves a swastika into the family's piano that was an heirloom of her great grandmother's (a Holocaust survivor).
The plot is quite predictable. The main character is very angry, doesn't own her behavior, and through her flashbacks, we learn how she got to this point in her life. No surprises, Wren finally has a "break-through" moment and admits she's at fault and asks her family for forgiveness.
I've enjoyed Van Draanen's past writings (Flipped, Running Dream), but those storylines had more moments of upbeat/positive mood, whereas Wild Bird 's mood is mostly anger and bitterness; the author taking a more serious direction. It's hard to be objective too, because I'm not sure how I personally feel about boot camps being used with juveniles to "whip them into shape". Especially since fatalities have resulted from these organizations and companies.
The relationship between Wren and her older sister is quite complicated and I think this fact could have been developed more. There was potential for possibly some great scenes/dialogue between these two ladies. I feel this was an opportunity lost by the author. The reader does get to see a soft side of the narrator through her relationship with her younger brother. Even though Wren acts is if she doesn't care what anyone thinks of her or how her actions affect them, her brother is the one exception. She wants him to still look up to her, admire her, and not be scare of her or be disappointed by her.
My friend, a high school librarian, recently read the book and gave it 5 out of 5 stars, which prompted me to pick it up and read Wild Bird, but I have to say, since I feel like I've read this story more than once in other books/by other authors, I'd give it a 3.5/5. The author in the past has shown originality, but I feel this time she went very formulaic.
Hate List by Jennifer Brown
Valerie and her boyfriend, Nick, have been keeping an ongoing "hate list". A notebook filled with the names of the kids in their high school who have bullied them over the years. Valerie saw it as simply a way to vent out her frustrations, but Nick acts on his hatred and is the murderer in a school shooting near the end of their junior year.
Valerie is a victim of the many causalities that day along with other peers, some being fatally killed as well, before Nick turned the gun on himself. Throughout the book and her senior year, Valerie has to come to terms with losing her boyfriend, questioning if she could have prevented the shooting, and coming to terms with who Nick really was compared to who she thought he was.
This is a great book focusing on topics and themes of: forgiveness and self-reflection. The story's finale is pretty open-ended, but a very sophisticated read for a young adult novel.
Valerie and her boyfriend, Nick, have been keeping an ongoing "hate list". A notebook filled with the names of the kids in their high school who have bullied them over the years. Valerie saw it as simply a way to vent out her frustrations, but Nick acts on his hatred and is the murderer in a school shooting near the end of their junior year.
Valerie is a victim of the many causalities that day along with other peers, some being fatally killed as well, before Nick turned the gun on himself. Throughout the book and her senior year, Valerie has to come to terms with losing her boyfriend, questioning if she could have prevented the shooting, and coming to terms with who Nick really was compared to who she thought he was.
This is a great book focusing on topics and themes of: forgiveness and self-reflection. The story's finale is pretty open-ended, but a very sophisticated read for a young adult novel.
I Was Here by Gayle Foreman
Cody and Meg were best friends from elementary school through high school. Their freshmen year in college find them physically separated with Meg going to school out of state. Right at the beginning of the book Cody reveals that Meg is dead due to committing suicide. Cody is shocked and trying to make sense of how her best friend, who she thought was happy, spunky, and full-of-life, could take her own life. Had she really missed the signs? Cody goes to Seattle, where Meg was attending school, to meet the people in Meg's social circle, and try to figure out why she is gone and who, if anyone, helped her make this decision. This novel covers important topics about friendship, communication, depression, and forgiveness.
Cody and Meg were best friends from elementary school through high school. Their freshmen year in college find them physically separated with Meg going to school out of state. Right at the beginning of the book Cody reveals that Meg is dead due to committing suicide. Cody is shocked and trying to make sense of how her best friend, who she thought was happy, spunky, and full-of-life, could take her own life. Had she really missed the signs? Cody goes to Seattle, where Meg was attending school, to meet the people in Meg's social circle, and try to figure out why she is gone and who, if anyone, helped her make this decision. This novel covers important topics about friendship, communication, depression, and forgiveness.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
by Jesse Andrews
Written in first person, Greg tells the story of how he and his friend Earl found themselves spending more time than usual with Rachel, one of their classmates who is dying of cancer. Don't confuse this story with John Green's A Fault in Our Stars. Andrews' novel is not mushy, there is no romance, and it does not really end in a let's-reflect-on-what-we've-learned-type-of-conclusion. Warning: there is quite a bit of profanity, so if you're more conservative, you may find it offensive. I found the story to be refreshingly realistic due to its lack of sugar-coating the situation. This is not a feel-good book, but I am curious to see the indepedent film based on the book that has received great reviews.
by Jesse Andrews
Written in first person, Greg tells the story of how he and his friend Earl found themselves spending more time than usual with Rachel, one of their classmates who is dying of cancer. Don't confuse this story with John Green's A Fault in Our Stars. Andrews' novel is not mushy, there is no romance, and it does not really end in a let's-reflect-on-what-we've-learned-type-of-conclusion. Warning: there is quite a bit of profanity, so if you're more conservative, you may find it offensive. I found the story to be refreshingly realistic due to its lack of sugar-coating the situation. This is not a feel-good book, but I am curious to see the indepedent film based on the book that has received great reviews.
100 Sideways Miles by Andrew Smith
Winger was the first novel by Smith that I read, and I loved it, so I wanted to keep reading more works by this engaging author. This novel, like Winger, most likely would fit under the sub-genre: realistic-fiction, but I don't know too many teenagers that live through the experiences that his characters endure. Finn lost his mother in a bizarre tragic accident (the book's cover is a hint), he suffers from seizures and a famous father whose popular science-fiction novel possesses bits and pieces of Finn's life (a scar on Finn's back and one of the characters is even named after him).
Finn's best friend is a wild, loud mouthed Cade and an intriguing new classmate, Julia, is causing this school year to be much more interesting than Finn anticipated. The dialogue between Smith's characters are always great. I've never heard teenagers talk with as much wit as his characters, but it is what I like best about his writing. What you can also expect from Smith's writing is a lot of profanity (you've been warned).
I wouldn't say the novel is as great as Winger, but it still is a very engaging read.
Winger was the first novel by Smith that I read, and I loved it, so I wanted to keep reading more works by this engaging author. This novel, like Winger, most likely would fit under the sub-genre: realistic-fiction, but I don't know too many teenagers that live through the experiences that his characters endure. Finn lost his mother in a bizarre tragic accident (the book's cover is a hint), he suffers from seizures and a famous father whose popular science-fiction novel possesses bits and pieces of Finn's life (a scar on Finn's back and one of the characters is even named after him).
Finn's best friend is a wild, loud mouthed Cade and an intriguing new classmate, Julia, is causing this school year to be much more interesting than Finn anticipated. The dialogue between Smith's characters are always great. I've never heard teenagers talk with as much wit as his characters, but it is what I like best about his writing. What you can also expect from Smith's writing is a lot of profanity (you've been warned).
I wouldn't say the novel is as great as Winger, but it still is a very engaging read.
I AM J by Cris Beam
This a great realistic-fiction book for students looking for more GLBT protagonists. The main character, J, is a transgender teenager. J, born a girl and named Jennifer, has always known he was really a boy. Once he turns 18, which happens by the end of the novel, he hopes to start taking Testosterone shots and begin his physical transition to the opposite gender. The story is told in first person and shows how one's family and friends react to J's decision. I do teach openly GLBT students and I've always felt my classroom library selection with GLBT characters is rather skimpy. I learned quite a bit about the GLBT community, specifically transgender individuals, that I had not thought about before. This was a very interesting read.
This a great realistic-fiction book for students looking for more GLBT protagonists. The main character, J, is a transgender teenager. J, born a girl and named Jennifer, has always known he was really a boy. Once he turns 18, which happens by the end of the novel, he hopes to start taking Testosterone shots and begin his physical transition to the opposite gender. The story is told in first person and shows how one's family and friends react to J's decision. I do teach openly GLBT students and I've always felt my classroom library selection with GLBT characters is rather skimpy. I learned quite a bit about the GLBT community, specifically transgender individuals, that I had not thought about before. This was a very interesting read.
Summer State of Mind by Jen Calonita
Harper and her fifteen year old, twin brother Kyle are going to be residents at a residential camp this summer, taking a break from city life in New York. Whereas Kyle is a "lifer" of the camp and attends every summer, this is the first summer for Harper. Why is she deciding to attend this summer? She didn't actually make the decision. Her father, music video producer, made the decision for her after he noticed Harper evolving into a materialistic snob who liked to liberally use his credit card for many non-essentials. The family is hoping to get the "old Harper" back, who was down-to-earth and not nearly so shallow. Harper is not thrilled but through a lot of trials and errors, stepping outside of her box, being an outsider for one of the first times in her life, and making connections and friendships with other teens she wouldn't normally hang out with at school, she learns a lot about her true self and what she has to offer besides shopping.
This was a very cute read. Nothing too dramatic, minus a little teen angst. There's of course a light summer romance thrown in, humor, and pranks to keep the plot moving forward. A predictable ending, but a fun, light read nonetheless!
Harper and her fifteen year old, twin brother Kyle are going to be residents at a residential camp this summer, taking a break from city life in New York. Whereas Kyle is a "lifer" of the camp and attends every summer, this is the first summer for Harper. Why is she deciding to attend this summer? She didn't actually make the decision. Her father, music video producer, made the decision for her after he noticed Harper evolving into a materialistic snob who liked to liberally use his credit card for many non-essentials. The family is hoping to get the "old Harper" back, who was down-to-earth and not nearly so shallow. Harper is not thrilled but through a lot of trials and errors, stepping outside of her box, being an outsider for one of the first times in her life, and making connections and friendships with other teens she wouldn't normally hang out with at school, she learns a lot about her true self and what she has to offer besides shopping.
This was a very cute read. Nothing too dramatic, minus a little teen angst. There's of course a light summer romance thrown in, humor, and pranks to keep the plot moving forward. A predictable ending, but a fun, light read nonetheless!
Forcing the Ace by Erin Thomas
If you want an extremely fast read then this is the perfect book for you. The setting surrounds a culture of teen magicians with Alex as the main character. Alex might not have the best grades but he is very focused on becoming a world renowned magician someday.
Through a tryout/competition, that he doesn't win, he does manage to pick up a magic teacher and sponsor for an upcoming contest. Jack, Alex's sponsor, has agreed to help Alex with his technique under one condition: that Alex perform his routine with a partner, his classmate Zoe who has natural ability and has just started doing magic competitions herself.
Alex learns to be humbled, to own up to his mistakes, and how to connect with his parents who don't quite understand or support his hobby.
By the end of this quick read, you will probably want to try some card tricks of your own,
The Unbearable Book Club for Unsinkable Girls by Julie Schumacher
Adrienne's mother has set up a mother-daughter book club with three other mom's in her yoga class. This was meant to be a way to bond with her daughter whose original summer adventure was canceled due to a knee injury. Even though the mothers seem to like each other and they all have daughters in high school taking the same English course the next year, the four girls: Adrienne, CeeCee, Jill, and Wallis have very different interests and personalities.
I was worried this book was going to be a second cousin to The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books, which were fun to read, but been-there-done-that. They really have nothing in common which was refreshing and a nice change of pace. The story is told from Adrienne's point of view recounting what happened that summer when a simple book club completely changed her life and her relationships. I like how each chapter was Adrienne's explanation of a literary element, the witty dialogue spoken back-and-forth between the girls and the unexpected ending. There were still some questions I had as the reader that were still left unanswered by the end of the book, but the way the author organized the story, it seemed to work and I didn't find it upsetting. This was a satisfying summer read.
Adrienne's mother has set up a mother-daughter book club with three other mom's in her yoga class. This was meant to be a way to bond with her daughter whose original summer adventure was canceled due to a knee injury. Even though the mothers seem to like each other and they all have daughters in high school taking the same English course the next year, the four girls: Adrienne, CeeCee, Jill, and Wallis have very different interests and personalities.
I was worried this book was going to be a second cousin to The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books, which were fun to read, but been-there-done-that. They really have nothing in common which was refreshing and a nice change of pace. The story is told from Adrienne's point of view recounting what happened that summer when a simple book club completely changed her life and her relationships. I like how each chapter was Adrienne's explanation of a literary element, the witty dialogue spoken back-and-forth between the girls and the unexpected ending. There were still some questions I had as the reader that were still left unanswered by the end of the book, but the way the author organized the story, it seemed to work and I didn't find it upsetting. This was a satisfying summer read.
The Meaning of Maggie by Megan Jean Sovern
Maggie, your first-person narrator, is a precocious over-achieving student who normally has everything in her life incredibly organized and under control. Her father is suffering from multiple sclerosis and the side effects of the disease have been more apparent this year than in the past. With her two older sisters (they all hate each other as most sisters do) and her hard-working mother, they all experience typical family setbacks, Maggie has to learn to adapt to life's curve balls. The family comes together for the great moments and the scary moments when caring for their dad. Filled with an abundance of humor and a narrator voice that goes full-speed ahead with hilarious foot notes/side bars throughout the reading, I would highly recommend this fun, quick, leisure read.
Maggie, your first-person narrator, is a precocious over-achieving student who normally has everything in her life incredibly organized and under control. Her father is suffering from multiple sclerosis and the side effects of the disease have been more apparent this year than in the past. With her two older sisters (they all hate each other as most sisters do) and her hard-working mother, they all experience typical family setbacks, Maggie has to learn to adapt to life's curve balls. The family comes together for the great moments and the scary moments when caring for their dad. Filled with an abundance of humor and a narrator voice that goes full-speed ahead with hilarious foot notes/side bars throughout the reading, I would highly recommend this fun, quick, leisure read.
Paper Towns by John Green
After reading Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars (both of which I really enjoyed) I wanted to try Paper Towns once I heard they would eventually be making this story into a movie. It's an engaging read, but not my favorite Green novel. Quentin, who has always been attracted to his childhood friend, Margo, finds himself even more obsessed with her when she mysteriously disappears after an evening of the two of them pulling pranks as Margo's revenge on their classmates. With the help of three of his friends, they set off on a road trip to find Margo, before they lose her completely. I enjoyed the supporting roles, Quentin's friends, and once they hit the road to try to beat the clock across country, it was entertaining dialogue and also suspenseful, wondering if they'd make it to their destination in time. Margo's character was not a favorite for me so it's a good thing she wasn't physically present during the middle section of the novel. Most of the time I simply felt sorry for Quentin since he was putting forth a lot more effort in his friendship with Margo than he was getting back in return. If you want to know if Quentin and his friends find Margo, and what happens when they do reach the "paper town" they're looking for, then read Paper Towns by John Green.
After reading Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars (both of which I really enjoyed) I wanted to try Paper Towns once I heard they would eventually be making this story into a movie. It's an engaging read, but not my favorite Green novel. Quentin, who has always been attracted to his childhood friend, Margo, finds himself even more obsessed with her when she mysteriously disappears after an evening of the two of them pulling pranks as Margo's revenge on their classmates. With the help of three of his friends, they set off on a road trip to find Margo, before they lose her completely. I enjoyed the supporting roles, Quentin's friends, and once they hit the road to try to beat the clock across country, it was entertaining dialogue and also suspenseful, wondering if they'd make it to their destination in time. Margo's character was not a favorite for me so it's a good thing she wasn't physically present during the middle section of the novel. Most of the time I simply felt sorry for Quentin since he was putting forth a lot more effort in his friendship with Margo than he was getting back in return. If you want to know if Quentin and his friends find Margo, and what happens when they do reach the "paper town" they're looking for, then read Paper Towns by John Green.
The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson
I've read Speak, Fever 1973, Wintergirls and Chains by this author and wanted to give her latest novel a chance after coming across some positive reviews and seeing the book on display at the public library. This realistic-fiction read took about 15 pages to get into (the writing style was different than past novels by this author), but once it started to pick up, I didn't want to put it down. Hayley is a high school student who was mostly "home-schooled" (or the opposite of schooled) by her father during his stint as a truck driver. Her father has a graphic past from his days in the military and suffers from post traumatic stress. This has turned him into an alcoholic and drug user to numb his pain. While Hayley is forced into a parenting position (her mother died when she was a baby) she has met a young man named Finn and their relationship is very fun and unique. Hayley is pretty cut-throat, tell-it-like-it-is which sometimes turns people away, and when you think she or her father are going to make the wrong choice...you'll need to read the book. The results of their actions at the conclusion of the story may not be the perfect happy ending, but it is realistic and believable which I appreciate considering the genre it falls under.
I've read Speak, Fever 1973, Wintergirls and Chains by this author and wanted to give her latest novel a chance after coming across some positive reviews and seeing the book on display at the public library. This realistic-fiction read took about 15 pages to get into (the writing style was different than past novels by this author), but once it started to pick up, I didn't want to put it down. Hayley is a high school student who was mostly "home-schooled" (or the opposite of schooled) by her father during his stint as a truck driver. Her father has a graphic past from his days in the military and suffers from post traumatic stress. This has turned him into an alcoholic and drug user to numb his pain. While Hayley is forced into a parenting position (her mother died when she was a baby) she has met a young man named Finn and their relationship is very fun and unique. Hayley is pretty cut-throat, tell-it-like-it-is which sometimes turns people away, and when you think she or her father are going to make the wrong choice...you'll need to read the book. The results of their actions at the conclusion of the story may not be the perfect happy ending, but it is realistic and believable which I appreciate considering the genre it falls under.
Winger by Andrew Smith
This realistic-fiction novel takes place at a boarding school filled with affluent high school students in the Pacific Northwest. Ryan Dean, your first-person narrator, is a junior in high school but highly intelligent and only fourteen years old. He's also a star on the rugby team and a cartoonist/artist. The plot covers the first three months of school. Well-written, there is profanity almost on every page, but the majority of the time it fits due to the fact that most high school students swear...simply because they can and this student-body is no different. This is a great coming-of-age novel filled with fights, love triangles, victories, and defeats. I laughed out loud on many occasions and the plot twist at the end was quite unpredictable and shocking. This was an extremely engaging read.
This realistic-fiction novel takes place at a boarding school filled with affluent high school students in the Pacific Northwest. Ryan Dean, your first-person narrator, is a junior in high school but highly intelligent and only fourteen years old. He's also a star on the rugby team and a cartoonist/artist. The plot covers the first three months of school. Well-written, there is profanity almost on every page, but the majority of the time it fits due to the fact that most high school students swear...simply because they can and this student-body is no different. This is a great coming-of-age novel filled with fights, love triangles, victories, and defeats. I laughed out loud on many occasions and the plot twist at the end was quite unpredictable and shocking. This was an extremely engaging read.
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
A realistic-fiction novel that takes place in the 1980's, alternates narrators back-and-forth between two high school students named Eleanor and Park. Eleanor comes from a very dysfunctional family, but when she develops a friendship with Park on the bus their lives change in a way that has the reader cheering them on as a couple but also bracing for the worst. Both main characters are very like-able, but yet very realistic in that, like everyone else, they do have flaws. A very fast-paced, flowing book, set in Omaha, Nebraska. You will quickly become attached to the characters and it will be very difficult to put the book down. A wonderfully written story about the importance of positive relationships.
A realistic-fiction novel that takes place in the 1980's, alternates narrators back-and-forth between two high school students named Eleanor and Park. Eleanor comes from a very dysfunctional family, but when she develops a friendship with Park on the bus their lives change in a way that has the reader cheering them on as a couple but also bracing for the worst. Both main characters are very like-able, but yet very realistic in that, like everyone else, they do have flaws. A very fast-paced, flowing book, set in Omaha, Nebraska. You will quickly become attached to the characters and it will be very difficult to put the book down. A wonderfully written story about the importance of positive relationships.
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Cather, a freshman at UNL, is having a challening first year of college. Her twin sister, Wren, doesn't want to be her roommate, her actual roommate doesn't seem to like her, and she's struggling to find her niche. Her hobby is writing fan-fiction, but she's not finding other people at school with this similar interest. The plot starts to pick up as Cather becomes acquainted with Nick, a classmate in her fiction-writing class, and Levi, her roommate's close friend. Wren's partying ways seem to be spiraling out of control, their dad is having a hard time living in an empty house back in Omaha without the girls, and their mom, who left them in the third grade, is trying to reconnect with them unexpectedly. Can Cather survive the year? This story is a wonderful coming-of-age book. The relationships between characters are far from perfect, but that's what makes them so realistic. I had a hard time putting this book down. Being a UNL alumni, many of the descriptions of different campus locations made this a fun, nostalgic read. A great realistic-fiction novel!
Cather, a freshman at UNL, is having a challening first year of college. Her twin sister, Wren, doesn't want to be her roommate, her actual roommate doesn't seem to like her, and she's struggling to find her niche. Her hobby is writing fan-fiction, but she's not finding other people at school with this similar interest. The plot starts to pick up as Cather becomes acquainted with Nick, a classmate in her fiction-writing class, and Levi, her roommate's close friend. Wren's partying ways seem to be spiraling out of control, their dad is having a hard time living in an empty house back in Omaha without the girls, and their mom, who left them in the third grade, is trying to reconnect with them unexpectedly. Can Cather survive the year? This story is a wonderful coming-of-age book. The relationships between characters are far from perfect, but that's what makes them so realistic. I had a hard time putting this book down. Being a UNL alumni, many of the descriptions of different campus locations made this a fun, nostalgic read. A great realistic-fiction novel!
Cut the Lights by Karen Krossing
This is a very cute and leisurely satisfying young adult book about high school theater. Briar, a student director, feels like she is undervalued in her school's theater department. Once casting and production are underway, it feels like their play is cursed with all of the hiccups and obstacles they face before show time. In the midst of Briar feeling sorry for herself and trying to find solutions, she soon realizes that she's overlooking warning signs among her cast members and that her peers she's working with are more important than a two hour show. This was a simple, fast, yet entertaining read.
This is a very cute and leisurely satisfying young adult book about high school theater. Briar, a student director, feels like she is undervalued in her school's theater department. Once casting and production are underway, it feels like their play is cursed with all of the hiccups and obstacles they face before show time. In the midst of Briar feeling sorry for herself and trying to find solutions, she soon realizes that she's overlooking warning signs among her cast members and that her peers she's working with are more important than a two hour show. This was a simple, fast, yet entertaining read.
How to Lose Everything: A Mostly True Story by Philipp Mattheis
What would you do if you found a substantial amount of money and assumed the owner of the money was deceased? Keep it? Report it to the police? Give it to charity? Jonathan, a teenager growing up in Munich, Germany, and his friends, feel they have "struck gold" when they find the equivalent to thousands and thousands of dollars in an abandoned home. Their lives change dramatically after they all decide to keep the money for themselves, spending it on unnecessary splurges (clothes, restaurant food, etc.) and then eventually the spending evolves into illegal activity causing a spiral of chaos and greed in their relationships. The outcome of the book is blatantly hinted in the title of the book so the reader can easily predict that there will not be a happy ending. I was honestly surprised that with the boys' reckless lifestyles, there weren't more causalities than portrayed in the book. I also wondered (since the story is loosely based on an actual, autobiographical scenario of the author) where the parents' involvement was in these boys' lives. The parents and the teenagers seemed quite disengaged with one another. The story does make you think as a reader, "What would you do?" and the twist near the end with Jonathan's last visit to the abandoned home was something I did not see coming. Somewhat dark and depressing, it was still an intriguing story line until the very end, but the actual ending of the book was abrupt as if a final reflection by the narrator was needed.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Hazel and Gus meet at a cancer support group, both fighting/surviving the disease themselves. Hazel has been told her condition is terminal, while Gus (after a leg amputation) appears to be cured of the disease. Both high school students have maintained such a dry sense of humor about their lives possibly being cut short, that they seem to be a perfect match for each other. This story will make you laugh out loud, cry, and even catch you off guard at times. This is a New York Times Bestseller, and so far, my favorite John Green book.
Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur
This title was one I heard a lot at the beginning of the year from my students. It was one of the books at a school book fair, and so many of my kids pointed to it and said how much they loved reading it. I completely agree! This is a sometimes sad, but touching story about a young girl named Aubrey who loses her younger sister and father in a car accident. Aubrey and her mother survive the accident, but are very much struggling, mentally and/or emotionally, with surviving the aftermath of the tragedy. Aubrey's mother runs away leaving Aubrey alone. Eventually Aubrey's grandmother realizes that Aubrey is without her mother and moves Aubrey from Virginia to her home in Vermont. As Aubrey starts the healing process, her relationship with her grandmother and a neighboring family becomes a strong foundation and support system in her life. When her mother resurfaces, Aubrey has to make the tough decision of which family she wants to live with. Up until the last paragraph, it's hard to know what Aubrey will decide to do, but in the end, she feels her choice is the right one.
After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick
Jeffrey, an eighth grader and cancer survivor, narrates this touching, funny, and memorable story about a boy and his best friend (also a cancer survivor), surviving middle school, surviving a deadly disease, and trying to maintain a sense of humor through it all. The prequel to this book is told from Jeffrey's older brother's point of view a couple years prior. I have not read the first book (Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie), but the story line quickly caught me up to speed in a way that I never felt lost or confused. There are a lot of lovable, eclectic characters in this enjoyable read as well. The plot is not completely predictable and there's plenty of ups and downs to keep you interested all the way to the end.
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
This is R.J. Palacio's debut novel. It came recommended to me by school librarians, fellow educators, and students who had read it. This is a wonderful realistic-fiction novel that forces you to think about how humans treat each other and how we judge one another based on physical appearance, when what we should be focusing on is the beauty of one's soul. August, is a fifth grader, who is going to attend a school in his community for the first time rather than be home-schooled. His major worry is that his classmates won't accept him, because of a facial deformity he has had since birth. The variety of narrators, from August, to his sister, and classmates tell their stories about their thoughts and actions when living with others who don't look the same as you. This is a very touching story and I highly recommend that you read it soon!
Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
This novel is a Intermediate Golden Sower Nominee for 2012-2013. I simply could not put the book down. The narrator is Melody, a fifth grader who lives with Cerebral Palsy and cannot communicate the same way many of us communicate (verbally, through our mouths). As a result many of her teachers and classmates underestimate her intelligence, assuming she's not absorbing information, when in fact, she's one of the smartest students in the school. With the help of a communication device, Melody is able to tell everyone around her exactly what she knows and what she's feeling. There are many wonderful people in Melody's life like her family, special education teachers, aides, and the family's next-door-neighbor. There are also cruel and heartless people in Melody's life who can't seem to get past her exterior and really let themselves get to know the amazing person that Melody is. Don't worry though; Melody in the end, is able to get "the last word". I highly recommend this novel. It's a wonderful story about how we as humans should treat fellow humans, regardless of our differences.
Starring Arabelle by Hillary Hall De Baun
Arabelle is a freshman trying to make it big in the world of acting. Unfortunately, upperclassman Bonnie wants nothing more than to hog the spotlight and prevent Arabelle from achieving her goal. Arabelle has also found herself in a community service situation where she is volunteering (against her will) at an assisted living facility. A colorful cast of characters includes: an eccentric theater teacher, hockey star, Russian exchange student, dry/sarcastic best friend and many more. Pick up this book to find out if Arabelle gets a role in You Can't Take It With You; if she can make connections with the residents at the care home where she spends her weekends, and if the show will literally go on due to many hiccups and obstacles that threaten to end the production before it even debuts. A lot of fun humor sprinkled throughout with a satisfying ending makes this a fun, light, leisure read.
Crush by Gary Paulsen
This is the third book in Paulsen's realistic-fiction series about Kevin, an 8th grade boy researching the topic that plagues many male teenagers: "What do girls want in a relationship?" Before Kevin gets the courage to ask out Tina he conducts his own experiments to learn from different people in his life including: his parents, classmates, friends and siblings. This was a great quick and fun read! The dialogue between characters is witty and hilarious. You don't need to read the previous two books to be able to follow the story line. This was the first book in the series that I'd read and it wasn't an issue, but now I really want to read the other two! Very entertaining from start to finish! I plan on reading this book aloud in my English 7 classes during 1st quarter.
A Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame by Brenda Woods
This realistic-fiction novel is told from the perspective of ten different characters' points-of-view. These characters consist of nine high school students and their English teacher in a Los Angeles high school. The title of the novel is based off of a journal writing assignment given to the students by Ms. Hart. Through their in-class lessons and their experiences outside of the classroom, you become invested in each student and his or her own personal struggles and accomplishments. The stories touch on many important subjects in today's world from race to immigration laws, what it really means to be "successful", and organizing one's priorities/deciding what is truly important. This novel will get you thinking about what it really means to be a "Star".
This realistic-fiction novel is told from the perspective of ten different characters' points-of-view. These characters consist of nine high school students and their English teacher in a Los Angeles high school. The title of the novel is based off of a journal writing assignment given to the students by Ms. Hart. Through their in-class lessons and their experiences outside of the classroom, you become invested in each student and his or her own personal struggles and accomplishments. The stories touch on many important subjects in today's world from race to immigration laws, what it really means to be "successful", and organizing one's priorities/deciding what is truly important. This novel will get you thinking about what it really means to be a "Star".