Description: When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free.

However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school’s resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He’s determined to find out what happened and tie up some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave.

Description: Trevor Noah’s unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show began with a criminal act: his birth. Trevor was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison. Living proof of his parents’ indiscretion, Trevor was kept mostly indoors for the earliest years of his life, bound by the extreme and often absurd measures his mother took to hide him from a government that could, at any moment, steal him away. Finally liberated by the end of South Africa’s tyrannical white rule, Trevor and his mother set forth on a grand adventure, living openly and freely and embracing the opportunities won by a centuries-long struggle.

Review: Trevor Noah, the host for The Daily Show, brings his sharp wit and analysis when talking about his childhood as a mixed-race individual in South Africa under the tyranny of apartheid. Initially I thought the title of Noah's memoir was tongue in cheek, but then I discovered that he means it literally. Born from a black South African mother and a white Swiss German diplomat, where sex between races was strictly forbidden and a crime. Thus Noah is born of a crime.
  In eighteen poignant, humorous, and incisive essays, Noah takes the reader along a personal journey of life inside South Africa. Due to the color of his skin and fear of being taken away, Noah spent much of his childhood alone and inside though it did not stop him from being mischievous and causing havoc in his family. Noah also mentions the many times he had to endure hunger, homelessness, violence, and racism. Though he never felt like he belonged or found his group, Noah became a chameleon inside by learning many of the languages spoken of South Africa. He lovingly describes his religious, courageous, and rebellious mother who kept him grounded and instilled valuable lessons.
  While the tone of the book is humorous both from tales of Noah's own coming of age stories of embarrassment, it is leveled at the severity of institutionalized racism, domestic abuse, and deepens our understanding of social constructs such as race, gender, and class. I found Noah's book to be eye opening since many American social studies classes do not cover the apartheid in South Africa is their curriculum and if they do it is generally glossed over. Readers who have a firmer grasp on South African politics would get much more out of Noah's memoir, but it is a wonderful memoir to read independently too.

Rating: 4.5 stars


Words of Caution: There is strong language throughout the book, mentions of domestic abuse and attempted rape. Recommended for older teens and adults.


If you like this book try: Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton

Description: People say Beartown is finished. A tiny community nestled deep in the forest, it is slowly losing ground to the ever encroaching trees. But down by the lake stands an old ice rink, built generations ago by the working men who founded this town. And in that ice rink is the reason people in Beartown believe tomorrow will be better than today. Their junior ice hockey team is about to compete in the national semi-finals, and they actually have a shot at winning. All the hopes and dreams of this place now rest on the shoulders of a handful of teenage boys. Being responsible for the hopes of an entire town is a heavy burden, and the semi-final match is the catalyst for a violent act that will leave a young girl traumatized and a town in turmoil. Accusations are made and, like ripples on a pond, they travel through all of Beartown, leaving no resident unaffected.

Review: In rural Sweden there is a small town called Beartown where hockey is more than just a sport. For some it is a religion, an identity, and for others it is a means to overcome short comings and aspire to be better. A team of junior hockey players are on the cusp of changing everything for Beartown. If the players can win the championship, the small town may attract new businesses, improve its ailing economy, and recover its dismal sport dignity. Everyone in the town shares a link to the teen players, from the local bar owner to the mother who cleans the rink, is affected whether they win or lose. Star players are raised on pedestals and considered immortal despite their social standing in the community.
  After a night of celebrating a memorable semifinals win, the star player is accused of raping the general manager's daughter. The community must decide between holding the alleged rapist accountable, and thereby forfeiting their chances at success, and overlooking the crime. I was completely taken aback by this book. I was anticipating a regular underdog sports story, a subgenre that I don't read often. This is far from a typical sports story. Backman provides a panoramic analysis of the sexual assault and all the ripples it causes within the community. There is a large cast of characters, some of which you root for and cherish and others that you hate. Due to the size of the cast, I didn't feel like I had a good amount of character development as I would have liked, but enough to make a decision if I found them to be likable or not. The book is very timely, unfortunately, as sexual assault and sports is a common story and in the time of the #MeToo movement. I was not surprised by the outcome of events though angered and frustrated how the survivor of the assault was not taken seriously or believed. I could not help to think that this would make a wonderful TV show as I constantly thought how much this reminded me of Friday Night Lights TV series which I adored. Beartown is a lighthearted book like the author's previous popular works. This is a serious look at how the actions of one or two people can affect an entire town.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong language, scenes of bullying, sexual assault, mentions suicide, homophobic slurs and jokes, and underage drug use. Recommended for older teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Us Against Them by Frederick Backman, Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger

Description: Today is Leonard Peacock’s birthday. It is also the day he hides a gun in his backpack. Because today is the day he will kill his former best friend, and then himself, with his grandfather’s P-38 pistol.But first he must say good-bye to the four people who matter most to him: his Humphrey Bogart-obsessed next-door neighbor, Walt; his classmate, Baback, a violin virtuoso; Lauren, the Christian homeschooler he has a crush on; and Herr Silverman, who teaches the high school’s class on the Holocaust. Speaking to each in turn, Leonard slowly reveals his secrets as the hours tick by and the moment of truth approaches.

Review: Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock, is a striking coming of age novel that reminded me a lot of the J.D. Salinger's classic, The Catcher in the Rye, and Jay Asher's powerful debut novel 13 Reasons Why. In a gut-wrenching, opening chapter Leonard Peacock declares his intention for his 18th birthday: he is going to kill his former best friend and himself with his grandfather's gun.
  Leonard is a loner, an outcast, a misfit, who has a difficult time connecting with people. His parents are neglectful. His father is a washed-up, drug addict musician who has vanished and his mother is a self-absorbed, workaholic. The only real friend Leonard has is an elderly neighbor who spends his days smoking and watching Bogart movies. Leonard's anger, emotional pain, and brokenness build until he feels there is nothing left to do but end his life and the cause of his misery.
 The plot of the book centers around this 24 hour period as Leonard gives gifts to the four people who mean something to him and he reveals some of his anguish. There are many topics that Leonard touches upon such as bullying, hypocrisy, and religion in the book that will provoke discussion. While reading the book, I kept hoping someone would see Leonard's suicidal signs and intervene. Luckily his most admired teacher, Herr Silverman, picks up on Leonard's erratic behavior and offers to listen without any judgment, something which  Leonard so desperately needs.
 Quick does a great job in his use of flashbacks, internal dialogue, and interpersonal communication. Each of the four people that Leonard meets all have an important meaning in his life and used effectively in the story regardless of how time they spend on the page. Quick also captures teenage angst and alienation perfectly in Leonard's voice which at times is funny, on-point, cynical yet heart-rending. The suspense about what happened between Leonard and Asher is what kept me glued to the pages. The slow reveal builds tension until the heartbreaking climax unfolds and we finally learn about the emotional trauma that Leonard has endured. Many readers have struggled with Leonard's likability as a character, but I don't think that is the purpose of the book. Leonard is just an example of teens who are struggling with mental illness and desperately needs help. I think the book serves as a wake-up call about identifying suicidal signals and providing help to those in need.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong language, allusions to sexual abuse, and crude sexual humor. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

 Neal Shusterman's Challenger Deep has been on my reading list since it was published. It moved up higher on my priority reads when it won the National Book Award last year. The book does a wonderful job in depicting mental illness in its bare bones without the frills, romanticism, and stigma.

Description: Caden Bosch is on a ship that's headed for the deepest point on Earth: Challenger Deep, the southern part of the Marianas Trench.

Caden Bosch is a brilliant high school student whose friends are starting to notice his odd behavior.

Caden Bosch is designated the ship's artist in residence, to document the journey with images.

Caden Bosch pretends to join the school track team but spends his days walking for miles, absorbed by the thoughts in his head.

Caden Bosch is split between his allegiance to the captain and the allure of mutiny.

Caden Bosch is torn.

Review: Challenger Deep is a harrowing, haunting, disturbing, but most importantly an enlightening story of Caden Bosch's slow decent into mental illness. Caden is an ordinary teen. He is artistic and comes from a loving home. His routine of school, family, and friends slowly unravels as he becomes paranoid and thinks there is somebody at his high school who wants to kill him. Soon Caden finds himself on a ship with a large crew consisting of a one-eyed captain and a parrot among many others going on a voyage in the deep blue ocean. Caden is disorientated and unable to distinguish between fantasy and reality. He feels at once all-powerful in one minute and frighteningly powerless the next. We watch in horror as Caden exhibits erratic behavior and slowly drifts away from friends and family and deeper into his mind, until his parents admit him to a mental hospital for further evaluation and treatment. 
  Challenger Deep is not an easy read. There is no transition between the dual narratives, which is jarring and off putting at first, but it does expertly allow the reader to feel Caden's own confusion. What I loved about Challenger Deep is that the reader is never distant from Caden. We are with him every step of the way from the start of his illness to his on-going treatment. The hallucinations at first seem completely separate from the story, but they slowly begin to mirror the real-world as all of these characters on Caden's ship eventually match real-world people in the hospital and beyond. I would have much preferred that the connection be made early on the book, but I can understand why the author chose to do this stylistically.
  While I don't have first hand experience with mental illness, thanks to this book I can empathize with those who have. I can not recall any book that has accurately portrayed mental illness without society's preconceived notions or with a magic wand that makes it disappear at the end of the story. Caden is not a specific type prone to mental illness nor does any of the other teens who are seeking treatment like him, which makes his journey all the more scary. Shusterman also makes an important note indicating that mental illness does not have a cure, but it is an on going battle for many in a very personal end-note of the book in which he discusses the book's inspiration from his own son's struggles and losing a very close friend with mental illness. Challenger Deep is a powerful read that will captivate readers and generate discussion. I would highly recommend it.


Curriculum Connection: Psychology/Health


Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language and disturbing scenes. Recommended for Grades

If you like this book try: Inside Out by Terry Trueman, Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick, The Memory of Light by Francisco X. Stork, Calvin by Martine Leavitt,

 I fell in love with Rainbow Rowell's writing in Eleanor and Park and I immediately put her on my auto-read list. I finally made time to read Fangirl which is also listed on the Abraham Lincoln Book Award list for this year.

Description: Cath and Wren are identical twins, and until recently they did absolutely everything together. Now they're off to university and Wren's decided she doesn't want to be one half of a pair any more - she wants to dance, meet boys, go to parties and let loose. It's not so easy for Cath. She's horribly shy and has always buried herself in the fan fiction she writes, where she always knows exactly what to say and can write a romance far more intense than anything she's experienced in real life.
Now Cath has to decide whether she's ready to open her heart to new people and new experiences, and she's realizing that there's more to learn about love than she ever thought possible.

Review: While I enjoyed Fangirl I didn't enjoy it as much as Eleanor and Park and one of main reasons why is my inability to understand the passion of fanfiction, which is a huge aspect of Fangirl. As much as I would love to see some of my favorite fictional characters live on and have more adventures, I really have had no desire to read or write fanfiction. This lack of understanding made it a bit hard to relate to Cath at times, the main character of Fangirl, who would much rather live in the fantasies that she writes about rather than reality. I did, however, empathize with Cath's fear and anxiety of starting her first year of college.
  Cath's personal growth and her complex personality are what I thoroughly enjoyed reading in Fangirl. Cath is someone who enjoys her comfort zone. She is incredibly witty, funny, adorkable, painfully shy, and socially awkward. Though she would rather keep to herself, she does at the same time feel left out of the "college experience". Throughout the book, she is continually pushed outside her comfort zone: by befriending her snarky roommate, Reagan; by Levi, Reagan’s ex-boyfriend with the smiles and floppy hair (who always seems to want to hang out at her dorm room without any invitation just because); by her fiction-writing professor who challenges her in writing and going beyond her hobby of writing fanfiction; by her manic but well-meaning father; and even by her estranged mother who left an indelible mark on her life. Cath's obsession and passion of writing her fanfiction escalate as her anxieties are heightened. She can no longer rely on her sister to help her navigate the waters of school. On her own Cath is learning how to overcome her insecurities and learning to balance family and school responsibilities with her writing and romantic interests in order to discover what truly matters in her life. Cath's passion for Simon Snow was so contagious that I eventually succumbed to fangirling beside her as she writes her take on the Simon Snow story and I wanted to learn more (which thankfully I did after finishing Rowell's latest Carry On and yes, it's really good! I hope to write a review soon).
 Like she did in Eleanor and Park and her other books, Rowell creates characters with heart and with flaws. All of the characters, including the secondary characters stand on their own and are fleshed out. There is a nice balance between the whimsical fanfiction/fandom scenario along with the hard hitting issues such as the evolving sibling relationship, trying to understand parental abandonment and mental health issues such as social anxiety and bipolar disorder. There are also plenty of heart warming moments as Cath and Levi's romance slowly blossoms and starts off awkwardly until the two characters hit their stride since this is Cath's first real relationship.   Fangirl is a sophisticated coming of age novel that readers embarking on a new journey themselves will find a lot to relate to and to enjoy. 

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language in the book as well as frank discussion of sex. There are some scenes of college partying which includes underage drinking. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Just One Day by Gayle Forman and Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins, 

 I had my first book club discussion for this new school year. The students were very excited to read Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson. Many of them thoroughly enjoyed the book and are looking forward to hearing more movie news (the book is supposedly heading towards the big screen). While I liked the concept of the book and thought it was a fun read, it left me wanting more.


Description: Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics. But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his wills.
  Nobody fights the Epics...nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them. And David wants in. He wants Steelheart - the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David's father. For years, like the Reckoners, David's been studying, and planning - and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience. He's seen Steelheart bleed. And he wants revenge.

Review: Steelheart is a nice mash up of an X-men like comic and a traditional revenge story set in a dystopian Chicago setting. The formula though not new, Sanderson provides plenty of action and nonstop thrills with plenty of twists and turns until the very last page.
 Twelve years ago, a mysterious event called Calamity began turning random ordinary humans into evil Epics gifted with various combinations of superpowers, however, they are not invincible. The attention grabbing prologue sets the tone for the story as we learn of David Charleston's special vendetta against the Epics, particularly the ruler of Newago, a city cloaked in perpetual darkness and made entirely of solid steel thanks to its ruler, Steelheart, who killed his father 10 years ago. David has become obsessed with Steelheart in hopes he can track down the Epic's Achilles heel. He manages to make contact with a cell of Epic-killing Reckoners led by legendary mastermind Jon Phaedrus who is also known as simply "Prof". 
  We take the high octane ride with David as he tries to wrap his head around the mission of the Reckoners while going on car and motorcycle chases, secret missions, and avoiding huge explosions and hails of gunfire with high-tech weaponry. There is also a bit of a lull in the middle of the book as the Reckoners try to come up with a plan of how to attack Steelheart, but luckily it closes with a climactic battle with Epic Steelheart and a nice twist at the end. David shockingly realizes that not all Epics are evil. 
  While I liked the nice play of ordinary human trying to fight super villains and the fast paced plot, there is not much meat to the characters. I was hoping we would get layers to the characters, particularly that of Prof and Megan who play vital roles in the story, but that never happened. I also thought many of the names of the Epic and their powers were silly and stupid such as Deathpoint, Faultline, Pink Pinkess, and El Brass Bullish Dude to name a few. The book does not end in a cliffhanger, but it does raise several questions that will leave some readers clamoring for more. Definitely recommend this book to teens who love superhero movies, reluctant readers, and to those who are counting down the days until the next superhero movie to hit the big screens.

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong violence and some gore in the book. Recommended for strong Grade 8 readers and up.

If you like this book try: Firefight by Brandon Sanderson (Reckoners #2), Young Elites by Marie Lu, Darkest Minds byAlexandra Bracken

  There are countless number of movies and books that share a very important message: Life is too short. Do what you love and don't sweat the small stuff. Most of us seem to embrace this message after watching said movie or read said book, but then we forget about it. It's not until we are faced by a situation where someone we love or know well has passed away and reminds us of how we should embrace life. Chris Crutcher's novel Deadline asks his reader: What would you do if you knew there was a time limit on how long you will live? What would you do differently?

Description: Ben Wolf is a star cross country runner. When he takes his annual physical exam, he learns that he has been diagnosed with a rare, incurable leukemia. His chances of living are very slim if he chooses to undergo treatment. The doctors give him a year to live. At 18, Ben has the legal right to keep the news to himself until he’s ready to reveal it. With only his doctor and therapist in on his secret, Ben sets out to live an entire lifetime in a year but how long will he go before he opens up to others?

Review: I really enjoyed this book, particularly the tone of the book which is uplifting instead of being depressing. I was initially afraid that this book would be hard to read due to its premise, but Crutcher's vivid sports action scenes, the story’s dramatic premise, and the many subplots kept my attention. Though the subplots involving intellectual freedom, incest, pedophilia, and manic depression can get a bit too much and a bit preachy, they unfortunately are realistic.
   I also really liked Ben's character. He's got a good head on his shoulders and does not allow his disease to interfere from him having his best year of school. My favorite parts of the book are when Ben has a discussion with a Jesus-look like figure called 'Hey Soos' who talk about the philosophical aspects of life. This book should appeal to boys who like reading about sports and reluctant readers. 

Rating: 4.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong language in the book. There is also a mildly explicit sex scene.

If you like this book try: Before I Die by Jenny Downham or I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

  Once in a while I come across a book that is widely popular and critically acclaimed, but for some reason I just can't get myself to like it as much as other people do. One example of this dilemma is E. Lockhart's The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks. I read The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks the first time when it was released. I couldn't get through the first 5 chapters and had to give up. I just wasn't feeling the story. However, I quickly began to notice that I was in the very small minority who didn't like the book. After it was declared a Printz Award Nominee in 2009, I felt that maybe I was a bit too judgmental and then put the book back on my to be read pile. After finishing the book this time, I like it but don't love it as much as other reviewers.

Description: At Alabaster Preparatory Academy, Frankie Landau-Banks is cute, smart, clever, and dating one of the most popular boys in school. Slowly, she finds out that her boyfriend happens to be the co-leader of an all-male secret society on campus called the Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds. Initially, Frankie is simply happy to be a girl friend of a popular boy in school, but the more he underestimates her intelligence and secrets he keeps from her, the more restless Frankie becomes. She quickly sets her heart at breaking into the Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds. Not only does Frankie outshine the boys at their own game, but she also faces consequences that could change her life forever.

Review: Let me preface this review by saying what I like about this book: I liked the character of Frankie. She is extremely intelligent, clever, funny, and a girl who I admire for not taking "no" as an answer. I also liked the themes of feminism, girls who question and go beyond what they are told by society to do, as well as bringing up issues that tackle gender double standards. I thought the writing, especially the dialogue was witty.
  So after saying all this, why don't I like the book? I felt the book failed to grab my attention. It starts off very slow, with background information on Frankie and her social status at her prep school. Slowly, her boyfriend is introduced and the secret society is mentioned. It's not until the second half of the book, where the story picks up. Besides the slow pace of the book, I didn't really like the plot. Though I liked Frankie's attempt to subvert the male secret society in theory, I felt that it was just too easy. All the males, I thought, were lackluster and frankly (no pun intended) stupid. I didn't think Frankie was challenged enough in the book.
  All said and done, I did like The Disreputable History of Frankie and would recommend it to others, especially to those who like a strong female character and to those who need a break from the abundant amount of paranormal romances out there. E. Lockhart has written a memorable character, which I'm sure many will come to love.

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There are some minor scenes of underage drinking and mild language.


If you like this book try: Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock

 I was on a waiting list for about a month to read Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles. During that time, I kept hearing great buzz about the book, which is being marketed as a modern day star-crossed lovers with an urban twist. When I hear the book was set in a Chicagoland suburb, I was intrigued and couldn't wait to read the book. Now that I finished it, I wish I didn't waste my time on it.

Description: Brittany and Alex are two polar opposites. Brittany is a North Sider who is wealthy and seemingly perfect. Alex Fuentes is a South Sider, Mexican American gangster. When the two meet as chemistry lab partners, sparks fly and they soon develop a relationship, which is disapproved by their family and friends.

Review: Let me preface this review by saying that I have no problem with reading a romance. I know that they are general conventions of the genre that require the reader to suspend disbelief and that the characters will have their happy ending. I absolutely fine with those requirements. So, why did I hate Perfect Chemistry so much? Well, it's mainly because of the characters and how the story is told. Perfect Chemistry is simply a modern retelling of the West Side Story with a happy ending. The plot is very predictable from the first page. You don't have to be Albert Einstein to figure out that the two main characters will initially hate each other, develop a strong attraction which they can't explain, fall in love, and then face a conflict that involves the gang life. I can overlook a simplified plot, but not the characters.
    Brittany, Alex, and the other characters are walking and talking stereotypes. Brittany is the beautiful, rich girl, who has a problem. Whereas Alex is a gangster who secretly is sensitive and smart.  I wanted to strangle both of them and knock some sense into them when they continue to play along with the stereotype instead of breaking them. I've heard arguments that the characters do, indeed, break their stereotypes in the book. It just takes them about 300 pages to do so and with a half heart. I don't think these characters really do change, but rather perpetuate the stereotypes.
   There are some serious issues that the book lightly brings up. There is no gang member that selects what he or she gets to do unless they are a leader. As for dating a gang member, there is not a single alarm that goes off in Brittany's parents. I believe in the power of love, but what I don't believe in is that getting out of gang is a simple process. I've known people like Brittany and Alex in real life and they would never have dated. The guys like Alex have wasted their talents either in jail, died, or have remained with their gangs.

  If you're not bothered by the stereotypes, dialogue filled with cliches, and a very syrupy epilogue in your romance, then this is the book for you but I think I'll pass.     

Rating: 1 star

Words of Caution: I would not recommend this book to anyone below 16 years old. There is strong and crude language throughout the book-both in English and in Spanish. Sex is discussed and occurs in the book. There is also gang violence, which includes beatings and shootings.

If you like this book, try: Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

  I vaguely recall a reality TV show of a teenage boot camp, a "conditioning" facility where parents send their "unruly" teens in order to change them for the better. Little did I know that these facilities actually exist. Todd Strasser, author of the amazing Give a Boy a Gun, has written a book that takes the reader inside the boot camp experience.

Description: Garrett comes from a rich family and goes to a good private school where he is a straight-A student headed for an Ivy League college. He has experimented with smoking pot, but he's definitely not a "pothead." According to his parents, his one unforgivable offense is his sexual relationship with one of his teachers, a woman eight years his senior, makes him unruly and hard to control. According to Garrett, he has done nothing wrong and he believes he is getting punished just because his choices don't reflect what his parents want from his life. Garrett refuses to end his relationship with his teacher and he finds himself being transported to Lake Harmony, a boot camp that promises to change every out of control teen to an obedient and respectful teenager.
   Garrett soon realizes that Lake Harmony is anything but harmonious. Lake Harmony offers nothing but torture, brainwashing, poor living conditions, disgusting food, and limited parental contact. Teens in the program spend anywhere from one to three years suffering in this boot camp until most are finally released with broken, damaged spirits or when they turn 18 years old.
   Garrett meets Pauly and Stephanie, both teens who are desperately seeking an escape from the boot camp. The three of them devise a plan to escape Lake Harmony, but will they be successful?


Review: Boot Camp is a shocking and an appalling read. I found myself gasping at the physical and emotional abuse that Garrett and the other teens go through at Lake Harmony. Most of the torture scenes reminded me of the conditioning scenes of A Clockwork Orange, a book that terrified me and which prevented me from sleeping for at least 2 weeks straight. There were a few plot points that didn't add up to me, such as Garrett befriending one adult warden who doesn't agree with how are things run at Lake Harmony and who refuses to do anything about it. I was a bit annoyed that Garrett's illicit relationship with his teacher isn't taken seriously and is not explored. Although I don't condone Lake Harmony, I do believe that the problems of the teens there are not discussed. Overall, I think the raw and shocking details of Lake Harmony would appeal to reluctant readers and spark discussions.

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There are lots of scenes of physical and emotional abuse throughout the book. There is also some language.

If you like this book, try: Unwind by Neal Shusterman or Give a Boy a Gun by Todd Strasser

  Throughout my years of being in English classes, I was always advised on two cardinal rules on writing: 1. Write what you know and 2. Show don't tell. Paul Volponi beautifully captures these two rules in his novel entitled Rucker Park Set Up. According to his official website, Volponi got his inspiration for writing Rucker Park Set Up from his passion of playing street ball:

I often say that I grew up in New York City, but I think the real truth of the matter is that I grew up on a basketball court, because I learned so much there. The court I grew up on was a lot like a war zone, with nicknames such as “Pirate” and “Snake” for some very rough players. But in this mix of aggression, anger, stubbornness and fortitude, exists a real brotherhood.

Coupled with his passion of playing ball and a news story where a player was murdered on the court he was playing, Volponi began writing his action packed and thought provoking novel.

Description: Mackey and J.R. have been best friends since fifth grade. They both have big dreams in winning the Rucker Park Street Ball Championship, which they believe will help pave their road to play in the NBA. Unfortunately, J.R.'s dream is cut short when he is murdered on the basketball court. Now, Mackey feels responsible in J.R.'s death and believes that J.R.'s father knows that he is somehow involved in the murder. Did Mackey kill J.R. in order to full his dreams? If not, then who did and what will Mackey do about it?


Review: I thoroughly enjoyed reading Rucker Park Set Up. The plot was fast paced and it never slowed. All of the action takes place on the basketball court where J.R. was killed, yet the action did not sacrifice the back story of J.R. and Mackey's friendship nor Mackey's guilt of what happened to his best friend. J.R. and Mackey's relationship is shown in Mackey's painful flashbacks. In addition to Mackey's point of views, there are other characters such as J.R.'s father, and the opposing two coaches also get their own chapter. Volponi's description of the game is so vivid that I felt like I was sitting on the bleachers watching the game unfold right before my eyes. I kept turning the pages to find who killed J.R., which is revealed in the last pages of the book and incidentally the last few minutes of the game. I really liked the unresolved ending, which made the book realistic and will keep readers debating on how well Mackey dealt with his best friend's death and if he could ever be forgiven. A must read for reluctant readers and for those who enjoy sports, especially basketball.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong language throughout the book and a scene of violence, which helps sets the tone of the story.

If you like this book, try: Black and White by Paul Volponi or Monster by Walter Dean Myers   

  I was struck by a Young Adult Symposium that discussed the phenomenon of fat literature. I had to reread it several times to make sure my mind did not translate phat with fat. Surely, I thought it was a typo until I saw this description of the seminar:

As more teens struggle with their weight, YA lit is increasingly featuring vibrant, complicated main characters that happen to be overweight. But as the “Fat Lit” genre matures, it finds itself torn between fostering positive body image and “fat acceptance” among teens while at same time acknowledging the psychological and physical health issues often present with obesity.

Then I got to thinking that yes, indeed, I have just finished reading two books that would perfect fit into this genre: Artichoke's Heart by Suzanne Supplee and Fat Cat by Robin Brande. Both of these books have an overweight female protagonist who are trying to build their self esteem as well as get healthy amongst other obstacles they face. I thought it would be interesting to compare and contrast these titles as I read them back to back. Both of the books were great reads and they differed slightly on how the main characters dealt with their weight. What fascinated me about both books is that yes, weight is an issue, but it was actually a product of how the each of the characters are living their lives. Let's take a look at Artichoke's Heart first.

Description of Artichoke's Heart: Rosemary decides she is sick of being overweight, mocked at school and at Heavenly Hair, her mother's beauty salon. She decides to take control when she finds out that her mother has been diagnosed with cancer. Trying to become healthy and having a boyfriend for the first time, Rosemary soon discovers that people are not perfect.

Review: In first half of the book, Rosemary discusses her insecurities of being overweight. She takes solace in junk food and uses it as her coping mechanism. She is constantly mocked at school for her weight and is given advice from everyone on how she should 'control herself'. After she finds out her mother is sick, Rosemary realizes that how her mother is dealing with her illness is not that different on how she is dealing with her weight and relationships. She soon creates a strict diet and exercise routine, which allows her not only to lose weight, but also to go outside of her social and psychological comfort zone. Her relationship with her boyfriend is sweet and honest. There are parts that were kind of unrealistic such as Rosemary being pursued as friend by a popular girl. Also, I couldn't help but wonder if Rosemary would succeed socially without losing weight. I'd like to think so. Overall, Artichoke's Heart is a fun read. Rosemary is a sassy, smart and funny heroine. The serious issues of weight and cancer are handled with humor and don't drag the book down. The Southern dialect at first slowed my reading speed, but I got over that hump and thought it gave the book personality.

Rating: 4 stars

Now let's see how Fat Cat differs from Artichoke's Heart:

Description of Fat Cat: Ever since being called Fat Cat in middle school, Catherine has been trying to deal with her weight. When she is given science project for her class where she must emulate the ways of how hominims, the earliest ancestors of human beings, lived by eating an all-natural diet and foregoing technology. 

Review: Cat is first and foremost a scientist. When she is given a science project about eating healthy and abstaining from using technology, she thinks this is the perfect time for her to change. What first starts out as a passion to win first place in the science fair now becomes a life-changing event. What I loved about this book is that Cat not only studies the science behind obesity and healthy living, she also explores how becoming healthy has changed how she interacts with other people. As a result of slimming down, she gains confidence, starts to like herself, and begins to attract the attention of the opposite sex, which never happened before. Cat and her friends are smart, witty, and very observant. I would love to hang out with them. It was refreshing to read a book where intelligence is just as sexy or more so than physical appearance.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Words of caution on both of these books: There is mild language in both books as well as scenes of underage drinking at a high school party. I'd recommend these books to 7th graders and up.

Curriculum Connections:  Health and Science


If you like these books, try: The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler and My Big Fat Manifesto by Susan Vaught.

   Teenagers have it rough. Stuck between not being a child and not having the full rights as an adult is not a fun place to be. You are constantly surrounded by expectations of how you should behave by everyone around you. We all have heard of stories about coming of age, but what does that exactly mean? Perhaps it means developing your own identity and dealing with power struggles with the adults around you. These themes are certainly the center of Laurie Halse Anderson's book entitled Twisted.

Description: Tyler Miller wanted to change his social status at his high school. He longer wanted to be the butt of jokes and the human target of the bullies at his school. He thought doing a prank would make him noticeable. Spray painting and defacing school property made him a legend and allowed him to gain the reputation of a criminal. When a high school party turns serious, Tyler is implicated in a drunken crime. Did he do it?

Review: I generally really like Anderson's novels about teens. She can accurately and efficiently portray the struggles of today's teens. In Twisted, her first male centered novel, she is able to show how much pressure Tyler receives from his verbally abusive father, his challenging classes at school, and the social pressures from his peers. Although the novel suffers from some stereotypical characters such as the 'hard' father who is absorbed into his work, the uncaring principal, and the popular kids who get away with pretty much anything, and the dialogue seems to come from a generic PG-13 teen movie,  Tyler's struggle to stand up for himself and to become his version of what a mean should be with or without the help of his father is real. There is a good balance of humor and seriousness. Not one of my favorite books by Anderson, but nonetheless an enjoyable read.


Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: Mild language. Scenes of underage drinking.

If you like this book, try: Ironman by Chris Crutcher