1. A Walk to remember by Nicholas sparks
2. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison
3. Bleach by Tite Kubo
4. Cracking the SAT, 2011 Edition (College Test Preparation) by Princeton Review
5. Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon
6. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
7. Dreamland by Sarah Dessen
8. Easy A (movie)
9. Elevate- Big Time Rush
10. Forever by Judy Blume
11. Game Informer (magazine)
12. Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
13. Gossip Girl by Cecily Von Ziegesar
14. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
15. Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
16. Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
17. Mass Effect 3
18. Mean Girls
19. Minecraft(videogame)
20. Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto
21. Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist(movie)
22. PC GAMER(magazine)
23. Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
24. Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
25. Push by Sapphire
26. Scott Pilgrim by Bryan Lee O'Malley
27. Seventeen(magazine)
28. Sims3 (Video game)
29. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
30. Speak Now-Taylor Swift
31. Teen Ink (Magazine)
32. Teen Vogue (Magazine)
33. Teenage Dream- Katie Perry
34. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
35. The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B Cooney
36. The Giver by Lois Lowry
37. The Host by Stephanie Meyer
38. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
39. The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College by Harlan Cohen
40. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
41. The Pigman by Paul Zindel
42. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
43. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
44. This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen
45. TTYL by Lauren Myracle
46. Turnabout by Margaret Peterson Haddix
47. Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
48. Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block
49. Whatever Happened to Good Bye? By Sarah Dessen
50. Wintergirls by Laurie Halso Anderson
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Teen Vogue
Published: Monthly
Cost: $10/ 2 years
Format: Print
Recommended Age: 13+
Content: This magazine is primarily focused at teenage girls. It focuses on fashion, and celebrity interviews.
Challenge issues: Some parents may not like the risque clothing that may be featured within this magazine. However, it is a magazine about fashion, and does show diverse fashion.
Why I chose this: This magazine is full of fun fashion advice that teenagers will love.
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Seventeen
Published: Monthly
Cost:$10/ 1 yr
Recommended Age: 13+
Content: This magazine is geared primarily towards teenage girl. They do interviews with stars, fashion, make up tips, exercise tips and so much more.
Challenge: This magazine sometimes talks about things like kissing or making out which some parents may not find appropriate for their teenage daughter. Normally it's a pretty mild magazine.
Why I chose it: I read this magazine as a teen and thought it was useful.
Subscribe here
The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College
Title:The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College
Author:Harlan Cohen
ISBN: 978-1402253461
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Copyright: 2009
Plot Summary: This is essentially a nonfiction book that deals with all sorts of different issues that going to college may carry with it. For example, living on campus, having gross roommates, joining the Greek life, dealing with depression, taking good notes and so much more. There is an index in the book to navigate to any problems and I would recommend reading this starting in high school.
Critical Evaluation: This is a very well written book that covers a variety of issues that students may face while away in college. It is an essential book because Cohen deals not only deals with the academic issues, but also social issues that people might face as they venture off on their own.
Reader's Annotation: What do you do if you walk into your dorm room to find your roommate strutting around naked?
Genre: Nonfiction
Author Information: Harlan Cohen is an advice columnist for teenagers and young adults. This is a link to his website http://www.helpmeharlan.com/.
Book talks: College, academia, drugs, alcohol, greek, depression
Reading Level/Interest Age:High School/ College. 14-23.
Challenge: This book addresses a multitude of issues that would be challenged like sex, drugs, alcohol, but the key is Harlan Cohen is helping them figure out how to navigate a life where all of these things are happening in most places they go.
Why was this book chosen?: This is a fantastic help guide to college life.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow
Title: Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow
Author: Susan Campbell Bartoletti
ISBN: 978-0439353793
Publisher: Scholastic Nonfiction
Copyright: 2005
Plot Summary: This book contains first hand accounts of World War II survivors, concentration camps survivors, and former members of Hitler's Youth to place in context the events that took place in Germany. The images coupled with the text is very powerful. This text tells how the children were drawn into Hitler's Youth and what they were taught. They were allowed to do fun kid things like play together, but also taught to hate Jewish people. The only requirement to join Hitler's Youth was to be able bodied and able to prove there were no Jewish people in your lineage. The book tells of a man who, as a member of Hitler's Youth destroyed houses and property of Jewish families, but thought at the time they deserved it do to the training he was put through.
Critical Evaluation: This book is extremely powerful. The images and the first hand accounts coupled together form a powerful nonfiction book.
Reader's Annotation: How Germany's Youth became Hitler's Youth in the 1930s.
Genre: Nonfiction
Author Information: Susan Campbell Bartoletti authors other nonfiction picture books including Dear America: A Coal Miner's Bride and historical fiction novels such as The Boy Who Dared. To learn more about this author and her work visit: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/contributor/susan-campbell-bartoletti
Book talks: Hitler, Nazis, WWII, youth, Jewish people, destruction, racism
Reading Level/Interest Age: Middle School/High School. 12-18.
Challenge: Violence. There are some parents, or other people who would rather not expose their children to the violence of war, however, it is necessary to learn from the past, no matter how painful it may be to revisit.
Why was this book chosen?: The textual content and images are very powerful.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Push
Title: Push
Author: Sapphire
ISBN: 0679446265
Publisher: Knopf
Copyright: 1996
Plot Summary: This heart-wrenching story follows Precious, a teenage, illiterate, pregnant girl who has suffered physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at the hands of her mother and her father. Her mother seems to only care about her welfare benefits. Precious is sent to a school for teenage mothers where she is taught to read and write by an influential teacher, Ms. Rain. Precious gives birth to her second child, whose father is her dad, and begins to work through her issues when she is dealt another crippling blow
Critical
Evaluation: Sapphire writes this book very well. The plot line is difficult to read, but the reader feels a need to try and save precious even though that is not possible. The reader feels rage towards her family, and love towards her and especially Ms. Rain. Sapphire wrote this incredibly tough topic wonderfully.
Reader's Annotation: Pushed down by life, Precious tries to escape the shackles abuse has put on her.
Genre: Crossover, Realistic Fiction
Author Information: Sapphire has written one other novel called The Kid. This novel is also directed at an adult audience.
Book talks: Abuse, Rape, Incest, Education, Literacy, HIV, AIDS
Reading
Level/Interest Age: Older High School/ Adult. 17-100+
Challenge: This book is full of challenge issues,however, this book was written for adults thus their presence. There is incest, rape, abuse, hiv, aids, teenage pregnancy, homelessness, these are all building blocks that create the torment that Precious experiences. However horrifying it is to read, it is part of the plot, the sexual abuse is described relatively explicitly in the story so it is only appropriate for older teenagers and adults.
Why was this
book chosen?: This book is emotionally poignant and well written.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Th1rteen R3asons Why
Title: Th1rteen R3easons Why
Author: Jay Asher
ISBN: 978-1595141880
Publisher: Penguin Books
Copyright: 2007
Plot Summary: Clay Jensen, a high school student, comes home from school one day to find a mysterious package full of cassette tapes. Once he begins to listen to them he hears Hannah Baker's voice, a classmate who had just committed suicide. The tapes list the thirteen reasons why she committed suicide and Clay is one of them. Clay follows Hannah's voice around town all night and in the process discovers some things about himself and Hannah.
Critical
Evaluation: This book is very well written. There are large passages of Hannah's voice speaking sometimes and other times when Hannah is speaking about something more difficult it cuts back and forth between Hannah's voice and Clay's reaction. Clay's reactions to Hannah's words are heart wrenching at some points. Jay Asher writes the anxiety Clay feels leading up to the tape about him very well, it makes the reader feel the anxiety as well.
Reader's Annotation: Clay Jensen finds a mysterious package on his doorstep, full of cassettes that lead him on a journey through the eyes of another.
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Young Adult
Author Information: Jay Asher has written one other young adult book called The Future of Us. To find out more about Jay Asher visit his blog at http://www.jayasher.blogspot.com/.
Book talks: Suicide, Treating others well, Rumors, Not letting rumors affect what you think about someone, how rumors affect someone
Reading
Level/Interest Age: Middle School/ High School. 13-18.
Challenge: Suicide, sex, underage drinking, theft. Hannah Baker commits suicide and this book details all the reasons why. It is important to this story that Hannah is gone. It does not detail her death but it is necessary to see what the pain in Hannah's life lead her to. There is some sex is this book at two different party locations, it does not get that graphic and it is a necessary point on the downward spiral. There is underage drinking at a party, it describes what many teenagers do, but it is not written in a glorified way. Finally, Clay steals his friend's old Walkman to play the tapes. Clay did not steal it with malicious intent and it is a necessary part of the story that Clay has a mobile way to listen to Hannah.
Why was this
book chosen?: I read this book for a book club recently and could not put it down. It is a compelling work.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Scott Pilgrim
Title: Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life
Author:Bryan Lee O'Malley
ISBN: 978-1932664089
Publisher: Oni Press
Copyright: 2004
Plot Summary: This story follows 23-year-old Scott Pilgrim. He plays the bass in a band and is dating a high school student. He dreams about a beautiful girl on roller skates and later sees her at a party. Her name is Ramona Flowers. While his band is playing a gig, he is confronted by one of her evil ex-boyfriends and challenged to a battle.
Critical Evaluation: This plot is extremely original and plays on the fact that when people start dating they feel as though they are competing with the ex-significant other. O'Malley couples a fantastic storyline with fun, sometimes funny graphics.
Reader's Annotation: Is Scott Pilgrim ready to fight Romona Flowers' 7 evil ex-boyfriends in order to date her?
Genre: Graphic Novel
Author Information: Bryan Lee O'Malley is primarily known for the Scott Pilgrim series however he has also written Lost at Sea. For more information visit the author's website at http://radiomaru.tumblr.com/.
Book talks:Love, jealousy, exboyfriends, superheros
Reading Level/Interest Age: Middle School/High School/Adult. 12+
Challenge: There is no material I can see as challengeable in this text.
Why was this book chosen?:This is one of the more popular graphic novels as of late with some young adults due to the popularity of the movie.
Dreamland
Title: Dreamland
Author: Sarah Dessen
ISBN:978-0142401750
Publisher: Puffin Books
Copyright: 2004
Plot Summary: Caitlin's older, perfect, 18-year-old sister ran away on Caitlin's 16th birthday. While her parents are focusing on finding her sister, Caitlin becomes a cheerleader, and meets Rogerson. Rogerson and Caitlin begin a downward spiral including doing drugs and having sex. Rogerson starts to hurt Caitlin when he gets mad but will she be able to leave him to save herself?
Critical
Evaluation: Sarah Dessen writes well developed characters in this book. The plot ventures into some dark territory that Dessen broached well but not lightly. The plot is well developed and the reader feels the love that they are caught up in and the betrayal Caitlin feels at the first abuse.
Reader's Annotation: Caitlin has found the love of her life in Rogerson, but what he does when he is angry hurts her in more ways than one.
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Young Adult
Author Information:
Book talks: Abuse, Dating violence, love, drugs, sex
Reading
Level/Interest Age: High School.
Challenge: Drugs, alcohol, sex, abuse. The drugs and alcohol that Caitlin encounter are nothing that typical high school students don't encounter at normal parties. Rogerson's drug dealing is a plot device that shows the reader how bad he is. They decide to have sex but the description of their physical relationship is not very detailed. Finally, Rogerson beats Caitlin more than once, this part of the book is key because teenagers in the same situation can recognize what is happening and possibly get out or teenagers not in the same situation can recognize an escalating situation and get out before it starts.
Why was this
book chosen?: This book was chosen because Sarah Dessen writes so well about the love they share and then the pain that Rogerson causes.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Bleach
Title: Bleach
Author:Tite Kubo
ISBN: 978-1421525761
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Copyright: 2004
Plot Summary:
Ichigo Kurosaki, a teen capable of seeing and communicating with
ghosts has a chance encounter with Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper who is
responsible for guiding spirits back into the Spirit Realm. Trouble soon
follows as evil spirits, known as Hollows, begin attacking the two.
Unable to defend herself, Rukia transfers all of her powers to Ichigo in
order to combat the evil spirit. As a result Ichigo becomes a
substitute Soul Reaper and must learn to control his new found powers in
order to combat other hollows that attempt to disrupt the balance of
spirits in both the physical and spirit world.
Critical Evaluation: The art within the manga is what creates, and holds the stort. Kubo does an amazing job showing battle scenes as well as small emotions on Ichigo's face. Kubo also shows the spirits in a very interesting way some who are not familiar might not know they are spirits at first.
Reader's Annotation: Ichigo was just given a huge power, will he be able to handle it?
Genre: Manga
Author Information: Tite Kubo is primarily know for Bleach he also worked on Zombiepowder. Some of Tite Kubo's work is featured on this website: http://shonenjump.viz.com/
Book talks:Spirits, Manga, Fighting
Reading Level/Interest Age: Middle School/High School/Adults. 11+
Challenge: There is fighting and violence in this Manga but it is not very explicit and not drawn very graphically.
Why was this book chosen?: This is one of the more popular mangas within the young adult manga reading group.
This Lullaby
Title: This Lullaby
Author: Sarah Dessen
ISBN: 978-0142501559
Publisher: Speak
Copyright: 2002
Plot Summary: Remy does not believe in love, especially after watching her mother marry five men. However, she meets Dexter at her stepfather's used car dealership and he starts to bug her. She slowly starts falling head over heels in love, but she does not want to let go and let herself fall into something she does not believe in. Dexter and her break up after she tells someone she wants their relationship to be a summer fling. When she realizes how special of connection they have the reconnect to give their love a shot.
Critical
Evaluation: Sarah Dessen writes believable, well developed teenage characters that her readers can relate to. Remy's mom has been married many times and so many other teenagers can relate this, and it leads to Remy's outlook. Sarah Dessen's characters and plot lines seem so real and are perfect for teenagers. Remy also is undergoing a well-written self discovery during this novel that many teens could relate to.
Reader's Annotation: Remy said she would never fall in love until she met Dexter. Can this boy change her views?
Genre: Young Adult , Realistic Fiction, Romance
Author Information:
Book talks: Divorce, love, musicians, self-discovery
Reading
Level/Interest Age: Middle School/ High School. 14-18.
Why was this
book chosen?: Sarah Dessen's writing style and story lines are perfect for teenagers.
Friday, May 11, 2012
The Pigman
Title: The Pigman
Author:Paul Zindel
ISBN: 978-0060757359
Publisher: HarperTeen
Copyright: 1968
Plot Summary: This story starts with John and Lorraine making prank phone calls. Mr. Pignati answers one and John and Lorraine pretend to be a charity, to which Mr. Pignati pledges ten dollars. John and Lorraine both come from troubled homes, and when the go to collect their ten dollars from Mr. Pignati they bond. Soon John and Lorraine hang out everyday after school with him, until Mr. Pignati has a heart attack playing tag. While he is in the hospital he leaves John and Lorraine in charge of his home but will they be able to handle the responsibility?
Critical Evaluation: Paul Zindel makes these teenagers real. They are written in an honest way that makes them feel like real teenagers. Chapters are written from both Lorraine and John, and you get a real sense of the people that they are based on their words, and the emotions lying in the subtext. The reader also feels bad for Mr. Pignati and his loneliness is palpable throughout the text. Even though this book was written in 1968 it is timeless. The ending of this story is well written and surprising to many.
Reader's Annotation: John and Lorraine enjoy making prank calls until one call changes the way things are forever.
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Classic, Young adult
Author Information: Paul Zindel's bibliography includes a sequel to The Pigman and other titles like, My Darling, My Hamburger, and Pardon me, You're stepping on my eyeball! For more information and other titles by Paul Zindel visit http://www.paulzindel.com
Book talks: Prank calling, love, family, friends
Reading Level/Interest Age: Middle School/High School
Challenge: Alcohol and tobacco use. These are used as a plot device in some ways to illustrate the behavior of troubled teens like John and Lorraine.
Why was this book chosen?: I had to read this book in summer school and really enjoyed it.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
The Hunger Games
Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
ISBN: 978-0439023528
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Copyright: 2008
Plot Summary: This book tells the story of Katniss Everdeen, who is living in a country called Panem, which was formally North America. Panem is divided into 12 districts. Every year two tributes from each district are chosen to participate in the Hunger games, a literal fight to the death, that is televised across districts. Katniss is volunteers as her district's tribute in place of her little sister Primrose and an acquainted from school named Peeta is chosen as the male tribute.
Critical
Evaluation: Collins describes the nation of Panem and the poverty that District 12 is in great detail. This story is well written and the reader is compelled to keep turning the pages to see what will happen next, and who will be the last to survive. There is a particularly compelling death scene within the book that is very moving to the reader.
Reader's Annotation: Katniss has been chosen to compete in the Hunger games, a fight to the death, will she be the last one standing?
Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult
Author Information: Suzanne Collins has written other young adult books such as The Underland Chronicles and the sequels to The Hunger Games. To learn more about Suzanne Collins and her books visit http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/.
Book talks: Family, fighting, Death, Future, government control, fear
Reading
Level/Interest Age: Middle School/High School/ Adults. 13-100+.
Challenge: Violence and death. This book is about 24 kids fighting to the death in a televised match. There is some violence and death. It is not too excessive and it is not violence for violence sake. Without these two things there would be no ending to this story.
Why was this
book chosen?: This book is a fantastic book and well-written. I enjoyed it very much.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
The Giver
Title: The Giver
Author: Lois Lowry
ISBN: 978-0547424774
Publisher: Bantam Books
Copyright: 1993
Plot Summary: This book focuses on a utopian society where Jonas, who lives with his parents and his sister, Lily. Jonas is about to get his life assignment at a ceremony because he is turning 12, at the ceremony he is told that due to his special abilities, the ability to see color and hear music, he will become the next receiver of the memory. He is given the information telepathically from The Giver, and Jonas can now feel what sadness is as well as true happiness, and love. He decides, with The Giver, to escape, releasing the memories back into the community.
Critical
Evaluation: Lowry paints an amazing picture in this word where everyone is just existing. No bad things happen, but nothing extraordinary happens either. Lowry leads the reader into this world and then starts to point to the cracks in it. The writing is beautifully done and leads the reader to question, would I really be willing to give up happiness in order to be rid of sadness?
Reader's Annotation: Jonas is about to receive the memories of his community, which exists without bad things, what will he do with his new knowledge?
Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult
Author Information: Lois Lowry did not write her first young adult book until she was 40. Lowry has written numerous other young adult books including Number the Stars and A Summer to Die. For more information about Lois Lowry and her work go to www.loislowry.com.
Book talks: Utopian society, emotions, death
Reading
Level/Interest Age: Middle School/High School. 12-18.
Challenge: This book mentions things like supressing sexual awakening with a pill, artificially inseminating birth mothers, and being "released" which is a lethal injection and being dumped down a garbage chute. This ideas while controversial, are necessary to this book. This book is a science fiction book where the norm is different. It is meant to make the readers think about certain issues. It is not too graphic for young adults to read.
Why was this
book chosen?: This is one of my favorite books so I decided to include it in the database.
Speak
Title: Speak
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
ISBN: 978-0312674397
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Copyright: 1999
Plot Summary: Melinda Sordino, is a freshman in high school, in a year that should be exciting for her, she is dealing with a great amount of pain. Her classmates won't talk to her because she called the cops at a party she attended during the summer. They won't talk to her so she essentially stops talking to teachers, students, and her parents. The only solace she finds is in her freshman art class. Through this project Melinda starts to deal with why she called the cops at the party.
Critical
Evaluation: This book covers a heavy topic and it is written very honestly. There are moments in the book that you can truly feel how invisible Melinda feels. Although the book is about a very serious issues, there are many light moments within the book. This is a truly well written book, and the readers will be able to relate to and understand Melinda.
Reader's Annotation: Melinda Sordino lost the ability to speak for herself at a party over the summer, will she be able to rediscover it and deal with the issues that took her voice away?
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Young Adult
Author Information: Speak was Laurie Halse Anderson's first young adult novel. She has since written other young adult novels including Wintergirls. To find out more about Laurie Halse Anderson visit her website at http://madwomanintheforest.com/.
Book talks: Abuse, Speaking for yourself, taking power
Reading
Level/Interest Age: High School. 14-18
Challenge: Sexual Abuse. This book deals with the topic of sexual abuse however the reader is slowly introduced to what happened and it a crucial part of the story and character development.
Why was this
book chosen?: This book is a powerful, well-written book and it was recommended.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Twilight
Title: Twilight
Author: Stephenie Meyer
ISBN:978-0316038379
Publisher: Little, Brown
Copyright: 2005
Plot Summary: After Bella's mom and step dad move to Florida, Bella chooses to move in with her father in Forks, Washington. After starting a new high school, making friends, and trying to fit in, Bella encounters a family from her community called the Cullens. Bella is drawn to a boy from the family that is in her grade named Edward. Soon Bella realized that he too is drawn to her, in a completely different way.
Critical
Evaluation: While this may not be the best young adult book out there, Stephenie Meyer seems to have captured lightning in a bottle with this story line. Meyer paints a picture of a fantasy world where vampires are real, and sparkle in the sunlight. Meyer's use of descriptive words along with the relationship she creates between Edward and Bella are what attracts teenagers to this book.
Reader's Annotation: Bella feels attracted to Edward in ways she never knew possible, what she does not realize is the way that Edward is attracted to her.
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy
Author Information: Stephenie Meyer has written other young adult books like the sequels to Twilight and The Host. To learn more about Stephenie Meyer visit http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/.
Book talks: Love, First love, vampires
Reading
Level/Interest Age: Middle School/High School/ Adults. 14-100+.
Why was this
book chosen?: This is a great story line to get involved with including the books that come after it in the series.
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