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. 

The Time Traveler's Wife

Title: The Time Traveler's Wife

Author: Audry Niffenegger


ISBN: 978-0547119793

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Copyright: 2003
 Plot Summary: This story tells the tale of Henry, who has a genetic disorder causing him to involuntarily time travel when he gets stressed out. Clare meets Henry at the library where he works at, but that is not the first time they have met. Henry from the future had been going to visit Clare since she was little and Clare even made love to him on her 18th birthday. They get married, but Henry continues to time jump. Clare wants to have a baby but Henry's genetic disorder causes many miscarriages. Clare finally has a baby who can time travel on purpose and Henry learns something that he may not want to hear.

Critical Evaluation: Niffenegger does an amazing job writing a plot that would be a confusing mess by any other author. Even though the book follows Henry through time, the characters are given time to develop, the plot line continues throughout and the love story is never lost.


Reader's Annotation: Henry involuntarily time travels, can he continue the relationship with the love of his life despite his disorder?


Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Crossover


Author Information: Niffenegger has written one other traditional novel entitled Her Fearful Symmetry. For more information about this author visit her website at http://www.audreyniffenegger.com

Book talks: Love, Marriage, Children, Death, Time traveling

Reading Level/Interest Age:High School/Adult. 14+
Challenge: Miscarriages and premarital sex. This book was written for adults, so it has adult themes. The miscarriages and a vasectomy are mentioned within the book and Clare's loss is felt. However, the miscarriages leading up to the healthy pregnancy are key parts of the. Also Clare has sex with Henry on her 18th birthday before they are married. The sex scene is not that explicit and she choses to have 'premarital' sex because she knows that they will be married someday.
 
Why was this book chosen?:Well-written, beautiful love story.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Title: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Author: Mark Haddon

ISBN: 978-1400032716

Publisher: Doubleday

Copyright: 2003

 Plot Summary: This book follows a 15-year-old boy named Christopher, who has autism, as he investigates who killed his neighbor's dog. The neighbors believe it was Christopher, but he sets out to write a murder mystery book. Along the way Christopher discovers that his father is not who he thought he was and neither is his mother. He also discovers who killed the dog in the night. 

Critical Evaluation:  Haddon encapsulates the way Christopher feels and his reasoning which is amazing because of his autism. This book has so many emotions from each character exploding out of it. Haddon wrote an amazing book with really well developed characters, and an ending that leaves things a bit unresolved. 

 Reader's Annotation:  Christopher sets out to discover the truth about who killed his neighbor's dog.

Genre: Mystery, Crossover

Author Information:  Mark Haddon has written many youth titles and only a few adult titles, this book is one of those adult titles, another adult title by him is called A Spot of Bother.. For more information please visit www.markhaddon.com

Book talks: autism, crossover, investigation, affairs, forgiveness

Reading Level/Interest Age:High School/Adult. 14-100+.

Challenge: This was written as an adult fiction book, so there are a few adult things like affairs, and dog murders that are dealt with. They are dealt with in a blunt manner from Christopher's perspective though and very much a necessary part of the plot line.

Why was this book chosen?:  I was given this book as a 14 year old and really enjoyed it.

A Walk to Remember

Title: A Walk to Remember

Author: Nicholas Sparks

ISBN: 978-0446693806

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Copyright:2004
 
 Plot Summary: This story is set in the 1950's.  Landon Carter, a senior in high school and a bad boy befriends Jaimie Sullivan the minister's goody-goody daughter. Slowly as time goes on and they continue to spend time together Landon realizes that he is falling for Jaimie. Jaimie is then forced to tell Landon the secret she has been hiding that will change Landon's life forever.

Critical Evaluation:  This book paints a lovely picture of an older version of Landon Carter reminiscing about his life in high school. Sparks writes between the time periods very well. Sparks is able to create this magical love story out of thin air between two people who would not typically end up together. Teens are attracted to love stories with characters like these. Sparks develops that plot and the characters beautifully. The reader even gets a sense of character growth between the two different versions of Landon.

Reader's Annotation: Landon Carter finds himself falling for the minster's daughter, will her secret change him forever?

Genre: Romance, Crossover, Realistic Fiction

Author Information: Nicholas Sparks is famous for his romantic fiction novels such as The Notebook and Message in a Bottle. To find out more about Nicholas Sparks or his work visit www.nicholassparks.com.

Book talks: Young love, Marriage, commitment, love, sickness

Reading Level/Interest Age: High School/Adult. 14+ 

Challenge: Nothing I see that would be challenged. 
 
Why was this book chosen?: This is my favorite Nicholas Sparks book.