Pretty Little Liars

Title: Pretty Little Liars

Author: Sara Shepard

ISBN: 978-0-06-088730-8

Publisher:HarperTeen

Copyright: 2006

 Plot Summary:  Five friends, Alison, Spencer, Emily, Aria, and Hanna, are bound together by a horrible secret that Alison knows. However, after a slumber party in 7th grade Alison goes missing.  Four years later, the remaining girls are no longer friends but all have new secrets to hide, when they start to receive taunting text messages signed only by the letter 'A'. These text messages seem to insinuate that Alison is not dead as everyone assumed, but on a mission to uncover all their secrets.

Critical Evaluation:  Shepard writes this book in such a way that the suspension keeps building and building until the end is revealed. The ending does not resolve much of anything as this is the first book of a series. Shepard has skills writing suspense, but also understanding teenage girls enough to write them in a believable way that teenagers will relate to.

Reader's Annotation: Spencer, Emily, Aria, and Hanna all thought their secrets died with Alison, but was she ever really dead?

Genre: Chick Lit, Series, Realistic Fiction, Young Adult, Mystery

Author Information: Sara Shepard has written many young adult books, many of which are books in the Pretty Little Liars series. She wrote a series following this one called The Lying Game.  To learn more about the author and her work visit http://www.sarashepardbooks.com/.

Book talks: Secrets, Death, Rumors, Texting

Reading Level/Interest Age:
Challenge: One of the girls is in an inappropriate relationship with her teacher, another has an eating disorder and yet another is stifling feelings she has for another female. These may be reasons people would want to challenge this book but there are no explicit details in this book. These characteristics are what give 'A' the ammo that she needs to taunt these girls.

Why was this book chosen?: This book is very suspenseful and overall a good book, and a great opening book to this series.

The Face on the Milk Carton

Title: The Face on the Milk Carton

Author: Caroline B. Cooney

ISBN: 978-0385742382

Publisher: Ember

Copyright: 1990

 Plot Summary:  This story is about a teenage girl who is drinking milk at lunch. She turns the carton over to see a picture of a young version of herself staring back at her. She goes on a mission after realizing that she was kidnapped , to find her real parents, and to figure out what exactly happened to her all those years ago.

Critical Evaluation:   Caroline Cooney writes an amazing suspenseful mystery book perfect for young adults. The reader is enticed to keep turning the page looking for answers, and many times they are met with more questions. The characters are well developed and the plot line is very well written. 

 Reader's Annotation:  What would you do if you discovered your whole life had been a lie?

  

Genre: Mystery, Realistic Fiction

 Author Information:  Caroline B. Cooney is famous for her mystery books. She has written such books as The Stranger and Driver's Ed.  For more information visit http://www.carolinebcooneybooks.com/.

Book talks: Kidnapping, living a lie, self-discovery

Reading Level/Interest Age: Elementary School/Middle School/High School. 11-15

Challenge: I do not see any challenging issues in this book.

Why was this book chosen?: Caroline B. Cooney was one of my favorite author's growing up.

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.