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. 

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. 

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: Sarah Dessen has written many young adult books including Keeping the Moon, This Lullaby, and The Truth About Forever. To learn more about Sarah Dessen go to her website at http://sarahdessen.com/.

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. 

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: Sarah Dessen has written many young adult books including Keeping the Moon, Dreamland, and The Truth About Forever. To learn more about Sarah Dessen go to her website at http://sarahdessen.com/.

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.

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.

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. 

Gossip Girl

Title: Gossip Girl

Author: Cecily von Ziegesar 

ISBN: 978-0316910330

Publisher:Poppy

Copyright: 2002
 Plot Summary: This book, the first in a series, tells the story of New York City socialite teenagers.The main characters in this book are Blair Waldorf, Serena van der Woodsen and Blair's boyfriend Nate. They have money, and always seem to have alcohol. Gossip Girl is someone hiding behind a pseudonym that posts all the latest gossip concerning the socialites onto her website. The girls and boys go to separate private schools and sex, clothes, money, and the opposite sex seem  to always be a topic of conversation.  The book switches between different interactions between the characters and what gossip girl is posting.

Critical Evaluation: This book is written in a way that the reader feels just how shallow they all are. There is not too much character development and the layout provides for a fast read. This book is well-written and the approach to it is different than many other young adult books which makes it hard to put down.

Reader's Annotation: Gossip Girl knows everything about Blair, Serena, Nate and their friends, but do they know anything about her?

Genre: Chick Lit, Realistic Fiction, Young Adult

Author Information: Cecily Von Ziegesar's main body of work is the Gossip Girl series. There are fourteen books in the series and it is the basis for a television show. Gossip Girl's website is real and can be visited at www.gossipgirl.net

Book talks: Socialites, drugs, alcohol, gossip, sex, relationships, money

Reading Level/Interest Age: High School. 15-19
Challenge: Alcohol, drugs, sex. These are all used as plot devices to show just how the rich socialites with no rules behave in some cases it shows the effects of them. The socialites however would not be shown as shallow, and how bad their behavior is without these as tools.

Why was this book chosen?: This is a great book and a great way to start a series, it was hard to put down so I put it in this database.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Title: Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Author: Jeff Kinney

ISBN:  978-0810993136

Publisher:  Amulet Books

Copyright: 2007

 Plot Summary: This book follows Greg through school and family life. He and his friend Rowley play a game where Rowley rides a big wheel and Greg throws a football at him to knock him off over and over again until Rowley breaks his hand. Greg also decides he is going to become a weightlifter to bulk up for wrestling in gym. Another fun adventure Greg goes on is he and Rowley go trick or treating and taunt some older kids and hide in Greg's grandmother's house, the next morning he discovers that his grandmother's house has been toliet papered. This book is full of slightly random stories that sometimes tie together accompanied by funny cartoons. It is written as Greg's diary. 

Critical Evaluation:  The cartoons accompanied with how well Kinney writes Greg as a adolescent male looking for some kind of status symbol make this book funny to read. Young boys especially will be able to relate to the characters and situations that Kinney writes for Greg.

 Reader's Annotation:  Will Greg ever get rid of "the cheese touch"?

Genre: Humor, Realistic Fiction, Young Adult

 Author Information:  Jeff Kinney started these comics and stories online, he then compiled them and published them where they became a hit, and the basis for a book series on Greg and his misadventures.  For more information visit www.wimpykid.com

Book talks: bullying, friendship, family, love, apologizing

Reading Level/Interest Age: Elementary School/ Middle School. 7-14.

Challenge: I did not see any challenging issues.

Why was this book chosen?: This book is funny but honest about Greg's relationships, makes it fun to read. 

Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging

Title: Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging

Author: Louise Rennison

ISBN: 978-0064472272

Publisher: HarperTeen

Copyright: 1999

 Plot Summary:  This books is written as the diary of Georgia Nicolson. She lives with her parents, her little sister Libby, and her wild cat Angus. Her best friend is named Jas. Georgia is dealing with all kinds of teenage girl issues, like breast size, and kissing. During this book Georgia and her friend Jas a working on a plan to get Jas together with a boy named Tom. In the process, Georgia falls in love with his brother Rob, but he is dating a girl named Lindsay.  Georgia's outlook in her diary is many times hilarious but many times she feels like her world is ending in traditional teenage girl fashion. 

Critical Evaluation:  Georgia's diary entries go through an entire school year. Her character is well written and while she is very funny, the reader completely understand the drama that is her life.  The way the diary entries are written the reader feels a little like an intruder in someone else's personal thoughts, which is exactly the way someone should feel reading diary entries. 

 Reader's Annotation: A look into Georgia Nicolson's diary, complete with discussion of the "shelf boob" and snogging classes. 

Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Romance

Author Information: Louise Rennison has written a series of books about Georgia including books like, On the Bright Side, I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God  and Knocked Out by My Nunga-Nungas.  Lear more about the author and Georgia by visiting http://www.georgianicolson.com/

Book talks: First kiss, love, crushes

Reading Level/Interest Age: Middle School/Early High School.

Challenge:  Some would find some of the topics that Georgia talks about like kissing or getting kissing lessons from a boy inappropriate topics for young girls but this book is nothing teenage girls haven't read about, heard about, or experienced already.

Why was this book chosen?: This well-written book was chosen due to the quality of writing and the humor this book has within it. 

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.

Hatchet

Title: Hatchet


Author: Gary Paulsen


ISBN: 978-1416925088

Publisher:Bradbury Press

Original copyright:1987

 Plot Summary: This story follows Brian as he journeys to visit his father at his workplace in the oilfields in Canada for the summer. He takes a small airplane, and on the way the pilot has a heart attack. Brian tries to land the airplane but it ends up crashing into a river. Brian was only able to take the hatchet his mother gave him when he escapes the plane. He then has to teach himself how to hunt and gather, and survive in the wilderness completely alone with no help from anything but his hatchet.
 
Critical Evaluation: Paulsen does a fantastic job of painting a picture of how alone Brian is. The interactions between Brian and the wilderness are written beautifully. The reader keeps turning the pages to see if Brian is going to make it out of the wilderness and Paulsen keeps it interesting, especially with the interactions between Brian and animals. Very well written,

Reader's Annotation: Brian's plane crash lands and he is the only survivor. Will he be able to survive in the wilderness with just his hatchet?

Genre: Young Adult, Realist Fiction

Author Information: Gary Paulsen is the author of a multitude of young adult books, most of which concern the wilderness. In addition to Hatchet, Gary Paulsen wrote four other books in Brian's Saga. These books include The River, Brian's Winter, Brian's Return, and Brian's Hunt. To learn more about Gary Paulsen and his work visit http://www.randomhouse.com/features/garypaulsen/index.html. 

Book talks: Plane crash, survivor, wilderness, hunting, hatchet

Reading Level/Interest Age: Middle School/High School. 11-16.


Challenge: I cannot really see a reason to challenge this book.

 
Why was this book chosen?:This is a fantastic young adult novel written in the vane of Robinson Crusoe.

Wintergirls

Title: Wintergirls

Author: Laurie Halse Anderson

ISBN: 978-0142415573

Publisher: Viking

Copyright: 2009

 Plot Summary: This story follows Lia and Cassie childhood best friends. They both suffer from Bulimia and are in a quest from 8th grade on to be the thinnest girls in class. Lia goes into treatment for her eating disorder when she is in 11th grade and this causes a rift between her and Cassie. Cassie is found dead at a motel due to a ruptured esophagus and Lia is haunted by her ghost. Lia struggles with recovery, the death of her best friend, and whether or not she wants to continue to live. 

Critical Evaluation:  This novel covers very heavy topics like death, eating disorders and self harm but in a way that it is approachable by the readers.  The hallucinations that Lia has of Cassie where Cassie tells her that she is a "ghost with a beating heart" creates this dark, twisted image in the reader's heads and helps the reader relate to Lia's mental state. 

This is a well written book about a hard to understand problem.

 Reader's Annotation: Lia has an eating disorder, the same one that took her best friends life, will she be able to escape the ghosts of her past and begin to live again?

Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction

 Author Information: Anderson has written w ritten other young adult novels including Speak. To find out more about Laurie Halse Anderson visit her website at http://madwomanintheforest.com/.

Book talks: Self Harm, Eating Disorders, Friendship, family, divorce

Reading Level/Interest Age: High School/College. 15-20

Challenge: Eating Disorders, self-harm. These two things are necessary parts of the book, while not appealing it is important to know where the characters are coming from and what they are suffering from. 

Why was this book chosen?:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Title: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Author: Stephen Chbosky

ISBN:  978-0671027346

Publisher: MTV Books

Copyright: 1999

 Plot Summary:  This story is written as a letter from Charlie, which is not his real name, to an unnamed source. It tells how Charlie, a wallflower, deals with entering high school alone, because he best friend had just committed suicide prior to school start. He is taken under the wings of Sam, a beautiful senior, and her gay stepbrother Patrick. The introduce him to so many different things his was missing including drugs and discovering his sexuality. He is mentored by his English teacher intellectually but will it all be enough to help him deal with the loss of his best friend and a frightening realization he makes about a family member?

Critical Evaluation:   This book is so pure, not in content, but in Charlie's character. The reader cannot help but feel for him. Chbosky did an amazing job writing and developing Charlie and the journey he goes on. The reader can almost feel Charlie's emotions including at some points anxiety, depression, and humor. This book is amazingly well written. 

 Reader's Annotation:  Sam and Patrick attempt to pull Charlie away from being a wallflower.

Genre: Sexuality, Realistic Fiction, Romance, Young Adult

 Author Information: The Perks of Being a Wallflower was the only book Chbosky wrote for young adults. He has worked in the entertainment business, most notably writing the screenplay for the film adaptation of Rent.

Book talks: Sexuality, Suicide, Drugs, Sex

Reading Level/Interest Age: High School. 14-19

Challenge: This book talks a lot about sexuality but that is a part of Charlie. Nothing gets grossly explicit and it is crucial to the story as Charlie goes on his journey of maturation. There are drugs and alcohol in this book but it is nothing that a teenager has not heard about before, read about before or seen before. 

Why was this book chosen?: This is a fantastic coming of age story that I really enjoyed in high school.

Whatever Happened to Goodbye?

Title: What Happened to Goodbye

Author: Sarah Dessen

ISBN: 978-0670012947

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Copyright: 2011

 Plot Summary: This story follows Mclean who, after her parents divorce lives with her father, who moves around constantly for his job. She resents her mother for remarry the coach of her father's favorite basketball team. At each new location that Mclean goes to high school she reinvents herself with different stereotypical teenage girl personality, complete with a new variation of her middle name as her first name.  Mclean and her father just moved to Lakeview, where Mclean is trying something new, being herself, and while working at her dad's new restaurant attracts new friends and even a love interest with her own personality. 

Critical Evaluation:  Sarah Dessen writes stories about teenagers that feel real, living in scenarios that they can relate to. Mclean is suffering from an identity crisis due to her parent's divorce and all the moving around she does and the reader can feel the conflicts Mclean feels being herself. Sarah Dessen's plot lines may not be extremely intricate but her character development is fantastic, the reader feels like they know the characters well before the story is over. 

 Reader's Annotation: Mclean Sweet is trying something new at her new school, being herself. Will she come to terms with her parents divorce and her identity crisis to recognize the true friendship and love she has found?

Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Romance

 Author Information: Sarah Dessen has written many young adult books including Keeping the Moon, Dreamland, and The Truth About Forever. To learn more about Sarah Dessen go to her website at http://sarahdessen.com/.

Book talks: Divorce, identity crisis, blended families

Reading Level/Interest Age: Middle School/High School. 14-18

Why was this book chosen?:  Sarah Dessen writes relatable characters in story lines teenagers understand. 

TTYL

Title: TTYL

Author: Lauren Myracle


ISBN: 978-0810987883

Publisher: Amulet Books

Copyright: 2004
 Plot Summary: This book is about Angela, Zoe, and Maddie, three sophomore girls, who are best friends. The book is written in instant messages between the three of them. The three of them are all dealing with their own issues including boyfriends who cheat, dangerous friendships with adults, and getting drunk at a high school party. The book tells the trials and tribulations of these three girls via the text messages they send to each other, or in some cases don't send to each other.

Critical Evaluation: This book is a very honest book about the relationships that teenage girls share. The fact that Myracle wrote it in instant messages using language that teenagers understand makes it all the more relatable. The instant messaging format also makes it a quick read. Myracle also addresses crucial issues that teenage girls have and how to address them.

Reader's Annotation: Angela, Zoe and Maddie are best friends nothing can tear them apart. Can they withstand the drama of sophomore year in tact?

Genre: Chick lit, series, realistic fiction, young adult

Author Information: Lauren Myracle is the author of many young adult novels including The Internet Girl Series. To learn more about Lauren Myracle and her work visit http://www.laurenmyracle.com/.

Book talks: High School, friends, drinking, fighting, making up, instant messaging

Reading Level/Interest Age:High School. 14-17


Challenge: Alcohol use. Inappropriate teacher-student relationship. These things are in the book to illustrate problems the girls are facing. They are not glorified in the text at all, and in fact, cause problems for the girls that they must overcome.
 
Why was this book chosen?: This was a good book that captured the balance that is teenage girl friendships.

The Chocolate War

Title: The Chocolate War

Author: Robert Cormier


ISBN: 978-0375829871

Publisher: Ember

Original copyright: 1974

This Version's copyright: 2004

 Plot Summary: This story follow Jerry Renault, a freshman student at a Catholic school called Trinity. The school is controlled by a secret group of student called The Vigil. They request that certain students complete tasks, to exercise their control over the student body. Jerry is given the task to refuse to sell chocolate bars for 10 days. After pondering the quote in his locker, "Do I dare disturb the universe?", Jerry continues to refuse to sell the chocolate bars after 10 days. This makes the Vigil angry, and Jerry becomes the target of a brutal bullying campaign.

Critical Evaluation:  Robert Cormier writes this story amazingly. The first line of the book is "They murdered him." The entire book feels like a build up filled with foreshadowing and even the way he constructs the sentences feels like foreshadowing building up to a shocking end.

Reader's Annotation: Freshman Jerry Renault does not set out to change the pecking order at his high school, but his decisions about chocolate bars may change his life forever.

Genre: Realistic Fiction, Young Adult, Classic

Author Information:  Robert Cormier has written numerous other works including the sequel to this book, Beyond the Chocolate War.  Much of his work is considered controversial in nature and content. For more information about Robert Cormier visit this website: http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/catalog/author.pperl?authorid=5740&view=sml_sptlght

Book talks: Bullying, Violence, Challenging the Norm.


Reading Level/Interest Age: Middle School/High School. 12-16

Challenge: Violence, profanity.The profanity in this book comes from teenage boys. It is used to personalize the boys and have them speak as real teenagers do. The violence in this book is not violence just to have violence in the story, it propels the story and ends the story in a manner that promotes violence.

Why was this book chosen?:  This is a widely regarding young adult book that I have always wanted to read. 

The Outsiders

Title: The Outsiders


Author: S.E. Hinton


ISBN: 978-0670062515


Publisher: Viking Juvenile


Original copyright: 1967


This Version's copyright: 2007


 Plot Summary: This story follows 14-year-old Ponyboy Curtis who lives with his brothers Darry and Sodapop. Ponyboy and his brothers and his friend Johnny are all members of a gang called the Greasers, which are kids that are poor and from the bad side of town. Them there is an opposing gang in their town called the Socs which is short for Socials, which are rich, preppy kids. Johnny and Ponyboy are hanging out at the drive-in one night when they become friends with two Soc girls, however, their Soc boyfriends thought they were trying to pick them up. Later, when Johnny and Ponyboy are walking alone late at night, they are jumped by the Soc girl's boyfriends, the fight gets very violent and Johnny and Ponyboy are forced to leave town. This story is about friendship, family, and how gang violence affects these.


Critical Evaluation: This book was written by S.E. Hinton when she herself was a teenager. This gives an interesting aspect to the teenage characters, and makes them more relatable. Ponyboy goes through issues that any young adult can relate to, like issues of not thinking his older brother loves him and feeling like an outsider. Even though this book was written in the 1960s about the 1950s, this book is a timeless classic.


Reader's Annotation:  After a gang fight gets unexpectedly violent, 14-year-old Ponyboy Curtis and his best friend Johnny, are forced to leave town and the only family they have. This story follows Ponyboy as he re-evaluates life as a Greaser and his place in his family.




Genre:  Classic, Realistic Fiction, Young Adult


Author Information: S.E. Hinton wrote The Outsiders when she was 16. She has other works most notably, That Was Then, This is Now. The Outsiders was made into a feature film in 1983, and S.E. Hinton worked on it, and even makes a brief cameo in the film. To learn more about S.E. Hinton go to www.sehinton.com


Book talks: family relationships, gang violence, social issues


Reading Level/Interest Age: Middle School/High School. 12-18.


Challenge: Profanity, gangs, violence. The gangs play a crucial role in the plot and profanity is used because that is the way teenagers speak. It also is necessary to the plot line. Finally the violence is a necessity to the plot and there is not violence within this book that serves no purpose to the overall plot line.


Why was this book chosen?: This was one of the first young adult books I read when I was in school.  I loved the book so much and formed an emotional connection with it from the time I finished the first sentence.

Forever

Title: Forever...

Author: Judy Blume


ISBN: 978-1416934004

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Copyright:1975

 Plot Summary: This book tells the tale of Katherine and Michael. Katherine is a high school senior who meets Michael at a party. The book follows them as they date and begin to explore the idea of sexual intimacy. They ultimately decide to physicalize their relationship, and they decide that this means they will be together forever. However, over the summer they get jobs in different states, they try to hold onto their relationship and make forever last.


Critical Evaluation: Judy Blume is a pioneer in young adult books. This is one of the first stories where a teenager had sex and did not face some kind of great punishment. This broke down walls and allow other authors to do the same. This book is well written and captures the fire that first love holds.

Reader's Annotation: Katherine and Michael are instantly attracted to each other and are convinced their love will last forever, but is forever as long as they think it is?
 
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Classic, Romance

Author Information:  Judy Blume has written 27 other literary works including, Are you there God? It's Me Margaret, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, and Frecklejuice. She was inspired to write this book after her daughter requested a book where two teenagers have sex, and no one died. To learn more about Judy Blume visit her website at www.judyblume.com

Book talks: Sex, first love

Reading Level/Interest Age: High School. 14-16
Challenge: Sexual content. This story is built around first love and Katherine's first sexual experience. It goes into great detail but it is not pornographic. It is a necessary part of the story and not excessive.

Why was this book chosen?:  Judy Blume is one of my favorite young adult authors, and this is one of my favorite stories.

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.