Street Magic by Tamora Pierce (Circle Opens Quartet, Book 2)

Pierce, Tamora (2002). Street Magic. New York, New York: Scholastic Paperbacks. 

ISBN: 9780509396431

264 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy

Age Level: 15-17

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: Magic, Royalty, Fantasy, Relationships, 

Reader's Annotation

Briar, now a full-powered mage, is traveling with his mentor when he encounters a young street urchin in possession of powerful stone magic whom he must protect from warring gangs seeking to exploit her powers. 

Summary

Similar to the first book in the series, Magic Steps, the former student becomes a teacher. In this book, Briar, the plant mage, has come into his power. While traveling with his mentor, he comes acros Evvy, an urchin who can perform powerful storm magic. He finds that, having discovered her, he is responsible for her and must protect her from those seeking to use her and her talents, but this places Briar in and uncomfortable position between warring gangs who desire to use Evvy for their own ends. 

Notes

Although this is a sequel to Pierce's Magic Steps, it can also stand alone as a book. Pierce carefully weaves the story so that readers are brought along every step of Briar's journey as he becomes a teacher and protector of a young mage. Those interested in learning more and following these characters should explore the Magic Circle books by Tamora Pierce or other books in this series. 

Author Information

Tamora Pierce Fansite

Magic Steps by Tamora Pierce (Circle Opens Quartet, Book 1)

Pierce, Tamora (2001). Magic Steps. New York, New York: Scholastic Paperbacks. 

ISBN: 9780590396059

272 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy

Age Level: 15-17

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: War, Royalty, Magic,  Murder, Family, Relationships

Reader's Annotation

Sandrilene fa Toren (Sandry) is fourteen years old and fully in her powers as she helps her great-uncle, Duke Vedris IV, ruler of Emelan, recover after a near-fatal heart attack, when she realizes that she must help another with his magical training as they both work to stop a murderer. 

Summary

14-year old Sandrilene fa Toren (Sandry) has finally come into her powers. She is busy helping her great-uncle, Duke Vedris IV, the ruler of Emelan, recover after a near-fatal heart attack when she witnesses a younger boy unknowingly perform a dance of magical power. She takes it upon herself to become his trainer and to guide him in the arts of magic before he becomes a danger to more than himself. He is reluctant to accept her as a teacher, making her job more difficult. In the meanwhile, a powerful family is slowly being killed off and the two must weave magic to overcome the murderers before it is too late. 

Notes

There can be quite a bit of gore and death, so those with weak stomach should read with caution. Those who read the Magic Circle Quartet will recognize the characters in this book as they have grown and developed. Younger teens will find it easier to relate to young Sandry than older teens, but anyone who enjoys a skillful fantasy narrative will enjoy this and the other books in the series. 

Author Information

Tamora Pierce Fansite

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

Levithan, David (2005). Boy Meets Boy. New York, New York: Knopf Books. 

ISBN: 9780375832994

192 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fiction

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: Gender, Sexuality, Relationships, High School, Tolerance

Reader's Annotation

In an idealized high school where sexuality is not considered an issue, Paul, a sophomore, believes he has found love with Noah, but he makes a mistake that may cost him his relationship

Summary

Paul is a high school sophomore whose school is in an idealized world where cliques, gender, and sexuality have a completely different meaning. Although parents and adults have different views, the teens in this world don't see each other in typical gay/straight, jock/nerd, popular/unpopular dichotomies. Rather, they live in a world where everything has blended and people are simply judged for themselves, rather than any labels society might place on them. Paul thinks he has found love in the form of Noah, but he ends up making a mistake that might mean the end of their relationship, so he seeks counsel among his friends. Not everything is ideal in this high school world- there are still domineering boyfriends, conservative parents, and the typical problems of lovelorn teenagers that hint at an underlying darkness to the teen world without ever collapsing under the weight of its problems. 

Notes

Although this novel notably presents a fictional world, it will leave teens wondering why tolerance isn't this simple, and why the world is so categorical and unforgiving in its definitions of relationships, gender, and sexuality. By cutting through these issues, individual characters are able to shine, and the strength of their problems comes through in this well-crafted story of love, life, and high school. 

Awards

Booklist Starred Review

School Library Journal Starred Review

2003 Lambda Literary Award

Other Information

Fans of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (book or movie) might recognize David Levithan's humorous style and interesting take on love and life. 

Author Information

David Levithan's Website

Bloodsong by Melvin Burgess

Burgess, Melvin (2005). Bloodsong. London, England: Andersen Press Ltd. 

ISBN: 9781416936169

384 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: Myth, Relationships, War, Heroism, Betrayal, Dystopia, 

Reader's Annotation

In future war-ravaged Britain where machines inhabit the same world as human-animal hybrids, 15-year-old Sigurd must claim his royal lineage and accomplish a series of impossible tasks- but will that be enough? 

Summary

In future Britain, a post-apocalyptic landscape reveals that the future has been anything but sweet. This story, part science fiction and part fantasy, weaves the tale of the lives and deaths of 15-year-old Sigurd. In this world, there are machines as well as animal-human hybrids, terrifying warlords, incredible technology used for destruction, and hideous beasts that present danger at every turn. After Sigurd is sent on a suicide mission, he then must pass a series of impossible tasks that force him to prove his courage, intelligence, and ingenuity as he passes into the underworld and must find his way to the throne with his heart and body intact. It is filled with violence and drama, but it is gripping nonetheless. 

Notes

Although this is a sequel to Burgess' Bloodtide (2001), it can easily stand alone. It has a strong narration, and although it can be somewhat dark at times, it is realistic enough that readers will find themselves wondering if a world such as this might be looming in the future as technology advances. Readers may also enjoy the links to Viking mythology. Because of the violence and graphic descriptions of war, only those capable of stomaching such material should venture into this novel, but any who do will be rewarded with a rich, engaging story. 

Author Information

Melvin Burgess' Website

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ismael Beah

Beah, Ismael (2008). A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. New York, New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 

ISBN: 9780374531263

240 pages

Classification: NonFiction

Genre: Memoir

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 5 stars

Subjects: War, Soldiers, Death, Family, Relationships, Grief

Reader's Annotation

Ismael Beah tells his true account of growing up, surviving, and fighting in Sierra Leone as a soldier during a brutal civil war. 

Summary

At the tender age of 12, Ismael Beah becomes swept up in the civil war in Sierra Leone. He loses his family, is completely alone in the world, and he is recruited in the army. The chilling tale of how he becomes a trained soldier, learns to shoot an AK-47, and becomes a warrior to survive. Reading the boy's transformation from an innocent boy who loves American hip-hop and reading Shakespeare to a casual murderer is horrifying and gruesome. At the age of 15, he is finally brought to a rehabilitation center and he begins a life as a child advocate, but the truly gripping part of the story is the account of his life as a soldier- how he gets wrapped up and consumed by the violence, and how his existence is measured by war. 

Notes

The validity of the account based on the dates mentioned as well as some shooting incidents, was questioned, and Ismael Beah responded by releasing this statement.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

Pearson, Mary E. (2008). The Adoration of Jenna Fox. New York, New York: Henry Holt and Co. 

ISBN: 9780805076684

272 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Science Fiction

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 5 stars

Subjects: Identity, High School, Relationships, Family, Future, Surgery

Reader's Annotation

Seventeen-year-old Jenna Fox wakes up from a year-long coma caused by a terrible accident unsure of who she is and who she used to be, and as she slowly gains her memoies back, she has more and more questions about who she was and what happened to her. 

Summary

Jenna Fox has been told that is her name. She has been told that she's seventeen years old and that she was in a coma for a year after a terrible accident. But in spite of the questions answered by her friends and family and the home movies she watches of herself before the accident, there are some lingering questions. Why are people treating her so strangely? What really happened on the night of the accident? Why do her arms and legs not feel, look, or move the way they used to? As she slowly starts to remember pieces of her life before the accident, she questions even these memories, and she wonders what she can trust, how she can know who she is and, most importantly- who is Jenna Fox? 

Notes

This has some similar themes to Scott Westerfeld's Uglies Trilogy. Readers who enjoyed this book may want to look into the series. It is equally thought-provoking about what makes you who you are, and how identity is formed.

Awards

A Book Sense "Top Ten" Summer Pick

Other Information

Adoration of Jenna Fox Website

Author Information

Mary Pearson's Website

Three Little Words: A Memoir by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

Rhodes-Courter, Ashley (2008). Three Little Words: A Memoir. New York, New York: Atheneum Press. 

ISBN: 9781416948063

320 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Memoir

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 5 stars

Subjects: Adoption, Family, Isolation, Love, Relationships

Reader's Annotation

This is the true story of Ashley Rhodes-Courter's journey over nine years and fourteen foster homes as she tries to find love, security, and herself among insurmountable obstacles. 

Summary

Ashley Rhodes-Courter entered the foster care system at the age of three, and over the course of nine years, she was juggled from one foster home to another, 14 in all. The horrors described as she moves from one caseworker to another, one home to another, and one school to another as she endures abusive foster families and horrific living conditions would be appalling enough in a fiction tale. Knowing that she truly endured all of this, however, makes her tale even more poignant and heartbreaking. Although it mostly sheds light on a broken foster care system, it also shows that there is a litght at the end of the tunnel, and that there is a way out for those who are determined enough and strong enough not to be beaten down by the system. 

Notes

She tells her story in clear language that will make any teen instantly relate to her story, as far removed from their own lives as it may be. The fact that she not only made it through all of this, but managed to thrive, is a testimony to her courage and strenth of will. 

Other Information

Readers who enjoyed this memoir may also want to check out Dave Pelzer's A Child Called It for its similarly remarkable true tale of abuse and dysfunctional family relationships. 

Author Information

Ashley Rhodes-Courter's Website

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire

Maguire, Gregory (1996). Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. New York, New York: Regan Books 

ISBN: 9780739468975

409 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy

Age Level: 17-19

Stars: 5 stars

Subjects: Fairy-tale, Love, Deception, War, Relationships, Family

Reader's Annotation

Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West, is not necessarily the evil woman portrayed in The Wizard of Oz, but perhaps a misunderstood witch who cares too much as she tries to right the ills in her world. 

Summary

Elphaba  is the product of her mother's illicit relationship with a traveling salesman and owes her green skin to her mother's use of an elixir sold by the same man. Her deformity makes her hideous to those around her, and when her beautiful younger sister is born without the use of her legs, Elphaba becomes responsible for her as well. She eventually goes off to college and becomes the roommate of Galinda, a popular young witch desperate to be successful and well-liked by everyone. Galinda is both drawn to and jealous of the power Elphaba has. When Elphaba learns that the Wizard of Oz is a corrupt man changing talking, intelligent Animals into mindless beasts, she sets herself in opposition to him and the mainstream, but despite her best efforts, everything seems to go wrong. Characters from The Wizard of Oz make brief appearances, but the focus is on social issues, religion, and politics. It often is very dark and not all readers will find satisfaction with the ending. 

Notes

Fans of the musical Wicked seeking the same happy, inverted fairy tale, might be disappointed by the dark tone of this book. Just to be clear, although the musical was adapted from this book, the two are very different in tone and treatment of characters. This is also not a children's book- it handles adult subjects of sex, love, and politics in a somewhat unforgiving manner that doesn't shy away from the darkness. I would recommend this more strongly for older teens. 

Awards

Other Information

This is part of the Wicked Years Series, as of yet including Wicked, Son of a Witch, and A Lion Among Men. Readers who enjoy Wicked may enjoy following the aftermath of Elphaba's actions. Other reimagined fairy tales include Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, Mirror Mirror, and Lost. 

Author Information

Gregory Maguire's Website

Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot

Cabot, Meg (2008). Queen of Babble Gets Hitched. New York, New York: William Morrow. 

ISBN: 9780060852023

288 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Chick-Lit

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 3 stars

Subjects: Marriage, Relationsihps, Family, 

Reader's Annotation

Lizzie Nichols, a wedding dress restorer living in New York, is engaged to Jean-Luc and perhaps planning to pick up and move to Paris, but what about Chaz, Luc's best friend who lacks material wealth but seems to really care about Lizzie? 

Summary

This is the third book in the Queen of Babble series, and it seems like life is picture-perfect for Lizzie Nichols at last. Her business (she's a wedding gown restorer) is going very well and she's engaged to Jean-Luc at last. Unfortunately, Jean-Luc's best friend, Chaz, is against the marriage and he forces her to consider why she is marrying Jean-Luc and whether she is willing to abandon New York for Paris. Additional hiccups are present in the form of Lizzie's midwestern family who want her to get married at home, and Jean-Luc's family, who seem to want him to leave medical school and go into investment banking. Lizzie has serious life choices to make, and if she doesn't choose correctly, she might end up alone. 

Notes

This is a light, heartwarming book- those seeking serious fiction will be disappointed. If you take this for what it is- a fluffy, quick read, it will be enjoyable. If you have high expectations, those will likely be dashed. Girls will likely find the character of Lizzie funny and frustrating, and her problems are somewhat removed from reality, but that doesn't keep her journey from being an entertaining one nonetheless. 

Other Information

This is the third in the Queen of Babble Series. Readers who enjoyed this book may want to take a look at the first two books, Queen of Babble and Queen of Babble in the Big City, as well as other books by Meg Cabot. 

Author Information

Meg Cabot's Website

Prep: A Novel by Curtis Sittenfeld

Sittenfeld, Curtis (2005). Prep. New York, New York: Random House. 

ISBN: 9780812972351

448 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 3 stars

Subjects: Popularity, High School, Cliques, Relationships, Sex

Reader's Annotation

Lee Fiora, a fourteen-year-old, leaves her hometown of South Bend, Indiana for Boston's prestigious Ault School, not realizing the difficulties that lie ahead of her, including dealing with the disadvantages of not being wealthy, trying to fit in, a secret relationship, and difficulties with teachers and other students as she both tries to fit in and loathes the person she must become to do so. 

Summary

Female readers will immediately be taken in by 14-year-old Lee Fiora's account of her years at Boston's prestigious Ault School. She left her hometwon of South Bend, Indiana, without fully explaining to her friends or family why she so desperately wanted to get away. When she arrives at Ault, however, her low family income, self-doubt, and behavior immediately mark her as an outsider. She works hard to conform to the standards set by other students, but constantly finds herself on the outside, scorning other outsiders as well. She struggles with her roommates, her teachers, and her peers are carefully described in this narrative. Her dissatisfaction with Ault leads her to take action and causes her to be a public pariah scorned by all, leaving her to wonder if she did what she did because of what was wrong with Ault or what was wrong with her.

 

Notes

Readers familiar with books or TV shows such as Gossip Girl or The Clique will recognize familiar sterotypes of high school life. In this case, everything is exaggerated because in addition to going to school together, they also live together, and this brings with it a new set of issues. Younger and older readers will find a familiar voice in Lee Fiora as she explores her own insecurities and her identity as she struggles with fitting in, relationships, and school. 

Awards

New York Times "10 Best Books of 2005" 

Nominated for UK's Orange Prize

Other Information

There are rumors that this may find its way onto the big screen, although whether or not that will happen anytime soon is unclear. Sittenfeld has since published two further books, The Man of My Dreams and American Wife, both of which have strong female protagonists who explore their own identity as they make their way in the world. 

Author Information

Curtis Sittenfeld's Website

Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz

Koontz, Dean (2006). Odd Thomas. New York, New York: Bantam Books. 

ISBN: 9780553384284

400 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Mystery

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: Relationships, Death, Crime, Mystery, Investigation

Reader's Annotation

20-year-old Odd Thomas lives a fairly normal life in Pico Mundo, California, with little ambition and little special about him- except for the fact that he sees and converses with ghosts, a talent that draws him into a mysterious event that will happen in his town unless he can prevent it in time.

Summary

This is a book that skips along at a swift pace, with enough character description for readers to feel like they are at home in Pico Mundo, California and enough mystery to keep them turning pages. It tells the story of Odd Thomas, a 20-year-old fry cook who has no ambition and little talent, except for writing, but he can't put pen to paper long enough to finish a project. His one unique gift- one that makes him truly odd- is his ability to see and converse with ghosts, and through this and his relationship with the beautiful Chief of Police, solve crimes. He also sees "bodachs", which are small, evil creatures that feed on carnage, and when he spots these gathering around one man in particular, he realizes that something horrific might be about to happen in his hometown. As he explores further, it becomes a race against time as he attempts to avert disaster and avoid detection and save the town. 

Other Information

Koontz has an impressive list of thrillers that will keep readers guessing and turning pages. If you enjoyed Odd Thomas, check out others by Dean Koontz. 

Author Information

Dean Koontz's Website

Odd Thomas Website

Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers

Myers, Walter Dean (1998). Fallen Angels. New York, New York: Scholastic Paperbacks. 

ISBN: 9780545055768

336 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Historical Fiction

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: War, Vietnam, Relationships, Friendship, Death, Grief

Reader's Annotation

Richard Perry sets aside his dreams of college and a writing career and enlists in the army to get out of Harlem and support his family and finds himself in Vietnam, facing the horrors of war, violence, death, and questions about racism and virtue, good and evil in a war that means so little to him. 

Summary

This book is set in Vietnam in the late 1960s, where Richard Perry, a Harlem teenager, finds himself after his dreams of college fall through. He is the sole supporter of his family, and even though he could have gotten out of the draft with a medical condition, he enlists to uphold his obligation to them. As he and his comrades face the horrors of war and the basest levels of human existence, Richard is able to contemplate meaningful life questions about the nature of good and evil, and how to find virtue in soldiers trained to kill without question. As the war continues, he starts to realize the disturbing trend that black troops are given the most dangerous assignments, and he seeks to understand what the US is doing there in the first place. 

Notes

Richard Perry is a skilled narrative guide throught the trenches of Vietnam. Although it can be graphic and difficult to read at times, the sensitive narrator will draw readers in as he questions the fundamental basis of society and war. These questions that he asks are the same that readers will have, and his exploration of these topics is poignant and sincere and make this book readable in spite of the horror. 

Awards

1989 Correta Scott King Award

Author Information

Walter Dean Myers' Website

Feed by M.T. Anderson

Anderson, M.T. (2004). Feed. New York, New York: Candlewick Press. 

ISBN: 978073622596

320 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Science-Fiction

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: Future, Dystopia, Brain-Washing, Family, Relationships

Reader's Annotation

In a bleak future, televisions and computers are connected directly to people's brains, creating a consumer-driven society where independent thought is frowned upon, and Titus never questions this world until he meets Violet, a home-schooled girl who dares to think for herself. 

Summary

Everything is just fine in Titus' world. He has an Internet/Television feed that connects directly to his brain and life is simple. It is a world of consumerism with the main priorities of fashion, immediate pleasures, and shopping. When Titus and his friends are on the moon, they catch an illness that freezes their feeds for a few days, and in the void, they actually think. It is there that Titus meets Violet, a home-schooled girl who has an opinion and thinks for herself. After their recovery, Violet and Titus begin dating but the fundamental differences between them and their world views drive them apart as the consumer-driven society pushes itself to the brink and Violet succumbs to an illness that leaves her incapacitatated. 

Notes

This is a great read for teens, especially older teens. It is a chilling novel that has taken threads of our current society and fleshed them out to show what the world would be like if these disturbing trends continued. Teens who read this may reconsider how connected their lives are and should be, and what repercussions that might have in the future. 

Awards

2002 National Book Award for Young People's Literature Finalist

2003 Boston-Globe Horn Book Award for Fiction

2003 Golden Duck Awards Hal Clement Award for Young Adults

Other Information

Readers who enjoy the topic might want to explore Scott Westerfeld's Uglies Trilogy. 

Geography Club by Brent Hartinger

Hartinger, Brent (2004). Geography Club. New York, New York: Harper Teen. 

ISBN: 9780060012236

240 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 5 stars

Subjects: High School, Sexuality, Popularity, Outcast, Relationships

Reader's Annotation

Russel is convinced he's the only gay student at GoodKind High until he discovers others who are in the closet, and together they found the Geography Club- but will this be the answer to their problems, or the cause of new ones? 

Summary

16-year-old Russel Middlebrook is a typical high school sophomore plagued by insecurity and self-doubt, but with a huge secret: he's gay. He doesn't want to be an outcast so he hides this aspect of himself. Then he learns that his online chat buddy is also a student at his school, but is in the closet so the members of his baseball team will not treat him any differently. Russel joins the baseball team, too, to be closer to him, and over the course of the year, they discover other students who, like them, are different but afraid of being known as such. Together, they form a Geography Club where they discuss their problems and issues, but rather than make everything better, this brings up new problems altogether. 

Notes

This is a brilliant novel that sheds some light on what it means to be gay and in high school. Fear of others, fear of being outed, and fear of not being accepted all come together in this novel that is more than just about a group of gay students- it's about the high school experience as a whole. This novel explores the ins and outs of the high school world, and although sexuality is the key to the fears of this group, it could just as easily be about any number of other marks of "otherness". This is a book about what it means to be on the outside and it explores why one group of teens don't want to acknowledge any difference between themselves and their peers. 

Awards

Book Sense 76 Pick

Banned Books Book Sense Top Ten Pick

USA Today "Great High School Book"

Children's Book Award "Notable Book"

2003 Lambda Literary Award Finalist

IRA "Notable Book"

ALA "Popular Paperback"

New York Public Library "Book for the Teen Age"

Booklist "Top Ten Best First YA Novel"

Author Information

Brent Hartinger's Website

I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

Zusak, Markus (2006). I am the Messenger. New York, New York: Knopf Books.

ISBN: 9780375836671

368 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Mystery

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 5 stars

Subjects: Crime, Outcast, Relationships, Robbery, Failure, Life

Reader's Annotation

Ed is a 19-year old loser whose life changes after he inadvertently stops a bank robbery and a mysterious person begins sending him on missions. 

Summary

Ed Kennedy is, by society's standards, a complete loser. He is an underage cabdriver, he lives in a shack, he can't play cards to save his life, and his love life is nonexistent. Still, he manages to live a fairly simple life and get by just fine until one day he becomes an accidental hero by stopping a bank robbery. That's when he starts getting cards in the mail that tell him where to go and when. With so little to lose, and a desire to know who is sending these messages to him, Ed goes on these missions where he changes other peoples' lives- and, in the process, his own. 

Notes

Although the ending isn't completely satisfying- there isn't enough clarification about events- this is a great book for the characters it presents. Each person is uniquely described and they seem to jump off the page, and that's what really allows readers to dive into the book. They, too, will wonder who is sending these messages and how things will turn out for Ed. 

Awards

Michael L. Printz Honor

Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book

Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year-Children

Children's Book Council Book of the Year Award (Australia)

Other Information

Author Information

Markus Zusak Website

How They Met, and Other Stories by David Levithan

Levithan, David (2008). How They Met, and Other Stories. New York, New York: Knopf Books. 

ISBN: 9780375848865

256 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Anthology

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: Sexuality, Love, Families, Relationships

Reader's Annotation

This is an anthology of 18 stories about life and love, spanning the spectrum of emotion and types of love, and ultimately asking the question: what is love? 

Summary

This book contains 18 short stories about all kinds of love- from guy/girl to guy/guy, and everything in between. It examines the types of love between families, friends, and lovers even as it offers hope to those seeking love. It dives into stories about fix-ups (Starbucks Boy), love triangles (The Princes), and strangers meeting (The Number of People who Meet on Airplanes), among others. Each one is hopeful, endearing, and although they are unrelated, they all share the common thread of being about love. 

Notes

This book presents a collection of easily readable stories- this is ideal for teens on the go who are unable to commit to a lengthy story. Instead, they can dive in where and when they please, and they are guaranteed to emerge from this book a little more optimistic about love and life. 

Other Information

Fans of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (book or movie) might recognize David Levithan's humorous style and interesting take on love and life. They may also enjoy taking a look at Levithan's Boy Meets Boy. 

Author Information

David Levithan's Website

The Clique by Lisi Harrison

Harrison, Lisi (2004). The Clique. New York, New York: Poppy. 

ISBN: 9780316155779

220 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Chick-Lit

Age Level: 15-17

Stars: 3 stars

Subjects: Popularity, Cliques, School, Relationships

Reader's Annotation

Summary

Claire Lyons is in seventh grade and when her parents move from Florida to Westchester County, NY, her family stays with Mr. Lyons' old friend who has a daughter the same age as Claire. Claire doesn't have the right clothes, the right attitude, or the right background, so Massie, a queen-bee in the making, decides to make her a target of her clique's pranks from the more innocuous insults to the cruel pranks. Claire doesn't know how to respond to any of this, and when she attempts to defend herself, the tormenting gets worse. This novel is filled with designer references and trendy spots that readers will identify with, but it will also seriously date the series and make it merely humorous to read in years to come. 

Notes

For readers looking for a more satisfying depiction of high school life, Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld might be an interesting choice. Younger female readers are the target audience, and with a direct-to-DVD movie released earlier this year, the series as a whole will be likely to gain in popularity, however short-lived it might be. 

Other Information

This is the first book in a series of at least 9 books that describe the adventures and insults of this particular clique. It can be horrifying and gruesome at times, but ultimately it lacks the punch held by other novels, and the redemption that you wish would happen never seems to arrive.

Author Information

Lisi Harrison's Website

The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Pfeffer, Susan Beth (2008). The Dead and the Gone. New York, New York: Harcourt Books. 

ISBN: 9780152063110

336 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Science Fiction

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 5 stars

Subjects: Dystopia, Future, Climate, Asteroid, Family, Relationships

Reader's Annotation

In New York City, Alex Morales struggles to keep his younger sisters alive and together after an asteroid crashed into the moon, creating disasters around the world that make the thought of any future survival difficult to believe. 

Summary

This is a companion novel to Pfeffer's Life as We Knew It (2007), and in this novel, we are transported to New York City to see the devastating effects the asteroid crashing into the moon has created. 17-year-old Alex Morales' parents both disappeared in the disasters that followed the crash, leaving him to protect his two younger sisters. As food gets scarce and people around them begin to get desperate, Alex wonders how he will be able to survive, let alone take care of his younger sisters as well. 

Notes

Although it takes place during an incredible disaster, the emphasis in this story is really on the people- in this case, Alex Morales and his love for his little sisters. The lengths he is willing to go to ensure that they will survive and stay together are heartwrenching. 

Author Information

Susan Beth Pfeffer's Website

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Westerfeld, Scott (2005). Uglies. New York, New York: Simon Pulse. 

ISBN: 9780689865381

448 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 5 stars

Subjects: Surgery, Popularity, Outcast, Future, Dystopia, Relationships

Reader's Annotation

In a futuristic society where, at the age of 16, everyone becomes a "Pretty", Tally Youngblood wants nothing more than to undergo surgery herself, until she meets Shay and a fringe society and explores the idea that she might be okay just the way she is. 

Summary

Tally Youngblood is like any other teenager- she is filled with doubts and insecurities about herself, and she is desperate to be beautiful- but in this society, that wish is granted to everyone at the age of 16. Her best friend and almost everyone she knows is already in Pretty Town, partying all day and having fun being beautiful, while she has been left behind in UglyTown to wait for her 16th birthday. Before that date, however, she meets Shay, a young girl who plans on running away and joining a fringe society that accepts individuals who don't want to undergo this transformation. As Tally is pulled into this idea, she is forced to examine society and the ideals she has been forced from birth to believe and she begins to question everything. 

Notes

Although there is a strong femal protagonist in this book, it is highly readable for guys or girls. The underlying commentary on our current society's values is intriguing because Westerfeld has taken it to the next level, where everyone is beautiful and happy. This asks the question: at what cost does this perfect society exist? 

Other Information

This is the first book in the Uglies Trilogy. Those interested in the fate of Tally Youngblood, Shay, and their friends, should check out Pretties, Specials, and Extras. 

Author Information

Scott Westerfeld's Website

Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

Westerfeld, Scott (2005). Pretties. New York, New York: Simon Pulse. 

ISBN: 9780689865398

384 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 5 stars

Subjects: Surgery, Dystopia, Future, Relationships, Popularity

Reader's Annotation

Tally Youngblood is now one of the "Pretties", but although she has gained beauty, she wonders if maybe she has lost something else, and she continues to battle against the rules of society.

 

Summary

This is the sequel to Westerfeld's Uglies, and is the second of four books in the series. At the start of the book, Tally Youngblood has been made into a Pretty against her wishes, but she can't seem to recall any of her problems with being a Pretty- or any of her friends in the Smoke, either. It seems that becoming a Pretty has some side-effects that people might get angry about if they find out about them. After a former friend from New Smoke delivers two pills, Tally begins to continue her battle against society. With the help of her new boyfriend, Zane, who wants to stay alert and aware at all times, they and their friends try to find a way out of Pretty Town and a way to return to who they used to be. 

Notes

This is the second book in the trilogy, and although it continues to focus on Tally Youngblood, guys and girls alike will relate to the characters in the story. They are fearless, brave, and their determination to expose the problems with society will win the heart of any readers. 

Author Information

Scott Westerfeld's Website