The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron

Patron, Susan. The Higher Power of Lucky. New York, NY : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2006. ISBN : 978-1-4169-0194-5

Lucky just knows she is about to be abandoned again. Brigitte, Lucky's guardian since her mother died and her father decided he didn't want her, has been acting funny. She misses her family in France and Lucky caught her applying to a French culinary school. When Lucky finds Brigitte's suitcase and passport all packed, she decides it is finally time to put her plan into action. She packs up her survival-kit backpack and heads out to her secret cave in the desert. But will her plan to make Brigitte realize how much she loves Lucky work, or will it be foiled by a dust storm and a five year old boy?

Recommended for grades 4-6 (ages 9-12)

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Right Behind You by Gail Giles

Giles, Gail. Right Behind You. New York : Little, Brown & Company, 2007. ISBN 978-0-316-16636-2

Who would have guessed the good looking, record setting star of the swim team would be hiding a secret past? Kip McFarland has been dealing with his painful past ever since he murdered another child when he was 9 years old. Whether the murder was intentional or not, Kip cannot forgive himself. After his release from a mental facility for children his family moves to Indiana from Alaska. At his new high school Kip reinvents himself as Wade Madison. But when he leaks his secret past to further punish himself for his crime, his family gets chased out of town again. After meeting a new friend, with a secret past of her own, will Kip finally be able to learn to forgive himself?

The Breakup Bible by Melissa Kantor

Kantor, Melissa. The Breakup Bible. New York : Hyperion, 2007. ISBN 978-0-7868-0962-2

Jen Lewis' life is over. Her boyfriend Max, who she crushed on for two years before they started dating, has just unexpectedly dumped her. Unfortunately, she has to work beside him daily on their high school newspaper. As she struggles to figure out why he fell out of love with her and how she can move on, she begins reading a book her Nana gave her. Though the book seems silly, Jen becomes determined to use its advice to get over Max. But maybe the book isn't what she needs, maybe stirring up a little controversy with her school's administration is what she needs.

Ethan, Suspended by Pamela Ehrenberg

Ehrenberg, Pamela. Ethan, Suspended. Grand Rapids, MI : Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2007. ISBN : 978-0-8028-5324-0

Ethan thinks he is just staying with his grandparents for a few days, but it soon becomes clear that he is staying in their Washington, DC house for an undetermined amount of time. His parents have recently separated, his sister just left for college and his friends from back home in Maple Heights, Pennsylvania have all turned on him after an incident they were all involved in left only him in trouble. Now he is stuck living with his grandparents in a world with no computer, early dinners, coupon clipping and as the only white student in a school where you can only be friends with the Latino kids, or the African American kids. Eventually he begins to adjust. He accepts the situation with his parents and regrets the decisions that brought him to DC. He even makes friends in his new school, friends that are very different from his old friends. Friends that will hopefully stick with him during tough times.

Suggested ages- 11 and up

Author's Website

Discussion Guide

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

Zarr, Sara. Sweethearts. New York, NY : Little, Brown and Company, 2008. ISBN : 978-0-316-01455-7

Jennifer Harris and Cameron Quick are best friends. In their Utah elementary school they are both picked on, bullied and lonely- until they find each other. When Cameron disappears out of Jennifer's life without saying goodbye, she becomes determined to become someone new. Flash forward eight years to the new life of "Jenna Vaughn". A new step dad, a new town, a new school and new friends, but still Jenna lives constantly in fear that someone will find out about her past life as overweight, insecure and lonely Jennifer Harris. When Cameron suddenly and inexplicably appears at her small school, Jenna has to learn to deal with her past in order to enjoy her present.

Author's Website

Under the Wolf, Under the Dog by Adam Rapp

Rapp, Adam. Under the Wolf, Under the Dog. Cambridge, MA : Candlewick Press, 2004. ISBN 0763618187.

Steve Nugent is going through some rough times. His mom just died from cancer, his brother committed suicide, his father is all but useless and now he is in a group home for teens. The journal he keeps, at the request of his counselor, details his experiences leading up to his admittance at the group home. While his experiences are horrifying at times, in the end he learns that we all need to deal with our problems in our own way.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Asher, Jay. Thirteen Reasons Why. New York, NY : Penguin Young Readers, 2007. ISBN 978-1-59514-171-2

When Hannah Baker kills herself she leaves behind a lot of stunned people- but, should her suicide really have come as such a shock? After the tapes, sent to the thirteen people whom she believes drove her to her suicide, begin circulating people will begin to realize how their decisions ultimately effect people.

Book's Website

Chanda's War by Allan Stratton

Stratton, Allan. Chanda's War. New York, NY : HarperTeen, 2008. ISBN : 978-0-06-087262-5

When her mother dies, Chanda promises to take care of her younger brother and sister at their home in the city. A recurring dream causes her to go visit her mother's estranged family in the village of Tiro, hoping to make amends. Instead, the headstrong Chanda deepens the rift when she refuses her families' plans of wedding her to their neighbor's son, Nelson. When rebels attack the village and steal all of the children as slaves, including Chanda's siblings, she dares to go and rescue them, with Nelson as her only help.

Suggested grade 8 and up.

Author's Website

Reading Guide

Huge by Sasha Paley

Paley, Sasha. Huge. New York, NY : Simon & Schuster, 2007. ISBN : 978-1-4169-3517-9

April and Wil are roommates at camp Wellness Canyon (aka fat camp). While April really wants to lose weight, even saving up for the pricey camp herself, Wil's parents are forcing her to go. Wil's decision to gain weight at camp, to spite her parents, baffles April; April's shameless pleas to get in with the popular girls ("the barely chubbies") at camp embarrasses Wil. When driven together by a common hatred they team up to pull the best prank- and possibly even become friends.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Meyer, Stephenie. Twilight. New York, NY : Little, Brown and Co., 2005. ISBN : 0316160172.

Bella Swan is moving to boring Forks, Washington to live with her dad for awhile and she isn't looking forward to it. While life in Forks is as dreary as Bella assumed it would be, it isn't at all boring- especially once Bella gets involved with handsome and mysterious Edward Cullen, who just so happens to be a vampire. While Edward and his family do not threaten Bella (as they have made a pact to specifically not hunt humans), her relationship with Edward puts her at risk to be preyed on by other vampire packs.

I'll be honest, I didn't think I would like this book. I'm not really into vampires and it kind of sounded cheesy. But, I am hooked! I requested the second book at the library and I check often to see if it has come in yet! I also can't wait for the movie (and if you know me well you know that I do not like going to the movies!)
Check out the movie trailer...

Twilight

clip taken from MyspaceTV

How They Met and Other Stories by David Levithan

Levithan, David. How They Met and Other Stories. New York, NY : Alfred A. Knopf, 2008. ISBN : 978-0-375-85886-5.


Every reader can find a story to identify with in this collection of 18 stories about various types of love- ranging from unrequited to committed to new puppy love.

Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr

Zarr, Sara. Story of a Girl. New York, NY : Little, Brown and Company, 2007. ISBN: 0-316-01454-0

Deanna is the school slut. Well, at least that is what everyone thinks. Her dad caught her hooking up with her 17 year old brother's best friend when she was just 13. Of course the story got around, all the different versions of it, except Deanna's. This one mistake has defined Deanna over the past few years. Defined her to her friends, her classmates, her family and even to herself. Through writing in her journal she is able to put her past behind her, make amends with the boy who started the rumors and maybe even start to make amends with her family.

National Book Award Finalist

Revolution is Not a Dinner Party by Ying Chang Compestine

Compestine, Ying Chang. Revolution is Not a Dinner Party. New York, NY : Henry Holt and Company, 2007. ISBN : 0-8050-8207-7.

This is the story of communist China's Cultural Revolution as seen through the eyes of nine year old Ling. Ling's parents are both doctors, her father having been trained in Western medicine with colleagues in the US. When General Mao's political officers decide Ling's family and friends are part of the bourgeois society of old China they forcibly move into her family's home to spy on them. Ling is forced to grow up quickly as her once comfortable life drastically changes.

While this book is a work of fiction, it is largely based on the author's real childhood growing up in China. Check out her website to learn more http://www.yingc.com/

Touching Snow by M. Sindy Felin

Felin, M. Sindy. Touching Snow. NY : Simon & Schuster, 2007. ISBN 978-1-4169-1795-3

Imagine if you lived in constant fear at home. If the slightest mistake, like not finishing all your dinner, could set your stepfather off in a rage of abuse. Life for Karina, and her sisters Enid and Delta, is a constant struggle. Between school, cleaning the house, and caring for their two younger brothers and two young cousins, there is a lot of room for mistakes. And in their house, mistakes mean a beating from their horrible stepfather. When one beating goes too far, and leaves Enid close to death, authorities finally step in. But with their stepfather gone, will life be even harder for this family of Haitian Americans? Is lying to authorities to keep him out of jail worth the threat of future beatings? Or will these sisters have to do something more drastic to keep him from ever hurting any of them again.

Suggested grade 8 and up.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Speak. New York : Farrar Straus Giroux, 1999. ISBN 0-374-37152-0

Freshman year started off all wrong. Melinda's friends have all shunned her, her grades are plummeting, her parents are never around and she is becoming an outcast. One party, one phone call, and her whole life has changed. As she sinks deeper and deeper into depression, she begins to stop speaking and expresses herself through her newfound art. Eventually Melinda finds her voice again when her former close friend begins dating the guy who took her voice away.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Riordan, Rick. The Lightning Thief. New York : Miramax Books, 2005. ISBN 0-78683565-5

Percy Jackson has always experienced weird things, but he always figured it was either his dyslexia, or maybe even is ADHD. Bullied and outcast, he bounces from school to school until he gets to Yancy Academy, and for the first time makes a real friend, Grover. He even has a teacher, Mr. Brunner, who truly believes in him. Until one day when he overhears Grover and Mr. Brunner talking about him, and about how they must make sure he stays alive until next fall. Could the reason Percy is excelling in Greek mythology be linked to his father that he has never met? Could Percy be someone special after all?

The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer

Colfer, Eoin. The Supernaturalists. New York: Hyperion, 2004. ISBN: 0-7868-5149

Cosmo is an orphan, and orphans don't fair too well at the Clarissa Frayne Institute for Parentally Challenged Boys. After years of being used as a science experiment, Cosmo finally gets a lucky break to escape, and he takes it. His "lucky" break however, might not be so lucky. Cosmo joins a group of misfits, the Supernaturalists, who have joined together to fight off the parasites- blue creatures invisible to most that feed off the life force of the sick or injured. Their missions put Cosmo into a handful of dangerous situations, but even worse, they eventually lead him back to Clarrisa Frayne. Are the Supernaturalists actually helping humanity by killing the parasites, or could the parasites actually be helping humans?

The Absolutely True Story of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Alexie, Sherman. The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian. New York : Little Brown and Company, 2007. ISBN : 0-316-01368-4

Junior has faced adversity his entire life. Not only was he born with hydrocephalus, a condition where fluid leaks into his brain, but he also was born into a Spokane Indian tribe- a tribe where alcohol ruins 99% of people's lives. Although he loves his family, and his tribe (even though he is constantly teased and bullied) Junior realizes he must leave in order to succeed in life, and not end up living in his parent's basement like his older sister. But will he be accepted by the white community he chooses? Or will his tribe permanently reject him once he leaves?

The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean

McCaughrean, Geraldine. The White Darkness. New York : Harper Teen, 2007.

ISBN 006-089-0355

While this book started out very slowly for me, I was determined to get through it, and I am glad I did. The writing is beautiful, but at the beginning I found the characters to be somewhat annoying and I was confused with the plot- a teenager with an imaginary friend? Eventually, as I came to understand more about the characters it really picked up. So I urge you to stay with it!

Sym is somewhat of a loner. Obsessed with the Antarctic, she doesn't really fit in with her classmates and spends most of her time with her friend Titus, an Antarctic explorer who died 90 years ago. After her strange and obsessive "uncle" takes her on a surprise vacation to explore the Antarctic, Sym finally finds her own confidence as she struggles to survive and find out what has really been happening in her life.

2008 Printz Award Winner

Big Mouth and Ugly Girl by Joyce Carol Oates

Oates, Joyce Carol. Big Mouth and Ugly Girl. New York, NY : Harper Collins, 2002. ISBN 0-06-447347-3

Ursula Riggs, a tall, quiet athletic girl, makes an unlikely friend when she comes to the defense of Matt Donaghy, a popular student leader, after he is accused of making a threat to bomb the school. This book shows how fast your life can change, as Matt goes from popularity to a self made social outcast, wanting nothing to do with his former friends who showed him no loyalty in his time of need.

Truesight by David Stahler Jr.

Stahler, David Jr. Truesight. New York, NY : Harper Collins, 2004. ISBN 0-06-052285-2

Residents in the town of Harmony, a colony of purposely blind citizens, are disrupted when the Head Councilor’s free spirited daughter mysteriously dies. Around the same time one of her close friends, Jacob, starts experiencing dizzying headaches and flashes of light. He comes to the realization that somehow the unthinkable has happened- he has gained sight. He fights an inner battle, knowing his society was formed on the notion that sight distracts people from leading true and virtuous lives and enjoying his new found sight.

From Charlie's Point of View by Richard Scrimger

Richard Scrimger. From Charlie’s Point of View. New York, NY : Penguin Group, 2005. ISBN 0-525-47274-2

Charlie, a blind seventh grader, and his best friend Bernadette do everything together. So when Charlie’s father is accused of a string of ATM robberies, they decide to solve the case together. Scrimger’s writing is quick witted and fast paced. Bernadette and Charlie are an unlikely, but believable duo.
One humorous thing that the author does throughout this book is leave the reader hanging by describing a scene and then saying something along the lines of, and Charlie saw….and when you turn the page you see two blank pages (get it? Because Charlie is blind…) It is a pretty funny cliff hanger, especially the first time you see it (or don’t!) He uses it several times throughout the book- always at a big action scene.

33 Snowfish by Adam Rapp

Adam Rapp. 33 Snowfish. Cambridge, MA : Candlewick Press, 2003. ISBN : 0-7636-1874-8

Three kids that nobody wants are on the run after one of them kills his parents and kidnaps his baby brother. The book follows their cross country trek and the hardships they face, eventually leading to one of their deaths and the promise of a new life for the protagonist, Custis, if he chooses to stay with his new guardian- the first to treat him good. Although this book was very dark, the writing is great. I really enjoyed this book, but can see it as a book that might be challenged by some adults. This made me wonder what librarians do in this case.

The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci

Carol Plum- Ucci. The Body of Christopher Creed. New York, NY: Harcourt Publishers, 2000. ISBN 0-1520-2388-7

When Christopher Creed goes missing many suspect some of his classmates of foul play, a suspicion aroused at the fact that many of them tortured him daily while he was still around. His classmates suspect his over bearing military mother of either driving him to suicide or of driving him to run away. When Torey Adams, a popular kid from a good family, gets implicated in the case he goes to extremes to prove that his new friends had nothing to do with the disappearance. While Plum-Ucci uses some pretty unoriginal voices and cliché language for her teen characters, the story line is really good. I think this book would be enjoyed by most teens as they could relate to being teased or seeing others teased by classmates, or living under the pressure of overly strict parents.

God and I Broke Up by Katarina Mazetti

Katarina Mazetti. God and I Broke Up. Toronto, Ontario: Groundwood Books, 1995. ISBN 0-88899-584-9

Nobody understands Linnea, that is until she meets Pia. Pia, with her confidence and humor, helps Linnea struggle through the hard times of life in high school. Meanwhile Pia is facing challenges or her own. This story, set in Sweden, takes place after Pia’s suicide and is told as Linnea reflecting back on times they spent together and questioning how she could have prevented the tragedy of Pia’s death. I really liked the reflective writing style, and thought Mazetti captured the teenage voice very well.

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

David Levithan. Boy Meets Boy. New York, NY : Random House, 2003. ISBN 0-375-83299-8.

Paul lives in a gaytopian community, where the quarterback is a drag queen, and classmates and parents are mostly tolerant. After he meets the artistic Noah, his world is changed for the better. After a momentary kiss with an ex boyfriend, he fears he loses Noah forever. But with the help of all of his friends at school he is able to win him back, while also helping out his friend Tony, whose parents aren’t as accepting of his lifestyle.

Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman

Terry Trueman. Stuck in Neutral. New York, NY : Harper Collins, 2000. ISBN 0-06-028519-2.

Shawn is a fourteen year old boy whose Cerebral Palsy has left him unable to talk, move, or communicate with anyone. The only time Shawn is able to experience anything physical is when he has his daily grand mal seizures, during which he often has the out of body experience of floating up above himself. As far as anyone knows, Shawn can’t even think- but they are wrong. Shawn is actually really quite bright, a self taught reader, deeply inquisitive and with the ability to remember every thing he has ever heard- if only he could tell his family that. Now he has the feeling his dad, a well known author, is trying to kill him- but he has no way of telling anyone his suspicions.

Storky : How I Lost My Nickname and Won the Girl by D.L. Garfinkle

D.L. Garfinkle. Storky : How I Lost My Nickname and Won the Girl. New York, NY : G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2005. ISBN 0-399-24284-8

Michael Pomerantz, or Storky as he is begrudgingly known by his classmates, is the smart sensitive type. Not exactly the type that gets all the girls in high school. Even his dad, who recently divorced his mom, doesn’t want to hang out with him. His popular older sister Amanda always has dates, and the best Storky can do is give his crush, Gina, homework tips. He has to lose his rep as the sensitive guy if he is ever going to get a girlfriend. Or does he? After meeting Duke, a cool old guy at the retirement home his mom volunteers at, Storky gains some confidence to just be himself and realizes that its other peoples loss, (including his aloof dads) if they don’t get to know him.

The Brimstone Journals by Ron Koertge

Ron Koertge. The Brimstone Journals. Cambridge, MA : Candlewick Press, 2001. ISBN 0-7636-1742-3

Branston High School could be any typical American school. There’s the jocks, the slut, the fat kid, the nerd, etc. After meeting Mike, an older kid working at the local gas station and finding his fathers gun, Boyd gets the idea of making a list of the kids he doesn’t like and going on a murderous hunt at school. Among one of Boyd’s recruits of loners to help him on his mission is Lester, a boy picked on because he is fat. Lester begins to become afraid of Boyd’s plan and eventually goes to the police. This story is written by the various characters in journal entry.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Jerry Spinelli. Stargirl. New York, NY : Alfred A. Knopf, 2000. ISBN 0-679-98637-5

Stargirl doesn’t care what other people think of her. She walks to the beat of her own drummer. After being home schooled for years, she starts at the local high school where she does things a lot differently then the other students. After students turn and begin to shun her, her boyfriend Leo talks with her about how the would accept her if she wasn’t so different. She decides to become more like them, and less like her true self, and Leo regrets his decision to try and make Stargirl conform.

Sometimes I Think I Hear My Name by Avi

Avi. Sometimes I Think I Hear My Name. New York, NY : Random House, 1982. ISBN 0-451-12151-1

Conrad lives with his aunt and uncle is St. Louis. He wishes he could be living with his recently divorced parents in New York City, he wishes he could at least go and see them. After his aunt and uncle decide to send him to England on school break instead of NYC, Conrad develops a plan to get there, and hopefully reunite his family. With the help of a mysterious new friend, Nancy, Conrad gets to NYC, only to find out that sometimes families work better when the parents are separate.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower- Stephen Chbosky

Stephen Chbosky. The Perks of Being a Wallflower. New York, NY : Pocket Books, 1999. ISBN 0-671-02734-4

Written in letter form, quirky Charlie tells the reader about his day to day life in a high school in Anytown, USA. Charlie has always had difficulty coping with the sudden death of his aunt. After his psychiatrist tells him he needs to get more involved in life, he makes friends with Patrick, and eventually falls for his sister Sam. Charlie’s fragile mental state makes it difficult for him to adjust to normal teenage life.

A Crack in the Line- Michael Lawrence

Michael Lawrence. A Crack in the Line. New York, NY : HarperTempest, 2003. ISBN- 0-06-072479-X

Alaric is left under his strange aunt’s care while his father goes on a trip. His mother died a few years early, but her presence is strongly felt in their house, Withern Rise. While thinking about his mother one day, and touching an object she created before her death, Alaric is magically transported to another place. But this place is strangely just like the one he was in- only different. This house, also called Withern Rise, is inhabited by a family with a daughter, Naia, who looks just like him and a family with a lot of other strange similarities to his. As a matter of fact, this is his family- except he isn’t part of it, and his dead mother is.

Stealing Henry- Carolyn MacCullough

Carolyn MacCullough. Stealing Henry. New Milford, CT : Roaring Brook Press, 2005.

When it was just Savannah and her mom traveling across country things were great. Then her mom remarries and her life at home becomes tough. Her mom is always at work, and her stepfather drinks too much, and then takes it out on her. When he starts taking it out on her eight year old brother Henry, Savannah develops a plan for them to escape. But maybe her plan isn’t as good as she originally thought, and maybe aimlessly traveling with a kid is not as fun as Savannah remembers it was with her mother...especially if it is considered kidnap.