The List (332 Pages)

In this book, Siobhan Vivian follows eight high school girls, all of whom have found themselves on "The List." The List appears each year as a tradition for this school. The List states the prettiest and ugliest girls in each grade. Those who are named the prettiest have an initial reaction of "Wow, this is great!" Then they have to deal with the jealous feelings of their peers. And those who are named ugliest must face each day knowing that they are the bottom of the heap. I hate these lists, but in this book, Vivian allows the reader to examine the caste system that exists in most high schools, as well as what makes a girl "pretty" and how people are judged by peers in high school. There is much for discussion in this book.

Graceling

This is another book I read on my Kindle. Kristin Cashore has written a novel that will be loved by those who enjoyed The Hunger Games. The main character, Katsa, has a "Grace" that gives her extraordinary powers to fight, and I mean fight to the kill. Her uncle is using her to fight for him, killing those people who don't obey him or who do not honor him. Then she meets Prince Po and the two of them become friends. They frequently "fight" or perhaps I should say "spar." This is just to keep Katsa in shape and prepared for the next deadly fight. Katsa doesn't know that Po is also a Graceling. He has been born with the "grace" to be able to read people's minds. Katsa and Po escape from her mean uncle's grip when Katsa refuses to hurt a citizen of her uncle's kingdom. They proceed on a quest to determine who kidnapped Po's grandfather. This is a wonderful read, and gives the reader a thought to consider: Do all of us have some sort of grace? As students read about the romance that builds between Katsa and Po, they will be faced with a mystery as well as a love story. Another goodie!

Shatter Me

I read this book on my Kindle, so I can't say how many pages this novel by Tahereh Mafi has written. Juliette is 17 years old. She has been thrown out by her parents and put in prison by a ruthless dictator. One day Adam is thrown into her cell and thus begins a new phase of her life. Juliette has unusual powers and it is this that makes her seem invaluable to the dictator. He brings her to his castle, feeding her wonderful foods, and giving her beautiful clothes, and he believes she will eventually love him. But she's fallen for Adam, and the two of them want to escape from the clutches of the dictator. I am sure there will be a follow up to this book; it's just too good of a read not to continue!

90 Miles to Havana (292 Pages)

Enrique Flores-Galbis has written a wonderful book of historical fiction. The story takes place during 1961 just as Fidel Castro over threw the Cuban government. At this time Cuban parents wanted to protect their children by giving them safe haven in the United States. As a result Operation Pedro Pan began evacuating the children to what was supposed to be a safe land. But it wasn't. Julian and his older brothers Alquilno and Gordo leave Cuba, they end up in a "camp" in Florida that is run by a young priest who depends on bullies to keep order in the camp. The boys experience an incredibly scarey time resulting in the older brothers being sent to Colorado. The story is told by Julian. This book offers students a chance to know a little more about Cuba, and the people who immigrated to this country from there. It's a good read.