In the After (455 Pages)

Demitria Lunetta has written her first YA book and it is filled with edge-of-your-seat reading! Amy is by herself, at home, watching TV, when she learns that the world has been attacked by "Them." This is how she refers to the creatures who have killed anyone not protected by electronic fences or some other protection device. Amy's mother works for the government in what sounds like it could be the CIA. As a result she has made sure that their home is safely guarded by the latest protective devices. She believes that her mother and father are dead as both were out of the house, and the creatures feed on living humans (or any other protein they come across.) As days go by, Amy ventures from her home being careful to avoid the creatures. One day, she goes into a grocery store and finds a baby. She scoops her up and takes her home. Baby and Amy live together for several years. Because the creatures are lured by even the slightest sound, the girls develop their own signing language. Baby has become very adept at moving silently and so they are able to get canned food and other supplies without being attacked by the creatures. Eventually, they are picked up by a silent helicopter and brought to a secure "town" known as New Hope. Life there is very safe, yet Amy finds that safety can be a facade and should not be trusted. This is an interesting, fast paced debut novel.

A Bad Boy Can Be Good For A Girl (223 Pages)

This is the first book I've red by Tanya Lee Stone. I often give my books to former students who are trying to build a classroom library. This book I'm going to keep. I want my grand daughters to read it.  And I want to talk to them about all of the messages in it. Three girls who all students at the same high school are all approached by the same boy at different times. The first girl is Josie, and she is a freshman swept away by the idea that a senior football player who is so good looking and popular- that he would be interested in her- seems beyond understanding. But Josie is a special girl because she finally refuses to allow this young man to "nail" her as his buddies call it. She takes everything one step further. She goes to the library and finds Judy Blume's book Forever and at the back of it are 4 blank pages. She writes a warning to other girls who may fall prey to his desires. She never mentions his name, but gives plenty of hints. Not all of the girls follow the same path as Josie, but they all learn valuable lessons about themselves and about choices they may be faced with in the future. This book includes some description of the kids making out- touching, etc. Therefore, I think it may not be a book for a classroom library, but it sure is a book for those of you who are mothers and have daughters who eventually may face some of these "choices." It is an easy read, and is written in free verse poetry.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone (418 Pages)

I've never read anything by Laini Taylor. After this, I may never read anything else by her....I think. This is a long book about characters who never seem real. I guess that is what bothered me most. I am a character driven kind of reader. After about 275 pages, I started talking to Laini. "Where the hell are you going with this story? I feel like you're starting a new story all over again, without resolving the first.!" And that is exactly what she was doing. By the end of the novel, both stories join to make sense of the entire plot. That said, I just can't identify and/or become attached/care for characters that are part human part animal.Some students might enjoy it; I didn't.

Allegiant (526 Pages)

This is the third and final book of the Divergent, Insurgent series. In this book, Veronica Roth has chosen a format of alternating point of view between Tris and Tobias. The story told here includes both Tris and Tobias ( and several others) escaping from Chicago. Wanting freedom from the faction divided society, they end up in a compound outside the fence surrounding the city. Here, they find that people live in comfort, with plenty of food and care. However, they soon discover that the compound is able to monitor everything going on in Chicago. A room with multiple monitors are keeping tabs on the residents of Chicago 24/7. Every person, every faction can be seen and their activities are constantly monitored. The sound is turned down because there are so many monitors, that it would be difficult to hear if they were all on simultaneously. It is here that Tris and Tobias learn that the compound is part of a large government study of genes. Following a Purity War, people are divided into two groups: Genetically Damaged ) GD and those whose genes are pure GP. This future distopian society has been using genetic engineering to modify the citizens making some of them "genetically pure." In order to prevent a war between the factions in Chicago, the big-wigs in the compound decide to use a memory serum on the residents living there. This will erase almost all of their memories. Tris and Tobias are infuriated at this idea, and with some of their friends, they plan a way of preventing this. It is a fast paced read!

See You at Harry's ( 310 Pages)

Katie, a former student, current friend and YA book junkie, like me, suggested this book to me. Aside from the fact that it hit very close to home and left me weak with tears, it is an incredible read. Author Jo Knowles has written a wonderful book that deals with so many of the issues that arise with the unexpected death of a child. What kept me reading is the fact that all of the emotions and "issues" that a young teen experiences are so real. And this is true of her parents and siblings. Then, just about the time they all hit bottom, they begin to surface realizing that it is OK to be happy, it is OK to live life as fully as possible. And I was able to see everything clearly. Time does heal. Your students will love this book (especially girl students- boys may see it as a "chick flick book".

The Broken Universe (384 Pages)

Paul Melko has written a very interesting "what if" science fiction novel.  I love "what if" books! Authors who dream up these think about known facts in the sciences, in things we take for granted in living our lives, and they stretch them. Most people remember Alfred Hitchcok's movie, The Birds, developed from a short story by Dauphne du Maurea which poses the question what would happen if all the birds in the world, tired of seeing their species being caged by humans,  turned against that human race? In this story, Melko asks the question, What if there are duplicate universes out there? He further stretches this question to ask what if humans could visit these twin planets in alternate universes? Although I will admit that I got a little confused as a John Prime and a John Ten and a John Home were introduced ( and every other character has a duplicate as well! ) I eventually just ignored trying to keep them separate, and this helped quite a bit. It does seem that it is ridiculous to assume that there is no other inhabited planet "out there." The young men and women in this novel are in early years of college. They are in the process of starting a new business. They are bright and most of them are caring individuals. There are many "bad guys" in this book and the young people must deal with them. The book moves fairly quickly, and I found it to be fascinating in the scientific information the book reveals. Boys, in particular, should find this book a good read.

Tell the Wolves I'm Home ( 355 Pags)

This is Carol Rifka Brunt's debut novel, which explains why I've never read anything of hers! It is an interesting look at several subjects, which at one point were taboo, but have become accepted today! A young girl is unaware that her godfather, uncle Finn, is gay and has developed A.I.D.S. June is in middle school and early high school during the course of the book. Her character changes as she becomes less naive and more independent. After her uncle's death, she secretly meets and becomes friends with his lover, Tony. Her mother and father know nothing about this. Unbeknownst to both June and Tony, Finn has asked both of them to care for the other. And they do, right up until June brings Tony to her home where he dies. There are all kinds of opportunities for discussion after this book has been read. Is it ever OK to keep secrets from your parents? Why do some people feel jealousy and the need to compete in family relationships? If this book is read by students, it's important for them to realize that time has changed attitudes and fears about AIDS.

If I Ever Get Out of Here ( 356 Pages )

Eric Gansworth has written many books for adults, but this is his first Young Adult book. It is a story that examines families and their values, rich vs poor, the haves vs have nots, bullying, and friendship. It is the story of a Native American, Lewis Blake, and his life on the Tuscarora reservation in upstate New York. This Gansworth knows well, as it is where he grew up. Lewis, who has never had a friend, meets George Haddenfield, an army brat, who befriends him. Lewis is unsure of how much about himself he can safely expose. So these two friends discover how different they may be on the outside, and how alike they may be on the inside. This is a very different story from Sherman Alexie's novel, The Absolutely True Story of a Part Time Indian, yet it paints a picture that is true to middle school and all of its peculiarities, a story that instructs the reader about life on a reservation, and a story that raises the question about when is it OK to lie. All of this is woven around Paul McCartney and The Beatles as well as Paul McCartney and Wings. I enjoyed this book immensely.

Russian Roulette, The story of an assasin (372 Pages)

This is the final Alex Rider book in the series by Anthony Horowitz. I've read most of them and really liked most of them. Even while realizing that there is no way a fourteen year old could become an working part of the British MI6, each book is gripping and the reader can't help but "root" for Alex, as he develops his espionage skills. So here comes the last book and it focuses, not on Alex, but on Yassen Gregorovich. a trained assasin and the mortal enemy of Alex. They may be mortal enemies, however, as the reader begins to realize, these two are mirror images of one another. This brings the reader to the question, "When a child experiences dramatic loss of lives in his family, what makes him decide to accept the path of good or evil?" The only thing I'd add to this text is that the reader should first read Stormbreaker, the first book in the Alex Rider series. This is a great example of circular organization, and I wonder if Horowitz had this in mind as he built the series.....hmmm.

Rose Under Fire ( 346+ Pages)

For those people who read Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, you will know that she writes for older Young Adults, or at least for those students with excellent comprehension skills. Her newest book, Rose under Fire, like Code Name Verity, is also based on World War II and it is a nail-biting, action packed, novel that deals with the grim facts of the Nazi regime. I strongly recommend that students read the 4 extra pages before the Acknowledgements at the end of the book. This is the part that explains what is true and what is not. Wein has attempted to do what those prisoners screamed while walking to the gas chambers as well as those survivors, "Tell the world!" How important it is for our students to know what happens when a people believe that they are a pure race and others are not even human! This book is a must read for students studying WW II. It is grim. It is a story of friendships and family and gutsy behavior laced with hope and humor.  It is a story of refusal to give up, and what that necessarily entails. It is laces with poetry, and I definitely would add this to the growing list of new novels about WW II for young adults. And, there is not a single Jewish character in the book, yet another reason for reading it.

Code of Silence ( 333 Pages +)

When is it OK to lie? In this book, Tim Shoemacker presents the reader  with this question and tests it via multiple scenarios. Cooper, Gordy and Hiro have been friends for years. Gordy and Cooper are cousins, and Hiro is a friend to both of them. She is a young lady who wants to be a member of the police force in her town. This is the same police force that her dad belonged to before he was killed. But the one place in this book that becomes an integral part of the book is a local diner called Frank 'n Steins. Frank is one of the owners. He loves kids and knows everyone by name. This is the place the kids come for incredible milk shakes and fries. It is the dream place for many teens who just want a place to hang out. One night, while the three teens (eighth graders) were there, and Frank was cleaning up the place as they finished their shakes and fries,  people wearing masks came in, beat up Frank. The three kids hid as they witnessed the horror taking place. They saw Frank bloodied and beaten down on the floor. They heard the robbers discussing going upstairs to open the safe where Frank kept his money. He didn't believe in banks. While the robbers were upstairs breaking into the safe, the three kids got out grabbing the keys sticking in the door and the hard drive that kept track of everyone entering the building, the hard drive that had the three teens' faces on it. Cooper tries to catch up on his bike with Hiro and Gordy who are racing away on their bikes. He falls, avoiding a car coming out of Dunkin' Doughnuts and knows that at least one of the robbers has spotted him. The teens meet up and Cooper pressures the other two to agree to a Code of Silence which in turn leads to lies necessary to be told in order to keep their secret. This book is one that opens up the question of when is it necessary/OK to lie? When is it important to trust adults to protect teens and do the right thing? At the end of the book there are author's notes as well as a page of 10 questions for readers to consider. It looks as though there may be a follow-up to this book called Back Before Dark.

What We Saw At Night (243 Pages)

Jacquelyn Mitchard has entered the world of YA literature! Remember her book The Deep End of the Ocean? It was a grabber (and gripper!). In this book, she creates a world for three teens who have an unusual disease: Xeroderma Pigmentosum. This disease is difficult to deal with as it is a severe allergy to the sun!. People with it can die if exposed to sunlight. Kids are schooled online, and all of the usual day time activities must be accomplished at night.  High school students Allie, Rob, and Juliet form a bond while dealing with the disease. Juliet is definitely a "free spirit" who wants to live each day (night) as though it was her last. She becomes adept at Parkour, a sport/stunt of leaping from tall buildings. The other two teens join her in learning this "sport." It's dangerous if performed during the day, but even more so when performed at night! During the reading of this book, the reader is introduced to some potentially evil adults, and real plot twists. Both boys and girls will enjoy this read and may even want to do some research on both the disease and the "sport".

Crown of Midnight (418 Pages)

This is the second book in this series by Sarah Maas. The first, Throne of Glass, has been deemed Best Book by Kirkus Review, Amazon, YALSA, and an MTV Hollywood Crush Best YA Novel Nominee. And this book is just as good as the first one. Assassin Celaena continues her job working for the evil king in order to claim her freedom. Her relationship with Chaol becomes romantic and her relationship with the crown prince changes to one of friendship. Readers discover that she has not carried out killing for the king, rather brings back proof of kills from bodies that have died as a result of illness while giving the accused a chance to leave the area. In spite of the 418 pages, the book is a fast read and Maas does an excellent job of moving the reader from scene to scene. The absolutely worse thing about this read, is that it's over, and now I need to wait until next summer for the next book in the series. UGH!

The Moon and More ( 435 Pages)

This is another winner from Sarah Dessen. Emaline and Luke had been "going together" for all of high school. They live in a small beach town where Emaline's family owned an upscale beach house rental business. She worked there for much of her free time, as did her sister. Emaline lives with her mother, her sisters and her step father whom she adores. Her father has been absent for years, shortly after Emaline's mother became pregnant in high school.  Enter Theo, a slick New Yorker working for a well known documentary producer. AND, enter Emaline's father and young step brother who she has never met.  Emaline and her step brother become fast friends as her relationship with Luke is tested with Theo putting on a full court press to snag her. Theo knows how to provide romantic events and Emaline becomes smitten by his attention. Girls who have read other books by Sarah Dessen will enjoy this one as well. Even if a girl has never read a Dessen book, she will enjoy reading this one.

Lost Boy, Lost Girl (158 Pages)

I'd know about this book for some time as my friend, Bryan told me about it. However, I didn't get to read it until he loaned it to me at the end of our summer writing project work. Thanks, Bry! In this short memoir, and told in alternating chapters, John Bul Dau and Martha Arual Akech tell the story of the years of their lost childhood as they tried to stay alive during the civil war in Sudan. As awful as the details are, they are also fascinating. The details of just how these two stayed alive, are remarkable. I kept thinking of today's youngsters who complain about having to walk a block! The lost children walked from one country to another Sudan to Ethiopia, eventually ending up in Kenya. John and Martha met while both were in a neighboring refugee camp. The boys and girls were separated, but during one of the "dances" in the boys' camp the lost girls were invited and John and Martha met. He was immediately interested in her, but both followed the Dinka ways, and as a result their relationship took many years to result in their eventual marriage. With the help of the UN, Martha and her little sister managed to arrive in the United States where they settled with an American family in Seattle, Washington. Eventually, John made it to the U.S. as well. In addition to the incredible accounting of their survival, I was fascinated with the Sudanese "communication web" which allowed family members to find one another. This book is a wonderful, short read. It is an important eye-opener for our American children to learn about children struggling to stay alive.

Crow (291 Pages)

Barbara Wright has written a novel that combines fictional characters with real historical events. The book takes place in the late 1800's in Wilmington, North Carolina. The main character, Moses Thomas and his family are facing the  progress and the promise of the Emancipation Proclamation. His father, a newspaper reporter has been elected as an alderman to the town's governing body. Moses experiences fun and games amid constant racial prejudice. His grandmother was a slave and she is constantly using her superstitions and homemade medicines. Moses straddles the line between wanting to treat her with respect while at the same time unwilling to go along with her superstitious ideas. Moses becomes a witness to the Wilmington Race Riot that changed his life. Both boys and girls will enjoy this book, and I hope they will read the notes at the end of the book. These notes explain the many parts of the book that are true as well as people who were really part of the story. The idea of using an historical event(s) and writing a narrative adding made up characters strikes me as a wonderful social studies/ language arts collaborative unit!

Prisoner B-3087 (260 Pages)

This book is written by Alan Gratz and is based on the true story by Ruth and Jack Gruener. Like many books, this book, while based on Jack Gruener's story, is fictionalized by the author. It tells of a Jewish family living in Poland during the beginning of World War II. The story follows the main character, Yanek Gruener, who lives in Poland with his family and is able to survive in the walled off city even when his life is turned upside down. Like many Jewish families, Jack's father underestimated the Nazi behavior, thinking it would not be so bad. His mother and father were taken off to a concentration camp, and he never saw them again. He hid for a while, but eventually the Nazi organization found him and he was sent to a concentration camp- only to be transferred to 9 more camps until being freed by the Americans after surviving five years of horrible existence. The book is not dissimilar to Elie Weizels's Night with many of the same themes. By the way, Ruth and Jack live in Brooklyn, New York and are willing to come to schools and speak to children about the Holocaust.

Ashes( 465 Pages )

Ilsa J. Bick, the author of this book has written some of the most gruesome prose I've ever read. This is the first book of what will become a trilogy, and I almost didn't make it through. Because it was so full of violence, it was difficult to continue.  Alex is a young high school girl who's parents were both killed in an airplane accident. Both of her parents were doctors, and were on their way to a rescue mission. After her parents deaths, Alex was living with her aunt when she was diagnosed with a brain  tumor. Chemo and other treatments didn't seem to be helping, so one day she decides to take her parents ashes to Lake Superior and let them loose in the waters. But she doesn't make it because on her way there is some sort of attack on the U.S. that involves nuclear eruptions, among other horrible events. Both coasts are pretty much wiped out, but all of a sudden, Alex realizes that her senses that were gone, as a result of the chemo, had returned. But when the "ZAP" (her name for the attack) hit, many people dropped dead on the spot. Others were changed and became animal-like in their behaviors. A boy and girl who Alex had seen earlier have begun to eat the people in the camping area near Alex's camp spot.Although there are some tender moments in the book as she meets a young man who helps her, and there are twists and turns to the plot, it's just about as violent as a book can be. I may give book two a look over, but it it follows the same path as Ashes, I won't read all of it and won't buy Book #3! We'll see.

The Wall ( 288 Pages)

William Sutcliffe has written a book that will keep the reader thinking long after the book has been completed. I read the inside cover to my daughter and she said,"Gee it could have been about the Berlin Wall." My response was,"Yes, or the USA-Mexican border!" What is it about walls that make people feel safer? What is it about isolation that keeps people from understanding others? In this book, Sutcliffe has placed the setting in a reality closely mirroring Israel's West Bank. The book is tense, and surreal, while at the same time being completely plausible. It is not fantasy! Josh could easily be a young boy any where today. He is with a friend who is a bit of a duffus and who "accidentally" kicks Josh's new, leather soccer ball over "The Wall." And so the story begins. This is such an important read. One that is so in need of discussion. I can easily see it as a whole class read where a smart teacher guides discussion to the point of students questioning "the enemy". Who decides this? Is it important to maintain enemy status? Why? Get this book into your classroom ASAP!

The Tragedy Paper (304 Pges)

Elizabeth Laban has written an amazing book on so many levels! It has two voices speaking to the reader. One of the two belongs to Tim, an albino student, at a prestigious eastern prep school. His albinism is important and as the reader takes in the text, s/he learns why a complete lack of pigment could be a problem for an adolescent. I had no idea that eye problems could develop as a result of being an albino. I was not surprised that Tim felt uncomfortable with himself and they way people reacted to him. The second voice belongs to Duncan, who is a year younger than Tim, and who "inherited" Tim's room for his senior year. It is a tradition that each year graduating seniors leave a "treasure" for the student who will be the next to live in his room. These treasures vary from a bottle of booze to a dinner at a local restaurant and some that are just plain silly. Duncan enters his room to discover that Tim has left him a stack of CD's to listen to, in which he learns all the facts leading up to the tradition of the senior stunt. The story weaves in romance, mystery, and the pressure of the senior paper. This paper's theme is (and has been for years) Tragedy. Students have read various Shakespearean tragedies, and have discussed the various qualifications for a tragedy to be called such. Throw in a slightly obnoxious senior boy who takes on the organization of the senior stunt. How this turns into a night of horror, is the culmination of this remarkable book.

Throne of Glass (404 Pages)

Sarah Maas has won an award for this book, although I can't remember the name of the award! However, it is well deserved. Throne of Glass is a fantasy read, but is written with such precision to detail, that this reader forgot it was a fantasy! The Throne of Glass tells the story of an unforgettable heroine, Celaene. She is known to be the most famous and most successful assassin on the island. The vicious king of the glass throne kingdom, catches her and puts her in the prison salt mines for life. She is not expected to live for a long time as the guards there are ferocious! However, the king feels he needs a champion (a person who will do as told, obviously to include killing for the king) The Captain of the Guards and the Crown Prince are given the job of finding 23 possible contenders for the job. One of these turns out to be Celaena. The contenders are forced into a competition of elimination, and the winner will be the king's champion. What happens throughout the book is spellbinding, and deserves the quote from USA Today saying that this book is "a must-read."

The 5th Wave ( 457 Pages)

Rick Yancey is the author of this new view of America/Earth in the future. This is a book that I would place in the "What If?" genre. If you aren't familiar with that genre of literature, I think I may have made it up. Anyway, there are many books that fall into this category, and this one is a goody! What if earth was being monitored by beings on a different planet in a different solar system for thousands of years. These beings are much more advanced than our species, and at some point they decide that the "need earth." So they appear in the 1st wave. But they don't look any different than we do. They come in human form and many are able to enter bodies of humans without their even realizing this has happened. They book centers around a family called the Sullivans. They consist of a mother, father, daughter (Cassie) and son (Sammy).  The kids become the main characters, and it is their attempt to survive  and understand all of the very strange events that carries the book from beginning to end. Boy, I didn't want this book to end.

Period. 8 (276 Pages)

I will always buy anything written by Chris Crutcher. I have never read anything he has written that I didn't love. Huythanh, if you are reading this blog, this is a book you and Robert would adore! Chris Crutcher is a a family therapist and a child protection specialist as is stated in the back jacket of this book. He knows kids. He know adolescents, and his writing rings true. All of his novels involve some sort of sport- sometimes more than one sport at  time! In this story Paulie Baum is a high school senior and a swimmer.  He is one of group of 8-10 kids who participate in Period 8, with science and government teacher Bruce Logsdon. During period 8 (which is when kids eat their lunch) the kids are there voluntarily and they are allowed to discuss anything they want to discuss. The only rule is that nothing is allowed to leave the room. It is a "safe place." Only it isn't, and it's not because  of Paulie or "Logs" or Paulie's girl friend, Hannah! I could not put this book down. It's a fast read, it's terribly exciting, and boys will love it (girls too ;-) )

Three Times Lucky (312 Pages)

This is the first book I've read by author Sheila Turnage. It is probably best as a read aloud for 5/6/7 grades. I'm not sure if they will get all of the humor, and it is one of the funniest books I've read in a long time! Mo (short for Moses) is a little girl whose mother gave birth to her during a hurricane and as the water was rising attempted to save her life by wrapping her in a blanket at putting her on a billboard that was floating downstream. She was found by a man known only as Colonel who with Miss Lana took her in as their own. Tupelo Landing in North Carolina is the setting for this book and the accents of the various characters is as thick as Southern grits! Mo spends much of the book writing a journal to her "Upstream Mother." She sends notes in bottles to her and members of the community help by taking the bottles with them when they are leaving the Landing for other parts. Mo's best friend, Dale is also a great character. He's the smallest boy in the 6th grade, hates math, and will do almost anything for Mo. Between Mo, Dale, the Colonel and Miss Lana, activities in this book are non-stop. It's a great story of what the word "family" really means, and what it means to be a friend.

Two or Three Things I Forgot to Tell You (276 Pages)

Here is another Joyce Carol Oates YA novel. For those who haven't read any of her other books, you may want to add some of them to your classroom libraries. Big Mouth and Ugly Girl was one of my favorites. In this book, Oates focuses on a high school senior, a girl who seems to have everything going for her : top student, early admission to Brown, part of "the in crowd," etc.  Then one of her best friends commits suicide, and everything begins to unravel. Marissa begins cutting. The thing I like about this book is that the reader begins to see the psychological twisting that seems to go along with cutting. Her behavior is a red flag, one that should be noticed and dealt with by her friends, family and teachers! Maybe some of our current students might learn from reading this and act to help a friend. The impact of their friend's suicide impacts all of the girls in the group. And as often happens in schools, rumors fly, then the rumors turn into cyber bullying, and everything is magnified. Some of the themes include friendship and standing up for what is right. I'm sure there are more because Oates is such a great story teller.

Strange Bedfellows (222Pages)

Yet another professional book, and this one makes me wish I was still in a classroom. Carol Rawlings Miller has put together literary pairs that would never jump into the readers mind as a pair to be read and discussed/ written.  I attended a workshop given by one of Robert Marzanos associates.  In it we were told that comparing(showing likenesses) and /or contrasting (showing differences) makes the biggest difference in student comprehension. Rawlings has done the work for you!  This allows teachers to offer reading/ writing/ and discussion across the genres. So, if I ruled the world and could do my own thing in my classroom, I'd do one or more of these lessons with my students, and then I'd Xerox a lesson and keep it in a folder for a sub to use should I be absent. It's all there, folks: reading/ questions/ discussion/ writing. Order this book from Heinemann, give it a try, and let me know how it goes!

Essential Questions (110Pages)

This professional book by Mctighe & Wiggins (of Understanding by Design fame) I'm entering this book for two main reason: 1) It is filled with GREAT ideas for all curriculum departments, and 2) I believe the weakest area for most teachers is their inability to ask quality questions. As a matter of fact, many of the questions asked are low level thinking questions. This book is designed to be used by math, science, history, music, art teachers. Think seriously about getting this book for yourself, or at the very least ask your librarian to get one for faculty use. Not only do these authors point out what an essential question it, they also point out what one is not! Here is an example they give of an essential question: How do the arts shape, as well as reflect, a culture? Here is a question that is not essential: What common artistic symbols were used by the Incas and the Mayans? They go into detail explaining the difference between overarching vs topical essential questions. Believe me, whatever you teach, at whatever level, this book will be an asset to you.

True Colors (242 Pages)

This is the first book I've read by author, Natalie Kinsey-Warnock and it was delightful. I will say right off, that I don't think it's a book that will be enjoyed by boys. However, it's a perfect middle school book and girls will adore it. The story is about Blue, a young girl who as a newborn baby was left on the porch in Hannah's copper kettle, the kettle where Hannah planted her marigolds. Taking place in Vermont and beginning on the very day that the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, True Colors captures the life of a rural Vermont town. The reader learns about all of the citizens of this small town, most of them are older, but there are a few younger people. There is a one room school house, and a paper that is issued once a week and includes all of the "local gossip"! Blue spends much of her time trying to find up who her mother is, where she has gone, and why she left Blue with Hannah, who is old enough to be her grandmother. The mystery is finally solved, and even I did not imagine the ending! Good read!

ELEANOR & PARK ( 325 Pages)

The author of this novel has a wonderful name! Rainbow Rowell. What a colorful and hopeful name! This is a story of  first love. It is tender; it is sexy, it is about a family that is incredibly dysfunctional. Eleanor is the eldest child in the family, with two younger brothers and two younger sisters. Her stepfather is an alcoholic who is abusive to both Eleanor and her mother. The younger children live in fear of him, and have learned to cry silently whenever they hear this man screaming at their mother. Forced out of the house for a year, Eleanor returns to find the family living in a house much too small for a family of more than two. She shares a bedroom with all of the other children. She sneaks a bath before her stepfather gets home, because there is no door on the bathroom. She copes with the situation just barely. Then Eleanor meets Park while sitting next to him in the only available seat on the school bus. Their relationship progresses very, very slowly during the rides to and from school.  Oh, I didn't want this book to end, but I couldn't stop reading it. Your students will go crazy for this, so you'd better get more than one copy!

BOMB ((241 Pages + notes)

Here is a non-fiction book that will intrigue teens who are interested in information about war and warfare. It is a National Book Award Finalist written by Steve Sheinkin. The words in the last paragraph of the jacket say it all: "This is the story of the plotting, the risk-taking, the deceit, and genius that created the world's most formidable weapon. This is the story of the atomic bomb."All of the famous people connected in the top secret Manhattan Project before, during, and after the atom bomb was developed. Boys tend to enjoy non fiction books, and this would be a great read for those fans.

Cherub: Mission 3 Maximum Security (297 Pages)

Well, there is NO WAY that this book could possibly be as good as the first two. Third books in a series rarely are. So, I decided this would be my bedtime reading for a few nights. Well, Mr. Muchamore-I finished your third book in two nights. Thanks. Much less sleep than I had hoped for because not only did I finish the book, I was absolutely "wired" after reading it! This book has the USA as its setting: Arizona to be specific. Arizona is HOT, and James and his Cherub partner for this mission, Dave, suffered in the heat of a Maximum  Security prison for teens. They were posted there to befriend a boy whose mother was a known arms dealer. The agents of the U.S. and England had not been able to find her as she had been very good at covering her surroundings, phones, and goons who carried out most of her dastardly deeds! It will keep boys at the edge of their seats. And I'm happy to report that there will be a book #4! Do I sound addicted? I am.

Dear Life, You Suck (306 Pages)

I recently purchased this book for two reasons, 1) It got a really good write up in the Wall St Journal, and 2) The young girl in the book store who is the resident YA expert highly recommended it. Two good reasons, and I did enjoy it, however, I got a little tired of the swearing coming from Cricket's mouth. Perhaps it's because it brought back memories of my own youngest teenager's foul mouth for way too long. Cricket Cherpin has had a lousy life, and I can well imagine that he has more than enough to swear about.  His mother and father were horrible people who never should have had a child. His father, a drug dealer once took his young son on a drug deal. The deal turned sour and the customers kept telling the father to turn over the drugs and the money. Te father refused. Now every time he took Cricket on a drug run, he had him put the drugs in his socks and pants. When the druggies couldn't get what they wanted, one of them took a knife and sliced Cricket's face. His comment when explaining this towards the end of the book was, "He chose drugs over me." Author Scott Bladgen has crafted a character who is complicated for many reasons. Cricket is one angry, young man. Always in trouble, yet the reader is cheering for him. Much of the trouble he gets into, is understandable as he can no longer "turn the other cheek." If you can get past the swearing, this is a wonderful coming of age book.

Cherub: Mission Two- The Dealer (300 Pages)

In this second book of the Cherub trilogy, author Robert Muchamore places the crew of James, Kyle, Kerry and all posing as a family unit with Ewart and Zara acting as parents. The family's "mission" is to infiltrate a drug lord and give MI5 the evidence needed to put him and his cohorts out of business. This is an incredible, fast paced, exciting read. Middle school kids will eat it up. I'm off to buy Book three tomorrow!

The Fire Horse Girl (321 Pages + notes)

Maybe it's because we live on the East Coast, but I just never think of immigrants arriving on the West Coast! How ridiculously biased and self centered can I be? Fortunately, Kay Honeyman has written a book that not only educated me, but also entertained me. Angel Island on the West Coast of America corresponds to the East Coast's Ellis Island. This becomes the setting as the reader is first introduced to Jade Mood, a young girl who had the misfortune of being born in the year of the Fire Horse.  People in her family and village know her as the girl who always causes trouble. She can't wait to escape to America,the land of her dreams of freedom and self improvement possibilities. One day Sterling Promise (isn't that a name and a half?) arrives and convinces her father to join him on a trip to America with his daughter whom Sterling will marry. From the moment of her arrival at Angel Island, Jade Moon's dreams are dashed, and she has to take her life into her own hands. With the help of a friend, she wraps her breasts, steals Sterling's clothes and papers, and dressed as a man embarks on becoming an American. Wow, the trouble she encounters is scarey, yet full of hope. This is a great story of a coming of age book centered on a feisty girl.

I Swear (279 Pages)

In his first published YA book, author/actor Lane Davis has written a book that virtually any person who has attended or is attending high school (or middle school) will be able to identify with.  It is, unfortunately, all too familiar to me, to the point that I could identify with the characters who were identical to people I knew when I was in school. Macie, one of the main characters, is that girl who needs to be the center of attention, and the controller of those people around her. She controls their thoughts, their actions, and their social lives. Her minions feel threatened by her, however, at the same time, relish any positive attention she deems to bestow upon them. It takes real guts to stand up for what is right when people are against you. In this book there is Macie's group who turn against one girl (Leslie) and they continue to bully her which results in her committing suicide. Once one of the girls becomes fed up with Macie's power trip, others follow. Who is first? And, what happened to push her into doing "the right thing"?

Cherub Book 1: The Recruit (338Pages +4)

Well, here is another series from Great Britain! Those of you who know me, know how much I love Brit authors! Robert Muchamore has written a book of fiction that rings so true, that the reader is sitting on the edge of his/her seat. The premise is that adults never realize that children are listening. CHERUB is an organization formed just after World War II. During that war, children in France were used to gather information from Germans occupying their country. A British spy Charles Henderson, thought the idea was so good that he returned to England and set up this secret organization called CHERUB. The first book centers on James, a basically good kid, who always is at the wrong place at the wrong time and constantly getting in trouble. He is recruited as a potential spy working for CHERUB- IF he passes the tests. James is brilliant, but has never been challenged to show his potential. Boys will especially like this book. I'm off to read #2 now;-)

The Final Four (244 Pages)

What a great time to read this book! As March Madness grips this country for all of the basketball enthusiasts, Paul Volponi's latest book fits the bill. What has happened to me as I've become a YA addict, is that I've developed "favorite" authors. These are the authors for whom I buy their texts as soon as I see a new one surface. So it is with Paul Volponi. The Final Four presents the reader with the excitement of the final four college basketball games and the tension that accompanies each game. There are four major characters we are introduced to as team members of the two battling college teams. One of the teams is Michigan State (the Spartans) while the other team is The Trojans of Troy, Alabama. Volponi gives us the background of these four students, and I found myself rooting for several of them. At the same time, I was a little turned off by one particular student whose attitude of bravado was over the top, as far as I was concerned. Accompanying each chapter is a quote from a famous basketball player or coach.Volponi has written a wonderful book that will be adored by boys, but that also raises some interesting questions about the role of the NCAA!

The White Bicycle (187 Pages + Author Notes)

This is the third book in Beverly Brenna's series.  The first title, Wild Orchid, and the second title Waiting for No One, are also about a girl named Taylor. I found this book interesting because it deals with a young girl coping with Asperger's Syndrome, a condition predominated by boys. This title won the Printz Award Honor Book and in it, Taylor believes she has gotten a job in Southern France caring for Martin Phoenix, a young boy with Cerebral Palsy. She believes she will make money, andwill also be able to use this job on her resume as proof of her independence. In fact, the job has been arranged by Taylor's mother and her new boyfriend, Alan Phoenix. Martin's older brother, Luke, is in on the scam and believes both Alan and her mother should have told Taylor the truth. They concocted the story because her mother felt Taylor, who at this point is 19 years old, would never agree to go to France with her. Taylor's mother is very protective of her daughter to the point of being over-bearing. So this becomes a story about  the importance of "letting go" in addition to the idea of a girl with Asberger's Syndrome. I was quite impressed with Brenna's ability to develop Taylor's voice, which is clearly her own not only in tone, but also in the Asberger's way of expression.

Shadow Lands (328 Pages)

Here comes a new Trilogy! Kate Brian has written an eerie novel about a family of three: Rory Miller, her sister- Darcy, and their Dad. A substitute teacher in their high school is known to the kids as Steven Nell. He teaches Math, and appears to be a good teacher and very nice. However, he isn't nice, and in fact is known to the FBI as Roger Krauss. The FBI is called in after Rory is almost attacked by Nell/ Krauss while cutting through a wooded area on her way home. The FBI informs her and her family that he has attacked and killed 14 young girls, and escaped being caught every time. Rory was to be #15! They insist that Rory, her sister, and her father go into the witness protection program. They do so, much to Darcy's chagrin. But Nell finds them. What happens next is really terrifying! This is a read both boys and girls will enjoy.

Out of the Easy (346 Pages)

Those of you who enjoyed Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys may enjoy her latest book. "The Easy" mentioned in the title is, of course, New Orleans. The book is set here in the 1950's, and New Orleans is a wild and wicked place. Josie Moraine is a delightful 17 year old, who has a mother that should never have been allowed to bear a child. Josie's mother is a prostitute, but that isn't what makes her so terrible. She is absolutely amoral to the point of stealing from her daughter! Josie has lived by herself in the back upstairs of a book shop since she was very young. She leaves every morning to go clean the brothel, run by a madam (Willie) who actually looks out for her and is more of a mother than her own could ever be. One morning, Josie finds something under her mother's bed, and although she usually reports and brings anything she finds to Willie, this time she doesn't. The reason why involves the mob, the police, and her decision. This is a mystery, and it is about the decisions we make, and the decisions we don't make. AND, despite the setting- there is NO sex in the book! I always have told my students that the decisions you make to do something,  and the decisions you make not to do something, both effect your life!

Personal Effects (341 Pages)

E.M. Kokie has written his first novel that covers the relationships in a very complicated family. Matt Foster had always looked up to his older brother, T. J who was killed in the Iran war. There are many flashbacks Matt experiences as he tries to maintain memories of his brother. However, Matt's father never allowed the kids to mourn (or see him mourn) their mother's death, and within days of the father and son hearing of T.J's death, his father has removed every picture of T.J. from the walls and shelves of their house, including a bag of his personal items and the American flag from his coffin. Matt searches and searches for all of this, but Matt's dad threatens him to leave everything alone. In the meantime, Matt is involved in a very violent fight at school when one of his classmates comes to school with a Tee shirt stating to bring the soldiers home...but not in boxes, and then the listing of all local soldiers' names, including T.J. Matt gets suspended from school for a week.  Then one day, the army comes once again to the house with three foot lockers of T.J's personal effects. His father instructs them to put the boxes in T.J's old bedroom. Matt is determined to look through them before they too disappear. While his father is at work, Matt opens the 3 foot lockers and discovers a bag of letters. He closes everything up, makes sure the room appears totally undisturbed, and goes downstairs to his bedroom where he reads and rereads the letters. Then he makes a decision to secretly take a trip to see the woman that wrote so many letters to T.J. And that trip and what Matt discovers turns the entire book around. This is a very special read.

If We Survive (339 Pages + 1 1/2 paged readers' guide)

Andrew Klavan has written one of the most exciting reads I've encountered in a VERY long time.  This is a book that boys will inhale, but girls will enjoy as well. (You know the silliness fact that boys will only pick "boy" books, but girls will read anything!) The main character of the book is Will Peterson, a 16 year old who is sick and tired of his parents arguing, and he doesn't want to guess anymore about whether or not they're going to divorce. He is the narrator of the story. So Will joins up with a small group from his church, Pastor Ron, and a college girl, Meredith, who sometimes attends the church's services (and on whom Will has an incredible crush). Also in his group is another boy, Jim, who is pretty much a pompous ass, until the end of the book. The other high school member is a girl, Nicki, who is so into herself and all of the trappings of the American easy way of life, that she drives the reader crazy- in a funny kind of way. Finally there is the ex-Marine, Palmer Dunn. He flies the group into the area, and returns to pick them up and fly them home. So the five members of the church group head down to Central America with the intention of building a wall at a school that is in terrible shape. This they accomplish and are sitting in a cantina, drinking cokes, and waiting for Palmer to arrive and pick them up. And then all hell breaks loose. A very mean man named Mendoza, slams open the door, steps inside the cantina, and uses his machine gun to kill one of the waiters. He is followed by 4 rebels, dressed in jungle-green fatigues, with red bandannas around their necks, and all carrying AK 47s strapped across their chests. And all of this happens in the first 32 pages of the book. AND it doesn't slow down after that!

Aristotle and Dante (359 Pages)

Benjamin Alire Saenz has written a truly wonderful book for boys, about boys, that boys will enjoy reading- and should read. Girls will enjoy it, and they should read it too. Here are two high school guys who are so different in so many ways and so alike at the same time. Aristotle is a Latino loner. Dante is the Caucasian son of an English professor, but also of Mexican heritage. Ari is the youngest child in his family which consists of twin sisters that are much older and a brother in prison who is a little younger than his sisters. He considers himself an only child. Dante has a wonderful sense of humor. One day while "force cleaning" his room, he gives Ari a book of poems by William Carlos Williams and insists that Ari read it. Against his better judgement, Ari does read it, and he then makes a mental comment to the reader, comparing people and poems. "Some people you got right off the bat. Some people you just didn't get- and never would get."(page 29) Two boys, both learning about themselves and each other. Both boys on the journey to becoming men.This is a story about young guys discovering their sexual identities. Although they come to realize that they are gay, there is no sex in the book. It is incredibly well written!

Endangered (250 Pages + 11 Pages of interest)

Eliot Schrefer's writing about the endangered Bonobos of the Congo is written with passion, caring, and fascinating facts! He has weaved a story embracing facts with fiction. The facts about the bonobos are absolutely true. He has admitted to fictionalizing the descriptions of the war in Congo, although much of this is true as well. The title is interesting because not only does the reader realize that the bonobo is endangered, but also feels that the main character, Sophie, is also endangered! It would be an understatement for me to say anything positive about her mother, although in spite of everything, Sophie loves her. I will go no farther on that! You must decide for yourself. I must say that in the denouement of the book, I cried. And although it seemed ridiculous to me, and I kept saying, "It's an ape, Lynn!" I still found it INCREDIBLY touching! This book will be enjoyed by both boys and girls, I believe.

Out of Nowhere (337 Pages)

I just finished reading Maria Padian's wonderful new book. WOW! It's a great read, and I learned so much that I didn't know. I learned right along with Tom Bouchard, the main character. Tom is a terrific high school senior. He's third in his class, academically, he's captain of the soccer team, and he's dating a good looking but stupid girl who is as dumb as a doorknob, and totally self centered. So, two out of three aren't so bad. The story centers around the soccer team and and a small group of Somali refugees who are suddenly students at Tom's school. The school is located in a small town in Maine, and there is some tension in town about the onslaught of Somali families who have suddenly arrived in town.  One of these is a young man named Saeed, the most remarkable soccer player the school has ever had. His joining the soccer team gives the team its first winning season. But in the midst of all of this, Tom's best friend, Donny, convinces Tom to do a prank on the rival school. Tom knows better, but goes along with Donny. He gets in real trouble and with the help of his coach and his principal, is saved except for needing to repaint the rock that was the center of the prank. He also needs to serve 100 hours of community service. This is a story with SO many "lessons" that it makes every middle and high school kid want to read it and talk about it.

Why We Broke Up (354 Pages)

Your kids will like this book. It has a similar layout to The Absolutely True Story of a Part Time Indian.  There are many wonderful pastel drawings throughout the book. Min has filled a box with various reminders of her relationship with Ed. The book is written as a huge letter from Min to Ed, and as the reader progresses through the book Min takes us on the journey of her time spent "going out" with Ed. We are told of the movie theater, the Halloween party, the football game.And each special content in the box, allows her to relate something about their relationship to Ed and simultaneously to the reader. The drawings are wonderful, and add to our understanding of both Min and Ed. Enjoy!

Same Sun Here (297 Pages)

Silas House and Neela Vaswani are the two authors of this delightful book. Each author becomes the voice of the two main characters in Same Sun Here. The book is current,  and describes real problems the two young teens are facing. They become best friends as a result of a Pen Pal assignment, but when all the others "peeter out,"theirs continues. River is a young man living in Kentucky. Meena is a young lady if Indian decent living in New York City. Both these kids are able through their letters to create a book that explains how poverty, immigration, end environmental problems can affect innocent children.  It is a wonderful read, and how I enjoyed getting to know these two young adults!

Reunited (325 Pages)

Hilary Weisman Graham has written a terrific novel about friends and frienimies.  I know that really isn't a word, but one of my kids made it up about one of her friends with whom she had an on again/off again friendship. One day they were BFFs, and the next they were enemies. Here is a book that is about the relationship of three girls who are best friends in middle school, and then they go separate ways in high school  Their middle school years are spent listening to the band Level 3, and imagining relationships with the boys in the band. Then the band breaks up, and as though it was the glue that cemented the girls' friendship. The book shoots ahead four years, and the girls are about to graduate, when Alice hears that the band is going to have a one time concert. Alice decides that this would be enough to bring the girls together. Alice, Summer, and Tiernan, do get back together (sort of) and commence to take the "Pea Pod," an old VW green bus Alice's parents own and traveled in when they were young. Readers will laugh and sympathize with the results. It is a fun read!

the realm of possibilities (210 Pages)

David Levithan has written a terrific book for YA readers. In the realm of possibilities characters come alive as they seem to represent all of the possible roles, worries, loves, interests, and concerns of high school students today. The book is written in free verse, each poem being the voice of a particular student. There is the voice of the "jock", the voice of the student who is coming out of the closet, but my very favorite "The Patron Saint of Stoners" made me cry. It is a wonderful poem that covers, love, loyalty, and the understanding of a person's character by one teen about another. If this is the only poem you read, I urge you to read it. The poem is on page 127 in my paper back copy. I won't say another word about it, because I don't want to give anything away!

Before I Fall (470 Pages)

Ok, you folks better sit down, because this is going to be my very rare negative review. Lauren Oliver has written several YA books, but this one was just plain weird! First of all, I think the message for YA readers is all wrong. The main character, Samantha, dies in a car accident. Then she dies again and again and again. Each death varies a little, but she wakes up in her bed, in her home, at her school. Her relationship with her friends will probably read as very familiar to today's students, those relationships being positive and some may think as negative. Her relationship with her family will ring likewise. Yes, she does some really good things. Yes, she shows love and caring to her little sister. Yes, she finally comes to her senses about her boyfriend. But I felt that in spite of these things, Sam sort of glorifies death. We have too many kids today who need to know that with suicide people don't mourn forever. They get on with living. Every time a young person dies, as sad as it is, life goes on. Others may read this book differently, and I would love to hear their comments.