How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier

In New Avalon, almost everyone has their own personal fairy to help with one aspect of their life. Charlie has a parking fairy. She’s fourteen, she can’t drive, and she hates cars. Worse, people are always trying to make her go places with them just so they can score a great parking space. Why can’t Charlie have an awesome shopping fairy like her friend, Rochelle, or an all-the-boys-like-you fairy like stuck up Fiorenze, or even a loose change fairy. No fairy at all would be better than the parking fairy. Charlie has had enough. She wants a new fairy, but first she has to get rid of the one she has and she’s willing to take extreme measures to do it. Of course, there’s a boy involved, as well as an enemy who might actually be a friend.

Recommended grade levels: 7-12

Paper Towns by John Green

Quentin Jacobsen is an honor student, a band geek (although he doesn’t actually play an instrument), and an all-around good guy. In fact, he is his parents’ “greatest accomplishment,” and that’s saying something, as they are both highly skilled psychologists. But there is something that Q’s parents don’t know—Q is practically obsessed with his neighbor and friend-from-afar, the awesomely awesome Margo Roth Spiegelman. Margo makes a dramatic reappearance into Q’s life for one exciting night, and then mysteriously disappears. It’s up to Q and his closest friends to decipher the clues and track her down before it’s too late. Along the way, Q learns that Margo is not the girl he thought she was and he learns a few things about himself, as well.

Witty, authentic dialog. Appropriate for high school.

You Know Where to Find Me

This contemporary novel incorporates many social issues such as alternative lifestyles, suicide, depression, obesity, substance abuse, and self-esteem, but yet it does not seem exaggerated.
Laura and Miles are biological cousins but they grow up more like sisters in a wealthy part of Washington, DC.
They are very different superficially: Laura is thin, pretty, popular, smart and rich while Miles is fat, ugly, likes to eat, drink and smoke. Laura has many friends and is accepted to Georgetown. Miles is a year behind in school, and has only one friend. That's why Laura's suicide stuns Miles and she spends time searching for a reason while slowly falling into a deeper hole. Eventually, only her faith in herself and friends she did not realize that cared help her rebuild her life.

Harlem Summer by Walter Dean Myers

Sixteen year old Mark Purvis is an aspiring sax player, who had rather be jamming with his band than finding a summer job, the request of his parents, which prevails. As an assistant at The Crisis, a magazine for the 'New Negro,' Mark rubs shoulders with Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen, and he is invited to a party at Alfred Knopf's place. Mark's making money, but not enough, and when piano player fats Waller entices him and his buddies to make some fast cash, Mark finds himself crossing gangster Dutch Schultz.

The Host by Stephanie Meyer

In The Host, Stephanie Meyer tells the story of Wanderer, a Soul whose race survives by traveling from planet to planet and taking over the bodies of the inhabitants. When the Souls come to Earth, Wanderer is placed in the body of Melanie, who refuses to lose her consciousness. For the first time, Wanderer’s race of Souls seems to be succumbing to the habits and emotions of the race that they are taking over, becoming more human. Told in first person narrative by Wanderer with insertions by Melanie, the story describes a world in which humanity is infectious and the definition of what is right and what is wrong can change.

The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

Fans of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series will not be disappointed as they join freshman Percy Jackson (half human, half Greek god) on his fourth quest. As Camp Half-Blood becomes increasing concerned that Luke will try to enter camp, Annabeth is chosen to go on a quest to find Daedalus’s workshop and prevent Luke from finding Ariandne’s string which will allow a user to navigate through the maze. Annabeth takes Percy, Tyson, and Grover on an action filled quest that will leave fans count the days until May 5, 2009 when the fifth book will be released.

Crutcher, Chris Deadline
Publisher: Greenwillow Date: 2007 ISBN: 978-0-06-085089-0 Price: $16.99 #of pgs: 316 Call number: F Crutcher
Annotation: Ben Wolf has gotten the ultimate punch in the gut. He’s eighteen years old, a senior in high school, when he finds out that he has an incurable blood disease. He orders his doctor not to tell anyone (and because he’s of legal age he gets away with it) and he sets out to have the best year possible.
Ben has his reasons for making the decision not to tell anyone. His mother is bipolar, with nightmarish manic and depressive cycles. Ben has no idea how his mother will react to the news, except it won’t be good. His father has all on his plate that he can handle. Ben also wants to be treated normally – he doesn’t want to be known as the "dying kid." Finally, he wants to do some
things that he would never have had the nerve to do otherwise – such as playing football (at 123 pounds) and seeing how far he can go with Dallas Suzuki.
So Ben plays football with his brother, starts a relationship with Dallas, and continually irritates his government teacher by pointing out how bigoted he is. To Ben, "somehow I knew my chances aren’t about living, they’re about living well" (p. 10) and that’s what he does.
Strength: Theme -- the idea of getting the most out of life. Crutcher's characters are also very appealing.
Weakness: Crutcher does hit a lot of problems in this novel but I think he does it successfully.
Cover Appeal:
The cover has a picture of boy upside down -- appropriate since Ben's life has been turned upside down. It would be appealing for both boys and girls

Morgenroth, Kate ECHO
Publisher: Simon & Schuster 2007 ISBN 1-4169-1438-2 Price: $16.00 #pages:137p Call number: FIC MOR
Annotation: The story begins with a scene (not explicit) in which Justin witnesses his 12-year-old brother inadvertently killing himself. Fast-forward one year, and Justin, guilty, angry, and guided only by a voice in his head, readies himself for school, endures bullying classmates, and suffers a painful encounter with his former girlfriend. Then, during an angry confrontation, he watches his former best friend tumble down the school stairs. The following acts of an unstable mind will surprise most readers and frustrate some.
Strengths: Students who enjoy psychological novels will enjoy this one, which shows one young man's struggle to live a "normal" life, but who's life will never be normal again.
Weaknesses: Justin's situation gives little hope.

Dessen, Sarah Just Listen
Publisher: Viking Date: 2006 ISBN: 0670061050 Price: $18.00 #of pgs: 371 Call number: FIC DES
Annotation: Starting her junior year, Annabel Green is ostracized by her friends because she will not confront her former best friend –mean and vindictive Sophie-- about what happened with Sophie’s boyfriend at a summer party. Annabel does not want to disappoint her mother who is recovering from depression, so she continues to model part-time. She goes along with her family’s cheerful attitude that everything is fine even though there is strife caused by her older sister deciding not to pursue a modeling career and her middle sister’s severe anorexia. Annabel struggles throughout the story to avoid confrontation at all costs and shield her friends and family from any unpleasantness. This coping strategy has always worked before, but now seems to make things worse. As her friendship with the school’s most obnoxious loner, Owen, develops, her carefully structured world begins to fall apart and keeping silent about issues no longer works. Owen, a part-time dj at a community radio station, dealing with his own anger
management, tries to broaden Annabel’s music taste. He exhorts her to "Don't think, or judge. Just listen." With his advice and unfailing honesty, she begins to realize that recognizing her emotions and dealing honestly with issues and people is not as devastating as she feared.

Cover: Somewhat boring: partial side view of young girl with an IPOD in her jeans pocket.

Franklin, Emily The Other Half of Me
Publisher: Delcorte Press Date: 2007 ISBN: 0-385-90449-0 Price: $16.00 #of pgs: 247
Call number: FIC FRA
Annotation: Jenny is a struggling artist with many doubts about herself. The biggest doubt is whether her family cares about her interest as much as their athletic pursuits. She has known all her life that her biological father was sperm donor. Her mother was concerned that she might not have a family and wanted a child very much. The mother soon married and had three other children. Jenny has young twin sisters who are very much alike and enjoy each other’s company; she also has a younger brother who is quiet and very athletic.
Her long time love interest begins to pursue her and encourages her to pursue the donor registry to see if she has a sibling from Donor 125. She does and the girl comes for a surprise visit, much to the dismay of some in her family. When the new girl wins over the family, she is crushed and sees that they are not alike as she had hoped. The end of the story is realistic and one that reader will accept.
Strength: The plot surrounds the feeling of not fitting into your family; like you are an odd ball. New love and jealousy is a popular reading theme with our students. Definitely a chick lit book.
Weakness: Not sure if students are interested in sperm donors, but they will like the need to feel like you fit in your family.
Cover appeal: Bright yellow cover with empty, split-in-half egg shell.

Draper, Sharon November Blues
Publisher: Atheneum Date:2007 ISBN:1-4169-0698-3 Price:$17.00 #of pgs:316 Call number: FIC DRA
Annotation: This sequel to Battle of Jericho; however, it is not necessary to have read that book first. Life doesn't go as planned in this realistic novel about a sixteen year old girl named November who has so many positive future plans, a great family, good friends, and is respected by her teachers. When she discovers she is pregnant 2 months after her boyfriend, Josh, died from a pledge stunt gone terribly wrong, she is truly unprepared and recognizes that she is so not ready to have a child. Josh's cousin Jericho, is having a very difficult time after the death of his best friend, Josh; he gives up his trumpet to play football. To add to the problems the father of the baby's parents find a way out of their depression by trying to adopted the baby. Too keep the subplots going we have an overweight, bullied girl who becomes a good friend to both November and Jericho. The ending was climatic, realistic and satisfying. A must read for both boys and girls.
Strength: characterization is well-developed, plot is fast paced
Weakness: dialogue is somewhat artificial or stifled
Cover Appeal: beautiful girl with a serious expression and a football player looking at the stands

Anderson, Laurie Halse Twisted
Publisher: Viking Date: 2007 ISBN: 978-0-670-06101-3 Price: $17.00 #of pgs: 250 Call number: FIC AND
Annotation: Sixteen-year-old Tyler is just completed his community service hours given to him by a judge after he wrote, misspelling many of the words, on his high school building. He is in love with Brittany, the most popular girl in school, whose father is his father's boss and whose brother is the leader of the group of athletes who constantly harass him . When Brittany makes a play for Tyler after drinking heavily at the party without adults, Tyler does the honorable thing and walks away, but Brittany is drunk and has no idea what shame awaits her. The events that follow are realistic and in Anderson's style of an important lesson learned the hard way. Twisted are the families, the way of thinking, and acting in this suburban high school.
Strength: Fast paced; funny, clever dialogue
Weakness: High School language and situations may be to explicit

Bruchac, Joseph The Way
Publisher: Darby Creek Publishing Date: 2007 ISBN: 978-1-58196-062-4 Price: 16.95 #of pgs: 156
Call number: FIC BRU
Annotation: One TP (trailer park) after another, Cody LeBeau remains unpopular and teased, often retreating into a fantasy world where he is always the unsung, no super-powers, martial art yielding hero. Long River High School seems to be no different, as Cody endures more torture at the hands of the jocks. To Cody’s shock, he is greeted one afternoon at home by his mother and a stranger that she introduces as Uncle John, her brother. John has come to stay with the LeBeaus while he trains for an Ultimate Fight Contest being held at the local Native American owned casino. Uncle John begins to teach Cody about "The Way" – not necessarily of the fist or fighting but a way of life that helps bring Cody into himself as a practitioner of self-healing and self-awareness.
Strength: high interest for boys, Native Americans, and those who don't feel they "fit in", contemporary issues/school violence
Weakness: time passes very quickly in this book, leaving the reader to wonder what has happened in between and why Cody "picks up" so quickly
Cover Appeal: Teenage non-white male on the cover with a bear paw and yin/yang symbol

Ellen Hopkins's IDENTICAL

Author: Hopkins, Ellen

Title: IDENTICAL

Publisher: McElderry ISBN (library bind):1416950052
Price: $17.99 #pages: 565 Call number: FIC HOP

Annotation: Identical twin daughters of a father who is a local judge and a mother who is running for congress may look identical but have very different ways of dealing with their family secrets. Discovery of the father’s family secrets only slightly helps the reader understand how the twins can deal with their father’s sins. The mother is so detached that the reader will really have little sympathy for her losses. Be prepared for Hopkins’s usual blunt dealings with dysfunctional family problems like bingeing/purge disorders; sexual encounters; cutting; drug and alcohol abuse; and finally incest. The descriptions are in some detail, but the use of use of free verse does lessen the horribleness, somewhat. The twist at the end doesn’t really help, but it is another attempt to help the reader deal with this family.

Recommended grade levels:11-12

Myers, Stephanie ECLIPSE
Publisher: Little, Brown & Co. Date: 2007 ISBN: 978-0-316-160209 (hardcover) Price: $18.99 #of pgs: 629 Call number: FIC MEY
Annotation: This book is a sequel to Twilight and New Moon by Stephanie Meyer. As graduation approaches and college looms in the near future, Bella is once again the center of danger. Trying to balance her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob amidst their age-old hatred, Bella faces dangers from old and new enemies - entangling Jacob and Edward in her protection. The vampire and werewolf come to understand that both care for her deeply. The understanding leads to a new relationship between the Cullens and the Blacks, protecting Bella being their common goal.
Strength: Fast paced
Cover Appeal: a free-floating fraying red ribbon on a black background

Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer

OK - I KNOW some of you have read this much anticipated final novel of the Twilight sequence.
What's the word? Are you putting it in your middle or high school library? Are you happy with the outcome? Do you think it was a weird twist to get it all worked out?

Let's talk about it!

I haven't read it yet but know the story - I forced a friends to tall me. I want to know what you guys think!

Dear Zoe by Philip Beard

Tess deals with the tragic, accidental death of her young sister Zoe by writing her a letter. She chronicles her life since the hit and run accident, including a summer romance. She also tells Zoe stories about their family before she (Zoe was born) and about the things Zoe used to do. Finally, Tess addresses the day that Zoe died, Sept.11, 2001, and her guilt over what happened to Zoe.

I LOVED this book too!

Strengths: A great way to write this novel about finding your place in the world as a teenager and as the survivor of a lost family member. Teens will relate to the problems that Tess deals with, from how long it takes to get ready in the morning, to trying drugs and sex for the first time. Many will relate to the family situations involving Tess’s step-dad and her real dad as well. Deals with the different ways people cope with a loss.

Concerns: Sex and drugs. Again. This book had more drug use than A Certain Slant of Light, but I don’t think readers will be terribly shocked at the characters’ use of marijuana. It only touches briefly on sex and not in much detail.

A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb

Helen has been haunting people for 130 years when, for the first time, human eyes see her. James haunted a piece of land until he inhabited the body of a teenager named Billy. As he learns more about himself and struggles to make Billy fit into a dysfunctional family that consists only of Billy and his older brother, James falls in love with Helen. He then convinces her to inhabit the body of Jenny, who is part of a dysfunctional family that seems perfect from the outside. Together they find out new things about their past and learn the secrets of Billy and Jenny.

I LOVED this book!

Strengths: Teens will love the love story between Helen and James. They will also love to hate the families that they have become part of (especially Helen’s). The fact that it is a story with supernatural elements will appeal to many.

Weaknesses: The supernatural element is a great twist to this love story, but it is sometimes confusing. Why does Helen cleave to people, while James haunted a place? How did James figure out how to possess human bodies and then how to finally leave for good?

Concerns: Sex and drugs. I am more concerned with the sex part, although it does not go into any detail, they sure “do it” a lot.

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl is told from the perspective of a self-described 15-year-old high school geek with a comic book obsession. His story documents much of the drama and trauma that high school students face, including bullying, friends moving on to new cliques, first time experience with girls and attraction, and the difficulties of a blended family. Throughout the novel, Fanboy develops a new sense of trust for his family and friends as he creates his own graphic novel and slowly shares it with the important people in his life. In doing so, his relationships become more adult and his understanding of himself improves. He grows up a little bit. The book incorporates the mention and discussion of many graphic novels and comic book series, even posing the ideas of collecting versus pleasure reading against one another.Grades 9-12

Originally posted on the Best Books blog by Jennifer Parry-Hill at 10:43 AM on Feb 5, 2008