Leverage by Joshua C. Cohen

Cohen, Joshua C. (2011).  Leverage. Dutton Juvenile.  ISBN: 9780525423065.  425 pages.  $17.99.

Author Website: http://www.leveragethebook.com/

Reader’s Annotation: The friendship between gymnast Danny and football player Kurt gets pushed to the edge when they both witness an attack on a student.

Summary: What Danny does not have in height, he makes up for in strength.  Danny is a gymnast and is one of the best in his event.  Kurt is a foster kid who has had a rough childhood.  He is now attending Oregrove High where he is welcomed onto the football team thanks to his large size and intimidating facial scars.  The two have completely separate lives.  There is an ongoing battle between the gymnasts and the footballs players that is constantly escalating.  One day Kurt sits in on a gymnast meet and then asks Danny to teach him how to do a back flip so he can do one after a touchdown.  After a practice session with Danny and a few of the gymnasts, Kurt leaves.  Once he’s gone, three of his football teammates stop by the gym to retaliate against the gymnasts.  While Danny is putting away the mats, the football players drag Ronnie, one of the gymnasts into the supply closet where Danny is hidden behind mats.  The boys attack Ronnie, not knowing that Danny is hidden in the room.  Kurt happens to come back because he left his phone in the gym.  He rushes into the closet and intercedes for Ronnie; the event triggering bad memories from his life in his previous foster homes.

No one wants to tell what happened in the closet that day.  Ronnie can’t take the pressure of the situation and commits suicide.  Now Kurt and Danny share a secret that becomes the groundwork for their unexpected friendship.  The question is, will they tell what they know or keep it to themselves?

Reading Level: Grades 8 and up

Interest Level: Grades 10 and up

Review and Evaluation: I wasn’t that excited to read this book.  I’m not that interested in sports.  I then heard that people thought that Leverage was similar to Raiders Night but better.  I really didn’t like Raiders Night at all.  My entry on that book explains my reasons.  I did like Leverage better as well.  I think because it had more of a story to it.  I didn’t care for the characters in Raiders Night as much as I did for Danny and Kurt.  I wanted them to come forward and tell the truth about the incident.   When it got to the end and they finally told the truth, I was so afraid that nothing was going to happen, that Scott, Tom, and Mike were going to get away with it.  I felt so relieved when it came out that Tina had broadcasted the entire thing.  There was nothing else that they could hide behind.  They have to come to terms with what they did.

I also really liked the alternating perspectives.  I listened to it on audio and then had two separate narrators for Danny and Kurt.  The voices were very distinct, both in the writing and the narration.  I don’t think that this could have been as successful if Cohen did not tell this story from both of the perspectives.  Danny and Kurt complement each other very well.  It is easy to make a comparison between Danny and Kurt’s friend Lamar.  Kurt mentions how Danny sometimes reminds him of Lamar.  It helps Kurt’s character grow because he is more willing to trust Danny.  The camping trip was one of my favorite parts of the book.  It’s obvious that Kurt does not fit in well because of his appearance and his stutter.  The camping trip gave Kurt an opportunity to be accepted.

The only problem I had with the book was a problem I also had with Raiders Night.  There was very little repercussions to the steroid usage.  It’s true that at the end, the steroid usage is revealed to everyone, but there is no punishment.  Throughout the book, it is just understood that the steroids were there.  One of the players mentions that the steroids might be responsible for the mood swings they experience, but I felt like Cohen should have either mentioned more about them or left them out all together.

Subjects/Genres: Bullying, Death, Rape, Realistic Fiction, Sports, Suicide, Toxic Adults, Violence

Bibliotherapeutic Uses: Leverage is a great book for teens who are struggling with bullies.  It shows at the end that nothing is worth putting up with and that there are people you can talk to for help.

Controversial Issues:

Rape – The rape scene is fairly graphic and treated by the three football players as inconsequential.

• Defense – While the scene is disturbing, it is important to the story.

Toxic Adults – There are several instances of toxic adults including Crudbucket, Danny’s father, and the football coaches.

• Defense – There are people like these men in the lives of teens today.  It is important for the teens to know that there are people they can trust besides men like these.

Language – There is offensive language throughout the book.

• The language adds to the reality of the story.  If boys were go so far as to rape a classmate, they would probably also use foul language.

Booktalk Ideas:

What if you had a secret that you couldn’t tell anyone but knew that you should?

Who would win in a test of strength: a gymnast or a football player?

Awards and Booklists:

• Cybils Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction, 2011
• YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults (Top Ten), 2012
• Booklist Editors’ Choice Books for Youth: Older Readers Category, 2011

Readalikes:

• Raiders Night by Robert Lipsyte
• The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
• Blank Confession by Pete Hautman
• Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach
• Payback Time by Carl Deuker

Professional Reviews:

Kraus, D. (2010).  Leverage (book review).  Booklist, 15 December 2010.

Staff reviewer (2011).  Leverage (book review).  Kirkus, 1 February 2011.

Staff reviewer (2010).  Leverage (book review).  Publishers Weekly, 257 (48).

Why I Chose this Book: Besides being a required title, I chose this book because I heard it was better than Raiders Night and I really didn’t care for that book.  I wanted to see if Leverage truly was a better version of a similar story.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

Green, John and David Levithan (2010).  Will Grayson, Will Grayson. Dutton Children’s.  ISBN: 9780525421580.  310 pages.  $17.99.

Author Website:

Green – http://johngreenbooks.com/

Levithan – http://www.davidlevithan.com/

Readers Annotation: Two boys, both named Will Grayson, from Chicago suburbs meet by chance one night in Chicago and soon play large parts in each other’s lives.

Summary: Will Grayson is your average high school guy.  He is one of those guys who everyone knows but really isn’t friends with a lot of people.  Although, it’s hard to blend in when your best friend, Tiny Cooper, is the star of the football team and incredibly out of the closet.  Tiny doesn’t blend in, he grasps the attention of all.  One way Tiny plans to stay in the limelight is with the musical he is writing about his life called Tiny Dancer: The Tiny Cooper Story which he hopes to get the Gay/Straight Alliance to perform.  One night Will attempts to go to an underground show downtown.  He was supposed to get into the club with his new fake ID, which his friend Jane helped him get.  At the door, Will is told that he can’t go inside because his ID says he’s 20, not 21.  Instead of stopping his friends from enjoying the show, Will heads across the street to a porn store so that he can at least use his ID for something.

The other Will Grayson is also not one for being in the center of attention.  Will is pretty sure that he’s gay, but he’s not ready to share the news with others.  The only person that knows his true feelings is his Internet friend, Isaac, who lives in another state.  Will believes that Isaac may be the love he was waiting for.  Finally the stars align for Will when Isaac tells him that he is going to be visiting Chicago and they should meet up.  Will can’t wait to meet Isaac, but when he gets to the location Isaac tells him about, he realizes that it is a porn store.  At first Will isn’t ready to believe that the whole situation was a set up.  Instead of leaving, Will goes inside to see if he’s in the store.  What he did not expect to find was a guy with his same name.

The two Will Graysons begin talking and soon there worlds turn from separate to merged when the Other Will Grayson and Tiny begin to hit it off.  Is there room in their world for two Will Graysons?

Reading Level: Grades 7 and up

Interest Level: Grades 9 and up

Review and Evaluation: Both Green and Levithan are fabulous writers with large fan groups.  I have to say that Will Grayson, Will Grayson is my favorite book by either of the authors.  The duo write in a true voice that make you want to find jump right into this world and hang out with the characters.  I know I’ve said the same thing about other characters in both Green’s and Levithan’s books.  I think that is one of the best things about these authors.  They don’t just create characters, they create people.  They take on a reality that makes the reader forget that they are just people on a page.  This is such a great thing for teens.  So often teens are presented with very two-dimensional characters that they must take on faith in order to get through a book.  Green and Levithan do not take shortcuts when they create in the smallest character.

If I had to have an issue with this book, it’s Levithan’s Will.  It’s not so much a complaint because I understand why he did what he did.  Will is very unlikeable in the beginning of the book.  He’s whiny and difficult to read about because you begin not to care.  However, I think that was the point Levithan was trying to achieve.  It’s not until Will embraces who he is and stops trying to hide from everyone, including his best friend Maura, that he begins to be more fun and the reader wants to develop a relationship with him.  Levithan didn’t want the reader to like Will initially because he didn’t like himself.  The reader grows to like Will just as he does from experience to experience.

On the other side of the spectrum, Green gives us Tiny Cooper.  Tiny couldn’t be more outgoing if Green tried.  Tiny appears to be overcompensating for the fact that he is in the eye of the school body being gay and a football star.  Instead of allowing people to make judges about him, Tiny reveals everything.  He is not afraid to be the talk of the school.  He jumps from guy to guy which perpetuates the rumors, but then he is fueling them himself.  It is the juxtaposition of these two different personalities that make the Other Will Grayson and Tiny an interesting couple.

Subjects/Genres: Coming of Age, GLBTQ, Humor, Realistic Fiction, Romance

Bibliotherapeutic Uses: I would definitely recommend Will Grayson, Will Grayson for teens who are trying to figure out who they are and where they fit in life.  There are several characters in this book that exhibit growth in some way.

Controversial Issues:

Homosexuality – Characters in this book are gay which some people oppose.

• Defense – If you do not want to read about homosexuality, don’t read this book.  However, it should still be available for other people.

Language – The book is full of offensive language.

• The language reflects the way that teens talk today.

Mature situations – The book includes mature situations including underage drinking, using fake IDs to get into 21 and older clubs, and pornography stores.

• The book is not encouraging these things but they are important to the story.

Booktalk Ideas:

Imagine you had a name twin.  What do you think he/she would be like?

Tiny Cooper named his memoir muscial, “Tiny Dancer: The Tiny Cooper Story.”  What would you name your musical?

Awards and Booklists:

• YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults, 2011
• Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award Nominee for Best Young Adult Novel, 2010
• Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction, 2010
• Abraham Lincoln Award Nominee, 2013
• Stonewall Award Honor Book, 2011

Readalikes:

• Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
• My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger
• The Geography Club by Brent Hartinger
• Dramarama by E. Lockhart
• Notes from the Blender by Trish Cook

Professional Reviews:

Peters, J. (2010).  Will Grayson, Will Grayson (book review).  Booklist, 106 (9), 82.

Staff reviewer (2010).  Will Grayson, Will Grayson (book review).  Kirkus, 1 April 2010.

Staff reviewer (2010).  Will Grayson, Will Grayson (book review).  Publishers Weekly, 257 (9), 54.

Why I Chose this Book:  I am a huge John Green fan so it was no question that I had to read this book.  I read it before when it first came out, but I listened to it on audio this time and it was just as good.

Dark Eyes by William Richter

Richter, William (2012).  Dark Eyes. Razorbill.  ISBN: 9781595144577.  383 pages.  $17.99.

Author Website: http://williamrichterbooks.com/

Readers Annotation: Wallis discovers the information about her real parents and her previous life in Russia which leads her on a thrilling journey for the truth.

Summary: Wallis Stoneman knows she was adopted, but that is the extent of her knowledge of her childhood before the Stonemans brought her into their ritzy New York City apartment. What Wallis doesn’t know is that up until the age of 5, she lived in an orphanage in Russia. Now sixteen, Wallis is forever searching for any information about her past.

The life provided her by the Stonemans was soon unfulfilling. Her adoptive father left them when Wally was younger so now it is just Wally and her mother. Wally did not seem to fit into the life of the New York upper-crust. Instead, she spent all of her time on the streets with runaways and homeless teens. Wally and her crew were not the average street kids. Wally, along with her friends Tevin, Jake and Ella, refused any involvement with drugs, for recreational use or for profit. They earned money by salvaging materials and fencing them off to various buyers. Aside from managing her crew’s endeavors, Wally visits an organization known for its vigilant attempts for finding missing people. Wally knows that her birth mother is out there something and she will stop at nothing to learn to truth behind her adoption.

Wally’s life was pretty good, by her standards, until one evening when a girl is found murdered with Wally’s fake ID. This one action begins a massive spiral involving Wally’s secretive Russian past. When Wallis goes to get a new fake ID, she is given a letter from her birth mother, a photo of a dangerous man, and a precious gem worth thousands of dollars. Her dreams of finding her birth parents turn into vicious, vivid nightmares when she discovers that the scary man from the photo is her father, a powerful Russian mob boss who recently escaped from prison and may be on his way to New York City. Wally must follow the clues left before her to find her missing birth mother.

Reading Level: Grades 6 and up

Interest Level: Grades 9 and up

Review and Evaluation:  The first thing you notice about Dark Eyes is that it reads like a movie.  Richter has a way to keep up a high level of energy throughout the entire book.  He plants enough doubt and false leads that you cannot guess what the ending is going to bring until you actually see it unfold.  The story starts with the death of a girl who has Wallis’s fake ID, leading everything to believe that she is actually dead.  It’s this beginning that will attract fans of Law and Order and CSI.

There are not nearly as many realistic thrillers for teens today as there are dystopian and paranormal stories.  I like the fact that Dark Eyes is a good representation for a small genre.  Richter does not write down to the teen audience.  Instead, he doesn’t lighten up the story.  He makes the teen readers rise to the challenge of a murder mafia mystery that I can see adults eating up as well.  If teens read Dark Eyes, I can see them wanting more realistic thrillers to read.

Richter proves that he’s good with plot, but he also delivers with his character development.  Wally’s father is a very frightening individual, but he makes him so feared that we don’t really see how evil he truly is until the book moves forward.  We just know that all these other people fear him, so we must as well.  On the other end of the spectrum, Wally and her friends are also three-dimensional characters.  All of Wally’s friends have very detailed pasts.  He could have described them superficially but instead we get a better opportunity to visualize the characters fully.

Subjects/Genres: Coming of Age, Death, Domestic Issues, Mystery, Realistic Fiction, Thriller, Toxic Adults, Violence

Bibliotherapeutic Uses: Dark Eyes would be a good choice for teens who strictly want an entertaining book for engulf them.  It was be a good escape book.

Controversial Issues:

Language – Offensive language is used throughout this book

• Defense – The characters in this book are street kids and mob bosses.  The use of the language adds to the reality of the story.

Violence – There are several violent scenes including murders and shootouts.

• Defense – Using the same defense as the language, the violence adds to the reality of the story being told.

Mature situations – Wally’s friends have very bad histories involving sexual and physical abuse.

• Defense – We know that Wallis hangs out of the street because she can’t stand to be home.  Richter needed to include reasons terrible enough that would force these teens to live on the street.

Booktalk Ideas:

What would you do if you found out your father was a dangerous mob boss?

What are you opinions about books that read like movies?

Awards and Booklists:

• none

Readalikes:

• Heist Society by Ally Carter
• All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin
• A Girl Named Digit by Annabel Monaghan
• Son of the Mob by Gordon Korman
• Arcadia Awakens by Kai Meyer

Professional Reviews:

Bradburn, F. (2012). Dark Eyes (book review).  Booklist, 108, (12), 44.

Staff reviewer (2012).  Dark Eyes (book review).  Kirkus, 15 March 2012.

Staff reviewer (2012).  Dark Eyes (book review).  Publishers Weekly, 259 (12).

Why I Chose this Book: This book first caught my eye because of its cover.  Then I read the summary and had to read it.

Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going

Going, K.L. (2003).  Fat Kid Rules the World.  Putnam Juvenile.  ISBN: 9780399239908.  224 pages.  $17.99.

Author Website: http://www.klgoing.com/

Readers Annotation: Overweight and unpopular Troy is about to commit suicide when Curt stops him. Curt demands that Troy join his band and take over the world.

Summary:  Troy Billings isn’t just a fat kid.  Troy is the fat kid.  He is the fat kid that huffs and puffs when he breathes.  He’s the fat kid that trips over everything.  He’s the fat kid that jiggles when he runs.  Worst of all, Troy is the fat kids that will always make people laugh, especially when it’s at his expense and would not be funny if a skinny person was involved.  One day, Troy was standing on the edge of a subway platform, carefully considering how humorous it would be if he propelled his almost 300 pounds into the subway tunnel and splattered against a speeding train.  Apparently, Troy found the scenario very amusing and started laughing.  Troy’s fit of giggles was interrupted by a voice crammed in a tiny corner belonging to the dirtiest, skinniest boy Troy had ever seen.  This was the day Troy met the infamous high school legend, Curt MacCrae.

At first, Troy is in awe that the Curt MacCrae, the most amazing guitar player ever, is sitting in front of him.  The astonishment continues as Curt demands Troy buy him dinner.  He did, after all, save Troy’s life.  It’s from there that Curt reveals his twisted brainchild; Curt and Troy are going to be a band.  The biggest problem, other than his weight issue, is that Troy doesn’t know how to play the drums.  But Curt has decreed it and now it is so.  Troy takes Curt home with him where there is a run-in with Troy’s ex-military father and jock brother.  Curt wiggles his way into their home and becomes a staple in the Billings home in the hopes that Troy and his family can help him get clean, while Troy is introduced firsthand to the world of underground punk rock and wonders if he could ultimately rule the world.

Reading Level: Grades 8 and up

Interest Level: Grades 8 and up

Review and Evaluation: I really enjoy books that focus on a teen with body image issues and force them to believe that they can succeed.  Fat Kid Rules the World is one of my favorite books that achieve this goal.  When you first meet Troy, you truly want him to be accepted.  Going made a wonderful choice writing this book in first person from Troy’s perspective.  Going makes the reader feel for Troy and I know that I was hoping that someone would stand up and stop judging him merely on his appearance.

Going again plays with the concept of first impressions with the character of Curt.  Everyone loves Curt even though it is fairly certain that he is a burnout with no real direction.  The juxtaposition between Curt and Troy is delightful.  Troy expects to fail even if things look his way while Curt expects to succeed even when the odds are stacked against him.  Troy and Curt are some of my favorite characters from teen fiction.  I would love to meet them, go to their shows, etc.  Going creates real people on the page.

Going puts Troy behind the drum which is probably the best move.  He can feel hidden, but in actuality he is the center of the attention.  Everyone else is the band follows him.  Everyone should have a Curt in their lives to help them break out of their shell and embrace who they are.  It’s obvious that Curt is helping Troy, but it is important to note that Troy is always helping Curt.  He helps him to find direction and to see the importance of getting clean.

Subjects/Genres: Bullying, Coming of Age, Drug Addiction, Music, Realistic Fiction, Suicide

Bibliotherapeutic Uses: Fat Kid Rules the World is a great book for teens who are dealing with self-image issues or are having difficulties fitting in.  Troy’s story is an inspiration for teens to break out of their normal routines and try something new.

Controversial Issues:

Drug Use – Curt uses drugs through the book.

• Defense – Curt’s drug usage is necessary for a juxtaposition between him and Troy.

Language – Going’s book contains offensive language.

• Defense – The language is necessary to make the story more real.

Booktalk Ideas:

What is one thing that you would love to do but probably never will?

Curt says that he and Troy are going to be in a band even though Troy does not know how to play the drums.  Could you put all your trust in a stranger?

Have you ever envied someone because you thought they were more popular than you only to find out that the truth is your life is better?

Awards and Booklists:

• Printz Honor, 2004
• Booklist Editor’s Choice, 2003
• School Library Journal Best Books, 2003

Readalikes:

• Born to Rock by Gordon Korman
• Lemonade Mouth by Mark Peter Hughes
• Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John
• I am (not) the Walrus by Ed Briant
• Struts and Frets by Jon Skovron

Professional Reviews:

Cooper, I. (2003).  Fat Kid Rules the World (book review).  Booklist, 15 May 2003.

Staff reviewer (2003).  Fat Kid Rules the World (book review).  Kirkus, 1 May 2003.

Staff reviewer (2003).  Fat Kid Rules the World (book review).  Publishers Weekly, 250 (69), 25.

Why I Chose this Book:  I actually chose this book for two reasons.  The first reason is that it is a Printz Honor title.  The second reason I chose this book is that Matthew Lillard narrates the audiobook version and I was curious to see how he did.

The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

Whitney, D. (2010). The Mockingbirds.  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.  ISBN:9780316090537.  332 pages.  $16.99.

Author Website: http://daisywhitney.blogspot.com/

Readers Annotation: After a night of drinking, Alex wakes up in Carter’s bed.  The secret society, the Mockingbirds,try the case of date rape against Carter.

Summary: Alex is not a wild kind of girl.  She doesn’t party much and she is not a big drinker.  One night changes everything.  Alex and a few friends got permission from Themis Academy, a boarding school with an exemplary reputation, to go off campus for a concert.  Alex had a few drinks and starting chatting with Carter, a well-known jock.  A few drinks turned in too many drinks.  When Alex wakes up the next morning in Carter’s bed with no memory of the night before, she freaks out.  Gathering up her belongings, Alex runs straight back to her room.  Alex’s best friend T.S. questions her about the night before and warning bells start sounding when Alex explains she can’t remember anything.  T.S. calls Alex’s older, recent graduate from Themis, Casey to come other and the three sit down and discuss the situation.  Worried that the school would not do much to rectify the situation, T.S. and Casey recommend Alex meet with the Mockingbirds.  The Mockingbirds are a student-based underground disciplinary group created by Casey that handles situations in a trial setting when the school might not take the accusations seriously.

 The Mockingbirds acquired their name from the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and reference it frequently in its fliers.  The Mockingbirds remain secretive, meeting in the laundry room.  When a case is presented, the council will decide if anything can be done for the victim and whether or not they can help with the case.  When Alex goes to the Mockingbirds, she finds some familiar faces, like her friend Martin.  She soon realizes how serious the group is when they decide to take her case to trial.  If Carter is found guilty of date rape, he must quit the water polo team.  Throughout the ordeal, Alex must deal with Carter’s comments about her reputation circling the school, as well as prepare for an important, life-altering piano performance in front of a professor from Julliard.  Even if Carter is found guilty by the Mockingbirds, will it give Alex the relief she craves?

Reading Level: Grades 9 and up

Interest Level: Grades 9 and up

Review and Evaluation: There are a number of books that deal with rape, but not as many that deal with date rape.  I believe books about date rape are so important because teens may not think they were actually raped if it’s someone they know or even someone they hung out with all night.  Whitney’s book is very important for teen girls because they need to understand the reality of date rape.  Whitney does a great job of expressing all of the emotions a date rape victim might experience.  Alex goes from denying that it even happened to blaming herself for the entire thing.  It feels like Whitney is writing this specifically as a subtle self-help manual.  It reads like a novel, but those who need to hear the truth about date rape situations will feel as though she is talking directly to them.

I can see adults having an issue with this title because the teens don’t go to the authority figures on campus to deal with their problems; they handle them by themselves.  Some adults may find this troublesome, but I think it is a great example for teen readers.  The Mockingbirds shows a group of teens who are self-regulating and working in a fair manner.  The students at the school respect The Mockingbirds’ opinions and will accept whatever verdict is generated in the end.

Finally, I thought it was very clever for Whitney to relate this story to Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird.  Lee’s book is one that a majority of teens had to read for school, so it is to be expected they would have some knowledge on the story.  It was also interesting to use a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird as a way to communicate.  Secret societies are always interesting because each one is different.  I really enjoyed this novel and will hopefully get a chance to read the sequel, The Rivals.

Subjects/Genres: Coming of Age, Rape, Realistic Fiction

Bibliotherapeutic Uses: The Mockingbirds is a wonderful book for teens who may have found themselves in bad situations and don’t know what to do next.  Victims of date rape may just keep quiet because they aren’t sure if something bad actually happened.  Whitney’s book is an example of what should be done and how you will have support.

Controversial Issues:

Lack of Adults – As I mentioned earlier, the adults are not a positive aspect of the story.  The teens handle matters on their own.

• Defense – The Mockingbirds shows how teen are intelligent and can handle things without an adult telling them right from wrong.

Rape – Some may question the inclusion of a rape.

• Defense – The rape seen is only shown through flashbacks and is definitely not included for unnecessary, gratuitous means.

Booktalk Ideas:

Explain the connection between The Mockingbirds and To Kill a Mockingbird.

Do you think that teens can have their own secret society government to settle disputes?

Explain Alex’s experiences and date rape.

Awards and Booklists:

• Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction, 2010
• YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults, 2011

Readalikes:

• Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
• The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
• Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
• Inexcusable by Chris Lynch
• What Happens Next by Colleen Crayton

Professional Reviews:

Engberg, G. (2010).  The Mockingbirds (book review).  Booklist, 107 (4). 60.

Staff reviewer (2010).  The Mockingbirds (book review).  Kirkus, 2 November 2010.

Staff reviewer (2010).  The Mockingbirds (book review).  Publishers Weekly, 257 (41).

Why I Chose This Book: I was initially intrigued about the connection between Whitney’s book and To Kill a Mockingbird.

http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-7653-2865-6

Willow by Julia Hoban

Hoban, J. (2009). Willow.  Dial.  ISBN: 381943455726.  329 pages.  $16.99.

Author Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Willow-by-Julia-Hoban/381943455726

Readers Annotation: After driving the car that killed her parents in an accident, Willow deals with her guilt through cutting until Guy makes her deal with it.

Summary:  Willow’s life today is a built around one event seven months ago.  One evening Willow’s parents asked her to drive them home from dinner because they had a few drinks.  Willow had her learner’s permit and set off for home.  Unfortunately the weather was treacherous and Willow lost control of the car.  The accident resulted in the death of her parents.  Or, as Willow sees it, she killed her parents.

Now Willow lives with her brother David, a college professor like her parents, his wife, and their new baby daughter.  Willow feels like she is responsible for unloading the obligation of being her legal guardian.  David shouldn’t have to go to parent teacher night.  He shouldn’t have to sign tests and quizzes for her.  Even with all of her guilt and self-loathing, Willow will not cry.  Instead, Willow channels all of her emotion and feelings into the act of cutting.  Whenever a situation gets to be too much to handle, Willow turns to a razorblade for relief.

No one knows Willow’s secret.  They already whisper about her; calling her the girl who killed her parents.  One chance meeting while working at the university library stands to change the direction that Willow has chosen.  One night Guy comes into the library looking for a rare title.  Willow knows this title.  She’s read it numerous times and has memorized its location on the shelf.  This one encounter begins a relationship built of trust, compassion, and support.  As Willow continues to try to make Guy understand why it is she cuts herself, he tries repeatedly to get her to stop.

 

Reading Level: Grades 7 and up

Interest Level: Grades 9 and up

Review and Evaluation: I enjoyed the basic plot of the story.  Often people put too much responsibility on themselves when they actually are not to blame at all.  It was not Willow’s fault that the car lost control in the rain, killing her parents.  Her parents were intoxicated so allowing them to drive instead of her would have probably had the same results.  However, since Willow was behind the wheel, she blames herself for what happened.  She also blamed herself because her brother in now responsible for raising her when he has his own problems and his own family to take care of.

Cutting is a way for Willow to take control of her life when she feels like she has no control.  It’s easy to understand why Willow refused Guy’s attempts to help her with the cutting because it seems like he is trying to take control from her.  Willow’s emotions are real to life and will resonate with the teen readers.

The only complaint I have with this title is Hoban’s writing style.  I don’t like how the book was written in third person but still managed to go inside Willow’s thoughts.  If Hoban had written it in first person, I think the book would have been even better.  I felt like the flow of the story was jarring, moving from third person to Willow’s head.  It should have been completely in Willow’s voice or strictly in third person.

Subjects/Genres: Death, Domestic Issues, Realistic Fiction, Self-harm

Bibliotherapeutic Uses: Willow’s pain and feelings of no control can be very relatable to teens.  I would recommend this book for teens who are dealing with different ways to process their emotions.

Controversial Topics:

Self-harm – Some people believe that books that include self-harm may give teens the idea to do it themselves.

• Defense – Self-harm is something that many teens deal with.  This story does not promote self-harm as an acceptable action, but shows the repercussions on the person and those around her.

Booktalk Ideas:

Explain Willow’s role in her parent’s death.  Is right to take on all the guilt of the event?

How to do deal with someone who you think is participating in self-harm?

Awards and Booklists:

• Florida Teens Read Nominee, 2010

Readalikes:

• Scars by Cheryl Rainfield
• Cut by Patricia McCormick
• Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler
• Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
• Drowning Instinct by Isla J. Bick

Professional Reviews:

Staff reviewer (2009).  Willow (book review).  Kirkus, 1 March 2009.

Staff reviewer (2009).  Willow (book review).  Publishers Weekly, 256 (16), 51.

Why I Chose This Book: Books about self-harm are always interesting to me as it was something I struggled with as a teen.  I like to know what titles are available on the topic that I feel are well done in case a teen comes to me with a similar problem.

Ironman by Chris Crutcher

Crutcher, C. (1995).  Ironman.  Greenwillow Books.  ISBN: 9780688135034.  279 pages.  $17.99.

Author Website: http://www.chriscrutcher.com/

Readers Annotation: Through letters to Larry King, Bo tells the story of his life while training for the Yukon Jack triathlon.

Summary: After getting picked on my his English teacher, Bo lashes out at him resulting in one final chance.  Bo can get suspended indefinitely or attend an anger management group led by the very eccentric Mr. Nakatani. Bo chooses to go to the anger management group.  Aside of his school life, Bo is training extensively for the Yukon Jack, a local triathlon.  Bo records his daily life in letters to Larry King in hopes that he will read them on the air.

If winning the triathlon on his own wasn’t enough, Bo has to fend off discouraging words from his less than supportive father and a group of college swimmers he’s been training with lately.  Bo looks to his favorite teacher Mr. S. and the eccentric anger management group for support and friendship during his time of competition.  Bo learns that sometimes you find friends when you least expect it in the most bizarre circumstances.

Reading Level: Grades 6 and up

Interest Level: Grades 8 and up

Review and Evaluation: While I am not a sports person at all, I always find Crutcher’s books to be some of my favorites.  Ironman was no exception.  Crutcher does a wonderful job of mixing the sports world with the issues from the outside world such as dating, parents, bullying, etc.  While the book centers around the triathlon, it is by far the most important aspect of the book.  Crutcher makes the Yukon Jack the groundwork of Bo’s story and then continues to build upon it as the book moves forward.

I enjoyed the unique format that Crutcher used to tell the story.  The letters to Larry King mixed with traditional storytelling was an interesting way to learn about Bo’s feelings and experiences.  However, I do fear the shelf life of the book.  In a few years, teens won’t know who Larry King is and why Bo would be writing to him.  It is an issue that I’m sure Crutcher realized while he was writing it.  Fortunately, I think that Bo’s story is good enough to transcend the Larry King relevancy.

Crutcher is another author that tends to creature really great secondary characters.  The entire anger management group is a great menagerie of characters.  It was nice to see a bit of a romance between Bo and Shelly.  It didn’t feel forced or cliche; it felt natural.  It was also great to see the members of the group working together to support Bo.  It’s like the situation seen in the movie, The Breakfast Club.  If you force people to be together, they will eventually find something they all have in common or something they all can agree on.

Subjects/Genres: Bullying, Coming of Age, Humor, Realistic Fiction, Sports, Toxic Adults

Bibliotherapeutic Uses: All the scenes involving the anger management group can be helpful for teens in similar situations.  There is a true camaraderie amongst those students and teens who have issues with controlling their anger may see themselves in on of the characters in the book.

Controversial Issues:

Language – Crutcher uses language throughout the book.

• Defense – Crutcher includes the language to ensure that the book feels true and authentic.

Portrayal of Parents – Bo’s father is not a good example of a father.  He plots against Bo to try to make sure he loses the Yukon Jack.  Hudgie’s father killed his dog because he forgot to feed him.

• Defense – Unfortunately situations such as these are real.  Crutcher includes them for a chance for the characters to overcome their obstacles in order to succeed.

Booktalk Ideas:

Discuss what a triathlon is.

Explain the letters to Larry King.  Use examples of current celebrities in place of Larry King to make it more current.

Describe the anger management group.

Awards and Booklists:

• California Young Reader Medal: Young Adult
• Parents’ Choice Awards – Story Books, 1995
• School Library Journal Best Books, 1995

Readalikes:

• Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher
• Keeper by Mal Peet
• Breathing Underwater by Alex Flinn
• Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen
• Rash by Pete Hautman

Professional Reviews:

O’Malley, A. (1995).  Ironman (book review).  Booklist, 1 March 1995.

Staff reviewer (1995).  Ironman (book review).  Kirkus, 1 April 1995.

Staff reviewer (1995).  Ironman (book review).  Publishers Weekly, 17 April 1995.

Why I Chose This Book: I’ve loved the Crutcher books that I’ve read in the past, but I hadn’t read this one yet.  I used this blog as an excuse to finally get around to reading it.

Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

Hopkins, E.  (2009).  Tricks.  Margaret K. McElderry Books.  ISBN: 9781416950073. 627 pages.  $18.99.

Author Website: http://ellenhopkins.com/

Readers Annotation: The lives of five very different teens from across the country eventually end in the prostitution scene in Las Vegas.

Summary: Eden lives with her very religious family.  She starts dating a slightly older guy who she’s met at one of her preacher father’s services.  Eden knows that her family, especially her mother, won’t approve so she keeps the relationship a secret.  When her mother does find out, she sends Eden to a facility that specializes in rehabilitating teens who act out.  The compound is merely an excuse for the workers to abuse the participants.  When one of the leader’s disciples take notice of Eden, she uses him as a way to escape.

Cody’s family is devastated when his step-father dies from illness.  His mother can’t seem to hold the family together and his younger brother starts acting out by drinking and committing crimes.  He decides to try to earn money for the family by playing poker and selling drugs.  Soon he loses more money than he wins in his various poker games.  Cody takes to the street and starts selling himself in order to give money to his mom.

Ginger’s family is not ideal.  Her mother is a prostitute and Ginger and her siblings are being raised by her grandmother.  Tragedy strikes the family when Ginger’s little brother is hit by a car.  She turns to her new friend Alex for support.  One day Ginger’s mother takes out every one else of the house and leaves Ginger alone with a man.  Ginger’s mother arranged for Ginger to have sex with him.  Ginger leaves the house, meets up with Alex, and the two of them head to Las Vegas to live with one of Alex’s friends.  The two start stripping together in order to earn enough money for rent.

Seth’s father finds out that he is gay and kicks him out of the house.  Not knowing where else to go, Seth find an older man he met at a gay bar and moves to Las Vegas with him as his companion.  The situation soon turns less than ideal for Seth.

Whitney has always come in second to her sister and does not feel like she is truly a part of the family.  One night she catches her boyfriend with another girl.  Stranded at the party, she calls an older guy, Bryn, she met at the mall.  He picks her up and the two start a relationship.  Things start out good at first, but he asks Whitney to move to Las Vegas with him and she says yes.  Once in Las Vegas, the relationship changes.  Bryn starts bringing her drugs and food and then disappears for days at a time.  He sends over men for her to sleep with in exchange for more food and drugs.

Reading Level: Grades 8 and up

Interest Level: Grades 10 and up

Review and Evaluation:  My first thought about this book when I started it was there is just too much going on.  Besides the prostitution, there are several other situations in the protagonists’ lives.  It was a little difficult to keep everything straight.  It almost seemed like Hopkins was trying so hard to include every possible cause for someone to get caught up in prostitution.  I understand that to a point, but I was starting to feel like I was watching a soap opera.  It was getting a bit unbelievable.  I understand that Hopkins right from several perspectives because it covers a large variety of readers.  I was just having a difficult time engaging myself with the stories.  It seemed a bit over-the-top.

However, as I read further, I started to forget about all the opening storylines and focused more of  the action at hand.  As I read, I realized the importance of Hopkins’ choices when writing the book.  It’s almost like throwing several things at the wall and seeing what sticks.  Everyone is not going to relate to all of the characters, but there might be one situation in particular that a reader can find truth in it.

I still have an issue with books in verse.  I have a difficult time following the stories.  Also, I occasionally missed the changes from one character to another from time to time.  Fortunately, Hopkins created five different voices so I quickly realized that a change had happened and I could get back on track.  I do wonder what this book would have been like if it were not written in verse.  If it were not written in verse, I imagine that it would have been a series of five books, one for each character.  I don’t know if that would have been as effective since there are obvious character cross-overs that might be overlooked if the stories were separated.  Honestly, I just need to get over my dislike of novels in verse, probably by reading more of them.

Subjects/Genres: Coming of Age, Death, Domestic Issues, Drug Addiction, GLBTQ, Novel in Verse, Rape, Realistic Fiction, Toxic Adults

Bibliotherapeutic Uses: What’s great about this book is that Hopkins shows how a variety of teens all ended in the same place through different experiences.  Hopkins give a well-rounded picture of how teens because prostitutes.  Tricks can be used as a lesson of how to stay on the right path and not end up like the protagonists in the book.

Controversial Issues:

Sexual Content – Hopkins describes the sexual scenes in the book in detail.

• This is a very difficult subject and it would not have been nearly as successful is she did not include the details that she did.

Toxic Adults – Several of the adult characters in the book are harmful to the characters.

• Hopkins was showing how the lack of support by the adults in life can cause the teens to lose the ability to see what is best for them.  Ginger’s mother was so terrible that life as a stripper in Las Vegas was actually a step above what she was living.  While these situations are horrible, there is truth in them.

Portrayal of Religion – Eden’s mother and her solutions put religion in a negative light.

• Every religion has extremists.  Eden’s mother and the Tears of Zion do not represent religion as a whole.

Booktalk Ideas:

Briefly mention the five different characters in the story.  Show how the novel is in verse.

Mention how the characters make small decisions that end up changing their lives.

Awards and Booklists:

• Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction, 2009

Readalikes:

• Sold by Patricia McCormick
• Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
• Freaks and Revelations by Davida Hurwin
• Candy by Kevin Brooks
• Smack by Melvin Burgess

Professional Reviews:

Carton, D. (2009).  Tricks (book review).  Booklist, 105 (22), 62.

Staff reviewer (2009).  Tricks (book review).  Kirkus, 25 August 2009.

Why I Chose This Book: I chose this one for two reason.  The first reason was that it was one of the required titles.  Secondly, I really do not prefer to read books in verse so I tend to ignore them.  This was a reason for me to read a novel in verse in hopes to make myself enjoy them more.

Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Cohn, R. and D. Levithan (2006).  Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.  Knopf Books for Young Readers.  ISBN: 9780375835315.  183 pages.  $16.95.

Author Website:

Cohn – http://www.rachelcohn.com/

Levithan – http://www.davidlevithan.com/

Readers Annotation: When asked to be Nick’s girlfriend for five minutes after his ex appears, Norah answers with a kiss that results in an eventful evening

Summary: After Nick’s band finishes performing a show, he gets worried about seeing his ex in the crowd.  Norah came to this show to hear some music, but also to make sure that her friend does not get into too much trouble hooking up with random band members.  Nick and Norah’s paths cross when Nick notices his ex walk in with her new boyfriend.  Not knowing what to do, he asks Norah to be his girlfriend for the next five minutes as a show for his ex.  Norah responds with a kiss.

Nick’s friends observe the event that just occurred and convince Norah to take him out of a date to help him get over his Evil Ex.  What started out as a chance meeting quickly turns into an adventure around New York City including cab rides, drag queens, underground shows, and a whole lot of diner food.

Reading Level: Grades 7 and up

Interest Level: Grades 9 and up

Review and Evaluation: One of the greatest things about this story is the fact that the authors decided to write this is two distinct voices.  This book would not have been as good if Cohn had decided to write the whole thing from Norah’s perspective or Levithan from Nick’s perspective.  There are some stories that need to be written in a way to see that entire story.  Nick and Norah’s story is so random that it would not have been nearly as believable if we just saw Nick ask Norah to be his girlfriend for five minutes and then Norah kiss him.  We need to have Norah’s insight in the event.

In relationship to my previous statements, I also believe it was important to spend so much of the book inside Nick and Norah’s head.  We know all of their thoughts and opinions.  It’s interesting to be all-knowing narrators within two different people’s minds.  We know what each of them are thinking regarding the events that just occurred.  We know why Nick did something and what Norah thought it was trying to do.  It truly makes for an interesting story.

I’ve read a lot more Levithan than Cohn, but one of my favorite things about Levithan is his secondary characters.  He makes his supporting characters even more entertaining than his protagonist.  For example, Nick is such an average, normal guy.  He could be any guy.  But his friends are the opposite.  They may not represent specific member of friends circles, but everyone has that one friend like Dev.  Levithan has a way of creating characters and situations in which you can easily transport yourself in to the story.

Subjects/Genres: Coming of Age, GLBTQ, Humor, Realistic Fiction, Romance

Bibliotherapeutic Uses: Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist is more of a lighter read compared to some of the other titles discussed in this blog.  However, I believe that the book is a good choice for teens who don’t think they fit in or are concerned about finding a significant other.  This book demonstrates that things happen when you least expect it and when you stop looking for them.

Controversial Issues:

Language – The authors use quite a bit of offensive language including fuck throughout the book.

• Defense – Cohn and Levithan wanted this book to be believable to teens.  Despite what adults think, teens swear a lot.  Using the offensive words made the story more realistic.

Sexual Content – There were references to sex throughout the book.

• Defense – My defense is the same as above.  Teens discuss sex frequently, whether they are having it or not.  Cohn and Levithan included these scenes in order to keep the book feeling accurate.

Booktalk Ideas:

• What if someone asked you to be their significant other for five minutes?  What would make you say yes/no?
• Explain the usefulness of a book written in alternating perspectives.
• Hand out a copy of the playlist printed in the front of the book.  What songs would be on your playlist?

Awards and Booklists:

• Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Young Adults, 2006.

Readalikes:

• Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going
• Born to Rock by Gordon Korman
• Beige by Cecil Castellucci
• Jenna and Jonah’s Fauxmance by Emily Franklin & Brendan Halpin
• wtf by Peter Lerangis

Professional Reviews:

Engberg, G. (2006).  Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (book review).  Booklist, 102 (15), 31.

Staff reviewer (2006).  Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (book review).  Kirkus, 23 May, 2006.

Staff reviewer (2006).  Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (book review).  Publishers Weekly, 1 May, 2006.

Why I Chose this Book: This is a book that I’ve wanted to read for several years.  I never seemed to have a chance to read it.  I was happy to see it on the list of recommended titles because it finally gave me an excuse to read it.

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

Scott, E. (2008).  Living Dead Girl. Simon Pulse.  ISBN: 9781416960591.  170 pages.  $17.99.

Author Website: http://www.elizabethwrites.com/

Readers Annotation: A girl was kidnapped from a field trip  and, after five years of abuse, waits for her abductor to either replace her or kill her.

Summary: She wasn’t always Alice.  She used to be someone else with friends and family.  Now she is Alice and she belongs to Ray.  Everything she does, everywhere she goes, and everything she eats has to be approved by Ray or she will be punished.  After five years, Ray has broken Alice’s spirit through several horrible actions.  But Alice is getting older and know Ray wants her to help him find a new girl to take home.  After scouting out the park, she finds what could be her replacement.  Driven by the hope of freedom, Alice learns what she can from the girl in order to help Ray take her.  Everything would have worked if not for a nosy police officer and the little girl’s brother.  All Alice wants is freedom, and she will get it one way or another.

Reading Level: Grades 8 and up

Interest Level: Grades 9 and up

Review and Evaluation: This is not the first time I’ve read this book.  I remember reading it when it was first released because of all the controversy surrounding it.  Both my boss and I read it after we put it on the shelf because we were sure that someone would find issue with it.  That never happened, fortunately.

Living Dead Girl reminds me of an episode of Law and Order: SVU but without the detectives.  We get only Alice’s side of the story.  She makes references to her family moving on, maybe having more kids to replace her.  As an audience, we don’t get the relief of a cut scene that shows Alice’s parents and the police searching for her.  We feel that she is alone and that is the only feeling that Scott allows us to have.  It is the only way we can understand and perhaps even justify Alice’s search for her replacement.  Whether he lets her go or kills her, Alice will get to be free.

There is something strange about reading a book about a story that shouldn’t happen.  I don’t mean in reference to things that couldn’t happen like the plots in science fiction and fantasy books.  I’m talking about books that shouldn’t happen, like Living Dead Girl, Boy Toy, etc.  As a reader, you get a feeling of helplessness that is difficult to explain.  I want to just import myself into the story and rescue her myself.  I want to scream and shake the police officer and force her to take Alice with her.  There is definitely a direct correlation between the helplessness I feel as the reader and the helplessness Alice experiences in this book.

Subjects/Genres: Eating Disorders, Rape, Realistic Fiction, Toxic Adults, Violence

Bibliotherapeutic Uses: I don’t think that I would recommend this book to teens that have been in similar situations as Alice because I think it would be more traumatic that helpful.  I would recommend this book to teens who feel helpless in certain situations.  As the story goes on, we see Alice finally getting to the point of wanting to stop being helpless and start wanting to overcome.

Controversial Issues:

Rape/Abuse – This book contains several scenes of statutory rape, some of them more descriptive than others.

• Defense – Scott does not include these scenes for gratuitous purposes.  She is showing the truth behind Alice’s situation.

Sexual Content – I’m specifically referring to the scene between Alice and Jake in his car when she offers him sexual favors.

• Defense – This scene was important to Alice’s character development.  Here she shows how she doesn’t know how to act with a boy because Ray has altered what she knows as right and wrong.

Booktalk Ideas:

Share the thoughts and feelings Alice expressed when she is kidnapped and why she won’t just run from Ray.

Discuss the meaning behind the title.

Awards and Booklists:

• ALA/YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 2009
• Iowa High School Book Award Nominee, 2011

Readalikes:

• Stolen by Lucy Christopher
• Sold by Patricia McCormick
• Such a Pretty Girl by Lara Weiss
• A Girl’s Life Online by Katherine Tarbox
• Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

Professional Reviews:

Rutan, L.  (2008).  Living Dead Girl (book review).  Booklist, 15 October 2008.

Staff reviewer (2008).  Living Dead Girl (book review).  Kirkus, 16 September 2008.

Staff reviewer (2008).  Living Dead Girl (book review).  Publishers Weekly, 255 (36), 52.

Why I Chose This Book: I read it the second time because it was required for the class, but I initially read it because I wanted to be prepared for any issues at work due to the controversial subject matter.