Skinny

by Donna Cooner

 

What it is about...

Ever Davies is in high school, she weighs 300 pounds. Deciding to have gastric bypass surgery we witness her transformation from an ugly duckling to a swan. All the teenagers in the book carry with them  deep rooted problems. Ever does not recognize those issues, only her own and the reader is aware of those issues through a character named Skinny.

What I thought...

Spot on about the issue of obesity among teens. Experiencing the interior monologues that go through Ever's thoughts really creates insight into the mind of addiction. The book does not glamorize gastric by pass but presents the nitty gritty of the surgery. The book tackles bigger issues about self esteem and the self doubt that all teens experience. I would recommend this book because of the pace and the honesty the author brings to the issues of teenagers.

Master of Deceit

by Marc Aronson

What it is about...

Aronson tells the story of J. Edgar Hoover and the making of modern America. The book is well written and contains so many primary documents that  a fan of history will relish each page. Aronson tells both sides of the story and allows the reader to draw their own conclusions about 20th Century America.Just reading this book, you understand of the tremendous changes that were swept in by this Century and how we continue to make errors in judgement.

What I thought...

I normally review fiction for this blog but I have to say that this is a work of enormous power. The research alone is impressive but Aronson writes so clearly that the book feels like you are reading a work of fiction. Highly recommended!

Why We Broke Up

 by Daniel Handler             Art by Maira Kalman

WHAT IT IS ABOUT

Min (short for Minerva and a different kind of girl) tells the story of her break up with Ed (co-captain of the basketball team) through a letter and a box of mementos that she saved from their short but intense relationship. In the story, Min loses herself to the relationship but through heartache and a good friend finds her way back to what she was about at the core. This is a good look at high school cliques  as Min begins to navigate waters that she had found a way to avoid.

WHAT I THOUGHT

This is a beautiful book to look at and to hold.  Almost like a picture book for teenagers. The illustrations are striking and help to bring the idea of returning memories as a means of shedding yourself of the reminders of the heartbreak.It is not a quick read and I felt I had to work through parts of the story. Having said that though, I would like a sequel to see how Min gets through the next few months. I would like to know Ed's view too.

Daniel Handler is bet know for his work with The Series of Unfortunate Events.  He does a nice job tackling high school issues and it is worth the read.

Mockingjay

Mockingjay                                            by Suzanne Collins

What it is about...

This title completes the trilogy of The Hunger Games. Katniss is the symbol of the revolution as the Mockingjay. She has been rescued and she is now a pawn in the games that adults play. She still is in a quandry about who she wants, the guys have it figured out before she does. The story gets tied up, there are no loose ends and well I won't say too much more about the ending. If you have read the other two you should finish the series.

What I thought...

Thank God it is over! I know, brutal honesty.  I really do not like the Katniss character. She uses Gale and Peeta to serve her ego. Life is hard but she just whines about everything. I do not see her  as really sacrificing herself. Sometimes you just need to tow the line and shut up about your personal angst. Katniss does, however, exhibit some personal strength toward the end of the novel, so she is partially redeemed.

I know many of you feel differently but I don't see her  as confused or a victim all I see is the Katniss pity party.

CATCHING FIRE

by Suzanne Collins

What it is about

This is the second book in The Hunger Games trilogy and continues the story of Katniss and Peeta. The story returns our two protagonists to the arena for yet another round of the hunger games. There is all kinds of political gamesmanship going on, Katniss is a pawn in the Capitol's need to retain control of the Districts. There are more characters in and out of the story and you can just tell the world that Collins has crafted is about to blow but we are left with a cliff hanger that I hope is concluded with Mockingjay (the third book in the series)

What I thought

 In the spirit of full disclosure, I have to say I did not like the first book. The second book is a bit better because the character development is better but... I still found Katniss really annoying. Collins should have created a female character that had more inner strength. I see young teenage women all the time  and they are strong both mentally and physically. Even though Katniss excels at the games she does not exhibit the characteristics that I see in girls everyday.

If you read the first novel, then go ahead and finish the trilogy. If you are not invested in the series there are other series that are better. The Matched Trilogy  by Ally Condie and the Delerium series  by Lauren Oliver are better reads.

IN TOO DEEP

by AMANDA GRACE

WHAT IT  IS ABOUT

Sam is in her senior year at a small high school in Washington state. She is struggling with having friends, her best friend Nick dating, and her father's reluctance to let her go. When Sam goes to a party at Carter's house, a popular athlete, she is trying to make Nick jealous. Things get out of control when Sam has too much to drink, she is seen crying with a torn blouse and the rumours start to fly as they will.

Sam does nothing to stop the rumours and it begs to the question when is it okay to lie or to not stop the lies?

WHAT I THOUGHT

There are some interesting ethical and moral questions in this book. It is a quick read because I wanted to know how Sam handled the situation or how it handled her.  I would recommend this book because the characters where believable, the pace and prose were good and the ending was satisfying.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

What it is about

In a world where love is a disease and there is a cure would you want to be cured? That is the premise of this novel. Set in an alternate United States, teenagers await their 18th birthday so that they can be cured and go on to live a disease free life. They are matched with some one who is picked for them and await a life of complaceny free of heart ache. There are no love poems, but there is also no love. Even among a parent and a child.

What I thought

Dystopia seems to be pretty popular right now and I set about reading this novel wondering if I could make it through the book (it is the first novel in a triology). I just had finished Matched and Crossed both of which are really fine works but I was getting a bit burned out on the dystopian theme.

This book is really good and now I can not wait for the second book.

The book is about resisting society, understanding what is important in this world and the heartache and beauty that love has to offer. It is exciting and has believable characters and relationships. The ending is a cliff hanger and offers the message of hope among a desperate stituation.  Recommended read, quick read (1 day) and thought provoking. Let me know what you think?!

The Future of Us

THE FUTURE OF US by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

What the story is about:
It's 1996, and Josh and Emma have been neighbors their whole lives. They've been best friends almost as long - at least, up until last November, when Josh did something that changed everything. Things have been weird between them ever since, but when Josh's family gets a free AOL CD in the mail,his mom makes him bring it over so that Emma can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they're automatically logged onto their Facebook pages. But Facebook hasn't been invented yet. And they're looking at themselves fifteen years in the future.
By refreshing their pages, they learn that making different decisions now will affect the outcome of their lives later. And as they grapple with the ups and downs of what their futures hold, they're forced to confront what they're doing right - and wrong - in the present. (from B&N.com)

What I thought

The premise of the story is interesting but it is far fetched. It does create a hook for modern teenagers and compels you to finish the story. The characters (both primary and secondary), however,are believable. The interactions are real and the settings are credible. The story raises some interesting questions about how we act today influences our tomorrow.

• Would you want to know what tomorrow would hold for you?
• Would it influence how you act today?

I liked this book but it was not as powerful as 13 Reasons Why (Asher). I read it in about two hours and I am sure you will whiz through it too!

Everything Matters

Everything Matters by Ron Currie

I selected this book because it won an Alex Award. We  were originally going to read it as part of one of the Junior English classes. I purchase the book, begin reading and there is no way, as a teacher, I can have the kids read this book. Talk about potential uproar!

I still would like seniors or juniors to this book, it is amazing. Currie writes like Irving, the story is so interwoven that it seduces the reader and then slams them back to reality. The characters are richly drawn that you are sucked in to their emotions and worlds. I highly recommed this work.