#25 Perfectly Normal

Harris, R. H., & Emberley, M. (2004). It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health. MA: Candlewick Press.

This well written and illustrated book is about bodily changes that happens to young preteens. This book ultimately tells young preteens what to expect when you hit puberty and how young teens shouldn't feel weird about their bodily changes. The illustrations are very graphic and somewhat shocking, and I can understand why this book and the other books are banned. I read an article about how this book is banned because of its straight forward content and images, but should students be denied the access to an educational book that may answer some of their questions? Regardless of the questionable content this book would benefit those young preteens who want to know things without asking an adult due to embarrassment. 

This book can be quite overwhelming with it real life content and I don't want to seem like a prude, but the illustrations are too much. I believe that this book shouldn't be banned from any library, but students need to be conscience of the information and illustration to be used in an investigating way and not for comic relief. This book reminds me of another story Gabi: a girl in pieces when the character Gabi gets a similar book from her mother, but Gabi's book never explained the painful cramps one gets from their menstruation. I think this is an education book that really could benefit those young preteens who want some answers to their bodily changes. 

#24 The Absolute Truth of a Part Time Indian

Alexie, S., & Forney, E. (2015). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. London: Andersen Press.

This delightful, enduring story is about a fourteen year old boy, Junior, who was diagnosis with hydrocephalus (water on the brain) and suffers many physical ailments because of it. Not only that but Junior is severely bullied as well. While living on the reservation, Junior sometimes has to wait to get his medical issues fixed; such as, getting his ten extra teeth pulled in one session. Now that's painful! Junior's family is dirt poor and it makes it difficult to get what they need, and to top it off Junior loses his dog, Oscar, because the family can't afford the veterinarian trip. Through all the obstacles Junior begins to achieve some success and continues to overcome his shortcomings by getting off the Rez and attending an all white school to better himself academically.  Though many on the Rez believe that Junior is a traitor those that know him and those who begin to know him understand why he must make this drastic move.

I enjoyed reading this story for all the challenges and experiences that Junior (the author) went through. This is such a heart felt story that made me cry so many times with the countless death that this boy had to go through, and losing his friend, Rowdy, for a time until the end. This story made me think of Gabi: a girl in pieces and her family's issues; like her father's drug addiction is similar to Junior's dads drinking. I believe young preteens and older would enjoy this touching book and really learn from Junior to never give up on what you're fighting for. Prepare the Kleenex for the strong emotions.  

#23 Stick

                                    Smith, A. (2015). Stick. New York, NY: Square Fish.

This gut wrenching story is about a teenage boy, Stark McClellan, who's called Stick because tall and stick thin. He gets bullied a lot because he thinks he's deformed since he was born with one ear, but his older brother brother Bosten is there to defend Stick when he gets picked on. Unfortunately, the brothers can't defend each other when it comes to their abusive parents and their punishments. Though no matter what happens with their parents both Stick and Bosten continue to live everyday to the fullest. Along with living to the fullest, Stick is starting to notice that he is interested in girls and being with a girl, but he's socially awkward when it comes to talking with girls. Thankfully his friend Emily is there to help him out with some of the awkwardness which leads Stick to loving her more and more. Of course, Stick isn't the only one who seems to be in a relationship but Bosten is in love with his best friend Paul, and when his dad learns about this relationship he beats Bosten badly. The next day, Bosten is gone and Stick must decides to journey all the way to California to find his brother.

Stick is written so well and the characters feel so real. Some might consider this book to be realistic fiction because it could have possibly have taken place. It made me really hate Stick's parents for their harsh treatment of their boys and the fact that the father could have sexually harmed Bosten really made me feel sick with rage. I can not imagine what some kids who have lived in this situation have gone through, and perhaps young teenagers may like this book due to the content. Of course, I would be prepared with tissue in case you tear up a little.   

#22 Paper Girls 2017 Great Graphic Novels for Teens

          Vaughan, B. K., & Chiang, C. (2016). Paper Girls(Vol. 1). Berkeley, CA: Image Comics, Inc.

This 1980s colorful-inventive graphic novel is about four newspaper delivery girls who uncover something strange. The story starts with one character, Erin, is having a nightmare about her sister dying and when she wakes up she realizes her sister is alive and annoyed with being woken up. While being up and about Erin notices the newspaper van is there to drop off the papers for the day (November 1st) to be delivered. Erin heads out on her route and runs into a few jerks and is helped out by the original delivery girls that started the business. Erin teams up with Mac, Tiffany, and KJ to deliver the papers and avoid the Halloween crazies, and when Tiffany gets jumped by some unusual suspects it leads them to a strange contraption that takes them into a time warp. They find out that the people around them are disappearing as well as technology.

I found this graphic novel entertaining and somewhat straightforward when it came to language use. I admit this would be good for young adult due to its language use and even depicted action. Reading this story reminded me of my students graphic novels that they read for accelerated reading, and the color really captured my interest from the very beginning. I'm thinking about reading the other volumes to see how the story ends.  

#21 New York's Best Seller: Lord of Shadows

               Clare, C. (2017). Lord of Shadows(Dark Artifices). London: Simon & Schuster.

This magical adventure is about the Blackthorn family and Emma Carstairs overcoming the obstacles that have the Los Angeles Institute on the verge of being taken over by the Centaurians who want one of their own to head the institute and remove Arthur Blackthorn as the head. Not only do they have the Centaurians to worry about but Malcolm Fade the once high warlock of L.A. has back from the dead demanding for Blackthorn blood. All the young Blackthorn and Kit Herondale must escape to the London Institute to avoid losing their life for Malcolm's demand. While Julian Blackthorn and Emma travel to another place to search through Malcolm's things to find a way to locate the resurrected Annabel and the Black Book before they Council meeting to decide the fate of the L.A. institute. Not only is their home on the line but Julian and Emma must also fight the terrible parabatai curse that could destroy not only them but the one's that they love too. Love shouldn't hurt this much and destroy everything in its path, but that's how Julian and Emma feel, but they don't have the time to dwell because the Unseelie King of the fairies wants to declare the war on the Shadowhunters. What could happen next?

Oh, my gosh!! I've read the first book in the series and the second book didn't disappoint either. Since reading City of Bones I've always loved this world and the characters because everything seems magical and believable. All the characters that Cassandra Clare created really made me fall in love with each one, and I just want to cheer for each one's accomplishments. Julian and Emma are thrilling characters and their struggles are so heart-wrenching that made me tear up at times. Of course, the last part of the story was a total plot twist and I hate being left with such a big cliffhanger, and if you do read this book be prepare to cry at the end. I can't wait for the next book. *Sigh*

#20 Blood Roses

                                Block, F. L. (2009). Blood Roses. New York, NY: HarperTeen.

This enticing book consist of nine tales with unbelievable things that could never happen in real life. Most of these tales consist of teenagers who fall into some sort of transformation that changes them seemingly through some sort of magic. One particular story is about a girl, Sasha, who would be considered popular and beautiful, but she's becoming alarmingly thin. Her friends suspect she's bulimic but what her friends don't know is that her mom is a vampire that takes her blood to feed on. Sasha doesn't hate her mother and she knows that she can't go on like this forever. She eventually leaves home and became the head of a needle exchange program that was inspired by her mother when she would draw blood from her. In another tale, there is a girl, Elodie Sweet, who is in love with a tattooed guy, Darby, and she knows that he wont want to be with her. While she pines for him she begins to find strange tattoos appearing on her body; such as, a red rose with Darby's name on one of the petals. She thinks she's going crazy and finally goes to see Darby for his help, and its not the help she expected to get but the tattoos start to disappear slowly to the point where she no longer see's Darby's name.

I must admit when I read this book I had to reread a few tales over again in order to understand what was happening to some of the characters. It seemed that each tale had a young teenager who went through some sort of transformation that either consisted of growing into a giant or find a man on the road that might have been an angel considering the scars on his back. Throughout the numerous tales you begin to notice that the character not only going through something magical, but they grow emotionally confident after their mini life lessons.  

#19 Persepolis

Satrapi, M. (2004). Persepolis. NY: Pantheon.

This is a creative graphic novel that depicts the life of Marjane Satrapi in the country of Iran. A young Marjane is raised with parents who are Marxists activist always fighting for the rights of the people. She has witnessed the overthrown of Shah's regime,  the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, and has even witnessed the devastating effects of the Iraq war. At the beginning of the story, Marjane believed she would be a prophet because she felt that she could make a difference in the way people act and think. Later Marjane became invested in the activist lifestyle and would listen to her parents and family members about all the issues Iran is facing. Her father explained to Marjane that Iran was built on a social class system and depending on your socioeconomic class you're in good standing or not. Marjane knows that life is only getting more difficult following the new laws and rules and her parents end up sending her off to another country in order to keep her safe from the Iraq destruction or worse.

I enjoyed the historic viewpoints that Marjane Satrapi had to offer in her graphic novel. This was a creative way to show her memoir in a comic strip and to see the different reigns of power try to control the Iranians. I believe that students who are studying world history may understand what Marjane may have gone through and they might want to find out what happened to her when she traveled to Austria. 

# 18 Monster

Myers, W. D., Sims, G. A., & Anyabwile, D. (2015). Monster. New York, NY: HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins.

This story is about a 16 year old boy, Steve Harmon, who is unjustly accused of murder and robbery. His story is written in a film script format because he's a film student  and he believes this would make a good film. Even though Steve is afraid of the outcome of the trail he continues seeing everything in a film format. The Prosecutor is trying to convince the jury that he was involved in this horrific crime because of his association to the two criminals who obviously committed the crime. For Steve he knows he's innocent and he wishes he could tell the jury his side of the story, but Steve understands that its up to his lawyer and him to follow the rules in order to fall into a plea of not guilty. As the story continues Steve Harmon is finally released and he greatly is relieved to be off the hook.

I wasn't a fan of this story because of how it was formatted like it was a movie script. Regardless, of how the story was written I liked the character, Steve, and how he kept strong throughout his stay in prison. While listening to the audible version it made me really feel for Steve's story, because he was mistakenly accused through his association with the neighborhood criminals. Even though, he made small talk with the accused it ultimately made him a suspect and I even think it also had to due with his race. It still boggles my mind that we as people still can be racist and assume things about one another's race that aren't necessarily true. This story goes to prove that we still have a lot to learn about justice and how to treat each other without judgement.   

#17 The Strange & Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender (William C. Morris Award)

Walton, L. (2014). The Strange & Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

This magically story a particularly usual family, the Roux, who immigrate to the United States during the 1920's in hope of a better future. Over the course of time the Roux family falls into great devastation; such as, their father is mistakenly murdered, the young siblings of Emilienne begin to meet their untimely death, and Emilienne's mother fades to dust. Through these strange events Emilienne weds a man, Conner Lavender, and moves to Seattle where he opens up a bakery to support his new family. Emilienne gave birth to a daughter, Viviane, who Mr. Lavender only got to see for a short time when all of a sudden he dies of a heart-attack. Everyone on Pinnacle Lane believes that Emilienne Lavender is a witch and she must choose to ignore these comments in order to make a living for her daughter and herself. Through the years, young Viviane falls in love with a young boy, Jack Griffin, but like her mother her love life doesn't end well. Viviane becomes pregnant with Jack's children, Ava and Henry, and they are an oddity among the town. Ava has wings and is considered a angel among the town members, and Henry doesn't like to talk or be touched. So, one can believe these events are leading to one ultimate event that includes Ava and her beautiful wings.

This story was really gut-wrenching with its sorrowful case of love and all of its untimely death because of love. I felt that the Roux family was cursed in love and I believed that love made them do crazy things. When Emilienne loved every time something always happened to the one she loved, so she stopped loving and she was distant with her daughter and hope she didn't fall prey to love too. Of course, we all know love can't be stopped or avoided, and the Lavender women did love regardless of heartbreak. After finishing this book I was glad that Viviane learned to let go of her past and finally love the one man who was always there for her and her children. Love does make people do crazy things after all, but one should not avoid it out of fear. This story is all about learning to overcome such obstacles and continue to be open to new experiences no matter the outcome. 

#16 Merrow 2017 Best Fiction for Young Adults

                              Braxton-Smith, A. (2016). Merrow. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.

Merrow is about a young girl, Neen, who has lives near a town of Carrick where are the locals whisper grand tales of how her Pa who drowned and how her Mam disappeared. What Neen really wants to know is what really happened to her Mam, because its becoming hard to know what is true and what's not. Her Auntie Ushag doesn't bother telling Neen too much since she's more concerned about their every day tasks that must get done. Of course, the other people she seems to listen to is Ma and her son Sully tales of the merrow (mermaids) and how her Mam joined the merrow because of heartache. Neen is becoming desperate for the truth and goes to great lengths to get her Auntie Ushag to tell her the truth about her Mam, because she feels like the only place that makes any sense to her is underwater where her red itchy Scale and her mind is at peace in the ocean.

This delightful story is quite fascinating and the plot twist really got me towards the end of the book, because you think you now the outcome of story and then you're thrown completely into a different direction. The idea of mermaids and Otherworld creatures fascinate me and the idea that these "merrows" existed to Neen made me want to believe as well. The character development really struck a chord in me, because it made me in feel great empathy for Neen and her desperate need to know what happened to her mother (Mam). When I learned the truth along with Neen I just wanted to hold her and cry along with her, and I believe this story can benefit older children and teenagers who live in a single household or with other family members besides their parents. The only story I can think of is Heidi and her grandfathers relationship, and in the end they appreciate what they have and each other. Enjoy this magical tale and Neen's adventure.  

#15 Ghost by Raina Telgemeiger

                  Telgemeier, R. (2016). Ghosts. New York, NY: Graphix an imprint of Scholastic.

Ghost is about a young girl, Cat, who is uprooted from her home and is moving to Bahia de la Luna located along the coast of Northern California because her sister, Maya, is sick. It's not Maya fault that she has cystic fibrosis, but it Cat is really going to miss her friends. Once the Cat's family moves in the girls go explore their new town and meet a boy, Carlos, who happens to be their next door neighbor. Carlos informs tells them that there are ghost living here in Bahia de la Luna, and he would be happy to give them his ghostly tour of the town. Maya is determined to see one regardless of being sick, and Cat is not thrilled to see these so call, "ghost." As Halloween approaches the ghost can reunite with their loved ones according to Cat's new friends and their is a big festival in the middle of the town. Cat needs to figure out a way to let go of her fears for the sake of her fearless sister, Maya, and go see for herself what the festival is about. 

Loved it! This beautiful well-written graphic novel is AMAZING. I was glad that I read this book and got to meet Cat and Maya along this fun-loving story. I'm a only child so I never got to experience having a little brother or sister, but I could imagine what it was like by reading and seeing Cat's experience. I'm actually familiar with the cystic fibrosis when I was in respiratory therapy and I got to see many of the vest treatments for the patients who had cystic fibrosis. Most students who read this might not know what genetic disease is and once they have read it they'll have a better understanding of this disease, because at the end of the graphic novel Telgemeier explains what cystic fibrosis is and gives a web address for additional information about it. I think my fourth graders may like this book because of its Spanish cultural flare, the ghost, and it's written in a graphic novel format. It's an easy read and even the most reluctant reader would find joy in it.

#14 Gabi: A Girl in Pieces

                     Quintero, I. (2014). Gabi: A Girl in Pieces. El Paso, TX: Cinco Puntos.


Gabi: A Girl in Pieces is about a young girl, Gabi, who writes in her diary about her senior year experiences. These diary entries consist of her friend Cindy's' teen pregnancy, Sebastian's "coming out" and homelessness, her dad's addiction to meth, and her love life. It's tough being a teenage girl who is experiencing a lot her senior year and trying to fill out college applications to get out of this one horse town. Of course, no matter what her family and friends go through she has there back and will defend them even if they don't want it. Gabi's love life is also added to the diary, yet her mom and Tia Bertha are ruining her mojo warning her to stay pure, and that bad girls will go to hell. Its a tough life but Gabi wouldn't change a thing.   

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and Quintero's writing, because she brings this book alive with its relevant topics of teen pregnancy, homosexuality, drug addiction, and teenage love. Gabi is a well-developed character that makes you love her headstrong attitude when you continue reading her diary entries, because it makes you feel like you're a part of her life and witnessing everything from her point of view. Being a big girl in high school who enjoyed the comforts of food myself I felt that I really knew who Gabi was and the experiences she went through makes me think of my students who come from dysfunctional, broken families who may be witnessing these events like Gabi. I believe this book is great for grades 9 and up due to its content and language use, but even adults may like this book too. I'm glad I read this because it would be a shame not to know the character Gabi.

#13 Ask the Passengers by A.S. King

King, A. S. (2013). Ask the Passengers. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.

Ask the Passengers, is about a young girl, Astrid Jones, who keeps everyone's secret and now she has her own secret, too. She doesn't have anyone to confide to, because her mom is too domineering, dad is always high, her sister is mom's lackey. So, she heads out back to her family's picnic table and watches airplanes go by and mentally tells the passengers her problems, and sends them her love. Of course, those secrets don't always remain a secret and Astrid's secrets are about to be forcefully exposed whether she likes it or not.

Astrid's story is so relevant to our young teens of today who are constantly questioning not only  their own sexuality, but what everyone else says too. I liked how Astrid sought answers to her questions in her philosophy class, and that her teacher made the lessons impact her on a deeper level. This story made me laugh when A.S. King referred to how Astrid's dad is like "The Dude" from the Big Lebowski due to her dad's pot smoking habit, and I was happy that I understood that reference. Also, the story is very similar to Annie on My Mind in how Astrid and Liza are so afraid of what others think about who they love, but in the end they both find their own acceptance. Not only does Astrid find acceptance but her relationship with her family starts to get better too.

# 12 Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova (Quick Picks awarded book)

Córdova, Z. (2016). Labyrinth Lost. Naperville, I: Sourcebooks Fire.

Labyrinth Lost is a NPR Best Young Adult Book of 2016 and a Quick Picks awarded book. The story is about a young girl, Alejandra "Alex" Mortiz, who hates magic and her "Death Day" is fast approaching causing her terrible anxiety. Alex belongs to a family of brujas (Spanish for witches) and she's the strongest bruja  of her generation, but she terribly afraid of her magic and being different. Alex takes extreme measures to stop her "Death Day" by performing a spell that backfires. Everyone of her family members living and dead are taken by "The Devourer" in the spirit world. Now she must enlist a mischievous, shady Nova, a boy brujo with questionable morals to help save her family.  

This is story is another one of my favorites since it deals with magic and has supernatural aspects that captured my interest immediately. Cordova does an excellent job incorporating Spanish cultural into her story as well as allowing non-Spanish speakers to comprehend the story. Labyrinth Lost really brings everything to life like who the characters are, and how their heritage and traditions are so important. Personally, I felt that this story had similar themes like that of Harry Potter and the Mortal Instruments series which allows the reader to experience the magical  adventure. I'm glad I found this special book and I can't wait for the next book in the series. 

#11 Fault in our Stars

                                     

Green, J. (2012). Fault in Our Stars. Boston , MA: Dutton Books.

The Fault in Our Stars, is about a terminally ill girl, Hazel, who has gone through a tumor shrinking miracle that has allowed her to live for a few more years. Hazel's mom believes she's depressed so she convinces Hazel to go to a Cancer Kid Support group to help her through the depression. At one of these meetings she meets a cancer survivor, Augustus Waters, who wittingly charms "Ms. Hazel Grace" in becoming his friend. Both characters realize that cancer is a monster of beast and that they're lucky enough to have come out the other end somewhat in-tacked. During the course of the story Hazel convinces Augustus to read her favorite book"An Imperial Affliction" by Peter Van Houten, and both become absorbed in Mr. Houten's story which leads them to Amsterdam to talk with Houten about the story. After a not so welcomed visit with Houten they return home and Augustus informs Hazel that his cancer has come back. These star-crossed lovers know that this journey is coming to the end, but it doesn't stop them from loving every single minute they have together. Sigh!

This was one of my favorite books and I believe John Green did a fabulous job with the characters in the book. The characters seemed so alive and every heartbreaking moment they shared just ate my very soul. Some might consider this a modern day version of Romeo and Juliet without the whole families hating each other and suicide. Personally, I loved the movie better then book because it has two great actors who really capture the characters essence and its nice to have a visual too. I cried when I read and watched the movie so be prepared to have tissue on hand.

#10 Doll Bones by Holly Black

Black, H. (2015). Doll Bones. New York, NY: Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Holly Black's Doll Bones is a great book filled with mystery, adventure, and life lessons. The story has 3 main characters Zack, Poppy, and Alice and they've always been best friends and played make believe quests. One day, Zack notices that all of his action figures are missing, and when he learns what happened to them he feels like he has to grow up and not play childish games anymore. Poppy and Alice are left wondering what happened to cause this change in Zack so quickly. One night, Poppy rounds them all up and tells them that "The Queen" (the china doll) is really a spirit that is trapped inside the doll. Eleanor aka "The Queen" was murdered and wants to be put to rest in her family's grave, but she needs the children's help. Poppy, Alice, and Zack must complete this quest in order to help Eleanor find her everlasting peace, but it means leaving home without permission and travel out of their town. Will the three friends complete the quest, or will Eleanor continue living unhappily inside the doll? 

I listened to audio version of this story, and it sounded like the narrator of the movie Stand by Me. In fact, the movie and this story have a similar theme and tone. Both story and movie illustrate the sense of adventure and the bonds of friendship through tough time. Zack's character reminded me of myself when I went from little kid to teenager and it felt like I needed to stop acting like a child. This particular development can be tough when you don't want to let go of childish things, because you think it's not cool. Doll Bones is a real eye-opener in that sense.

Plus, the fact that Eleanor (the doll) had her creepy supernatural moments during the story gave me goosebumps. For example, Eleanor was beside Poppy during her nighttime watch and the following morning she mysteriously ends up behind Zack who is barely waking up and turns his head to stare into those doll eyes. Creepy!!

# 9 The Nest 2017 Popular paperbacks for YA

Oppel, K., & Klassen, J. (2015). The Nest. New York, New York: Simon & Schuster.

The Nest, is about boy, Steve, whose been overlooked by his parents, because his new baby brother is severely ill and optimizes his parents time. While feeling  neglected Steve begins to have strange and peculiar dreams about angels, which turns out to be bees. During one of these dreams, Steve agrees to allow these bees to help "heal" his baby brother, but what Steve doesn't realize is how the bees will "fix" his brother. As the story progresses Steve realizes these bees aren't going to save his brother, but replace him instead. It's up to Steve to remedy the problem and save his brother from being taken away and devoured by the Queen and her worker bees. Will Steve be able to save his little brother from the evil Queen bee?

When I read this story I was blown away by the idea of a evil "Bee Queen," who could build/make a new baby. Throughout the story I wondered why the parents didn't try to spend  time with their other healthy children, but I suppose if I had one child who was terribly ill and close to dying then I would dedicate my time to my sick child. I could empathize with the character Steve, because he thought he was being helpful and he was doing this for the right intentions. Perhaps the readers who have been in similar situation where someone in their family was sick could relate to how Steve felt, or even the case of the middle child could be left out because their other siblings need more attention. 

First Light

Stead, R. (2008). First Light. New York, NY: Yearling.

This fun-loving adventure is about a boy, Peter, who joins his parents on a expedition to Greenland where his father will study global warming. Peter is thrilled about skipping school, learning how to drive a dog sled, and finally be apart of his Dad's adventure. While Peter is out on the ice he starts to see visions of something he can't explain and it involves a red circular design he found in the ice.
Also, in the story is a girl, Thea, who's never seen or felt sunshine. Her people were suspected of witchcraft and fled for their lives to a secret passage beneath the ice where they have lived for many years. Thea believes and feels within her magic that it's time to return to the surface and that going up there will be important to their survival. Both Peter and Thea don't know that they are searching for the same thing until a certain situation brings them together.

First Light is a amazing story filled with magic and adventure  that any young preteen or teen would enjoy reading. Personally, I loved reading this story and discovering the secrets under the surface of the ice. Peter and Thea are well-rounded characters whose curiosity leads them to find what they're searching for, and some discoveries will blow any reader away. I can't begin to think of another story that is similar to this story, but I'm sure there's something out there. So, take a chance on Peter and Thea's adventure and enjoy the read.

The Crossover

 Alexander, K. (2014). The Crossover. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 

 This story is about twin brothers Josh and Jordan who are both great basketball players and enjoy playing the game. The story is told from Josh's perspective and he uses a free verse form of poetry to illustrate his story. Josh begins to tell how their dad is their inspiration in basketball, because their father was a great international basketball player who was all-star in the states. During the story Josh and his brother begin to notice their father seems to be sick and not himself, but their dad refuses to see the doctor. Not only is Josh worried about his dad but at the same time his brother is dating a girl that Josh happens to like too. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place, but Josh tries to focus all his energy into basketball and not his brother's girlfriend. Josh and his family unfortunately end up in some sad and hard times when their father ends up having a massive heart attack. Even though, Josh is upset by what's happening to his dad he still goes to the basketball final without his brother who rather stay with there dad, and while Josh is playing his heart out their father ends up having major complications and dies before Josh can get back to see him again. Do you think Josh blames himself for leaving his dad to play a basketball game, or do you think Josh is selfish? Read and find out the outcome of the story.

This was tear and heart jerking kind of book which you feel for each character. The free verse form of writing was well done, and even though I had to reread a few passages to understand the textual meaning it was worth it. I feel like older readers in the middle to high school range will enjoy this story.

Lily and Dunkin

Gephart, D. (2016). Lily and Dunkin. New York, NY: Delacorte Press.

This amazing novel is about a boy, Timothy (Tim) McGrother, who really wants to be a girl (Lily) and Norbert Dorfman is a young boy who suffers from a bipolar disorder and being the new kid in town too. Norbert befriends Tim when he spies him up a tree and they become friendly with each other. Tim gives Norbert a new name "Dunkin" to help him feel better about his name, but Tim doesn't tell Dunkin to call him, Lily, in fear of how his reaction. Tim really wants to come out this 8th grade year and become Lily in the eyes of everyone, but his Dad's constant fear for Tim makes it hard to be Lily. Tim knows that being a transgender will be hard especially since his puberty hormones are making themselves known. Once the school year starts, Dunkin is swept up by the basketball team members who happen to pick on Tim because he's different and call him names. Dunkin knows that it's not right to see his friend get picked on, but he's too scared that he won't be liked anymore. Not only is Tim having a hard time at school, but Dunkin begins to stop taking his medicine which causes him to have a mental breakdown. Can Tim and Dunkin overcome these obstacles in their lives and be who they truly are.

Lily and Dunkin is an amazing book about two character who are going through dramatic changes in their lives. I find Tim a.k.a Lily's character enduring and I just wanted to support her and the decisions she wanted to make, and that can be hard for a young transgender kid to go through. Dunkin's character is someone who I can relate with and his mental illness disorder is something that most people don't consider when you're trying to help someone. Both characters can really help young preteens and teens who are confused about their own gender or mental illness, and I believe others can learn not to judge those who are different. I'm glad that Dunkin finally realized that before he lost his friendship with Tim/Lily. 

Annie on My Mind

Garden, N. (2013). Annie on My Mind. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus, Giroux.

This young adult novel is about two young girls, Liza Wintrop and Annie Kenyo, who happen to meet at the metropolitan museum. They instantly become friends even though they live in different parts of  New York they make time to see each other. Their friendship slowly begins to blossom into something more and Liza doesn't know how to handle these feelings she has for Annie. Liza has always seemed a little different even among her private school friends, and she's never been attracted to anyone at her school either. When Liza and Annie are together everything just makes sense which at times scares Liza, but she knows she isn't complete without Annie in her life. One drastic event breaks both Liza and Annie apart due to fear and the unknown, and its not until Liza realizes that the opinions of others doesn't really matter if you're with the one person you love.

Annie on My Mind can be a controversial book due to its content. When it was first published in 1982, many individuals didn't like the book or its content, and many people were outraged by the idea of two girls loving one another. When I told my mother what I was reading she had this look on her face and I knew she didn't care of the book. Of course, I think when people are raised to believe that homosexuality is wrong its hard to change there mind. I believe that literature like this could help those who are ignorant to better understand the fact of homosexuality isn't something that is weird or sick, but that it's another form of partnership. We all want whats best and it shouldn't matter who we love. I enjoyed the story regardless of its content, and I believe this could help those young teens who are confused about their own sexuality. So, regardless of ones' own beliefs try this book and see how the love for another really does prevail.  

Deadline

Crutcher, C. (2007). Deadline. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books.

Deadline is about a 18 year old boy, Ben, who finds out he has one year to live if not longer. Ben figures that if he has one year to live then he wants to go out with a bang. He tries out for the football team even though he's pint sized among his team members. He begins to read more literature figuring that the opinions and history of others is important to know and even torture his ignorant civics teacher. Ben even goes for the mysterious beauty, Dallas Suzuki, who captures Ben's heart ever since he laid eyes on her. Though, when Ben has it all  he feels like he should tell someone about his impending demise, but it's terribly hard to tell the secret when you know it will hurt those he loves. 

Personally, this story makes one comprehend life and your dreams. I sincerely felt that Ben was so realistic and that these events could have actually happened. I must admit this story can be gut-wrenching at times, but the characters are quite fascinating that makes it worth the read. Deadline is similar to The Fault in Our Stars by John Green where you have two characters, one who has a terminal illness and one recovering from cancer. Ben reminds me of  Augustus Waters and how they both just find the brighter things in life, and their"Carpe Diem"  attitude makes you believe that nothing is impossible. With that being said keep in mind that you may cry or not if you give this book a chance, so have the tissue box close by.

Bone Gap Printz Honor

Ruby, L. (2015). Bone Gap. New York, NY: Balzer Bray.

Bone Gap is a story about a teenage boy, Finn, who's considered quite unusual among his Midwestern town. One thing about Finn is he can't distinguish between people's faces and that of the abductor of his friend Roza. Finn tries his best to remember and figure out how to find Roza which will make his brother Sean who loves Roza happy again. No one believes Finn saw what he saw and its up to him to find the man who took Roza. As Finn walks through the corn field he realizes the town of Bone Gap has mysterious gaps that lead him to another world. Will Finn find Roza or will he get lost himself in the gap.

I enjoyed this book immensely and the characters are fantastically developed. At first the chapters skip between different characters, but this is an important structure due to the fact it shares the viewpoints and thoughts of the other characters which ties back into the story. This story flowed real well and the suspense was killing me towards the end. If anything this book has some mystery and even a supernatural feel to it which snagged my attention. So, give this book a shot and see if you like it as much as I did.

The Knife of Never Letting Go

Ness, P. (2014). The Knife of Never Letting Go. London: Walker Books.

In this desolate world, Todd Hewitt is the last boy in Prentisstown. Prentisstown is not like any other towns and the one thing that makes it different is that there are only men in the town. No women live in the town and Todd is under the impression of the disease that killed all the women in the town. Also, everyone can hear your thoughts which is overwhelming and there's no end to the Noise. Every secret is know and there's no privacy at all. Todd has a month left until his birthday and he's always believed there wasn't a place where the Noise didn't stop until he unexpectedly stumbles into a spot of complete silence. He knows its not possible not to have noise, but the more he explores the more he begins to think that the Prentisstown members have been lying to him. The lies are one thing but now everyone want's to find the cause which happens to be a girl. Now Todd, his dog Manchee, and the silent girl must run or else face the Prentisstown mayor.

I must admit this book was hard to read at first and eventually I listened to the audible version of it. It started off real slow, but then it's full of action and a lot of questioning why this was happening to Todd. Todd seems to be a stubborn child and is reluctant to believe his town members and even his own housemates are lying to him. I also enjoy the comic relief that his dog Manchee provides and his bond with his dog is amazing to see. I must admit there's a part where Manchee ends up dying saving both Todd and the girl, and that part reminds me of Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls where Little Ann and Old Dan save Billy from a mountain lion. That part always gets me and I tear up every time. I suppose this is where literature like this story teaches us empathy and human feelings. 

Speak

                                  Anderson, L. H. (2011). Speak. New York, NY: Square Fish.

Speak is about a freshman girl, Melinda Sordino, who came into high school with a horrible experience. The start of her freshman year hasn't gone so well since she busted up an end-of-summer party by calling the cops. Her friends and strangers seem to all hate her for calling the cops. No body bothered to ask why she did it or even acknowledge her. As the months continue she slowly begins to come out of her shell with the help of her art teacher and her tree creations in his class. Melinda finally feels like she's ready to tell the truth about everything that happened the night of the party. Be prepared for the truth and welcome the change. 

I enjoyed Melinda Sordino's journey to finally open up and tell the truth. Personally, I find this book to be relevant to our young teen's today and the pressures they deal with in high school. It can be tough to fit in and it's even harder to open yourself up. Melinda's experience is a perfect example of what could happen to our own female daughter's, sisters, and female students. This story needs to be used as a guide and made aware for our young female students entering high school. This story is similar to 13 Reasons Why with that being said parents and our young adults would benefit for this read, because of its content and relevance of a teenagers life.