The Fault in Our Stars

Green, J. (2012). The fault in our stars. NY: Penguin Books.
Hazel Grace Lancaster, a sixteen year old with terminal cancer, is attending a cancer support group when she meets Agustus Waters, who is there supporting their mutual friend, Isaac. They catch each other's eye and soon become friends that talk to each other about everything. They hang out and discuss their experiences with cancer. Hazel has thyroid cancer that has spread to her lungs and Agustus had osteosarcoma, but has been cancer free since the amputation. Hazel shares her favorite book, An Imperial Affliction, and they obsess about how the book ends midsentence not giving the reader any closure. Agustus tracks down the author's assistant, Lidewij, and begins e-mail correspondence with Peter Van Houten. He invites Hazel to Amsterdam. So, Agustus uses his wish to take her to meet the author. However, the meeting doesn't go as planned and they leave in utter disappointment. Agustus reveals his cancer is back and that he wants Isaac and Hazel to give his eulogies. He dies eight days later. This is a great book for those 14 years and above. It deals with cancer, young love, and death. Although both main characters have cancer, the cancer isn't the story. The story is beautiful, funny, and heartbreaking. It shows us that cancer can affect anyone.
Green gives us a twist to Hazel's conflict. She's conflicted about entering into a relationship with Agustus because she feels she will hurt him if her illness worsens or she dies. However, it is Agustus who dies first and leaves Hazel heartbroken.

Wolf Children: Ame & Yuki

Hosoda, M. (2014). Wolf Children: Ame &

Yuki. NY: Yen Press.

Hana, a university student, falls in love with an intriguing man who turns out to be half-wolf. She accepts him as he is and they have two children, Ame and Yuki. However, their happiness is short lives when her husband is killed. Hana is left to raise two half-wolves or to hide them from society. She moves them to the country where they were free to be children or wolves. Yuki starts longing to assimilate into the human race and enter a school with children her age while Ame longs to live as a wolf and see the world through the eyes of the animals. This is a good graphic novel for those 13-18 years old. It is a manga therefore it was created in Japan and translated to English in 2014. I recommend this graphic novel to anyone who is in the mood for a family book with kids looking to find their identity. Hosoda demonstrates Havighurst's task that "adolescents have to adapt to their physical bodies." He takes the two half-wolf children and follows them as they are both trying to figure out how to live with the two identities within themselves (human and wolf) and to accept themselves and each other.

The Pregnancy Project

Rodriguez, G. & Glatzer, J. (2012). The

pregnancy project: A memoir. NY: Simon

& Schuster.

Gaby Rodriguez is a seventeen year old high school senior. She was raised by a single mother, who along with her older siblings were all teen parents. So, everyone expected that she would be one too since she was a young Latina living in near poverty. Gaby was in the top five percent of her graduating class and participated in extra curricular activities. For her independent, year-long project, she faked her own pregnancy. Gaby got to experience firsthand how difficult it is physically, socially, and emotionally to be pregnancy and in high school. This is a terrific book for teens 14-17 years. It's a great read for anyone who is sexually active while in middle or high school. It will allow them to get a girl's firsthand perspective on how hard it can be being a pregnant teen in school. This project made national news and was even made into film. Rodriguez does a wonderful job of showing how strong stereotyping can be. Once she revealed she was "pregnant" no one cared how hard she had worked in school. Teachers, family, friends, and student body whispered and talked behind her back saying she had thrown her life away or how her family should be used to teen moms. Rodriguez says teens need to be provided with resources to help avoid getting pregnant and to lend support if it does occur.

Rapture Practice

Hartzler, A. (2012). Rapture Practice: A true

story about growing up gay in an

Evangelical family. NY: Little, Brown and

Company.

Aaron Hartzler and his entire family are extremely strict, devout Christians. They believe Heaven is a real place and they believe in the Rapture, that Jesus is coming back. As a child he was thrilled by that idea, but as he turns sixteen, he's hoping Jesus will hold off until he has had a chance to "live". Soon Aaron begins to question everything as he comes to term with his sexuality and attempts to manage his parents' expectations. He turns rebellion by watching non-parent approved movies, non-Christian music, alcohol, and even some backseat groping with girls. He struggles to reconcile his upbringing and family beliefs with what he discovered his junior and senior years in high school. This is a great book for teens 14-17 years. It deals with religion, but does not solely focus on the Rapture. It has rebellion and finding of sexual identity. Hartzler's memoir is an excellent read. He does a remarkable job of looking at two sides on an issue without judging. His parents were extremely devout Christians while he experimented with some no so Christian activities. As Havighurst says, "adolescents must develop morals and values". Aaron questions what he has believed for sixteen years and begins to form his own truths.

Help for the Haunted

Searles, J. (2013). Help for the haunted. NY:

William Morrow.

Thirteen year old Sylvie Mason has been struggling with her parents' murders for nearly a year. It was a late night in snowy February when her parents received a call and headed out to an old church. Late night calls weren't unusual as her parents helped haunted souls find peace. Sylvie fell asleep waiting for her parents only to be awakened by the sound of gunshots. She is now in the care of her older sister, Rose. Sylvie is in search of what really happened to her parents that fateful night. The story moves back and forth in time as she comes closer to the truth, but in the process she uncovers secrets from her family's past that have haunted them for years. This is a great book for anyone who likes murder mysteries. Although Searles takes us back and forth in time, it is quite easy to follow along. I would recommend this book for older teens. Searles does a phenomenal job with the character of Sylvie. She is desperate to find the answers to her parents' murders. This turns this murder mystery into a coming of age novel that will keep you guessing until the conclusion.

Eleanor & Park

Rowell, R. (2013). Eleanor & Park. NY: St.

Martin's Griffin.

It's 1986 and Park Shridan is a half-Korean boy who tries not to bring attention to himself. That is, until Eleanor Douglas gets on the bus with her bright red hair. They don't really associate with each other until they realize they share common interests in comics and music. Soon they become inseparable.
Although this is a love story, there is more serious content within it.   Eleanor has to deal with bullying at school because she's chubby, the way she dresses, and her red hair. She must also deal with abuse at home. Her step-father is physically abusive to her mother and she constantly hears it. She lives in fear that he might kill her. With that in mind, I feel it is more appropriate for 13-17 year olds. If you like this book, try reading The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.
Rowell's style for Eleanor & Park is to write in both Eleanor's and Park's point of view. This gives her the ability to switch between what both characters are feeling. She also gives us their background contrasting one from the other. As the characters come together, their interaction becomes closer - going from each character have their own chapter or multiple pages to switching them after each sentence.

Everything Leads to You

LaCour, N. (2014). Everything leads to you.

NY: Speak.

Emi Price is just out of high school and has been recruited to work on a new low-budget film. While looking for props at an estate sale of a famous movie star, Emi and Charlotte, her best friend, discover a letter from the actor to his daughter. They decide to track her down, but discover she is deceased. However, her daughter, Ava, has led a difficult life. Emi begins to fall for Ava.
This book displays the passion of a young woman. It is great for young women with dreams and aspirations. Although Emi is a lesbian, it doesn't make the story. I would recommend this book for anyone 14-17 years old.
Havighurst says that "adolescents should find a vocation." Emi has just graduated high school and is already starting her career. She is a talented young production designer who is starting to find her way in the Hollywood film world. She is passionate and confident in her abilities.

Paper Towns

Green, J. (2008). Paper towns. NY: Speak.
Quentin Jacobson has spent his whole life admiring and falling in love with Margo Roth Spiegelmen. In the middle of the night, Margo climbs in through Quentin's window and needs a favor. Quentin drives her around as she goes on a revenge spree against Jase, her cheating ex-boyfriend. The next morning Margo is missing. Quentin feels that she is leaving him clues so he can go find her. He and his friends set out to find her. However, once he finds her, she tells him she never wanted to be found.
This is a great book for kids 14-17 years. I enjoy reading a book before seeing the movie. This is an excellent read and would recommend it to anyone who likes to read books that are made into movies. It would also appeal to adolescents who are feeling lost and need to find themselves.
One of the themes in Paper Towns is seeing people for who they really are. Quentin was in love with and idolized Margo Roth Spiegelmen since he was a child. He sees Margo as popular and a risk taker who has everything going for her. To him, she is a miracle. When in reality, she is a lost girl uncertain of who she is. He realizes this at the end.

When You Reach Me

Stead, R. (2009). When you reach me. NY: A Yearling Book.
In 1979, sixth grader Melinda lives with her mother in a New York apartment. She and Sal, her best friend, would walk home from school avoiding the "laughing man", the crazy man who hangs out near her building. Until one day, Sal gets punched in the face by a boy on the street for no apparent reason and he ends his friendship with Miranda. She starts to receive strange notes that foretell the future. One of them tells her he's coming to save her friends life and his own, but Miranda needs to write him a letter. Meanwhile she forges a new friendship with Marcus, the boy who punched Sal. As Marcus and Miranda discuss A Wrinkle in Time, she learns that he isn't mean, but highly intelligent. The "laughing man" saves Sal from getting hit by a car and dies. Miranda finally realizes that the "laughing man" is Marcus as an old man.
I feel this book is suitable for kids 9-12 years old. It is a good mystery book with a surprise twist at the end. It truly engages readers. Another recommendation for this type of book would be The Time Travelers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger although this one would be better for the latter part of the age group recommendation for When You Reach Me.
Stead does a wonderful job with Miranda's character. Throughout the novel, her thoughts and feelings are revealed to us. Since she doesn't hold back, we are able to connect with the character.

Tithe

Black, H. (2002). Tithe: A modern faerie tale. NY:

Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Sixteen year old Kaye is constantly traveling with her mother's rock band. When she meets Roiben, a faerie knight of the Unseelie Court, she becomes entangled between two faerie courts. Her childhood friends, the Solitary Fey, inform her that she in fact is one too and that every seven years the Unseelie Court makes a human sacrifice. The Solitary Fey ask Kaye for help she gets help from her Fey and human friends to trick the Queen of Unseelie, Nichevin.
This book is good for older kids around 14-17 years old. I feel it will appeal to readers who like faerie tales or fantasy. It contains adult issues like drinking, smoking, stealing, and foul language.
Havighusrt says "adolescents have to adapt to their physical bodies. Black definitely demonstrates this with Kaye. She has always seen herself as a human although she could communicate with faeries since her childhood. At sixteen years, she learns that she, herself, is a Fey and she has to adapt. She finally finds a place between worlds where she feels comfortable.

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

Angleberger, T. (2010). The strange case of

Origami Yoda. NY: Amulet Books.

Dwight is a sixth grade weirdo that carries around a Yoda finger puppet made of paper that gives great advice and Tommy wants to know if Origami Yoda is real. So, he compiles case studies with entries from his friends and has Harvey, his skeptical friend who sees Origami Yoda as nothing more than a wad of paper, give his opinions on each case. Tommy ultimately, on Yoda's advice, learns that Sara, his love interest, likes him too and he gets the courage to ask her to dance.
This is a cute book for kids 8-12 years old. It makes some references to Star Wars which might appeal more to young boys. It a good book for young boys who are started to take interest in young girls.
One of Havighurst's tasks is that "adolescents need to learn how to get along with peers." Dwight is an oddball and appears to be completely clueless yet he creates, from scratch, a pretty awesome Origami Yoda. However, he acts totally weird around his peers like when he says the word "purple" instead of answering Tommy. Yet, when he's around Caroline he seems to be perfectly normal. Dwight needs to act normal all the time!

In the Path of Falling Objects

Smith, A. (2009). In the path of falling objects.

NY: Square Fish.

Jonah and his younger brother, Simon, have been abandoned by their mother, their father in incarcerated, and their older brother, Matthew, is serving in Vietnam. With nothing but ten dollars and Matthew's letters, they set off to find their brother or father in Arizona when they are picked up by a couple, Mitch, a psychopath, and Lilly, a pregnant girl trying to get to California. Soon the free ride turns into a nightmare and fight for their lives that put their brotherly bond to the test.
I fell the first 40-50 pages kind of dragged and took me longer to read than the other 273 pages. Once it started to get interesting, I couldn't put it down. Due to the topics covered, I feel it is best suited for 13-17 year olds.
Smith incorporates emotional development in this novel. The boys are abandoned by their mother and are dealing with that emotional burden when they set off on their own. Jonah and Simon have never been apart and that tight brotherly bond they share is threatened by Mitch. Additionally, they must all fight to stay alive.

The Dust of 100 Dogs

King, A. S. (2015). The dust of 100 dogs.

Woodbury, MN: Flux.

Emer Morrisey is a 17th century pirate who gets slain at the moment she is about to escape the pirate life with her riches and the love of her life, Seanie. She is cursed to live one hundred lives as a dog. More than three hundred years later, Emer is reborn as Saffron Adams, a member of a poor family. However, her memories are intact - her life as Emer and her lives as a dog. Her only desire is to turn 18 and leave for Tortuga to find Emer's buried treasures.
This book would appeal to kids who like to read about pirates. However, throughout the entire book, it alternates between Saffron's life (the present) and Emer's life (the past), I feel it would be more suitable for kids between 12 and 17 years.
One of Havidhurt's tasks is "adolescents must define their appropriate sex roles." King goes totally against typical stereotypes of a pirate - she gives us a young female pirate. Emer is a heroine looking for the love of her life. She is ruthless and gains the respect of her crew and other pirates of the Caribbean.

Period 8

Crutcher, C. (2013). Period 8. NY: Greenwillow

Books.

Paulie Baum is a distance swimmer who is coached by Mr. Logsdon (Logs), the Period 8 teacher. When Paulie cheats on his girlfriend, Hannah, he turns to Mr. Logs for advice, but opts to tell Hannah. Meanwhile, Mary Wells, also called the Virgin Mary goes missing. Arney, student body president, moves in on Hannah while seeming to know more about Mary. It turns into a life or death situation with Arney as the mastermind and Mary Wells not returning. I could not put this book down. This novel is very well paced and completely draws you in. Halfway through the mystery comes in and it leaves you wanting answers. Crutcher creates strong characters and amazing plot twist in Period 8. The relationship Mr. Logs has with the students is genuine. They have an open forum in Period 8 that they are comfortable with each other to discuss anything. Paulie is a good guy who has a moment of weakness which turns his whole life upside down. Mary Wells appears to be pure and innocent, but throws herself at Paulie - looks can be deceiving. Likewise, Arney the student body president didn't seem capable of such monstrosities. The plot twist will keep you enthralled in the book all the way up until the last word.

Brown Girl Dreaming

Woodson, J. (2014). Brown girl dreaming. NY:

Nancy Paulsen Books.

A memoir by Jacqueline Woodson that tells of her childhood as an African American in Ohio, South Carolina, and New York in the 1960s and 1970s. She recalls that the country was caught in civil unrest with Malcolm X taking about revolution and Martin Luther King marching toward change. Jackie grew up with a knowledge of her family's heritage. This is a great book for anyone wanting to know what being an African American and being raised in the North and the South was like - the vast differences between the two. I fell this would be good for 10-14 year olds. It would also appeal to those interested in the Civil Rights movement. Woodson chooses to use free verse as the style for her book. The words flow so wonderfully and it covers a vast array of topics from religion, absentee parents, incarceration, death, to civil rights. The harmony the verses are written in will keep you hooked on the book.

Persepolis

Satrapi, M. (2003). Persepolis: The story of a

childhood. NY: Pantheon.

Persepolis is the true story of Marjane (Marji) Satrapi. Marji is living in Iran in 1980, a year after the Iranian Revolution. She gives us a child's perspective of the country's history from its glorious past to the present.  She recounts bombings, stories of torture, and violent deaths of family and friends.  It depicts how Marji grows from a child to a rebellious teenager that gets sent away to school in Austria.
This book is good for anyone wanting to learn about Iran from a younger perspective. Due to the nature of some of the content, I feel it would be more appropriate for a slightly older group of kids around 14-18 years.
Satrapi chooses to use a black and white graphic novel to tell her story. She is able to use not only words, but pictures as well to convey the events from her story more vividly for the readers.

Gabi: A Girl in Pieces

Quintero, I. (2014). Gabi: A girl in pieces. El

Paso, TX: Cinco Puntos Press.

Sixteen year old Gabi Hernandez, a senior in high school, takes us through her year via her diary. Gabi's best friends, Cindy and Sebastian, each deal with a crisis - pregnancy and coming out, but Gabi has issues of her own. Gabi faces multiple relationships with boys, an addict father, and deciding whether to leave for college or remain at home with her family.
Like Quintero says, "for all the gorditas, flaquitas, and in-between girls trying to make their space in the world." I couldn't have described it any better. Gabi is a "fat" girl who loves to eat and she doesn't hide it and it doesn't impede her from anything. A great book for any girl out there.
Quintero used many elements to make this book exceptional. There is quite a bit of emotional development for the characters. Gabi deals with the overdose of her father, losing her virginity, and leaving for college as well as dealing with her best friends issues. Cindy experiences a pregnancy that was the result of date rape and Sebastian deals with the repercussions of his coming out. The style she chooses by writing the novel as diary entries help us relate to Gabi and her Mexican culture is brought out with the Spanish words thrown in.

The Knife of Never Letting Go

Ness, P. (2008). The knife of never letting go.

Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

Todd Hewitt is the last boy in Prentisstown, a town that has no women and is infected with noise - they can hear everyone's thoughts. One day, Todd hears a hole in the noise, silence, and Ben and Cilian (his foster parents) tell him to leave town forever. He leaves with his dog, Manchee, and runs into Viola, the source of the silence. Together they set off to find Haven where they believe they will be free, but instead run into Mayor Prentiss, from Prentisstown - the very person Todd was running from.
The action in this novel kept me reading page after page and I will definitely be getting the next book in the series, The Ask and the Answer, to see what happens to Todd and Viola. Although it is a pretty easy book to read, I feel it would be best suited for 14-17 year olds.
The style Ness chooses to use for the character of Todd helps us to make a connection with him. It is written in the first person narrative and we have access to Todd's thoughts. The diction will also help us see that Todd is illiterate and uneducated.

Monster

Myers, W. D. (1999). Monster. NY:

HarperTeen.

Sixteen year old Steve Harmon is facing twenty-five to life in prison for robbery and murder. As a way to cope, he writes in a journal and then begins writing his experiences into a screenplay. With the prosecuting attorney referring to him as a monster, even after his not guilty verdict, Steve still questions if he is indeed a monster.
With the way Myers moves between the court scene and flashbacks of Steve's past, I feel the novel is best suited for older adolescents between 13 and 17 years. It is fast paced and well developed.
Myers does a phenomenal job with the plot and the characters. The well described plot alternates between the courtroom and flashbacks from Steve's past with vivid descriptions of each. The characters each take on a first person point of view using "I" for each character. You begin to feel immersed in the book alongside the characters.

It's Perfectly Normal

Harris, R. H. (2014). It's perfectly

normal: Changing bodies, growing

up, sex, and sexual health.

Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

It's Perfectly Normal has been updated to ensure kids and teens have the most up-to-date information about their changing bodies. The book is divided into six sections: What Is Sex?, Our Bodies, Puberty, Families and Babies, Decisions, and Staying Healthy. Additionally, it has an index to help when searching for a particular topic. It has sold over one million copies.
This book is very informative for kids 10-14 years. I feel this is a great resource for kids who may have questions about what is happening to their bodies, but are embarrassed to ask someone about it.  Harris has a few other books that answer questions about birth (It's NOT the Stork! for ages 4-8) and reproduction (It's So Amazing! for ages 7-10).
Harris shows the physical development that adolescents will go through. She tells how the bodies change during puberty and feelings that may be awakened with those changes.

George

Gino, A. (2015). George. NY: Scholastic Press.
George is ten years old with a best friend named Kelly. Although when everyone sees George, they see a boy, she doesn't feel like one. She knows she's a girl named Melissa. With the help of Kelly, Melissa will tell the people closest to her that she is not George, but she does not get the reactions she expected.
This is a radiant book for transgender kids or anyone in the age group of 8-12 years. Another recommendation for this type of book is Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky.
Gino does a terrific job with the themes of transgender, friendship, and bullying. The transgender theme was apparent throughout the novel with the use of the pronoun she. Even though George is physically a boy, reference was made to the girl he knew he was. The friendship George has with Kelly helps him deal with his transgender issues. Due to the fact that he auditioned for the part of Charlotte in the school play, he had to deal with bullying.

Annie on My Mind

Garden, N. (1982). Annie on my mind. NY:

Square Fish.

Liza Winthrop meets Annie Kenyon at the Metropolitan Art Museum in New York. Liza attends Foster Academy, a private school, while Annie attends public school. However, both girls frequent museums. They are instantly drawn to each other. Their friendship grows until their relationship is discovered by an administrator from Foster Academy.
I feel this is an exceptional read for anyone who is struggling with their sexuality. It is, however, more appropriate for the age group of 12-17 years.
Garden goes through Kohlberg's three levels of moral development in Annie on My Mind. At the preconventional level, Liza is making her decisions to please her parents and everyone at Foster Academy. During conventional morality, she looks at her feelings for Annie as wrong because society and Foster Academy frown upon gays. And at the postconventional level, she realizes that what society says is "wrong", might not be wrong for her. Although, it takes her months to realize it.

El Deafo

Bell, C. (2014). El Deafo. NY: Abrams.
Cece contracts meningitis which leads to her deafness. At her old school, she was in an all deaf class, but once her family move to Roanoke, she must attend a new school with her new Phonic Ear. Cece attempts to make new friends, but finds it difficult. However, she finds a true friend in Martha.
This is a great graphic novel for anyone suffering from a disability or kids in the age range of 8-12 years.  I feel it would be an asset to help those kids be less afraid of being different and embracing themselves and their uniqueness.
Bell uses the character of Cece to bring the book to life. Cece is looking for acceptance and true friendship. She has to deal with being stereotyped as being different or weird. She makes friends with Laura who is controlling and Ginny who treats her different before meeting Martha who accepts her for who she is and never treats her any different than anyone else.

Speak

Anderson, L. H. (1999). Speak. NY: Square Fish.
Melinda has been an outcast since she busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops. Something terrible happened to her that night - she was raped, but has not told anyone. She becomes withdrawn and isolated. She finds refuge in an unused janitor's closet. Melinda begins to speak only when necessary until she is compelled to speak the truth to save others from Andy.
I feel Speak is an excellent novel to give adolescents an insight into what a person who experiences date rape goes through. It may even serve as a warning to many young ladies and young men alike.
Anderson does a superb job of using conflict in several different ways. We see conflict with another person between Melinda and Andy. We see conflict with herself. She is in constant turmoil whether she should tell anyone what really happened and whether it could even be considered rape. Melinda is also confronted with a societal issue, date rape, which is a taboo topic in many societies.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Alexie, S. (2009). The absolutely true diary of a

part-time Indian. NY: Little, Brown and

Company.

Arnold Spirit, Jr. lives in poverty on a Spokane Indian Reservation, or rez. When he finds his mother's name written on one of his books, he realizes the school has been using the same books for over thirty years. He decides to leave the rez in order to get a better education. He attends Rearden in the neighboring town where he is the only Indian, aside from the school mascot. Junior must fight to find his place on and off the rez.
This book is a wonderful read for the age group of 12-17 years. I feel Alexie does a great job of portraying Junior as a true underdog and I couldn't help but root for him.
Alexie uses emotional development with Junior's character. Throughout the novel, he faces emotional dilemmas from being ridiculed on the rez to wanting a better education to feeling like an outcast at Rearden. To add to his emotional turmoil, he also has to deal with losing multiple people that he loved.