What's HOT!!! (Popular Teen Picks) - Week 14

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Peeta and Katniss are back in this sequel to The Hunger Games trying to play their familiar roles as District 12’s dream couple while the Capitol tries to manipulate them even more.  Gale finally lets Katniss know how he feels about her just as word and signs of a revolt start to surface.  In honor of the 75^th running of the Games, the Capitol has decided that their Quarter Quell Games (the 25 special anniversary edition game) are to have a special twist.  This time the tributes will be former winners.  Rather than see Katniss and Peeta as the sweet and endearing couple that the districts fell in love with, the two symbolize the very beginnings of a district wide revolt and the hope of freedom.  Katniss and Peeta are not going to go down without a fight.

This book was such an obvious choice for this week.  After becoming engrossed in The Hunger Games and how it ended, I needed to know what became of the characters.  When asked by my daughter which book I liked better, I had a hard time deciding.  While I appreciated The Hunger Games for its unique storyline and characters, I found that there were more twists and turns in Catching Fire.  It is easy to see why both Catching Fire and the third book, Mockingjay, are listed by Barnes and Noble as the Best of 2010 Top Teen Picks.  The books combine action, drama, hidden agendas, friendship, humanity, and romance.  The popularity of the series is obvious with the waiting list at the library.  Had I been able to get my hands on a library copy of Mockingjay, I would have definitely included this book as well.    

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

John Tyree recognized Savannah Lynn Curtis was the girl for him when he first saw her while on military leave at a beach in North Carolina with her friends.  She was naïve and special to him.  He found himself professing his love before his two week leave had ended.  They both decided to wait for each other and corresponded through letters.  A second visit a year later intensified their physical relationship while revealing changes in their lives.  After 9/11 John decided to reenlist for 2 more years, Savannah understood but missed him.  One dark day, he received a Dear John letter from Savannah.  She had moved on.  Too bad he couldn’t get her out of his mind.  His own personal tragedies brought him home and he decided to seek out Savannah for some unknown reason.  John finds her caring for a husband that is going through cancer treatment.  Savannah is hurting but makes her feelings known to John.  John finds himself in a moral dilemma, caught between following his heart and doing what is right.

I asked my own teen what books she felt were popular and she handed me this book.  I found myself liking this book at times and then, for the same reasons, finding it challenging.  As an adult, I have had to deal with most of the heart-wrenching issues that befell John and Savannah; I do not want to seek this out for my reading enjoyment.  It just hits too close to home.  It certainly is an emotional book that does a nice job of portraying one’s youth as carefree along with the adult choices and challenges that one faces.

hush, hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Sometimes in life it is hard to tell good from evil.  That is what Nora faces when her new high school lab partner, Patch, walks into her life.  With all of his innuendos and bad boy looks, Nora is torn between being drawn to him and running from him while trying to figure out the mystery that surrounds him.  Another new student, Elliot, catches Nora’s eye and vies for her attention.   Nora can’t shake the chilling feeling that someone is watching her.  Her house is broken into, her best friend, Vee, is beaten up badly, a homeless woman wearing her former coat was shot to death and now she must confront this evil since he has threatened to kill Vee.  Nora is caught between a battle that has been brewing for centuries and she must decide who she trusts with her life.  

I chose this book because it was prominently featured at Barnes and Noble as well under the heading Dark Top Teen Picks.  The cover art is beautiful and somewhat painful with an angel falling downward from the light and into the darkness as if hit by some unseen force.  This dark fairy tale complete with fallen angels, guardian angels, half-breed nephilims and sacrifices is similar to Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight but much darker with a great deal more drama.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Making choices in high school is common.  Deciding to live or die as a result of a tragic accident that took the life of the rest of your family is unimaginable.  Mia is a seventeen year old talented cellist, with amazing parents, a younger brother that idolizes her, a best friend that “gets” her, a boyfriend that adores her, and a promising chance of getting accepted to the prestigious Julliard.  One snowy day on a family trip changes all of that when a truck hits her car at 60mph.  Mia somehow separates from her earthly body and is aware of everything that is being done to her.  She watches and listens to the family and friends that visit with her.  Something a nurse tells her grandparents sticks with Mia.  “She needs to decide.”  Mia realizes that she must ultimately make the decision to join her family in death or live.  Her grandfather’s reluctant permission for her to leave comforts Mia until her boyfriend, Adam, begs her to stay.  Weak and tired, Mia knows what her choice must be. 

  

I chose this book because it was listed as one of Barnes and Noble’s Top Teen Picks in the category of Tough Stuff.   This book received starred reviews from School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly and Booklist.  I thought that the depiction of one teen’s love, loss, family and friendships was so beautifully done.  I found it both heartbreaking and hopeful.  I really liked how the author gave us glimpses into Mia as a person through the memories that she shared as each loved one sat with her.  It makes you really appreciate all of the little moments in your life because you never know what fate has planned next.   

Nutritious Books (Good for the Body & Soul) - Week 13

Initially, I found this to be a difficult week due to the subject matter I chose.  I was saddened to think of the issues that some young adults face.  In all of the darkness I did however find a glimmer of hope and managed to make it through to the other side with a few lessons learned along with my literary friends.  I feel that having these resources available opens up potential discussion and exposure to these hidden issues.

Wintergirls by Lauri Halse Anderson

We meet Lia as her stepmother tells Lia of the death of her estranged childhood friend, Cassie, alone in a motel room.  Lia and Cassie both have had histories of eating disorders.  Lia realizes that Cassie, on the last day of her life, called Lia 33 times.  Lia struggles emotionally and physically to deal with this loss, the nightmares, and the hallucinations that continue to haunt her every moment of the day.  Her life and weight steadily spiral out of control along with her other destructive habits.

I found this book in my youngest daughters’ backpack.  She had used this book for a health project that focused on either social, emotional or physical issues that teens face.   After reading Speak by this author last week, I was intrigued to read this one as well.  The cover accurately portrays the meaning of “wintergirls.”  These fragile girls are frozen and afraid to be alone, caught between the world of the living and the world of the dead.  I don’t think that they are fully aware of how close to the edge that they come each day until they can’t go back.  This book helped me to further understand a college friend and roommate that I had long ago that epitomized Cassie and her struggles.  Thankfully my friend’s outcome was a much brighter one than Cassie’s.

Cut by Patricia McCormick

Callie is a 15 year old “guest” at Sea Pines, a residential treatment facility.  She cuts herself to feel and to punish herself for the incredible guilt she feels over the night her brother Sam had to be hospitalized.  While at Sea Pines, also known as Sick Minds by its guests, Callie shuts down and chooses not to talk.  Her daily road to recovery is bumpy and she must confront her fears while finding some supportive friends.

After mentioning to a friend that I was reading Wintergirls, she recommended reading this book.  The cutting and eating disorders are so scary to me.  I know of a girl now that is currently receiving inpatient treatment for repeatedly cutting herself.  My heart goes out to the girl and her family.  This is unfortunately not her 1^st time undergoing treatment.  Initially I had a hard time connecting with Callie because of her lack of verbalization.  I found that I could see her character through her eyes, but it wasn’t until she started to speak in therapy and with her friends that I could see into her soul as well.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

This book follows four 15 year old friends, Bridget, Carmen, Lena, & Tibby, as their summer’s lead them on different paths.  A pair of “magical jeans,” one’s that fit and flatter each girl’s shape, are sent from friend to friend during the summer.  The book nicely weaves each of the separate stories together along with letters to one another in between.  Two friends experience loss and two friends find love, but no matter what, they realize that they all have each other and the trust that goes along with their sisterhood.

After reading the previous dark and somewhat depressing books, I sought out this book because I just needed to read about something a little bit more upbeat.  I remember seeing this coming of age movie a few years ago and liking it.  Hoping that I would have a similar experience with the book, I was definitely not disappointed.  I liked this book because even at its darkest spots there was a lesson that you need to find away to deal with the bad because life goes on and in doing so, it’s okay to rely on your friends for support. 

Stick Figure by Lori Gottlieb

Lori is an eleven year old girl that is extremely intelligent, a tomboy, and tends to question authority.  That is until she let all of her mother’s rules and actions reform her beliefs of her own self-image.  Her mother and father only looked at how these changes impacted them; they never stopped to see how Lori felt.  Lori was eventually hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai for anorexia, but continued to lose weight.  Still no one listened and she felt that there was no one to trust.  The only control Lori had in her life was her eating, or lack thereof.  She even believed that she could gain weight from smelling the food.  It wasn’t until she was threatened with The Tube, that she tried to cut herself.  The list that she made to die greatly outnumbered the list to live.  Thankfully, a compassionate nurse saw her cut herself and made a big impact in Lori’s life.

While the subject matter is very dark, this “diary of my former self” was written with humor and heart.  The author found her actual diary from 1978 that chronicled her life during this period.  I found this book different than the other books on anorexia that I read.  I could understand what Lori was going through and seriously wanted to have her parents seek intense counseling.  I thought that the unknowing messages that the parents, mainly the mother, gave Lori were so destructive it was a wonder that there was a happy outcome.  I found this book at my library while looking for other books on the subject.  Having a kept a diary at that age myself, I found that I could appreciate the honest insight into how her eleven year old self viewed herself and the world around her.  I found myself rooting for Lori along her journey of self-discovery.

Scary Books (BOO!) - Week 12

Ghost Town by Rachel Caine

In this 9^th book in the Morganville Vampire series, Claire Danvers has once again been ordered by Amelie, the town’s vampire leader, to help Myrnin, the town’s resident vampire super genius/psychotic, reconfigure his steampunky machine that controls the town’s portals and memory.  Claire and her housemates, Eve, Shane, and Michael, start to realize that living in a vampire run town isn’t as scary as what’s happening to the memories of the town’s vampires and humans. The delicate balance of Morganville is in jeopardy by the miasma that has resulted. 

I chose this story because I am a HUGE Rachel Caine fan and have enjoyed her previous 8 books in this series.  In this frightening town, there is a mixture of unknowing college students, townies, and vampires (both good and bad).  Sometimes realizing who is good and who is bad is always shifting and you can never make assumptions on how any given day things will turn out.  One constant for Claire, the incredibly understated prodigy, is that her housemate and boyfriend, Shane, cares for her along with her two housemates.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

School has just started and after calling the police to a party over the summer, Melinda went from a normal teen with her circle of friends to a social pariah.  Melinda is a freshman at Merryweather High and nobody seems to care about what really happened.  Melinda gradually shuts down verbally and emotionally.  Her only joy is art.  Her art teacher imparts some wisdom to her in regards to her tree drawing assignment.  He tries to reach out to her when he tells her that without emotion you slowly die inside.  Not willing to see her former friend hurt as well, Melinda takes steps to protect her and in doing so she finds her own voice.

I found this Printz Honor Book at my library.  I had previously heard about it and sought it out.  I was intrigued by the cover art.  The face of a teen without a mouth done in greens and browns trying to blend into the sparsely leaved tree in front of it symbolically looked like a lost empty being.  This isn’t your scary vampire or werewolf type of book.  It is a different kind of scary.  In this book the thought of a teen being shunned and teased by her school for an act of self-preservation after enduring a heinous violation was just horrific.  I know that this is a very likely scenario and that is what makes it scary for me.

Project 17 by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Liza, beautiful but focused Harvard wanna-be, Greta and Tony, the drama club divas, Mimi, the secretive goth girl, and Chet, the class clown with the sad home life, all agree to help Derik, the school Romeo, shoot a movie at the closed and soon to be demolished Danvers State Hospital.  Derik wants to enter this movie in a contest that will save him from a life of working in his parents’ diner and further his interest in film.  In theory capturing the classmates’ reactions as they spend an evening in the abandoned hospital sounds like a great idea, but the doubts and shivers start as the group enters the grounds and strange feelings and sounds surround the group.

I decided to look for this book after my oldest daughter had read it last year and had the benefit of meeting the author through a library author lunch.  She really liked this book and while she found it scary it was definitely one that broadened her scope of reading materials.  I liked that the setting was a local well-known scary venue.  As a kid, when you thought of real-life scary there was no scarier than Danvers State.

The Blue Mirror by Kathe Koja 

Maggy Klass finds peace and beauty in her art that she loves to sketch at The Blue Mirror, a diner in her city that has a beautiful window that showcases the world in a dreamy blue light.  Staying at home with her alcoholic mother is stifling so Maggy finds refuge in The Blue Mirror and her friend Casey who is interested in her art.  All that changes when one day Maggy notices a tall dark boy with a breath-taking smile that is accompanied by street urchins.  The next day Maggy sees him again and this time he comes in and introduces himself as Cole.  His charm makes her feel light-headed and extremely special.  His words of “I love you” and intense passionate attention blind her to the reality of her new surroundings and the shell of her former life.  Before her very eyes, he has used her and brought her into his life of street crime and violence with his sugary sweet whispers and feather-like kisses.  Slowly she starts to really see what he is and her life has become.  This book shows her struggle to understand his life and overcome his hold on her.

I found this book mentioned on the School Library Journal’s website under a column titled A New Era of Gothic Horror.  The article spoke of helping teens “develop their moral compass.”  I liked this story because I could very easily see this scenario of seduction, manipulation, isolation, and abuse playing out in any big city with a young girl looking for someone that cares for her.

Science Fiction & Fantasy Books (The Geeky Stuff) - Week 11

This week I had to venture past my oldest daughter's room because geeky sci-fi books are clearly not her genre.  I didn’t have to go too far though…my younger daughters, Christina and Kimberly, are avid fantasy and sci-fi readers along with my husband.  This week presented a challenge of its own.  With all the new books that I brought home, my girls often snagged them before I could get to them.  In the end, everyone was happy and we clearly enjoyed our favorites.

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Finn, a prisoner living in Incarceron, a prison of recycled organic matter and metal, has unusual visions of the sky and stars.  Claudia, the warden’s daughter, is living on the Outside in her own sort of prison.  Struggling to do what is expected and what she feels is just, Claudia tries to deceive her father and use a key to find a way in, while Finn and his group find a crystal that they believe will lead them to the Outside.  Incarceron is an all-knowing entity that intervenes when necessary and exists in its own spatial and time anomalies.

I found this book listed on an article in School Library Journal when I searched for science fiction/fantasy books.  It was listed as one of the” new crop of teen books” popping up in 2010 in the article 35 Going on 13.  As a result of this book, I learned the term steampunk.  I like how the old Victorian ways and the new technology are combined to create this science fiction society that is considered steampunk.  I have always been a fan of Howl’s Moving Castle, Jules Verne and only after this article realized that it was considered its own genre.  Look for the continuation of the story in Sapphique, which will be coming in December 2010. 

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

In this modern day version of Little Red Riding Hood, it’s all about the hunt for sisters Scarlett and Rosie.  A brutal werewolf attack left their grandmother dead and Scarlett savagely scared.  Along with their neighbor and best friend, Silas, the three set off to seek revenge on the dreaded Fenris that they must stop.  This modern day Little Red Riding Hood is a fast paced adventure with a little romance.

Initially I came across this book at the book store.  The cover art really appealed to me.  I loved how the two girls and the wolf were interwoven.  This book was given a starred review in School Library Journal.  The chapters alternate in telling the story from each sister’s perspective. 

Mister Monday (Keys to the Kingdom, Book 1) by Garth Nix

The great architect created everything and then disappeared leaving the Will in the hands of the 7 trustees.  In this fantasy universe, Arthur Penhaligon succumbs to an asthma attack on his first day of 7^th grade.  Mister Monday gives Arthur a key that unexpectedly saves his life.  Mister Monday loop-hole in the Will was thwarted and will stop at nothing to get it back from Arthur.

I found this book in the Young Adult section of my local library and was drawn to the Harry Potter like male protagonist on the cover.  I liked the quick paced action and the 24 hour time period that is encompassed in the book.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Katsa has been "graced" with killing.  She meets and befriends Prince Po, who is aware of his surroundings and can read others thoughts of him.  King Leck is "graced" with mental confusion and manipulation.  Leck kidnaps Po’s grandfather.  Even though Katsa and Po find Po’s grandfather they don’t understand why Leck took him.  Together in this fast paced action/adventure fantasy they find romance and unravel the mystery of the abduction.

I sought this book out at the library and chose to read it because of all the references to it in our discussions.  I saw the cover and was immediately drawn in by the strong yet intricate sword rising above all else. This book received a starred review from School Library Journal and was a 2009 finalist for the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Book Award.

Voices of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn

In this society where dragons and humans have formed a treaty and the two sides agreed to a boundary and never to talk, Artegal, a dragon, rescues Kay when she fell in the quick moving stream near the boundary.  After her initial shock of actually seeing a legendary dragon, she realized that Artegal can talk. Neither was what the other expected and a friendship slowly developed.  Kay helped Artegal with his speech.

I chose this story after seeing it at Barnes and Noble because I was intrigued with dragons and Artegal’s kind character.  Each of them came into their relationship with preconceived ideas about the other.  While struggling with all the issues of being a teen, Kay had another secret that she kept.

Airborn by Kenneth Oppel

Matt Cruse, cabin boy, on the luxury airship, Aurora, feels most at home in the sky after being born and now spending the last three years aboard an airship sailing from one place to the next.  Matt's daring rescue of a dying man 6 months prior brings Kate de Vrie, the lovely young heiress, on board the Aurora for a quest of her own to discover what her grandfather wrote of in his journal.  Matt didn’t figure that pirates would cause his happy sky home to experience murder and become stranded on a deserted island.  Kate and Matt soon realize that the island they are on holds many discoveries.

I found this book right under my nose.  This book was being read by two of my daughters for a school Battle of the Books.  Since both raved about it, I couldn’t help but see what all the excitement was about.  I liked how this book showcased a male protagonist that was the youngest and yet extremely capable member of the crew.  Airborn, another great example of steampunk, was selected as a 2005 Printz Honor Book.

Teen Romance - Week 10

The books that I read this week all included various forms of teen romance, a.k.a...sexy books!  I'd also like to thank my oldest daughter, Jenn, for all of the many books that she shared with me this week.  Yeah Jenn!

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Belly, Steve and their mom, Laurel, have spent every summer vacation with Susannah and her sons, Conrad and Jeremiah, at their summer beach house.  This year Belly is finally "noticed" by the two brothers.  While the younger brother, Jeremiah, is quick to have the friendship become more, the older brother, Conrad, lets what will develop occur naturally.  During this summer Belly realizes Susannah is going through a divorce and a cancer diagnosis.  Belly comes to support each brother in a different way.

           

I liked this book, because while you could sense the attraction between Belly and Conrad, the author took her time in order to transition their relationship from life-long friends to something more.   As in life, meaningful relationships don’t just happen overnight.  I found this little gem displayed on the bottom shelf of Barnes & Noble in the teen section.

Along for The Ride by Sarah Dessen

Auden decides to spend her summer before college with her dad, step-mother, and new step-sister, Thisbe.  Auden has always been the over-achieving student at the expense of any social life in high school.  Socially unaware, she meets two brothers her 1^st day at the beach.  The younger wilder brother, Jason, seeks her out, but it’s the older more reclusive brother, Eli who manages to gain her trust and heart.  Eli and Auden, both dealing with their pasts, come to support each other and value the love and friendship that they have nurtured.  This is a beautiful story of first true love.

Once again, I found this story in my oldest daughter’s room.  It’s one of her favorite Sarah Dessen books. 

 

Deep Down Popular by Phoebe Stone

Conrad Parker Smith was the school jock and cheerleader favorite until he had to wear a leg brace and walked with a limp.  His social value at that point became non-existent to everyone except Jessie Lou and Quentin.  Jessie Lou adored Conrad and because of his brace, she enjoyed a real friendship with him.  The two really got to know each other without his popularity getting in the way.  When Conrad had to have an experimental operation for his leg, it was Jessie Lou by his side.  The surgery was a success and he no longer needed the brace.  When his popularity returned, it was Jessie Lou he wanted to take to the dance and found he liked.  Conrad helped Jessie Lou to see that she was every bit as pretty as her beauty pageant older sister.

I liked this book because I really found myself rooting for Jessie Lou even when I knew she didn’t believe in herself.  This book was given to my daughters by a friend.

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Finding red sea glass was as rare as the love that was beginning between Anna and Matt.  Matt wanted to tell his sister Frankie, Anna’s best friend, on their family vacation but a heart defect took Matt’s life the night before they left.  Anna, who promised Matt she wouldn't tell, now feels compelled to keep this secret and support her grieving friend while she secretly grieves as well.  The following summer, Anna and Frankie return to the summer house in California on a quest to find twenty boys and move on with their lives.  While they did meet several boys, Anna only felt something for Sam.  Anna manages to understand that there will be life and love after Matt.  Their summer also allows the two friends to find some closure with their loss.

I first noticed this book on Amazon because I loved the cover art.  The beautiful sea glass becomes more meaningful after reading the book.  While this was a story of tragic first love, I loved this book because while Anna lost the love of her life, she manages in time to move on while still remembering Matt.

 

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

A picture of Elizabeth lost in the Iraqi desert brings tragedy to one marine and luck to another.  Logan slowly realizes that since he found the picture of Elizabeth, he is protected.  After his tour, he walks from Colorado to North Carolina with his faithful dog Zeus using clues in the photo to find this woman.  Since her grandmother was looking for help, Logan applied for the job.  Elizabeth realizes that there is more to Logan’s story, but slowly he gains her trust.  She is more beautiful and amazing than her picture, but he is unsure of what he was hoping to accomplish from his journey.  Elizabeth and Logan have many obstacles to overcome in order to be together.

Thankfully, I didn’t have to go to a gas station to find this story; I just had to rifle through my daughter's bookcase.  It is a compelling story of love, trust, duty, and destiny.

The Smoke Jumper by Nicholas Evans

Julia and Ed initially met over a disputed parking spot.  Later that night, Julia walked in to the club where Ed was playing and into his heart.  While music is his passion, Ed spends his summers as a fire jumper with his best friend, Conrad, in the wilderness of Montana.  Conrad,a photojournalist, immediately feels a mutual connection with Julia.  A summer fire in Montana leaves Conrad to rescue Julia, while Ed loses his eyesight.  Conrad's failure to help his friend Ed and secret love of Julia, leads him far away from Julia and Ed.  After marriage, Julia and Ed move out west and start a family.  Although traveling the world, Conrad is never really out of their lives.  Tragedy once again strikes and leads Julia searching a war torn nation looking for Conrad.   

This book would appeal to the older teen or adult that can appreciate the difficulties that life deals you and how two people can overcome them.  I have had this book for years, but it wasn’t until a friend’s recommendation that I actually read it this past summer.  I found the love triangle heart breaking and enjoyed reading about the brave men and women who every summer risk their lives to fight these monstrous fires.