Staff Picks for Teens
Before I Fall - Lauren Oliver
ISBN/ISSN: 9780061726804
Samantha, a popular (and pretty snobby, in my opinion) high school senior, dies in a car crash and relives the day of her death for seven days. Each day, however, she tries to “fix” what she’s done wrong in her life—treating people badly, letting her friends act horribly, dating a loser—to see if she can save herself from death. The different versions of the same day keep the story new and definitely cool. You’ll see how Samantha, her friends, and her family seem like totally different people in the end. Reviewed by Erica 8/24/2010
The Heart is Not a Size - Kephart, Beth
Call Number: YA FIC KEPHART, B.
ISBN/ISSN: 9780061470486
This is a story told from the perspective of Georgia, a high-achieving high school junior who convinces her artistic friend Riley to go on a work tour trip to Juarez Mexico. The book follows the preparations for the trip and the events on it. Georgia is increasingly aware of her friend’s emotional problems, and struggles to find the right path to help Riley. In the end, a balance is found that may seem convenient to some readers, while it may leave others unfulfilled. The writing is very poetic and beautiful, but this feels forced at times, and at others distracting. In general, however, this is a story that introspective teens will enjoy. Reviewed by David 08/11/2010.
Bullet point - Abrahams, Peter
Call Number: YA FIC ABRAHAMS, P.
ISBN/ISSN: 9780061227691
When the town cuts all sports programs in the schools, junior baseball star Wyatt moves to a town that still has its sports. While there, Wyatt meets 19 year-old Greer, a girl whose father is in the prison just down the road. It's the same prison in which Wyatt's biological father is jailed on a life term, and Wyatt begins to wonder about his father's story. As Wyatt and Greer dig into the past, events pick up a life of their own and readers will eagerly read on to the story's climactic finish. This is a well-told, gritty story for older teens. Reviewed by David 08/05/2010.
Claim to fame - Margaret Peterson Haddix
Call Number: YA FIC HADDIX, M.
ISBN/ISSN: 9781416939177
Claim to Fame, by Margaret Haddix is a first-person story that follows teenager Lindsay Scott as she copes with a series of challenging circumstances. Lindsay was a child actress in a breakout television sitcom, but she's been in seclusion for five years. Rumor had it that her father was holding her prisoner in a small Midwestern town, and some local boys decide to save her from her father. The act serves as the catalyst for the remaining events of the story, which underscore Lindsay's vulnerabilities and fears. Ultimately, Lindsay figures out how to cope with these, and in the course of this process, she discovers that she is not as alone or helpless as she thought. While the conclusion feels a little too convenient and packaged, overall, the development of characters and plot makes this a good read.
Reviwed by David 08/02/2010.Vibes - Amy Kathleen Ryan
Vibes follows the life of Kristi, a self-described outcast teenager with psychic abilities who attends an alternative high school. From the outset, the reader is given an intimate look into the thoughts and feelings that Kristi has about herself and those around her--and she is not timid in her opinions. She calls herself ugly and a bitch. She hates everyone around her. And she doesn't fit in with anyone.
During the course of the book, it begins to look as if much of what Kristi believes about herself and the world may not be as she thinks. People don't act the way she expects. Situations don't turn out the way she expects. Even her psychic abilities let her down. And in the course of discovering that she might not be as special and different as she thought, Kristi begins to find that her life without all these things might not be that bad after all.
Ryan has created a powerful voice for Kristi that wears a little thin over the course of the book. Moreover, many of the plot's twists seemed to be telegraphed ahead of time to the reader, so that the surprises lacked punch. Finally, the conclusion of the book is a little too convenient.
Despite these shortcomings, though, Vibes is a good read.
One note of warning, however: this book is not a supernatural story, even if much is made of Kristi's psychic abilities. This is a story about the insecurities and fears that are common in many teenagers.
Reviewed by David 05/06/2010.Bleeding Violet
When 16-year-old Hanna moves to a very strange town in Texas, her bipolar hallucinations become real. Dangerous creatures, portals and other interesting other-worldliness make this story fascinating and fast-paced--It's easy to get hooked by this book! But Hanna's family drama and her hookup with the town's hottest boy make the all of the sci-fi stuff believable. I give this original story a thumbs-up. Reviewed by Erica 5/3/2010Wherever Nina Lies - Lynn Weingarten
16-year-old Ellie is determined to find her older sister, Nina, who has been missing for two years. When she hooks up with a cute guy who convinces her to go looking for Nina, she gets herself into some intense situations. If you can get past a factual geographical error the author makes (it’s about California—see if you can find it), you’ll totally like the book’s suspense and the great plot twist at the end! Reviewed by Erica 4/20/2010The Hate List - Jennifer Brown
When Valerie and her boyfriend Nick didn’t like somebody at school they added their name to the Hate List. Valerie thought it was just a game, but Nick took things to a crazy extreme, bringing a gun to school, and going after the people on the list. In the aftermath of the shooting, Valerie can’t reconcile the Nick she loved with the Nick that became a murderer. Her own actions are called into question as well. Was she an accomplice? Was she a hero? Even Valerie can’t be sure what the answer is. Reviewed by Nancy 4/15/2010
The Knife of Never Letting Go - Patrick Ness
I picked this up on a whim, mainly because I liked the title. Turns out, Knife is a lot like Stephen King's Dark Tower series (one of my all-time faves). Knife has: A super-interesting and unpredictable plot set in the future, on another planet; a talking dog who says "poo" a lot; a crazy preacher who just won't go away; and the protagonist, 12-year-old Todd, is super brave. The book made me cry I loved it so much (oh, those talking animals). Read the next title in the series, too (The Ask and the Answer). Reviewed by Erica 3/25/10
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side - Beth Fantaskey
ISBN/ISSN: 9780152063849
This romantic and funny tale introduces Jessica, a high-school senior who lives with her adoptive family in rural Pennsylvania (Jessica was actually born in Romania as Antanasia Dragomir to royal vampire parents). Things get crazy when foreign exchange student Lucius Vladescu comes to live with the family, as Jessica learns that she is supposed to marry him to unite their royal vampire clans. Reviewed by Erica 3/25/10
The Midnight Charter - David Whitley
I initially judged this book by its cover as boring, but after reading a review for it, I decided to pick it up. I’m so glad I did. A mixture of adventure, fantasy, and suspense, this story takes place in the world of Agora, where parents sell their children and good rivals evil. If you like astrology or secret societies, you’ll enjoy this new trilogy. Reviewed by Gina on 03/11/2010The way we work : getting to know the amazing human body - David Macaulay
I like Macaulay’s books illustrating the way things are put together or the way things work, for example, CATHEDRAL (1973), PYRAMID (1977) and THE WAY THINGS WORK (1988). Macaulay researched this book for a long time. Its detailed drawings sprinkled with whimsy about how humans’ bodies function may be best read cover to cover, but perusing sections you wonder about is interesting, too. For pre-med thinking middle school students to adults. Reviewed by Caro 02/02/10
Generation T - Megan Nicolay
The two books in this series offer hundreds of ways to recycle old t-shirts into something new and cool. Transform your wardrobe or make gifts for your all your friends. reviewed by Michele 11/18/09
Thirteenth Child - Patricia C. Wrede
The Wild West, pioneers, homesteading and...magic? In this book, the first in a new series, popular fantasy author Wrede uniquely blends an alternate version of American history with enchantment, spells, and sorcery. Eff, the thirteenth child in her family, is thought to be unlucky and is blamed for everything. At the same time, her twin brother Lan is the seventh son of a seventh son and thought to be all powerful and lucky. Their parents move the whole family out West to get the twins away from superstitious society! I highly recommend this fast-paced, action packed book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or fantasy. Reviewed by Megan 10/01/09.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - John Boyne
There is no better word to describe this novel than heartbreaking. Set in 1942 Berlin, Bruno, the son of a German military officer, befriends Shmuel, a young Jewish boy imprisoned at Auschwitz, through the camp's barrier gate. Bruno is ignorant of the horrors that take place on the other side of the fence. All he knows is that he’s struck up a wonderful if odd new friendship with a boy who’s always clad in the same striped pajamas. From the painfully innocent children at its center to the horrific circumstances in which they are enveloped, there is no reprieve from the ache one feels reading this story. There is no happy ending here. Just tears. Reviewed by Shireen 03/04/09
The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
This book hooked me from the very first page. It is a futuristic look at a collapsed United States where those in control keep control by a survival game. Each of the twelve districts that are dominated by the capitol must send two teenagers every year to the capitol to participate in the hunger games. There is only one victor and survivor. These games are broadcast live as reality TV for entertainment. Sixteen year old Katniss, of district twelve, volunteers to take her younger sister's place in the grueling contest between twenty-four contestants. Action packed, this is a very suspenseful book that also offers much to think about. Many themes are touched upon. Katniss and all the characters are realistic and sympathetic. The first of a trilogy. I would put it into the same category as THE GIVER. A really good read! Reviewed by Andy 1/23/09
The Wild Girls - Pat Murphy
This is my 10-year niece’s all-time favorite book, and I read it on her recommendation. She loved it for its portrayal of the friendship of two 12-year old girls who, with the encouragement of one of their dads, a tattooed motorcycle-riding sci-fi writer, write a prize-winning story and gain entrance to a prestigious summer writing workshop at U.C. Berkeley. Their friendship and their imaginations help them deal with their different but equally challenging family situations. For me, the book’s setting—the San Francisco Bay Area, especially Berkeley and the Berkeley campus, in 1972—was an added bonus. Highly recommended for aspiring girl authors, aged 9-14. Reviewed by Elizabeth 10/17/08Smack - Melvin Burgess
Smack depicts a story of two teen runaways who descend into homlessness and chemical addiction. In an attempt to gain independence and escape their flawed home lives, Tar and Gemma run away to squat in Bristol. The harsh realities of homeless life begin to take a toll on the couple as they attempt to support themselves and their habit. This easy read depicts the couple's decline, as heroin addiction dominates their lives. Reviewed by staff 10/10/08
Luxe and Rumors - Anna Godbersen
I really liked the first book in this series, The Luxe, but after the second book Rumors I am officially obsessed. The story centers on Manhattan society's elite in the late nineteenth century, particularly the friendships and rivalries between a specific group of teenaged girls. For these girls living under the ever watchful eye of high society means the constant struggle to maintain their places within it, usually by making proper but loveless marriage matches and fiercely protecting their reputations. The pressure often proves too much, and the girls resort to extreme measures to keep up appearances. The books are rife with deceit, passion, love, and drama - enough to put any modern day TV soap opera to shame! But don't be dismayed. This is some high quality reading from a top-notch author. I stayed up all night finishing Rumors, I was that enthralled, but now I'm left hanging for the third installment. Reviewed by Shireen 9/30/08
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