Carter is having some difficulty navigating high school, especially when it comes to the ladies. There is actually a girl that he likes who also likes...moreCarter is having some difficulty navigating high school, especially when it comes to the ladies. There is actually a girl that he likes who also likes him, but he manages to screw up that relationship fast and badly.
There were some laugh-out-loud moments along the way as Carter struggles through freshman year making many misteps, but eventaully finding his own path.(less)
Valerie, like many students, was sometimes bullied, insulted, called names, and picked on. As a way to vent her anger she began the Hate List. The lis...moreValerie, like many students, was sometimes bullied, insulted, called names, and picked on. As a way to vent her anger she began the Hate List. The list included people and things she hated. Eventually she confided in her boyfriend Nick about the list and the two of them added names to it regularly. For Valerie the notebook was simply an outlet, but for Nick it was more.
On May 2nd Nick took a gun to school and began shooting people on the Hate List. Valerie was as shocked as the rest of the students and faculty at the school.
After the shooting people, including Valerie, struggled with her role in the shooting. Was she in some way responsible? Were other students indirectly to blame? Would the students come together during the recovery process? Valerie, her classmates, and the teachers at Garvin high had to deal with these questions face on when she returned to school in September to complete her senior year.
A gripping, page-turner, with well developed characters on a topic that has became too familiar.(less)
The detail with which Conroy describes his senior season of basketball at the Citadel is amazing. Apparently, he spent a good deal of time interviewin...moreThe detail with which Conroy describes his senior season of basketball at the Citadel is amazing. Apparently, he spent a good deal of time interviewing former teammates and it paid off. The game action is awesome!
This is not simply a book about basketball. It is also about a boy maturing into a man. Pat Conroy suffered abuse at the hand of his father and was under the thumb of a coach who drove his team physically and emotionally into the ground. Life, especially that of a plebe, at a military college created its own challenges. Fortunately there were friends, relatives, teachers, and mentors that helped him along. The humor that Pat exhibited on and off the court was surprising and heartwarming. (less)
An excellent book discussion book for older teens. I have to formulate my review, but here are my initial thoughts -- I found this book to be fascinat...moreAn excellent book discussion book for older teens. I have to formulate my review, but here are my initial thoughts -- I found this book to be fascinating and horrifying, written at a thriller pace.
I was telling random co-workers and family members bits and pieces as I read it.(less)
Adam is a smart, athletic kid living a seemingly perfect life in the suburbs. All this changes after the suiceide of best friend. Adam slowly withdraw...moreAdam is a smart, athletic kid living a seemingly perfect life in the suburbs. All this changes after the suiceide of best friend. Adam slowly withdraws, quits hockey, and shuts his parents out. As a result his parents put "spy" software on his computer. An email, viewed by Adam's parents sets a shocking string of events into motion.
Mike, Adams Dad is also dealing with a moral dilema surrounding the paternity of a kid next door who is the patient of his client. There are more events and plots that weave themselves together in surprising ways and shatter the image of the perfect suburban community.(less)
Set in a future in which north America has been destroyed an in its place there is a nation called Panem. Panem is made of 12 districts and a wealthy...moreSet in a future in which north America has been destroyed an in its place there is a nation called Panem. Panem is made of 12 districts and a wealthy capitol city.
Like most of the people in the districts, Katniss Everdell and her family are struggling to survive. Ever since her father was killed in a mining accident she has taken on the role of provider for herself, her mother, and her younger sister Prim. Although hunting in the forest is illegal, she and her friend Gale are quick with arrows and well trained with snares, and this is how they and their family's survive.
Then comes the reaping - a ceremony that takes place once a year in which two names are drawn. One boy and one girl from each district are sent to the capital to participate in The Hunger Games. Every minute of this annual event is televised. The twenty-four contestants aged 12-18 are forced to fight to the death. Only one may survive.
Katniss' name is not drawn, instead the name of her younger sister is pulled. Katniss quickly volunteers to take Prim's place.
What follows is a fast-paced adventure that will force readers to consider questions about loyalty, friendship, survival, class, and what they would be willing to do in order to save themselves.(less)
A heart-wrenching and powerful novel of a child's life ravaged by war. Ishmael Beah tells of how his life, and that of thousands in Sierra Leone, was...moreA heart-wrenching and powerful novel of a child's life ravaged by war. Ishmael Beah tells of how his life, and that of thousands in Sierra Leone, was impacted by the civil war. He was robbed of his childhood and eventually was forced to make a choice -- starve to death and/or get killed by rebels or join the army. He chose the latter and now lives with the consequences of that choice.
This is a gruesome tale that makes me grateful for all the things in my life that I sometimes take for granted. There is hope and we must strive to be kind to one another and do what we can to protect other children from missing out on the glories of being children -- feeling safe, loved, free to learn and play.
I listened to the audio version of this and was blown away by Beah's telling of his tale. He is extremely brave to share the details of his life so honestly. (less)
Clay is excited when he descovers a package on his front steps. Quickly his excitement turns to apprehension. Inside he finds cassettes recorded by a...moreClay is excited when he descovers a package on his front steps. Quickly his excitement turns to apprehension. Inside he finds cassettes recorded by a classmate and a crush named Hannah Baker. The thing is, Hannah killed herself two weeks back.
The tapes are Hannah's attempt at explaining how seemingly small choices that we make can have unpredictably large impacts on other people.
Clay wonders through town listening to the tapes. We hear his thoughts about Hannah and what she reveals, as well as Hannah's story.
Another powerful audio book -- Clay's voice is narrated by Joel Johnstone and the Debra Wiseman provides a haunting narration of Hannah's tapes.(less)
A story of identical twins, Raenne and Kaleigh whose life looks perfect from the outside. Their mother is a political mover and shaker, their father i...moreA story of identical twins, Raenne and Kaleigh whose life looks perfect from the outside. Their mother is a political mover and shaker, their father is a respected judge, and the girls are smart, attractive, and don't need to worry about money. This is of course only how it looks from the outside.
The story unfolds in free verse told from each sisters' perspective. Readers learn that the sisters have different ways of coping with the dysfunction in their lives -- drinking, drugging, puking, cutting, and lying.
The poems are powerful. Especially interesting are the joing poems that come together on the pages where the perspective switches from sister to sister. On those pages, there are identical words pulled from each sister's poem.
As Frankie enters her sophormore year at Alabaster Prep there are lots of changes. First, she is no longer "invisible" to guys at school and shockingl...moreAs Frankie enters her sophormore year at Alabaster Prep there are lots of changes. First, she is no longer "invisible" to guys at school and shockingly, she becomes the girlfriend of the senior who she has had a crush on for a year. But these are minor changes when compared to Frankie's new attitude and desire to show everyone that she is no mere "Bunny Rabbit".
The Disreputable History tells of a girl coming-of-age with humor and insight.(less)
I always look forward to the latest from Sarah Dessen and this one did not let me down. After an incident over the summer Annabel is almost totally is...moreI always look forward to the latest from Sarah Dessen and this one did not let me down. After an incident over the summer Annabel is almost totally isolated at school. Ironically, her isolation ends when she is befriended by the biggest (figuratively and literally) loner in the school, Owen. Romance, music, and high-school drama rolled into one great story. What else could you ask for?(less)
Nick has inherited more than just his dad's good looks - he also has his temper. Read the journal that Nick has to keep as part of his sentencing for...moreNick has inherited more than just his dad's good looks - he also has his temper. Read the journal that Nick has to keep as part of his sentencing for hitting his girlfriend, Caitlyn.(less)
Christopher is a fifteen-year-old math genius, suffering from autism and he just found the neighbor's dog murdered with a garden fork. Despite his fea...moreChristopher is a fifteen-year-old math genius, suffering from autism and he just found the neighbor's dog murdered with a garden fork. Despite his fear of interacting with people (he screams when touched) and other limitations (eats red food, but not yellow or brown) he takes a page from Sherlock Holmes (his favorite character) and sets out to find who killed the dog. The other mysteries that he unveils will surprise everyone.(less)
Genetics, you take the good with the bad. The good in Eli’s case are: intelligence; great looks; and athleticism, the bad is the 50/50 chance that Eli...moreGenetics, you take the good with the bad. The good in Eli’s case are: intelligence; great looks; and athleticism, the bad is the 50/50 chance that Eli has inherited Huntington’s Disease from his mother. This disease drove his mother insane.
On a whim Eli sends and email to a renowned scientist, Dr. Wyatt and is shocked when he is given a job at Transgenics Labs. Eli’s father is furious, and not just because eli is postponing college to work at the lab, no there is more to it than that, but Eli can’t figure out what. Slowly Eli begins to unravel some of the mysteries of his life and the connections between himself, his mother, and Dr. Wyatt. (less)
A captivating historical fiction based on the true story of a 12-year-old boy who survived the massacre of thousands of Armenians in Turkey in 1915-19...moreA captivating historical fiction based on the true story of a 12-year-old boy who survived the massacre of thousands of Armenians in Turkey in 1915-1918. Vahan survives great tragedies and hardships. The reader will feel that they too are stronger when Vahan reaches Constantinople in 1918.
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